10 Harsh Realities Of Rewatching Supergirl, 10 Years Later
Supergirl is one of The CW’s biggest superhero shows, but the 2015 drama wasn’t without its flaws. Alongside titles like The Flash and Batwoman, Supergirl joined DC’s Arrowverse midway through its run and became a staple of the shared universe. Melissa Benoist’s run as Kara Zor-El aka Kara Danvers was unforgettable, but it was also sadly limited by extenuating circumstances.
10 years ago, Melissa Benoist debuted as Supergirl. The first woman since Lynda Carter to lead a prime-time superhero series. There were 6 seasons inspiring millions of girls around the world and leaving a beautiful, strong, and unforgettable legacy
In 2021, Supergirl became yet another canceled superhero show after airing six seasons, first on CBS but on The CW from season 2 onwards. The series was far from the most faithful adaptation of the comic book character, but some changes strengthened the sci-fi drama. Unfortunately, revisiting the show after Supergirl’s bittersweet ending makes its shortcomings all the more clear.
Kara Was Often A Genderbent Clark Kent
Her Unique Character Traits Got Lost In Translation
Kara Zor-El has gone through many iterations throughout comic book history, but Kara Danvers’ secret identity in Supergirl sometimes felt like a carbon copy of Clark Kent. In the 2015 drama, she dons a pair of glasses as her main disguise and bumbles through work— but, instead of Perry White, Kara is assistant to media maven Cat Grant (Calista Flockhart).
Admittedly, there are differences between Clark Kent’s work at The Daily Planet and Kara’s job at CatCo Worldwide Media, but there isn’t enough meaningful distance to maintain Kara’s— and, ergo, Supergirl’s— individuality. From her affable public persona to her steely superhero gaze, Supergirl feels less like a fully realized person and more like a female version of Superman.
The DEO De-Centered Kara Too Much
Making It A Team Effort Detracted From Her Powers
When Supergirl’s powers are revealed in the series premiere, part of the initial conflict is that Kara’s adoptive sister, Alex (Chyler Leigh), worked for the Department of Extranormal Operations (DEO), a government agency dedicated to monitoring alien lifeforms like Kara and her cousin, Kal-El (Tyler Hoechlin). Nevertheless, Kara becomes an ally to the DEO, protecting Earth from invading extraterrestrial threats.
Yet, having Supergirl report to a government organization rather than acting of her own volition seemed to weaken her character. Rather than be a true vigilante, Supergirl was restrained by bureaucracy and workplace hierarchies during intense, life-or-death battles. Of course, there is strength in numbers, but Kara almost immediately becoming a weapon for the government was a major misstep.
Alex Did Not Treat Kara Like A Sister
She Even Used Kryptonite Instead Of Words
There are iconic sister duos on TV with iron-clad bonds that are fortified throughout the series, but Alex and Kara are decidedly not on the list. There was a fundamental disconnect between Alex and Kara when it came to Supergirl’s very existence. Be it shooting her with kryptonite or gatekeeping information regarding her mother, Alex consistently let Kara down.
That’s not to say Alex had to be perfect. Sibling relationships are inherently rocky, but even season 6 illuminated her worst traits, like when Alex picked an unnecessary fight with Kara for trying to help her adoptive daughter cope with her unhoned powers. Naturally, Alex had heroic moments, but when push came to shove, her love for Kara was conditional.
The Superfriends Heroes Were Unnecessary
If Anything, They Could Have Had Their Own Spinoff
Beyond the DEO, Supergirl created its own ragtag league of heroes known as the Superfriends. Practically all of Supergirl’s biggest characters gradually became superheroes, including Alex (Sentinel), Mehcad Brooks’ James “Jimmy” OIsen (Guardian), and Lena Luthor (Katie McGrath). While some of the character designs and powers were interesting, the Superfriends felt like an unneeded addition to Supergirl.
In some ways, the Superfriends allowed side characters to shine as vigilante heroes, but it also distracted from the point of the show and displaced Supergirl as the main focus. Kara didn’t need to be fully solitary, but forcing Supergirl to be a member of a team rather than National City’s one true hero was a nerf to her character.
The Potential Of Lena And Kara's Relationship Was Ignored
Supercorp Was A Ship That Sadly Never Sailed
Kara and Lena’s friendship in Supergirl was one of the most important relationships in the entire series, but there always seemed to be potential for something deeper. Their chemistry was obvious from their first scene together, and many fans rejoiced any time the pairing known as “Supercorp” interacted. Sadly, the two were kept strictly platonic in Supergirl’s canon.
Regardless, Lena and Kara’s love story would have been the perfect enemies-to-lovers plot— and paid dividends for The CW’s viewership. Furthermore, Alex being a confirmed queer character made Lena and Kara’s romance possible, but Supergirl ended with both members of the popular ship single. Nonetheless, support for Supercorp rages on years later, which is a testament to the ship’s appeal.
Some Of The Supergirl Action Sequences Were Hard To Defend
The CW Had Realistic Limitations
As is the case with any superhero or sci-fi series, the technical details age rapidly. Whether it’s CGI, practical effects, or editing choices, what once may have been an impressive display of skill is now rudimentary when compared to modern standards. Even blockbuster films from 2020 are outdated when viewed through a modern 2025 lens.
Consequently, it’s not surprising that Supergirl’s action sequences don’t hold up perfectly after a decade. From obviously fake fire to static fight choreography to the post-production SFX, it’s clear Supergirl had limitations, especially after it moved to The CW — but, admittedly, outdated technology is an inescapable fate that every superhero show eventually falls victim to.
The Show Couldn’t Celebrate Supergirl Without Disparaging Superman
Both Cousins Should Have Been Allowed To Thrive
The unique relationship between Superman and Supergirl is one of the most interesting dynamics in comic book history. Disappointingly, Supergirl failed to capitalize on their lore and made Superman nothing more than a stepping stone to make Kara look better. Whenever possible, the show would use Kal-El to prop up Supergirl, even at the expense of their familial bond.
The debate around whether Supergirl is stronger than Superman is as old as Kara’s character, but the show didn’t need to put down Clark Kent to make Kara Danvers a hero. Plus, the characterization was questionable at best— especially when existential threats arrived in National City, only for Superman to never lend a hand.
Supergirl’s Feminism Was Sometimes Surface-Level
The Show Had More Nuanced Potential
The CW’s iteration of Supergirl leaned into the character’s political undertones often, but the show’s feminism feels lacking in retrospect. At a baseline, a female superhero is empowering by itself, but Supergirl repeatedly ignored the cardinal rule of storytelling: show, don’t tell. Whenever Kara or Cat broke into a girl power monologue, all nuance seemingly disappeared.
There’s something to be said about any progress being good progress. Truly, Supergirl made valiant attempts to tackle real-world issues, but such on-the-nose discussions are the bare minimum by 2025 norms. Supergirl would have benefited greatly from implementing more subtle, ideologically complex storylines, but even so-called “feminism 101” scenes are valuable to an extent.
Kara Didn’t Get A Happy Ending
The Hero Ends Up Alone
Throughout Supergirl, Kara has two main goals: to be comfortable in her skin and to not end up alone. The series finale allowed her to reveal her secret identity, but Kara is the only character (bar Lena) to end up uncoupled. Romance isn’t typically necessary for a happy ending, but Kara herself expressed her desire for companionship.
What’s worse, Kara didn’t feel like the main character for most of the series, including the final episode. While there are plenty of TV characters who don’t get happy endings, few are the series namesake. Moreover, all the potential dangers that prevented Kara from coming out as Supergirl were conveniently forgotten, making her ending both unfulfilling and unrealistic.
