By Lauren Mitchell, Staff Writer
This is not just another television show that destroys the magnificent glory of superheros. This is SuperGirl. After only airing four episodes, the hit new CBS show has already gained millions of devoted fans wanting to know the future of this female superhero named Kara Zor-el, but well known in the public eye as Supergirl.
Every Monday night at 8 on CBS, viewers around the world turn on their televisions to see Kara (played by Melissa Benoist with a 2012-2014 role in Glee) fly through National City attempting to live up to her biological cousin, Clark Kent/Superman’s shadows and expectations.
Supergirl, directed and developed by Ali Lader (who is best known for creating The New Normal and work on Chuck and Family Guy), Greg Berlanti (Creator of Arrow and The Flash), and Andrew Kreisberg (also known for Arrow and The Flash), is changing the face of superheroes by bringing females into the mix, appealing to many feminists and changing the views of those who believe otherwise.
In the show, Kara, after 24 years of hiding her powers, decides to reach her highest potential and save her city. Kara also came from Krypton just like her cousin, but when traveling to Earth, her pod, or transportation device, was knocked off course and frozen in time, until eventually landing on Earth almost 20 years later. She has been sent to watch over her younger cousin, AKA Superman, but when Kara arrives, she is still a 13 year old girl, trying to discover who she really is while mourning the loss of her family and planet. Her cousin no longer needs her help.
Kara grows up and is adopted by the Danver family, who taught her how to subdue her powers. Kara forms a very close relationship with her adoptive older sister, Alex (played by Chyler Leigh, well known for her role as Lexie Grey in Greys Anatomy). Kara grew up normaly, in high school and college, eventually gaining a job at CatCo newspaper. At CatCo, Kara works as an assistant to Cat Grant (portrayed by Calista Flockhart, well known for her leading role in Ally Mcbeal), who is the CEO of her own company. Although Cat is quite dominating and has unrealistic expectations for her employees, Kara still finds a way to survive while still maintaining her secret identity of Supergirl.
Kara works at CatCo alongside her best friend Winn Schott (played by Jeremy Jordan known for Smash, Last Five Years) and her crush, also known as superman’s best friend, James Olsen (Mehcad Brooks, Glory) who both help her find new people and places to save, while keeping her secret identity undercover. The three are a part of an interesting love triangle where Winn loves Kara, Kara loves James, and although James was starting to fall for Kara, his old girlfriend has recently resurfaces in this story line.
The Danver sisters work with the DEO to not only help Supergirl excel, but to protect National City and stop all of the villains that arrive to destroy their lives. Alex’s boss, Hank Henshaw (played by David Harewood, well known for his role in Homeland), is a mentor to both sisters and without him, neither Alex nor Kara’s lives could be assured.
Though Kara was sent to Earth to protect her cousin, once she was able to use her powers, Superman was already known world wide and ends up being the one initially protecting her. Throughout the series, Kara struggles to gain respect from National City and live up to her extremely high set expectations. Kara is just learning how to be National City’s new hero, but I believe the whole world knows, that with Supergirl, she will always be there to save the day.
I would definitely suggest tuning in to this change of the century television show. Watch Supergirl on CBS at 8pm on Monday nights!