Supergirl Supergirl General Discussion Thread - Part 2

[Mad Ones]

This actually looks very fresh! Devil Wears Prada combined with superheroes is an unexpected but welcomed combination! I think that tone works very well, surprisingly. But the trailer also had some great visuals. The wing of the plane scraping the bridge looked like a movie. The costume was great and the actress felt more like Superman than Superman does! I'm sold on this property now.

 

[vantheman77]

I hope the Supergirl pilot is two hours. No way could they cram this much in one hour. If this does take place in the same universe as Arrow, Flash, and DC Legends, it's likely taking place in their futures rather than the present.

 

[Mikelus]

The trailer was ok but, like many have said already, a little bit too "girly" and the music was terrible. The first Flash 5-minute trailer was much better:

[YT]Yj0l7iGKh8g[/YT]

I think it's obvious they're trading on familial ground. The failed WW pilot had some of the same hallmarks.

The thing about the Flash/Arrow is that the show is still filled with the usual "girly" things like angst/romance and stuff,so it's not like you can't have that in the "manly" SH show. But the "Low level working girl,dealing with corporate *****s and crying in her pillow over her lost/secret love" thing is clearly them making an appeal to gals.

It's dangerous,'cause guys make up a bigger part of the audience, and if that flick chic stuff gets too heavy,they'll tune out in droves.

Agreed, they have to be careful with that, is a very fine line they have to walk.

This is what CBS entertainment chairman Nina Tassler said about the show:

Tassler described the CBS version of the DC Comics icon as “a very strong, independent young woman. She’s coming into her own. She’s dealing with family issues. She’s dealing with work issues. It’s a female empowerment story. If you look at the strong female characters we have on the air, it really is resonant of that … We’re big feminists. It’s her intellect, it’s her skill, it’s her smarts. It’s all of those elements. It’s not just her strength, which she does have.”

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/01/12/supergirl

I also feel CBS is the wrong network because of their high ratings expectations, Monday is one of the most competitive nights of the week, definitely not the best time slot for Supergirl. AOS, despite being part of the MCU, has very mediocre ratings (4+ million viewers), those numbers will get Supergirl canceled on CBS... time will tell.

 

[dark claw x21]

Just watched the new trailer for Supergirl. Looks awesome. I definitely can't wait for this show to start.

 

[JC00]

I'll be passing on this.

Also surpising that this will be airing against Gotham.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Don't know how to feel about the trailer. Leaning towards liking it, but it could go either way. I'll give it a chance for Melissa Benoist and the two actresses from dearly departed NBC shows. Long live Krypton, long live Go On!!!

 

[John Locke]

I also feel CBS is the wrong network because of their high ratings expectations, Monday is one of the most competitive nights of the week, definitely not the best time slot for Supergirl. AOS, despite being part of the MCU, has very mediocre ratings (4+ million viewers), those numbers will get Supergirl canceled on CBS... time will tell.

I think if it delivers in the younger demo like CBS is hoping for then it will stay. The younger demo is where the money really is. The older demo is set in their ways, aren't going to change brands, and don't want to spend as much money as the younger demo.

 

[BatmanVSuperman]

CBS won the week with total viewers, with 8.103 million viewers, ahead of second place ABC with 6.568 million. NBC tookthirdwith 5.438 million viewers, followed by FOX with 3.194 million viewers. Univision was fifth with 2.430 million viewers. CW took sixth with 1.565 million viewers. = May 12 2015



Big difference in ratings needs for CBS vs CW. A superhero show of any kind is a bold attempt considering this. Supergirl will have to capture a decent audience right away.

 

[Lead Cenobite]

I liked the trailer except for the workplace stuff with Calista Flockhart. I'm sure the show will be good but why can't there ever be a straight forward live action Superman-related show? Lois and Clark was a romantic comedy, Smallville was Dawson's Creek, and I'm hearing people describe this show as Supergirl meets the Devil Wears Prada.

