# Supergirl **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 27, 2015, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892 "2015-10-27T18:29:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/181 "2015-11-19T02:00:45Z")
Well, I watched this week’s. I am a little weirded out that while Alex is simply Kara’s “sister,” Eliza is always her “_foster_ mom.” That created more problems than it solved. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/182 "2015-11-19T04:36:49Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Well, I watched this week’s. I am a little weirded out that while Alex is simply Kara’s “sister,” Eliza is always her “_foster_ mom.” That created more problems than it solved. It was probably required for her heart-to-heart with Cat. Her normally “I don’t give a shit boss” was already shaken by livewire and then noticed that Kara was adopted, enough to humanize a really bitchy character. Great performance by Calista Flockhart, btw. I was a bit annoyed at the obviousness of the mom-sister plot, but the rest of the episode worked pretty well, I thought. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/183 "2015-11-19T14:04:00Z")
Also, Kara was an only child on Krypton; she doesn’t _have_ another sister that would make a qualifier necessary. She _did_ have another mother, hence “foster mother”. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/184 "2015-11-19T15:16:05Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > Also, Kara was an only child on Krypton; she doesn’t _have_ another sister that would make a qualifier necessary. She _did_ have another mother, hence “foster mother”. I think that is the simple answer. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/185 "2015-11-19T16:46:22Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > I was a bit annoyed at the obviousness of the mom-sister plot, but the rest of the episode worked pretty well, I thought. Let’s see, we’ve got the arguing-but-then-make-up-with-big-sister, mom-conceals-real-feelings, drama-at-big-holiday-meal, pining-for-guy-and-has-to-watch-him-with-current-squeeze, and friend-crushing-on-her-but-she-doesn’t-know-it all represented. Pushy-boss-might-know-secret-identity-and-be-more-shrewd-than-she-lets-on may be the only relationship this show has that hasn’t already been done a hundred times. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/186 "2015-11-19T17:12:22Z")
I’m hanging on by a thread, and that thread is adorableness. It’s getting harder to stomach the manufactured superhero drama. (I’m fine with manufactured family/relationship drama.) Alex: Be careful! Kara: I know, she can hurt me. Me: NO SHE CAN’T! Alex: No, she can kill you. Me: NO SHE CAN’T! It’s driving me insane that random schmoes can inexpicably pose a threat to her in any way. It makes zero sense. Unless that lightning bolt that went through Kara to make Live Wire (holy shit are comic book storylines moronically stupid) was a kryptonite lightning bolt, there’s nothing Live Wire could do to hurt Supergirl. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/187 "2015-11-19T17:35:02Z")
They’d re-defined Live Wire’s powers as “absorbing energy;” she absorbed Supergirl’s heatvision. Since the usual handwave for Kryptonian powers is that Kryptonians are basically solar energy batteries, it’s likely that Live Wire _could_ have hurt Kara by absorbing her stored solar energy and thereby depowering her Kryptonian abilities. Actually, one of Superman’s rogues’ gallery does just that - Parasite, I think? Wouldn’t be too surprised if he shows up in this show, too. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/188 "2015-11-19T18:30:01Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > It’s driving me insane that random schmoes can inexpicably pose a threat to her in any way. It makes zero sense. I said somewhere, maybe even earlier in this thread, that the difficulty of making a good Superman story is the challenge of finding an adversary who can pose an actual challenge to him. The guy is nigh indestructible. And can fly. I’m no comics expert, but that often seems to take the form of villains who try to out-think Supes, rather than out-fight him. I’m not sure if the _Supergirl_ writers have got the chops for that (or maybe just not yet). If the alternative is to tone down her powers a bit, with the explanation that she’s still learning how best to use them, I can live with that. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2015, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/189 "2015-11-21T03:14:15Z")
