Sunshine and puppies and rainbows

[selenay]

I haven't seen the first episode of the new season of Supergirl yet (don't spoil me!), but a coworker was talking to me about it today, and he explained why he didn't like it and doesn't really like the series in general: it's too happy.

(Don't get me started on people watching shows they don't like and ragging on them. It won't go well.)

The part that got me was that his entire reason for not liking Supergirl and being unimpressed with the season opener is...it's too happy. Not thing else concrete. Just...TOO HAPPY.

He particularly disliked the Flash cross-over last season because it was unicorns and puppies and pure joy distilled into an hour of telly. In other words, he disliked it for all the reasons I loved it.

I tried to explain that, for me, Supergirl's joy and fun is why I love it. In contrast to most current fiction, it's unicorns and spring flowers and I need that. He wasn't buying.

Surely I can't be the only person who needs an occasional dose of puppies and rainbows and happiness to counteract the dystopian horror that surrounds me in both the real world and most fiction right now. Can I?

Comments

[muccamukk]

Yeah, it's basically the one superhero show that they're not trying to make more like Batman. It's great.

[havocthecat]

We do not need more Batman. Please. Just no more.

[muccamukk]

Batman would be improved by being less Batman, imo.

[havocthecat]

In many, many cases, I agree with you. I like Batman as he was in the Animated Series and Justice League/Justice League Unlimited.

I watch Gotham because I love the supporting characters (I do not love Jim Gordon, oh my goodness, let me tell you how he frustrates me), and I sometimes love baby Bruce because he's not yet Batman. But sometimes I want to tell him he's being an idiot.

But Batman himself without good supporting characters can be frustrating.

[muccamukk]

I started watching Gotham on the (incorrect) information that it was a tv version of Gotham Central, an excellent comic about the police officers that had absolutely the perfect amount of Batman in it (almost none), and lots of gay ladies. I watched it long enough to realise my error, and did not continue after that.

Batman was okay in Justice League International where he largely played the straight man to everyone else's shenanigans.

[selenay]

YES. There are enough Batmans and wannabe Batman-esque shows. Don't need more. We need Supergirl to provide an alternative :-)

[havocthecat]

That is precisely the reason that I love Supergirl. It's my antidote to the terrible bleakness that our media is often filled with. Bad things happen, but they aren't overwhelming or unable to be overcome, and Kara's got an amazing support system in her family, her friends, and her job, and I love seeing them supporting each other.

[selenay]

Yes, all of this! I love how the show celebrates friendships, family and being supportive of each other! Even when bad things happen, even when it seems like there's no way for things to turn out well, this show is all about hope and finding the good and bonding together to overcome.

[dirty_diana]

On the flip side (to your coworker) I don't understand why anybody watches those shows where nothing good ever happens. Isn't the real world news depressing enough? More Supergirls, please.

[selenay]

Exactly! I think it's because unrelenting horror and gritty depression gets critical acclaim and people like being able to say "I'm watching the thing that everyone says is awesome", even though it's depressing as hell.

I might just be cynical, though.

[tamsin]

You are not alone! Happy and fun shows are great, it's not like there's a dearth of dark stuff out there.

[selenay]

One happy positive show won't suddenly make the five million dark shows out there disappear :-)

[beccaelizabeth]

*nods a lot*

supergirl is best because sometimes even the best happens
which is so rare on tv

[selenay]

Yes! It's nice to have a show where good things happen, sometimes, because it's so very rare on telly.

[escritoireazul]

It's happiness is exactly why I love it so much. The season opener had me clutching my hands together in delight pretty much the entire time. It is such a nice change from the grimdark of so many other fandoms and also things like politics in the USA.

[selenay]

Now I really need to see the season opener!

It shines as a little beacon of life and hope in the sea of grimdark :-)

[burnishedvictory]

I'm going to start watching it based solely on their complaint - I could use something that's "too happy" in my life.

[selenay]

You should! It's marvellous! Happiness, joy, celebrations of friendship and caring and the idea that hope is something we need, all in one delightful little show. I adore it.

[lilacsigil]

Yes! Exactly! Hearts and ice creams and puppies for everyone!

[selenay]

The world needs more hearts and ice cream and puppies! :-)

[flamingsword]

I now have Supergirl on my list of shows to watch, based on this post.