Melissa Benoist's Supergirl created a renaissance for solo female superhero properties.
It cannot be overstated how game changing it all was and STILL IS. The Supergirl TV series kicked down doors.
The first season premiered 10 years ago. This was before the Wonder Woman film, before Captain Marvel had a film, before Black Window got a solo film.
It was the first female led superhero show since the Wonder Woman series in the 1970s.
What is amazing is that it almost never happened. The producers wanted the right actress and did not want to go forward, if they couldn't find her. Melissa Benoist was cast mere days before they shot the pilot episode for Supergirl.
It ended up being a perfect storm of the right time, the right superhero, and, most important of all, the absolutely right actress. Melissa captured all the complexities of Kara Zor El while also making her a beacon, this bright, brilliant spot in the landscape of TV.
In the first episode, Melissa Benoist makes you believe in Supergirl. You believe in superheroes. This moment, this scene, someone who was already a hero finally let herself truly embrace it. My heart.
OUR PARAGON OF HOPE. BEST SUPERHERO
The show was not perfect and in many ways it wasted storylines and the immense talents of its lead actress. But despite all of those things - Supergirl resonated with viewers.
Women (and girls) had superheroes here or there, over the years, but Supergirl changed everything. Girls (and women) had a bold, bright superhero all their own! To look up to, to root for - heck, to have a new Halloween costume to wear. That may seem so small, but its huge.
Kara Zor El is the best superhero. She is rich and complex. She has deep rage, pain, and trauma. Eventually she learns to cope. She never loses her joy or kindness. She struggles as all of us do, but never never loses her core strength of hope, compassion, and love.
Kara lost her entire world. Not just parents or friends, but her entire world and culture, the place she lived most of her childhood. She became an alien refugee. She kept going, step by step. She is a pillar of strength, overcoming trauma, kindness, and joy.
I digressed a bit, but I wanted to explain a bit about Kara Zor El. To have a female led superhero show on the air for 6 years, changed everything. Supergirl is a character DC did not really do anything with and then this series came along...
Melissa Benoist's nuanced, gutsy, and powerful performance resonated with everyone. We got more Supergirl solo comics including the now respected Woman of Tomorrow run. We have had 2 new on screen Supergirl's and this TV show has only been off the air for 4 years.
So thank you to Melissa Benoist for embodying Supergirl on and off screen. Forever my Supergirl.
No idea, if anyone read this far, but I wanted to get some Supergirl thoughts out. The show may seem small, but it caused important change. If you haven't seen this show, give it a watch. Supergirl is a special character and has a lot to offer.
I want to end this thread on a hopeful note. So please see our Paragon of Hope's truest and most heartfelt speech.
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