The DCU’s Supergirl Has Officially Fixed The Arrowverse’s Kara Zor-El Problem

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The new trailer for Supergirl reveals how the DCU is significantly reimagining the character, offering a fresh approach compared to her portrayal in the Arrowverse. The Arrowverse actually laid some good groundwork for James Gunn’s DCU, demonstrating how to successfully create a connected universe.

The Arrowverse included seven live-action TV shows, like Superman & Lois, and was known for its big crossover events. The shows also frequently referenced each other, creating a sense that they all took place in the same shared universe.

Despite its popularity, the Arrowverse wasn’t without flaws. Many of its shows became predictable and similar, and some fans felt the earlier version of Supergirl didn’t fully explore Kara Zor-El’s potential. The new Supergirl series, released in 2026, seems to be succeeding where previous attempts struggled.

The DCU’s Supergirl Is Completely Different From Clark Kent

When Supergirl hits theaters in 2026, it will be only the second DC Universe movie ever released, coming right after Superman in 2025. Because of this, people will almost certainly compare the two films and their versions of the characters, which could be challenging for how Supergirl has been portrayed in the past.

Until now, live-action Supergirl has often played a secondary role to Superman. However, Milly Alcock’s portrayal is shaping up to be quite different. Even in her short appearances – from the end of Superman to the trailer for the new DCU – this Supergirl is shown as hardened, frustrated, powerful, and quick to use her abilities.

A key moment in the trailer happens when Kara speaks about her cousin, stating, “He sees the good in everyone… and I see the truth.” This suggests a Kara who is deeply troubled by the destruction of her home, and is now driven more by anger than by hope.

This version of the character is strikingly different from her cousin in the DC Universe, and also stands apart from previous live-action portrayals. This change is based on the comic book series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King and Bilquis Evely, which presents a Kara Zor-El unlike any we’ve seen before.

The Arrowverse’s Supergirl Was Too Similar To Superman

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The Arrowverse version of Supergirl, while enjoyable and featuring a fantastic performance by Melissa Benoist, ultimately fell into the common trope of being defined by her connection to Superman. Despite being one of the strongest shows within the Arrowverse, it still presented her character as living in his shadow.

Looking back, there was always something a little off about the Supergirl series. It felt like DC was using her to be what Superman should have been, much like they’d used Arrow to fill Batman’s role in the Arrowverse. The big issue was that because Superman was appearing in the DCEU films, DC initially didn’t want him headlining his own TV show. It’s funny, because they eventually changed their minds and gave us Superman & Lois, which shows you how things can evolve!

Kara wasn’t brought into the Arrowverse simply to retell Supergirl’s origin story. Her purpose was to introduce a powerful Kryptonian hero capable of battling the most dangerous villains the universe had to offer. This is evident in the show’s choices – like creating a female Lex Luthor as an antagonist, later introducing the classic Lex, and even incorporating James Olsen, despite his established location being outside of the Arrowverse setting.

Because of this, Kara often acts as a replacement for Superman instead of developing her own personality and dealing with her own life. She had a vastly different childhood than her cousin, which contributes to this.

Supergirl Deserved More From The Arrowverse

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Clark Kent arrived on Earth as a baby, so all his memories are of this planet, not his birthplace, Krypton. Learning about Krypton’s destruction is painful, but it feels distant because he only knows it through stories.

Kara spent her early life on Krypton, loved by those around her, and experienced the planet’s destruction firsthand. This trauma will deeply shape her character in ways different from someone who didn’t fully grasp the loss.

The new DC Universe version of Supergirl feels truer to Kara Zor-El’s character and successfully sets her apart from Superman. In contrast, the previous Arrowverse series didn’t fully explore what made Kara’s story distinct from Clark Kent’s, or give her a strong individual identity.

The Arrowverse aimed to create a hopeful and just hero like Superman, but didn’t fully explore the nuances of characters like Supergirl. Now, the new DCU seems determined to fix that, and it’s already off to a great beginning.

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2025-12-13 14:29