Supergirl: Pilot
October 26, 2015 6:36 PM - Season 1, Episode 1 - Subscribe
After keeping her powers a secret for 12 years, Kara Zor-El, Superman's cousin, decides to embrace her abilities and be a hero.
I have a soft spot in my heart for the Helen Slater Supergirl movie, so, I think this would have to have been insanely bad (like David E. Kelley Wonder Woman bad) for me to dislike it.
There was a lot of clunky heavy-handed dialogue (that waitress' line was a real groaner) and it did suffer from 'pilot-itis', but, I'm optimistic that it will improve now that they've got the major exposition out of the way. Melissa Benoist is adorable.
posted by oh yeah! at 6:58 PM on October 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
There was a lot of clunky heavy-handed dialogue (that waitress' line was a real groaner) and it did suffer from 'pilot-itis', but, I'm optimistic that it will improve now that they've got the major exposition out of the way. Melissa Benoist is adorable.
posted by oh yeah! at 6:58 PM on October 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
"Okay damn it, you win, show," - what I said when the villain twist happened at the end. I love me some Laura Benanti.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:25 PM on October 26, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:25 PM on October 26, 2015 [3 favorites]
It felt very comic like. That was good. Not perfect for tv, but good enough I think.
Supergirl was very likable. James Olsen was likable. We got a good explanation for bad guys of the week for a season or two. And something of an over arching plot.
All in all, not a bad start.
posted by 2ht at 7:48 PM on October 26, 2015
Supergirl was very likable. James Olsen was likable. We got a good explanation for bad guys of the week for a season or two. And something of an over arching plot.
All in all, not a bad start.
posted by 2ht at 7:48 PM on October 26, 2015
They really were hammering the exposition anvil with some awful dialogue, but I was promised a Helen Slater cameo.
Until then? Onward. Maybe James (rawr) can lead me there.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 8:23 PM on October 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Until then? Onward. Maybe James (rawr) can lead me there.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 8:23 PM on October 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
My three year old loved it and has watched it several times since it leaked, fastforwarding the talking bits to anything with Kara being awesome. It's clunky but in a sweetly self aware Chuck clunky way.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 8:51 PM on October 26, 2015
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 8:51 PM on October 26, 2015
I too am in the 'clunky but I will give it some time to grow' camp. I stuck with Smallville two whole seasons, and Supergirl herself is already flying and sympathetic, two things they never managed with Superman that time.
*shrugs*
posted by mordax at 9:02 PM on October 26, 2015
*shrugs*
posted by mordax at 9:02 PM on October 26, 2015
Seems entertaining enough, so long as you're willing to ignore the plot holes (which I totally am -- e.g., if basically every convict from krypton is about to become the MOTW for Supergirl, what's Superman so busy with that's a bigger threat?).
posted by axiom at 9:08 PM on October 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by axiom at 9:08 PM on October 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
I love me some Laura Benanti.
Yeah, me too. But she's not enough to get me back. I hope it gets better, but this pilot is awful.
posted by crossoverman at 9:13 PM on October 26, 2015
Yeah, me too. But she's not enough to get me back. I hope it gets better, but this pilot is awful.
posted by crossoverman at 9:13 PM on October 26, 2015
what's Superman so busy with that's a bigger threat?
I could have sworn there was some line in the pilot previews about him going to do some off-planetary mission, but maybe I was just making that assumption from the scene of Olsen giving Kara the cape? Or maybe I just assumed it, since that's what they did in Supergirl The Movie?
posted by oh yeah! at 9:36 PM on October 26, 2015
I could have sworn there was some line in the pilot previews about him going to do some off-planetary mission, but maybe I was just making that assumption from the scene of Olsen giving Kara the cape? Or maybe I just assumed it, since that's what they did in Supergirl The Movie?
posted by oh yeah! at 9:36 PM on October 26, 2015
DON'T SAY HIS NAME!
Seriously. It must be a rights issue or something. Just say "him."
I really loved the trailer for this. The reviews were pretty positive. I went in with pretty high expectations, and found the pilot a little less than hoped for. Very, very on the nose. And I couldn't figure out who I was supposed to like beyond Kara herself. Even Olsen came off as a smug prick somehow. The whole thing with the sister and the secret anti-villain agency never made any damn sense to me.
Just, I don't know, a lot less than the sum of its parts somehow. I think it earned a few episodes to find its legs, but at this point, if I have to pick one show for my not-grimdark superhero slot, I'm sticking with Flash, which won me over pretty instantly.
posted by Naberius at 10:39 PM on October 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Seriously. It must be a rights issue or something. Just say "him."
I really loved the trailer for this. The reviews were pretty positive. I went in with pretty high expectations, and found the pilot a little less than hoped for. Very, very on the nose. And I couldn't figure out who I was supposed to like beyond Kara herself. Even Olsen came off as a smug prick somehow. The whole thing with the sister and the secret anti-villain agency never made any damn sense to me.
Just, I don't know, a lot less than the sum of its parts somehow. I think it earned a few episodes to find its legs, but at this point, if I have to pick one show for my not-grimdark superhero slot, I'm sticking with Flash, which won me over pretty instantly.
posted by Naberius at 10:39 PM on October 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
"Clunky but not without charm or promsie" is where I'm at with this too. I'm hoping it kind of becomes Ugly Betty but publishing not fashion and with more punching?
posted by sparkletone at 12:01 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by sparkletone at 12:01 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
It was decent enough to maybe hold me over until Jessica Jones. Which will be awesome or life will not be worth living any longer. I thought Benoist was the best part of the show. And to be fair if only one part of your show starts out really well it's optimal for that part to be your title character.
