Reaction to CBS' Supergirl Pilot

Reaction to CBS' Supergirl Pilot

After watching the leaked pilot, I've got a couple thoughts on CBS' Supergirl. Spoiler-free, so you're safe.

Editorial Opinion
By pjspider - May 22, 2015 11:05 AM EST
Filed Under: Supergirl
Hey, are you a big Supergirl fan?  No?  That's okay... who is, really?

I was able to sneak a peek at the leaked pilot of CBS' Supergirl.  My initial reaction is that while the show will likely be popular among the general, non-hardcore comic book fan, audience - fans of the comics will more than likley be disappointed (if that wasn't already made clear by the 6-minute trailer).

Melissa Benoist is... there.  She's cute.  She's dorky.  She's almost adorable.  But she really has no sense of confidence or toughness about her.  Granted, it's the first episode, so chances are she'll continue to gain that as the show continues.  No one else from the cast really stands out, except for Calista Flockhart's lips.... cause they're huge.

What I keep thinking about is that vocal fanbase who have been dying to see a strong, female superhero on either the big or small screen.  And while Supergirl seems like a clear and easy choice to deliver to that audience - it's not happening here.  To me, a strong, female superhero needs to have that self-confidence, toughness, and be able to kick some ass.  CBS' Supergirl is uncertain, insecure, and when she tries to be confident, it comes off as corny and stomach-turning.

So, in short, CBS took a very strong and powerful female character from the comics, and made her wimpy, whiny, and mildly annoying in order to appeal to a general audience of young ladies.  The show will probably be successful and last a couple seasons, and I'll probably give it another couple episodes to see where it's going... but if it doesn't keep my interest, I'll stop watching sooner rather than later.
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tonytony
tonytony - 5/22/2015, 12:03 PM
sounds like a review of the MCU
UltimateCookie
UltimateCookie - 5/22/2015, 12:15 PM
@tonytony Couldn't have said it better myself.
Wallymelon
Wallymelon - 5/22/2015, 12:32 PM
@pjspider To be fair I haven't seen the pilot I am basing my opinion on your review. But I think the tone the show is going for is trying to create a very well rounded character, not just a bad ass female. It seems like theyre going for a very real approach to the character instead of something comicbooky. granted I havent seen the show. So I have no idea.
SKOne
SKOne - 5/22/2015, 12:50 PM
I really liked the Supergirl pilot a lot and I am definitely looking forward toward seeing the rest of the series. I'm glad that certain aspects and the ending create a different story than we've seen before. One other note, the small bit of Superman costume we do see kind of looks like the Man of Steel suit.

Here's hoping the Legends of Tomorrow pilot also leaks this year, so we don't have to wait until 2016 to see it.
BigFoster
BigFoster - 5/22/2015, 1:30 PM
It was a definite disappointment
Jazzy4
Jazzy4 - 5/22/2015, 1:36 PM
No Supergirl for me. I don't like the sound of this : too "Days of Your Life" soap opera BS. No thanks !

If i want a strong female representation of a hero, Agent Carter and most women in Agents of SHIELD already provide that for me. Even females in DD act maturely and are strong...from Karen to the old lady who didn't want to moveout from her apartment to the nurse.

I also expect Jessica Jones to follow that rule and have a more adult centric, strong female representation.

Im not interrested nor is the target for the teeny booper female representation or the whiny damsel in distress that is so prevalent in a lot of DC TV shows with excessive and unecessary soap opera sappy components catering to the same target that is reading Arlequin books...
pjspider
pjspider - 5/22/2015, 2:17 PM
@Wallymelon - I get what the show is going for. You can take a well-rounded, real approach to show with a strong female character - but there other ways to do that, that don't involve making your main character weak and insecure. I'm not saying Supergirl needs to go all Matrix-Trinity-ish or anything... I'm just saying they could've written her to act less like a teenage drama nerd more like an adult who believes in herself.
Ghostpointzero
Ghostpointzero - 5/22/2015, 2:38 PM
Sounds like the review of a person who has no idea what a strong female character is. I can wait and please stay away from superhero shows in particular female characters you obviously don't know what the character is about what she represents.

Seriously I hope this is successful and destroys in ratings just to shut these lame ass wanna be company fanboys up for good.

Your idea of a strong female character sounds like a woman with a penis instead of female up and coming in her superhero career. I'd like to hear a review from a woman not a dude who has no idea what a good female character is.
Ghostpointzero
Ghostpointzero - 5/22/2015, 2:48 PM
Many are saying it's good but too girly and not badass enough lots are saying Kara is not confident enough and she's too nery and blah blah blah, umm these people clearly have no idea that KARA is not agent carter, blackwidow or jessica jones.
neihofft
neihofft - 5/22/2015, 4:46 PM
Chloe was great. The show itself reminded me of a better version of Smallville. But, some of the other actors, I just felt came off very cheesy with their delivery. Her parents, the bad guys. Bleh. She however, is great.
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 5/22/2015, 5:46 PM
Many are saying it's good but too girly and not badass enough lots are saying Kara is not confident enough and she's too nery and blah blah blah, umm these people clearly have no idea that KARA is not agent carter, blackwidow or jessica jones.

That's actually a really good point. Look at Spider-Man for example. He's nowhere as badass as Cap or Batman or Daredevil. Not saying he's not but the thing with Peter is that he's always been a loser. Always the one everybody puts down with the exception of Aunt May and MJ. The reason we love Spider-Man is because he's relatable and has to put up with so much bullshit. I've always felt both Spidey and Superman are the 2 most relatable heroes because they both go through everyday problems like you and me. In terms of Clark Kent and Peter Parker, not Superman and Spider-Man.

Maybe if they took Supergirl into that direction, it would be good and interesting.
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 5/22/2015, 5:51 PM
That was for @Ghostpointzero
AsgardianHobo
AsgardianHobo - 5/22/2015, 9:04 PM
I like Googling her name though. The possibilities are endless! Well, kinda
RextheKing
RextheKing - 5/22/2015, 10:03 PM
Sort of sound like you're reviewing a WW show and didn't like it because it was too Supergirl-ly.
Superheromoviefan
Superheromoviefan - 5/23/2015, 1:24 AM
Sounds as bad as I exptected
megabatfan
megabatfan - 5/27/2015, 7:02 AM
Christ in heaven it's her first outing as Supergirl. Don't you guys know anything about character development. It's not a movie with only 2 hours to fully develop Even The Flash had alot of learning curves to go through. I'm expecting by the time the first season ends, she'll be the strong confident superheroine we are looking for. If not, then we can bitch & moan.
Wallymelon
Wallymelon - 5/30/2015, 1:09 PM
@pjspider I saw the pilot, and I have to say that your opinion on her characterization of a strong female is a bit off. She is a pretty capable strong woman in the sense of what a women is in real life.

Let's talk about how women are people just like men are people. People are flawed and insecure. It's how a person reacts to their surroundings that makes them gain or lose confidence through life. People are not these perfect action heros that can do everything, even if a person had the powers of superman they would still be scared about stuff, they would still make mistakes and fall in love with people that might not be best for them. They are people.

Kara is a woman clearly raised on earth and happens to have super powers. I think your issue is more with the writing then it is with the characterization of what makes a badass woman. Real bad asses are flawed.
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