I’ve been watching Supergirl. Probably the most transparently anti-Trump show around. In S4 (starting Oct 18) the season arc revolves around an anti-alien terrorist leader getting finessed out of prison and appointed director of Bureau of Alien Affairs by the Trumpy new potus.
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Among the more expertly wokewashed shows around. There’s a well-written trans character, there are no positive white male characters but it doesn’t stick out self-consciously as it does in doctor who or Star Wars, and the plots are kinda fun. Only false note is high Karen count.
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When wokewashing is well done, it does underline the extent to which traditional movies/shows do in fact center plots around white men and play everybody else in negative or caricatured ways. The old stuff becomes harder to watch once you’ve watched the other extreme.
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I suspect we’ll come to view this era as a necessary correction that went into overcorrection. It’s awkward, but there’s something necessary going on. It feels mildly unsettling to watch Indian characters appear who are not convenience store owners or doctors, and it shouldn’t.
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Show has a core of sincerity. Core cast is solidly likable. Melissa Benoist is particularly good. Hard to be a blue-eyed blonde and _not_ come across as a Fox News anchor, Karen, or Hallmark movie heroine in 2020.
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Jon Cryer is an awful Lex Luthor though. Just not menacing at all.
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I think he lacks a core darkness to tap into. Jesse Eisenberg, Kevin Spacey, Gene Hackman... all managed to convey the void. Cryer might just be too nice. Saw an interview with him and he’s unreasonably stable. I think that’s why he was a good foil to Charlie Sheen in 2.5 men.
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I have no retort to dispute this theory! Superman, however, needs to be...subordinate, as female empowerment is a key show component.
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Still, he’s particularly bad. Practically emasculated and whipped by Lois. Cringe level. Benoist is strong enough to overshadow a much stronger Superman.

