In other discussions we had explored whether Kara was too powerful or vice versa. Some people think she’s too weak this season, and while I don’t, there is a similar issue.
The CW shows really don’t do consistency.
Hero powers are heinously nerfed as plot demands. Kara can lift a space station out of orbit but apparently takes a while to push a car, the Flash can apparently freeze time almost (recent episode) but can’t dodge this guy’s chair devices? (Most common in that show is him not reacting fast enough to people without speed or failing to save someone when needed)
Mostly on Supergirl this happens because the vilain isn’t actually that powerful but they have to win/get away somehow. Namely like Cadmus. On the Flash it’s the same but also because the writers keep wanting to showcase Barry’s abilities to new levels but then not actually raising the standard on a regular basis.
While it’s tolerable it creates plot holes when too obvious. Currently this hurts the Flash the most.
"so then do you not like this iteration of Supergirl as displayed on the CW? "
No, of course I like the TV version of Supergirl! (For the most part, her powers and vulnerabilities seem to me to be somewhere between those of the Golden Age and Silver Age Superman.)
But in my own fan fiction stories, I decided to lower her power and vulnerability levels a bit, and bring them closer to those of the Golden Age Superman. That way, human villains would pose more of threat to her, and there would be more dramatic tension in my plots. For instance, on the TV show Max Lord's "big bomb" knocked Kara unconscious (and she fell into the ocean). In one of my stories, I said that a Mexican drug cartel had gotten hold of a US military MOAB bomb, which could kill Kara if she were too close to it when it exploded.
No, of course I like the TV version of Supergirl! (For the most part, her powers and vulnerabilities seem to me to be somewhere between those of the Golden Age and Silver Age Superman.)
But in my own fan fiction stories, I decided to lower her power and vulnerability levels a bit, and bring them closer to those of the Golden Age Superman. That way, human villains would pose more of threat to her, and there would be more dramatic tension in my plots. For instance, on the TV show Max Lord's "big bomb" knocked Kara unconscious (and she fell into the ocean). In one of my stories, I said that a Mexican drug cartel had gotten hold of a US military MOAB bomb, which could kill Kara if she were too close to it when it exploded.
any reason you figure her strength to be so low? would it be set that low if it were superman?
Yes, if you're talking about the Golden Age Superman, rather than the Silver Age version (who I always felt was overpowered).It's the Golden Age Superman that I really had in mind.
Also I really don't think 10 tons is particularly low. It's certainly as much you might think other fictional "strongmen" - like Hercules and Samson - could lift.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laoBvt9CcQo
so then do you not like this iteration of Supergirl as displayed on the CW?
any reason you figure her strength to be so low? would it be set that low if it were superman?
Yes, if you're talking about the Golden Age Superman, rather than the Silver Age version (who I always felt was overpowered).It's the Golden Age Superman that I really had in mind.
Also I really don't think 10 tons is particularly low. It's certainly as much you might think other fictional "strongmen" - like Hercules and Samson - could lift.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laoBvt9CcQo
Yes, if you're talking about the Golden Age Superman, rather than the Silver Age version (who I always felt was overpowered).It's the Golden Age Superman that I really had in mind.
Also I really don't think 10 tons is particularly low. It's certainly as much you might think other fictional "strongmen" - like Hercules and Samson - could lift.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laoBvt9CcQo
She can lift the Fortress of Solitude key which weighs 1 million tons (mentioned in an early episode), not just 10 tons. .'
On the TV show, yes, that's what they said (although there have been times when she appeared to have quite a bit less "lifting power" ).
But in my "10 tons" comment, I was referring to her "lifting ability" in my own Supergirl fan fiction stories. In my personal "show bible", I set it at approximately 10 tons (mostly so she could lift a MOAB bomb).
any reason you figure her strength to be so low? would it be set that low if it were superman?
She can lift the Fortress of Solitude key which weighs 1 million tons (mentioned in an early episode), not just 10 tons. .'
On the TV show, yes, that's what they said (although there have been times when she appeared to have quite a bit less "lifting power" ).
