#olivia marsdin

[kent-farm]

—Cat Grant about her former college RA, now President Olivia Marsdin who is a shapeshifting alien, Supergirl, “Resist”

[samlamwambam]

Roundtable Presentation: We Don't Need Another Superhero

How do structural mythology, cultural studies, and cultural history reflect the series’ world and world-building around superheroes? 

Supergirl’s true identity is Kara Zor-El, with her earth name being Kara Danvers. The show takes place in National City, and besides this world’s advanced technology and interaction with the extraterrestrial, it reflects a world much like ours. The politics of this world is similar in the sense that there are “anti-alien” political groups that lead the aliens of this world to find refuge in their own bars, neighborhoods, etc. In fact, Kara’s best friend, Lena Luthor, develops a piece of technology meant to identify who in a crowd is alien and who is not, a severe form of othering.  

In what ways are the superheroes and their abilities informed by their racial, gender, sexual, and cultural identities? 

One of the main challenges for Supergirl is coming to terms with her identity and finding space for herself in a world dominated by male superheroes, specifically her cousin, Superman (aka Clark Kent). During the destruction of their planet, a teenage Kara is sent to earth to protect baby Clark. However, Kara arrives on earth much later than Superman because she ended up trapped in the Phantom Zone, a dimension of space where time doesn’t exist. Thus, although Kara is older, Clark is already an adult while Kara is growing up with her adoptive family. In a world where a male superhero with identical powers is established, Supergirl has to work twice as hard to make sure she isn’t just known as “Superman’s cousin.” 

Another way Supergirl is informed by her gender is through her interaction with other male characters. Most Superman narratives don’t typically focus on Superman’s love interest, and even if it does, it rarely has a large enough focus to affect the trajectory of Superman’s abilities. Contrastingly, the TV show Supergirl is packed with “damsel in distress” storyarcs, where she is often saved by one of her love interests. This is interesting considering one of the main themes of the show is feminism.

In what ways do costumes and concealing identities further separate the superheroes from normal society? How necessary is it for the superheroes to hide their true identities to successfully achieve their goals? 

Supergirl's costume separates her completely from her actual identity, Kara Danvers. The importance of the costume especially comes to light when she is interacting with her boss, Cat Grant, and her best friend, Lena Luthor. Both characters have very different attitudes when it comes to Supergirl versus Kara. Cat Grant idolizes Supergirl and aims to secure interviews with her for her magazine while treating Kara, her assistant, with little acknowledgement and appreciation. Lena Luthor, who begins as friends with both of Supergirl’s identities, becomes both vengeful and terrified of Supergirl and strains their relationship even further by developing anti-alien technology that could dampen Supergirl’s abilities. As for her relationship with Kara, the two are the bestest of friends until Kara reveals her superhero identity to Lena, leading to an extreme loss of trust between the two. For Supergirl, it’s extremely important for her to maintain a hidden identity so that her complex work relationships do not get mixed up with her personal ones. 

How do the economic, political, and social events that occurred during the series’ creation and broadcast cultivate and inform the superheroes’ decisions and actions? 

Supergirl aired in 2015, and in 2016, the election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton was the topic of the year. Thus, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that season two of Supergirl had more episodes surrounding the president than any other season. The President in the world of this series was a woman named Olivia Marsdin. However, one of the biggest shocks of the entire series was in the season four premiere, where The President was revealed to be a shapeshifting alien herself. This is especially interesting considering Trump’s stance on immigration during this time. In the world of Supergirl, this revelation threw the public into utter chaos and shock, especially because of the anti-alien sympathizers spread throughout the country. Although the President shows no immediate threat and has been running the country with its inhabitants best interests at heart, both human and alien, the Constitution leaves no room for the President to not be a natural-born citizen, let alone an extraterrestrial. The revelation tarnished the image of aliens all over the country, including Supergirl, and anti-alien extremist groups gained even more support, with one of the leaders, Agent Liberty, becoming the primary antagonist of the season. 

How do the superheroes question themselves, each other, and their obligations and duties to the people around them? 

Because she has to keep her identities separate, Supergirl often has to hide parts of herself from the people closest to her. Thus, when she’s able to share her full self with someone, it takes an extra emotional toll on her to lose them. During an invasion, Supergirl has to choose between saving the people of Earth from becoming mindless drones or losing the love of her life, Mon-El. Ultimately, she of course chooses to save Earth, but there is a moment where Supergirl questions whether all she has sacrificed for this world both physically and emotionally is worth it or not.

