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Superman & Lois Review Season 3 Episode 9 The Dress Superman & Lois Review Season 3 Episode 9 The Dress

Superman & Lois

Superman & Lois Review – The Dress (309)

Superman & Lois -- “The Dress” -- Image Number: SML309a_0005r -- Pictured (L - R): Dylan Walsh as Ret. General Samuel Lane, Tyler Hoechlin as Superman and Wolé Parks as John Henry Irons -- Photo: Justine Yeung/The CW -- © 2023 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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John Henry Irons may just be this season’s villain after all. 

No, I’m just kidding. I wouldn’t take it that far, but his character has entered a dark phase and he has made things super personal. It’s hard not to when the man you are coming face-to-face with killed you on this Earth and tore apart this Earth’s version of your family, and now, he’s setting his sights on you and your daughter. It absolutely is personal—so I’m not surprised it clouded his judgment when it came to handling Mannheim and his goons. 

And while Superman may be of the mindset that we “don’t fight violence with violence,” and leads with a “do not kill,” John Henry’s defenses kicked in when Mannheim sent Henry Mills, a resurrected man with indestructible powers (likely courtesy of the superman of the Inverse World, Bizarro), to kill him. He believed he had no choice, so he did what he had to do to save himself in that vulnerable moment. We have to remember that John Henry, a different version, has died before at the hands of Mannheim, and this isn’t the first time they’ve planned an attack on him. He very much believes there’s no other choice, even if he knows that Superman would approach it differently.

And thus, John Henry killed a man in the heart of Smallville—this poor town has seen so much in such a short time—and he’s going to have to come to terms with that. Of course, right now, he’s too amped up on getting revenge, but when the dust settles, I think it will definitely impact him a bit.

Mannheim and John Henry’s children were seemingly the voice of reason for their parents, who couldn’t see past their hatred for each other. Matteo introduced a new point of view by suggesting that John Henry wasn’t the all-out good guy Nat believed him to be as he was preventing him and his father from seeing their dying mother. Nat reminded her father that of all people, he should know what that feels like. I see where she’s coming from, however, there’s obviously a reason for John Henry’s decision, and it was the force Mannheim into giving the DOD back all the things they stole—namely Bizarro. It’s a negotiation tactic, and though not many agree, John Henry felt that it would be the most effective. And honestly, I think as someone who has lost his wife, he knows the exact pain point to get someone to do something. 

Of course, Mannheim didn’t respond well to being told that he cannot see Peia, and it turns out that Superman’s approach likely would’ve yielded better results because while John Henry has suffered a loss, Clark can identify with what Mannheim is going through having a wife that’s battling the same kind of cancer. This may be a show about superheroes and villains, but at the core of it, there are very real and very human issues, feelings, and emotions guiding them all. 

Again, I think it’s a little far-fetched to call John Henry a villain because, at the end of the day, it was clear that Mannheim was provoking him by trying to get him and his family killed. He’s just being a protective dad, and I do wish Nat would be grateful for that at least a little bit. I know she’s a teen, but she can very clearly see the dangers surrounding her. 

And hopefully, after seeing his father’s underground lair with the Inverse World’s Superman, Matteo will realize that what his father is doing is wrong. Trying to save your wife is understandable, but there are limits. Mannheim thinks that he’s trying to cure cancer with his experiments, but he’s not seeing the larger picture or the potential harm and damage it’s doing. 

It’s heartbreaking to see Matteo and Nat in the middle of this family feud. While I believe there are times when love trumps all, I don’t see how they can make this work while staying faithful to their families. It was doomed from the beginning. And if Mannheim doesn’t stop, Superman and the DOD—along with John Henry—will be forced to put him behind bars, I can see Matteo being resentful at potentially losing two of his parents, which, well, won’t bode well for his romance with Nat. 

The teens of Smallville are taking on larger responsibilities with each passing episode but on Superman & Lois Season 3 Episode 9, they were tasked with protecting Nat. While letting her go see Matteo when it was forbidden may have been a naive move on their part—young love—it was sweet to see the Kent brothers make up after saying some pretty nasty things to each other. And Sarah is almost like the sister they never had. 

