At 12 years old, Kara Zor-El escapes doom on planet Krypton to find protection on Earth with the Danver family, where she grows up in the shadow of her foster sister, Alex, and learns to hide the extraordinary powers she shares with her cousin, Superman. Now an adult living in National City and working for media mogul Cat Grant, Kara realizes her days of keeping her abilities a secret are over when super-secret agency head Hank Henshaw enlists her to help protect the city's citizens from threats.
Supergirl, CBS's buoyant if belated entry into the superhero sweepstakes, makes a strong case for a comic book character long considered second-string.
Melissa Benoist (Glee, Whiplash) is spot-on as Supergirl and Ally McBeal alum Calista Flockhart chews the scenery appropriately as media mogul Cat Grant.
The title character, Kara Danvers, Superman's cousin, is smart and sassy - and she is winningly portrayed by Melissa Benoist, who is certain to be one of the season's breakout superstars.
It's a well-made series with a likable hero, a solid supporting cast, and a sense of optimism that is refreshing next to such dark shows as Gotham, but it has yet to carve out its own distinctive approach and defining identity.
It's tough sitting in the shadow of the Man of Steel, and Supergirl's comic life always carried baggage in that regard. This Supergirl shakes it off nicely in the first episode and soars into the sky.
