The Supergirl/Flash Crossover May Ruin Both Shows
It's the fanboy and fangirl dream crossover of the year: the Flash is going to appear on Supergirl. And fans couldn't possibly be more excited for it. Except for one small detail, that is: the crossover might wind up actually ruining both shows. Okay, maybe that sounds paranoid, but once you read this list of reasons, you too might be quivering with dread rather than excitement. Read on at your own peril...
Supergirl is just getting its footing
Supergirl certainly has had its champions right from the start, mostly because of its laudable girl power message. But while Supergirl has been great as a motivational poster, as a TV show it hasn't really been quite as super. That has started to change recently, though, especially since the surprise revelation that Hank Henshaw was secretly the cult-favorite DC Comics character Martian Manhunter. That's why we're concerned that such a high profile event crossover like the Flash appearance might derail Supergirl's fragile momentum. The series is finally gaining its balance; anything that knocks it off stride, even for something as cool as a Flash appearance, is a source of concern.
They're spreading Flash way too thin
The Flash may be the fastest man alive, but his show's second season, its writers seem to have mistaken him for Atlas, since they've been putting the weight of the world on his shoulders. Or, rather, the weight of several worlds. Not only has Flash already crossed over into Arrow, much of the first half of the season was spent setting up DC's Legends of Tomorrow. Add in this Supergirl crossover, and it feels like Flash is no longer his own character so much as a plot device to fuel the engine of DC's burgeoning television franchise. It might be time to just get back to telling Barry Allen's story instead of using Barry to tell everyone else's.
It Gets too much CW in CBS's chocolate
Let's face it: for a CBS show, Supergirl feels very CW. Which makes sense given that the whole reason we're having a Supergirl/Flash crossover is because Greg Berlanti runs both shows, as well as the CW's Arrow. That's not necessarily a good thing, though. While the CW's superhero universe is fun, it also has a certain amount of winking cheesiness. A little bit of that goes a long way, especially on the traditionally more staid CBS. Getting even goofier might be fun for hardcore fans, but could it scare off more conservative CBS viewers on the fence?
How many alternate universes are too many for the Flash?
One of the great things about The Flash is that it's not afraid to get really, really geeky. And that means crazy continuity that can be hard to follow at times. But there's hard to follow and then there's just downright confusing. Unfortunately, it feels like The Flash is right at that breaking point. Between crossovers, time travel, and bopping between alternate universes, it's getting increasingly difficult to keep track of just what the heck is going on from week to week. Adding yet another universe to the mix could be a case of too much of a good thing. You shouldn't have to be Neil deGrasse Tyson to figure out the plot of a TV show.
Now everyone will know how much better Supergirl should be
It's just a plain fact: The Flash is a better show that Supergirl. Which is fine in a vacuum; after all, there are shows that are better and worse than both of them, so what does it matter? But thanks to the Supergirl/Flash crossover, the shows are no longer being compared in a vacuum, they're being compared head-to-head. And that's just going to be a bad look for Supergirl, because it'll lose that competition every time. Bringing in the Flash as a guest star to prop up Supergirl is fine, but the risk is that everyone will realize just how sub-par Supergirl truly is compared to what it could be—and should be.
It just might not be very good
Considering the hype for this mega-event, there's one big risk that pretty much can't be avoided: high expectations. So what happens if it turns out that the crossover just isn't very good? Sure, it won't be the end of the world, but it will be a massive letdown for fans. And worse, it could leave a bad taste in everyone's mouths, especially for Supergirl fans. After all, it's her show, and it's her series that's fighting to get renewed for a second season on a major television network. So if the episode is a disappointment, it's Supergirl that will bear the brunt of the blame and consequences. Let's just hope it's good!
One episode is just not enough!
Time to get real: despite these misgivings, it's impossible not to get excited for the possibilities of the Supergirl/Flash crossover. Which leads to the biggest fear of all: that one episode just won't be enough. Seriously, everyone wants to see DC's superheroes in a shared universe, which is one reason the Flash/Arrow/Legends of Tomorrow block is so fun to watch. Teasing us with just one brief glimpse of what could be is kinda dirty pool. Chances are we're going to want more. And if we don't get it? That really is going to ruin both shows for us all.