Somebody at Totally Not SHIELD needs to tell her to take some self defense courses or something stat. Sure she can skate by on her powers when fighting scrubs but if she's going to go after Kryptonian Prisoners maybe she should be able to, I dunno, fight? Also a little cardio wouldn't hurt.
JEB! should probably not comment on Supergirl any longer. His comment would have been deleted here.
But, yeah, here's to hoping the clunky dialogue was mostly pilotitis because Benoist's admittedly major charm factor won't sustain the show forever.
posted by Justinian at 12:31 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Somebody at Totally Not SHIELD needs to tell her to take some self defense courses or something stat. Sure she can skate by on her powers when fighting scrubs but if she's going to go after Kryptonian Prisoners maybe she should be able to, I dunno, fight? Also a little cardio wouldn't hurt.
JEB! should probably not comment on Supergirl any longer. His comment would have been deleted here.
But, yeah, here's to hoping the clunky dialogue was mostly pilotitis because Benoist's admittedly major charm factor won't sustain the show forever.
posted by Justinian at 12:31 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
As a pilot, I give it four stars: it showed me what they're capable of, it set up the arc, it made me care about at least two of the characters.
As a show itself, it's perfectly acceptable for what it is, if leaning a little heavily on the office-romance-aw-gee-I'm-just-a-girl stuff (and the only actual emotion I could see Calista Flockhart expressing in the entire show was the sound of her soul breaking as she read that "Calling her '-girl' is TOTALLY FINE" speech).
As a piece of media that shares continuity with a comic-book universe... gah. Why does Kara wear glasses? Why didn't [Insert Nickname Here Because We Can't Say Superman] teach her how to use her powers? For that matter, why didn't her parents do something more to prepare her for this "protect your cousin" mission? Why isn't [INHBWCSS] helping with the Phantom Zone escapees? James. Olson.
Okay, stopping now. I'll keep watching, but they've got nowhere to go but up.
posted by Etrigan at 3:37 AM on October 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
As a show itself, it's perfectly acceptable for what it is, if leaning a little heavily on the office-romance-aw-gee-I'm-just-a-girl stuff (and the only actual emotion I could see Calista Flockhart expressing in the entire show was the sound of her soul breaking as she read that "Calling her '-girl' is TOTALLY FINE" speech).
As a piece of media that shares continuity with a comic-book universe... gah. Why does Kara wear glasses? Why didn't [Insert Nickname Here Because We Can't Say Superman] teach her how to use her powers? For that matter, why didn't her parents do something more to prepare her for this "protect your cousin" mission? Why isn't [INHBWCSS] helping with the Phantom Zone escapees? James. Olson.
Okay, stopping now. I'll keep watching, but they've got nowhere to go but up.
posted by Etrigan at 3:37 AM on October 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
Not sold on this yet. This isn't a clean pilot, it felt very rushed. There's a bit too much going on for me to be engaged in any particular part. The sister who's also a superspy. The guy who's totally not going to be her boyfriend this season. The "Don't call me Jimmy" hotline to explain what Superman would do in her place. The gruff editor, the grumpy agency guy, the villain-of-the-week dispensing machine, the big bad... phew, that's exhausting. And they tried to give all of them big setups, while also showing off "girl gets to tryout new powers", "girl gets to reveal big secret (multiple times)", "girl on a learning curve", and more. It's too much for one hour, let alone 44 minutes.
Take the wannabe boyfriend, for example. He's a somewhat cute guy who's friends with a cute girl. Leave it at that. Three episodes in, it'll be obvious he is attracted to her and she's been too busy/disinterested to notice. Then you can either angle it that he starts winning her over romantically, or she starts winning him over as a platonic confidante. No need to cram that into the first hour.
Benoist's charm certainly helps carry this, and is a reason I'll check it out again. But they really need to dial back the squee-golly-willikers act. I half expect her to giggle after knocking out a bad guy, and apologize. I'm hoping that's part of her initial joy of finally acting like a grown-up, and not a character trait. She's a damned superhero, not a kindergartener.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 3:44 AM on October 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
Take the wannabe boyfriend, for example. He's a somewhat cute guy who's friends with a cute girl. Leave it at that. Three episodes in, it'll be obvious he is attracted to her and she's been too busy/disinterested to notice. Then you can either angle it that he starts winning her over romantically, or she starts winning him over as a platonic confidante. No need to cram that into the first hour.
Benoist's charm certainly helps carry this, and is a reason I'll check it out again. But they really need to dial back the squee-golly-willikers act. I half expect her to giggle after knocking out a bad guy, and apologize. I'm hoping that's part of her initial joy of finally acting like a grown-up, and not a character trait. She's a damned superhero, not a kindergartener.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 3:44 AM on October 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
Why didn't [Insert Nickname Here Because We Can't Say Superman] teach her how to use her powers?
Dean Cain was right there!
I enjoyed it, but definitely got the "Please don't think too hard about this" vibe from the whole thing. Like, what year is it? Is He the only superhero out there (so pre-Justice League movie) or what? Why wouldn't He be all over the Bad Guy Ship that showed up when Kara's ship crash landed? Why would He let Not-SHIELD take her ship? Why wouldn't He deliver the cape himself? I mean, He had to deliver it to Jimmy, right?
I'm hoping they keep with the lighter tone. That it was The Flash that got the CW/DC tie-in is telling, I think, and hopefully signals that will be the well they draw from rather than Serious Snyderian Man Painz. They're certainly taking a page from The Flash's love of nerdy Easter eggs. I was sold the moment I saw Jimmy's big ole watch.
ZEE ZEE ZEE HERE COMES THE TURTLE-BOY ZEE ZEE ZEE
posted by robocop is bleeding at 5:06 AM on October 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
Dean Cain was right there!
