TV Retrospective: "Supergirl" - Season 1

Melissa Benoist
There's a certain dourness that is covering most of superhero movies and TV shows nowadays. On the big screen, Batman v. Superman shows two beloved icons battling each other in one of the most cynical and dark stories this year. The idea of a lighthearted superhero story seems to be fading fast in favor of a grittier universe. Thankfully, Supergirl exists to appease anyone tired of feeling bad about our saviors. In its freshman season, it managed to remind audiences what it was like to laugh and have fun while turning Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) from a goofy side character into one of the few feminist icons in the superhero TV landscape. There's nothing wrong with the show being goofy. In fact, it's actually very much encouraged - and sets a nice balance for the peril sequences. Even if Supergirl isn't the greatest that TV has to offer, it's one of the more reassuring.
There's a lot that initially seems disarming about Supergirl in a world where Jessica Jones and Agent Carter reinvent what female comic characters can do. For starters, there's the obvious ties to Superman; whose decades in the spotlight give him an unfair advantage. To some extent, being his cousin from the same planet means that you're pretty much facing the same problems. To that extent, Supergirl is very much the same as, say, Smallville - only peppier and minus seasons of backstory. However, there's something far more endearing about the series than the initial carbon copy assumptions that viewers can make. It may be CBS's first entry into the superhero realm, but it's also one that comes with a winning formula.
If Zack Snyder is considered the plague on superhero culture, then Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg are the antidote. Having helped to launch CW's own television universe with Arrow, The Flash, and Legends of Tomorrow, they come to CBS with the familiar upbeat formula in which the action is only part of the story. The average episode is just as fun to watch when the actors are seen talking at their day jobs and facing issues akin to the blue collar lifestyle. In the case of Supergirl, under the guise of Kara Danvers, she works at Catco for Cat Grant (Calista Flockhart) and deals with the familiar conflicts that arise in a journalism environment. Along with a few trustworthy employees, she manages to get through the day and secretly fight crime. Even if the show tends to steer towards "Crime of the week" territory, it does end in celebratory fashion which may make it formulaic - but also an uplifting experience week to week.  
The thing that really works about the show, despite sometimes being a little too earnest, is Benoist's performance. She brings a certain underdog charm to her performance that allows her awkwardness to never feel contrived. She is capable of being confident and shows an impressive range as the series progresses. Even if the role doesn't ask much from her, she manages to capture the Berlanti/Kreisberg tone very well, which makes her an easy protagonist to root for. The additional cast is stacked with endearing faces, specifically coworker Jimmy Olsen (Mehcad Brooks) and Kara's sister Alex (Chyler Leigh). The villains may rarely be interesting, but that does seem secondary to the overall vibe of the show, which is family and friendship.
Depending on how well you know your Superman mythology, this show may be a little redundant and familiar. The back half of the series explores Kara's life on Krypton and features an ongoing plot regarding her mother. There's also plenty of the familiar tropes such as red kryptonite and the presence of Bizarro. It's the one downfall of the series and what keeps it from having the same appeal as The Flash (of which did a fantastic crossover episode). Even then, the writers manage to make the limitations work by focusing more on character dynamics. The show is at times a crime show, but it also can be an office comedy or family drama. By the end, the show isn't just about being outrageously feminist. As the final minutes will suggest, it's about family.
Though the feminism isn't totally removed. The first few episodes address it in such bold manners that one could be forgiven for thinking that it tries too hard. Yet the series eventually moves beyond the simple "powerful women" idea and evolves to be about standing for justice and hope. The empowerment becomes implicit after a point and fades in favor of a more unified vision of teamwork. Still, there's something to how well this show manages to take familiar conventions and turn them into something fresh and engaging. It may not be as complex as Jessica Jones, but it does cover the bases for being a fun throwback to traditional dramas and the feeling that superheroes stood for something greater. Even if it's not an amazing show, it has the right intentions - and that makes it worthwhile.
Supergirl may not be the greatest superhero show currently airing, but it's far from the worst. In fact, there are few shows that are this entertaining. While the show remains in limbo as to whether it will be renewed, it does prove not only that CBS can compete with the other networks, but also that shows of this ilk can still be created. With the promise of more expansion with the CW shows, it doesn't seem likely that we'll be absent of Benoist's talents just yet. That is a good thing, as her cheery presence has been a welcomed presence in the mist of more dour and complicated dramas. Whether or not this is the end of Supergirl is yet to be seen. However if it is, this is quite an effective and impressive season to go out on.


Rating: 3.5 out of 5

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