3) A Parasite For Sore Eyes
Although superheroes appearing on TV isn’t exactly a new concept in the slightest, the sheer volume of series airing at once and the budgets they are allotted are. Before Arrow started a revolution, it was Smallville that truly paved the way for modern comic book adaptations on the small screen.
It goes without saying that Smallville was no slouch in the visual effects department, but you may not know that despite having guest appearances by many heroes and villains in seasons 8-10 become the standard, the show’s budget was dramatically slashed and they admirably had to make do with what they were allotted for the first season. This knowledge may surprise you, but at the time, The CW’s then president wasn’t too keen on superheroes and wanted shows such as Gossip Girl to serve as the network’s cornerstones.
Much to our delight, Supergirl gives us robust visual effects each week and has the freedom to have its villains look much more like their comic book counterparts than the last series to chronicle the adventures of a Kryptonian. Whereas Smallville’s version of the Parasite was little more than a plainly clothed man who could drain powers, Supergirl treated us to a truly bad ass mutated Rudy Jones that gave the Girl of Steel and her allies a run for their money.