Supergirl (Pilot), at Paley Center

It is hard to believe today, but CBS actually cancelled The Amazing Spiderman, even though it was a hit, because it did not want to be typecast as the “superhero network,” since they were already home to The Incredible Hulk and Wonder Woman. Most networks would love to have that problem today (or at least they would have a few years ago, before Disney+’s Marvel shows stunk up the joint). Yet, the same CBS let Supergirl fly off the CW after one season, because it was getting CW-level ratings. However, you can tell from the pilot episode how co-creators Ali Adler, Greg Berlanti, and Andrew Kreisberg planned to use Kara Zor-El’s relationship to her super-cousin, without Superman actually appearing. She would have preferred “Superwoman,” but the press went with Supergirl, so the pilot fittingly screens at the Paley Center as part of its “Girl Power” programming.

The biggest winner of the multiversal idiosyncrasies of Earth-38 (a.k.a. Earth-CBS) had to be Jimmy Olsen, who is now Pulitzer Prize winner James Olsen, who is also cuts quite a figure judging mild-mannered executive assistant Kara Danvers’ reaction when he transfers from the Daily Planet to her faltering paper. Danvers was set to Earth to protect her infant cousin, Kal-El, but Krypton’s explosion sent her pod careening into the Phantom Zone. By the time it came out, her little cousin was all grown-up and saving the world.

Danvers never really used her powers, preferring to grow up normal. Of course, her sister Alex and parent Eliza and Dr. Jeremiah Danvers (played by Helen Slater of the original Supergirl movie and Dean Cain from Lois and Clark) know she is different, but respect her choices. However, when Danvers hears her sister’s flight in crisis, she leaps into action to save it.  Unfortunately, that also announces her presence to a cabal of Zod-like Kryptonian criminals planning their own escape from the Phantom Zone.

It turns out flying is like riding a bike, but a lot of the other superheroing stuff can be difficult when you’re out of practice. Danvers is no Ralph Hinkley (The Greatest American Hero), but she looks credibly tentative during the pilot. However, the best parts involve the many clever Superman references and the way Kal-El offers support through his pal Jimmy Olsen, without overshadowing her turn in the solo spotlight. Obviously, his eventual appearance will be a big deal, which did not happen until Tyler Hoechlin guest-starred in season two—and later spun-off into Superman & Lois.

Melissa Benoist is likably Clark Kentish as Kara Danvers and Chyler Leigh portrays sister Alex with a healthy assertiveness, making her an appealing counterpoint. Mehcad Brooks projects coolness as the James Olsen many fans never expected. Unfortunately, Calista Flockhart was terribly miscast as Danvers’ nasty Katharine Graham-like media boss—she simply cannot project the proper intimidating boardroom presence. Of course, Slater and Cain are instant fan service as Danvers’ parents. The Men in Black analogues were already a cliché, but the shadowy Kryptonians were promisingly sinister at this point, especially the surprise co-conspirator.

Frankly, the Supergirl pilot is a good example of how DC’s infinite supply of worlds gives it and its media adaptors a storytelling advantage. It trains fans to appreciate each plotline and not waste time trying to reconcile it with other story-arcs. The Supergirl pilot was a promising beginning (especially for Olsen). It screens at the Paley Center through March 30^th (and currently streams on Netflix).