Your "political" alignment and how it affects your view of the show

Brierrose, you'd probably be surprised at how much I agree with your analysis.

I read an column recently that said almost everything has become part of one big "political deathmatch."

Where I do disagree with you, I don't want to be too combative, especially while treading on real world politics.

I'll simply say that on some of these issues, a previous administration may have benefited from a press and entertainment industry that were--shall I say--content with the party in charge. Were they so inclined, they would have noticed some behavior that by their own standards was pretty reprehensible.

So when Kara overtly aligns with a certain party, I am disappointed. She deserves better than to be a partisan shill.

But that's the way the deathmatch is played.

LP Fun discussion

I read an column recently that said almost everything has become part of one big "political deathmatch."

”political deathmatch” that’s a perfect description of the current climate. In the current climate I think it would be a challenge to write a compelling antagonist, someone who’s more than a one off, without a perceived political component. Perhaps the group could have fun brainstorming a compelling antagonist with the lowest Political Deathmatch factor.

I'll simply say that on some of these issues, a previous administration may have benefited from a press and entertainment industry that were--shall I say--content with the party in charge. Were they so inclined, they would have noticed some behavior that by their own standards was pretty reprehensible.

I can’t disagree with this assessment but don’t think that’s all that’s in play. I certainly don’t harbor any illusions that any politician/political party is always right and hasn’t done bad things. For me personally most of my life I had a sense that whichever party was in charge things were going to be ok. I haven’t felt that way in three and a half years. But in that same timeframe there have been some positive changes, people doing bad things are being held accountable even in the entertainment industry. One of the original EPs on this show was rightfully fired.

I am a mix of fiscal conservative and progressive/liberal ideology.

Sometimes I think Supergirls get a bit bogged down by the weight of its social messages and could lighten up a bit. But, it actually bothers me more that it bothers others to such an extreme degree.

To use an example, I personally did not feel the Dreamer episode Reality Bites was that heavy handed. I thought the show balanced it with a secondary story involving Alex's investigation into VR. I felt if you did not like one, you probably liked the other. I thought this was a good story to tell and to be told through Dreamer was the way to go. Plus, I love Dreamer's roommate. Others felt differently, but I think the main complaint by many was that it was a Supergirl-lite episode.

At the end of the day, many just want to escape the news and be entertained by a good action, super hero hour. So, while I would never want Supergirl to totally abandon its progressive social conscience, as that truly defines Kara, I wouldn't mind if it played for straight fun superhero action a little more frequently.

Supergirl can always use more Supergirl action......they haven't had enough of that for me since Season 1....I don't think political ideology had anything to do with that...?

I am a mix of fiscal conservative and progressive/liberal ideology.

Sometimes I think Supergirls get a bit bogged down by the weight of its social messages and could lighten up a bit. But, it actually bothers me more that it bothers others to such an extreme degree.

To use an example, I personally did not feel the Dreamer episode Reality Bites was that heavy handed. I thought the show balanced it with a secondary story involving Alex's investigation into VR. I felt if you did not like one, you probably liked the other. I thought this was a good story to tell and to be told through Dreamer was the way to go. Plus, I love Dreamer's roommate. Others felt differently, but I think the main complaint by many was that it was a Supergirl-lite episode.

At the end of the day, many just want to escape the news and be entertained by a good action, super hero hour. So, while I would never want Supergirl to totally abandon its progressive social conscience, as that truly defines Kara, I wouldn't mind if it played for straight fun superhero action a little more frequently.

You pinpointed my feelings on this episode, exactly. I complained because I want Supergirl to be about Kara/Supergirl. But aside from that complaint, I cannot deny it was a really good episode, and one of the stronger episodes of the season.

As much as I complain about the last 2 years of Supergirl (and it's a lot), it MOSTLY stems from too many supporting characters, and Supergirl having a "team" that end up taking a really large part of the focus AND action. This is not a unique problem, though, as both Arrow and The Flash has suffered from similar problems in their later seasons.

As for political concerns, with the show...I don't identify with any party. When I vote, I vote based on my personal beliefs. But I'll admit that those beliefs typically land on the liberal side. Even so, I think fictional media do their best takes on social issues when they make it an allegory, and leave it up to the audience, child and adult alike, to draw those comparisons to the real world. When this is done correctly, a viewer feels like they are learning, but doesn't feel like they are being preached to. Star Wars being anti-Fascist with the Empire being inspired by the Third Reich. The X-Men being an allegory for racism in America. Star Trek being about equality for all genders, races, but focused under the fantastical light of alien worlds and cultures.

