WARNING: Spoilers for the season 4 two-part premiere of Superman & Lois
Till Death Do Us Part
Superman & Lois returns to the CW for its fourth and final season and begins with a harbinger of heartbreak, turmoil, and unknown territory for the veteran Man of Steel portrayed by Tyler Hoechlin. The major influence of this season is inspired by the Death of Superman storyline, and every adaption takes its liberties. Naturally as part of the CW and to a lesser extent, the Arrowverse, creative freedom indeed flourishes. Instead of going down a route of trying to shoehorn in as many cameos as possible, Superman & Lois opted to confine the story to the denizens of Smallville and those closest to Clark Kent. Lex Luthor (played by Michael Cudlitz) is positioned as the main antagonist after setting up the character in season 3. Does the premiere set the stage for a worthy series finale? Absolutely.
The Death of Superman & The Reign of Lex Luthor
By the end of the first episode, the cliffhanger from the end of season 3 is fulfilled. Superman is dead at the hands of Doomsday, by way of Lex Luthor experimenting on the Bizarro Superman. Throughout the episode, the notion of Superman overcoming any challenge is echoed by many – ranging from Lois, Jonathan, Sam, and even Lana Lang. However, this time Superman found himself broken beaten, and lifeless after a seismic battle across the moon against Doomsday. Lex has made a home base across from the Smallville Gazette to taunt Lois Lane after her previous story at the Daily Planet cost him seventeen years of his life in prison. Luthor is making no bones about his revenge.
Your Doomsday
There have been many different versions of Lex Luthor played by many actors. Michael Cudlitz has brought a serious sense of gravitas and intimidation to the role that is reminiscent of Clancy Brown’s take from Superman: The Animated Series. From the calculated machinations to the terrifying presence, this version of Lex Luthor is not messing around. Between creating Doosmday, manipulating the Kent family’s emotions, and stomping on the heart of Clark Kent in front of a helpless Jordan, Cudlitz has solidified himself as a worthy successor in a lineage of actors to portray Superman’s arch nemesis. This is already the best antagonist Superman & Lois has had since the show was conceived. Will Lex Luthor be the only villain for the remainder of the season though?
Could Brainiac Be Coming To Superman & Lois?
After obtaining the heart of Superman from Doomsday, Amanda McCoy name-drops a man named “Milton” for creating the box. Luthor retorts with praise, and Amanda warns him to not “inflate that brainiac’s ego.” This is not a coincidence, as Milton Fine was introduced as the Post-Crisis version of Brainiac. What could be worse for the Kent family than three of Superman’s most iconic villains all possibly working together? If Brainiac does appear by the end, long-time fans of both the source material and the show are sure to be satisfied.
The Legacy of Superman
At the end of the second episode, the Kent family heads to the fortress of solitude after Luthor seemingly destroys Superman’s heart. Here, Superman left a form of consciousness to communicate with his family in the wake of his passing. Although he can provide insight, Clark leaves the earth’s hands in the protection of Lois and his twin sons. Before wrapping up the series, the biggest questions coming out of the two-episode premiere: Will Superman return, or will it be Jordan to take up the mantle? If Superman does return, will he wear an iconic version of the black suit? Will Lex Luthor create a clone of Superman? I’m not sure if these will come to fruition, but the final season sparking conversation is a good sign. Hopefully, the show will stick to the landing when all is said and done.
New Episodes of Superman & Lois air on Mondays on the CW.