Party people and the place to be, I didn’t choose the thug life, but I’m absolutely tickled that you choose me! What’s up everybody!? I know it’s been a while because my life is an unending series of work, stress, and the unflinching pull of Death, and it feels fantastic to be back and writing for The Nerd Punch again! But enough about me, how’ve you been? Did you do that thing you’ve been talking about. Have you called your mother? It’s good that we get to have these talks.
Ok, enough chit chat. There is important business to get to and no time to lose. Last night, on CBS of all places, we got our first look at Supergirl. I’ve been awaiting this show for quite some time now and it’s a relief to finally have it here.
Supergirl stars Melissa Benoist as, uhhh, Supergirl, aka Kara Zor-El. The cousin of Kal-El, she was sent from Krypton to Earth with the intention of protecting the future Superman, but her escape pod got delayed for 24 years in the Phantom Zone. By the time she made it to Terra Firma, Supes was already a big deal, but she was still a 13-year old girl.
Now a grown woman, Kara tries to be a regular member of society, working as an assistant to a media mogul (Calista Flockhart) and trying to make a difference in the world. When a plane carrying her adopted sister (Chyler Leigh) suffers an engine failure, she catches it and brings it safely to rest. Now that the world is aware that a second superhuman is on the scene, Kara dons a costume a starts to fight crime in National City. But there are threats out there that are larger and more menacing than bank robbers and carjackers. Will Kara be able to take them on? Will she live up to the standard set by her cousin? Will little Timmy ever escape from that well? Only time will tell!
The first and most important thing to note is that it feels so bloody fantastic to have a feel good, live action Superman property out in the world again. Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns was all dour, with Supes alternately dealing with the fact that he abandoned Earth and creepin’ on Lois Lane. Zach Snyder’s Man of Steel was about as fun as dinner with your racist uncle. And just like that dinner, we all know that we’ll have to see him again in a year or two and suffer all over again because that’s just how shit works.
But with Supergirl we finally have a story where someone is, like, excited to be a superhero. You know what people want to do? Fuckin’ fly. Do you know what doesn’t fill people with a sense of existential dread? Fuckin’ flying! This is what Man of Steel got so wrong and what Supergirl gets so right. Watching Benoist geek out after flying for the first time in years and saving the plane is so cool. You can feel her joy and it’s contagious. We can all imagine what it must be like for her to want to scream “I AM SUPERGIRL!” at the top of her lungs, and we can share the frustration she has when she isn’t able to. Ok, I’m going to get off my high horse and stop talking shit at Man of Steel.
But seriously, fuck that movie.
Eat an entire bag of dicks.
That pretty much sums up the pilot for Supergirl. It’s an exercise in pure, unadulterated fun. It’s great watching Benoist design her costume and go out into the world in it. It’s awesome getting to see her deflect bullets and jump off roofs. Spending time with someone who likes being super, is, well, super. Factor in the idea that Kara will have an entire rogues gallery of the worst and most colorful criminals from around the universe who all want to get her dead, and this could shape up to be one of the better shows on network television right now.
I’m looking forward to seeing where Supergirl goes from here, and I hope that you are too. I’m going to be posting reviews of future episodes every week, so join me in watching and then get your asses over here to get my thoughts and to post your own in the comments below. Superman stuff is going to be fun again guys! Lets enjoy this before Batman v. Superman comes and harshes our buzz.
Random Thoughts:
>Mehcad Brooks plays Jimmy “James” Olson, and I am NOT comfortable with the fact that I’m sexually attracted to Jimmy Fucking Olson
>I mentioned that there is a bunch of criminals who want to kill Kara. I should probably elaborate on this for those of you who haven’t watched the show yet. This is because her mother was a judge and jailer on Krypton and since they can’t get back at her since she’s dead and all, they decide to go after her daughter.
>Kara’s sister, Alex, works for the Department of Extra-Normal Operations (DEO), basically a government shadow operation that keeps the Earth safe from the scum of the universe. Was this bullet point just an excuse for me to post this video? Yes. Yes it was.
