Supergirl EP Andrew Kreisberg Says Hope, Light, Goodness are Tied-In to the Character

The world of Supergirl is notably different from most superhero entertainment of late, in that while there are tense moments and dark situations, the show makes a concerted effort to be hopeful and show an optimistic view of a superhero. Andrew Kreisberg, one of the executive producers and showrunners on the series at CBS, said that’s completely on purpose – and necessary.

“I think that Superman has always been more than just a hero. He’s been an inspiration, and a beacon of hope, something to aspire to,” Kreisberg told ComicBook.com during an interview, comparing Kara to her more famous cousin. He admitted that he and fellow EP Greg Berlanti have obviously gone in the other direction before. ” We’re certainly guilty of putting a very dark hero on television in Arrow, but there’s something in Supergirl that just represents the light and the goodness in people. It’s important for our times, it’s important for our world, and it’s so tied-in to the character.”

The EP noted that those qualities can get lost when people are adapting heroes like Supergirl to film or TV, and says it’s the biggest thing they don’t want to do.

“I think that there’s a tendency to not embrace what things are [with respect to these heroes], and I think you do that at your peril. So we’ve really embraced that, and hopefully not only [star] Melissa [Benoist], but the show itself can be an inspiration.”

Supergirl airs Mondays at 8pm ET/PT on CBS.