Superman & Lois: Season 4 (Final Season)

I'm giving that a positive review, and I'm a little shocked that I am. It engaged in tropes I do not approve of, and it did so in a manner that not only was not objectionable, but made the tropes work in a way they almost never do. In particular when Sam Lane died, I was pissed. I knew the smaller cast list would tempt the producers to randomly kill off the now no longer series regulars as a way to "up the dramatic stakes!" That is a very real problem television engages in. A lot of times who lives and who dies is simply down to contractual obligations. That infuriates me not just as a viewer. But as a storyteller who puts great thought and effort into the very rare times I kill off a hero.

But this show did an amazing thing and made Sam's death a sacrifice, and the catalyst for bringing Superman back to life. I can't rave at the series for this TOO much, because the idea that Luthor WAS actually able to stomp out Superman's heart last week after all is a pretty stupid idea. But that's a very grand and even romantic notion to use Sam's own heart to bring him back. I can't object to it.

I was also unhappy about the Sophie's Choice phone call last week, but I'm glad they didn't dick around with it. I don't buy Lois' explanation, and neither should Jordan. But to be brutally honestly, after everything that's happened this season, if I were Jordan I'd understand it's not just Lois who needs to make it up to HIM. Jonathan losing his cool shows Jordan has a lot to make up for himself.

As for Jonathan getting his powers, I feel like although rage triggering them makes narrative sense, it feels a little narratively messy to get them while Jordan is such a mess himself. Maybe that will feed into it in the weeks ahead, but it seemed to be piling it on in the episode where Jordan heard his mother choose to save Jonathan's life over his.

I'll say one thing for Jordan. When Lois screeches at him for saying she put Luthor in prison for a crime he didn't commit, I was like, "Why ISN'T he allowed to say that? It's actually true." Yeah, Luthor killed his dad and now his grandfather. But they would both probably still be alive if Lois hadn't done that. I think the Kents were getting a little too comfortable blaming Jordan for messing up when the truth is the mess isn't actually his. It's Lois' and was the entire time.

Putting General Hardcastle in charge of the DOD in Sam's place could be a problem. I am aware of the character's bad reputation from Superman: The Animated Series and Justice League Unlimited (where he was a man). I don't trust her at all.

I should not be giving that a good review. But Sam's final message moved me, and using his sacrifice to bring Superman back is the noblest way the series could have ended his arc. My only quibble is that making the episode so flashback heavy with the General sort of telegraphed this was his final episode. I think TV needs to stop making episodes they kill a character off ABOUT the character they are killing off. They are pretty much spoiling the death by doing that.

Still, I liked that more than any other project that pulls similar moves. For whatever reason the show did them right, and navigated how annoying those tropes usually are successfully for once. 4 stars.

It was good. Little bit of a filler.

Liked Lois working out her stuff with Jordan.

I just realized this is the first time we've seen Kyle and Chrissy this season.

I love Coach Gaines asking Kyle why he wanted to ruin his wedding with Blink 182.

Clark not being as strong as he was, and that maybe being permanent is an interesting idea. I like that the teaser doesn't screw around. I think a lot of Death of Superman adaptations would do better with a little less screwing around. Hell, the comic book might have too.

It was nice and reminded me the value of the "nice superhero show". 3 1/2 stars.

What's interesting is I am rooting for Lex to reconnect with Elizabeth. And the thing is he COULD have. If he could just have let the thing with Lois go. He could have chosen his daughter. That's his own fault.

And I love that Lois reasoned with Doomsday. Her telling Clark they were trying to appeal to the wrong person was the right ending.

As for the stuff with Candice, I think the secret is coming out to the world soon anyways. That being said, I'm glad Candice was forgiving of Jonathan for it. It could have driven a further wedge between them.

I thought the flashbacks with Lex and Elizabeth were sweet. Another reason I was rooting for him. But this is all his own damn fault. I accept him blaming Lois for being unjustly imprisoned. But everything past the point where his daughter offered to be in his life sans his evil and him rejecting that is his own.

