The CWs Superman & Loisstarring Tyler Hoechlin And Elizabeth Tulloch as the titular duo, begins with the Kent-Lane family moving from Metropolis to Clark's hometown of Smallville. In the first two seasons, the famous couple has faced world threats in both Morgan Edge, aka Tal-Rho (Adam Rayner) and Ally Allston (Rya Kihlstedt), insecurity in their careers as they left the Daily Planet, and the double-edged sword of raising teenage sons Jon (Jordan Elsa) and Jordan (Alexander Garfin). But together they have taken on these changes as they enter the next phase of their lives with a group of new (and old) friends, working with everyone to create a safer world and a stable Smallville that can withstand the pressures that have caused so many other small towns to crumble. With two seasons wrapped up, we've barely gotten to know this world and these characters. So, heading into the upcoming third season, it's clear there's a lot more to tell.
Less than a month after Superman's defeat of Ally Allston and the Bizarro world, life is quite different in Smallville - not just because Jon has been recast (now played by Michael Bishop) or. With Chrissy Beppo (Sofia Hasmik) in the know of the big secret, Clark has joined the Smallville Gazette and the three have formed an unlikely, but surprisingly intriguing reporting team. Clark and Lois are happier than we've seen them as they fly off for the occasional romantic tryst in luxurious surroundings. Lana sinks her teeth into the job as the new mayor of Smallville, which proves much more challenging than she imagined, while her marriage to Kyle is on the line. Life is good and moving forward in new ways for many of our beloved small town residents. But the threat of Bruno Mannheim (Chad L. Coleman) is rising on the horizon after last season's reveal of John Diggle (David Ramsey) that Mannheim is responsible for the death of John Henry Irons from this earth (Wole Parks). After watching the first two episodes of the third season, it's clear that the stories introduced have potential and, if handled correctly, could make this the show's best and most powerful season to date. However, there are still some major problems.
From the start of the premiere episode, it's clear that Clark and Lois are on an interesting journey this season. More than ever, they form a team that is confronted with everything that comes their way, both in their work and in their private lives. Almost immediately, Lois is ready to investigate Bruno Mannheim after what they learned in the previous season, demonstrating the Smallville Gazette's new normal with Chrissy revealing their big secret and Clark joining the team. Working with Clark also brings back fond memories for the duo of their past investigative adventures. It's really great to see this side of things, although I already wish the show had more of it. The first two episodes are criminally light on this new dynamic, which should definitely be shown as much of the season as possible.
Lana becoming mayor of Smallville was also a much-needed development in the second season, and it's intriguing to see her trying to pick up the pieces left behind by her predecessor, especially since the town is running out of money and there's a emergency is what she is forced into. figure out how to deal with it. It shows a side of Lana that we always want and need to see: level-headed, intelligent, and brave. However, she is on a slippery slope, as she is so focused on her work that other things slip through the cracks. She needs balance, but hopefully it will be an enjoyable ride until she gets there. As for the others, there's not much to say. Kyle (Eric Valdez) remains an all but useless character on the show, and John Henry is really just a dad in these first two episodes. (For now, as we know, he'll soon be pulled into the Mannheim story. It's nice to see more of this heartwarming father-daughter relationship in the meantime.)
The teen aspect of the series hasn't improved much between seasons. Jordan still dominates the story as his powers continue to grow, claiming Clark's attention and leaving Jon back on the sidelines. Sara (Inde Navarrette) and Jordan are no longer dating, but they remain in each other's orbits, especially since Sarah knows the truth about Jordan, Clark, and their powers. Again, Jordan is trying way too hard in this relationship. At the same time, there's been a shift in Sarah and her personality, which is really interesting to watch play out. In the end, Jon and Sarah's presence and storytelling on the show are still the obligatory dusting off of teen drama and angst needed to bring this otherwise great series to life on The CW. Jon still seems out of place in his own family, which is a direct result of him making him the "normal" kid and giving Jordan literally everything else. The teen with the most compelling story to date is Natalie Irons (Taylor Buck). Although I won't say much about it, Natalie is trying to make this new earth her home. She has a touching story with Sam Lane (Dylan Waltz) in the premiere, something that begins with the two acknowledging that he was her grandfather on her Earth.
That said, the beginning of Season 3 also proves that the cast of Superman & Lois is way too big compared to the relatively small number of episodes per season and the big stories the series is trying to tackle. The show could do so much more with Clark as its own character, just as Jon remains in his brother's overwhelming shadow and isolated in pointless stories that pale in comparison to what the rest of his family has to deal with. Sam and Kyle in particular feel like outliers who don't need to be around for more than a select few episodes per season. Plus, we've got the addition of Mannheim to focus on, and it's been revealed that Lex Luthor (played by Michael Cudlitz) will join the show later this season. There just isn't enough time to tell well-developed stories with that many characters in a 15-episode season. This is extremely evident in the premiere episode, with its failed attempt to take stock and set up stories for each of the main characters.
All in all, there's some great content in these first two episodes, with Tulloch giving an awe-inspiring performance in the second. There are beautiful moments of pure friendship between Lana and both protagonists in the premiere, which is personally one of my favorite elements of the series. Some of the new developments are excellent, while others are hesitant to be too positive for the rest of Season 3. Not much can be said about the Mannheim arc yet, but it will captivate and get you excited from the very first moment. learn more. There is promising potential and Mannheim's story is simultaneously similar and different from what we've seen Superman & Lois so far, but we hope the show will break from the established formula and take a different path.
Judgement: B-
The third season of Superman & Lois premieres March 14 on The CW.
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