‘Supergirl’ Season 3: Melissa Benoist Interview on Kara, Clark, and the Classic Pose

Supergirl star Melissa Benoist
‘Supergirl’ star Melissa Benoist at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con (Photo © Richard Chavez / Showbiz Junkies)

The season two finale of The CW’s Supergirl was both victorious and heartbreaking for Kara (Melissa Benoist). Not only did Kara defeat Rhea (Teri Hatcher), but when fighting a mind-controlled Superman (Tyler Hoechlin), Clark revealed that she could have totally taken him had she been forced to finish him. However, in defeating Rhea and the Daxamites, Kara had to send Mon-El (Chris Wood) off the planet to save his life.

In a roundtable at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con, Benoist talked about the results of her battle with her super cousin, and Cat Grant (Calista Flockhart) figuring out her secret identity. She also described where season three finds Kara and her sister, Alex (Chyler Leigh).


Clark was very clear that Kara is stronger than him. Is that an important revelation?

Melissa Benoist: “Absolutely. I think Kara, the entire time she’s been on Earth, has maybe subconsciously compared herself or not thought that she wasn’t up to Clark’s strength or speed or what have you. Especially in that moment, that was her fight and that was her battle. She was fired up and saving him in a sense when they were fighting. So the stakes were really fine for her. (Laughing) I think she deserved to best him.”

Does Kara know that Cat knows or that she at least suspects she’s Supergirl?

Melissa Benoist: “That’s a good question. I don’t know. No, I think she thinks she has Cat fooled because she has to. Or else, that relationship is so clear. Like, Kara Danvers with Cat Grant, their relationship is different from Supergirl’s relationship with Cat Grant. I don’t know if she realizes. I would love to see a scene where they talk about it. I really want to see that scene.”

Do you think she really doesn’t know or she’s lying to herself to keep her life the way it is today?

Melissa Benoist: “Yes, I think that’s the way to put it. I think she might be in denial that anyone in her life that’s close to her knows. In the same way, even with Lena, that relationship. She has things very set in the way she knows them. Kara doesn’t like change. She can’t handle that, so it would really put her life in upheaval.”

How would you describe the evolution of Kara from where we met her to where she’s going to be in season three?

Melissa Benoist: “Very different. It’s a dark period for Kara. The end of season two was a gut-wrenching, heartbreaking experience for her. The first time she’d been in love and put herself out there. Someone who had lost their entire world and their entire family – besides Astra and Non – must have abandonment issues. She’s coping with grief and guilt for sending him and fear that she doesn’t know what happened to him. It’s a new chapter of womanhood for her. I think she’s really growing up. It feels more adult. It’s not as sunny as she always is.”

Every time you put your hands on your hips that’s the classic Supergirl pose. Do you feel the magnitude of that?

Melissa Benoist: “It definitely feels like I can’t stand that way, oddly enough, unless I’m wearing the suit now. When we’re shooting and if I’m dressed as Kara Danvers in CatCo clothes and I put my hands on my hips, I’m like, ‘That’s not where they need to be right now. That’s not right.'”

Will we be seeing any more sister nights in season three?

Melissa Benoist: “We did get kind of split off into our own stories last season, but Kara and Alex find each other again this season. There will be couch nights.”