#and mostly ignored kara's is more frustrating to me overall

[bisupergirl]

I was scrolling back to see if anyone asked, but with the WOT movie on the horizon and the CW show kinda far in the rear view, I was wondering what your thoughts on Melissa’s characterization of Kara was? I know that it’s kinda hard to separate the characterization from how shitty the CW writing was (the first season being on CBS was far better) but I’d still love to know? I’ve seen a wide range of opinions from the more comic book loyal fans vs more film/TV media faithful (and I’ve been creeping through your tags and I love your thoughts on Kara!)

first of all thank you :) I don't think super highly of her version of kara, but my opinion of her has definitely mellowed out over time. i've actually answered this twice now, but i'll go ahead and reiterate what my main issue with her personality is—which is that she just doesn't have enough of an edge to her. and I don't mean that she should be constantly mean or angry or grumpy all the time—or that she shouldn't be kind or compassionate—I just think she should've been more combative/argumentative/stubborn both as kara danvers and as supergirl. she was just, like, kind of meek and overly sweet/bubbly in a way that I didn't enjoy. as the series progressed (and especially after it moved from cbs—where her "adorkable" personality was kind of unbearable) she got to be more headstrong and confident, which was a welcome change from her earlier characterization.

honestly if cwsg removed the DEO and let kara be more of a dick at work and in her personal life, that'd solve, like, most of the problems that I have with the show.

[suzukiblu]

I love your Kara. I’m so used to her being a one note racist when it comes to Kon-angst. Don’t get me wrong. That’s entertaining for easy angst. But it’s never criticized by anybody. How is she still on the league?

It’s nice to see her be a supportive figure who is worried for him.

Ty! ❤️ I will say I haven't read too much of Kara in the comics (Mae and Linda were my OG Supergirl back in the day and I just vastly preferred them when I was doing most of my reading), so I mostly got her vibe and backstory through the cartoons and fandom osmosis and then extrapolated a few things I hadn't seen explored about her much IN fandom for the takes on her I've written. But like, I've only really seen her be, like, REALLY anti-clone in the New 52, so I don't like to characterize her too strongly by any anti-clone sentiments even if I do sometimes include a bit of them underscoring what she's thinking/doing. Like, more like the kind of low-level ingrained bias you get from growing up in a culture with some shitty beliefs that you haven't ever had a real reason to examine than anything genuinely hateful or anything you actually REALLY believe yourself, if that makes sense.

Also lbr, it's just more interesting to me to make Kara-related issues be things like culture clash and apocalyptic levels of grief and rage that most people around her don't understand and kinda just ignore and, like, an overall frustration with other people not having the cultural context to REALLY understand what she's saying/thinking/doing, a lot of the time. Like, this is a character with a dead planet and a dead SPECIES who if things had gone to plan probably would've been "Superwoman" LONG before Clark grew up enough to even develop powers at all, much less be SuperMAN, and who SHOULD be older and more mature/experienced than all of these superpowered adults that she got dumped in the middle of who historically do NOT do all that well with surprise teenagers while also having the possibility of growing up STRONGER than Clark but simultaneously getting shit on by both the narrative and said superpowered adults, and also she's just never seemed as integrated into the hero community as, like, Dick or Babs or Kon or Tim or whoever else. Like she's just that LITTLE bit disconnected from them all, it tends to feel like to me. So there's a lot to mine there, character-wise! Like way more than just one-note clone-racism!

Anyway tl;dr: I got a lil' carried away there but I love the whole entire concept of Kara and I always wanna write her being MUCH more complicated than I usually see her getting handled. I wanna do our girl some justice!!

[korra-the-red-lion]

Supergirl 6x12: Blind Spots.

Korra here! I actually watched an episode on time for once, yay! Also, holy effing smokes. This episode. My thoughts down below, and as always, SPOILERS AHEAD.

The opening scene with Nyxly and the blue alien guy tells us right away that imp magic is going to be a major issue right away this episode, which I enjoy.

