#i don't think that the specific morals/ideals that she holds depend on her being related to clark or even knowing him at all

[bisupergirl]

In Superman: The Animated Series, Superman and Supergirl are not related. Argo is Krypton’s sister planet and Kara’s surname is In-Ze instead of Zor-El. Despite that Clark still refers to her as family (he calls her cousin). I always thought that was cool.

As a Supergirl enjoyer do you believe that being directly related to Kal and the House of El is a important/essential part of her character? Could she just be another survivor of Krypton totally unrelated to Clark or would that change her core too much?

interesting question!! i think that kara's direct relation to clark and the house of el is important for a couple different reasons, both character and lore-wise.

i actually think that making kara not related to clark would moreso change the connection they have more than it would change her actual characterization, but imo, the most important relationship she has is the one between her and clark, and if you change the specific relation they have (kara being the older, biological cousin, and her intending on caring for kal once they both got to earth), you change their dynamic.

character-wise, the isolation and loneliness that kara feels from being one of the last kryptonians who has an actual lived experience on krypton is one of the biggest aspects of her character and influences the dynamic that she has with clark. it's one thing for kara to discover that the baby cousin she assumed she'd have to raise herself (and the last familial connection that she has) has grown up entirely disconnected from kryptonian culture + has only learned about krypton from a hologram, and a whole other thing for her to find out that Some Guy she doesn't know was born on krypton and learned everything he knows about it later on. that obviously wouldn't prevent them from becoming close (hi superman: the animated series kara and clark), but it does make their relationship less tragic and personal.

lore-wise, kara kinda has to be in the house of el in order for her to survive krypton's destruction at all. kara only survives the explosion because zor el knows that the planet's going to explode, and HE only knows about krypton's impending destruction because jor el told him about his research—which was only shared with him because zor and jor are brothers. so unless you give her a whole new origin a la STAS, it is fairly essential for her to be in the house of el.