 

[Heretic]

I thought it was okay...but the light hearted comedic drama type thing isn't really my thing. I think that the actress seems to be doing well with the part, and it turns out that I still think she's hot.

But alas, I don't think that Supergirl should exist. I oppose the idea of the character. Also, I'm bothered that DC is not interested in having one shared universe of characters (same as the comics). So, I'm not going to watch it.

 

[BatmanVSuperman]

Flockhart seemed a bit over the top.

 

[Supercajun]

Tough time slot for Supergirl. She'll be going up against Monday Night Football and the new X-Files which will be airing on Monday nights at 8 starting January 25.

 

[Lead Cenobite]

On the other hand, I did think she made a good point about how "girl" isn't exactly offensive.

 

[BatmanVSuperman]

Tough time slot for Supergirl. She'll be going up against Monday Night Football and the new X-Files which will be airing on Monday nights at 8 starting January 25.

Hmmmm, all the more reason to go after female audience.

 

[Fincher]

Surprised to see all the negative comments regarding the Catco stuff. Secret identity, news office, light-hearted tone is exactly what a lot of people want for Superman, yet when it's applied to Supergirl, now it's lame and just for teenage girls?...I'm curious what tone people wanted for a Supergirl show (granted I have never read a Supergirl comic).

Personally, I would have made it sillier, or darker, or more stylized, or some combination of those. Light-hearted is a broad description for tone, and there's a lot of nuance there, and I'm not feeling the particular vibe we've seen.

Some other things I'd do differently (that may or may not be generic guy answers):

1. If you're going to copy Superman and set it in the media, just have her be a reporter. Assistant = boring.

2. If there's going to be someone who doesn't believe she has what it takes in the media business, Lois & Clark had the right idea: have it be the romantic interest. It consolidates so that you're killing two birds with one stone, it creates dramatic tension, and it gives the romantic interest more of an identity than "the romantic interest".

3. Speaking of which, Lois in Lois & Clark was the feisty one, and that more striking personality (and her determination to uncover stories) helped her hold her own as a character when Superman was the one who was actually saving the day. Now, granted, none of us have seen the show, but in terms of what this trailer is selling...why should I care about Jimmy Olsen? Does he have a personality beyond generic nice guy? Goals? Secrets? I think Kara has the hots for him, and maybe straight women/gay men will, too, but I don't care. Then the other guy is Hulk who just wants to eat ice cream with Black Widow.

For those of you who don't get that reference: these are presumably the two biggest male characters, and with six minutes to work with they were presented as little more than romantic prospects. That isn't a sign that CBS is targeting male audiences.

 

[Mikelus]

Hmmmm, all the more reason to go after female audience.

Yes, but maybe that's not going to be enough, it depends on what CBS wants ratings wise. It would be funny if this show's "destiny couple" is suppose to be Kara/Jimmy, but then female viewers prefer her with Winslow (Toyman)... it has happened with Arrow, where Oliver and Felicity are more popular than Laurel & Oliver, and The Flash, with Barry and Caitlin being more popular than Iris and Barry. That's another potential negative for Supergirl, Berlanti & co are not very good writing angsty drama.

 

[Spock]

This show is going to have a massive viewing for the pilot, and then a massive drop off every week after.

 

[DigificWriter]

Jeremy Jordan's Wynn is her 'Felicity', and Mehcad Brooks' James is her 'Laurel'/'Iris'/'Joe'/'Diggle'.

You then have Calista Flockhart's Cat Grant and David Harewood's Hank Henshaw contrasting each other as the authority figures in her life (with Henshaw as her 'Captain Lance') and Chyler Leigh's Alex as her 'Thea'.

 

[ARBH]

Well, the preview did the trick for me. I think it looks great. There were some "meh" moments, particularly the choice of music in the promo. But that is very easy to look past.
People complaining about the character crying is a bit silly. She is allowed to feel lost, trying to discover her place in the world. She has super powers. She is not a robot.

