WARNING: Spoilers for the third episode of Superman & Lois
Heroes Reborn
Superman & Lois continues to inspire hope and make us feel our feelings. The third episode starts with a sad view of the Kent family preparing for a funeral. Despite the episode being full of great payoffs and surprises, the beginning of this episode foreshadows an ominous conclusion. Longtime fans of the show will be feeling torn after the events of this episode, and it will have some interesting dynamics going forward. One of the strengths of the Superman & Lois series has always been the strength of family, and this episode personified that.
Super Sons
One of the biggest surprises of this episode was finally witnessing Jonathan Kent manifest his powers. After a heated conversation with Jordan, Jonathan displays his powers in a more controlled manner than Jordan did back in the first season. Jonathan immediately has control over flight, cold breath, heat vision, and the ability to see through objects. While this may be a saving grace for a town and world without a Superman, brotherly feelings cannot be dismissed. Jordan shows he’s a bit jealous that his brother controlled his powers so quickly and easily. This power shift could favor the Kents, and whatever Lex Luthor has planned for Smallville.
Family Values
In a world without Superman, General Sam Lane focuses on the next best defense: John Henry and Natalie Irons. The relationships between the Kent family, the Irons family as well as Sam Lane, has been integral to the core of the show. The relationship Sam has formed over the past seasons with the Irons family is why they are the first choice to protect the world in the wake of Superman’s loss. So much so, that both John Henry and Natalie didn’t hesitate to uproot from Metropolis to assist Sam Lane and the D.O.D.
Bad People Doing Bad Things
Lex Luthor continues his crusade to dismantle Lois Lane’s life. While on the search for his daughter Elizabeth, Luthor makes his way to the Kent farm. In an attempt to manipulate Jordan, Luthor shares the result of Lois’ phone call choice from the second episode – revealing she chose to save Jonathan over Jordan. A very classic manipulative tactic by one of the smartest men in the DC Universe. On top of feeding Doomsday livestock, Lex Luthor continues to move things in his favor any way he can, even if he comes across some hurdles along his conquest.
Past and Present
This season of Superman & Lois is making great use of a consistent trope that started back with Arrow – Flashbacks. The flashback for this episode provides context for where Sam Lane’s head (and heart) are and what Sam chooses to do. Throughout the flashbacks, we see Clark reveal to Sam he is Superman. This subsequently affects Sam’s hesitance to have Lois marry Clark, fearing the potential consequences. This comes full circle when Sam decides to deceive Luthor, and let Doomsday kill him. Only so John Henry can take his body to the Fortress of Solitude to save Superman’s body with his heart that is infused with Superman’s blood as a last-ditch effort to save Clark’s life and keep Lois and the world safe.
Superman Lives
In the closing moments of this episode, the heart transplant was successful. Superman is revitalized. Will Clark don a version of the iconic black suit? How will Lex Luthor react to the resurrection of Superman? Is Lois going to have to retract the story that was just posted to the Smallville Gazette? The final season of Superman & Lois is shaping up to be something truly special. Especially after the sacrifice Sam Lane made to keep the world safe.
New Episodes of Superman & Lois air on Mondays on the CW.