Comic book properties are as hot as they have ever been (on the silver and small screen alike), which means that the field of competition is pretty much as crowded as it has ever been as well. Marvel and DC have both proven themselves more than capable of bringing solid superhero adventures to TV in recent years, but comedy has been a tougher nut to crack. Powerless is DC's first real attempt at a televised comedy, but the ratings are now showing that it has yet to make a substantial impact on audiences over the course of its first two weeks on the air.
The numbers are in for NBC's Powerless (courtesy of TVLine), and they are not phenomenal. In its second week on the air, the DC-themed workplace sitcom drew in 2.5 million viewers and a 0.8 demo rating -- a 19 and 27 percent drop from its February 2 premiere. This performance is a relatively sharp decline from last week's series premiere and doesn't necessarily bode well for the future of the new show.
I hate to say it, but this more or less lines up with CinemaBlend's review of Powerless. The show honestly has the potential for greatness, but it ultimately squanders a delightfully absurd premise with a somewhat lackluster execution. Despite the fact that it is a series where comic book icons like Batman, Superman, and Starro definitively exist and thrive, Powerless lacks the sort of edge or punch that will help it stand out against the other comic book TV projects that currently reign supreme on the small screen.
That said, I still feel inclined to give Powerless credit for what it is trying to do. We have never actually seen any comic book universe attempt a comedy on the small screen, so the DC-themed NBC sitcom is sailing through uncharted waters at this point. In my opinion, the show needs to sharpen up its dull edges and take more risks with the type of humor it is willing to give audiences. At this point, it feels far too sanitized.
Beyond that, it might help if the series moves closer to an existing DC universe (such as the Arrow-verse or the silver screen DCEU) to feel more connected to something. The Arrow-verse, in particular, has proven that a strong connection between shows creates a great synergy, and Powerless could seriously benefit from that at this stage of its run.
CinemaBlend will bring you more information concerning the performance of Powerless as more updates become available to us. The NBC series airs every Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. EST. For now, check out our comprehensive midseason premiere guide for more information concerning all of the most highly anticipated spring television debuts and fill our your TV viewing schedules accordingly!
