Supergirl Will Take A Dark Turn In Season 3

Warning: This article contains spoilers for the second season of Supergirl. 

Supergirl fans, brace yourself to see a different side of Kara Danvers in season 3. 

After the devastating events of the season two finale of Supergirl, Kara (Melissa Benoist) will take a dark turn. Where she was once powerful and determined, our titular Supergirl will set her humanity aside as a way to deal with the overwhelming loss she suffered when she set off the lead dispersal device in the show's last episode. Now that Mon-El (Chris Wood) is gone from her life, Kara loses herself in her work. 

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Benoist discussed the shift in Kara's demeanor and disposition. "She's really fragile at the top of the season, but only people closest to her will see that, because she's almost solidified on the exterior and is really trying to push down whatever pain she's felt about losing Mon-El," the actress explained. "In turn, she has made this massive decision to say goodbye to her humanity and really embrace being an alien. We hear her say quite a bit in the first five episodes, 'I'm not a human, I come from a different planet, so this doesn't apply to me.'"

Expectedly, those close to Kara aren't too pleased that they have lost the cheerful, positive side of the girl they care so much about. Chyler Leigh, who plays Kara's adoptive sister Alexandra "Alex" Danvers on the show, had this to say: "All of [her] friends, Alex included, are trying to help her through it, but she's just shutting a lot of people out, as a lot of us do in real life. Alex does everything that she can to give space, but it comes to a head pretty quickly just because Alex is obviously very honest, and the two of them have such a great and supportive relationship."

The dark turn is especially hard for Lena Luthor (Katie McGrath), as she was the one who helped modify the lead device created by her brother Lex. Even more than that, Lena and Kara have a close friendship, but the tragedy of season two threatens to create a rift between them. "What you're seeing with Lena is the guilt of feeling that she is somehow responsible of ruining this great love of Kara's," McGrath stated. "So while she's feeling good that she saved the world, or helped save it, she feels very responsible that her best friend is hurting and she's trying to, in a way, bring Kara back to the friendship that they had, [because] she's lost that a bit."

Kara might be calmed in comisery, as she isn't the only one grappling with her humanity at the start of the new season. Fans will see the new big bad Reign (Odette Annable) uncover her true linage, J'onn J'onzz/Martian Manhunter (David Harewood) realizing that he isn't the last Green Martian in the universe, and Alex deciding what she wants out of life as her wedding to Maggie Sawyer (Floriana Lima) grows closer. 

"When we come back, they're in the process of planning the wedding," said actress Leigh of her character, Alex. "It becomes quite an uncomfortable position for Alex, because obviously when you're planning a wedding, you're talking about inviting family and one of the most important people to her is her dad, and he's not going to be there. So for her it's bittersweet. You see them work through quite a few things where you have your worlds colliding, where they're continually learning new things about each other. For the first several episodes, Alex is figuring out more and more who she is, and what she wants."

Kara could also find refuge in her Kryptonian heritage, and seek comfort in her mother, Alura. That role has actually been recast for the upcoming season, with Smallville alum Erica Durance replacing Laura Benanti. This means fans will see much more of the character in future episodes. "It is different," Benoist said of the change in dynamic with the new actress. "I loved Laura Benanti, but Erica brings something really fun to it. I've only had a few things with her so far in hologram, and we'll see her more often. That's always a really touching experience for Kara, to be able to talk to her in any shape or form, so we'll definitely see more of that."

We'll have to wait and see how it all plays out when Supergirl returns Monday, October 9 at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.