I thought it was moving and great as the best of this show often is. 4 stars.

I thought it was great. Great episode title too. Apt.

Just for the record, I don't share Jonathan and Jordan's opinion that Clark's beatdown of Luthor was awesome. But.. But... it was understandable. Luthor's all, "Superman is a facade". No, Lex, Superman is just human. Okay, not really. But also really. And I don't think it is was noble. What it was was understandable. Taking away the powers was just inviting it too.

The scene with Lana was horrific. Yeah, I get Clark being pissed.

Sarah's reaction to being carried to Greece by Jonathan and Jordan was funny.

Speaking of funny, Coach Gaines was pretty good too. Yeah, the secret is out. I don't read the comics but I heard Clark being Superman was an open secret in Smallville there too.

The scene in the bar was interesting because it didn't go the way I thought it would. The 10 million per customer in the bar was almost too much to turn down. But the two guys are like "If he wants it that bad, it's bad." And you might call that unrealistic. But I remember these are the same people who lived through what happened with Morgan Edge. Lana is proud of the town. I think it might equally had to do with self-preservation. And of course as Aidy showed, loyalty to Superman.

Clark with the gray in the hair was so funny. Tyler Hoechlin is so great because he doesn't just play the noble and badass moments well. He can make Clark a total dork when he needs to be. Also, wash that stuff out of your hair. It reeks.

Amanda chose... poorly. That's my prediction. Although the "new suit" was a good (and alarming) idea.

Do you know what's interesting? As a contrast to Jordan, even though Jonathan is pushing himself too far as well, he's not fucking up. Mostly because he seems to be doing it for the right reasons, while Jordan was about fame and recognition. I could be wrong in the future, but Jonathan is impressing me even if his family is right that he's pushing himself too hard.

Great episode. Luthor is such a bastard. 4 1/2 stars.

Him leaving behind the glasses at the end was SUCH a huge moment.

The interview was perfect too. And I love when he goes into the diner he's greeted as Mr. Kent.

And his last scene with Jimmy Olsen was great.

The flashbacks were a great way to show exactly what this was costing him. I thought they were brilliantly handled.

As far as Luthor's plan goes, it doesn't look like it went the way he planned.

Lois talking to the boys was so great. She never says Clark is right for his views but she lets them know how hard it's been for him for his entire life. I loved that scene.

When all is said and done this will probably be one of my favorite episodes of the series. 5 stars.

Lex cleans up good. I always hated the beard.

Milton is obviously Brainiac, although it seems a little late in the game to introduce him.

Tom Cavanaugh playing Gordon Godfrey. Not exactly setting the Multiverse on-fire, but okay.

The take on disinformation is pretty relevant and more than it would have been even a month ago. Godfrey's brand of bile is something that effects our world too. Demagogues come in all forms and the poison they spew is always identical. And if society is broken enough, their lies are believed.

I liked the fact that Amanda pulled rank on Lex wanting to back out of the interview. She was right, but when she says she wouldn't have allowed Lois to bring out Elizabeth on the air, I can't see how she could have possibly prevented it. I liked the bizarre scene of the chaos of the studio really making Lex nervous and him noticing every detail. It suggests Lex is risk-averse, and only likes to enter the arena when he controls everything. I think that is a very interesting facet to give a fictional character.

They probably could have gotten away with killing John Henry Irons in this episode, which is why I am very glad that they didn't.

Is there a way around Superman eventually losing his powers? Only a couple of episodes left, so maybe not. But it's not going to be the ending for the show I want if that's the case.

Solid. 4 stars.

It didn't feel much like a penultimate episode. Until the final scene. That was very much putting it all on the line.

What gets me about Amanda is she's surprised. The Leopards LOVE eating faces. These folks are always shocked when they do.

Lex's rage was pretty scary. Michael Cudlitz is pretty great in the role.

