One major mistake in canceling Supergirl could be easily fixed by giving Nia Nal/Dreamer (Nicole Maines) her own spin-off show. The Arrowverse's Supergirl proved to be a huge leap for The CW's shared DC universe, introducing not only Kara Zor-El/Supergirl but a number of other iconic DC chracters, too, including Tyler Hoechlin's Superman and Jon Cryer's Lex Luthor. One other character introduced is an original creation for the show: Nia Nal, AKA Dreamer.

Maines' role on the show was groundbreaking, as she was the first transgender superhero on television. Nia Nal is a Naltorian-human hybrid, and possesses the powers of her family. An ancestor of Nura Nal/Dream Girl, the pair share the same power set. Being an original character for the Arrowverse, Nia Nal not only broke new ground with regard to representation in superhero media, but furthered the status of The CW's universe as more innovative than other superhero adaptations. However, Supergirl's cancelation put an end to Nia Nal's live-action arc, and though the character now features in DC comics, the Supergirl TV series ending proved to be a blow to representation of transgender people in the media.

Related: Why It's Still A Problem For Cis Actors To Play Trans Roles

However, this issue could easily be fixed by giving Dreamer her own spin-off show within the Arrowverse. As she was one of the Arrowverse's most interesting original characters, and has inherent links to other DC heroes, continuing Dreamer's story after Supergirl's ending could easily be achieved by giving her a show of her own. This would allow for the continuation of the incredibly positive representation of a transgender hero in mainstream media, and also provide a more in-depth look at a fascinating original creation for the Arrowverse.

DC's Representation Wins Can Continue With A Supergirl Spinoff

Dreamer walking down the street in full costume.

Dreamer's powers and story being so closely linked to both Dream Girl and Supergirl makes her feel like a very natural part of the Arrowverse's organic shared universe. Therefore, giving her a spin-off show could easily be ed by other heroes, as their appearances in Dreamer's show would make sense from a narrative point of view. Nia Nal's role in Supergirl may have been groundbreaking, but it only really scratched the surface of the character, with there being many more stories to tell to truly flesh the hero out within the Arrowverse.

Of course, Arrowverse cancelations are a bad sign for potential spin-offs and new shows, making Dreamer's chances of her own show less likely. However, given the positive reactions to the character and her induction into the comics, it would seem that continuing Nia Nal's story would be a wise choice for The CW's shared universe. As an original creation, giving Dreamer more attention would be a good way to secure a future for the Arrowverse beyond simply adapting established DC stories and characters, as the original character comes with more narrative freedom, which is bolstered by the fact that Maines herself wrote a Dreamer comic book spin-off for Pride 2021.

Nia Nal being the first transgender superhero on television was a hugely positive step for representation. The importance of LGBTQ+ representation in media is something that the Arrowverse - and Supergirl in particular - was working hard towards promoting, and its cancellation was a blow to representation in the superhero genre specifically. Continuing Dreamer's story with a spin-off show of her own would not only fix that mistake, but it would also give one of Supergirl's most interesting characters another chance to shine on her own.

Next: DC Vs. Marvel Who Is Better At LGBTQ+ Representation In Movies?

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