Maybe it's just the times we are living in, but I feel Supergirl isn't great at finding that balance. Season 4 was about anti-immigrant sentiment, and dealt with a puppet president, who was in the pocket of a madman who was also manipulating a fictional country that was CLEARLY based on Russia. To anyone alive in this day and age...that was a REALLY thin metaphor, whether or not you agree with the real world comparisons. When the metaphors are that thin, they feel tactless and preachy. And I'm saying that as a liberal...

I have no problem with the messages Supergirl sends. What I have a problem with is the way they send it. And I hope writing improves to address these issues.

I'll admit, I find myself wondering how later seasons (especially 4) would have differed if the 2016 election had gone another direction. The real world inspiration literally wouldn't have been there for a good portion of it.

IF one holds the ideals of a true Libertarian, in that, they actually know what that label means and stands for. BY ALL MEANS raise that title as your own. What I have seen from many however is to use that title in such a way as to say, I'm for neither party......BUT... and then they go on to fall right with Conservative, right wing, evangelical ideology. That is all I'm saying....if you have ideals, you stand ok n certain ideology, then be proud of that no matter where you may fall on the political spectrum. As for a tv show following certain ideology....it is a creative endeavor and if it pushes one direction, it is the right of the show runners to do so as long as the advertisers are happy with what they are doing then more power to them. Myself as a fan do not feel entitled as to think thg hey should follow a neutral stance as to not hurt feelings. If I am so strongly against a private entity, I take eff my viewing, my business elsewhere....

I do see your point. In fairness, getting a group of radical individualists to agree on a common platform is problematic. If you ask 100 Libertarians what a true Libertarian is, you're likely to get 150 different answers.

I agree that it is absolutely the showrunners' prerogative to advocate as they see fit. I have greatly enjoyed shows that I have profound differences with. (For example, Legends of Tomorrow paid homage to Obama in "Guest Starring John Noble." Now I don't hold nearly as high an opinion of him, but I found the episode freakin' hilarious. "Run, Barry, run." OMG! ) The bottom line is not whether they are telling a relevant story that I agree with as much as whether are they telling an entertaining story. Increasingly, I find they are not. Part of that is the manner in which they handle social and political issues. kdogg87 speaks for me in that a larger part is the continued marginalization of the "main" character.

For me personally most of my life I had a sense that whichever party was in charge things were going to be ok. I haven’t felt that way in three and a half years.

I agree. Under normal circumstances, I too have felt that things would be OK regardless of which party was in power. Like you, the last 3-1/2 years have changed that sense in me. We are not in normal circumstances. We are in one of the most dangerous periods in our history, certainly in my 70 years. We all value balance and may want to treat this election as any other, but No. This isn't a typical contest between two parties debating tax rates, spending priorities, and the like. This is about defending liberty for all, truth, justice, competence, decency, tolerance, and much more. These are things that Supergirl champions, so I'm OK with the show taking a stand.

By contrast, I haven't felt that way in over twenty years. With each passing election, I'm more disheartened by the available candidates.

I don't ask that people agree with that assessment, but if you can understand it, you may see why portraying Supergirl as a staunch Democrat would turn my stomach as much as if she were portrayed as Republican.

Comic books were used early on to push back against Fascism.

Especially Superman and Captain America, and I even think Wonder Woman got involved getting after The Axis Powers. I have in my vast DVD collection the first Batman serial from Columbia. The bat outfits look silly by today's standard, but, their enemy was deadly...Professor Daka, portrayed as someone who idolized Japanese dictator Hirohito. Of course on TV WW Season 1 had her battling Nazis and the like. And George Reeves' Superman went after mostly the mob.

The radio show had Supes go after nazis as well as Luthor.

But...let me bring up another character. This one with my golden age of radio collection. Namely one Britt Reid...THE GREEN HORNET! During WWII, The Hornet not just battled Nazis, but the underworld of racketeers and saboteurs. After WWII and until its 1952 ending, Reid and his faithful valet Kato battled the Red Scare of communism as well as the underworld.

Stargirl may be a better fit for some, and that's cool. But if it follows the central characters core beliefs and furthers the plot, more power to it. If it doesn't then I will respectfully let the writer's know my thoughts.

