Previously on SUPERMAN & LOIS…
Back from an early-season two month break, Smallville’s finest family return right where we left them with the last episode: Lois is still trying to prove that Smallville’s latest hero Morgan Edge is actually a bad guy; super-sons Jordan and Jonathan are still adjusting to the knowledge that their dad is Superman and that Jordan has powers; and Clark is trying to keep his family together while a never-ending stream of problems rain down on him.
While I love every moment that Tyler Hoechlin gets to cut loose a little bit in the blue and red suit, the best part of the show so far has been Lois Lane’s arc. The show has done a great job of presenting Lois as a fearless journalist seeking out the truth, regardless of the danger she might find. And now, teamed up with an alternate-Earth version of Lex Luthor, she doesn’t even know how much danger she’s managed to find. Following Luthor under his guise as a tech reporter from Reuters into the mines acquired by Edge, Lois’ keen instincts are forced into overdrive.
After the pair finds the X-Kryptonite Edge is using to make metahumans of his own and attacked by Edge’s right-hand woman Leslie Larr, Lois realizes that all is not as it seems with her “tech reporter” partner. Knowing that Lex-2 was with Lois on his Earth – where Superman was the biggest threat to the world – it’s understandable that he would seek out this Earth’s Lois to see at least a version of the woman that he loved. But with his tech damaged by the battles he’s already had with Superman, is this Lex seeking out the X-Kryptonite in the hopes of evening the odds against the Man of Steel?
Another super-powered Luthor going after Superman might be a tipping point for Clark, as his focus is already split between being the world’s savior and trying to make more time for his twin sons.
While the name of the show is Superman & Lois, the main focus of the series on the young-skewing CW Network is clearly on the teenage angst of newly super-powered Jordan and his twin Jonathan. Unfortunately, the story arcs with Jordan are already starting to feel a bit repetitive. His resentment of his father for not being there for him as he battled depression in Metropolis has bled into his life in Smallville. We’ve settled into an early formula here: Clark tries to mentor Jordan on how to control or use his powers; Jordan gets emotional about something, yells at his father and very nearly hurts or kills people.
In this episode, Jordan is getting migraines, but refuses to tell Clark because he wants to play in the big football game against Metropolis. The debilitating migraines lead to the Smallville starting quarterback to get taken out, giving Jonathan a chance to shine. Jonathan leads the team to victory against Metropolis. After the game, the football rivals meet on the streets of Metropolis and Jordan is goaded into throwing a super-powered punch against one of the jerks who used to bully him in his former home. Jonathan catches the punch, shattering the bones in his hand and arm and basically ending his football career.
Clark tries to be there for his sons, but keeps getting called away for emergencies, like Smallville teen Tag Harris – imbued with speed powers after he was caught in an explosion caused by Jordan at a party by the X-Kryptonite-infused mines – kidnapping Lana Lang’s daughter to try and get her to see the truth about Jordan.
I loved the concept behind Superman & Lois and am still very much into the show, but the main plots with the super-sons are starting to get a bit grating. I really don’t find Jordan sympathetic at all and I’m much more interested in what Lois is doing and the growing conflict between Superman and Lois’ father Sam Lane, the head of the Department of Defense.
Hopefully the show finds some better footing with the kids soon, or we have more of a focus on the other plots.