My thoughts on the Superman and Lois TV Series

Wow! I was definitely surprised that this TV series has exceeded my expectations. With the recent full season one release of this TV show on HBO GO (Asia’s counterpart to HBO MAX in American territories), I immediately dropped all the other shows I was watching in the other streaming platforms and dove in. I actually watched the Two Season Krypton series first (no connection with Superman and Lois) before Superman and Lois just to give me more Kryptonian background before I dived into this show. I was surprisingly entertained with Krypton but that is for another post. Superman and Lois was a surprised announcement to CW’s new Arrowverse shows because for the longest time, writers and producers seemed to have a hard time adapting Superman in live action treatment (be it on the Big Screen or Small Screen). This incarnation of Superman is not really new to audiences because this version of Superman (played by Tyler Hoechlin) had already appeared in Arrowverse shows like Supergirl and in the annual Arrowverse crossovers Elseworlds and Crisis on Infinite Earths. But for his previous appearances in the aforementioned shows, Superman mainly played a support role if not a punching bag for other Arrowverse Superheroes. Now getting his own show changed that dynamic. And I really wondered how CW will pull it off considering the huge failure of Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel to gain approval from most audiences (though I’m on the side of those who definitely dig Snyder’s Superman). 

Superman and The Stranger

The show’s premise has Superman and Lois (played by Elizabeth Tulloch), years after the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, returns to Smallville to settle with their twin sons Jonathan (played by Jordan Elsass) and Jordan Kent (played by Alex Garfin). And wherever Superman goes, disaster follows in the small quiet town of Smallville where incidentally he spent his younger years living with his adopted parents the Kents. True to Arrowverse form, we get to have a mystery villain who eventually turned to become an ally in the form of The Stranger (played by Wole Parks). In the first few episodes of the show, we are led to believe that The Stranger was Lex Luthor from another universe, only to be sidestepped in finding out that this guy is actually John Henry Irons, the comic book Superhero inspired by Superman to become a Superhero named Steel. And of course, the big baddie of the series turns out to be someone left out of the field for Superman fans like me. The revelation that Superman has a half-brother Tal-Rho/Morgan Edge (played by Adam Rayner) who also crash landed on Earth years before. Now here’s where the Krypton series comes in handy as in the series we are introduced to the various customs and traditions of the Kyrptonians, which helps us understand some terminologies mentioned in this show as Superman battles not only his half-brother but hordes of resurrected Kryptonians by the way of the Eradicator. 

Superman wearing the Max Fleischer Superman costume in his first Metropolis appearance 

How does it compare to past iterations? Tonally, it borrows heavily from Man of Steel, from costume colors down to the fight scenes. But we are also treated to a bunch of Easter eggs that establishes a connection to past Superman shows. First and foremost, the first Superman Cartoon show by Max Fleischer as we see Tyler Hoechlin wear the Superman suit from that cartoon show. The appearance of John Diggle (David Ramsey) and the mentioning of ARGUS and Layla clearly establishes that this show is still a part of Arrowverse and whatever happened in those shows with regards to Superman remains cannon. It was mentioned by Tal-Rho that Superman was active in the 80s, the peak years of the Christopher Reeve Superman. Smallville was even set in the same place as the Smallville of the Smallville TV series. The Lois and Clark Superman series ended with Superman's marriage to Lois (to this day is still my favorite Superman related TV show until this series), thus this series skips that part. While Lois and Clark focused on the romance and drama between the two, mixed with Superman action, Superman and Lois gave us all the Teen Drama and Romance of Smallville (courtesy of their sons), and action by way of Man of Steel. Every episode has a mix of drama and top notch Superman action that rivals Man of Steel.  Tyler’s Superman also is a good blend of Henry Cavill and Christopher Reeve’s portrayal of the character as we see a tough and bad ass Cavill Superman when it comes to fighting super powered baddies but also see the heroic and inspirational Superman as perfectly played by Reeve. I’m not too fond of Tulloch as Lois compared to Teri Hatcher (she’s still my all-time favorite Lois) but I can see why the casting crew got her because she definitely channels Margot Kidder’s Lois. The Super Sons Jonathan and Jordan is also a fresh addition to the mythos of Superman as we get to have two kids of Superman and Lois with one having powers and the other don’t, channeling the old dynamics of a Superman and Lois adventure. 

Now what sets this show apart from other Superman iterations in the past movies, TV shows, and even comic book stories is the presence of his two sons. This idea is entirely new in the sense that we get to see Superman and Lois deal with two teenage sons who are in the process of discovering their identity and their sometimes rebellious streak and all that teen angst. I think this was a missed opportunity in the Comic Books with Superman and his young son Jon Kent because DC took away Jon from Superman when Brian Michael Bendis came. Only to return him as a teener and then took him away again. This prevented us from being given a longer Superman as a parent dynamic (except for that brief 30 plus issues during the DC Rebirth reboot). This is where the show spent most of the stories and I definitely love it as a Superman fan because it fits nicely with my current stage as a parent too. I mean I’ve been reading Superman from his adventures as a boy down to his married life, and it is at this Super-Dad phase that I am certainly relating to Superman again as a Dad. It is also a great opportunity to explore Superman and his connection to Smallville as we are introduced to old friends like Lana Lang (played by Emmanuelle Chriqui) who also has her own family. As a Superman fan, it felt like a homecoming of some sorts for me too. Teeners on the other hand will love the teenage drama and romance explored by the Super Sons. Felt like Smallville TV series redux to me. 

I do have minor annoyances with the show, though it is distracting for me, but it’s not necessarily deterrent enough for me to ditch the show. I hated the padded Superman suit that Tyler Hoechlin wears. Though I think his Superman suit is a very huge improvement from his old suit from the Arrowverse appearances. The high neck line of his suit is also too high for my taste and makes it look like Tyler is closed to being choked with it. The facial stubble of hair is also annoying as I am more accustomed to a clean shaven Superman. I also don’t dig Liz Tulloch’s beauty as Lois Lane. But hey, after Teri Hatcher, who comes close? Uhm…Erica Durance comes into mind. I’m totally annoyed by Amy Adams' soft speaking Lois Lane. I guess that’s it. All in all it is a great show! And I am pleasantly eager to know what comes next. Season One’s bar was already set so high by making Superman battle a powerful foe and the show looks high budgeted for a TV show, definitely a huge improvement from past Arrowverse shows. I don’t know if they could ever match what they did with season one, especially with the big villain they gave Superman in the first season. Though there are plot threads that remains to be explored, most notably the arrival of Natalie Irons, the daughter of John Henry Irons. The drama part, they've got a lot going to last for more seasons. The villains however will have to be quite impressive to top season one's big bad. And of course there's always a Lex Luthor around the bend. Or even Brainiac, that big villain from the Krypton TV series. But, sign me in for more! 

P.S. The show borrowed heavily from the Superman: Eradication storyline albeit expanded it with additional twists. The appearance of Steel, Eradicator, and Killlgrave (and to an extent a Superboy) is a clear reference to the 90’s Superman books. That period is still my favorite Superman stories of all time.