From the other Supergirl thread, partly because my non-superhero friends have been asking: > [@Supergirl question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl-question/737812/7): > > …Melissa Benoist does a good job of acting adorkable or assertive in her different guises; it’s more than just glasses on, glasses off. > [@Supergirl question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl-question/737812/37): > > She’s great at that! I am honestly watching mostly for the sheer delight of seeing her play awkward so well. It’s like Christopher Reeve as Überdork Clark (and Brandon Routh did a good job in Superman Returns). > > The “Does Cat Grant know?” reminds me of the comic book where Lex Luthor learns that Superman is really Clark Kent (from an underling? I seem to remember him firing whoever gave him the news) and he goes off on a tirade that Superman is the most powerful being on Earth! Why would he purposely want to act weak? > > We as viewers expect heroes to have Secret Identities because of the comic book mythos. Those ‘in continuity’ have no reason to expect their heroes to be two people at once. You never have people wondering who Bernie Sanders changes into, or looking for Jimmy Fallon’s Secret Identity. Besides which, a crucial part of the Superman comic or movie is: “Superman turns into Clark when he puts on the glasses and it’s a lot more fun if Lois doesn’t recognize him” Supergirl is continuing that tradition,a nd it’s part of the fun. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2015, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/190 "2015-11-21T03:51:52Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I said somewhere, maybe even earlier in this thread, that the difficulty of making a good Superman story is the challenge of finding an adversary who can pose an actual challenge to him. The guy is nigh indestructible. And can fly. > > I’m no comics expert, but that often seems to take the form of villains who try to out-think Supes, rather than out-fight him. Exactly right. The exploitable weaknesses of Supergirl are bad PR, accidental collateral damage, the dreaded kryptonite (fine in small doses from a storytelling perspective,) and just being clever enough that she can’t find you. Maybe frame other bad guys to keep her off your trail. Or be five steps ahead, like a [Die Hard with a Vengeance](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112864/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_113) kind of plot. Instead, every single enemy she has faced so far has gone after her strength: Standing toe to toe with her and throwing punches. It’s the worst possible strategy for a Supergirl enemy, yet every single one goes right for it. Even worse, the writers are portraying these boxing matches as fair fights. Maybe the Hulk or Thor could go toe to toe with Supergirl. Other than that? My eyes start rolling. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2015, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/191 "2015-11-21T05:50:53Z")
> [@Supergirl question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl-question/737812/37): > > She’s great at that! I am honestly watching mostly for the sheer delight of seeing her play awkward so well. It’s like Christopher Reeve as überdork Clark (and Brandon Routh did a good job in Superman Returns). Yes, although I thought that was a bit of a plot hole in the last episode; Livewire (before she becomes Livewire) was ranting on her radio show about Supergirl and called her “adorkable”. The adorkability is really a Kara thing. > [@EllisDee](#): > > Exactly right. > > The exploitable weaknesses of Supergirl are bad PR, accidental collateral damage, the dreaded kryptonite (fine in small doses from a storytelling perspective,) and just being clever enough that she can’t find you. Maybe frame other bad guys to keep her off your trail. Or be five steps ahead, like a [Die Hard with a Vengeance](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112864/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_113) kind of plot. > > Instead, every single enemy she has faced so far has gone after her strength: Standing toe to toe with her and throwing punches. It’s the worst possible strategy for a Supergirl enemy, yet every single one goes right for it. Even worse, the writers are portraying these boxing matches as fair fights. > > Maybe the Hulk or Thor could go toe to toe with Supergirl. Other than that? My eyes start rolling. That’s why I called it a challenge; in order to craft a plot worthy of a genius supervillain, you need, at least, very smart writers. _Supergirl_’s writers may not be up to that challenge, yet. The fact that villains have gone against her strength can be handwaved a bit; Supergirl is new on the scene and the baddies don’t really know how best to take her on. On the other hand, Superman is known and they might well assume that sauce for the gander is sauce for the goose. Does that apply to the secret identity issue as well? If it’s known that Superman has an alter ego (even if it’s not known that he’s Clark Kent), the folks in-universe might assume that Supergirl does the same. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/192 "2015-12-01T07:22:29Z")
So Henshaw isn’t Red Tornado. Cat’s mother is quite a piece of work … Something I’ve always wondered, since ST:TNG - can military officers really simply “resign their commission” on the spot like that? ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/193 "2015-12-01T11:52:56Z")
