Disclaimer: I’m by no means a bra-less, non-shaving, man-shamming, stereotype of a feminist. I’m just a geeky comic book loving chick that just wants great TV.
Okay folks, it’s been on my mind since the launch of the Supergirl trailer and now with the “leak” of the pilot, that the CBS show devalues women (and America’s Intelligence) by assuming the American populace is incapable of enjoying a plot about a “girl” superhero who doesn’t NEED a love life or have a stereotypical and belittling intern-esque job. Before you go get your panties (no sexist pun intended) in a bunch take a few minutes to read why I’ve come to this conclusion. I’ve tried to break this down in the most objective way possible. Shouldn’t we have some control over the type of TV that is produced and the motives behind it? I’m tired of being force fed mediocre TV because it’s safe yet engineered to maximize the networks profits not to provide quality entertainment. I really want a Supergirl show…but this is not it. Starting with the trailer, because what you see is what you get; doesn’t it seem weird that the trailer came out right after the Black Widow SNL skit and that it paralleled it quite well. To say that it didn’t is just complete denial. I’ve seen other articles say that there are differences between the two, mostly that being the SNL skit revolves around Ultron and that Supergirl revolves around Supergirl. But that is not the case, though it is deceptively done to make you believe so. In the trailer and pilot, Kara is in the shadow of Superman/Kal-El; but careful dialogue keeps you from equating her to him and believing she is her “own” person, but more on that later.
So I’m a comic book reader (book binger and gamer) and I have been since childhood and yes I may get a little over zealous with my love for the original entities as they’re translated into other media, but I was determined to approach this with an open mind. Though I’ve never been an avid Superman/Superfamily fan, #TeamBatman there’s definitely been some amazing story arcs and characters that I’ve come to love; as well as form a respect for the Superfamily fandom. So as the trailer started I was definitely excited the first 30 seconds in (though I experienced slight nerdrage at the fact that she was sent as a child but put in it in my mind that shouldn’t hinder the plot) and all of that excitement was completely dashed away as it fades into her walking through a crowd distracted by her phone and bumping into someone (at first I thought…did click an ad on accident, then quickly realized it was Kara then, oh snap her distraction is going to have her forget her strength and she’s going to knock this person flat…nope). Then she’s on the phone (making a terrible quip referencing Bill O’Riley) and displaying that she’s a mild mannered, coffee supplying nobody. As she walks into the office she is greeted by her coworker that clearly has the hots for her. Then 40 seconds into the trailer she’s asked on a date (and to the movies at that!) by the guy, and promptly friendzones him (because we all love to see the nice guys get friendzoned!) because she already has a date for the night. Then we get a quick peak at her using super hearing as she announces her boss’ arrival. Enter the culmination of the Devil Wears Prada meets Ugly Betty with How to Lose a Guy in 10 days and a sprinkle of Sex in the City *now with super powers*, the boss is a straight up asshole, but not in the J. Jonah Jameson type way, but in that pointless let’s just-add-another-factor-to-make-the-main-character-seem-more-underdog way. Then enter immediate love interest who is Jimmy James Olsen, and who’s real point is to keep Supergirl tied to Superman…without including Superman. When he asks her name she completely loses her shit. Hell! I understand being caught off guard but it’s gag worthy, she stumbles over words, giggles, snorts, and even says “Gosh” before she can get out her own name 6 seconds later… What’s worse is that when she left out of the office she’s completely infatuated by him completely breaking the fourth wall with an exasperated “WOW!” because a viewer would not be able to see she’s clearly interested in him (excuse me… I think I just threw up in my month a little). Now it transitions to Kara’s chic, brightly lit and spacious city loft (because she doesn’t have a boss that would pay her $10/hr just to spite her) as she’s called her sister, (who needed to leave to catch a plane in 2 hours) to help her pick out clothes for her blind date (and it doesn’t seem like she has a roommate…because wouldn’t she have just asked your roommate for help? How does she afford this place???) …WTF are we watching??? She then proceeded to plopped down on the couch and complained about her life and job #FirstWorldProblems ( the fact that she doesn’t even talk about the latest news at her MEDIA CONGLOMERATE job, instagram followers, what she reblogged recently on tumblr, nothing that’s she’s actually interested in or the fact that THE Jimmy James Olsen is the new guy at her job and has a close relationship with her cousin is further confirmation that she is a character with no depth or personality). Her sister then states “She’s always wanted to be normal” and Kara argues back that she’s not “normal”! (Oh the contradictions!!!) she continues saying that she “can lift a bus, stop a bullet, and fly!”. (So…why don’t you fly to work???)
