Supergirl ended with a cliffhanger big enough to make fans mount an angry rampage on CBS, if the Melissa Benoist led series isn’t renewed for a second season. The finale left off with the shocked faces of Supergirl (Benoist), Alex (Chyler Leigh), J’onn J’onzz (David Harewood), and the rest of the D.E.O. staring down into a pod much like that to have delivered Kara to Earth. As speculation mounts concerning the fate of Supergirl at CBS and what the new season might reveal by way of that pod, eyes turn toward Supergirl showrunners for answers, or, at the very least, for teasers and hints.
CBS Has Been Silent…What Is The Word On Season 2 For Supergirl ?
Supergirl co-creator and executive producer Ali Adler was on hand recently to answer questions and the prospect of a second season was brought up, but, even as she tried to keep hope afloat, Adler didn’t seem to know much more than the fans. She did remark that an overheard conversation implied that Supergirl would be returning for season 2, but even that seemed to rely heavily on speculation.
“We all have to be positive,” said the Supergirl showrunner. “I think Les Moonves was speaking to someone and just candidly said, ‘All freshmen series are returning,’ and I hope he meant us. I think everyone at CBS wants this show to last and I think we’re all working for that angle.”
Adler says that they write on the assumption that Supergirl will be renewed for additional seasons and, while that may benefit the story in the long run, if Supergirl fails to meet the criteria for renewal, that method of writing means leaving fans hanging with no sense of closure. The Supergirl showrunner says her plans for season 2 are for a more reflective attitude by the characters and especially by Supergirl, so that they will each be committed to changing their future. By the end of the series, Ali says she wants to see Supergirl leave Earth better than she found it.
“For the finale, we always knew that we wanted Kara to succeed in what her mom couldn’t do, which was save her planet. Her mom valiantly tried to save Krypton and couldn’t. It’s a story of a daughter almost becoming more powerful than the mother.”
What Was In That Pod?
That’s the big question Supergirl ‘s first season finale left fans wondering and another series co-creator and executive producer, Andrew Kreisberg, took the opportunity to tease fans about that and more in a recent interview. The Supergirl showrunner said he’s not willing to spoil the big reveal, likening the identity of the pod occupant to the all too vital question of who shot J.R. on Dallas . Instead, he says the pod holds a character very important to the story arc in season 2 of Supergirl .
Even when Kreisberg was plied with the question of whether this new pod character comes from the comic books, the executive producer would only say that the character will shake things up throughout much of season 2 of Supergirl . Is it Superboy? Again, Andrew would not answer.
As for Supergirl herself, Kreisberg says the first season has been about learning and growth. The first installment of Supergirl has been a training session with Kara Danvers learning how to integrate Supergirl into her life, but the last episode was a transforming moment for her. When Supergirl returns, it will be as a mature, experienced superhero.
“Next season, you’re going to see a Supergirl who is more mature, and a bit more of a cohesive character. She’s taken the identity of Kara and the identity of Supergirl and merged them in a better way. You’re just going to see a more confident, stronger Supergirl than we’ve ever seen before.”
The Supergirl showrunner did reveal that the hunt for Jeremiah Danvers (Dean Cain) will play into the major story arc in season 2, implying that, perhaps, that pod and its occupant may have something to do with the mysterious Project Cadmus.
In closing, Mr. Kreisberg adds that, above and beyond everything, Melissa Benoist has been a refreshing and impressive force with which to work. The showrunner describes his Supergirl as just that, suggesting that the actress is a force of her own, even without a cape.
“The depth and complexity of Melissa’s performance was both a constant source of wonderment and, ‘Of course she can do that, because she’s Melissa Benoist.’ Any dailies I watched were a million times better than what was on the page, because Melissa and this amazing cast acted it out. That was always a surprise.”
[Image by CBS]