Spoilers Supergirl - Season 1

[davejames]

When Kara puts on that suit, she doesn't take on a different personality than she has when she's not in it; all that putting the suit on does is give her permission to be a whole person rather than just 'half' of a person (which is what her life up until the point where she flies and rescues her sister and the other passengers on that plane had been centered on), whereas, with Clark, I've always felt he was one person as Superman and an entirely different person, one which didn't accurately reflect who he was, as Clark.

With Kara, she's Kara when she's got that cape on and she's still Kara when she's living her day-to-day life; she's just emphasizing different parts of herself.

Yeah the way Benoist has described it, when Kara puts on the suit it's pretty much just as empowering for her as it is for the actress. So I do think there's a part of that shy and awkward disguise of hers that is her true self. She probably just amps it up a bit more for the office.

So I don't buy the idea that's it's all just an act. And even in the costume she still has a lot of the same doubts and concerns at times.

 

[Christopher]

Yeah but after she saves the plane she tells her sister that this is the kind of difference she was wanting to make for a while now, and she had clearly been frustrated with her current role. So even if it wasn't a specific "plan" of hers, it could still have been something in the back of her mind that she thought might be useful, for when she finally decided to act.

Since it's pretty clear whatever "difference" she was going to make was going to involve superpowers and saving people.

No -- she explicitly said that she went to work for Cat Grant because she believed that would be a way she could make a difference. She was looking for a "normal" way to contribute, one that would fit the powerless-human persona she'd spent the past dozen years striving to conform to. She only used her powers because circumstances forced it, and that was when she realized that being herself was the only way she could really fulfill her need to make a difference. Yes, she was frustrated before, but that's because she didn't know what it was she really needed to do -- because she was still trapped in the mindset that she had to be "normal." She knew that wasn't satisfying her, but she didn't know what would -- not until the plane rescue revealed it to her.

It's clear the Supergirl writers were just trying to come up with some other cute and clever ways to refer to him, while also not drawing too much attention to his absence. But whether he's called Superman or Kara's cousin, it's always pretty darn clear who they're talking about, I would think.

I'd agree, except that there were a few cases where their avoidance of the name "Superman" was pretty forced. A mix of his name and other epithets would've worked, but they avoided the name altogether even at times when it would've made sense to use it.

And hell, even in the season preview he's referred to again as Superman, so it's clear the writers don't have THAT big a problem with it.

Or that they realized they'd tried too hard to avoid it in the pilot, or that they got permission to use it beyond what they'd been able to get in the pilot. Pilots are for trying things out and seeing what works and what needs adjustment.

Yeah the way Benoist has described it, when Kara puts on the suit it's pretty much just as empowering for her as it is for the actress.

I like it that Benoist likes being in the suit. Hopefully that means Kara will spend plenty of time in costume too. It was refreshing that she came to the DEO as Supergirl rather than in civilian clothes. Usually in shows like this, the heroes stick to their civilian gear in their secret lairs or whatever and only don their costumes once they go out into action. I hope Kara continues to use the Supergirl costume as her "work clothes" when she's at the DEO.

 

[Corran Horn]

It's clear the Supergirl writers were just trying to come up with some other cute and clever ways to refer to him, while also not drawing too much attention to his absence. But whether he's called Superman or Kara's cousin, it's always pretty darn clear who they're talking about, I would think.

I'd agree, except that there were a few cases where their avoidance of the name "Superman" was pretty forced. A mix of his name and other epithets would've worked, but they avoided the name altogether even at times when it would've made sense to use it.

And hell, even in the season preview he's referred to again as Superman, so it's clear the writers don't have THAT big a problem with it.

Or that they realized they'd tried too hard to avoid it in the pilot, or that they got permission to use it beyond what they'd been able to get in the pilot. Pilots are for trying things out and seeing what works and what needs adjustment.

It's awkward and absurd to keep saying 'your cousin' and stuff like that. It sounded silly.

 

[Christopher]

Yeah the way Benoist has described it, when Kara puts on the suit it's pretty much just as empowering for her as it is for the actress. So I do think there's a part of that shy and awkward disguise of hers that is her true self. She probably just amps it up a bit more for the office.

The thing I'm trying to get across is, yes, it's an assumed persona, but it's not something she made up to hide being Supergirl, it's an identity she's spent a dozen years shaping herself into. It's an act in the same way that every one of us puts on an act in public, the way we shape ourselves to fit in or conform to expectations or win people's approval or avoid making waves. And now that Kara has decided to embrace the powerful side of herself, that will probably lead her to change the everyday persona she puts on. How she acts outwardly will be a manifestation of her exploration of herself. This isn't the usual, simple binary civilian/hero identity cliche, because her identity is in flux.

