It's Super Important That 'Supergirl' Gets Renewed

In 2015, Supergirl swooped into the hearts of DC Comics' fans with her very own show on CBS. Tired of hiding in the shadows, Kara Danvers (played by Melissa Benoist) decided to own the reality of where she comes from and do what she was meant to do just as her cousin Superman was: use her powers for good. The female-centered superhero series premiered on October 26 with nearly 13 million viewers and topped the ratings for a new Fall television series along with NBC's Blindspot. Since then, the quirky assistant turned front-page headliner of The Daily Planet has been able to hold sizable ratings. However, despite the show's success in gaining a committed audience, the possibility of Supergirl getting a second season is still up the air.

Although the odds of Supergirl being renewed look hopeful, it's super important that Kara Danvers gets that chance at a second season. The weight of Supergirl getting its well-deserved continuation isn't merely for the sake of the fans who go through the effort of tuning in each week. Instead, what happens to the fate of Kara's CBS stay sets up what we can expect from the superheroes we see on television. And, in this case, it has an effect on the future of female superheroes gracing the small-screen. Let me just break this down real quick.

In today's world, superheroes are everywhere. With Marvel and DC Comics going head-to-head in the box office, and shows like Gotham, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Daredevil, and more taking over both network television and streaming, it certainly doesn't seem like the trend of out-of-the-ordinary heroes is going to be simmering down anytime soon. However, each of those superhero shows currently on television all have one thing in common: They all have more than one season. Now Supergirl is one of the only leading superhero shows waiting for the green light on its second season, and new show ideas are only picked up and given a fair chance by network television if it is likely to be a success. Therefore, if Supergirl tanks, so does a future of female superheroes on network television.

Sure, Supergirl is not the first female-led superhero show. DC Comics' Lynda Carter-led Wonder Woman television show lasted three seasons from 1975-1979, and Marvel's Agent Carter gives us a superhero who is still super even without the enhanced powers. However, Melissa Benoist's character is putting a whole new front for female superheroes on the table. As a glasses-wearing, awkward, determined young woman, the character of Kara is so much more than your average superhero. She's normal, relatable, and not overly sexualized. She also has the strength and the courage to take on the world's scariest villains. Supergirl has normalized the idea of a female superhero, and, in doing so, it has supported the efforts of feminism and the forward motion of super-women finally getting their time to shine. If that concept fails, then who knows? It might be another 40 years until we get an all-girl centered superhero story on television.

Luckily, things seem to be swinging in fans' favor. CBS CEO, Les Moonves, has announced that "about five" new shows on the network are definitely going to be coming back. And, while no official shows have been confirmed yet, Supergirl is one of the six shows that can be chosen in the final five. The chances of the show getting cancelled are extremely slim, but the future of amazingly strong female superheroes on network television is certainly dependent on the slight chance this show fails to make the cut.

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