The first season of any show can easily make or break it. Look at how many shows do not get picked up for a season 2 or barely make it out with a first season.
Too soon?
However, Supergirl, unfortunately, seemed to face much more of an uphill battle that other TV series. First of all, the show is about a female superhero which, for no reason science can explain, seems to be the kiss of death. Look at all the female led superhero movies that have come out recently!
I'm not going to share a picture because, as of this writing, there are none that have been successful. So the show was already a risky venture. Factor in the fact that it was premiering on CBS rather than the more appropriate CW, which has been (thankfully) changed for season 2. Then there's the "obvious" thing that all executives always ask themselves, "Will guys like the show? Will girls watch a superhero show? Will it appeal to everyone?" Translation - if it isn't a white male in the lead then the odds of it being a successful superhero show/film are extremely rare.
This hadn't premiered yet! Plus Netflix is the exception to the rule! (Jerks)
The first few episodes of season one were good but they were no where near the caliber that Arrow and the Flash first seasons were at. After rewatching the series I figured out the problem: the show started off too formulaic. The show had to have the best friend that was in love with the protagonist (Winn), the new guy that she meets that she instantly falls in love with (James), the sister (Alex), and the overbearing boss (Cat, and to an extent, Hank). Plus there were the constant references to Superman. It was the same problem that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. suffered from. "Hey we know Superman! But you'll never see him!" It's like a constant reminder to the audience that they're never going to see what they "really want" and instead they're getting second best. Once the producers/writers realized that they don't HAVE to fall into those stereotypes the show vastly improved. Basically, the "girls can do anything boys can do" theme was dropped. Instead, the theme became "a young person discovering herself in a complicated world". Now THAT'S a story that anyone can relate to! Once the Superman references died down and the love stories took a backseat (ish) to the main action and storytelling the show became much more exciting and fun!
While there are still cheesy moments, after all it is a comic book show, the show lived up to its hype in my opinion. After watching the wonderful first season, I thought I would share the best things about it. Hopefully you will want to check it out on DVD or Netflix when it inevitably gets there!
HANK HENSHAW/MARTIAN MANHUNTER
This is quite possibly my favorite twist that the show provided. When the series was first announced, David Harewood was cast as Hank Henshaw. This of course led to speculation that he was going to be the main villain of the series as the Cyborg Superman. And while that would have been a good show to watch, it wouldn't have been very interesting. During the first few episodes, it was clear that Hank was hiding something. As the audience, especially those of us that are well versed in comic book lore, the secret was probably that he was a robot with the powers of Superman. However, the wrtiers and producers had a very different and much better idea - he was J'Onn J'Onnz, the last survivor of Mars. I'll never forget the episode where it was revealed. My jaw dropped to the floor. I cheered and couldn't wait for the next episode to see more of one of my all time favorite Justice League members. J'Onn was so awesome during the animated Justice League Unlimited. He was a wonderful character and I was so stoked to see more of him in live action.
While the Cyborg Superman story would have been cool with the whole "is he really a bad guy or can he be redeemed" type of story, I must say that Martian Manhunter was a WELCOME change of pace. It added much more of the "lonely survivor from a dead world" story to Kara's journey. Plus, it opened up the show to have his rogues gallery, specifically the White Martians (more on that later), make appearances and terrorize National City. His story was a tragic one but very different from Kara's story. However, there is a lot of similarities between the two and the chance to explore that in the series made it so much more exciting for fans.
ROGUES
One of the MANY issues with adapting a superhero to TV (or film for that matter) is the villains. You don't want the villain to overpower the hero's story but you also don't want them to be bland and uninteresting. It's a very delicate balance and it's very hard to achieve. Luckily, I think Supergirl did a good job of having interesting, if not at least fun, villains to fill up an hour long show with. While the show did have its duds, it did have some wonderful actors come in and bring us some cool threats for Kara to face every week. Villains like Bizzarro, Livewire, Silver Banshee, and Reactron while somewhat cheesy were still fun to see brought to life and make life hard for Kara. It helps that the series made a genuine attempt for Kara to try to see the good side in every villain she faced. She tried her best to redeem them or talk them out of their evil ways before trying to fight them. It's exactly the kind of hero that Supergirl needs to be. It's the type of hero that Superman tries to be. It's wonderful to see her reach out and try to help everyone, even if it seems like they do not deserve it.
