Plus, it was cool to see Steel wearing the cape finally.
Oh, I didn't catch that. I was trying to get a sense of the Super-Sons' costumes instead. Frustrating that we only got one shot of them as a super-team.
Spoilers "Superman & Lois": The Fourth and Final Season
- Thread starter The Realist
- Start date
Oh, I didn't catch that. I was trying to get a sense of the Super-Sons' costumes instead. Frustrating that we only got one shot of them as a super-team.
Realistically, if Superman isn't immortal/incredibly long-lived (which was the point of the transplant), then either he was going to die before Lois or she was going to die before him.
We got the other aspect in Lucifer (along with the reunion in the afterlife, though that show at least had the setup) - even though Lucifer wasn't actually "dead", it was played as such emotionally with him being gone from mortal existence.
And TBH I prefer this - most writers would have Lois monologuing about the death of Superman. But Clark's a reporter too. And it means a bit more hearing why he found mortality special coming from him.
We got the other aspect in Lucifer (along with the reunion in the afterlife, though that show at least had the setup) - even though Lucifer wasn't actually "dead", it was played as such emotionally with him being gone from mortal existence.
And TBH I prefer this - most writers would have Lois monologuing about the death of Superman. But Clark's a reporter too. And it means a bit more hearing why he found mortality special coming from him.
Beautiful. I loved the Doomsday ending. I loved Krypto. I loved forgiving Lex and working with Mannheim and setting up a foundation and making a better world. I bawled my eyes out from the moment Lois passed until the credits rolled. Love is really what life is about.
Superman and Lois - the final season
Episode 10 - "It Went By So Fast" - Series finale
GOOD: In reverse order, the best scene of the episode was the final act, where once again, Superman and Lois's writers did not make the mistake of thinking a series or concept about an alien flying around in a suit precluded it from repeatedly dealing with mature, dark and grim subject matter. The fates of Clark and Lois have been tied to serious and dark subject matter that informed the character's reactions, actions and ,mistakes made over time--just as one experiences in real life, which made the Kent part of the series very relatable, so the viewers will be pulled in and understand the fictional world set in our own--exactly what a superhero production should do in this era.
I suspected Lois' cancer would return, and I had confirmation from Clark referring to his own mortality in the past tense; there was subtle hinting in the delivery regarding his life ending 32 years later that strongly suggested he was alone.
Frankly, superheroes in romantic relationships rarely work in live action adaptations; either it feels forced--based on the need to replicate something from the comics, or producers simply fall prisoner to the trope that it must be a part of the story. That said, the chemistry between this series' leads bolstered the success and believability of the love shared between Clark and Lois. Yes, we were introduced to them nearly two decades into their relationship,and in theory, their loving bond should be baked into the narrative, but the actors had to put the work in to make viewers feel they were doing more than reading lines, but their characters had built a life together, moving through its joys, turmoil, misunderstanding and wordless connections much in the way anyone in a real relationship could relate to.
It was that strength of the developed relationship that added weight to the final act, as Lois passed on, followed by Clark...and who doubted they would be reunited? On that point, you always have to have someone be "that guy" or "that girl" when a fantasy series incorporates the spiritual into its official history, which was the case when the dying Lois looked at her father only she could see, and said Dad.". Well, a couple of the people I watched this with hit "play" on their Groaning Atheist program, openly resenting the showrunners having Lois--already crossing over--seeing and acknowledging her father (Sam did promise she would see him again), who was obviously supposed to be reaching out to his daughter from Heaven. Well, that beautiful, truthful moment was one of the best of any DC/WB series, because its played as an honest moment about the bigger picture--that life and purpose does not end when your human body ceases to function. She has a tomorrow, where the lost battles of her mortal life no longer have an impact.
Clark's final years, particularly after Lois' passing: Clark laying in the bed where he spent part of his lifetime of bonding with Lois--only he had to live though the daily heartache of Lois never sharing this space again was effective with the stillness that absence brings was reminiscent of a similar scene--the 1977 pilot movie of The Incredible Hulk, were David Banner, after a shattering nightmare of his life with--and failure to save his wife Laura--is shocked out of sleep, teary-eyed, as he reached over to touch Laura's side of the bed, now empty. While nowhere near as tragic as the Banner scene, the loss and loneliness was similar, almost a spiritual bookend in superhero adaptations.
