15. James Olsen
Supergirl‘s interpretation of James “Jimmy” Olsen first arrived in the show’s pilot episode as a potential love interest for Kara Danvers, but the show would eventually move away from that when the characters decided it would be best to be friends. And it feels like this is the moment that James really started getting his own spotlight.
The decision to have James become the show’s version of the DC hero Guardian was a welcome change-of-pace as it felt like it really gave the character something to fight for, as well as a storyline that actor Mehcad Brooks could really shine in. And it worked, as James found new purpose with Guardian, who would go on to become a rather pivotal part of the show.
On the downside, Supergirl did struggle with where to place him after he stopped being the primary male lead. While having him as Guardian presented viewers with some great storylines (particularly his stand against Agent Liberty in season 4), it always felt like short-lived success. Whether he was replacing Cat Grant at CatCo or enjoying an interim relationship with Lena Luthor for the purpose of her story, he was constantly being moved around to suit the needs of the plot.
There was so much potential with James Olsen and even though the character wasn’t always utilized the best, he became an important part of Supergirl that we appreciated more and more as the show went on.