I’m surprised by the feminist hatred of the new Supergirl trailer.

I can’t quite explain it, though I’ve read a few analyses of it. They all seem to be utterly clueless about the mythos and devoid of any real critical understanding. Yes, the trailer deals in archetypes but the whole point and focus of the Superman and Supergirl mythos is archetypes.

I think part of it is also that nearly everything is expected to be dark and brooding these days. People react poorly when they don’t get that. The trailer was in a mode that hasn’t really been seen since the 1960s, which I believe throws people off.

Supergirl is supposed to be just finding her feet. She is not supposed to be sure of herself, or immediately ready to take on the world. That’s partially what the story is about; finding her confidence and own reasons for being exceptional. I find this “I’m a badass and always have been” utterly boring in male characters, so not sure why feminists are expecting it here in a woman right away where it’d also be utterly boring?

I actually watched the trailer twice because I quite enjoyed it. It was refreshing and complete alteration of the tenebrous bullshit that passes for depth these days.

Supergirl in the comics was dorky and goofy, especially at first. And Melissa Benoist pulled that off very, very well. I was impressed. I will probably watch it just for her. Here’s a good analysis about why there is so much dumbassery about the Supergirl trailer.

A lot of people it seems just search for reasons to be offended, on every side of the aisle.

Did I think it was perfect? No. But did I think it deserved to be trashed as some anti-feminist woman-hating work? No.

I’ll tell you what: real woman-hating is easy to find. It’s where they don’t put any women in anything at all.

This is why we can’t have nice things, people.

(BTW, if you liked the Supergirl trailer, you’ll almost certainly like the show iZombie. It has the same tone, is far better than I expected and Rose McIver is great in it.)