Supergirl (TV Series)

Rather the Fallen Angel (2018)

Mehcad Brooks: James Olsen, Guardian

Photos 

Quotes 

• Agent Liberty : I apologize for the blindfold. A necessary precaution; you understand.

  James Olsen : Yeah, I get it. But I'm no threat to you. I came here on my own accord. To talk to you. To listen. I'm prepared to hear your side of the story. I mean, obviously, you have an agenda, but why? There has to be something. The core of your anger, something that's happened to you.

  Agent Liberty : Something did happen to me, Mr. Olsen. I saw men struggling to remain relevant, to prove for their family. I saw human beings being treated less than they deserve. Less than exceptional.

  James Olsen : Surely, there has to be a part of you that can find a commonality between aliens and humans. We just want good, safe lives for our loved ones.

  Agent Liberty : No, we're not here to talk about my empathy, or lack thereof, for aliens.

  James Olsen : Okay, you tell me. What am I writing?

  Agent Liberty : You won't be writing anything. I'm giving you an opportunity to step in front of the camera for once, to *be* the story, to galvanize and to inspire. Because Guardian stands for everything that my followers strive for: human exceptionalism.

• James Olsen : You want me to inspire your followers? And how exactly do you want me to do that?

  Agent Liberty : I want you to destroy something. A monument, something that stands against everything we believe in.

  James Olsen : I don't tear things down. That's not my style.

  Agent Liberty : I get it. You're not a willing participant yet. But you will be. I believe in you, Mr. Olsen.

• Tom : I'm so sorry I got you involved in all this. They lied to me. I thought they were gonna give you an interview. I didn't know they were gonna use you.

  James Olsen : [Tom offers a neoprene wristband]  My gauntlet.

  [he activates it, revealing his Guardian shield, then deactivates it] 

  Tom : [tossing him a Liberty mask]  Come on. We don't have a lot of time.

• James Olsen : Shelley Island? I thought this place was shut down after President Marsdin resigned.

  Tom : Yeah, it was. That's why it's the perfect place for the Children of Liberty to gather.

• Agent Liberty : [catching Tom trying to help James escape]  Earth traitor.

  James Olsen : [raising his arms in surrender]  Stop. Stop. Stop it. Wait, wait, wait, wait. I'll do whatever you want. Just don't hurt him.

  Agent Liberty : So, you see. I knew you'd heed the call.

• Tom : I was so wrong. I thought if I joined the Children of Liberty, I wouldn't feel so...

  James Olsen : Helpless?

  Tom : I guess this is what happens when we let fear guide us.

  James Olsen : Yeah. We both made choices that got us here, right? I mean, I asked for your help.

  Tom : No. If you stay, if you blow up that monument, then everyone's gonna think you're with them. That you're a Child of Liberty. You're gonna give them the face they've been dying for, the legitimacy.

  James Olsen : So what? That's what happens if I stay. But if I go and I preserve my reputation, you die. And then what, Tom? I'm lost. And you're dead. And then I am no better than him. And I'm stronger than that. I have spent my entire life building myself up into the man that I am today, and I have not given society one reason to doubt me. What is reputation? I mean, what is it? It's nothing. It's not who you are. So if the latest fringe group wants to tear that monument down, we will build it right back up. Agent Liberty can do whatever he wants with my reputation. I know who I am.

• Camera Man Col : Remember, if you say anything off-book, if you so much as frown at the camera, I will not hestitate...

  James Olsen : I know the rules. And you're sure that there's no one in that monument?

  Camera Man Col : Cross my heart. Now stand in front of the detonator and say "cheese".

• James Olsen : My name is James Olsen. And I believe in the Children of Liberty, and everything they stand for. Only humans belong on Earth.

  Supergirl : [faintly]  James!

  [he turns the bomb on] 

  Supergirl : James!

  [the bomb is activated] 

  Supergirl : JAMES!

• Supergirl : James, come on, see me!

  James Olsen : [preparing to detonate the bomb]  I do this in the name of humanity.

  Supergirl : [faintly, as he notices the flashes of light from her heat vision]  JAMES!

  James Olsen : Supergirl?

• Kara Danvers : What you working on?

  James Olsen : Hey. Um... you know, they made me say a lot of things in that camera today. Horrible things that I don't believe in. So I... I just wanna tell my side of the story about my time with the Children of Liberty.

  Kara Danvers : Yeah, I've been thinking a lot about that, too. Duality. How people can surprise you. Manchester Black is... is bad. he killed people, he betrayed me, but... but then he turned around to help me.

  James Olsen : Well, maybe he wasn't trying to help you. Maybe that was just a consequence.

  Kara Danvers : Yeah, I guess people only show you what they want you to see. And that's not always who they are.

  James Olsen : Yeah. I mean, look at me. I... I compromised myself today.

  Kara Danvers : You saved Tom's life.

  James Olsen : But I risked everything I've worked for. Everything. My... my reptuation, my life. Your life. You know, though, I... I guess I kind of understand a little better why Lena lied to me about the D.A. now.

  Kara Danvers : You should tell her that.

• James Olsen : Look, I-I know we didn't leave things off on the best note, and I was just... I was thinking we could try again. How was your day?

  Lena Luthor : You know what? I'm pretty tired. Got a lot of work to do. See you tomorrow?

  James Olsen : Tomorrow it is.