But in my "10 tons" comment, I was referring to her "lifting ability" in my own Supergirl fan fiction stories. In my personal "show bible", I set it at approximately 10 tons (mostly so she could lift a MOAB bomb).
She can lift the Fortress of Solitude key which weighs 1 million tons (mentioned in an early episode), not just 10 tons. Clearly there are marked inconsistencies. I enjoy the show regardless.
I agree with Constance and try not to focus too much on these inconsistencies. That said, it's been an interesting discussion. One thing I don't recall being mentioned is good old fashioned adrenalin. Maybe under extreme duress (like needing to lift Fort Rozz) Supergirl's powers are magnified (like any of us).
She can lift the Fortress of Solitude key which weighs 1 million tons (mentioned in an early episode), not just 10 tons. Clearly there are marked inconsistencies. I enjoy the show regardless.
I don't think that the issue is knowing the source material so much as it is with just being consistent in their storytelling. They have already shown us that the Supergirl on the show is not going to necessarily be the same version as the one in the comics. But, there should be some type of bible for the show, one that lists what her powers and vulnerabilities are going to be in this show, along with the points, plots, conflicts, etc., that they have established in previous seasons. Future encounters, plots, conversations, etc., would then revolve around those facts rather than twisting those facts to try to fit into an episode. That's just writing 101, no matter what is being written.And what does it come down to? The writing. Do they even KNOW the source material they are dealing with? I doubt it!
Well, Sterling Gates certainly does know the source material. (I thought he did an outstanding job on the Adventures of Supergirl companion comics series, and the "Mr. & Mrs. Mxyzptlk" episode.) The other writers, I'm not so sure...
But although they have been inconsistent in terms of Kara's power and vulnerability levels. they've mostly gotten it right as far as her personality characteristics are concerned (drawing most heavily from the "New Adventures of Supergirl" series of the early 80s). To me, the TV version is totally recognizable as the Kara of the comics. (I felt that way as soon as I watched the Pilot episode!) The writers certainly haven't changed the core characteristics of the DC Comics character.
On Supergirl there’s also besides shifting power levels the fact that various abilities that could solve the problem are not being used at the right time.
we all learn at different rates
On Supergirl there’s also besides shifting power levels the fact that various abilities that could solve the problem are not being used at the right time.
And what does it come down to? The writing. Do they even KNOW the source material they are dealing with? I doubt it!
Well, Sterling Gates certainly does know the source material. (I thought he did an outstanding job on the Adventures of Supergirl companion comics series, and the "Mr. & Mrs. Mxyzptlk" episode.) The other writers, I'm not so sure...
But although they have been inconsistent in terms of Kara's power and vulnerability levels. they've mostly gotten it right as far as her personality characteristics are concerned (drawing most heavily from the "New Adventures of Supergirl" series of the early 80s). To me, the TV version is totally recognizable as the Kara of the comics. (I felt that way as soon as I watched the Pilot episode!) The writers certainly haven't changed the core characteristics of the DC Comics character.
And what does it come down to? The writing. Do they even KNOW the source material they are dealing with? I doubt it!
Yes, we've discussed this issue before. As someone said. it appears that consistency is sometimes sacrificed to the demands of the plot. As Kelly once said, the writers never seem to have actually gotten everyone on the same page as far as Kara's power and vulnerability levels are concerned. They should have come to an agreement on some basic limits - like, this is what can kill Kara; this is what may seriously hurt her; this is what can put her out of commission for awhile; and this is what can knock the wind out of her for a couple of minutes. And the same thing applies with her strength and other powers: this is how much weight she can lift or how thick a metal wall she can punch her way through (or melt with her heat vision). And how hot exactly is her heat vision? We've seen that it can melt steel, but can't vaporize diamond. (In the Adventures of Supergirl companion comics series, the alien villain Facet had a body made of diamond, and Kara's heat vision had no effect on her.)
As I've said before, I've tried to be as consistent as possible in my own Supergirl fan fiction stories. I've figured that she can lift 10 tons, and that her heat vision tops out at 2500 -3500 Celsius (but since it is microwaves - according to the comics, anyway - it can be reflected, too). I've tried not to make Kara too vulnerable, but at the same time, there has to be a feeling that the villains (human villains,that is) are able to place her in mortal danger. If not, there's no real dramatic tension! So does thermite burn hot enough to threaten Supergirl? Well, I'm figuring that its combustion temperature approaches that of her heat vision, so the answer is likely yes (at least in my stories)!