Clark's post-death journey was clear: he was not suffering from some sort of trauma-induced hallucination to make him feel comfortable. It was his acknowledgement--as heard in the V.O.--of what mattered throughout his earthly life, but the most stirring message of all was his reunion with Lois, a reminder that his love for her did not end with physical separation through the gateway of death, but it--like Lois and his soul are eternal, only this time, Clark and Lois would never be separated again.
John Henry and Lana: So much teasing in their final appearance. First, Lana questioning if they really have a relationship, to John Henry's injury he brushed off (many believed he was suffering from internal bleeding and would die sooner or later), but I was thoroughly satisfied their relationship grew into love and uniting in marriage. When this series' short episode count and cast reduction was announced, I worried the John Henry / Lana relationship would be placed on the backburner of plots and allowed to fade in neglect. Thankfully, their story was the opposite, and if any two characters on this series needed to find "the one" after so much heartache, it was John Henry and Lana.
Legion of...Justice? Not quite, but I mentioned everyone teaming up in the E9 review. Some regret viewers will never see them in action as a team, but its not necessary; the point of the scene was to hammer home the idea that the job of being a superhero (or its necessity for the world) did not end with SM's retirement.
Luthor: so, he ends up in jail again, only to be the recipient of a special kind of abuse thanks to Mannheim and the new warden. The issue with that its more than common for high-level / powerful criminals to maintain a significant level of control and power from prison, and the episode did not explicitly reveal all of Luthor's employees and supporters abandoned him, or faced any true legal consequences, so....
In any case, Cudlitz gave a brilliantly brutal, realistic portrayal of Lex Luthor. This was a Luthor one had to respect as well as fear, and he was far from the dim mischaracterization of him as some "bully" or "thug". His inability to step away from evil was--in part--born from evil and abandonment (including the deliberate separation from his daughter), and in adopting evil as a means of controlling others, their fate--while never truly having control of his most personal relationship and life. Undoubtedly, the greatest live-action Luthor to date.
Wrapping up: Obviously, the "future" looking to the "past" (life) was a way of letting viewers know that no new adventures were required (for those who believed the series had a few more seasons left in it); Clark's service as Superman had a natural end which was far more important than any "day in the life of..." stories and villain arcs the showrunners concocted. No loose ends. The final chapter was exactly that.
GRADE: A+.
Kinda sorta, or its suggested; he was an alien who--thanks to losing his life the first time--knew there would be the greatest form of separation between himself and Lois (eventually) he could not overcome, but the gift that Sam (the once-disapproving Sam) gave SM, simultaneously "weakened" him, yet built a stronger connection to humans by actually becoming one, not just adopting their trappings.
Episode 10 - "It Went By So Fast" - Series finale
GOOD: In reverse order, the best scene of the episode was the final act, where once again, Superman and Lois's writers did not make the mistake of thinking a series or concept about an alien flying around in a suit precluded it from repeatedly dealing with mature, dark and grim subject matter. The fates of Clark and Lois have been tied to serious and dark subject matter that informed the character's reactions, actions and ,mistakes made over time--just as one experiences in real life, which made the Kent part of the series very relatable, so the viewers will be pulled in and understand the fictional world set in our own--exactly what a superhero production should do in this era.
I suspected Lois' cancer would return, and I had confirmation from Clark referring to his own mortality in the past tense; there was subtle hinting in the delivery regarding his life ending 32 years later that strongly suggested he was alone.
Frankly, superheroes in romantic relationships rarely work in live action adaptations; either it feels forced--based on the need to replicate something from the comics, or producers simply fall prisoner to the trope that it must be a part of the story. That said, the chemistry between this series' leads bolstered the success and believability of the love shared between Clark and Lois. Yes, we were introduced to them nearly two decades into their relationship,and in theory, their loving bond should be baked into the narrative, but the actors had to put the work in to make viewers feel they were doing more than reading lines, but their characters had built a life together, moving through its joys, turmoil, misunderstanding and wordless connections much in the way anyone in a real relationship could relate to.