JAMES OLSEN
Here's a character that could have been either really bad or really cheesy, which is arguably worse than being bad. When Mehcad Brooks was first announced to play Jimmy Olsen on Supergirl, let's just say there were some fans that were less than excited. I had never heard of him so I had no opinion on the matter. Just like Stephen Amell, Grant Gustin and even Melissa Benoist I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Luckily, I was not disappointed. Brooks proved himself to be a very capable actor - he was good at comedy, drama, and action. Jimmy Olsen needs to be all of those things. You don't get to call yourself "Superman's pal" for nothing ya know! He was everything he needed to be at first which was Supergirl's confidant and potential love interest. Then he grew into more than that. He was a hero in his own right. When he found out there was a bomb at the station where Lucy Lane was at, he didn't hesitate to run to her rescue. When Kara lost her powers, he did everything he could to help the people of National City. Plus, and this is important, just like Kara's gender didn't become much of an issue in later episodes as it was in the first couple, Brooks' race was not a factor. It would have been very easy to make him a stereotypical "black man trying to make his way in a white man's world" character. While there were hints of that and it was discussed here and there, it did not overpower his arc this season. He was able to a person. Just like Kara was able to be a hero and her gender didn't make a difference anymore, his race was unimportant. It's a very powerful message to send to the haters and non-haters alike - He might look different but he's just a man trying to be the best he can be just like you! Plus - this dude is hot as hell! I mean damn man! (I have no shame in saying that)
WINN AND THE TOYMAN
Winn was a character that seemed so easy to figure out in the first few episodes. He was Ducky from Pretty in Pink. He's the best friend that's in love with the female lead and he's going to go crazy in the Friend Zone. The actor, Jeremy Jordan, was announced as playing Winn Schott. Just like with the Hank Henshaw name, that had resonance for us Superman fans. The next stage was thinking, "Oh here it comes! He's going to become the Toyman!" In the first few episodes, it seemed that our suspicions were spot on. He pined after Kara and was jealous that she seemed so interested in James Olsen. It didn't seem like so illogical that the next step was "proving" himself to her by building toy bombs and terrorizing National City. However, just like with the Hank Henshaw twist, the producers had another idea, a far better one. Winn is instead Winslow, Jr and his father, Winslow, Sr is the real Toyman and has been in prison for a long time. This made for a far more interesting story than if Winn decided to become evil to try and "Winn" Kara's heart.
But seriously, having the father be the crazy one and try to reunite with his estranged son was a far better story, and more shocking to the audience, than if Winn had turned out to be a bad guy all along. Plus the episode where Toyman returned finally brought to a head the feelings that Winn had for Kara. There was the awkward kiss, the rejection, and then the eventual rescue from Psycho-Dad that romantic comedies are known for. Well maybe not that last part, but you get the idea! Either way, the producers were able to resolve the Winn-Kara romance swiftly and better than if that particular subplot had been dragged out for another season or two. The actors, Benoist and Jordan, were able to perform it believably and when it was resolved it felt natural and realistic. It was a great way to utilize the Toyman storyline without having to destroy/villianize one of the show's best characters.
MAXWELL LORD - NOT A LEX LUTHOR SUBSTITUTE
One of the things that anyone would ask when making any sort of Superman-related project is, "Where is Lex Luthor?" He's Superman's #1 adversary and one of the best characters in the DC canon. But since the DC Film side of things are stupid jerks, we were not going to get Lex Luthor on the show.
I'll calm down now because I loved his performance (stupid jerks)
Instead, the producers needed a different billionaire to oppose Supergirl and give the "human" villain that we all crave and need with these types of shows. Or maybe not need . . . It does happen a lot though . . . ANYWAY! Peter Facinelli was cast as Maxwell Lord, a billionaire narcissist that loves to invent new and cool things for the world and hates aliens. So . . . he's pretty much Lex Luthor. Well, in the hands of a lesser actor, he would have been, yes. Luckily, Facinelli proved to be much more than a Luthor-lite and gave us a rich, complex character that I hope we get much more of in season two. He was funny, fun, charismatic, and had real chemistry with his co-stars. Although he started off as just a billionaire hell-bent on destroying Supergirl's reputation, he became much more than that. He was a real person with a real motivation for disliking not only aliens but the government as well. In the last few episodes he even proved himself as an invaluable resource to the DEO in stopping Non's plan to destroy the world.
