When asked if the series is political, Kreisberg retorted, “Is it political to say that we believe all people should be treated fairly, that people who are different from us deserve the same respect and rights and privileges we have?”

But the showrunner eventually conceded that, in the current political climate, the notion that immigration and diversity are positives may be interpreted as partisan. “We don’t sit down and [say], ‘OK, what’s the most ultra-liberal, left-wing viewpoint we can take?’” Kreisberg said. “We make the show for everybody and hope that everybody enjoys it. If we can touch upon the world and offer a worldview that’s inclusive, we try to as much as we can.” (It's worth noting that in Supergirl's United States, the president is alien-friendly and a woman, played by Lynda Carter.)

These stories may not be popular with more conservative viewers — headlines on the right-wing site Newsbusters include “Supergirl’s Not-So-Subtle Hit at Opponents of Illegal Aliens” and “Supergirl Shows Liberal Fantasy Where Mind Control Is the Answer to Global Warming” — but that hasn't made those behind the scenes shy away from them. “Especially now, post-election, there’s going to be even more opportunities for people to reaffirm what’s good in the world and what our values are, and what we should all be striving toward,” Kreisberg said. “We feel blessed to be able to tell these stories.”



Besides, they couldn't avoid them if they wanted to: As Schechter said, Kara’s identity as an immigrant is central to the character. Supergirl has explored her role as an outsider, and how she struggles to balance assimilation to her life on Earth, while honoring her past on her home planet Krypton. She also comes face-to-face with adversaries who condemn all aliens while she passes as human. “It’s that feeling of wanting to fit in and feeling like an outsider,” Schecter said. “It speaks to what makes her relatable.”

Kara’s complexity, including her emotional if not physical vulnerability, is what’s drawn viewers to her, and it’s what makes them invest in her journey. That, in turn, allows Supergirl to espouse its values of inclusion without moralizing. “The primary directive is to tell stories about characters that people care about,” Schechter continued. “If you just wanted to be political and you didn’t have that, nobody would care.”