Arrow/Flash/Supergirl: ratings as graphs

I never doubted the show had an audience, just that its audience isn't primarily made up of people who love the Supergirl character, or see her as the principal reason to watch the show.

I suspect viewers do come for the superhero genre, and they've got suitable supervillains and a variety of superheroes (if you include Jonn'z, MonEl, Guardian, Supergirl, etc.).

All well and good, but it's not what many of us wanted from the show.

I suffer a bit from the "I wanted and waited a long time for this show, but it isn't what I wanted". But I'm old enough to know that's the way of the world, whether its movies, TV, politics or life in general.

I'm left with the conclusion that Kara on Smallville, played by Laura V, was much closer to my Supergirl. As I'd observed back before the show first aired, getting to Supergirl via Glee was a problem. But CBS started of with a bang and MB did a fair job of portraying the "I have no idea what I'm doing, but I'll figure it out with some help" thing.

All said and done, a few episodes from Season 1 of Supergirl will go into my archives to join a few episodes of Smallville where LV as Kara had substantial screen time. Close to perfection was the scene on Smallville that started on that executive jet where Kara (admittedly controlled by Braniac) took out the crew and passenger and crashed the plane. That was a kick-ass demonstration of a "dark Supergirl". The best that's ever been aired, anywhere.

And the world continues to turn... my hopes now reach forward to the WW movie, which still has a chance, especially given it got some late course corrections as Warner decided their movies were getting a bit dark and depressing. We'll see how that plays out in the final cut. (And whether they will offer a Director's cut with more WW action that didn't fit in the movie.)

Always hoping,

Shadar

five_red wrote: What with the recent increase in criticism of Supergirl, here and elsewhere, I thought I'd grab some ratings data into a spreadsheet and produce a few charts to get a better understand of where the show stood against its other CW / DC siblings.

Looks like the show has had a bumpy ride on The CW: the viewership in raw millions is on a slow slide downwards, yet the core demographic seems to be level. Unfortunately, after starting the season close to The Flash, the core demographic quickly dropped to nearer Arrow levels.

These figures are adjusted to include +7 viewers (those who watched online or via PDR within a week of broadcast) except for this week's (6th March...) episodes.

Arrow / Flash / Supergirl


This first chart shows the key 18-49 demographic percentage -- this is the share of the US population in that age range who watched Supergirl. Remember, The CW network is pitched at a younger, twenty-something / thirty-something audience.


This second chart is the total viewers in millions, of all ages (note: "2016 to 2017" should read "2013 to 2017".)

Here's a PDF with graphs showing comprehensive breakdowns of each year.



R5

OK
Someone is going to have to explain this graph to me.
I am assuming that green is Arrow, Red is Flash and Blue is Supergirl.
What is that big spike?
Is that the crossover episode?

The episode numbering at the bottom makes no sense to me.

In the second chart why is there two blue lines with a break in between?

Is there a "Reading Charts for Dummies" handbook out there?

shadar wrote: ... I'm left with the conclusion that Kara on Smallville, played by Laura V, was much closer to my Supergirl. As I'd observed back before the show first aired, getting to Supergirl via Glee was a problem. ... Close to perfection was the scene on Smallville that started on that executive jet where Kara (admittedly controlled by Braniac) took out the crew and passenger and crashed the plane. That was a kick-ass demonstration of a "dark Supergirl". The best that's ever been aired, anywhere.

...

Shadar

I'm absolutely with you, especially on ^this!

Markiehoe wrote: OK
Someone is going to have to explain this graph to me.
I am assuming that green is Arrow, Red is Flash and Blue is Supergirl.
What is that big spike?
Is that the crossover episode?

The episode numbering at the bottom makes no sense to me.

In the second chart why is there two blue lines with a break in between?

Is there a "Reading Charts for Dummies" handbook out there?

I'd guess the break is the switch from CBS to CW (not coincidentally at Supergirl S02E01) and the big spikes are indeed the crossovers (again, not coincidentally at Supergirl S02E08).

The episode numbering makes perfect sense if you have to account for different Seasons between Arrow (S05), Flash (S03) and Supergirl (S02).

shadar wrote: ... I'm left with the conclusion that Kara on Smallville, played by Laura V, was much closer to my Supergirl. As I'd observed back before the show first aired, getting to Supergirl via Glee was a problem. ... Close to perfection was the scene on Smallville that started on that executive jet where Kara (admittedly controlled by Braniac) took out the crew and passenger and crashed the plane. That was a kick-ass demonstration of a "dark Supergirl". The best that's ever been aired, anywhere.

...

Shadar

Thanks Shadar - I think I remember this - Laura was disguised as an air stewardess. Any links to a YT clip?

Monty wrote:

shadar wrote: ... I'm left with the conclusion that Kara on Smallville, played by Laura V, was much closer to my Supergirl. As I'd observed back before the show first aired, getting to Supergirl via Glee was a problem. ... Close to perfection was the scene on Smallville that started on that executive jet where Kara (admittedly controlled by Braniac) took out the crew and passenger and crashed the plane. That was a kick-ass demonstration of a "dark Supergirl". The best that's ever been aired, anywhere.

...

Shadar

Thanks Shadar - I think I remember this - Laura was disguised as an air stewardess. Any links to a YT clip?

Here's the YT link... this is possibly the most dramatic (and scary) scene involving Kara (even if controlled by Braniac) ever filmed. And I'm sure Fats gets some shivers from this one.

That clip really is mental! To all extents and purposes the pilots would think the new stewardess babe is on a suicide mission!

there is not a single lear jet 45 out there with a stand up cabin, nor a separate section for an FA

Those large oval windows scream GULFSTREAM. Probably a G550 interior.

For those with bright screens, did you notice (in the video) how incredibly fit Laura/Kara's legs look as she walks back to man in the chair?

That definitely fits my idea of a Kryptonian.

Here's another pict of her that must have come from that time period. She's not usually this defined.

It's in a photo like this, where she's mixing in with more or less ordinary people, that you realize how spectacular she really looks. And how much blonde hair she had then. Comes from her Dutch side.

Sorry... I'm a bit of a fan. This probably belongs over in the Bitten thread.




She was also very compelling in the Me in My Place series.



Still see her as the best Kara.