Kelly and Orlando racing to help all the people who got trapped in the Ormfell building collapse and him telling Kelly that it will take too long to wait for 911 was just ugh. My heart.

The hospitals being overwhelmed, the need for extra oxygen and respirators, and the lack of empathy for the underprivileged... okay. If this isn’t a reference to both the Covid-19 pandemic and nursing crisis, I don’t know what else it could be. This one hurt.

Okay, so the Karen council woman, whose name is Jean Rankin, is awful. Pardon my language because I usually try to stay pg-13, but holy fuck I hate her. Unsurprisingly, she immediately abuses her new power. What a bitch.

Kelly calling for help but no one listening is absolutely heartbreaking. I wish Alex had at least asked her what was going on, but she didn’t and that is what makes it worse. I think in this case, it was because Alex has full faith that Kelly can take care of herself, but the lack of understanding what Kelly needs vs. what she can do is something Alex is missing.

This is small and random, but I’m glad that the show hasn’t forgotten James. So many shows have people leave the show and then pretend they never existed. SG has rarely done that and I’m thankful.

Diggle, my man! I think that this was his best appearance by far. I really liked him in the Batwoman one, because he encouraged Luke to keep moving forward, which was super touching. But him and Kelly connecting and trying to figure this out together was very well done.

Lena gets a couple of scenes this episode. The first one is driving me crazy. She has a text from Kelly, and a new notification. The point was to drive home that no one was listening to Kelly, which this did effectively. BUT, I also can’t get over the fact that Lena IGNORED Kelly’s message because she saw a new notification about Supergirl and had to race home immediately. I’m trying to keep my hopes low, but if this doesn’t scream Supercorp Endgame, what does?

Okay, but like, effing Andrea? Kelly, who is your friend and previous employee is asking you to cover a building collapse that has a bunch of people injured and dying and you’re covering TRAFFIC? WHAT THE FUCK? Girl, this is why your network is failing because of stupid ass decisions like this. Get it together.

Kelly finally losing her shit at the Super Friends was well deserved. Everyone was ignoring her this episode, and they were ignoring the serious issue on hand. Of course stopping Nxyly is important, but so is this. Kara and Alex both feel guilty immediately and Nia stops them from going to talk to Kelly so she can blow off some steam.

Kara and Kelly’s conversation was really good. I’m glad that it wasn’t Kara being completely ignorant like they do often, but instead not having her understand it from a certain perspective. I think this was one of the best moments of the episode.

This talk made me cry. Brainy is showing Kelly her new suit, and she asks him “Does it get better?” Jesse’s face is just agony when he tells her that there was still a lot of problems. I cried during this scene. It’s so frustrating. We have come a long way, but there’s many more steps to take.

THE NEW SUIT IS AMAZING. KELLY LOOKS SO GOOD. AHHHH.

Orlando is speaking truth. Why should he trust the new Guardian just because? It hurts but Kelly understands why she’s gotta prove herself.

Kara fights that idiot Rankin, but she’s mostly holding her attention so Kelly and drain her energy and return it to the people. This scene was really cool, ngl.

Okay, scene number 2 that made me cry. Kelly (magically I have to say) comes down from the building to speak with the people, mostly Orlando. She’s encouraging him to take a seat on the council. which is really sweet. But the scene when the one little girl says “I’M GUARDIAN” while the other holds the trash lid... I just....it speaks volumes. Remember when Supergirl first came out and little girls everywhere were so excited to see themselves on screen? Now little black girls can have their representation too. I’m actually tearing up writing this.

Lena gets home and you know it’s magic because snail mail beat her CatCo jet. Now she has a spell book!

Bye Diggle! It was fun having you around. The last thing he says to Kelly about Jefferson is so wonderful. Remember that now post-Crisis, Black Lighting is the OG black superhero that people looked up to. I just really loved this full circle moment.

