Kara Zor-El will finally embrace her special abilities to become Supergirl in the new CBS drama, but the budding superhero will still struggle with threats much less dangerous than the crippling kryptonite.
"Supergirl" executive producer Andrew Kreisberg explained at the Television Critics Association summer press tour on Monday that the show's goal was "to put her in situations where she isn't all powerful so you can root for her."
Kreisberg added, "There's a tendency with Superman to make him so powerful that there isn't really any danger. There are plenty of things besides Kryptonite that can take her down. It's not to diminish her, it's to make it feel like there's actual jeopardy to the show."
The title of "Supergirl" rather than "Superwoman" also wasn't a slight at the young female superhero. Superwoman already existed as a separate character (and much less established in the comic books than Kara Zor-El).
"That's a different character," executive producer Ali Adler argued. "She's Supergirl because she's Supergirl."
And despite the title "Supergirl" that would seem to skew toward a younger audience, executive producer Greg Berlanti hopes to "take a powerful word back" as it introduces Melissa Benoist's character to a new generation.
"It should be strong and bold. That was our goal," Berlani said. "One of the blessings of what we get to do is to introduce it to a new generation and that means changing key elements of the character and still keeping true to the core DNA of the character."
"Supergirl" has also added DC characters General Sam Lane, the superhero Red Tornado and Kryptonian super villain Non. They join the recently casted Peter Facinelli as Maxwell Lord, Jenna Dewan-Tatum as Lucy Lane and Chris Browning, who will play the villainous Reactron.
Check out the latest trailer for "Supergirl" below and catch the series premiere on Monday, Oct. 26 at 8:30 p.m. on CBS.
