Last year, Kara Zor-El flew into America's hearts as Supergirl on CBS.
A brand new series based on the story of Superman's cousin, Supergirl quickly captured the imaginations of viewers, and although ratings were often up and down, the series became a favorite for comic book fans.
It probably doesn't hurt that Supergirl is the first female superhero-led series on TV in years, but the series also re-introduced some classic storylines and villains familiar to DC Comics fans.
How did the series do as a whole throughout the season? Here's a rundown of Supergirl's strengths and kryptonite, for those keeping score.
Acting: A
It's not easy being a larger-than-life character on TV. With the trend of darker superhero shows and movies, making Supergirl hopeful and light proved a challenge. Fortunately, for fans, Melissa Benoist had no problem keeping Kara relatable, but she also created a character that instantly became a role model for young girls and women everywhere. It doesn't hurt that she's surrounded by an equally talented cast, including Jeremy Jordan as Supergirl's best friend Winn and Mehcad Brooks as Supergirl's love interest, James Olsen.
Chyler Leigh, though, stands out as Alex Danvers, Supergirl's adopted sister, along with David Harewood, who we later learn is not really Hank Henshaw, but Martian Manhunter J'onn J'onzz. Add to that a stellar list of recurring actors (including former Supergirl Helen Slater and former Superman Dean Cain), and this is a cast that just works. Also, major kudos to Calista Flockhart for making Cat Grant despicable and lovable at the same time.
Special Effects: B+
Special effects on TV rarely look as good as in big budget movies, but Supergirl manages to keep up. It seems that CBS has a pretty decent budget on the show, although occasionally, some of Kara's powers feel a little off (such as her laser eyes). Mostly, though, the visual effects look great: when Harewood morphs into Martian Manhunter, it looks believable.
The season finale, too, included some great fight scenes: don't miss what Martian Manhunter does to Indigo (ouch!).
Stories: B
Most of Supergirl's episodes worked really well, but some were a little less than stellar. Starting with the bad, Superman's "appearances" in the series just don't work. It seems like, in reality, Superman would help Kara more than he does, but the idea behind the series is that viewers should never actually see the Man of Steel. This isn't his show, but it often feels sidelined by him, regardless. Even in the season finale, where Kara receives a message from her cousin at the end of the episode, it feels forced, like the series feels the need to mention him, although he's really not needed. It's a delicate balance, as Supergirl is a spin-off of Superman, but sometimes, it just doesn't work.
Now, with the good, The Flash crossover episode was probably the highlight of the season. Here are two superheroes with like-minded goals, and seeing them together made the grim Batman v Superman movie seem dull in comparison.
Supergirl continued the trend of good storytelling going into the season finale, where Non and Indigo finally ready their plan to destroy the world. Supergirl uses the power of hope to save her city, and it's a nice reminder of what superheroes are truly capable of when they're not being broody and mysterious.
Comic Connections: A
Supergirl brought in a lot of DC Comics connections throughout the series, including making James Olsen one of its lead characters. The inclusion of Martian Manhunter was also a nice surprise for comic book fans, too. Bringing in the Flash didn't hurt, and showed that superheroes are best when they're working together, rather than against each other.
Supergirl really wowed comic book fans, though, with the "For the Girl Who Has Everything" episode, which is a storyline ripped from the pages of a Superman comic book story arc.
Villains: B
Supergirl also brought out a slew of villains for its first season, starting with Kara's aunt and uncle, Astra and Non, who want to save Earth from itself. Astra, however, became a more sympathetic character (making her less of a villain), while Non decided to just kill everything for the sake of it. The series needed more of Non throughout the season to lead up to the big finale, though, and the romantic relationship between him and Indigo felt a little weird.
Toyman also came across a lot less interesting in the one episode that featured him, although his appearance did serve to create some character growth for his son, Winn.
This season did include a lot of great DC Comics villains, though, including Silver Banshee, Livewire, Red Tornado and Bizarro Girl. Those appearances made comic book fans happy.
Overall Score: B+
Supergirl had a strong first season, with just a few missteps. Although CBS has not yet confirmed a second season (still, all signs point to "yes"), Supergirl certainly earned her red cape during her first outing.