Now the last scene. UGH. Kelly putting her hair up in a wrap. Her wearing the “Say Her Name” shirt. The music choice. Kelly telling Alex what she needs and Alex listening. Kelly crying in her arms. I bawled. This scene. I loved it. It was the best way to end an exhausting episode for Kelly.

Overall, not only the best episode of the season, but one of the best episodes of the entire show. I can’t say enough about it. Even if you stopped watching SG, I think everyone should watch this episode at least. Really powerful stuff.

Also, a promo! Yay! Looks like we’re getting a fun chaotic episode, which I think after an emotionally taxing episode like this, it’s needed. Until then, everyone!

[stranger-who-writes-fiction]

Superman & Lois - Ep. 102 “Heritage”

In which the Sad Dad vibes and teen angst continues!

Spoilers!

Lois gets the opening and closing narration this week! And generally has more to do, which is nice.

The fam has officially moved to Smallville, so the boys are gearing up to start school...or are they???

Well, Jon is. Jordan is told he has to stay home until he can get his nascent powers under control because they don’t want him to accidentally flash frying a classmate. Which he almost did. Last week. 

Clark calls Jordan’s accidental heat vision an ‘ocular release of energy.’

This decision, of course, leads to some FAMILY DRAMA. Jordan feels like a freak! Jonathan is upset that they’ve had to move! Clark feels like he’s failing as a parent!

Oh and also the guy in the Master Chief suit is on the hunt for Kryptonite. Which is, you know. Troubling.

SO it’s off to school for Jonathan and off to the Fortress for Jordan!

Lois, upon Jonathan asking why Jordan gets to go flying with dad: “At least we have the radio!”

One plus side about the show being ‘grounded’ and ‘prestige-y’: the high school drama is of a more believable variety. Still tedious, but at least it’s not dated 90s tropes.

...Well, okay. Not entirely true. Sarah Cushing’s personality thus far is ‘nice girl who’s dating a jerk’ and yes, the line “What do you see in that guy?” is said aloud. So.

Win some, lose some.

MEANWHILE, AT THE FORTRESS:

Love the actor they got for Jor-El. He’s perfect, in that he feels like an homage to Brando, Crowe, but is also his own distinct version. I dig it. 

But there’s no giant key made of dwarf star matter because this is GROUNDED and REALISTIC and none of that SILLY CW NONSENSE, WE GOT HBO MAX MONEY. 

Back to the Lois vs. Edge plot:

For all the folks wondering how Lois working at the Planet was going to continue, what with the show being set in Smallville...

WELL.

Edge now owns the Planet, so he re-writes a negative article she’s written about him, which leads to her quitting, and going to write for the Smallville Gazette.

Which is operated by Chrissy Beppo.

Who is...named after the super monkey? 

Does this mean we’ll eventually meet other Smallville residents named after super pets? Like Marsha Whizzy, or maybe Kenneth Comet.

Seems a weird choice when ‘Bibbo’ is right there.

ANYWAYS.

Best line of the episode: “You know what babe? You do your Superman stuff, and I will do my Lois Lane stuff.”

MEANWHILE, THE SAD DAD VIBES INTENSIFY as Grandpa Jor-El reveals: Jordan...will never be like you, Kal-El. His human DNA is too limiting.

Which is a very interesting plot point (that was sorta mentioned/explored in Future State!)

So, about the boys: I still find them...mostly annoying. But I appreciate the dynamic they’re establishing: Jordan has always required more time and attention due to his anxiety disorder, and Jonathan has always had to look after him and compensate--this carries over into the new status quo where Jordan has the super powers and Jonathan further feels that his brother is getting time and attention and he needs to make sacrifices and changes for him/the family. 

This leads to a really lovely moment between the brothers at the end of the episode that I genuinely enjoyed, so. I’m hoping that there will be more of that and less of ‘drama with Sarah’.

(Also if you think that sounds a little like another pair of Super siblings...it does! And also hold that thought.)

