# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/101 "2015-10-31T22:26:18Z")
> [@Johnny\_Angel](#): > > I was bugged by the fact that they kept saying that Supergirl would now be a second super hero in the world. I have a high opinion of the fact that the Marvel TV Verse and the Marvel Cinematic Verse are in continuity. Is this not a prized aspect of the multimedia push for Marvel among other fans, such that DC didn’t feel it was important to matching Marvel’s success? I don’t get how the world of media operates. It’s working for the movies, but it isn’t working as well for Agents of SHIELD. They _have_ to react to what’s going on in the movies. (The wait for Winter Soldier made the first season even more uneven than first seasons usually are). They also just can’t do what they want to in case it has an impact on one of the movies in the future phases. By keeping things separate, Flash & Arrow can do whatever they’re doing on the CW, Gotham can continue to be a giant mess on FOX, during the movie next year, no one has to explain Supergirl’s absence, and if Superman & Batman blow up half the world, that isn’t going to get in the way of what these writers want to do in this universe. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/102 "2015-10-31T23:12:37Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Y’know, it fits if Krypton blew up “24 years ago” the day Superman leaves Kara with the Danverses: figure he just made his costumed debut that year, while she’s still just a little kid – and figure the series is now set ~11 years after _that,_ with Kara in her twenties after her cousin’s been fighting crime and saving lives for maybe a decade. I thought of that and watched it before writing my earlier comment. The opening narration is performed by the adult Kara (i.e. Melissa Benoist, as opposed to Malina Weissman, who plays the teen version of the character) and ends with a scene of the adult Kara walking through city streets on the way to her job: “but even though I had all the same powers he did, I decided the best thing I could do is fit in. After all, Earth didn’t need another hero. [brief pause] I work at CATCO Worldwide Media…” It’s not that big a deal, it just struck me as a tad clumsy. Had the narration not started with “24 years ago” it might work better, but they still have to back off a bit on Superman being the only active superhero if they ever plan to integrate Supergirl into a larger fictional universe, i.e. with the established Flash and Green Arrow characters. If integration is the goal, I can imagine Kara coming across occasional references to “that vigilante in Star City” and “rumours of that red blur” in Central City, while Metropolis and National City get passing references on _Arrow_ and _The Flash_. It’d take a bit of retconning (or a lot of it), but the televised DC universe could drop a few hints here and there. Heck, mention that a motivation for Kara becoming active as Supergirl is _because_ of new superheroes like Arrow and Flash, who themselves were partly inspired by Superman, who remains a forever off-camera presence. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/103 "2015-10-31T23:36:06Z")
On reflection, it’s a tad presumptuous to assume integration with other fictional universes is a goal of the producers of _Supergirl_. I’ll wager just surviving their first season is far more important. ---
**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/104 "2015-11-02T01:09:02Z")
> [@MacSpon](#): > > My own thoughts on the pilot…were that I really liked the first half, and really disliked the second half. (From the moment she got shot, onward.) > > There were a couple of scenes they missed, which would have saved it for me. > > First, a scene with Henshaw, where she tells him: “Excuse me, but why do you think you’re allowed to give me orders of any kind? Got news for you: _I don’t actually work for you_. That’s my treacherous sister who does, not me. Now, excuse me, but I’m off to…do whatever I feel like. Oh, and by the way…when you shot me with your kryptonite knockout gun, I was on my way to save people from a fire. If any of them died because you shot me without cause, _you_ are morally and probably legally culpable. Good-bye.” > > Second, a scene with her sister, where she tells her: “Hi, big ‘sis’, I can’t help noticing that (a) you never even said thank you when I saved your life – instead, you actually attacked me for doing it; and (b) you’ve been betraying me to your boss and his organisation for years now. So…you know, I love you, so I’ll forgive you eventually…but probably not soon. Don’t talk to me for a few months, okay?” I am definitely with **MacSpon** on this. Thanks for articulating it so well. The thing that makes or breaks these shows for me is _Characterization_. Silly plots with lots of nitpicky holes don’t bug me so much - “It’s just a show” really does work in my mind. A few points: [ol] [li]Kara seemed a bit meek to me. Hopefully, one of the story arcs will be her Empowerment as a Woman.[/li][li]I dislike the Devil Wears Prada Bosslady character. Nobody who heads up a huge multimedia conglomerate would be so clueless, insecure and petty as to bully the coffee girl and fire her if she disagrees once with The Boss. It’s just a show.[/li][li]Marvel has had plenty of time to get Carol Danvers into their MCU, but haven’t done it yet. Now DC is going ahead with Kara Danvers, and I’m laughing at any Marvel exec who objects.[/li][li]Melissa Benoist won me over immediately. I didn’t like the casting at first. I was very wrong. She is fantastic![/li][li]Buff Handsome James Olsen is a welcome addition. IT guy can handle the dorky Friend Zone plot elements.[/li][li]In Superhero shows, I really enjoy the parts where Our Hero interacts with and rescues the normal folk. I realize that the plot requires Big Bads and powerful villains to challenge and almost defeat the Hero, but I hope to see more little moments where Kara’s powers prove helpful in her daily routine (like heat-visioning up Bitch Queen’s coffee, for instance). [/li][li]I like the oblique references to Supes. Kara will learn to handle herself without his help.[/li][/ol] I’m rooting for this show. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/105 "2015-11-02T02:14:56Z")
