The DC Universe’s Supergirl finally hit streaming platforms, and any HBO subscribers should rush to watch the film — or re-watch it if they already have. The movie follows Kara Zor-El on a quest through space with tons of epic, action-packed sequences as well as emotional scenes. All these great moments and details truly shine when watching the film at home.
From Milly Alcock’s great performance as the DCU’s Maiden of Might to one very funny cameo most people didn’t notice on a first watch, Supergirl is a true gem. The film didn’t do as well in movie theaters, and now its streaming service era is giving audiences the chance to do right by it and pay attention to the film’s best details from the comfort of their own home.
1 The First Scene Is A Great Introduction to The Character
Anyone who read the comic that inspires the film — or simply paid attention to the trailer — knew Supergirl would be a mess, to put it lightly. The film opens revealing just how much this is true, with Krypto moving around a messy apartment filled with empty bottles, some still dripping. He tumbles around the chaos — even peeing on top of a newspaper with a Superman picture — until he wakes up Kara, who is clearly hungover in bed.
This is an incredible first scene to separate Supergirl from her cousin. While Kal-El is a Boy Scout, Kara couldn’t be less of a lawful character. By introducing her as a messy person from the very beginning of the movie, the DCU makes sure to remind the fans Supergirl isn’t just a copy of Superman, so anyone who doesn’t know her is ready for what they’re about to witness.
2 The Lack of Superman Makes Perfect Sense
As happens with most projects inside a cinematic universe, whenever things get difficult for the main characters, fans can’t help but wonder why not bring in some support? Supergirl is no exception. Many online users wondered why Superman didn’t help her when the Brigands became too much for her at some point in the film.
The most straightforward answer is obviously narrative economy. Not only isn’t Superman a part of the source material, but bringing Corenswet for the whole film would have changed it plenty. The whole film is also about letting Supergirl shine so the audience learns her place in the DCU. This would have been ruined if the Man of Steel had ended up helping her — although it would have made for an incredible duo.
3 The Krypton Flashbacks Are Gutting
Since DC Studios confirmed Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow would get an adaptation, comic fans knew the movie would be harrowing at times. They were not wrong. Supergirl adapted the flashback panels in which Kara tells Ruthye her story, explaining the violent end of Krypton and its eventual poisoning as they tried to save as many people as possible.
Needless to say, it’s a gutting sequence, and Milly Alcock did a great job conveying Supergirl’s pain as she described what happened to her home planet. “Krypton didn't die in a day. The gods are not that kind” is one of the saddest lines in the DCU so far. Viewers at home will find that the heavy feeling that comes with these scenes will stay with them for a while, as it did at the movie theater.
4 Ruthye’s Backstory Is Laced with So Much Guilt
Perhaps the worst thing about the fate of the Knoll family is that it couldn’t have been prevented. The film implies Krem of the Yellow Hills would have killed Ruthye’s parents and brother anyway, and this makes sense as he’s a sadistic criminal. However, in the scene when it actually happens, Ruthye’s curiosity about Krem is what prompts her brother to show up, triggering the chaos that ends up with so much murder.
It’s hard to re-watch as Ruthye witnesses what happens while already knowing where things are going. However, realizing she may blame herself for what happened adds a lot to her revenge journey and the eventual resolution — she lets go of that anger and guilt thanks to Kara’s friendship. This is a very emotional aspect of the film made better by this detail on a second watch.
5 Seth Rogen’s Cameo Is Hilarious
When Kara and Ruthye first embark on their journey together, after Krem and the Brigands stole Supergirl’s ship, they have to use a space bus. Here, they meet an assortment of strange-looking aliens, including Lloyd, the co-pilot of the Wormhole Xpress. The former doesn’t speak, but the latter soon becomes one of the funniest moments of the film.
Not everyone noticed this, because it wasn’t announced before the film premiered, but that funny alien is actually voiced by Seth Rogen. While he was funny in the movie theater, upon a rewatch, fans of the actor (and those who spent the movie wondering who that familiar voice was) will be able to enjoy his rapid-fire delivery of some of the funniest lines in Supergirl.
6 Jason Momoa Truly Is Lobo
One of the greatest things to come out of Supergirl was something nobody expected to see in the film: Jason Momoa’s debut as Lobo in the DCU -- even though this character was on the comic's original pitch. Since the actor portrayed Aquaman for the first time in 2016, fans pointed out how similar he was to the Main Man. James Gunn made the fans’ dreams come true recently, casting him as the mercenary in Supergirl.
Rewatching the film will confirm for fans that including Lobo in the film was the right decision — especially a version portrayed by Momoa. The actor absolutely conveyed the theatrics of the mercenary and his nihilistic attitude even in the direst situations. After watching Supergirl for a second time, fans will be as excited about the future of Lobo in the DCU as they were after leaving the movie theater.
7 The Film Has Tons of Comic-Accurate Moments
Inspired by Tom King’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, Supergirl is surprisingly respectful to the source material. In an age where most adaptations are too “loose,” this is refreshing. Granted, the movie isn’t a panel-by-panel retelling of the graphic novel, but it has complete sequences that come directly from the paper.
Scenes like Kara and Ruthye’s first encounter with the rude aliens on the bus, Krypton’s last days, or one of Kara’s fights against a dozen men at the same time can be found in the comic book and in the movie. Fans can re-read the comic before delving into the film on HBO and even pause at the right scenes to compare both versions of this story.
8 That Needle Drop Didn’t Deserve So Much Hate
One of the most controversial things about Supergirl was also one of the least expected. Many viewers truly disliked the use of Kelty Greye's "The Middle" (originally by Jimmy Eat World) for the final battle. The reason behind this: its pace. While the original song is quite energetic, Greye's cover has a slower tempo that created a strange contrast over the climactic sequence in the film.
The first time fans watched it, the change between the scene and the music felt awkward, as it went against their expectations. Given this, many found it jarring. However, a rewatch will allow viewers to truly appreciate the scene and realize the song for this moment had to be a slow ballad in order for the sequence to keep its intensity, becoming one of the greatest superhero film needle drops ever. While an upbeat needle drop would have added some energy to it, it would have ruined the emotional tension.
9 Krypto & Kara’s Bond Is The Perfect Emotional Core For the Film
Since Krypto first appeared in Superman, fans fell in love with the Super-Dog, so when it became a key element of Supergirl, viewers couldn’t have been happier. On a first watch, fans surely realized the intensity of the bond between the Girl of Steel and her dog. However, a rewatch will confirm that this relationship is the emotional backbone of the movie.
Krypto is more than an excuse for Kara to join Ruthye in her revenge quest. Instead, the dog is the most important relationship in the heroine’s life, and he’s also the last thing she has from her actual life in Krypton. The fact that she found him in such a dark time of her life and was able to bring him along will resonate with anyone with a beloved pet.
10 Milly Alcock Is Incredible As Supergirl
After Melissa Benoist’s incredible run as Kara Zor-El in the Arrowverse, fans were worried Milly Alcock would not do a good job. Fortunately, they were wrong. Alcock owned the character and conveyed a hurt version of the heroine trying to make sense of her loss and her fate — with a cousin who happens to be the most beloved hero in the universe.
In the movie theater, it can be difficult to absorb it all, and between the action scenes and many jokes of Supergirl, Alcock acting can get a little lost. However, a rewatch will make her acting chops very obvious almost immediately. With Supergirl owning her own grief and choosing to live on Earth by the end of the film, fans are excited for the future of the Girl of Steel in the DCU.
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