"Kara can lift a space station out of orbit but apparently takes a while to push a car.."
And even worse, in the "Childish Things" episode, she couldn't even fly out of Toyman's vat of quicksand without freezing it first!
As I've said before, I've tried to be as consistent as possible in my own Supergirl fan fiction stories. I've figured that she can lift 10 tons, and that her heat vision tops out at 2500 -3500 Celsius (but since it is microwaves - according to the comics, anyway - it can be reflected, too). I've tried not to make Kara too vulnerable, but at the same time, there has to be a feeling that the villains (human villains,that is) are able to place her in mortal danger. If not, there's no real dramatic tension! So does thermite burn hot enough to threaten Supergirl? Well, I'm figuring that its combustion temperature approaches that of her heat vision, so the answer is likely yes (at least in my stories)!
"Kara can lift a space station out of orbit but apparently takes a while to push a car.."
And even worse, in the "Childish Things" episode, she couldn't even fly out of Toyman's vat of quicksand without freezing it first!
Did you ever read the season 1 companion comic book? Some of this was touched upon in that run. There was a page where a helicopter with Alex in it was crashing and Supergirl was swooping in to catch it. Because its a comic book, they were able to show her thoughts. She cited catching the helicopter is very easy for her, but catching it without killing everyone inside is a different matter. She explained another time she has the same issue when catching someone falling from very high up. If she simply put her arms out sure she could catch the person, but it would kill the person.
So she has had to learn how to come at things gently. There are times they show this for example in episode 2 when she picked up that ambulance to give it an air lift out of traffic to the hospital. If you recall the boys cautioned her to be careful when picking it up because its not that heavy for her. She ripped the ship in that episode because she got impatient and pulled to hard. In the Bizzaro episode when she caught that tram, she grunted not because it was hard for her to catch, it was because her initial tug on it wasnt enough. And in the most recent episode she tapped on the wall of ice she made to knock it over, displaying she has learned how to control her strength quite a bit. Kara literally lives in a world made of paper and egg shells, and turning on her strength isnt as simple as flipping a switch.
Supergirl when she fights someone else is trying to stop and apprehend them, not kill them so she airs on the side of under punching on her first hits. Consider this, if a baby kitten was attacking you, how hard would you hit it to make it stop but not actually hurt it?
Now the world killers present her with a challenge she hasnt been up against before, the world killers are enhanced kryptonians and she will have to learn to summon the strength they casually display. Remember she wasnt able to stop that shuttle in exodus until Alex prodded her into summoning the deepest recesses of her might. Thats what she will need to do with the world killers.
TLDR, I think overall they do a pretty decent job maintaining her strength and power levels most of the times.
So she has had to learn how to come at things gently. There are times they show this for example in episode 2 when she picked up that ambulance to give it an air lift out of traffic to the hospital. If you recall the boys cautioned her to be careful when picking it up because its not that heavy for her. She ripped the ship in that episode because she got impatient and pulled to hard. In the Bizzaro episode when she caught that tram, she grunted not because it was hard for her to catch, it was because her initial tug on it wasnt enough. And in the most recent episode she tapped on the wall of ice she made to knock it over, displaying she has learned how to control her strength quite a bit. Kara literally lives in a world made of paper and egg shells, and turning on her strength isnt as simple as flipping a switch.
Supergirl when she fights someone else is trying to stop and apprehend them, not kill them so she airs on the side of under punching on her first hits. Consider this, if a baby kitten was attacking you, how hard would you hit it to make it stop but not actually hurt it?
Now the world killers present her with a challenge she hasnt been up against before, the world killers are enhanced kryptonians and she will have to learn to summon the strength they casually display. Remember she wasnt able to stop that shuttle in exodus until Alex prodded her into summoning the deepest recesses of her might. Thats what she will need to do with the world killers.
TLDR, I think overall they do a pretty decent job maintaining her strength and power levels most of the times.
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