I enjoyed it, but definitely got the "Please don't think too hard about this" vibe from the whole thing. Like, what year is it? Is He the only superhero out there (so pre-Justice League movie) or what? Why wouldn't He be all over the Bad Guy Ship that showed up when Kara's ship crash landed? Why would He let Not-SHIELD take her ship? Why wouldn't He deliver the cape himself? I mean, He had to deliver it to Jimmy, right?
I'm hoping they keep with the lighter tone. That it was The Flash that got the CW/DC tie-in is telling, I think, and hopefully signals that will be the well they draw from rather than Serious Snyderian Man Painz. They're certainly taking a page from The Flash's love of nerdy Easter eggs. I was sold the moment I saw Jimmy's big ole watch.
ZEE ZEE ZEE HERE COMES THE TURTLE-BOY ZEE ZEE ZEE
posted by robocop is bleeding at 5:06 AM on October 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
Oh! Forgot my biggest problem with the show. Now, I know next to nothing about Supergirl. Haven't read any comics or past versions.
But isn't her story just Superman all over again?
Kryptonian sent to Earth as a child. Grew up with a wholesome adopted family. Works at a major media organization in a major city. User her same powers to fight the same bad guys. Jimmy Olsen even works there too!
Okay, okay. She knows a little more about who she is. She's an assistant and not a journalist. Instead of her being infatuated with her partner, her partner is infatuated with her. The office boss is nowhere near as likable. And she wears a skirt instead of underwear. (I'm assuming there was underwear beneath the skirt though.)
posted by 2ht at 5:21 AM on October 27, 2015
But isn't her story just Superman all over again?
Kryptonian sent to Earth as a child. Grew up with a wholesome adopted family. Works at a major media organization in a major city. User her same powers to fight the same bad guys. Jimmy Olsen even works there too!
Okay, okay. She knows a little more about who she is. She's an assistant and not a journalist. Instead of her being infatuated with her partner, her partner is infatuated with her. The office boss is nowhere near as likable. And she wears a skirt instead of underwear. (I'm assuming there was underwear beneath the skirt though.)
posted by 2ht at 5:21 AM on October 27, 2015
what's Superman so busy with that's a bigger threat?
Doesn't he have to go beat up Batman, or make out with him, or something?
Put me in the "not fantastic, but certainly not terrible" camp as well. I think it has potential, and Melissa Benoist is quite charming as Kara/SG.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 5:36 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Doesn't he have to go beat up Batman, or make out with him, or something?
Put me in the "not fantastic, but certainly not terrible" camp as well. I think it has potential, and Melissa Benoist is quite charming as Kara/SG.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 5:36 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
As a pilot, I give it four stars: it showed me what they're capable of, it set up the arc, it made me care about at least two of the characters.
I'm judging it very different as a pilot than I would be if I caught one episode mid-season, even season one, but as a pilot it satisfied me. They dispensed with the necessary set up quickly, which I liked, and hopefully means we can move forward into actual story. It's genre TV, we all know what's coming, might as well get it out of the way. The whole thing did feel a little fast, but for a pilot I'm okay with that.
I did think that most of the characters (other than Kara and James) were sort of sloppy, but that comes with time. At this point, it's enough that Melissa Benoist is so likeable, but obviously they'll need to make the sister and the DEO guy more interesting at some point soon.
I do think it's odd that of the characters who had more than a couple speaking lines the only person who doesn't know her secret identity is Cat. I'm not sure if that's a conscious decision to downplay that part of the story, but when she took the guy who has a crush on her up to the roof I was surprised just because he's the obvious one to keep in the dark. I don't love secret identity plots, but it's an unexpected choice.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 5:41 AM on October 27, 2015
I'm judging it very different as a pilot than I would be if I caught one episode mid-season, even season one, but as a pilot it satisfied me. They dispensed with the necessary set up quickly, which I liked, and hopefully means we can move forward into actual story. It's genre TV, we all know what's coming, might as well get it out of the way. The whole thing did feel a little fast, but for a pilot I'm okay with that.
I did think that most of the characters (other than Kara and James) were sort of sloppy, but that comes with time. At this point, it's enough that Melissa Benoist is so likeable, but obviously they'll need to make the sister and the DEO guy more interesting at some point soon.
I do think it's odd that of the characters who had more than a couple speaking lines the only person who doesn't know her secret identity is Cat. I'm not sure if that's a conscious decision to downplay that part of the story, but when she took the guy who has a crush on her up to the roof I was surprised just because he's the obvious one to keep in the dark. I don't love secret identity plots, but it's an unexpected choice.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 5:41 AM on October 27, 2015
But isn't her story just Superman all over again?
More or less, yeah. Supergirl was a creation of the Silver Age when comics were pretty much batshit insane. The covers were designed to make you go "whaaaa? why would Superman do THAT?" and buy the comic to find out. So then the story had to at least nod toward that, so they were usually equally fucked up. Superman forces Jimmy Olsen to marry a gorilla. Superman murders Lois Lane in space. Superman taunts Aquaman and Batman with water while watching them die in the desert. There's tons of them on the net. Finding them is left as an exercise for the reader.
And you would not believe how many... living things actually escaped Krypton. Supergirl came out of their attempt to expand the Superman line. There was superboy, Krypto, Superman's superdog, and I swear to god Supergirl had her own Super Horse. (Who was in love with her and managed to score while temporarily transformed into a human by a wizard with a big pointy hat. I shit you not.)