I’m hoping they alternate Big Bad episodes with smaller ones, like Kara learning that she can’t be on 24/7 and can’t save everybody. Or relearning all her powers, like the heat vision thing mentioned by **Albert**. And standing up to Henshaw and maybe punching his lights out. She can blame it on Kryptonian PMS. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/106 "2015-11-02T06:33:28Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > And standing up to Henshaw and maybe punching his lights out. She can blame it on Kryptonian PMS. 😉 Personally, I’d rather she didn’t bother with violence against Henshaw. Rather, there could be a gradually build of nervousness to confidence to arrogance, where she begins to wonder if she needs Henshaw at all, even looking at him like he’s a presumptuous mouse of some kind: “You realize I could literally pulverize you, right? I mean in the sense of reducing you to a fine powder. It actually takes me conscious effort to _not_ pulverize you every time we meet, and I don’t mean out of barely-controlled anger, but if I just extend my arm a little too casually… poof!” ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/107 "2015-11-02T20:47:12Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > The thing that bugged me, outside of clunky pilotitis which is nearly unavoidable, was that her sister got recruited to the sooper sekrit anti-alien organization, and proceeds to spend the rest of her time there telling her sister to not be a hero. Also, not telling her about the 20 bad guys that have been waiting to murder her. Also, never having her practice using her powers. Because when super-power hardened killers are after your sister, clearly the best thing to do is stick your head in the sand and pretend they’ll go away. > > Also, I really disliked the boss guy that just wants Kara to go away. Um, you’ve already got one kryptonian that spends his free time saving the world, why wouldn’t you want two? All I got out of him was some nebulous xenophobia. I wouldn’t have blamed her at all if she had that as her villain origin “Oh, I decided to use my superpowers to save lives and stop crime, and bozo over here wants me to go serve coffee to some bitch. How about I serve my boot us his ass!” > > But seriously, this show could have 10 times the flaws and I’d still watch. Melissa Benoist is superb in the role and I bet she only gets better. > > (As far as potentially gay IT guy, yea, he is narratively supposed to be straight, but he’s so far into metrosexual and effeminate (which really need to go away as gay stereotypes) that I can see why everyone is being thrown for a loop. Dude needs to man up and ask Kara out again.) All of this. In general, I thought the writing was _terrible_ - I’ve heard less narrative exposition in an audiobook, every single character was a one-dimensional cliche, and the plot was just plain stupid. I mean, David Harewood is a good actor and yet all we got was “I DON’T LIKE ALIENS AND I’M GOING TO TAKE IT OUT ON YOU”. The dynamic between the sisters was at bad chick-lit level (“I’m only mean to you because I’m jealous of you!” “Well, I can only be at my best if you validate me!”). The [del]gay[/del] definitely-not-gay friend was a big pile of generic sidekick traits (and at one point did he spontaneously invent a new cape material?). And of course the implausibly hot, athletic, self-assured, successful and just-a-wee-bit-annoyingly-smug Jimmy was offputting, both because of the difference from the nerdy goofball of yore and his endless namedropping-while-not-saying-the-name schtick. Actually they were all good actors which was the saving grace of an otherwise awful show. I was thrilled to see Callista Flockhart back in business, even if she was basically playing Vanessa Williams’ _Ugly Betty_ character (Ugly Betty as Supergirl - _that_ would have been a better show). If only they had better material to work with. I’d say I hope it gets better but I foresee the “escaped alien convict of the week” theme going on for a while, much like Flash’s parade of metahumans, combined with more cutesy feminine insecurity and sister rivalry/bonding and David Harewood shouting and Jimmy smirking etc etc. > [@MacSpon](#): > > Second, a scene with her sister, where she tells her: “Hi, big ‘sis’, I can’t help noticing that (a) you never even said thank you when I saved your life – instead, you actually attacked me for doing it; and (b) you’ve been betraying me to your boss and his organisation for years now. So…you know, I love you, so I’ll forgive you eventually…but probably not soon. Don’t talk to me for a few months, okay?” Yeah, during the argument immediately after the plane landing I was shouting “She just saved your life, you ungrateful bitch. Just fuck off.” May watch again out of pointless optimism but man, that was a disappointment. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/108 "2015-11-03T03:10:32Z")