 

[Scout101]

Christopher summed up what I was saying exactly. Other nicknames or whatever are fine, but it felt like they went through a lot of mental gymnastics to avoid using the name in the pilot, even when it would have made more sense to just say it. Not exactly ruining the show for me, just started to stick out as odd/off-putting.

Hopefully they either got permission or just got over the hangup going forward, because it was painful to keep watching them do it when they could just get to the point. She's flying around in blue with a red cape and an S on her chest, it's not a secret who we're referring to. It's ok to say Superman on a show about Kara/Supergirl.

That said, will be interested in how far they are allowed to go with it. Presumably at some point, it'll make sense for Superman to be involved in a story. Yes, want her to stand alone, she can handle herself, etc. but it begs for him to show up from time to time, no? Dunno if it's banned outside of the setup/intro in the pilot, or we may see him from time to time...?

 

[Jedi_Master]

So, will we see any training montages from Kara's early days on Krypton? Because she seems to be a very awkward fighter for someone who's whole purpose was to serve as a protector of the illustrious Kal-el.

 

[Corran Horn]

So, will we see any training montages from Kara's early days on Krypton? Because she seems to be a very awkward fighter for someone who's whole purpose was to serve as a protector of the illustrious Kal-el.

I saw an interview stating that Henshaw and her sister will be involved in training her for fighting, etc - and they even have some sort of dial-a-strength kryptonite room to level the playing field in terms of sparring with her, etc.

 

[davejames]

The thing I'm trying to get across is, yes, it's an assumed persona, but it's not something she made up to hide being Supergirl, it's an identity she's spent a dozen years shaping herself into. It's an act in the same way that every one of us puts on an act in public, the way we shape ourselves to fit in or conform to expectations or win people's approval or avoid making waves. And now that Kara has decided to embrace the powerful side of herself, that will probably lead her to change the everyday persona she puts on. How she acts outwardly will be a manifestation of her exploration of herself. This isn't the usual, simple binary civilian/hero identity cliche, because her identity is in flux.

True, but ultimately I was just trying to find some justification for why she'd be wearing glasses. Since she could have just as easily been the shy and awkward office assistant who blends in and doesn't make waves without them.

Unless glasses in the superhero world just have some additional hidden power to help people blend in (and judging by how successful they are at hiding Clark's identity, I guess maybe they do).

 

[Jedi_Master]

So, will we see any training montages from Kara's early days on Krypton? Because she seems to be a very awkward fighter for someone who's whole purpose was to serve as a protector of the illustrious Kal-el.

I saw an interview stating that Henshaw and her sister will be involved in training her for fighting, etc - and they even have some sort of dial-a-strength kryptonite room to level the playing field in terms of sparring with her, etc.

That sounds interesting, but at some point prior to her leaving Krypton Kara should have been given basic hand-to- hand combat training, no?

 

[TheSeeker]

You would think so given her mission. The most recent Supergirl series from DC showed her training in some flashbacks.

 

[davejames]

So, will we see any training montages from Kara's early days on Krypton? Because she seems to be a very awkward fighter for someone who's whole purpose was to serve as a protector of the illustrious Kal-el.

What was odd to me was how she was suddenly a much better and smarter fighter at the end against Vartox than she was in their first fight, even though there clearly hadn't been time for any training at all.

Although I suppose it could be argued that she had simply grown more accustomed to her powers and super-strength by then, or was now more familiar with Vartox's fighting style...

Either way though, I'm glad we'll actually see some of her training to be a better fighter on the show (which is something I wish we saw Barry having to do more of early on as well).

 

[Christopher]

So, will we see any training montages from Kara's early days on Krypton? Because she seems to be a very awkward fighter for someone who's whole purpose was to serve as a protector of the illustrious Kal-el.

Why would anyone expect a 12-year-old girl to be a fighter? Especially given that both she and Kal-El would be in no physical danger whatsoever from any human or terrestrial life form? They probably sent Kara to "protect him" in the sense of being a babysitter, teacher, guide, all the normal ways that people take care of their younger family members.

True, but ultimately I was just trying to find some justification for why she'd be wearing glasses. Since she could have just as easily been the shy and awkward office assistant who blends in and doesn't make waves without them.

People wear glasses for a variety of reasons. Some people wear non-prescription glasses as a fashion accessory, or because they want to convey a certain look. Some people wear glasses because they think it makes them look more intelligent. Some might do so to downplay their attractiveness, though some think it enhances their attractiveness.