The OTHER big twist is that Master Chief AKA Captain Luthor comes from a world with an EVIL SUPERMAN.

To be clear, the set-up is very obviously, ‘Our Clark will prove Captain Luthor wrong re: thinking he’ll turn evil,’ so I’m not seriously suggesting we’re in for a full-on Injustice situation. I just find it funny, how quickly they pulled out the ol’ evil Supes.

(The one we saw in Elseworlds doesn’t count since that wasn’t Clark.)

And maybe this one isn’t either! I admit complete ignorance as to the comics stuff they’re pulling from; I guess it’s somehow connected to Project 7734 (Which is ‘hell’ upside down, as any fifth grader with a calculator will tell you) a counter-Kryptonian force put together by Sam Lane, I think? 

IDK. Like I said, comics blind spot.

The episode ends with Grandpa Lane looking a bit spooked at the ominous 7734 keychain Captain Luthor gave him, and Captain Luthor still on the hunt for Kryptonite! DUN DUN DUUNNNNNN.  

And now, time for a segment I’ll call: Gettin’ Super Salty w/Stranger wherein I will stash all of my frustration regarding the fact that this spin-off doesn’t really want to be a spin-off.

Okay, so first up! As mentioned, the Fortress design has been changed because the silly Supergirl version does not vibe with the new serious aesthetic.

Their loss! More Legion Rings, baby Sun Eaters, and impractical front door keys for Supergirl!

The sunstone AI details the last days of Krypton, and only one (1) pod is shown escaping the destruction.

Thanks, I hate it.

I do appreciate that Jor-El at least kinda appears to be wearing clothes that match the look of Supergirl’s Krypton. I wasn’t paying close attention to the buildings in the hologram, no clue if they match the architecture we’ve seen thus far.

Like, I get it. There’s no time to pause the plot and be like, ‘hey, just FYI, I’m not the sole survivor of Krypton, my cousin escaped as well’ but also AAAARRRRRGHHHHHH. 

You’re using the versions of the characters introduced in Supergirl, the least you can do is namedrop her once. ONCE. That’s all I’m asking. XD

They missed their opportunity, actually; when the boys were like, ‘We have so many questions!’ All you had to do was slip in, ‘Are we related to Supergirl?’ Bam. Done. Never need to go back to it, you’ve acknowledged it, continue on with your solo Sad Dad adventures!

(Except I guess that wouldn’t work, since so much of this is built on Clark being the Lone Protector of the earth. If you allude to other heroes being around, your whole character motivation/struggle makes less sense.)

I get it but I don’t have to like it. XD

They shoulda just set this on another Earth!

Circling back to the sibling dynamic: I hate how now I really want Kara to someday appear on this show and hang out with the boys and be like, ‘ah, yes, I know the feeling, my sister and I were the same.’

That’s it, that’s all the crossover content I need. I realize Melissa is moving on to bigger and better things but MAYBE SOMEDAY. XD (Or maybe I’ll just write a fic, who knows.)

I can’t remember if I brought this up already but it is hilarious to me that anyone still thinks of Superman as a reporter--most modern takes treat it as an afterthought and here, it’s dispensed in the first episode.

It has not been brought up since.

Like, much is made about Lois leaving Metropolis, and what that’ll mean for her career, but no one in Smallville is like, ‘Clark, wow! Farming? That’s quite a career change!’

(I assume he’ll be farming, since they mentioned starting the farm up again.)  

...You think anyone will drag the writers for tossing aside Clark’s ‘true calling?’ 

Who am I kidding? Supergirl fandom is not watching this show, they’re just harassing the people running the social media accounts. 

SO OVERALL: The good remains good! The meh remains meh! I appreciate that this version of Clark and Lois exist as we inch ever closer to the release of the Snyder Cut! But also the behind-the-scenes stuff continues to hang over everything like a terrible cloud! Here’s hoping those problems are addressed!