On January 23, Kevin Smith returns to the CW, directing the mid-season debut of Supergirl. “Supergirl Lives” is the ninth episode of the second season for the daughter of Krypton, an episode title with a nod to the Superman screenplay Smith was hired to write in 1996 (which famously was never filmed).
Before the mid-season break, Supergirl set the stage for “Invasion!” – the crossover event spanning the DC properties airing on the CW. The event was based on the 1989 comicbook miniseries of the same name. Critics across the spectrum, from A.V. Club to Forbes, agreed that the event was classic, comic book fun.
DC's "Invasion" three-issue mini series
“It is filled with deep-cuts characters from some of my favorite stories in the @dccomics canon...”
After a two-month hiatus, fans are anticipating more comic book action, something Smith believes “Supergirl Lives” will deliver.
“It is filled with deep-cuts characters from some of my favorite stories in the @dccomics canon,” Smith wrote on Instagram after reading the script. He continued, “The kind of stuff I've loved watching my whole life but never tried to make myself. It's pure comic book and science fiction fantasy and it reads like it should look like a 70's album cover.”
After the episode was finished, Smith again took to Instagram to confirm how fantastically the cast and crew delivered on the final project.
“I can equate the experience to making both a sfx extravaganza AND an indie flick at the same time,” wrote Smith, “you have the talent and tools of a big budget movie but the time of a low budget flick. Most of the folks who work on these shows COME from feature films and do work you'd normally see in feature films - but do it in only 8 days.”
via thatkevinsmith
The series returns from the mid-season break shortly after the CW announced it would be renewed for another season (along with six other series).
“Early pickups of these seven series now allow our producers to plan ahead for next season, and gives us a solid base to build on for next season, with original scripted series to roll out all year long,” CW President Mark Pedowitz told the Television Critics Association Press.
With these announced “pickups,” show runners have ample time to layout the quality the humble director describes.
“If there's any bad about #supergirllives, it's entirely mine,” wrote Smith, “because the cast and crew made a fantastic episode. I know this not only because I was there watching when they did it, but also because I've already peeped some of the scenes our editor Barbara cut together.”