@theuncannyprofessoro

[theoneonly-huntress]

Rewatching Supergirl, Season Two ~ Lynda Carter plays Madam President Olivia Marsdin. Wonder Woman to President.

[ao3feed-supercorp]

Of Sand and Salt

by ArtyAppleBee

Kara, as the best mercenary in the kingdom, had never been one to back off from a challenge. However, this time, it felt wrong.

Firstly, kidnapping wasn’t her favorite field of work. But travelling thousands of miles with a highly recognisable target ? Well, it wasn’t even a job, it was just a bloody joke. But, then again, she didn't have much of a choice.

Or, Kara is a mercenary with a big bounty on her head, and her only chance to not be sentenced to death is to capture and bring back the terrifying queen of the merfolks, Lena Luthor.

AKA the kidnapping to lovers AU atleast one weirdo asked for. (It's me, I'm that weirdo)

Words: 1306, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Supergirl (TV 2015)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/F

Characters: Kara Danvers, Lena Luthor, J'onn J'onzz | Hank Henshaw, Samantha "Sam" Arias, Olivia Marsdin, Lex Luthor

Relationships: Kara Danvers/Lena Luthor, Kara Danvers & Lena Luthor

Additional Tags: Mermaid(s), merfolks, Merfolk!Lena, (like not a mermaid but kinda), Queen Lena Luthor, mercenary Kara Danvers, Alternate Universe - No Powers, Alternate Universe - Merpeople, Alternate Universe - Medieval, (kind of), Merpeople, Useless Lesbians, lesbian mermaid, Enemies to Lovers, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Kidnapping, Morally Grey Government, Lex Luthor Being an Asshole, but what's new, No beta we die like Kara's dignity in chapter 1, BAMF Women, Goofy Kara Danvers, Lena Luthor Needs a Hug, POV Alternating, I love them so much, Do I have the plot written ?, absolutely not, How Do I Tag, Dork Kara Danvers

from AO3 works tagged 'Kara Danvers/Lena Luthor' https://ift.tt/wkGcD2A via IFTTT https://ift.tt/wkGcD2A

[superlustersnew52]

Main Inspiration

Supergirl TV show

Secondary Inspirations

other Arrowverse properties

Powerless

Men In Black

History

This Earth is home to all sorts of alien beings, and this has been the case for decades. Government organizations such as the DEO and the Men In Black have helped aliens stay hidden among the population, while also going after aliens that cause problems for the Earth.

Around 2000 was when the public started to become more aware of the alien presence on Earth, when Superman first showed up. Superman also marked the beginning of the age of superheroes, with other heroes showing up in the following years, Batman being another one of the earliest ones.

But not everybody was all too eager to live in a world of aliens, or superheroes for that matter, a sentiment that led to Lex Luthor becoming President of the United States in 2012. His presidency did not last very long, though, as he would wind up getting impeached rather quickly, leading to Pete Ross becoming President, and Lex would eventually end up in prison. By the time the next election rolled around, public sentiments towards aliens went in the exact opposite direction, leading to Olivia Marsdin winning the election on a pro-alien platform, though she would later resign when it was revealed that she was an alien herself. Her replacement would then also get impeached due to his connection to Lex Luthor and the Children of Liberty, due to their terrorist actions. Following all that, politics settled down, with an inoffensive status-quo Democrat winning the next election.

In 2015, the cousin of Superman, Supergirl, came into the picture, becoming National City's resident hero. Not much longer after that, Lena Luthor, who had taken over LexCorp (renamed to L-Corp) upon Lex's imprisonment, would move to National City, hoping to get a chance to work alongside Supergirl. And they certainly did work together, and became very close, over the years of fighting against villains together. They fought various alien threats together, as well as Lex himself upon his release from prison (he would end up getting sent to the Phantom Zone by the end of all that), alongside other allies they had in the Superfriends. Many years after they started working together, shortly after Supergirl had chosen to reveal to the world that she went by Kara Danvers in her daily life, Kara and Lena would get married, and worked together at the yet-again-renamed Supercorp, with Kara having left behind her career as a journalist in order to put her scientific mind to good use by helping creating inventions at Supercorp.

Elsewhere, in Gotham City, Batman went missing in 2015 after he killed the Joker. Crime ran rampant there for years until Batwoman showed up to replace him...before she too went missing and another Batwoman replaced her. That first Batwoman would end up reappearing, but Batman never did. Instead of continuing the solitary life of Batman, both Batwomen decided to work together to protect Gotham, alongside other heroes that joined them, including some Batgirls.