But yeah, they were pretty much all just reflections of Superman designed for more targeted demographics of reader identification. They weren't created because they had their own stories that needed to be told.
posted by Naberius at 6:38 AM on October 27, 2015 [7 favorites]
More or less, yeah. Supergirl was a creation of the Silver Age when comics were pretty much batshit insane. The covers were designed to make you go "whaaaa? why would Superman do THAT?" and buy the comic to find out. So then the story had to at least nod toward that, so they were usually equally fucked up. Superman forces Jimmy Olsen to marry a gorilla. Superman murders Lois Lane in space. Superman taunts Aquaman and Batman with water while watching them die in the desert. There's tons of them on the net. Finding them is left as an exercise for the reader.
And you would not believe how many... living things actually escaped Krypton. Supergirl came out of their attempt to expand the Superman line. There was superboy, Krypto, Superman's superdog, and I swear to god Supergirl had her own Super Horse. (Who was in love with her and managed to score while temporarily transformed into a human by a wizard with a big pointy hat. I shit you not.)
But yeah, they were pretty much all just reflections of Superman designed for more targeted demographics of reader identification. They weren't created because they had their own stories that needed to be told.
posted by Naberius at 6:38 AM on October 27, 2015 [7 favorites]
I thought it was pretty good. Definitely a pilot with all the pilot dialogue, and I thought that it was way too fast, but I loved Calista Flockhart's "The Devil Wears Kryptonite" take on her character, and I did love that the two sisters are each badasses in their own ways.
Jimmy Olsen is so hot! He's supposed to be a total dork, isn't he? Or is it just that I stopped really watching anything Superman-related at Christopher Reeve?
Seeing Dean Cain and Helen Slater at the beginning was great. I hope they keep showing up, and actually get dialogue.
posted by xingcat at 6:43 AM on October 27, 2015
Jimmy Olsen is so hot! He's supposed to be a total dork, isn't he? Or is it just that I stopped really watching anything Superman-related at Christopher Reeve?
Seeing Dean Cain and Helen Slater at the beginning was great. I hope they keep showing up, and actually get dialogue.
posted by xingcat at 6:43 AM on October 27, 2015
I don't care if this was any good I care that it was more adorable than a penguin snuggling with a polar bear. And if the show requires as many logistical inconsistencies as my last sentence to make its premise work, so be it.
I am making ridiculous heart eyes at this ridiculous show.
posted by dinty_moore at 6:45 AM on October 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
I am making ridiculous heart eyes at this ridiculous show.
posted by dinty_moore at 6:45 AM on October 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
Well now, given The Flash's habit of not shying away from the franchise's goofier aspects, if Supergirl doesn't get a horse that falls in love with her, I'm going to be disappointed.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 6:47 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 6:47 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Why yes, my inner nine year-old is telling me SPACE GIRL NEEDS PONY
posted by dinty_moore at 6:52 AM on October 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by dinty_moore at 6:52 AM on October 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
No Way. TEAM STREAKY THE SUPERCAT 4 LIFE x9
posted by robocop is bleeding at 6:55 AM on October 27, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 6:55 AM on October 27, 2015 [6 favorites]
I enjoyed it, but it definitely felt like the pilot that it was. The "Girl" speech probably should have been condensed better as, "Our advertising people felt Supergirl sold better" instead of trying to justify it with a speech where replacing 'girl' with 'woman' would have made it a better speech.
I also agree that there was a lot of rushed aspects to getting Kara from lowly assistant to superhero in an hour, but it's the super hero that's the sell so I get that. The acting, especially from anyone not Kara or her sister, wasn't that great - be it little Kara who overemoted to the head of DNO or whatever it's called.
I liked the dig at female superhero costumes when Kara initially came out and exclaimed she wouldn't wear the first outfit to the beach.
I generally liked the casting, though either we're going to be getting flashbacks to little Kara or we're going to get a graying Dean Cain. I can't believe they would cast him just for that cameo. Also, when did or does he die or her earth mom? We were told only four people know her secret identity and the math simply doesn't add up between her sister, Olson, her coworker and parents. The special effects weren't bad, but I'm hoping they improve over time. I really liked her eyes during the heat ray scene.
Overall, I enjoyed it and I'm going to keep tuning in.
posted by Atreides at 7:17 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
I also agree that there was a lot of rushed aspects to getting Kara from lowly assistant to superhero in an hour, but it's the super hero that's the sell so I get that. The acting, especially from anyone not Kara or her sister, wasn't that great - be it little Kara who overemoted to the head of DNO or whatever it's called.
I liked the dig at female superhero costumes when Kara initially came out and exclaimed she wouldn't wear the first outfit to the beach.
I generally liked the casting, though either we're going to be getting flashbacks to little Kara or we're going to get a graying Dean Cain. I can't believe they would cast him just for that cameo. Also, when did or does he die or her earth mom? We were told only four people know her secret identity and the math simply doesn't add up between her sister, Olson, her coworker and parents. The special effects weren't bad, but I'm hoping they improve over time. I really liked her eyes during the heat ray scene.
Overall, I enjoyed it and I'm going to keep tuning in.
posted by Atreides at 7:17 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
I thought she said three people knew, when she was telling wannabe boyfriend guy on the roof, making him four. That would mean her adoptive parents and sister... but no we're still off because surely HE knows. HE was the one who placed her with the Danvers family, right? Okay, yeah, now I'm confused.
But of course at the time, she didn't know that Olsen knew who she was, or indeed that there was an entire "totally not SHIELD" government agency dedicated to making her give up on her dreams. Jesus, talk about paranoia.
posted by Naberius at 7:31 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
But of course at the time, she didn't know that Olsen knew who she was, or indeed that there was an entire "totally not SHIELD" government agency dedicated to making her give up on her dreams. Jesus, talk about paranoia.
posted by Naberius at 7:31 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
I liked it a lot. Most of that is Benoist's charm, but she is charming as hell. It was obviously a first episode, but they got everything set up now, and I'm hopefully the series will improve from here. They got the casting right, so that's a good sign.