We hit the 2 minute mark with a blase title crawl and lackluster sound effects to the night time Sex in the City wide shot with “From the world of Disney DC Comics“, not “From the creators of Arrow and the Flash” not “A new super hero joins the Arrowverse” (though I suppose she might not be part of the Arrowverse being on a different network?). At this point it’s clear that the trailer/pilot/story is not going to be given the same dynamic treatment as Arrow or The Flash, trying to prove that a comic based show about a super hero doesn’t have to be campy or childish yet appropriate and entertaining for all ages. Next she’s clearly at her date and she sees on the news that the plane her sister is on may crash. Now here’s where the creators really show they could care less about this female center hero show. There was no other plot device they could think of to have her hear about the malfunctioning plane other than a DATE?!?!? Then she flies off to rescue the plane (because her sister was on it, though that scene was definitely well done, it was as well an ode to Superman…see what they did there). After having landed the plane down safely, does Kara fly away or immediately check on the passengers to see if anyone needed immediate medical attention? Nope, she just climbed up onto the wing of the plane and stands on it with the face of a goofball staring up at helicopters.
Next scene she’s back at her apartment squealing about the footage of her on TV. Her sister arrives and is upset at her for exposing and endangering herself (and by comic book laws those who a hero is closely associate with and loves) and they have a light following out. The next day she’s upset that her Boss has labeled her Super”girl” but can’t even begin present a good argument as to why her boss shouldn’t have, tripping and falling all over her words. Her boss replies with a ridiculously superficial speech about being a girl (though how on earth is she upset at the word g and next Kara’s on the roof of the building explaining to ‘friendzone’ who she is (because she has no other friends she could tell her secret to?). Now here we enter this misogynist view point by ‘friendzone’ as he thinks her secret is that she’s gay because there’s no way she could just not like him (though they write him to be a guy that’s completely compatible with her, attractive, and obviously more into than just trying to get in her pants by becoming her confidant… there’s like no reason she wouldn’t like him but is in that situation where she’s desperate to go on blind dates?!?!?). Not to mention what superhero goes and tells someone their secret unless there’s dire need RIGHT AWAY?!? Afterwards there’s a pointless dress up montage with which is supposed to be “empowering” music, but it just comes off as cheesy and stereotypical. They had no other creative ideas??? What is particularly disappointing is that she had to acquire a costume in the first trailer/pilot. During Smallville and recently in the new Daredevil series on Netfilx they creators felt no need to have the characters play dress up. Clark doesn’t get his iconic suit until the series is nearly over, initially using his super speed to disguise himself when committing heroic deeds. Daredevil gains his suit in the season finale of the first season because that’s just better writing. Though most of the viewers have knowledge of the Daredevil suit, the anticipation of him getting in costume increases the viewer’s interest in the show; it’s that final rite of passage that solidifies the character as a hero after a full season of them struggling with normal clothing.
It’s at the 5 minute mark and Kara is then introduced to a secret military organization trying to catch super powered aliens that have crashed on Earth. Kara offers her help but is immediately shot down with a cheap insult by the Head of the organization. The music then turns solemn and she walks out of the facility and it transitions to her back at her apartment in the dark, on the couch staring at her mother’s necklace! The scene is followed by Kara receiving a pep talk through the front door from her sister to Kara opening the door all teary eyed and asking what she should do next. The situation is then made lighter by her sister making a joke about changing clothes… How could this be any more cliché?!?!? Here’s how!! Queue EMPOWERING music with a voiceover from Kara talking about not being just an assistant (but that’s clearly what she is…I don’t she’s about to quit her job and get a better one) and the SLIGHTEST glimpses at some action scenes. This “empowering” moment is then over-layed with the words “It’s not a bird, It’s not a plane, it’s not a MAN, It’s SUPERGIRL!” they might as well have just put Girl Power! and it would have achieved the same effect! As the trailer comes to an end Kara joins Jimmy James Olsen on the roof of their office building where she questions why her Superman wanted her to be a hero but didn’t tell her to be one and Olsen replies that Superman wanted her to figure it out for herself (So you’re telling the audience she’s had super powers for the past 10 years put only NOW has begun to have the urge to use them to “help” people, when fun fact, Superman has been using his powers to help people since they began to manifest. And has she not been in contact with her only living relative for the past 10 years since she’s been on Earth? Has he never once wanted to know about his home world, hear about his parents or aunt and uncle, or her have someone to confide in about the loss of their home world. She wasn’t just a baby with no notion of where she came from. She spent her childhood there, she lost her family and way of life, is it really writing choice to glance over that. That Kara trying to get back or find out what had happened their planet couldn’t be the plot? That she wouldn’t have had a job in the science and biology field since her father, uncle, and adoptive parents were all scientist, maybe she doesn’t want what happened to Krypton to happen to the Earth!!!???). He presents her with a gift from Superman and ends the trailer with encouraging her to save the world all “Up, Up, and Away!! (Again ANOTHER nod to Superman it’s not just letting her become her own recognized superhero. The creators fell the audience wouldn’t be able to accept her without the constant reminder of Superman that she’s Superman’s cousin, look how strong he is, maybe she has the potential to be as great as him someday…). The creators didn’t even attempt to just make her a stand-alone character.
