Tell me...

In accordance with Sully's separate post about always starting with a positive, I love Melissa's smile!

I came to this show not being a comics reader nor a fan of superheroes on screen. I enjoyed Batman with Adam West, and the first two Christopher Reeve movies but that was it. With great apologies to Kiwi, I saw the Supergirl movie on release with my daughter, and we both thought it was dreadful. (Kiwi, this is not influenced by recent events at Twickenham!)

But one of my granddaughters was a fan of Melissa’s from Glee (I had not heard of it or her) and she persuaded me to give Supergirl a try.

I was instantly hooked by the character as written in the series, but particularly by Melissa’s portrayal. To my untutored mind, she seemed perfect for the part and has grown as an actress with each season. Even in some of the weaker episodes, she manages to hold it together in spite of the material! I cannot now imagine anyone else in the role.

I have to say that my admiration for her as a person increased in the way she handled the telephone hacking scandal, by refusing to comment (I have always found it odd to think that victims of crime should need to come out and try to justify their own actions). Some of her stated personal views in real life (e.g. women’s rights) also seem to marry with those of the character she plays.
I have not been able to convince myself to watch Glee, though my granddaughter has made videos of Marley’s songs, which I do enjoy.

As I think I have stated before, Supergirl is the only series that my family gathers together to watch. (Yes we do have pizza and doughnuts, but I have not been able to find out what crullers are!) Much of this is down to Melissa’s spot-on portrayal.

Aaannnddd... Then there's me. I was watching something on CBS, a commercial came on that mentioned "Supergirl," which peaked my interest because I really like comic book shows. And then, an actress in wet hair and sweats jumps up off the couch and gets all excited at her tv, and I realized, "Hey!!! That's Marley from Glee!! WOOOWHOOOOOOOO!!"

I was a fan of Glee who had started losing interest in the show, but decided to give its season premiere another shot. In walks Marley. Immediately, I was a Melissa fan. Thus, she made "Supergirl" my most anticipated new show coming that Fall. Couple that, or rather, triple with the fact it was going to have Calista Flockhart and Jeremy Jordan who I LOVED from "Smash"...the new Fall line-up couldn't come fast enough.

THEN, a knock on the door, Kara opens it... and.... "Hey!!!!! LEXI GREY!!!!!!!" The rest is history.

Later I saw some behind the scenes pics of Daisy Scouts(?) visiting the set, and she was chatting with them in costume. I remember thinking to myself, "Oh my God. That's her." I had no doubts after that.

Melissa is fabulous with the little girls and boys. Welcome to the board, btw! Hope to see you posting here often.

THEN, a knock on the door, Kara opens it... and.... "Hey!!!!! LEXI GREY!!!!!!!" The rest is history.

Chyler I recognized, even without the airplane resting on top of her . And after going back and watching Season 4 & 5 of Glee, I can't believe that I didn't remember Marley that well. But, I was still hung up on the graduates, the old cast, and didn't give the new ones much of a look . But, now I realize that really, Melissa was one of the best singers and actors on that show .

The next thing I was anticipating was Kara/Supergirl's personality (yay for Pollyanna Supergirl, Sully) ...I even enjoyed her moments of anger as they gave us some powerful scenes.

Hey! I resemble that passive aggressive slam ). But, really, I do like Kara's optimism, too. I love that she goes into each battle with the goal of detaining the villain rather than to kill. I am always pleasantly amazed that she is able to still see the good in situations when she has had so much tragedy in her life. I do appreciate all of that but, I just want her to be a balanced character, too. The contrasting light and dark of her character that you also mention keeps her interesting to me.

I came to this show not being a comics reader nor a fan of superheroes on screen. I enjoyed Batman with Adam West, and the first two Christopher Reeve movies but that was it.

I was instantly hooked by the character as written in the series, but particularly by Melissa’s portrayal. To my untutored mind, she seemed perfect for the part and has grown as an actress with each season. Even in some of the weaker episodes, she manages to hold it together in spite of the material! I cannot now imagine anyone else in the role.

Jtardy, it is uncanny how closely you experience mirrors my own! I had never followed this character in comics or on screen, had no idea who Melissa was, and really just stumbled upon the show while "channel-surfing" one winter evening. Now it is the only show I must watch, and (with all due respect to the excellent cast) that is almost entirely due to Melissa's portrayal and to her persona both on screen and off. She plays a hero, but she also is one.

Melissa was older than I expected; I was thinking they would go with someone of high school age. When I saw a publicity photo of her in the suit, against a black background looking off in the distance, I though yeah, she wears the "S" well, but she didn't stand out as perfect for the role.

Later I saw some behind the scenes pics of Daisy Scouts(?) visiting the set, and she was chatting with them in costume. I remember thinking to myself, "Oh my God. That's her." I had no doubts after that.

