TV Review: ‘Superman & Lois’ Season 3 Finale
by Frank Martin
With so many loose plot threads still hanging, the Superman & Lois finale was never going to be able to tie up everything into a nice and clean bow. So it solved the problem by not trying to at all. Instead, it ramped up its drama to the absolute highest point of the season. Obviously, season finales often end on cliffhangers, but this was something else entirely. It’s disappointing, but there was still enough to enjoy about the episode that it’s a “good disappointment” — it still created great entertainment and left fans wanting more.
After Lex Luthor (Michael Cudlitz) left the Kent farm, he went underground in order to plan his course of attack. He restrained Bizarro (Tyler Hoechlin) and discovered that every time he dies, he comes back to life stronger. Luther tortured him until he became a monster in the form of this universe’s Doomsday. Meanwhile, drama continues to unfold in Smallville. Chrissy (Sofia Hasmik) is pregnant with Kyle’s (Erik Valdez) child while John Henry (Wolé Parks) and Lana (Emmanuelle Chriqui) grow closer. During a meteor shower event in town, Luthor arrives back at the Kent farm with Doomsday. The creature and Superman fight, and it appears that Superman has lost. But he comes back to life in the episode’s closing moments, and the finale ends as the two of them continue to battle on the moon.
The sheer amounts of CGI effects in this episode is startling. The battle between Superman and Doomsday really felt like a scene straight out of the iconic “Death of Superman” story. This season didn’t have the same build up towards the climactic battle the same way other seasons had, but there was still a lot to like about it. Luthor and Bizarro both have their own history with Superman, even if it wasn’t developed fully this season. And there’s still a lot of storytelling yet to be done, but this finale was still emotionally charged, action packed, and a great way to leave off.
Superman & Lois is now streaming on The CW app.