More than ever, the world needs Supergirl

For comic book fans, we live in an era of almost embarrassing riches. Super hero related movies and television shows dominate the entertainment industry worldwide. Indeed, modern technology has enabled special effects production companies to produce exceptionally realistic action sequences that would have been impossible in the recent past. Yet despite the visual advances, stories about female super heroes have been scarce. Even when female super heroes are part of team such as Black Widow in The Avengers, their roles are largely secondary. For kids watching super hero movies and television shows, the subtext conveys the message that women are not as relevant as their male counterparts. Which is why the announcement of CBS’s Supergirl television series debuting this fall bears such importance. More than ever, the world needs Supergirl.

In my home, our kids love all things super heroes. Our son has grown into quite the knowledgeable resource for all things DC and Marvel. Our daughter, the youngest, eagerly follows along in her brother’s enthusiasm. But you can see her eyes light up when a female super hero character graces the screen. Although she’s perfectly willing to role play as any superhero, the female versions offer up an added bit of extra fun for her to emulate. Interestingly, my son finds them “cool” as well as long as they possess amazing abilities. Therein lies a key factor to universal acceptance of female super heroes. They need to be depicted as multifaceted beings possessing intelligence, compassion, vulnerability, and strength who can lead.

When CBS announced they were debuting a new Supergirl television series in the Fall the collective response was lukewarm at best. Indeed, even with the release of a 6 minute preview video, some critics were less than pleased:

A new extended peek at CBS’s Fall Supergirl series, from the producers of Arrow, has the bubblegum snap of a tame CW teen show—a far cry across Metropolis from WB’s dark and gritty Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice gloom. At least its star, Glee and Whiplash’s Melissa Benoist, is effervescent enough to make her superheroine with superconfidence issues almost endearing. – Jen Yamato, The Daily Beast

There’s a lot of CW-style meets The Devil Wears Prada vibe going on in regards to the focus on Kara and her relationship with her boss Cat Grant (Calista Flockhart) and her adoptive sister, but we also see that there’s a ton of action as well, meaning it’s not going to be all Gilmore Girls style sitting on the couch and eating ice-cream. – Eric Diaz, The Nerdist

Yet to my eyes, I saw a light hearted, vibrant, and fun interpretation of Supergirl. Remember when superheroes were fun instead of being mired in gritty, color treated worlds of despair? Besides, what’s wrong with a romantic comedy type vibe with a diverse cast and a decidedly youthful outlook on the world? The action sequences looked fantastic and the dialogue fast paced and witty. In short, I’m in. Hopefully the preview bodes well for the overall tone and feel of the series. My family and I will be watching. It’s all up to you now Supergirl.

6 minute preview of CBS’s Supergirl

https://youtu.be/Lm46-envrHo

Will you be giving the series a chance this Fall?