It was that strength of the developed relationship that added weight to the final act, as Lois passed on, followed by Clark...and who doubted they would be reunited? On that point, you always have to have someone be "that guy" or "that girl" when a fantasy series incorporates the spiritual into its official history, which was the case when the dying Lois looked at her father only she could see, and said Dad.". Well, a couple of the people I watched this with hit "play" on their Groaning Atheist program, openly resenting the showrunners having Lois--already crossing over--seeing and acknowledging her father (Sam did promise she would see him again), who was obviously supposed to be reaching out to his daughter from Heaven. Well, that beautiful, truthful moment was one of the best of any DC/WB series, because its played as an honest moment about the bigger picture--that life and purpose does not end when your human body ceases to function. She has a tomorrow, where the lost battles of her mortal life no longer have an impact.
Clark's final years, particularly after Lois' passing: Clark laying in the bed where he spent part of his lifetime of bonding with Lois--only he had to live though the daily heartache of Lois never sharing this space again was effective with the stillness that absence brings was reminiscent of a similar scene--the 1977 pilot movie of The Incredible Hulk, were David Banner, after a shattering nightmare of his life with--and failure to save his wife Laura--is shocked out of sleep, teary-eyed, as he reached over to touch Laura's side of the bed, now empty. While nowhere near as tragic as the Banner scene, the loss and loneliness was similar, almost a spiritual bookend in superhero adaptations.
Clark's post-death journey was clear: he was not suffering from some sort of trauma-induced hallucination to make him feel comfortable. It was his acknowledgement--as heard in the V.O.--of what mattered throughout his earthly life, but the most stirring message of all was his reunion with Lois, a reminder that his love for her did not end with physical separation through the gateway of death, but it--like Lois and his soul are eternal, only this time, Clark and Lois would never be separated again.
John Henry and Lana: So much teasing in their final appearance. First, Lana questioning if they really have a relationship, to John Henry's injury he brushed off (many believed he was suffering from internal bleeding and would die sooner or later), but I was thoroughly satisfied their relationship grew into love and uniting in marriage. When this series' short episode count and cast reduction was announced, I worried the John Henry / Lana relationship would be placed on the backburner of plots and allowed to fade in neglect. Thankfully, their story was the opposite, and if any two characters on this series needed to find "the one" after so much heartache, it was John Henry and Lana.
Legion of...Justice? Not quite, but I mentioned everyone teaming up in the E9 review. Some regret viewers will never see them in action as a team, but its not necessary; the point of the scene was to hammer home the idea that the job of being a superhero (or its necessity for the world) did not end with SM's retirement.
Luthor: so, he ends up in jail again, only to be the recipient of a special kind of abuse thanks to Mannheim and the new warden. The issue with that its more than common for high-level / powerful criminals to maintain a significant level of control and power from prison, and the episode did not explicitly reveal all of Luthor's employees and supporters abandoned him, or faced any true legal consequences, so....
In any case, Cudlitz gave a brilliantly brutal, realistic portrayal of Lex Luthor. This was a Luthor one had to respect as well as fear, and he was far from the dim mischaracterization of him as some "bully" or "thug". His inability to step away from evil was--in part--born from evil and abandonment (including the deliberate separation from his daughter), and in adopting evil as a means of controlling others, their fate--while never truly having control of his most personal relationship and life. Undoubtedly, the greatest live-action Luthor to date.
Wrapping up: Obviously, the "future" looking to the "past" (life) was a way of letting viewers know that no new adventures were required (for those who believed the series had a few more seasons left in it); Clark's service as Superman had a natural end which was far more important than any "day in the life of..." stories and villain arcs the showrunners concocted. No loose ends. The final chapter was exactly that.
GRADE: A+.
Oh, if there's one constant across so many DC/CW series, it was the poor FX.
Kinda sorta, or its suggested; he was an alien who--thanks to losing his life the first time--knew there would be the greatest form of separation between himself and Lois (eventually) he could not overcome, but the gift that Sam (the once-disapproving Sam) gave SM, simultaneously "weakened" him, yet built a stronger connection to humans by actually becoming one, not just adopting their trappings.
Last edited:
You and me both, buddy. Hope they don't make us wait a friggin' year this time.
I can count on one hand (with a digit left over) the number of times a film/TV show made me cry. Two were in my childhood (before the age of 8--Old Yeller and a Lassie movie whose name escapes me). The other two were episodes of this show--once in S3 when the cancer story hit particularly close to home (my wife went through breast cancer treatment a few months before the S3 premiere) and the final act of this finale (when the cancer returned--a fear I've kept to myself about my wife). But this time, the tears were not entirely sad. While I'm not one to look to fiction for inspiration, as a rule, I found the hopeful tone of story beyond Lois' death something to remember should the worst happen...