I watched it with my four-year-old, who is going as Supergirl for Halloween, and she immediately wanted to watch it again, and then asked if we could watch it every day. So CBS is going to have one loyal household out of us, even if it isn't everything I hope it can be. Just having a reasonably well done female superhero on TV is going to keep us tuning in.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 7:44 AM on October 27, 2015 [7 favorites]
I watched it with my four-year-old, who is going as Supergirl for Halloween, and she immediately wanted to watch it again, and then asked if we could watch it every day. So CBS is going to have one loyal household out of us, even if it isn't everything I hope it can be. Just having a reasonably well done female superhero on TV is going to keep us tuning in.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 7:44 AM on October 27, 2015 [7 favorites]
I thought she said three people knew, when she was telling wannabe boyfriend guy on the roof, making him four. That would mean her adoptive parents and sister... but no we're still off because surely HE knows. HE was the one who placed her with the Danvers family, right? Okay, yeah, now I'm confused.
She said that there were only three people in her life who knew, and I don't think she considers her cousin someone who is in her life right now. If there's any problem with this show, it's that it is really hard to understand why Superman would apparently drop her off with her new family, say goodbye and then stay away. You only have one living relative, one other survivor from your planet, and you just leave her alone? Especially since you were just a baby when it blew up, but she was old enough to have lots of memories of it? Why isn't Superman dropping by weekly for "what else do you remember about my mom and dad?" I mean, I understand why for production and plot reasons they can't have Supes always standing by to come help out, but a little more of an explanation would be nice.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 9:55 AM on October 27, 2015 [5 favorites]
She said that there were only three people in her life who knew, and I don't think she considers her cousin someone who is in her life right now. If there's any problem with this show, it's that it is really hard to understand why Superman would apparently drop her off with her new family, say goodbye and then stay away. You only have one living relative, one other survivor from your planet, and you just leave her alone? Especially since you were just a baby when it blew up, but she was old enough to have lots of memories of it? Why isn't Superman dropping by weekly for "what else do you remember about my mom and dad?" I mean, I understand why for production and plot reasons they can't have Supes always standing by to come help out, but a little more of an explanation would be nice.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 9:55 AM on October 27, 2015 [5 favorites]
it is really hard to understand why Superman would apparently drop her off with her new family, say goodbye and then stay away. You only have one living relative, one other survivor from your planet, and you just leave her alone? Especially since you were just a baby when it blew up, but she was old enough to have lots of memories of it?Superman is a dick.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 10:08 AM on October 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
I watched this with my seven year old daughter. Didn't tell her the title of the show or who Kara was. Just asked her to sit and watch with me. She was completely unaware of Superman's backstory.
Her jaw dropped during the scene with the plane, which she thought was the "coolest thing ever." Then a little later when Kara stepped out wearing her suit with the logo, she started screaming, "SHE'S SUPERWOMAN?! WHY DIDN'T I KNOW THERE WAS A SUPERWOMAN!?" :D
She hid her face during the fight scene at the end. "Too scary." But wanted to watch the plane scene again. And then a second time. And a third. And then we pulled up the show's trailers online and she flipped over those, too.
I guess I don't really care about the show's quality in terms of dialogue and stories, as long as my daughter enjoys it. We'll be watching each week.
posted by zarq at 10:13 AM on October 27, 2015 [39 favorites]
Her jaw dropped during the scene with the plane, which she thought was the "coolest thing ever." Then a little later when Kara stepped out wearing her suit with the logo, she started screaming, "SHE'S SUPERWOMAN?! WHY DIDN'T I KNOW THERE WAS A SUPERWOMAN!?" :D
She hid her face during the fight scene at the end. "Too scary." But wanted to watch the plane scene again. And then a second time. And a third. And then we pulled up the show's trailers online and she flipped over those, too.
I guess I don't really care about the show's quality in terms of dialogue and stories, as long as my daughter enjoys it. We'll be watching each week.
posted by zarq at 10:13 AM on October 27, 2015 [39 favorites]
Another vote for "bumpy ride but charming".
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 11:46 AM on October 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 11:46 AM on October 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
No pressure but if every Fanfare thread about Supergirl also contains stories about people's daughters responses to it, I'm here for the long haul, bumpy or not.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:21 PM on October 27, 2015 [23 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:21 PM on October 27, 2015 [23 favorites]
I feel like so much of the clunky exposition was establishing the backstory that it'll have to get better in later episodes. Definitely charming though. I really like the cast.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 6:44 PM on October 27, 2015
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 6:44 PM on October 27, 2015
I thought it was a mixed bag. Benoist is charming, I kind of hate Cat Grant (but I did in the comics too), and there was a lot of really clunky stuff in the writing. Particularly the fact that who's a good guy and who's a bad guy can almost be lined up by how they feel about Supergirl/women in general. (See: sexist pig from Krypton, supportive buddies, gruff not-SHIELD/not-ARGUS leader who is hard on girls but clearly respects not-super sister.) On the other hand, I think the target market for Supergirl may be several decades younger than I am, so I'm trying to approach it with that grrl power frame of mind.
posted by immlass at 8:18 PM on October 27, 2015
posted by immlass at 8:18 PM on October 27, 2015
Superman forces Jimmy Olsen to marry a gorilla.
