I must admit that I wasn’t very interested in CBS’ new Supergirl series. This was going to be the show, in my view, that finally pushed this superhero thing too far. At least on television.
Part of the hurdle that superhero movies and TV shows had to overcome was seeming corny to the general public. That’s obviously been overcome. People accept characters in tight, colorful outfits with extraordinary powers that use those abilities to fight evil and protect the populace. Geek culture has triumphed. Comic book superheroes are unquestionably woven into the fabric of our culture now. There may be no better example of this than the fact that we will now have a Supergirl TV show.
Over the past few weeks, as we approached networks announcing their fall schedules and Supergirl was closer to becoming a reality, I asked myself why exactly I was lukewarm about this show. Was I being sexist, uninterested in a series featuring a female character as the lead? Was I being immature, not wanting any icky girls in my boys club of superheroes and comic book fantasies? (If my mother bought me Supergirl or Wonder Woman comics when she came home from work, those immediately went to my little sister.)
Or was I just afraid perhaps even resentful of the idea that a Supergirl show could make all of these things I’ve enjoyed throughout my life, things that are now being taken seriously after being ridiculed and marginalized for decades, suddenly seem silly again?
Perhaps it was all of those concerns that were silly. Likely anticipating many potential viewers and fans having the same reservations I expressed, CBS released a first look at Supergirl for its upfronts presentation for advertisers and media on Wednesday. With a six-minute trailer, the network is putting on the hard sell. And you know what? This show looks pretty damn good. See if you agree.
https://youtu.be/Lm46-envrHo
What immediately struck me about this preview was its tone. Whether the producers intended this or not, Supergirl seems like a response to Man of Steel, particularly to those fans turned off by Zack Snyder’s reinvention of Superman as a somber, troubled character in a gloomy, gritty world. Where was the bright, dashing hero portrayed so memorably by Christopher Reeve? Sure, the newer version had grand spectacle and dazzling special effects, but where was the fun?
Whatever else it may turn out to be, Supergirl at least looks like it’s going to be fun. Some of it may be cheesy, guilty, cover-your-eyes (especially for the boys) fun, especially the aspects of the show that seem really “girly” and taken from the pages of chick-lit novels. (The workplace stuff certainly calls back rather overtly to The Devil Wears Prada, a movie I very much enjoyed.)
But we also get the goofy Clark Kent-type identity that we didn’t see in Man of Steel (and presumably won’t see in these very serious DC Comics movie adaptations), who’s bumbling yet competent at work, and clumsy with social interactions — especially potential love interests. We get the power fantasy of someone who might be overlooked and underestimated in personal life, yet has the potential for greatness and to be heroic.
Maybe most importantly, we have a hero who can do extraordinary things but is plagued by the same insecurities and doubts that we all deal with. That’s the stuff which has made these stories and characters so enduring for decades.
Honestly, the trailer really got me with the moment in which Kara (played by Melissa Benoist) is designing and trying on outfits for her costumed identity. It’s a key part of superhero mythology. But the show takes a shot at one of the more ridiculous aspects of the Supergirl character from the comic books: A costume that’s far too skimpy to be believed.
Yep, that’s pretty much how she’s outfitted in the comic books. Take issue with the skirt and thigh-high boots that Benoist is rocking as the title hero on this show, but at least there’s some form of rational restraint, while also demonstrating that this is a female character who isn’t Superman.
However, producers Andrew Kreisberg and Greg Berlanti have been extremely successful with superhero shows like Arrow and The Flash because they know that you have to give the comic book fans what they want: Action and some special effects spectacle. The trailer for Supergirl — and presumably its pilot, which almost all of this material has to be taken from — has a thrilling sequence in which our hero uses her abilities in public for the first time.
Is there anything that gets the blood circulating like someone ducking into an alley, away from a crowd, to unleash a heroic identity and the superpowers that come with it? It’s classic superhero stuff, man.
Saving an airplane from crashing also calls back to the original Superman: The Movie and Superman Returns (and, if you really want to get geeky, the first time Superman reveals himself in John Byrne’s Man of Steel miniseries for DC Comics — not to be confused with the movie). It’s a Superman trope, really. What better way to demonstrate that someone can fly and has superhuman strength than to do something a normal person never could?
Typically, TV shows put big money into their pilot episodes in an effort to impress networks (and advertisers) into picking them up for series orders, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if that’s what happens with Supergirl. Yet if the rest of the show enjoys less of a budget for special effects, that would be a disappointment.
One of the more surprising aspects of The Flash is how much digital effects are incorporated into the series, knowing that displaying his super-speed is a key part of the character. (That goes for his superpowered adversaries as well.) In past superhero shows, like what we saw in the 1980s, most of the story would revolve around the civilian identity and the costumed hero would only show up in spots, probably toward the end.
The Flash has raised the bar — and the upcoming DC’s Legends of Tomorrow will presumably meet that level — so Supergirl will have to meet that standard to appeal to fans of comic book superhero movies and TV shows. Whether or not it can do that every week could play a major factor in its success. But based on the trailer— which is basically a condensed version of the pilot — producers are going for a wider audience, one that may not typically watch these sorts of shows.
Comic book publishers like Marvel have made a significant effort to attract female readers in recent years, with titles like Ms. Marvel, Spider-Gwen, Silk and its Princess Leia Star Wars miniseries. To this point, movies and TV (along with their tie-in merchandise) haven’t followed suit, which has rightfully drawn criticism. But steps are being taken to address that. Warner Brothers has a Wonder Woman film in the works, while Marvel Studios is developing a movie starring its female Captain Marvel character.
However, it’s Supergirl that gets first crack at showing that a female superhero can lead a TV series or movie (and that a female-centric viewership will watch). Some will surely roll their eyes at the “girlier” aspects of this show, which indicate that there’s still quite a bridge to cross. But we also can’t fully judge until we begin watching some episodes. The series trailer should make sure more people tune in than might have otherwise.