This show has been so much more than what I expected--I've been watching/reading, evening listening to, superhero media since I was a kid (I was 11 when the first Reeve movie came out but I started a lot earlier than that). I usually do it out of a mix of curiosity and nostalgia, favouring DC stories/characters ahead of others, but still watching almost all of it (much more selective for reading--not enough time). My expectations are usually met (they're not usually higher than "entertain me while it's happening"). Here, they've been exceeded, and in the last 2 seasons, by a HUGE margin. A job extremely well done. I will definitely be revisiting the series more than once.
This show has been so much more than what I expected--I've been watching/reading, evening listening to, superhero media since I was a kid (I was 11 when the first Reeve movie came out but I started a lot earlier than that). I usually do it out of a mix of curiosity and nostalgia, favouring DC stories/characters ahead of others, but still watching almost all of it (much more selective for reading--not enough time). My expectations are usually met (they're not usually higher than "entertain me while it's happening"). Here, they've been exceeded, and in the last 2 seasons, by a HUGE margin. A job extremely well done. I will definitely be revisiting the series more than once.
Honestly, I don't get why Doomsday was so relentless on Earth and then just suddenly gave up at the Sun. Did the Sun weaken Luthor's mind control or whatever as well as weakening his body? It didn't feel justified by character (since Doomsday didn't really have one); it was just an arbitrary plot convenience to let Superman off the hook for killing Doomsday by making it look like a merciful act.
His eyes go bright blue again like Bizarro's, and there's a quick montage of events from his life, primarily focusing on the Lois of the other Earth. The clear implication is that he's regained his awareness and memories, and that's why he stops fighting and surrenders his tragic existence.
Yes, obviously, but why? That's what I'm asking. The narrative did not establish what caused that change in Doomsday's behavior.
Honestly, I'm not sure what's confusing about it. As he weakens, the rage that overwhelmed his mind recedes, and his reason returns. Pretty standard sci-fi stuff. It's more or less the same thing that happened whenever Gary Mitchell's power was sapped, and we've all accepted that without question for half a century or so.
There might be an incredibly...green parallel as well.
That tale is astonishing.There might be an incredibly...green parallel as well.
I'm not "confused." I'm critiquing the structure of the story. If I were writing it, I would come up with a better justification for the story beat so it didn't feel like something the writers arbitrarily forced to happen because it was narratively convenient and let Superman off the hook ethically.
I suppose that's one possible interpretation, but it has holes in it. I mean, we already saw Doomsday's rage subside when Lois got through to him, and he shifted priorities from killing Superman to getting back home through the portal. Why, then, did getting extra-killed by Luthor renew his fixation with attacking Superman in the first place? If the only thing motivating him was his own overwhelming rage as you posit, then why direct that rage at Superman, beyond the writers wanting him to? Why didn't he go after Luthor, his actual torturer?
Hey, come to think of it, that would've been a much cooler way for the climactic action to go -- if the final battle was Superman going all-out and risking his life to save Luthor from being killed by Doomsday. Imagine how that would've shaken Luthor's certainties -- probably not redeemed him, but discredited his self-justifying narrative, humiliated him that he needed Superman to save him from his own schemes backfiring on him, and maybe planted just a small seed of doubt. Imagine how it would've reaffirmed Superman's fundamental goodness, that he'd risk dying even to save his own worst enemy. I would've rather seen that than a climactic arc that boiled down to Superman fighting for his own self-interest. Too many writers of mass-media superhero fiction forget that heroism is about helping other people and reduce it to stories about the protagonists fighting in self-defense, or to protect their family and friends, or to fix problems they themselves created.
Had the show gone on, Milton Fine would've become Braniac and we (might) have gotten Darkseid. Also, they wanted to include Tal-Roh in the finale, but couldn't due to scheduling issues with Rayner:
tvline.com
Superman & Lois EPs Reveal What (and Who) Fans Would Have Seen in Future Seasons
Find out which iconic DC villains would have dropped by Smallville in future seasons of The CW's 'Superman & Lois.'
tvline.com
I mean, there's still a ton adventures that can be told between the ending and the epilogue of this episode.
I thought it was pretty clear that it was the hammer to the head
The Three Stooges were right about medical treatments.
Similar threads