That sounds like something that could have happened on True Blood, where the same actor played "Eggs."
posted by homunculus at 8:24 PM on October 27, 2015
That sounds like something that could have happened on True Blood, where the same actor played "Eggs."
posted by homunculus at 8:24 PM on October 27, 2015
I'm really enjoying the celebration of girlishness and femininity so far. And I hope the sister relationship continues to be an important theme.
posted by congen at 9:30 PM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by congen at 9:30 PM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
I really love that she enjoys being super-powered, and doesn't see it as a curse or a burden or something that makes her a freak. It's incredibly refreshing.
"Are you bulletproof?"
"...I think so?"
[CUT TO Kara walking directly into gunfire, glancing down with satisfaction at the bullets bouncing off her]
posted by Ian A.T. at 10:52 PM on October 27, 2015 [8 favorites]
"Are you bulletproof?"
"...I think so?"
[CUT TO Kara walking directly into gunfire, glancing down with satisfaction at the bullets bouncing off her]
posted by Ian A.T. at 10:52 PM on October 27, 2015 [8 favorites]
I agree, so many shows have the characters angsting unconvincingly.
Ohhhh woe is me I can move objects with my mind. Ohhh its so terrible. Or ohhh I'm young and attractive and immune to disease and immortal and its such a curse how can I live like this.
I hate it.
posted by Justinian at 11:38 PM on October 27, 2015
Ohhhh woe is me I can move objects with my mind. Ohhh its so terrible. Or ohhh I'm young and attractive and immune to disease and immortal and its such a curse how can I live like this.
I hate it.
posted by Justinian at 11:38 PM on October 27, 2015
I can't help but wonder what a version of the show would be like where she fails to have the plane avoid the bridge, killing everyone on board the plane and destroying the bridge. You know, the dark, gloomy Supergirl with inner torment, but still a bit adorable.
posted by ShooBoo at 12:14 AM on October 28, 2015
posted by ShooBoo at 12:14 AM on October 28, 2015
For all your Supergirl singing La Vie en rose needs.
posted by Justinian at 3:15 AM on October 28, 2015
posted by Justinian at 3:15 AM on October 28, 2015
I know very little about Supergirl or anything that happened in the comics, etc., This isn't necessarily a show I'd normally pick as a thing to watch but the other night I popped into this post to see what people were saying and since people seemed cautiously optimistic and I'm rocking a brutal sinus infection, I decided to give this pilot a go.
My thoughts: They tried to cram way too much info into the pilot. It was enjoyable but I felt like some of the dynamics between characters could have been established in coming episodes. Wish they would have focused on the sister/family dynamic without going into all the dynamics with her work people. That's a minor complaint. It's a cute show and hopefully will be something young people enjoy in the way that I enjoyed Wonder Woman as a small child.
I like most of the actors. My only complaint is Calista Flockhart. And it's not so much her as an actress...it's that her face doesn't actually emote.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 4:22 AM on October 28, 2015
My thoughts: They tried to cram way too much info into the pilot. It was enjoyable but I felt like some of the dynamics between characters could have been established in coming episodes. Wish they would have focused on the sister/family dynamic without going into all the dynamics with her work people. That's a minor complaint. It's a cute show and hopefully will be something young people enjoy in the way that I enjoyed Wonder Woman as a small child.
I like most of the actors. My only complaint is Calista Flockhart. And it's not so much her as an actress...it's that her face doesn't actually emote.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 4:22 AM on October 28, 2015
Now that I've watched the pilot three times, thanks to my daughters, one of whom is wearing her Supergirl shirt to preschool today, I've also been thinking about how much I like it that they aren't overplaying her secret identity thing. She immediately tells her best friend from work who she is; James Olsen already knew; and so does the entire DEO. I'm glad they aren't doing the "no one can ever know!" thing.
(On the other hand--why can't the DEO just put her on the payroll so she is available for full-time superheroing instead of fetching coffee and lettuce wraps from 9-5? I'm sure they could match her salary. In what world does it make sense to have her working an entry-level job most of the day?)
posted by Pater Aletheias at 6:55 AM on October 28, 2015 [6 favorites]
(On the other hand--why can't the DEO just put her on the payroll so she is available for full-time superheroing instead of fetching coffee and lettuce wraps from 9-5? I'm sure they could match her salary. In what world does it make sense to have her working an entry-level job most of the day?)
posted by Pater Aletheias at 6:55 AM on October 28, 2015 [6 favorites]
Even superheroes have fallen victim to the on demand economy.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:08 AM on October 28, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:08 AM on October 28, 2015 [5 favorites]
I loved everything I saw. It was just campy enough to remind you that it is a comic book show, with just enough seriousness to keep it interesting but not pretentious, and lots of heart and charm. Admittedly, it was a bit (Ally McBeal + Devil Wears Prada + Smallville)/3, but I was okay with that, and I'm hopeful it will grow beyond that.
They didn't spend a lot of time on backstory, because that isn't particularly interesting, everybody knows what happened on Krypton, and they can do flashbacks anyway. They did mention Superman (by name at least once), but as little as possible, because this is about her, not about him, and about her being her own person, not in his shadow. A point that was underscored by Olsen's comment toward the end of the episode.
I liked that by the end of the episode she'd used all her powers except her breath, so there wasn't the "oh, let's see which power she learns to use this season" crap, had exposed all her weaknesses, had told at least one person her identity, exposed the likely big bad for the season, and had dropped a hint at family tragedy (only 3 people know, but clearly there were 4 people on screen who knew). Also, she'd saved a plane, exposed a government agency, and defeated a monster of the week. Not bad for a pilot.
posted by tempestuoso at 7:23 AM on October 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
They didn't spend a lot of time on backstory, because that isn't particularly interesting, everybody knows what happened on Krypton, and they can do flashbacks anyway. They did mention Superman (by name at least once), but as little as possible, because this is about her, not about him, and about her being her own person, not in his shadow. A point that was underscored by Olsen's comment toward the end of the episode.
