Look up in the sky…it’s a bird…it’s a plane…no it’s..it’s…who is that??? It’s a girl wearing a red and blue outfit that looks like Superman, but it’s not him. Who is she? She is wearing an “S” on front, so she must be related to the Man in Steel. The media calls her Supergirl. I mean is that PC, should we call her Superwoman to avoid being accused of harassment. Are we to believe she has the same abilities like Superman? Obviously she can fly, have super hearing, super strength, super speed, heat rays, and virtually indestructible like Superman, but nowadays aren’t there pills out there that give us all that? Probably not, but who knows.
We live in a world where superheroes are a dime a dozen. You have the Flash, Arrow, Superman, Batman, Wonder woman, I can go on. So the question we need to ask is why do we need another? The answer is we don’t, we don’t need another show that just delivers characters that can beat up the villains and save the day. This show seems to copy the cookie cutter format of your typical superhero show. It has your usual villains, your usual good guys, but what differs from the rest of the shows is the complex character development of the main character. Sure Supergirl does her usual saving the day shtick, but what I love about her is her alter ego, Kara Danvers or Kara -EL. Just like Christopher Reeves in the Superman movies, Melissa Beniost uses her comedic, quirky, and nerdy qualities to give her character a very endearing and lovable traits that we can like.
Her back story is somewhat similar to her cousin, Kal-EL, but what is different is that she left Krypton when she was a child and was trapped in the Phantom Zone until she got free and traveled to Earth. Superman was all grown up and found her. He placed her in a foster home, the Danvers. It is pretty ironic that the Danvers are played by the very same actors who played Superman and Supergirl both on the small and big screen. 
Dean Cain is known for his role as Superman back in the 90’s on the hit tv show, Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Helen Slater who played Linda Lee, a.k.a. Supergirl in the big screen version of Supergirl in the 90’s. Actually it is kind of fitting, because I feel like Helen is passing the torch to the latest version of the Girl in Steel.
It is already in its fourth episode and the ensemble is starting to come together and getting into their own groove. The supporting cast almost mirrors from the pages of a Superman comic. Mild mannered Kara Danvers works for a media corporation with a boss who is tough and hard as nails, but is sincere in getting the truth out. Her disguise masks her true identity, an alien from another world. Her secret is shared by a few close people in her life: her sister, and two of her work colleagues. The series tells the story of a girl who wants to make a difference and is struggling to find her place in the world. Supergirl stumbles onto a secret shadow government organization that monitors and protect the world from any alien threat, the DEO (Department of Extra-normal Operations). It is a headed by a stubborn cautious looking fellow named Hank Henshaw. He has serous reservation about her ability to protect National City and a secret that is yet to be revealed. Her sister Alex works for the DEO and helps Kara prepare for anything that will come after her.
As the series goes forth, the villains tend to pop out gunning for the Girl of Steel. I guess you’re asking yourself….why? Why do these super villains have it in for Supergirl? Mommy issues!!! Yes, Kara’s Kryptonian mother Allura –EL was the judge of a super-max penitentiary in the Phantom called Fort Roz. It was Kara’s space pod that broke the prison out of the Phantom Zone and crash landed on Earth. Every week Supergirl encounters an escape alien convict and tries her very best to thwart their plan and put them behind bars. As she fights for truth justice and American way, she discovers that she has family that was put in Fort Roz by her mother Allura-El. Her Aunt made a grand entrance in the latest episode where she declares herself General Astra. She has the same powers like Kara, but her main drive and goal is to conquer Earth for her own kind. She commands an unknown number of Krytponian soldiers that have infiltrated the Earth population to blend in until they are called to action by their General. Does this sound kind of familiar, or am I crazy? Hint! Hint!, a mad crazy military Kryptonian figure that landed on Earth to dominate the planet. Can you guess? Who does that sound like???
Kara wants to be known as Supergirl, not the cousin of Superman. She believes that no one will take her seriously if every time troubles arises in National City they expect him to save the day. I agree, this show is called Supergirl and she must figure out a way to stop whatever comes her way. But it is nice to see the man in blue and red once in a while, after all they are family!!!! Speaking of family, the show delivers a more complex and multilayer back story about Kara’s foster family, the Danvers. It seems that the father was secretly working for the DEO while Kara was living with them. Apparently, the DEO found out about Kara and demands them to turn Kara over for testing and employment if need be. The father gave up his life to protect Kara from them. Recently during Thanksgiving dinner, her mother confessed that the DEO is responsible for her father’s death, and to be really careful of Henshaw and the DEO. Now Alex and Kara are on pins and needles around Henshaw when they have to work for him.
This show has a lot of potential to be great. It’s really fun and exciting, plus Melissa looks great in the suit. Her journey has just begun, and it’s really fun watching her learn about her powers and watching her grow into the superhero we know and love. It’s more than just another superhero show. It has class, innocence, integrity, and humor. Melissa delivers a great performance that will make you want to love her. Take a look, give it a chance and you’ll find it refreshing and fun.
Supergirl – An insight into the latest comic book TV show