When comparing both trailers and pilot episodes of Arrow and The Flash, the creators saw Super”girl” and forgot how to write, even how to create. I’ve seen many people argue that Barry’s bumping into people at the beginning of his trailer and his boss fussing at him is similar to Kara’s. But no, #1…Barry’s backstory transitioned into him running and he was running to a “time sensitive” crime scene (because they are). #2 Barry was late; Kara was early. #3 Barry is always late; Kara is a obviously portrayed as a people pleaser, she’s not going to be late. #4 Barry’s boss is reasonably upset because Barry is late again AND his last excuse was that he was having car troubles…yet he doesn’t own a car (and it was a well done and funny back and forth). #5 Barry’s job is essential to solving cases and though only used in the trailer/pilot Barry’s got some Sherlockesque skill. Kara states that doesn’t think her job is important while talking to her sister and what is portrayed she doesn’t even do that well.
In the trailer/pilot of Arrow and The Flash, after the intros that bring them to present day, both Oliver and Barry have clear defined goals as a result; Kara is just living day to day as a nobody, without a care in a world for the home she lost and a cousin that just dropped her off with people she’s never met after having lost home, culture, and family.
The set up for the trailer of both Arrow and The Flash is; terrible situations happened to them giving them a goal, they gained powers/skills, they use powers/skills to obtain goal. All the while both having voice-overs throughout expressing how they must accomplish their goals.
Her set up is; terrible situation happens (losing her WHOLE planet along with family, friends, lifestyle, language, and culture), lands on new planet with powers, does nothing with those powers for 10 years wanting to live and complain about having a normal life. iIncluding having a coworker trying to date her, who she promptly friendzones , online dating, and crushing on a guy she has nothing in common save Superman, while living alone in a swanky apartment in the city. Finally uses powers, wants notoriety for heroic deed, then tells secret to “friendzone” because she doesn’t care if anyone comes after her through him, costume montage!, secret organization dismisses her, she’s bummed, bestie pep talk!, returns to secret organization determined, then some super quick flashes of action, ending with her on the roof with crush who informs her that Superman wanted her to be a hero but make that choice for herself.
But in the end of the Supergirl trailer Kara never once stated that she had a real goal. It’s only implied… Her trailer is just a convoluted jumble of clichés with a nod to Superman when she decides to finally use her powers and some quick flashy action moments at the end. At the end of the pilot, her main accomplishment is asking Olsen out on a date!!! At no point is romance even hinted in the Arrow trailer and in the Flash he’s told to get a girlfriend because he’s been obsessing over trying to find his mother’s killer and free his father from prison…. There’s not pointless lulls of self-doubt and defeatism, Barry having just acquired his power confides in Arrow who’s been a “hero” for a while to determine if he’s doing the right thing. WHY WHY WHY did they gave Kara this cookie cutter life and personality? Even if they didn’t give her personality yadda yadda yadda, they made a SUPERHERO into a RomCom lead without the comedy. As a young women, she does nothing to inspire me! It’s not so much that I’m not like her but none of my “female” friends are either, she just seems like an trivialized version of innocent early female adulthood. When looking at actual young female 20 somethings, she doesn’t even match any of the awesome ladies of BuzzFeed, you put her in social media and didn’t mirror after any of the plethora of female youtubers!
Hell if they really had to give her an earthling life with a job in the same industry as Clark Kent they could have actually been creative about it! Hell, make it believable, make her an aspiring Youtuber and blogger. Since the writers can’t seem to write her without tying her to Superman (because viewers would just be too dumb to just accept a show about a young Kryptonian woman who crashes on planet Earth after her own planet dies and has to establish herself while handling an onset of strange abilities she never had before while strangely being unable to resist helping someone in need). Why not make Jimmy James Olsen an actual famous Youtuber and blogger with a company akin to BuzzFeed after gaining fame at the Daily Planet and seemingly working with Superman. Olsen drawn to Kara’s infectious personality and unique talent for uncovering awesome stories as well coverage of Supergirl’s adventures, invites her to work for his company and become an affiliate. Have her meet her “Agent Danvers” in an altercation with one of the escaped prisoners ( that somehow came to earth with Kara’s ship…spoilers…). Danvers then pulls Kara into the Secret Military Organization and along with helping regular people of her city she’s determined track down, defeat and capture the prisoners. As well as finding out why they now trying to kill her. Through this she and Danvers become inseparable almost like sisters as Danvers taker her to meet her parents who fall in love with her and pseudo adopt her and (optional) help her with her powers them being scientist. Them being scientist also reminds her of her own father and compels her to enquire about the true reason her planet died…
CBS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT WOMEN. Or they wouldn’t have even let the pilot/trailer become what it is. It’s just pure laziness and detachment covered in a safety net of clichés. Of course there are women like her but they’re not the woman one aspires to be but more one you’re be conditioned to be. You lump all girly clichés with girl power one-liners to try to placate American viewers into thinking they have a great progressive show because it has a female lead. It’s just SO disturbing they would go this route when it’s not like there haven’t been amazing a) action shows with female leads, Nikita, Buffy the Vampire Slayer b) animated movies, like Brave and Frozen, and even c) animated cartoons such as Kim Possible and The Legend of Korra. For Supergirl to be done this way is just unacceptable. What is the target audience for this show??? Girls 5 -10?? Age appropriate doesn’t mean clichéd stereotype or Mary Sue.
America deserves a Xena Warrior Princess not a Bella Swan!
luvusagi OUT!
