Look, I’m going to get a little unprofessional here: I miss The CW’s Supergirl. It’s no secret I had my fair share of problems with the show, but only because of how much I loved it and wanted it to do right by its many characters. Even at the worst of times, it was a joy to watch Melissa Benoist take flight as the Girl of Steel and constantly adjust her glasses as Kara Danvers, breathing new life into a vastly under-appreciated character. When the writing was good, it was good, and Benoist (and company) consistently delivered stellar performances that elevated the series to an entirely different level than its sister shows. And now, with the country and world crumbling a bit more each day, and those in power with nefarious intentions and pure evil coursing through their veins seemingly impossible to stop, I can’t help but wish this little show was still on the air to offer some much-needed relief.
Throughout its run, Supergirl was no stranger to addressing real-world politics. All of the Arrowverse shows—and those on The CW in general—did, to an extent, but none quite so often and blatantly as Supergirl. And, as we sit through another reign of terror delivered by the sitting President, I find myself very much missing how Supergirl frequently delivered topical stories during his first term through Kara’s unique lens and relatively optimistic view of the world. In particular, given the most pressing issues around the country right now, the fourth season is on my mind quite regularly, which saw Kara facing off Agent Liberty (Sam Witwer) and tested unlike ever before by his recruiting of minions, the Children of Liberty, and transforming a growing anti-alien sentiment into a dangerous, violent anti-alien movement.
Credit: The CW
It was a brilliant move, one that accepted the show’s limitations, to use actual aliens, including Kara herself, to address this country’s demonization and subhuman treatment of actual immigrants, especially undocumented immigrants. It was also a powerful and well-done indictment of the President and his cult-like followers. (Looking back, it’s also a bit ironic how the season turned out to be a premonition of sorts, given billionaire Lex Luthor (Jon Cryer) was the mastermind behind the curtain, assisting Agent Liberty to further his own agenda. Talk about timely.)
With the recent release of David Corenswet’s Superman film, everyone (or at least those who aren’t crying about Superman being “woke”) is talking about how the world needs more of the Man of Steel and the ideals he represents. As much as I love Superman and wholeheartedly agree that the world is in desperate need of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow, I’m going to go out on a limb and say what we need first is Kara’s specialty: Hope, help, and compassion for all. (The latter of which specifically applies to those in support of this administration’s vile, inhumane, and criminal actions.) After all, how can we create a better tomorrow without hope and with so many lacking even the slightest shred of compassion or empathy for those being victimized, traumatized, or worse by ICE and the people empowering the organization? Additionally, as a woman in this increasingly misogynistic world, Kara can comment on and offer a more meaningful view into what it means to be a hero during these divisive times than Clark will ever be able to.
Credit: The CW
However, it’s more than just Kara that I’m missing, which is why, as much as I’m looking forward to the Supergirl film being released next year, I remain focused on The CW’s version. It would just be a gift to have this ensemble and chosen family back together. The importance of a character and hero like Nia Nal (Nicole Maines) cannot be overstated, as conservatives remain focused on dehumanizing trans people and continue their mission to strip the community of their rights. Stories revolving around Black characters like Kelly (Azie Tesfai) and James (Mehcad Brooks) are always important— and, frankly, we did not get nearly enough of Kelly, especially Kelly as Guardian, before the show ended. Likewise, as conservatives widen their sights and homophobia continues to worsen, Supergirl could have offered seriously impactful and timely stories through Kelly and Alex (Chyler Leigh), particularly after their series-ending wedding and adoption of their daughter Esme (Mila Jones).
In summary, I miss all of the Super Friends. While Supergirl may have been only one of many superhero shows on the air, it’s undeniable that it provided something different from the others. Cheesy as it may be, it really can be boiled down to hope. Kara’s hope was in the DNA of the show, affecting every story, character, relationship, and every other aspect of what played out during those six seasons. It held up a mirror to the real world and delivered a sliver of that hope to the audience that things could, and would, improve if you took Kara’s slogan to heart. Plus, everything on TV lately has become so dark, cold, and gloomy, and the contrast is so strange when turning on an old episode of Supergirl and being surrounded by hope and warmth. We need more of that warmth again, to make TV the escape it once was, rather than constantly aiming for relentless and miserable realism.