Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Superman & Lois season 4, episode 10.Superman & Loismarks the end of one ofDC’s best live-action eras. The CW became known over the years for being the home ofDC’s live-action shows. It all started with Superman, asTom Welling’sSmallvilleseriespaved the way for several future DC series. Those would come in the form of the Arrowverse, DC’s live-action TV universe that I loved following for many years. Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman and Elizabeth Tulloch’s Lois Lane debuted in the Arrowverse before leading their series. I loved their performances in the franchise, butSuperman & Loistook things up a notch.
Superman & Lois
Cast
Superman & Loissees Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch) and Clark Kent (Tyler Hoechlin) dealing with all the pressures of their jobs, along with being parents to two teenage sons.
As I previously mentioned in mySuperman & Loisseason 4 review, the stakes were high in the early episodes of season 4. Well, I’m happy to say the same holds true for the series finale, which features the kind of dynamic and epic action that one comes to expect from a superhero project, as well as emotional moments that tug at the heartstrings. Episode 9 left off with the Kents in a dire situation. Lex Luthor had Steel’s suit and Doomsday was stronger than ever.Superman & Lois' season 4 finaletakes that scenario head-on.
The Doomsday & Lex Luthor Plots Come To Fitting Conclusions
Superhero Action Took Over The Start Of The Finale
While there have been some minor villains this season, all working under Michael Cudlitz’s Lex Luthor, the main threats were always Doomsday and Lex. The series finale focuses on both, finally revealing how the Kents manage to defeat the characters. Despite the many theories that Doomsday’s heart could be used to cure Superman, I liked that the show chose to go on a different path with the monster. The DC series has the best live-action version of Doomsday by far.
We get to see some epic superhero action as Superman fights Doomsday on the streets of Smallville, with John Henry Irons returning to help with a key idea.
Making Bizarro the starting point for the beast was an interesting choice. TheSuperman & Loisseries finale makes sure to pay that off for the character’s ending, with Doomsday remembering his family in the Inverse World and sacrificing himself so he is no longer used as a weapon by Lex. It was the sort of emotional and dark ending that was perfect for the character. We get to see some epic superhero action as Superman fights Doomsday on the streets of Smallville, with John Henry Irons returning to help with a key idea.
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Then came the fight everyone was waiting for: Superman vs. Lex Luthor. Cudlitz’s version of Lex has easily become my second favorite iteration in live-action, losing only to Michael Rosenbaum’s fromSmallville. Lex has so much rage within him, and he makes sure to let it all out physically in the series finale. After fighting Kryptonians, monsters, threats from another world, and more, it was fitting that Hoechlin’s final battle as Superman came in the form of taking down the hero’s nemesis. My only complaint about the fight is Superman never really felt in danger.
Superman & Lois Saved Some Heartbreaking Surprises For Its Finale
The DC Series Sets Itself Apart From Other Superman Adaptations Due To A Crucial Choice
I was shocked to see how fast the finale dealt with the action. While it initially made me question the decision, I later came to understand theSuperman & Loisfinale was perfectly fitting to what the show had always been about: legacy. After being done with Doomsday and Lex, the finale jumped forward a year in time to show us a few major events and reveal the future of certain characters, such as Sarah leaving Smallville for good and her mom, Lana Lang, marrying John Henry Irons.
The journey of the two brothers as they discover their powers and place in the world while Clark Kent and Lois Lane try to steer them in the right direction was the driving force of the series.
After having the show’s cast reduced for the final season due to budget constraints, it was great to see so many beloved characters return and get their happy endings. However, subsequent time jumps were what left me speechless. I had always hoped to see what would become of Jonathan and Jordan in the future. The journey of the two brothers as they discover their powers and place in the world while Clark Kent and Lois Lane attempt to steer them in the right direction was the driving force of the series.
It was heartwarming to see that Jonathan and Jordan got to be happy, saving the world as heroes — together — and building their own families. Then came the time to end Lois and Clark’s stories, and I was shocked that they both ended with death. I thought that Lois' cancer coming back was heartbreaking and a realistic way to end her story. The same goes for Clark not getting a new heart and dying after 32 more years. I loved howSuperman & Loishumanized the Man of Steel, and so the DC series' ending was quite poignant.
