They call him "the other guy", "the guy in blue", "my cousin", "him", "the male", etc. but they are clearly avoiding referring to him as "Superman". Is it a production choice to keep focus on this show? Is it a legal issue? (The answer must be out of universe because it's clear from the show he is known by that name, it's just not said.)
asked May 25, 2015 at 6:02
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Having only seen the `(extended) trailer, I would go with your "keeping focus on the show" idea - since that is kinda the point of a trailer after all and would assume they will namedrop Superman in the actual pilot, which I assumed wasn't out yet, or is it?– BMWurmCommented May 25, 2015 at 7:33
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SPOILER WARNING - transcripts.foreverdreaming.org/viewtopic.php?f=297&t=18484 - SPOILER WARNING– ValorumCommented May 25, 2015 at 7:45
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2@bmwurm - The pilot has (/ahem) leaked onto social media. If you can call 'intentionally released by the studio to create hype' a leak, that is.– ValorumCommented May 25, 2015 at 8:03
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Related: scifi.blogoverflow.com/2015/05/…– ThePopMachineCommented May 27, 2015 at 15:09
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2 Answers
Out-of-universe, it's likely just a technique used to prevent viewers from dwelling on the humongous 'elephant in the room' (e.g. where's Superman and why aren't we watching him instead?).
They do actually reference him by all of his comic-book names; Superman, The Man of Steel and Kal-el so it's not like he was totally excluded, just not name-dropped eight times.
When I arrived, I was still a 13-year-old girl. But in that same time my cousin Kal-El had grown up and revealed himself to your world... as Superman. The most powerful man in the universe.
and
The big question: is there a connection between this mysterious flying woman and the Man of Steel?
The show's Executive Producer addressed the lack of Superman in an interview with CinemaBlend:
I think the reason why Superman’s not in the show is because it’s not about him. And it’s her show and it’s about her and he is just sort of a shadow in the back of her psyche, and I think that’s the right way to portray him because that’s how she experiences it.
In-Universe, I suspect that people avoid saying his name for a variety of reasons. Jimmy, Kara and her sister Alex have all trained themselves to be discreet (since you never know who's listening) and her boss; Cat Grant seems to be somewhat more scathing and ironic about him, basically refusing to call him by his given name.
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2Given how much flak Agents of SHIELD took for constantly reminding us of Coulson's role in The Avengers, it's probably a smart decision. Commented May 27, 2015 at 4:32
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1) This didn't say "Superman". And reference here scifi.blogoverflow.com/2015/05/… and the second comment thereon (AndyF), and you will see other people noticed this too. Commented May 27, 2015 at 15:10
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1@Thepopmachine - I've checked the transcript and they did indeed say Superman as well as "the Man of Steel" and Kal-el.– ValorumCommented May 27, 2015 at 15:20
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Link? Need to check the video. But suffice it to say, they hardly say it. Commented May 27, 2015 at 15:25
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@Thepopmachine - Link is in the comments on the question. I agree that they tried to avoid saying it.– ValorumCommented May 27, 2015 at 15:33
Around the 2:20 minute mark:
"When I arrived I was still a 13 year old girl. But in that same time my cousin, Kal-El, had grown up and revealed himself to your world... as Superman. The most powerful man in the Universe."
That's the first of at least three mentions of "Superman" (and Kal-El is said even from the first few seconds of the episode).
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Are you sure it was said three times? I can only recall it being said once and the transcripts seem to agree with that– ValorumCommented Jun 14, 2015 at 16:28
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