Theory: Kara lost part of who she was when the harun-el split her in two, and never got that part of herself back. It's like that time Xander Harris got split into his best and worst selves
Except Kara lost the part of herself that dreamed of a life of her own, of having things for herself, including balance in her life and identity.
Red daughter was a blank slate, in terms of memories, and was immediately subsumed into a creepy paramilitary organization and brought under lex's control. She was taught that her role was service to others, but she also longed for things that made her happy, including familial and human connection. That's why they gave her a child to care about:
And showed her joy at experiencing a cookie for the first time:
And THEN made her conflict with Kara largely about Kara's "selfishness"
As in "I'D like to have things for myself, like you do, but my only friend has taught me that having things that are just yours is bad, and if I can't have an enjoyable happy life then YOU shouldn't either."
She's angry at Kara for not doing more with her life. Even though we the audience understand Kara's life is almost ENTIRELY service. Yes she has a nice apartment and grapes in the fridge, and friendships, but this only seems like a lot to Red Daughter because she's been given so very little. And longs to be free the way Kara is. And yet Kara, in her mind, is doing nothing meaningful with her life. You can imagine then if not constrained by having SERVICE and a lex-twisted version of GREATER GOOD drilled into her head, she would probably be out living life to the fullest, enjoying not just food but fun and personal happiness. Maybe even SEX who knows...
Kara was just never the same after the split. Even in the s3 finale, her muted reaction to Mon-El leaving a second time was totally ooc. Especially given how much was left unresolved between them including their unfinished conversation from Argo.
After that, she never really shone again. Never glowed like she did before. And what's worse, she lost some of her fire and her backbone.
Season 2 Kara: I deserve better than being lied to.
Season 5 Kara: Let me spend half the season apologizing to my lying, manipulating abuser for the crime of wanting privacy and boundaries.
Season 1 Kara: I don't know much about romantic love, but I like to think that if I even really had it, I'd fight for it.
Season 3 ending Kara through the goddamned finale: oh well nvm I guess I won't bother.
Even the one time she actually had vague interest in a guy:
She almost didn't accept a date with him because she was bogged down by the trauma Lena inflicted on her.
She never explained why she was suddenly willing to put herself out there again and why she was interested in William even though no one else had caught her eye in years.
She was nervous only bc she hadn't been on a date, then wore the shirt Alex told her not to and derailed the conversation to talk about Nia.
Kara straight up forgot about the date and Nia had to remind her to go get ready.
The date lasted 45 seconds.
The show forgot about the whole thing for the entire rest of the season.
When they finally got back to him he'd already met someone else and Kara didn't give a shit.
This is just... NOT the same Kara as the early seasons. That Kara wanted to have it all, including a personal life. She didn't hinge her personal decisions on shitty things other people did to her, with the exception of Adam and that was only bc she had no choice, he wasn't safe near her.
MY Kara would have stood up for herself. MY Kara would have fought for the life she wanted for herself. MY Kara wouldn't have settled for corporate bullshit instead of happiness. MY Kara would have figured out how to HAVE IT ALL.
I think the parts that made her the real Kara died with Red Daughter.
theartofmadeline
snowghoul
baratheonpilled
pixelskylines
