So I’ve come to a realization with comparisons between Supergirl and Superman and Lois from a conversation with my roommate.
Superman and Lois: Chanel grade CGI
Supergirl: Walmart
Superman and Lois: Walmart writing
Supergirl: ....not quite Chanel...more like Target
And this whole conversation started because I was saying how poor the CW is because they recycle all their actors cuz we’re watching TVD and realizing Stephen Amell was in it
caveat that I haven't seen all of it! I saw the first like... three? episodes and then the last four.
under the cut cause this is lonnnggg
tyler hoechlin is a very very very good superman, 10/10
he plays a very family oriented, powers out of focus superman which might not mesh with some of the older movies but for this show it WORKS
actually, great casting all around. elizabeth tulloch is perfect for this iteration of lois. I was skeptical about the kids at first but they really embodied their roles. props
the dynamic between jon and jordan is something that can actually be so personal
no but seriously it's very good and it's reminiscent of the dynamic between alex and kara and me and my sister which I love
I was eh about the plot. that may be because I didn't see the middle. more below
I had similar issues with sm&l as I had with supergirl season 1. as in, it was very well done, but I wasn't invested in any of the characters yet, so I was just kinda waiting until the next dramatic moment.
which is normal for a first season! imo flash is the only arrowverse show that's successfully avoided that issue, so no shade to sm&l it's really very good
the music is ON POINT. utilizes the superman theme in a distinctly cw way which normally I'd be like hm sus but it actually worked
speaking on that actually. it feels like new cw (2020s) rather than old cw/wb (2010s), which def threw me off initially. but it works for superman, ironically, because he's the oldest superhero? something something full circle?
still not super into the small town vibe, but it's grown on me
shame there are no gay people though
I know morgan edge is an established character in the superman universe but seeing him as a competent villain instead of a bumbling misogynist was endlessly funny
sarah's interesting, but I wish she had more to do. once again, very normal for a first season. I expect more from her next season.
sarah's parents, however, annoyed me to no end. 4/10
for this reason I suspect I wouldn't have liked the middle. may watch those eps once it comes on netflix though.
I reiterate how much I love jonathan and jordan!!
again, I saw a lot of sg season 1. there were even similar plot beats (kryptonian family member tries to mind control everyone, hero has to fight a mind controlled loved one and bring them back, etc)
which I didn't mind! it's a good story lol
it did kinda feel like "supergirl but Man" which is like. that's just superman. you removed the twist and now there is no twist
however, the family stuff was enough for me to not find it annoyingly male even though there are like two (2) women
I will say though that I felt it didn't have quite as much heart as supergirl? like sg season 1 has those moments of despair and anger that really got you invested in kara/supergirl, and clark is already too adult for that, which means sm&l loses those powerful emotional scenes.
I think they tried to do that with jordan but he's a child it's different
it was interesting to see a series start with an established adult superhero. we don't get superman's origin story, so sm&l can get right into a cohesive plot without having to go through a "villain of the week" period. (ahaha flash I love you but your early seasons are so repetitive...)
overall:
considering the similarities to sg, I'll definitely keep watching. supergirl's ending so guess this will replace it :')
I'd give it a 7.5/10 so far; it's very good, I'm not totally sold on it yet, but it has a lot of potential. (for comparison, I'd probably give sg season 1 like... a 7.6)
however I will be calling it "supergirl but Man" for the rest of my life
