Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
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based on child development research. How do we rate?
Strong female lead shoulders the weight of superhero series.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
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Supergirl
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 98 parent reviews
Parents say this show started positively as a family-friendly viewing option, but many have expressed disappointment as it transitioned into more adult themes, including significant sexual content and LGBT storylines in later seasons, which they feel are inappropriate for younger viewers. While some praise the strong female characters and positive messages about acceptance and heroism, a large number of parents claim the show no longer aligns with their expectations of suitable family entertainment and advise caution for younger audiences due to the increased mature elements.
- inappropriate content
- family friendly
- strong female characters
- shifting themes
- parental caution
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 152 kid reviews
What's the Story?
In SUPERGIRL, when the planet Krypton faced certain demise and the infant Kal-El was sent to Earth to safeguard his legacy 24 years ago, his older cousin, Kara Zor-El (Melissa Benoist), followed him, tasked with watching over him as he grew up. But while Kal-El arrived safely, Kara's pod was caught in a part of space where time didn't pass, so when she finally landed on Earth, she was 12 years younger than the 24-year-old Kal-El (Tyler Hoechlin), now known to all the world as Superman. He helped her find a caring adoptive home with the Danvers (Lois & Clark alum Dean Cain and original Supergirl Helen Slater), where she grew up in the shadow of her older sister, Alex (Chyler Leigh), hiding her powers from the rest of the world. Now an adult, Kara (Melissa Benoist) lives in National City and works for media mogul Cat Grant (Calista Flockhart) alongside her friend Winn Schott (Jeremy Jordan) and accomplished photographer—and Superman's confidante—James Olsen (Mehcad Brooks). But all that changes when a group of sinister aliens takes aim at the people of National City, and Kara must embrace her heroic destiny as Supergirl, working with Alex at the clandestine Department of Extranormal Operations investigating conspiracies against the people of Earth and the extraterrestrials who are secretly living among them.
Is It Any Good?
Benoist really sells this sometimes corny spin-off to the Man of Steel's tale, soaring into the role of Superman's cousin with candor, determination, and flashes of grace. It's hard not to like this addition to the billowing ranks of reimagined superheroes, and it's always exciting to have more girls and women join the superhero panel. Some of Supergirl's finer details are a bit fuzzy, and it leans too heavily on parallels to Superman's evolution. That said, Kara does well by the role, taking her lumps as an anonymous novice hero and long-suffering personal assistant to a demanding boss, but using those lumps to inspire improvements on both fronts.
Even though viewers only get blurry glimpses of Superman himself at first (this is Supergirl's story, after all, not his), he makes his presence known through James, who bridges their stories before Superman shows up for a superheroes vs. villains battle royale in Supergirl's second season. Speaking of that second season, when the show switched from network TV to the CW, it also got more violent and intense: more battles, more drinking, and more far-out storylines, so be ready for that shift. But as Kara struggles to chart her own path in the shadow of her famous relative and her successful older sister, many viewers no doubt will relate to the rocky process of finding herself. As far as female heroes go, you could do worse than this charismatic, determined Supergirl, even if she does cling tightly to her secret and fight villains without getting so much as a hair out of place.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes someone heroic. Does danger have to be involved for an action to be heroic? Who, if anyone, is an unsung hero in Supergirl? Have you ever been someone's hero?
Why do you think there's been such a slew of superhero stories? What efforts are being made to diversify the classic pool of characters? Is this important? Why, or why not?
How would you rate the violence in this show? Do you think that on-screen violence can have a negative impact on viewers?
How do the characters in Supergirl demonstrate integrity, self-control, and courage? Why are these important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 26, 2015
- Cast : Melissa Benoist , Calista Flockhart , Chyler Leigh
- Network : CBS
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Superheroes
- Character Strengths : Courage , Integrity , Self-control
- TV rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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