Just finished watching tonight’s episode. My biggest comment is that I think they were trying to make up for not saying “superman” last night by overdoing it this episode. Sheesh. I’ll have more once people have had a chance to see it. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/109 "2015-11-03T04:37:40Z")
Just watching episode two and had to pause when a real “whoa, hey, [record screech sound effect]” moment happened: James “Jimmy” Olsen knows Superman is Clark Kent? What the hell…? I’ll resume watching, but… geez! ---
**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 3, 2015, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/110 "2015-11-03T04:39:47Z")
Well, that didn’t take long for Henshaw to telegraph is sudden inevitable heel-turn. I mean, he was obviously never going to be _friendly_, but I thought they’d save that revelation for a more dramatic moment, once he’d built up some pathos. I liked that it looked like all the escaped prisoners wouldn’t be Kryptonians, and then… yeah. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/111 "2015-11-03T04:44:05Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Just watching episode two and had to pause when a real “whoa, hey, [record screech sound effect]” moment happened: > > James “Jimmy” Olsen knows Superman is Clark Kent? What the hell…? > > I’ll resume watching, but… geez! It makes sense, though, and I don’t have a problem with it. All those years as “Superman’s Pal,” and the Big Guy has to trust him with his secret sooner or later. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/112 "2015-11-03T15:46:35Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > Well, that didn’t take long for Henshaw to telegraph is sudden inevitable heel-turn. I mean, he was obviously never going to be _friendly_, but I thought they’d save that revelation for a more dramatic moment, once he’d built up some pathos. > > I liked that it looked like all the escaped prisoners wouldn’t be Kryptonians, and then… yeah. Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal! Yeah between the red eye flash and Supergirl’s aunt now talking to some mysterious voice off in the shadows, I can see Henshaw as the “big bad” of the season, which is weird because last week it looked they were setting up Astra as the main baddie. Why would Astra follow an evil Cyborg from Earth though? This show has a lot of stuff going on in it – it almost seems like too much. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/113 "2015-11-03T16:01:33Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Yeah between the red eye flash and Supergirl’s aunt now talking to some mysterious voice off in the shadows, I can see Henshaw as the “big bad” of the season, which is weird because last week it looked they were setting up Astra as the main baddie. Why would Astra follow an evil Cyborg from Earth though? This show has a lot of stuff going on in it – it almost seems like too much. Almost Flash-like, making the head of the agency that is trying to develop your powers into the baddie. Anyways, I liked episode 2. The dialogue is beyond clunky, but hopefully that’s something they can fix and its just early show issues. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/114 "2015-11-03T17:00:53Z")
The show is going to live or die on its baddies. Fortunately Harewood and Benanti are excellent actors. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/115 "2015-11-03T17:51:34Z")
Is comic book knowledge being considered a spoiler because Henshaw is a character from the comics. ---
**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 3, 2015, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/116 "2015-11-03T18:19:47Z")
So is Maxwell Lord, who had a cameo in the interview this episode and was mentioned as Win Schott’s idol. And, of course Win Schott was mentioned earlier as a character from the comics. Basically, I’m not sure we’ve seen a named character who _isn’t_ from the comics, yet (other than Astra?). ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/117 "2015-11-03T18:46:36Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > Is comic book knowledge being considered a spoiler because Henshaw is a character from the comics. Given how much TV shows like to deviate from the comics I can’t see how it would be. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/118 "2015-11-03T19:29:02Z")
So, Alura sentenced her sister. No conflict of interest, there, huh. Was Alura the only judge on Krypton? Also, I don’t know what Astra’s been doing for the past ten years, but I know what she hasn’t been doing: watching soap operas. I was sure she was going to do the “Kara, I’m your mother” bit. Heck, if she’d been smart, she would have recruited Kara without kidnapping her sister or attacking her. As for the “red-eye” flash… My husband reminded me that Red Tornado’s going to be on the series…and he’s a red-eyed android, isn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/119 "2015-11-03T20:37:41Z")
The commercials seemed kind of weak but it seems to be getting lots of buzz and she is adorable. I have a relative who looks eerily like her. I will try to catch it and watch it without any preconceived notions and see how it goes. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892/120 "2015-11-03T21:58:38Z")
The DEO sure is swimming in kryptonite, so thankfully all plots with a kryptonian adversary will be swiftly and thoroughly resolved, say by those nifty little tranq darts they used on Kara. No reason to get close to somebody who can grind you to paste before the signal to draw the kryptonite knife even makes it to your muscles, that’d be stupid. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supergirl/735892.md?page=7)