I was looking on Netflix for an English-language show to use as background noise, and it keeps telling me that I will love Supergirl. Like, almost 5 stars love it. Now, Netflix knows me better than most of my friends, and it’s generally trustworthy, but sometimes it makes major errors. For example, it doesn’t take into account that I simply do not care for the modern super hero genre. It bores me and annoys me.
I’m largely hesitant because I really loved the Supergirl film. I remember watching it a lot when I was a kid. Yes, I was “that girl” growing up who loved the female versions and had barely an idea that the male versions – considered the “primary” versions for most people – really existed. I literally used to refer to Mickey Mouse as “boy mouse” because Minnie is obviously the only one who matters (and don’t even get me started on the lack of Daisy Duck representation, because if you do, my passionate tirade will only be interrupted as I don my classic mid-nineties Daisy Duck hat I won at a raffle, a hat that has taken on mythical proportions. My dad took me to an event where this was one of the prizes, and in my tiny brain, I decided that I must have it. It was going to be mine. End of story. My poor father was stressing out over how to explain to a kid the odds of thousands of raffle tickets versus one prize, but instead he practically passed out in shock when he realized that the ticket I held was the one for that hat. That just goes to show you the power of childlike faith. Or sheer dumb luck.)
When I was a kid, the best Superman film was Superman III, because I thought Richard Pryor was hilarious. Also, when I was a kid, my image of the “real” Superman was Dean Cain (and who it shall remain, forever and ever, and I will fight you). When I grew up and became an angsty teen – or at least one who now had control of the TV and discovered the teenage soap opera that is the CW, née WB, I was willing to accept Smallville as a decent take on the bird-plane-Superman, but mostly because of Chloe (oh yeah don’t get me started on her, either). Also Smallville aired before Gilmore Girls (or maybe afterwards, I can’t remember, I just know that I only started watching it because of Gilmore Girls, which is an odd pairing, come to think of it.)
Anyway, I really loved the Supergirl movie. As an adult, I understand that it’s schlocky mess (no really, read the synopsis – yes, it’s a real movie and nothing is exaggerated in the wiki and I still love it. Like, if I ever run across it while I’m flipping channels in a hotel room, I won’t budge until it’s finished). But as a young girl, I always wanted to be the superhero and save the day, which is what Kara does. I was also envious of her name and wished I could be called “Kara,” too. (Which, to be fair, was not an unusual habit for me, considering I actually went an summer where I decided to only answer to the name of “Dorothy” due to my intense three-year-old love for the Wizard of Oz. I’m convinced there are distant relatives who were at that massive family reunion that year who are still unsure of my real name. Which is all to say I wanted to be the hero of the story even when I was the tender age of three.)
So, knowing my general dislike of the modern take on the superhero trend when I clearly am only in it for the campy fun stuff, I was hesitant to pick up the latest version of Supergirl because I figured it would be gritty and awful and boring. Which lead to me skim the reviews because I can generally get a sense of a show by looking for key words and phrases.
Well, lemme tell you that I’ve decided this will be my new favorite show just because all these horrible reviews keep complaining that it’s too dumb and campy and the writing is hackneyed and Kara acts more like a teenage Valley Girl and horror of horrors, Jimmy Olson is BLACK. It’s soooooooooo unlike the comics that it’s RUINING EVERYTHING.
Maybe the writing is terrible but seriously, go back and reread that Supergirl movie synopsis and tell me if anything could be worse than that, and then be reminded that I loved that movie. So fight me, nerdbros, because sometimes campy is exactly what a girl needs, and I’m just going to assume that this would have been my crack if it was airing when I was a kid.
The Obsessive Dilettante 