I liked the “Settlers of Catan” reference in the episode where she was babysitting Carter. If it was product placement it was well done. Or they figured most of the target audience know about it. Brian ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/194 "2015-12-01T13:13:55Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > So Henshaw isn’t Red Tornado. I still wonder if he’s Cyborg. Would explain the glowing eyes. I wonder if whatever his last mission the real Hank Henshaw was killed along with Daddy Danvers, and Henshaw’s body was used to make the cyborg. Cynically, he could be one of the best sleeper agents in history. Or, if the show wanted to stay noblebright, maybe both agents were injured, Daddy Danvers used his knowledge of alien technology to save Hank Henshaw’s life by turning him into a cyborg, and Henshaw is keeping that a secret since he wants to stay an agent. Even better, Daddy Danvers could still be hiding out in South America, although why he would abandon his family is a good question. > [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > Cat’s mother is quite a piece of work … Makes you wonder how she ever got married/knocked up. I also wonder if it’s one of those “I have to be the most successful person in my family, even if it means stomping over my children to do it” situations. ## What really did NOT make sense was the sudden “let’s go drink with my assistant” that Cat Grant decided was a good idea in the neighborhood bar. I mean, if it’s not ok for a woman to ever get angry, I can’t imagine it’s good for her to get blasted in some local bar either. Also, the red tornado looked really dumb (costuming was awful) and General Lane was so over the top it was stupid. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/195 "2015-12-01T13:29:23Z")
Supergirl’s face of rage was awesome. The character development is getting to be pretty solid- Cat seems to get more human and complex every week. Kara’s mixed emotions on being Supergirl and not having a normal life was pretty well done. I’m more impressed with Benoist every week. I was a bit bothered that she stopped those cars instantly and the drivers weren’t killed and the airbags didn’t deploy. Lord’s character is getting pretty good though I wonder why they didn’t try to get Will Wheaton for that role. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/196 "2015-12-01T13:29:35Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > Also, the red tornado looked really dumb (costuming was awful) and General Lane was so over the top it was stupid. Yeah, have to agree. The Red Tornado looked like “robot makeup” hasn’t progressed any further than the \*\*Tin Woodsman \*\*from the \*\*Wizard of Oz \*\*back in 1939. I enjoy the actors - Benoist is surprisingly appealing - but the way they deal with her powers and the way they deal with the love interest plots make it hard to watch. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/197 "2015-12-01T13:50:59Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Supergirl’s face of rage was awesome. The character development is getting to be pretty solid- Cat seems to get more human and complex every week. Kara’s mixed emotions on being Supergirl and not having a normal life was pretty well done. I’m more impressed with Benoist every week. I was a bit bothered that she stopped those cars instantly and the drivers weren’t killed and the airbags didn’t deploy. Lord’s character is getting pretty good though I wonder why they didn’t try to get Will Wheaton for that role. Yeah, I loved her angry look, as well! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/198 "2015-12-01T13:56:33Z")
Maybe I missed something, but: what was that robot supposed to be made of? Yeah, they mentioned how there was some lead in there, to block x-ray vision; I got that. But whatever it is, it was tough enough to take punch after punch after kick after kick from the girl who can lift a plane before she started with the heat vision, and turned up the heat vision, and turned _up_ the heat vision, so – what? She wasn’t holding back; she was trying to use her rage. What’s that tough? ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/199 "2015-12-01T14:07:08Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Maybe I missed something, but: what was that robot supposed to be made of? > > Yeah, they mentioned how there was some lead in there, to block x-ray vision; I got that. But whatever it is, it was tough enough to take punch after punch after kick after kick from the girl who can lift a plane before she started with the heat vision, and turned up the heat vision, and turned _up_ the heat vision, so – what? > > She wasn’t holding back; she was trying to use her rage. What’s that tough? Thought it was cold-vision, actually (ice-white, not laser-red)? Looked like Red Tornado was kicking on heating circuits to try and resist it, or at least that was how I read the glowing red lines on his torso. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/200 "2015-12-01T14:12:48Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Thought it was cold-vision, actually (ice-white, not laser-red)? Looked like Red Tornado was kicking on heating circuits to try and resist it, or at least that was how I read the glowing red lines on his torso. I was thinking “white-hot”, such that the glowing was “heated to incandescence”. Regardless, as per the end of the episode she threw everything she had at it. What can take that kind of punishment? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892.md?page=11)