I liked that by the end of the episode she'd used all her powers except her breath, so there wasn't the "oh, let's see which power she learns to use this season" crap, had exposed all her weaknesses, had told at least one person her identity, exposed the likely big bad for the season, and had dropped a hint at family tragedy (only 3 people know, but clearly there were 4 people on screen who knew). Also, she'd saved a plane, exposed a government agency, and defeated a monster of the week. Not bad for a pilot.
posted by tempestuoso at 7:23 AM on October 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Hey, if anyone with more comic book knowledge and/or the desire to make more entertaining/recap-y entries wants to take ownership of the weekly posts, let me know. I generally just aim for getting threads up as quickly as the broadcast is over by copying the synopsis from my TiVo listing and posting whatever recap links I can find. (Seems like that might work fine for Supergirl judging by the activity in this thread, but, just wanted to mention it in case anyone would prefer more creativity and in-depth geekery at the top of the thread over speed of posting.)
posted by oh yeah! at 7:49 AM on October 28, 2015
posted by oh yeah! at 7:49 AM on October 28, 2015
I'm really enjoying the celebration of girlishness and femininity so far.
I just want to say I'm all in favor of that--I did find the fact that characters generally lined up as "good" or "bad" specifically on this issue to be simplistic. But as I said, the show is aimed at kids as well as adults, plus this is only the pilot, so I hope it'll be a bit more nuanced, like having Auntie Supervillain demonstrate that Grrl Power can be misused.
posted by immlass at 7:58 AM on October 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
I just want to say I'm all in favor of that--I did find the fact that characters generally lined up as "good" or "bad" specifically on this issue to be simplistic. But as I said, the show is aimed at kids as well as adults, plus this is only the pilot, so I hope it'll be a bit more nuanced, like having Auntie Supervillain demonstrate that Grrl Power can be misused.
posted by immlass at 7:58 AM on October 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
the show is aimed at kids as well as adults
My family might be weird, but Supergirl is literally the first show that all of us have watched together. Usually the kids are watching Octonauts or Sofia the First and the adults watch Walking Dead and Better Call Saul after the little ones go to bed. I watch Doctor Who with my oldest kid, but the four-year-old doesn't like it and my wife never got into it. We've seen some movies together, but I don't think we've ever watched a TV show as a family. So that's nice to have now.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 9:51 AM on October 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
My family might be weird, but Supergirl is literally the first show that all of us have watched together. Usually the kids are watching Octonauts or Sofia the First and the adults watch Walking Dead and Better Call Saul after the little ones go to bed. I watch Doctor Who with my oldest kid, but the four-year-old doesn't like it and my wife never got into it. We've seen some movies together, but I don't think we've ever watched a TV show as a family. So that's nice to have now.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 9:51 AM on October 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
TheWrap weighs in on audience share and total viewers. TL:DR; share was good, total audience numbers were great.
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:51 AM on October 28, 2015
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:51 AM on October 28, 2015
I watched this on DVR last night, and I thought that it was fun but teetered on the edge of "too twee to exist." I can't imagine that they can sustain the Devil Wears Prada vibe for more than a handful of episodes until it gets old. I liked Supergirl and "James" Olsen (playing him as velvety smooth in voice and demeanor was a nice twist), but the supporting cast (particularly the sister) I could take or leave. As far as writing, it felt like a pilot: nobody's settled into a voice, there's lots of exposition, but more or less it set up a whole series.
One mythology bit I think could've been clearer was the part with the villain of the week's axe. I get that they wanted to have Supergirl get hurt in the pilot for effect, but I didn't catch an explanation for why it hurt her. That's a little disappointing, because if you're going to have a lead character who's mostly invulnerable, I think you need to make it a bigger deal when they are, you know, vulnerable to something. But overall it handled the mythology reasonably well.
posted by graymouser at 3:27 AM on October 29, 2015
One mythology bit I think could've been clearer was the part with the villain of the week's axe. I get that they wanted to have Supergirl get hurt in the pilot for effect, but I didn't catch an explanation for why it hurt her. That's a little disappointing, because if you're going to have a lead character who's mostly invulnerable, I think you need to make it a bigger deal when they are, you know, vulnerable to something. But overall it handled the mythology reasonably well.
posted by graymouser at 3:27 AM on October 29, 2015
I can't imagine that they can sustain the Devil Wears Prada vibe for more than a handful of episodes until it gets old
Ugly Betty but with more punching. That is the dream. It is achievable. It can be done. We have the technology.
posted by sparkletone at 3:54 AM on October 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
Ugly Betty but with more punching. That is the dream. It is achievable. It can be done. We have the technology.
posted by sparkletone at 3:54 AM on October 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
I hope they embrace the roots of the thing and introduce some of the more obscure parts of the mythos, or lesser known DC characters -- maybe she gets a visit from some Legion members or something.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 3:57 AM on October 29, 2015
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 3:57 AM on October 29, 2015
I think they're already there. If axe guy is anybody from the comics he's the Legion villain Persuader, and Kara's work confidante has the same last name as Toyman.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 4:54 AM on October 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 4:54 AM on October 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
In terms of awesome sauce from the back catalog, the guy they have as Hank Henshaw would make a magnificent evil cyborg, with or without the Superman delusion.
posted by graymouser at 5:44 AM on October 29, 2015
posted by graymouser at 5:44 AM on October 29, 2015
Never quite understood the whole "interplanetary travel is fine for convicts and kids, but evacuate the planet? Nah, can't be done!"
