Review: SUPERGIRL is Breath of Fresh Air in Dreary Superhero Universe

TV's newest superhero show is startlingly different than nearly everything else on the current comic book landscape, and it's not just because its hero wears a skirt instead of tights. No, CBS's SUPERGIRL stands out because it dares to have fun; it dares to have a hero who is optimistic and embraces the joy of being super; and, perhaps most surprisingly, it dares to film a majority of its scenes during daylight hours.

Last night's premiere, which made SUPERGIRL the most watched debut of the fall season, didn't look like the dark, drab, dimly lit fare that we have gotten used to since Christopher Nolan's BATMAN BEGINS rejuvenated the superhero world in 2005. Since then, superheroes have largely become brooding, tormented souls who only fight crime as a means to get revenge, or work through personal issues without paying for a therapist.

However, in SUPERGIRL, star Melissa Benoist's Kara Zor-El doesn't become a hero to avenge her parents' murders, or to live up to her dead uncle's expectations, or to prove that her father didn't murder her mother; she becomes a hero because she wants to; she becomes a hero because she genuinely wants to have a positive impact on her adopted home planet; and more so, she actually enjoys helping and saving people. Benoist's giddy eagerness at being super is remarkably infectious, and her incredibly down-to-Earth portrayal of an otherworldly hero is one of the show's biggest strengths. It also doesn't hurt that she is one of a very small number of superheroes who isn't afraid to smile.

When was the last time that we saw a hero joyfully embrace the challenges of crime-fighting? Even Steve Rogers was a runt with a chip on his shoulder looking for a fight before becoming Captain America. As fun as Iron Man can be, everything he says is laced with sardonic arrogance. Even your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man has been transformed into a melancholy killjoy in recent years.

That gloomy vibe that has become commonplace in superhero shows and movies is exactly what SUPERGIRL's creators and star are actively working against, and the show's pilot makes that very evident. Not only is it filled with the adorably awkward charms of both Benoist and Tony-nominee Jeremy Jordan, but this one episode features more sunlight than all of Nolan's Dark Knight series, The CW's ARROW, and the last two SPIDER-MAN movies combined. While you wouldn't think that something so simple would make such a dramatic difference, it immediately brands the show as a breath of fresh air amongst its comic book competitors.

The last superhero television show to embrace a similar goofy charm was LOIS & CLARK: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN (that show's Superman, Dean Cain, plays Kara's adoptive Earth father on SUPERGIRL). Despite the fact that the last two Superman movies, SUPERMAN RETURNS and MAN OF STEEL, both veered towards the depressing end of the superhero spectrum, at its core, the Superman stories; and by extension, those of SUPERGIRL as well; have always taken a more optimistic view of the world, as their Kryptonian heroes fought for "truth, justice, and the American way."

"Superman has always been more than just a hero," SUPERGIRL Executive Producer Andrew Kreisberg said on a recent conference call. "He's a beacon of hope and something to aspire to."

In last night's pilot, Kara Danvers (Supergirl's Earth name) is inspired by her more famous cousin, and decides that she wants to do her part as well. While her impact was immediately felt in the fictitious National City, the character also quickly became a role model for real-world girls, who don't usually get to see female superheroes standing front and center.

While SUPERGIRL's bright, optimistic tone is certainly a draw, Kriesberg's co-creator Greg Berlanti says that the show's star is just as inspiring as her character. "(I) want all girls to grow up like Melissa Benoist," Berlanti said. "This is a grueling show, and she exemplifies grace under pressure. (The writers have) tried to capture what's special about Melissa (and put it) in Kara."

With the lack of female superheroes becoming a major talking point over the past year, Benoist recognizes the opportunity that she has to fill that void. "I think everyone would be able to take something from (the show)," she said on a recent edition of CBS THIS MORNING, "but I would really love to reach young girls, and to be a good role model for them."

In addition to the fact that SUPERGIRL is, in fact, female, Benoist believes that her character's optimism, and utter lack of cynicism, is integral to her story and her appeal. "As long as Kara and SUPERGIRL are enjoying, and find joy in, being a hero, everything stems from that," the actress told reporters last week. "It truly doesn't matter to me that she's a girl, because she kicks ass."

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Did you think SUPERGIRL took off like a speeding bullet? Let me know in the comments below, or on Twitter @BWWMatt. If you want to follow along with my "366 in 366" articles, you can check out #BWW366in366 on Twitter. Also, don't forget to follow @BWWTVWorld on Twitter and Like us on Facebook for all of the latest TV news, reviews, and recaps.

Banner Photo Credit: Melissa Benoist in SUPERGIRL: Darren Michaels | CBS

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