Glee's Melissa Benoist has been cast as Supergirl in the upcoming TV pilot, 31 years after the much loved DC character made her big screen debut in 1984.

The first images released of Melissa as Kara Zor-El as Supergirl were released with some mixed reactions from fans and critics alike. Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood designed the new outfit stating she wanted a more modern, robust version of the old costume with a slight nod to the past.

Melissa Benoist as Supergirl / Credit: CBS
Melissa Benoist as Supergirl / Credit: CBS

So what do we have now? It's basically the old costumed dulled down a notch. Same skirt, same cape... nothing much has changed. I don't really see how this is a modern take on the outfit and perhaps I'm being pedantic here (ok, I probably am) but if you say modern then modernise it!

I'd have loved to have seen Supergirl in some sort of Super cat suit. Does she even have to wear a skirt anymore? Probably not. And those boots don't look that practical to me to be honest. I see how the material and colour reflect Henry Cavill's Superman outfit and I do get that the colours and style of the 80s outfits are completely outdated but this screams dull, tired, washed out... boring!

Costume-gate aside, I'm not holding out much hope for the TV series. The general plot sounds bog standard. Kara Zor-El, exiled from her home planet of Krypton, is taken in by a human family and must learn to live with her extraordinary powers. Calista Flockhart has been cast as Cat Grant and Mehcad Brooks as Jimmy Olson. You get the picture.

From these first images, Melissa's boring wholesome looking Supergirl, the awful outfit and the substandard plot, it's all not really setting my geeky heart on fire with excitement here. It also seems softer and far removed from Zack Snyder's 'edgier' take on Superman in his recent Man of Steel movie.

I'd like to see Supergirl as a tough, young female, cutting her teeth in the superhero world, sharper tongued and wily unlike her saintly cousin. There were glimpses of that with The New 52's Supergirl, which is why I enjoyed reading that series so much.

DC also seem to be cramming a lot of superheroes on our TV and film screens in such a short space of time and it's a little overkill. On one hand I'm glad Supergirl is getting some TV time but only time will tell if the series will soar.

Follow Claire on Twitter @weeclaire


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