Supergirl – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Supergirl

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2015

66%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Girl-power superhero show with heart, but also all the CW drama you'd expect—romance, punching aliens, and finding yourself in spandex.

6.2/10

88%

7.3

→

Supergirl

show

TV-PG, 2015

66%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Girl-power superhero show with heart, but also all the CW drama you'd expect—romance, punching aliens, and finding yourself in spandex.

6.2

88%

7.3

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6.2/10

88%

7.3

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Screenwise Verdict

Supergirl is solid middle-of-the-road superhero entertainment with genuine heart and an empowering message about embracing who you are. It's got all the CW hallmarks—attractive people having feelings, punching bad guys, and learning life lessons—which means it's engaging enough for tweens and young teens but nothing revolutionary.

The show's strongest asset is its optimistic, hopeful tone and a female lead who's both powerful and vulnerable, learning to own her strength. That's genuinely valuable representation. The weaknesses are also very CW: formulaic plots, relationship drama that sometimes overshadows the superhero stuff, and uneven pacing.

For families with kids around 10-14 who are into superheroes, this is a reasonable choice—it's got action without being too dark or violent, and positive themes without being preachy. Just know you're signing up for 6 seasons of network TV with all that entails. It's not appointment viewing, but it's not brain rot either.

Age Fit

Best for ages 10-16, particularly tweens and young teens who are ready for superhero action and relationship drama. Younger kids might find the action intense and won't connect with the workplace/romance plots; older teens might find it a bit cheesy and formulaic.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Supergirl centers on a positive female protagonist learning to embrace her identity and help others. The show models heroism, courage, and standing up for what's right. However, as a CW superhero drama, it includes romantic subplots, some interpersonal drama, and occasional darker themes typical of the genre. The overall tone is optimistic and empowering, showing cooperation between heroes and emphasizing doing good, though pacing can be uneven with typical network TV drama beats.

Imaginative

The show builds on the established Superman mythology but centers a female hero finding her own path, which offers some fresh perspective. Alien worlds, superpowers, and sci-fi elements provide imaginative content. However, it's formulaic CW superhero fare—villain-of-the-week structure, standard fight choreography, and predictable network drama tropes limit true originality. It invites viewers to imagine heroism and standing up for others, but doesn't break new creative ground.

Safe

As a superhero action show, Supergirl features regular fight scenes, some violence (punching, energy blasts, explosions), and peril, though nothing particularly graphic or gory by superhero standards. Occasional romantic content and kissing scenes are present but relatively tame. Some episodes deal with heavier themes like loss, trauma, and villainy that could be intense for younger viewers. No official content rating provided in data, but likely TV-PG or TV-14 range. Generally predictable superhero content without shocking surprises, but not designed for young children.

Enriching

The show explores themes of identity, finding your place in the world, embracing who you are, and using your gifts to help others. Kara's journey from hiding her powers to becoming a hero models courage and self-acceptance. Strong female lead representation and themes of empowerment are valuable. The show touches on immigration metaphors (alien adjusting to Earth), family dynamics, and moral choices. However, it's primarily entertainment-focused network TV with standard superhero plots, not particularly deep or thought-provoking beyond surface-level positive messages.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Strong female superhero lead who's figuring out her identity and learning to embrace her power—great role model for girls
Themes of courage, helping others, and being true to yourself are front and center
Part of the Arrowverse, so if your kid is into DC superheroes, this expands that world
More optimistic and hopeful than darker superhero fare, with genuine heart beneath the action
Addresses feeling like an outsider and finding your people, which resonates with tweens and teens

⚠

What to Watch For

Regular superhero violence—fights, explosions, people getting thrown through walls (nothing gory, but constant action)
Romantic relationships and kissing scenes throughout, typical CW relationship drama
Some episodes deal with heavier themes like loss, discrimination (alien metaphors), and trauma
Network TV pacing means some episodes drag or feel formulaic
Probably too intense for younger elementary kids, better for tweens and up

Conversation Starters

"Kara hid her powers for years—have you ever felt like you had to hide part of who you are? How did that feel?"
"What would you do if you suddenly had superpowers? Would you use them right away or keep them secret?"
"The show uses aliens as a metaphor for immigrants and people who are different—what do you think about that?"
"Kara has to balance being a hero with her regular job and relationships. How do you balance different parts of your life?"
"Who's your favorite superhero and why? What makes someone a hero beyond just having powers?"

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