Superheroes. That’s what appears to be the trend running through Hollywood right now. From Iron Man, to Green Lantern (regardless what you thought of the movie), to Captain America, and more, they are the “big thing”. It has been asked whether Superhero fatigue is setting in, and the world is getting tired of the amount of movies, and television shows, flooding this area. This is quite possibly the case, but the new Supergirl television series brings something more to the show that other Superhero media doesn’t; Hope.
The current trend of Superhero films, and television, is to bring it to the dark and gritty side of the screen. While you get the comedy, light-hearted aspect from most Marvel productions, the best received ones are always the ones that take it into the realm of “dark and gloomy”. Captain America Winter Soldier took it this way after Avengers, from the look of what’s been seen already, Captain America: Civil War will lean towards the same. On the television side, you have Arrow. From the same creators as the new Supergirl, it goes along the dark and gloomy side well. Even The Flash balances the line between light and dark themes; although balances them pretty well it still leans on the darker side.
That’s not saying that these films, and television shows, don’t have elements of light-heartedness, and comedy, but the overwhelming theme is always darker and it’s beginning to get old. It’s not even just Superhero movies, or TV, that trend this dark line. Other genres also try to flow more into the dark, and gritty.
This is a perfectly good way of telling stories; if done well. But it makes me wonder a little on the state of mind of society. Wonder about the reason that we are leaning towards dark and gloomy, rather than light. Is it purely because we’ve done that before this stage with other films? Is it a state of where we are as a race? If so, it can’t be a good place.
This is where Supergirl enters for me. The character of Kara is a symbol of hope. Not only as Supergirl, but of her alter-ego self as well. The cast, and crew of the new show have done an exceptional job at bringing this hope, and cheery atmosphere to show amongst it’s darker moments, and characters. The overall arching theme of the show is, hope. That is what the world needs.
There have been criticisms posted around the internet about the show being “not as good as Flash\Arrow” or “too teeny bopper” (what does that even mean?).
To be honest, that is what the character is about. Even though Kara reveals herself to the world as Supergirl around her mid-late 20’s, she is effectively a teenager, learning, adapting, growing. Still discovering how, and where she fits in.
In my mind, the casting of Melissa Benoist brings this through perfectly. She brings the hope, wonder, and energy that is Supergirl. Even when you see her in interviews, and clips. The energy is there. Tying that in with the casting of Chyler Leigh as her adoptive sister, and the two could not bring a more perfect dynamic to the show.
These are two strong women, who are allowed in the show to have the flaws and failures that you see in real life. As well as the moments of strength, and being “kickass” that the characters demand. This is what makes Supergirl an interesting, and exciting show. It is also the type of show that we need more of.
The show is a natural example of the type of hope that the world desperately needs. Thank you to everyone that has brought Supergirl to the screen, cast, crew, and writers. You have brought hope to the screen, and that is why the world needs Supergirl.
Dreaming Screenwriter 