WARNING: Spoilers for the eighth episode of Superman & Lois.
A killer suit, indeed.
Good News & Bad News
Upon learning that she is cancer-free, Lois Lane quickly decides to celebrate. That is until an interview between Lex Luthor and Gordon Godfrey (played by CW alum Tom Cavanagh) sets the court of public opinion ablaze. The ongoing feud between Luthor and Lois continues in this episode as we loom closer to the show’s finale. Superman’s secret is out, Lex Luthor is clean-shaven, the twins learn what it’s like to be famous and Milton is finally revealed in this heated chapter of Superman & Lois.
Truth, Justice, and the Luthor Way
At Amanda McCoy’s suggestion, Luthor appeared on Gordon Godfrey’s live show and shared what he considered the truth. Luthor slanders Lois, claiming the same thing he’s been repeating all season about losing seventeen years of his life and his relationship with his daughter. This leads Godfrey to suggest a debate between the two, to get to the real truth of the scenario. Luthor has embraced the clean look and Michael Cudlitz’s version of the character looks “comic accurate” and it is very nice to see what he looks like without a beard.
Heartfelt Conversations
After saving a bystander from a car crash, John Henry Irons finds out Otis Grisham was found dead in his cell at the D.O.D. before he could testify against Luthor for trying to kill Lana Lang. When a brick is thrown through the window meant for Lois, John notices Clark’s powers are not as keen as they once were. Finally, after running tests, John concludes that eventually Clark’s powers will fade completely and he will die like a normal human. This mirrors a concept from All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison in which Superman’s cells were deteriorating which would lead to his eventual death. While this season has drawn heavily from The Death of Superman story, it is nice to see other influences.
Fame and Misfortune
While the adults are dealing with the lunatic bald man in a new suit, Jordan and Jonathan get a taste of fame. After the reveal that their father is Superman, the boys cannot even go to a movie without getting bombarded by paparazzi. Between friend requests from celebrities and crazed fans outside of a movie theater, the twins experience popularity. However, there are some consequences as well. Candice, Jonathan’s girlfriend throughout the series, suddenly breaks up with him. The pressure and harassment become too much to bear, and this leaves Jonathan heartbroken. By the end of the episode, the two do makeup, even if it’s a conversation that happens off-camera.
Brainiac Revealed
Milton Fine, a version of Brainiac in the comics, finally appears played by actor Nikolai Witschl. Appearing at the beginning of the episode as the man John Henry Irons and Natalie save from the burning car, later revealed to be the mastermind behind the technological advances on Luthor’s end all season. In the climax of the episode, Fine hacks into the Steel suit. Despite John’s best efforts to regain control, ultimately the suit lands in the hands of Milton and Luthor. This overtaking also creates a perfect subversion during the debate between Lois and Luthor to further tarnish Lois Lane’s public image.
The Killer Suit
With the episode ending in Luthor’s favor, one has to wonder what the final two episodes will culminate with. A rematch between Superman and Luthor inside the Steel suit could be on the horizon, but what about Milton? Will we see some kind of transformation into a more traditional Brainiac or will it be a little more grounded? Either way, the final two episodes have been teed up for what is to be a surprising and emotional finish. After all, given Clark’s current health, it would be easy to assume the series could end with Clark passing on the mantle of Superman to his sons. Which also would be very reminiscent of a concept from All-Star Superman. The final two episodes have a lot of pressure on them, here’s hoping they can stick the landing.
New episodes of Superman & Lois air on Mondays on the CW.