Of the regular cast, the only 1 I had ever heard of before was Calista Flockhart. I knew nothing about any of the others.
I’m not as comics-knowledgeable as others around here, but I like Superman, and there hasn’t been a live-action Superman series since “Lois & Clark,” so I figured a show about his cousin might be close enough.
When the 6 minute “first look” video was released, I was hooked.

I came to the show because I was searching for a female-centric show and saw it listed online among the shows that have female protagonists.

I loved Melissa from the pilot and through the seasons, my liking for her, both as a person as well as an actor, has only grown. A large part of why I continued to watch the show despite the initial underwhelming episodes (I didn't like the first 3 very much), was because there is an endearing quality to her Kara. Combine that with her anger issues (I consider her attack on Alura's hologram one of the best scenes of the series) and how well Melissa portrays it and I think there cannot be a better Kara. The other part is of course Chyler Leigh (who I was a fan of from Grey's) and the Danvers Sisters.

I am pretty sure I will continue to follow Melissa even when she leaves Supergirl and moves onto greater and better projects.

I have not been able to watch Glee--I disliked the show after watching the first couple of episodes in S1. But, I have caught up with Melissa's singing in the show and she is amazing; and I say that knowing I have very little experience with western music. (Well, a friend of mine, who does have experience with western music also said that Melissa's cover for the Gasoline and Matches song was fabulous (and in her opinion, better than the original ). So, it is not just me being ignorant and partial here. ).

Like many, I had a healthy dose of skepticism when Melissa was announced as the lead, given that she was (unwittingly) caught up in the fappening scandal and was a former member of Glee (which, despite being a hugely popular show, had its share of off-camera problems with various cast members).

Having said that, Melissa has been more than up to the challenge of the role and has done a tremendous job in the last four years in bringing Kara Zor-EL to life on the TV screen on a weekly basis. And, like the premise states, I cannot envision anyone else doing the role on the small screen.


Truth be told, I cannot say if this would translate as well on the big screen since there is an on/off chance that a Supergirl movie may come about in the foreseeable future. As much as I love Melissa's TV portrayal, I would probably opt for another actor if/when the rumoured Supergirl movie is eventually filmed and released. And, if WB is intent on using a different iteration (i.e. younger version) of Kara Zor-EL for the proposed film, it would make sense to cast a different actor for the part.

Given this likelihood, this would not negate the opportunity for Melissa to be a consultant/mentor for the film but by the time the film is released, it is likely that she and the rest of the current Supergirl TV show cast will have gone onto other projects.

Sully wrote:

"I wasn't aware that there was a scandal. Are you meaning one regarding Supergirl or Glee? Glee wouldn't surprise me and I knew there was a lot of behind the scenes issues with that one."

****

The scandal didn't involve the Supergirl project but events that took place prior to her being cast for the role (i.e. the compromising erotic/nude fappening photo/video leaks that affected a variety of female Hollywood stars at the time).

My skepticism was based on the fact that she hadn't publicly addressed the issue (which, in hindsight, was probably a wise move) and then being cast a possible role model for impressionable young girls. However, since it's a non-issue nowadays, it's water under the bridge. As for Glee, well, that's another kettle of fish altogether.

Hey! I resemble that passive aggressive slam ).

Is that supposed to read resent?.

Nah, I guess it's kind of slang in a way. It just means, yes, I agree with the way you associated me with that view. In this case, you made an indirect critical reference to something I said and I acknowledged it. No worries. It's all in fun .

I have not been able to watch Glee--I disliked the show after watching the first couple of episodes in S1.

Glee was definitely an acquired taste over time. I watched mostly for the music. I loved the 1st Season in the way that there was this bunch of choir kids, who are generally not the "popular" kids of the school, and they came together as a group and proved themselves to everyone. After that season, I just watched to see where their stories went next and hear the covers of the songs.

Hey! I resemble that passive aggressive slam ).

Bah ha ha ha I totally got you, Sully. Must be an American thang.

Like many, I had a healthy dose of skepticism when Melissa was announced as the lead, given that she was (unwittingly) caught up in the fappening scandal and was a former member of Glee (which, despite being a hugely popular show, had its share of off-camera problems with various cast members).

I wasn't aware that there was a scandal. Are you meaning one regarding Supergirl or Glee? Glee wouldn't surprise me and I knew there was a lot of behind the scenes issues with that one.

I agree with your assessment on casting a different actor if there is a movie, especially if they go with a younger depiction of our hero. Even if they went with an older version, I think who they should cast would depend on the tone and type of movie that they would want to make. The comparisons that will be sure to be made will be even more pronounced if the movie is too similar, in tone and cast, to the television show.