CBS’s “Supergirl” added to the ever-growing list of superhero adaptions on Oct. 26 but missed the mark as a solid and consistent superhero show.
Kara Zor-El (played by Melissa Benoist) arrived on Earth as the 13-year-old cousin to Superman. She was adopted into a human family and grew up in a mostly human way. CBS tried to make it clear that this show was about Supergirl by focusing minimal attention on Superman.
As if she wasn’t similar enough to Clark Kent, the writers gave her glasses so she could rip them off dramatically as she changed into her alter ego, Supergirl. Despite the writers’ attempt to move away from Superman, Kara appeared as a female Clark Kent with her job, her glasses, and her demeanor.
By the time CBS stopped explaining her backstory, Kara had landed herself a job under a stereotypical diva. She fetched coffee and was the nerdy walking-mat for her boss, Cat Grant (played by Calista Flockhart).
Not only did she lack mental awareness for serious occurrences when she fought crime, but acted like a child when situations didn’t go her way. Kara resorted to storming off-scene when she and her sister (played by Chyler Leigh) clashed.
When she decided to embrace her Kryptonian powers, she had zero sense of secrecy. After taking the media by storm, Kara felt little support and revealed her powers to her colleague, Winslow Schott Jr. (played by Jeremy Jordon).
Like most superhero renditions, the creators ignored the physical capabilities of a Kryptonian to progress the plot. Although Kara’s senses exceeded that of a human’s, her powers were not always exploited. In one instance, she heard her boss’ snide comments in an elevator, but in another, failed to see incoming projectiles.
With so many discrepancies in the characters and the plot, CBS’s attempt to join the comic book bandwagon crashed and burned, just like Krypton.
Why watch CBS’s “Supergirl” (2015) when viewers could watch the same plot with “Superman” (1951)?
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