Let the record show that I truly hate the Twilight movies and everything they stand for. When I heard it was Facinelli that was cast I was not pleased. Much to my surprise and pleasure, he turned out to be a wonderful addition to the story. What could have easily been a disposable, unlikable character became one of my favorite villains and one that I couldn't wait to see more of. I'm hoping that he returns for season two for more Lord shenanigans. Given how the first season ended with him and General Lane, I wouldn't be surprised if he comes back better and stronger than ever!
THE FLASH CROSSOVER
For someone like me, seeing The Flash and Supergirl work together was nothing short of a dream come true. For a non-fan, it had to have been at least a super fun episode! In the episode, Barry is stranded on a different Earth but decides to team up with Kara to face two of her deadliest opponents, Silver Banshee and Livewire. While the episode wasn't without it's flaws, I will maintain that it was definitely the most fun episode of the entire season. Anytime the superheroes team up, it's a joy! Luckily, the producers were smart about it and were able to tie it into the Flash's story from his series as well as find ways to have him shake up the dynamics of the series. He was able to be a great friend to Winn because they are both geeks, a rival for James because Kara was seemingly interested in a new guy, and he was able to give the people within the show, like Cat, a new hero to get excited about. In short, the crossover was very successful in what it was trying to accomplish. Also, was anyone else rooting for Kara and Barry? I mean not as heroes but as a potential love story? I mean, seriously! They were so cute together and so fun to watch. They had instant chemistry and I was sad when Barry left at the end. Hopefully season two will have the two Earths merge, like Flashpoint did in the comics, and we'll get to see more crossovers with Barry and Kara.
They've already announced a musical two-part episode so . . . yes. Now please! Thank you!
SPECIAL EFFECTS
Whether we want to admit it or not, special effects can make or break a superhero show. When Lois and Clark premiered it was considered ground breaking. A weekly superhero show? Let alone a complicated one like Superman? Given the restrictions and expense of CGI back in the early 90s, that series did well for itself. When Smallville premiered it was the same story. Luckily the producers were smart and kept most of Clark's powers restricted to "growing up" and all that jazz. They were able to limit what they could do based on the character's age. They still pulled off some impressive effects even for a show that was on basic cable back in 2001. Then suddenly, the CGI craze was huge! Arrow was a little more grounded so the CGI was limited to just a few shots per episode.
Fun fact - All the arrows he shoots are CGI because it's too dangerous for everyone on set to have real arrows in the bow.
Then there was the Flash! I'd like to think that that this particular show really made it possible to do almost anything the writers could imagine in a weekly series that was therefore unheard of just a few years prior. So then it came time for Supergirl. Not only could the main character fly, but she was super strong, had heat vision, super speed, arctic breath, and faced a super-powered adversary on a weekly basis. Smallville was good at that but that was before people were comfortable with the main characters wearing fantastic costumes and having goofy code names. Plus a character like J'Onn J'Onnz and his backstory requires an expensive CGI makeover. Luckily the series not only provided this but exceeded my expectations on what a weekly series can do. Hopefully the move from Los Angeles to Vancouver, Canada won't have too much of an effect on this going forward. However, I'm still confident that we will see exciting, groundbreaking visual effects from Supergirl.
THE FAMILY YOU'RE BORN WITH
What people love to see on weekly TV series more than anything is drama. The Will They - Won't They story is a trope that so many shows do these days. Luckily, a lot of producers have gotten to the point where they get to the "Why they won't/can't" sooner rather than later. We can't always be dealing with 10 years of Ross and Rachel ya know! However, not everyone can relate to the "Will They Won't They" story so there is another trope that shows use - Family. There are two types of family stories that just about anyone can relate to - the family you're born with and the family you choose. I have many friends that will call themselves brothers, sisters, sons, daughters to someone that they have absolutely no blood relationship to. This is because at a certain point in your life you become family with the people you care most about, even if they're not the ones you go home to see at Thanksgiving.