Coincidentally, around the same time that Batman disappeared, Bruce Wayne vanished as well, leading to Wayne Enterprises going through some changes. Wayne Security's branch in Charm City, for example, known for its R&D department, went through some restructuring, Van Wayne leaving the company as Emily Locke took over. Eventually, they would get sold off to L-Corp. Wayne Enterprises itself went through multiple executives, notably Kate Kane, Ryan Wilder, and Marquis Jet. Eventually the company settled on Ryan Wilder as its CEO, with Kate Kane being the owner.

Various different cities, particularly in America, have their own set of heroes and villains, and have gone through various noteworthy events. In late 2019, various heroes from across the world formed the League, a team dedicated to dealing with global threats whenever they showed up - though the heroes in the League typically just operate in their home cities, only banding together when the situation called for it.

Starters

[hitchell-mope]

I’m stuck on something

So I’ve been working on making a timeless au for supergirl. All I’ve got so far is karamel = lyatt. Lena = Emma Whitmore. Siobhan = Jessica Logan. Morgan Edge = Garcia Flynn. Lillian Luthor = Carol Preston. Maxwell Lord = Nicholas Keynes. But I’ve gotten stuck on wether to put J’onn J’onzz or Jack Spheer for Connor Mason. And wether to put James x Lucy, Winn x Samantha or Brainia for jiya. And most of al. Who to put for Denise Christopher. Eliza Danvers, M’gann M’orzz, Cat Grant or Olivia Marsdin. So I put it to you karamel side of the fandom who’ve watched the show. And yes. I’m aware that this is an overly narrow superlative. Who would you put for who? Inbox me or tell me in the notes at your leisure

[vonter-voman]

Lynda Carter in the DC Multiverse

Wonder Woman (1975-1979)

Moira Sullivan in Smallville (2007)

President Olivia Marsdin in Supergirl (2016-2018)

Asteria in Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

[lovesupercorpsg]

Supergirl's parents were once supers, that's awesome!

[broken-wings-and-bastard-kings]

[evadwrites]

So, it’s almost eight pm on Sunday, and all I can think about is the fact that there was a freaking President of the United States on that plane in 2x21, but Kara still chose to save Cat Grant, because of course she did.

[obvslybatgrl]

Cat: Alright, the email contains a link to a video. I'm going to play it. Brace yourselves. If it shows Rhea, be sure not to look directly in her eyes.

President Marsdin: Because we'll turn into stone?

Cat: No. Because her eyes are ugly.

Cat: *plays video*

Rhea: Hello Earth. Surprised to see me?

Cat: Well I didn't say Bloody Mary three times, so yes.

[superherocaps]

[archivedmarsdin]

The Alien Amnesty Act was signed October 24th 2016. Three year ago today!

[fictorium]

preparation (all of time and space series) - Cat/Kara, Rating: T

For those of you who read it in the collection already, the last chapter in part 1 has just been posted:

CHAPTER 11

And if you haven’t started yet, here’s the whole damn fic

FROM THE START

Enjoy the Supercat Does Diplomacy journey! Written for @sapphicscholar as part of the Supercat Christmas in July collection.

[grcwingstrcng]

DemoCat sketch commission for the absolutely lovely @marsdin

COMMISSION INFO HERE.

Please don’t repost, only reblog.

[hitchell-mope]

My universe part one

I’m about 10 minutes into American alien. And I know it’s gonna get a helluva lot worse before it gets better. So. I’ve concocted my own little universe I personally think improves on canon. Which will no doubt be subject to change as I watch more.

Mon El never left the second time. He stayed. He’s with Kara. He’s happy. She’s happy. They’re both happy.

Winn never left. He’s got a small possible thing happening with Samantha. Samantha also keeps her Kryptonian powers and joins Kara, Mon El and Brainy in superheroing.

Cat and Carter never left. And Carter and Ruby are friends (I think they’d get on)

Lucy was James’s love interest in season three because frankly pairing him up with that thing was character assassination of the highest order

Morgan isn’t a misogynist. He just hates the Luthor’s and a semi crooked businessman so he’s the team’s token evil teammate.

Lena and Maxwell are together. And they’re both treated as the villains they are. Well. They serve as Lillian’s sidekicks. But still.

Marsdin has more screentime because I like her.

The trauma dumped on Kara is severely lessened. Main characters being happy shouldn’t have to be seen as a boring concept.

Clark is also a semi recurring character because Kara needs to be closer to her biological family not just her adopted and found family

Lena has a lengthy (full season and a half) prison sentence for synthesising and hoarding her own kryptonite.

I’m well aware this will probably clash with future plots in the show. But it is an au after all. So. Tell me what you think