Kara has spent the past 12 years trying to hide the fact that she has superhuman strength and senses. It seems natural enough to me that she'd adopt the appearance of having weak vision as part that pretense.

 

[Guy Gardener]

A while back a comic book artist drawing a new origin for Superman suggested "His eyes are too blue. it's a colour of Blue that humans don't have. It's a dead give away that he's an alien."

He asked DC comics if he could use special (expensive) almost neon ink for the new comic he was drawing to prove to the audience the necessity of hiding how inhumanly blue Clark's eyes are behind glasses, and DC replied "Stop being a jerk and just use the art supplies everyone else does."

There are two Clark Kents. The Bungler/dweeb and the normal guy. The normal guy only comes out around people who know his secret, which isn't all that often.

Considering the secret identity wasn't used until the last 5 seconds of Man of Steel, the bungler dweeb version of Clark might actually be Lois's invention, since she already proved exactly how easy it is to track his parents down if Clark doesn't put a little effort into hiding his true self.

It's so weird seeing him drink beer.

 

[Corran Horn]

I liked how Smallville had the reason for Clark to be stumblin' bumblin' fumblin' around Lana was her Kryptonite necklace. That was a nice touch.

 

[The Old Mixer]

As some have indicated, the nature of Clark Kent's persona in relation to Superman's has varied greatly over the decades, from era to era in the comics and from adaptation to adaptation in various media. There is no one, definitive version of the Superman mythos, and thus no one, definitive version of Clark Kent. Anyone who states that Clark Kent is like this while Superman is like that...without qualifying their statement by specifying which version their statement applies to...has absolutely no clue what they're talking about.

So, will we see any training montages from Kara's early days on Krypton? Because she seems to be a very awkward fighter for someone who's whole purpose was to serve as a protector of the illustrious Kal-el.

She was a 13-year-old girl being charged with protecting a baby....

Why would anyone expect a 12-year-old girl to be a fighter? Especially given that both she and Kal-El would be in no physical danger whatsoever from any human or terrestrial life form? They probably sent Kara to "protect him" in the sense of being a babysitter, teacher, guide, all the normal ways that people take care of their younger family members.

Beat me to it. I'll add that if things had gone as planned, Kara probably would have wound up being the "illustrious" one while Kal-El was still growing up. In this version, he wasn't necessarily destined to become the "illustrious" Superman, that's how things worked out.

 

[Christopher]

I'll add that if things had gone as planned, Kara probably would have wound up being the "illustrious" one while Kal-El was still growing up. In this version, he wasn't necessarily destined to become the "illustrious" Superman, that's how things worked out.

Yeah, and they've tweaked the backstory to make it more Kara-centric. The usual premise is that Jor-El is the one who discovered the Phantom Zone and condemned Krypton's worst criminals there, so they want to take revenge on his son Kal-El. That's been changed so that Alura is now the judge who sentenced them, so it's Kara they want to punish. Plus there's the new invention of Alura's evil twin sister Astra being the equivalent of General Zod.

 

[theenglish]

So, will we see any training montages from Kara's early days on Krypton? Because she seems to be a very awkward fighter for someone who's whole purpose was to serve as a protector of the illustrious Kal-el.

I saw an interview stating that Henshaw and her sister will be involved in training her for fighting, etc - and they even have some sort of dial-a-strength kryptonite room to level the playing field in terms of sparring with her, etc.

I never got the impression that she was supposed to be a physical defender of Superman--but more like a big sister to look out after him. It also seemed like a good excuse to save her too.

 

[DWF]

The thing I'm trying to get across is, yes, it's an assumed persona, but it's not something she made up to hide being Supergirl, it's an identity she's spent a dozen years shaping herself into. It's an act in the same way that every one of us puts on an act in public, the way we shape ourselves to fit in or conform to expectations or win people's approval or avoid making waves. And now that Kara has decided to embrace the powerful side of herself, that will probably lead her to change the everyday persona she puts on. How she acts outwardly will be a manifestation of her exploration of herself. This isn't the usual, simple binary civilian/hero identity cliche, because her identity is in flux.

True, but ultimately I was just trying to find some justification for why she'd be wearing glasses. Since she could have just as easily been the shy and awkward office assistant who blends in and doesn't make waves without them.

Unless glasses in the superhero world just have some additional hidden power to help people blend in (and judging by how successful they are at hiding Clark's identity, I guess maybe they do).

I thought they were going for the Felicity Smoak look, wearing glasses she certainly looks like Felicity to me. Linda's disguise in comic books was a dark wig.

 

[Taylirious]

I want all the regulars from SMALLVILLE to guest star!

 

[The Old Mixer]

^Nothing could send me back to Gotham faster....