Well after about 8 or 9 episodes I should say that StG is a better fit for me anyway as it reminds me of like the first seasons of Supergirl and The Flash. StG has gotten a second season, but all on the CW. I have seen postings online worrying about the quality of the show and the budget...myself included. But as long as it's in Geoff Johns' hands and despite the worries about Covid-19 in GA, things should be fine.

Comic books were used early on to push back against Fascism.

Especially Superman and Captain America, and I even think Wonder Woman got involved getting after The Axis Powers. I have in my vast DVD collection the first Batman serial from Columbia. The bat outfits look silly by today's standard, but, their enemy was deadly...Professor Daka, portrayed as someone who idolized Japanese dictator Hirohito. Of course on TV WW Season 1 had her battling Nazis and the like. And George Reeves' Superman went after mostly the mob.

Yep. In fact, Wonder Woman's first appearance featured the WW2 era slogan, "Keep 'em flying!"

But...let me bring up another character. This one with my golden age of radio collection. Namely one Britt Reid...THE GREEN HORNET! During WWII, The Hornet not just battled Nazis, but the underworld of racketeers and saboteurs. After WWII and until its 1952 ending, Reid and his faithful valet Kato battled the Red Scare of communism as well as the underworld.

Loved the Green Hornet radio show. IMO, not as awesome as the Shadow, but still great. Reid was related to the Lone Ranger. Something like his brother's grandson?

I hadn't planned on contributing anything more than my original ideas a couple of weeks ago, but there are a couple of things that keep coming up that I'd like to make observations about.

1) I am quite fascinated by the fixation that some people have on the need for clear or precise labels. While this can be a helpful shortcut at some times, it can also be less helpful at other times.
I personally refuse to identify myself with a specific political label, and that isn't about not being able to commit to something, but rather that I am flexible, to a certain point.
As noted in my earlier submission, I have voted for every major political party at one time or another. However, with only one choice on the right side of the political scene here in Canada, and three choices on the left side, I have way more 'liberal' choices than voters in the States do. And with each election, based on what is of interest to all voters at that time, I look at what each party is offering as their platform at that time; and, even as a 'lefty' for many years now, based on what they are offering, the three or four candidates I can choose from have to earn my vote. This isn't about not being able to make a commitment to a specific political label or designation, but rather about using my vote as carefully as I can at each election.
And if this means not labeling myself, then I can't see why that should be a problem to anyone else.

2) The other item that I wanted to comment on has to do with the several references that have been made to comic-book heroes battling the Nazis (and their "Axis" allies) back in the 1940's. But back then most of the world was at war, and fighting against what was a very real threat to the freedom of the whole world in general. (My own father served in the RCN during that war, so it has some historical meaning for me.) And with literally tens of millions of young men from dozens of "Allied" nations rallying against the Nazis and their allies, it really shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that the comic-book heroes of the day were openly against the Axis enemies of the free world too.
However, most of the conflicts that are going on in the world today, however horrific they are for those people and civilians directly caught up in them, are very localized 'civil wars' that do not have huge armies and navies and air forces from dozens of nations massed against each other.
Indeed, the wars that are being waged in America today are not military in nature, but rather philosophical and ideological. And while people can, and should, speak up for where they stand on those issues, it isn't like the Second World War, where which side the comic-book super-heroes were on was never in question; so I find the comparison interesting, but not really as compelling as some others might find it.

And to get back to what this topic was supposed to be about - how personal politics influences how each of us view a TV show, and not just this one - I'd like to quote kdogg87:
"I think fictional media do their best takes on social issues when they make it an allegory, and leave it up to the audience, child and adult alike, to draw those comparisons to the real world. When this is done correctly, a viewer feels like they are learning, but doesn't feel like they are being preached to."
Although I tried to say something similar earlier, kdogg87 put it much better.

Despite the differences of opinions expressed on the Forum, on a wide number of topics, there is something that I have always believed in, and that is that we are all fans of this show and care about it greatly, regardless of whether it is our number 1 favourite, or just one of them. And because of that, all of the criticism that is offered is constructive in nature, and with the desire to see this show be the best that it can be.
I continue to be impressed by the many different points of view being offered by contributors to this particular topic, and look forward to reading many more. As long as we can keep it civil towards each other, then we can all learn from others.