I loved Jordan comforting the woman with the panic attack. Holding something cold helps? I'll need to remember that.

I loved Jonathan sarcastically asking Clark if he needed a hug.

The curly fry box was hilarious.

I LOVE Superman talking shit to Lex. It's amazing no other project has done it. It's awesome.

Lois' scenes with Manheim were great. I felt very much like this was a sort of redemption for that character. When he said he was glad Superman was back, I believed him. It was a great moment.

I think penultimate episodes are usually bigger and direr. But in fairness to this show, its cancelation was not in the initial plan and they kind of had to make do. But it doesn't stop it feeling like the show still has a lot of juice left and could go on indefinitely. 4 stars.

I'm in tears. The good kind.

Superman & Lois was the best Berlanti-produced show. But the truth is all Berlanti shows before it wound up showing their ass. I was extremely skeptical about the final season and thought if the series finale satisfied, it would be a small miracle.

In a year where so many things went wrong, we were granted a small miracle.

Yeah, tears. The good kind.

Separating from the Arrowverse was necessary for this show. It gave the producers actual license to give both Lois and Clark satisfying deaths and a beautiful reunion in the afterlife. I was a little disappointed Alex Garfin and Michael Bishop were recast as adults, but they are back there at the end where they should be. And Lois is granted the dress. How beautiful is she?

Another reason this is outside of the rest of DC Comics is there is a happy ending. While the world has problems for this Universe's Superman, none of them seem to be DC-related crises. There is no need for a Justice League and Luthor goes to prison permanently (and it looks like Milton Fine will NOT become Brainiac). Also how great was Clark forgiving Lex in the afterlife? It suggests there will be regret attached to Luthor in hindsight.

Luthor's time in prison being "different" this time out felt right too. Because if he had chosen that life with his daughter, none of that would have happened. This was on him.

Speaking of which, I also loved the redemption of Bruno Manheim. The series was very unfortunate that budget cuts meant they had to let go of most of the series regulars, but all of them but Sam Lane are in the series finale, as it should be. The series picked and chose when to use them and saved enough budget to get all of them in the finale.

Doomsday regaining the blue eyes and allowing himself to be pushed into the sun was a rewarding moment too.

A bad thing is you notice is these are the first scenes Lana has had with John Irons all this season, and well as her first interactions with Kyle too. The episode had a ton of balls in the air they couldn't wrap up earlier, and needed to do right by as many as possible. And I think they mostly did.

So, I am not a huge superhero comic book guy. I sometimes read the all-ages stuff, especially the stuff from the 1990's based on the Timmverse, but I am not a fanatic. But Superman & Lois is my favorite live-action DC show. Weirdly enough, second place probably goes to The Penguin. But I love Superman & Lois for the love and good it instills in me, while I loved Penguin for the hurt and anger it provoked.

We are in a very bad time right now. We need positive messages and representation now more than ever. To not give into either the cynics or the people telling us the cynics have already won. There is so much pain and sadness in the world. And Superman & Lois had value coming when it did because it asked us to look for the good. And I hate to be That Guy, but that's outside of DC Comics, and why it's the best DC live-action show ever. I don't think DC has EVER had a series finale quite that wonderful and moving before. And you know what? I'm glad they did, even if it winds up only being just this once.

Things are scary. It's important to latch onto the people and moments that sustain and strengthen us and make us better. It's all we can do. And positive storytelling is one of those things that should not be considered out-of-fashion. It's something that desperately needs to make a comeback and could be a tonic for the pain we as a society are currently facing. Whatever my current traumas and hang-ups (and they are Legion) I felt better after watching those 45 minutes of television. It's not gonna last and I don't expect it to. But TV making you feel good is not a crime and I think needs to make a huge return. I am over cynicism in fiction. And Superman & Lois was wonderful for every moment of joy it gave me. Especially during those times I felt very little reason to feel joy in my own life. And that's kind of amazing. 5 stars.