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Women to Watch: Powerful Female Characters on TV

By Ally D’Antonio ’20

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TV Show: Supergirl 

Network: CBS/CW 

Seasons: 1-2 

Actress: Melissa Benoist 

Background Info: 

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a superhero TV show on a major network with a female lead! 

In last year’s addition to the growing lineup of superheroes on TV, a woman finally got to lead the show, and she did not disappoint. The leading lady’s magnificent acting made every scene convincing whether she felt overjoyed or miserable. However, she’s not the only one who shines. Complementing her on the show are three other female leads, all with their own powers: Cat Grant, Lucy Lane and Supergirl’s adopted sister, Alex Danvers. Cat Grant is the “Queen of all Media,” the CEO of a major news organization and is confident, beautiful and egotistical. But more than that, Ms. Grant is aware of how difficult it can be to be a successful business woman. In a poignant episode, she describes her annoyance in having been forced to keep her composure at all times, so she won’t be seen as a complete maniac. This is a relevant example of our world today, where men can let loose but if a woman gets angry, she will often be viewed as insane or inferior. Ms. Grant is neither of these. 

Another character of note is Lucy Lane, a brilliant lawyer and soldier. She shows impressive growth as the show progresses, going from a possible romantic conflict to an impressive military commander with her own plotline and motivations. 

Rounding out the list is Agent Alexandra Danvers, or Alex, who is the brains, brawn and heart of the show all in one. She struggles through the pain of losing her father as well as her serious inferiority complex, but never lets that get in the way of her work. She is a great addition to the show, as her sisterly relationship with the titular hero grounds the show. 

Why You Should Watch: 

On to the Maid of Might herself! Some background information: Kara Zor-El is the 11th cousin of Superman, sent to watch over her cousin. The problem is that she was a few decades too late and showed up after the baby Kal-El had already grown up to be the Superman the world knows today. Supergirl starts with a 24-year-old Kara trying to figure out where she fits in our world. She decides that using her powers like her cousin, saving people and the world, is the best thing to do with her life. She is an amazing superhero, learning how to be herself as the show goes on. 

However, the amazing thing about Supergirl and about Benoist’s performance is that she is portraying a girl who lost everything she knew. Superman is the “Last son of Krypton,” but he has no memories of it. Kara was raised on Krypton until the age of 12, and she lost her home, her family and her entire culture in one day. She makes jokes about it as the show goes on, but the trauma of that event, that loss, is felt constantly. It is an emotional gravity that is uncommon on these superhero shows, but it is uncommon for any show to display that kind of trauma and make it relatable. She is a fantastic hero and a fantastic character, one that is unique on television today.

 

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