TV Review: ‘Superman & Lois’ Season 3, Episode 4
by Frank Martin
Superman & Lois continue to deliver quality storylines with every episode. It’s not just a great superhero show. It’s also a great family drama. Even Lana Lang’s (Emmanuelle Chriqui) family — which is going through a crisis that has nothing to do with the show’s comic book fantasy elements — delivers poignant teen drama that is far better than any of the others prevalent on The CW. But beyond that, it also manages to ground Superman in a way that feels real and relevant, something that’s becoming increasingly harder to do as the character feels omnipotent and dark in his big screen adaptations.
This episode primarily dealt with Lois (Elizabeth Tulloch) having to recoup from her first round of cancer treatments. Of course, relaxing comes hard for the reporter as Jonathan (Michael Bishop) gets attacked by his girlfriend’s father. This prompts Lois to confront him, followed by Clark (Tyler Hoechlin) later in the episode. All of this plays out while John Henry Irons (Wole Parks) has to contest with a growing rivalry between himself and Bruno Manheim (Chad L Coleman). Lastly, Superman discovers the origins of how his blood was acquired by the enemy. It leaked from the Department of Defense, causing him to destroy all of the remaining vials.
There’s a lot still left brewing in this season’s plot line, but this episode did enough to move things along. The conflict between Jonathan and his girlfriend will probably continue as we most likely haven’t seen the last of her father. Also, Jordan (Alex Garfin) is getting more responsibility as a hero since his grandfather gave him a suit. Things are building at a pretty rapid pace, which is great since nothing feels like filler. This all plays out over the backdrop of Superman dealing with a situation in which he is powerless. It is easy to see someone so powerful and forget that there are some things that are just out of his control. Watching him grapple with Lois’s sickness has been great storytelling every step of the way.
Superman & Lois airs Tuesdays on The CW.