Also as someone not immersed in the the comic book world, Kara (Jor-el) Danvers != Carol Danvers (Ms. Marvel)?! Doesn't Marvel mind?
posted by idb at 6:36 AM on October 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also as someone not immersed in the the comic book world, Kara (Jor-el) Danvers != Carol Danvers (Ms. Marvel)?! Doesn't Marvel mind?
posted by idb at 6:36 AM on October 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
I don't think Marvel can object too strenuously. The Danvers part of her name has been around as nearly as long as the character has been in existence. And the Kara part was there from the start. For this show, they've just dropped the Linda (or Linda Lee) first name for her civilian identity. And since she came into existence almost a decade before the Marvel character, it can be argued she has a claim to the names.
posted by sardonyx at 7:09 AM on October 29, 2015
posted by sardonyx at 7:09 AM on October 29, 2015
I assumed two things about the axe: 1) A weapon wielded by a Kryptonian criminal probably can harm a Kryptonian (disregarding the difference a Yellow Sun makes); and 2) Perhaps that red glowing light was supposed to be red kryptonite and it somehow...ah, weakened her defenses?
The Danvers thing really distracted me.
posted by Atreides at 12:20 PM on October 29, 2015
The Danvers thing really distracted me.
posted by Atreides at 12:20 PM on October 29, 2015
Perhaps that red glowing light was supposed to be red kryptonite and it somehow...ah, weakened her defenses?
Red kryptonite is the weird-mutation one (or the inhibition-releasing one, in Smallville), not the weakening one (green). If they're hewing as closely to the classical mythology as they seem to be, it wouldn't be red K.
posted by Etrigan at 12:37 PM on October 29, 2015
Red kryptonite is the weird-mutation one (or the inhibition-releasing one, in Smallville), not the weakening one (green). If they're hewing as closely to the classical mythology as they seem to be, it wouldn't be red K.
posted by Etrigan at 12:37 PM on October 29, 2015
It's been given other attributes, similar to green in the past.
posted by Atreides at 1:43 PM on October 29, 2015
posted by Atreides at 1:43 PM on October 29, 2015
The chunks of voiceover exposition that played out over scenes and set pieces that (a) looked relatively expensive, but were seen only briefly, and (b) were weirdly shoehorned into the episode led me to wonder if an earlier pilot hadn't been shot and then partially cannibalized for this one. Certainly one would figure a show like this would spend more time on its huge freakin' space prison in the desert than on Ally McBeal delivering snarky dialogue about...whatever. One might also expect the show to set up Kara's confidant as more than just "some guy who hits on Kara who she shoots down a lot even though she likes him enough to tell him she is from space for some reason." Weird narrative choices that lead me to think this was an hour cut together from a lot of material produced by many hands.
But I like Kara and James a lot. She's pretty much magic, I don't know. The casting people lucked out hard with this one.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 10:00 PM on October 29, 2015
But I like Kara and James a lot. She's pretty much magic, I don't know. The casting people lucked out hard with this one.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 10:00 PM on October 29, 2015
I feel like part of the problem is the "CBS aesthetic", where a lot of series on The Tiffany Network seem to be from an earlier time, when television was not so dramatically complex and full of nuance. It's not the same as the overt comic-book-vibe that The Flash has, it just feels like other limp CBS shows like Under The Dome and the endless variations of CSI and NCIS that could just as easily be from 1995 (or even 1985) as now. I bet this show would be a lot more fun on CW.
posted by briank at 7:36 AM on November 2, 2015
posted by briank at 7:36 AM on November 2, 2015
The "Girl" speech probably should have been condensed better as, "Our advertising people felt Supergirl sold better" instead of trying to justify it with a speech where replacing 'girl' with 'woman' would have made it a better speech.
That bit of transparent from-the-writers pushback made me so angry when I saw it in the summer previews that I almost didn't tune in for this.
I really love that she enjoys being super-powered, and doesn't see it as a curse or a burden or something that makes her a freak. It's incredibly refreshing.
I do like that aspect but I found it not working for me here because then why has she completely set aside using them all this time? You can fly and you want me to believe you wouldn't do that, even if it was just the occasional jaunt when you can't sleep?
That's really the point where this fell apart for me, time-wise. My wife and I watched it together and were delighted though the first twenty minutes or so. By the third commercial break my wife was mostly fiddling with her phone and I was growing steadily bored. We concurred that it's a problem when your Supergirl show gets less interesting once she becomes Supergirl.
Episode two is on the DVR and we'll be giving it a shot but we ended the hour a lot less enthused than we were in the first five minutes.
posted by phearlez at 8:39 AM on November 3, 2015
That bit of transparent from-the-writers pushback made me so angry when I saw it in the summer previews that I almost didn't tune in for this.
I really love that she enjoys being super-powered, and doesn't see it as a curse or a burden or something that makes her a freak. It's incredibly refreshing.
I do like that aspect but I found it not working for me here because then why has she completely set aside using them all this time? You can fly and you want me to believe you wouldn't do that, even if it was just the occasional jaunt when you can't sleep?
That's really the point where this fell apart for me, time-wise. My wife and I watched it together and were delighted though the first twenty minutes or so. By the third commercial break my wife was mostly fiddling with her phone and I was growing steadily bored. We concurred that it's a problem when your Supergirl show gets less interesting once she becomes Supergirl.
Episode two is on the DVR and we'll be giving it a shot but we ended the hour a lot less enthused than we were in the first five minutes.
posted by phearlez at 8:39 AM on November 3, 2015
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I'll give it another shot. I'm hoping it gets better.
posted by Requiax at 6:55 PM on October 26, 2015