‘Supergirl’ Series Premiere Photos: Kara Zor-El Embraces Her Superpowers

What: Hour series based on the DC Comics character, starring Melissa Benoist.

And if nothing else, the “Supergirl” pilot sets up the series, which moves to 8 p.m. Mondays on November 2, in high-flying fashion. Those who found Man of Steel too dark won’t find much traction leveling similar complaints here, as Supergirl is full of light and hope, but not so much so that it doesn’t have weight and drama.

Many of these “super” girls weren’t very happy though, trying to be too many things while feeling pressure to excel, fit in and not be too threatening.

In a highly anticipated new hour series, CBS is reviving the DC Comics character whose name described the condition. She shows off her powers to Winn, who helps her choose an outfit (with a proper cape that can withstand all the damage) and sends her off on most life-saving challenges, each one filling Kara with more confidence and more determination.

For a short while in the late 1960s she was meant to be a feminist symbol, but in her next incarnation in Adventure Comics during the “70s she looked more like a blond Barbie doll, fretting about fashion and boys, falling in love with bad guys who took advantage of her, and desperately going on a computer date (with an alien)”.

This week’s podcast includes conversation about “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”, “American Horror Story: Hotel” and new shows we wish we could keep watching but don’t have time to see. But that quickly gives way to the actual heroics: Alex’s plane is about to crash and Kara can’t help but fly – for the first time in forever – and use her super strength to save everyone on board. It’s as simple as this: As Krypton was exploding, baby Kal-El’s parents rocket-shipped him off to faraway Earth, where, with its yellow sun, they hoped he’d grow up to be a strong symbol of peace and hope. Cat also gets the show’s best, funniest lines.

This coming-of-age story really starts, however, when Kara is 24, living in fictional National City and working as assistant to media mogul Cat Grant, a fierce taskmaster who keeps everyone on pins and needles. Since departing Gray’s Anatomy, Leigh hasn’t had the best of luck on television, with the terrible Taxi Brooklyn wasting her talents.

Kara doesn’t get her Supergirl freak on just to provide copy for Cat’s newspaper, of course.

Adler: Absolutely. We talk about her relationship with Cat Grant as a very important woman of power in her life.

One moment in the pilot nails the problem.

That girl is the quietly enchanting Melissa Benoist, who plays the title character in “Supergirl”.

Indeed, DC had copyrighted the name Superwoman to prevent rivals from using it, and over the years occasionally introduced her into comics, usually as an evil character.

“We are intending to keep up that pace”, said producer Greg Berlanti.

Ultimately, the great news here is still that this episode in particular feels like it’s going to be a lot of fun to watch unfold, mostly because we’re still seeing the transition of Kara into a hero that she is destined to become.

“Supergirl” is written and executive produced by Greg Berlanti (“Arrow”, “The Flash”) and Ali Adler (“Chuck”, “Glee”), with Sarah Schechter (“Pan”) also executive producing. There are so many of these shows and feature films out there today. As soon as she saw in her email inbox the subject “Supergirl”, she says, she knew automatically that the role was something important, exciting and rare. I love David Harewood, so I know Hank is going to be a powerful force as the show goes on. It is believed that the first episode has been changed following the leak and early reviews are promising. “Nice for my daughter to have someone like that to look up to”. ‘She’s an adult woman.

In her secret identity, Kara only pretends to be cowed by a Gen-Xer boss (Flockhart), when, in just a few quick but necessary scenes, we see how she masterfully and capably navigates the workplace.

From the minute we hear the voice of transplanted Krytponian Kara Zor-El, a.k.a. Kara Danvers, narrating the story, we’re primed to think of the show in terms of voices being heard, images being claimed and reclaimed. Still, the burdens of being the current potential flag-bearer for female empowerment on network TV don’t seem to bother Benoist one bit. The character of Supergirl emerged on “Smallville” for the final two seasons, but not as the lead. When ABC opted not to continue with “Wonder Woman” after the initial season in 1975, CBS picked up the series, which starred Linda Carter, and aired it for two more seasons.