In Kara's case, her family died years ago on Krypton. Much to her surprise tho, she finds out that her mother's twin Astra and her husband, Non, are on Earth and looking to take over (or save as they put it) Earth. That's family that Kara was born with, but she chooses to reject. This is a family that is blood related but is doing terrible things that she does not agree with. Let's just say I can relate to that. We all have family that we're told that we need to "love no matter what" because they're family. For Kara, believing in people is her greatest superpower but she still struggles with dealing with her feelings for both Astra and Non. However, lucky for her, she was also given a second family on Earth, the Danvers.
Yeah! There they are!
They raised her like she was their own daughter along with their actual daughter, Alex. It was a great arc throughout the first season where we see how much Kara misses her mother Allura on Krypton but also loves her adopted mother Eliza just as much. It's the extended family that we're told to love just as much as we love our parents and siblings. Kara struggles with that not only because she grew to love the Danvers so much, but because Non and Astra are . . . you know . . . trying to destroy the world. But . . .
THE FAMILY YOU CHOOSE
There is always the family you choose. One of my best friends introduced his brother to me. They both looked alike and had a similar sense of humor. It wasn't until a few months later I found out that they were not actually brothers. They chose to call each other that because they had been through a lot together and were such great friends that the word "friend" or even "best friend" was not enough for them. I found that to be an exceptionally heart warming story. I was reminded of that while watching Supergirl. Kara was adopted by the Danvers family but still only refers to Eliza as her foster mother. However, she doesn't hesitate to call Alex her sister. Alex and Kara have a bond that is clear from the pilot. As the show goes on, their sisterly relationship is clearly what defines these two women as they go forward with their lives and their life choices. Not only that, but when the series begins it's clear that Alex looks up to Hank, especially after losing her father at a young age. As the series goes on, and Hank's true identity is revealed, it's clear that he regards Kara and Alex as daughters he never had. Or rather the daughters that he lost and he now has a second chance with.
J'Onn lost his family on Mars and came to Earth as a refugee. Jeremiah Danvers recognized his gentle nature and bonded with him. When it seemed as though Jeremiah was dying, he asked J'Onn to look after his family. J'Onn did that and bonded with the two Danvers women. To them, he is a father figure that every young woman needs. To him, they are the young women he is proud to look after and watch grow up. It's a story that a lot of people can relate to and honestly brought tears to my eyes watching them bond over the first season.
And this image I chose for this entry? That's one of my favorite scenes from any of the DC TV series. Seriously, heartwarming as all get out! :')
HOPE
For anyone out there that complained about Man of Steel or Batman v Superman not living up to the message of HOPE that Superman is supposed to embody, look no further than Supergirl. In the first episode, Kara says how the "S" doesn't stand for super, it's her family crest for the House of El. Later she states how it means "stronger together" which is what the House of El tried to live by on Krypton. As the series goes on, she begins to understand that, to the people of Earth, that S shield means a hell of a lot to them. For the people of Earth, it means hope. It means that help is coming. It means strength. It stands for Truth, Justice and the American Way. Kara realizes that during the finale when it's time to help the people of Earth save themselves from Non and Astra's evil plan. She broadcasts the S shield to them as a way to inspire them out of being mindless drones for the Kryptonians and to stand up for themselves as human beings. It's something that Clark tells her he's proud of her for and, as a fan of the comic books, I was proud too.
The producers stated early on that they hoped their series would serve as loving homage to the Christopher Reeve Superman films. I think that with the message they tried to send, especially in the finale, and the way Kara grew as a character from the pilot, they more than succeeded in that endeavor. The show is full of fun, optimism, and excitement. It's something that I can recommend to children, boys and girls alike. I really can't say enough about this show. There is a definite message of hope and inspiration in there. Not because someone has come to save us, but because she has inspired us to save ourselves. That's really the ultimate goal of Superman. He wants us all to be super. So does Kara.
Season one of Supergirl is now available on DVD. I highly recommend this series to anyone that's a fan of comic books but also to fans who love to feel good about the shows they are watching. The show was full of great moments and picking just 10 to discuss was hard to do. This show definitely put a smile on my face and I can't wait to see what happens next!
CYBORG SUPERMAN! I'm calling it!
Till Next Time!
JJ - The Comic Junkie!
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