This. This scene right here. This is the most terrifying scene in the whole damn series.

Now you're probably thinking, "What's so bad about this moment where Brainiac says he loves Kara and is hesitant to hurt her?" I tell you why: because it really demonstrates just how evil he is.

It's one thing to have no understanding or capacity for love, care, or compassion. But to have those things and then willingly purge them from yourself because you see them as a weakness—now that is truly despicable.

Not only that, but because Brainiac understands how it feels to love and care for others, he is better equipped to exploit and weaponize those feelings in others, whether it be Kara, Kal-El, or anyone else he seeks to abuse, control, or destroy.