 

[DigificWriter]

The central element of Kara's characterization in this take is that she's felt 'lost' pretty much the entire time she's been on Earth, hiding who she is and trying to fit into a world that is not her own, which is why she's so freaking HAPPY when she takes the big leap forward and breaks out of her shell by revealing her powers to the world.

When you've just found a way to be who you really are AND be truly happy for the first time in 12 years, someone telling you to just stick to the same unfulfilling thing(s) you've been doing is going to mess with you emotionally.

 

[Frog Warlord]

A few observations, overall I am quite positive and am planning on watching it.

1. I find it funny all these current superhero tv-series open with the sentence "My name is..."

2. I do hope they won't refer to Superman too often. The idea of her looking up to her big and impressive cousin could be getting lame and annoying quite fast.

3. I like the tone, reminds me a lot of Lois & Clark, which I enjoyed. I am not sure how I feel about the show being so... girly? Not sure if it's sexist or not, but it is typical that the female superhero show seems very much focussed on her feelings and her struggle of accepting who she is.

4. I hope that, with Batman vs Superman coming up, we get a Batgirl vs Supergirl fight.

5. At this point, based on the trailer, the supporting cast doesn't seem that big yet: Her sister, her boss and two co-workers. I hope we get more and hope they are interesting.

 

[ARBH]

The central element of Kara's characterization in this take is that she's felt 'lost' pretty much the entire time she's been on Earth, hiding who she is and trying to fit into a world that is not her own, which is why she's so freaking HAPPY when she takes the big leap forward and breaks out of her shell by revealing her powers to the world.

When you've just found a way to be who you really are AND be truly happy for the first time in 12 years, someone telling you to just stick to the same unfulfilling thing(s) you've been doing is going to mess with you emotionally.

BRAVO! Well said. It brings a human element to her. Do we want a stoic character that no one can relate to, or do we want to see a character that develops over time?

 

[teagone]

I cut together this alternate trailer for the show from the first look footage. I'm such a nerd, haha.

[YT]b3dkwFObqSM[/YT]
Watch it on YouTube

 

[ARBH]

A few observations, overall I am quite positive and am planning on watching it.

1. I find it funny all these current superhero tv-series open with the sentence "My name is..."

2. I do hope they won't refer to Superman too often. The idea of her looking up to her big and impressive cousin could be getting lame and annoying quite fast.

3. I like the tone, reminds me a lot of Lois & Clark, which I enjoyed. I am not sure how I feel about the show being so... girly? Not sure if it's sexist or not, but it is typical that the female superhero show seems very much focussed on her feelings and her struggle of accepting who she is.

4. I hope that, with Batman vs Superman coming up, we get a Batgirl vs Supergirl fight.

5. At this point, based on the trailer, the supporting cast doesn't seem that big yet: Her sister, her boss and two co-workers. I hope we get more and hope they are interesting.

Regarding your point#1: It is probably because it is from the same creative team as Arrow and Flash. Although it is getting a bit tired.

Point #3: The Flash has shown himself to be often conflicted and trying to figure things out regarding his new powers. Arrow seems to be un-relenting in its "I am who I am" stance with the character of Oliver Queen. Queen decided to be Green Arrow. He could have simply used his money and resources to save Star(ling) city.

Kara and Barry Allen possess extraordinary powers, and have to come to terms that they are not a part of "normal" society. The duality of these characters are what keeps (or will keep) the storyline fresh.

 

[Spooderman]

On the other hand, I did think she made a good point about how "girl" isn't exactly offensive.

Except she calls herself a girl when she's a hag.

It's kind of odd how many adult superheroines are called Girl (Supergirl, Power Girl, Hawkgirl, Batgirl [pre-retcon {although there already was a Batwoman}], Invisible Girl [before rename]), but so few adult male superheroes are called boy (Hellboy comes to mind, but he got that name as a baby). Even teenage male superheroes are calling themselves "man". like Spider-Man and Iceman. Kinda shows that society is more tolerant of childish behavior from women.

But of course they can't call her Superwoman because that's evil Wonder Woman from another dimension.