Lois’ storyline continues to be heartbreaking, but I’m genuinely grateful for how real and raw it is. I can’t say for certain, but the straightforward conversation about losing her breasts—and the hardships of being a woman with PMS, cramps, cellulite, and stretch marks—definitely seems like a scene written by a female writer(s). And it makes a difference! Representation of all kinds is so important on television, and it’s nice to see strong female leads simply acknowledge the things that make us all superheroes, and yet, somehow, insecure, all in the same breath. Amid a writer’s strike, I just want to say thank you to the writers of this particular scene. 

Seeing the flashbacks to the dress when Lois was at a high, and then watching her navigate those feelings about herself during one of her lows, was visually stunning. Losing your breasts is a big deal, but as Clark pointed out, it doesn’t take away from her beauty and it won’t make him love her any less. 

The flying scene was just the cherry on top, providing a piece of calm and reprieve amid a chaotic day. It’s moments like these that make everything worth it in life. 

And also, Clark is a superhero not just because of his super strength but mostly because of the way he loves his wife and takes care of his family. Being a good man is the real superpower. 

There wasn’t much time for Henry and Lana’s relationship to flourish this week, but she did make the first step—and I am shipping it wholeheartedly. 

What did you think of the episode?

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Lizzy Buczak is the founder of CraveYouTV. What started off as a silly blog in her sophomore year at Columbia College Chicago turned her passion for watching TV into an opportunity! She has been in charge of CraveYou since 2011, writing reviews and news content for a wide variety of shows. Lizzy is a Music Business and Journalism major who has written for RADIO.COM, TV Fanatic, Time Out Chicago, Innerview, Pop’stache and Family Time.

Superman & Lois

Superman & Lois Cancelled at The CW—Here’s When the Superhero Drama Will End

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Superman & Lois Review Season 3 Episode 12 Injustice

If you’ve been following what’s been happening at The CW for the past few years, it comes as no surprise that Superman & Lois will be ending with the fourth season. 

The network has been scrapping most of its pre-sale programming, allowing only a handful of shows to return and finish out their run with a proper conclusion, the superhero drama being one of them.

The upcoming fourth season of the Tyler Hoechlin-led series will be its last, with the 10 final episodes airing sometime in 2024. 

“Over the last three seasons, Superman & Lois redefined both the superhero genre and family drama as Tyler, Elizabeth and the entire cast effortlessly portrayed these classic characters with new layers of depth and complexity that had never before been explored in the Superman universe,” CW president Brad Schwartz says in a statement. “We are grateful for the years of hard work and graceful storytelling from the show’s writers, producers, actors and crew, as well as our terrific partners at Warner Bros. Television and Berlanti Productions. As Superman embarks on his final flight, the team is leaving us with an absolutely epic 10-episode must-watch-every-minute farewell to one of the most legendary CW families ever.”

The news was a long time coming, especially when the network renewed the show for a fourth season but reduced the cast to only a handful of series regulars, cutting everyone else loose with the possibility of guest appearances to wrap up their storylines. 

In addition to Hoechlin, Bitsie Tulloch as Lois, Alex Garfin as Jordan, Michael Bishop as Jonathan, and new villain Doomsday, played by Michael Cudlitz, will return are series regulars.

 We’ll update this post when new information about a premiere date becomes available. 

For now, you can binge Sullivan’s Crossing on The CW. 

Fates of ‘Superman & Lois’ and ‘All American: Homecoming’ Revealed at The CW

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Superman & Lois

Superman & Lois Season Finale Review – An Engagement, a Pregnancy, and Doomsday (313)

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Superman and Lois Season 3 Finale Review Episode 13 What Kills You Only Makes You Stronger

From Bizarro to Doomsday, Superman & Lois delivered an action-packed Season 3 finale that forced Superman to face his biggest threat to date.

Since getting out of prison after 17 years of being wrongfully incarcerated, Lex Luthor focused on getting revenge against those who wronged him, specifically Lois Lane. 

He made it clear that the reason Lois didn’t listen to him initially and ran with the inaccurate story that put him behind bars was because she had the protection of both General Lane and Superman. And since she didn’t heed his warning to put down the pen and retire, he knew that the only way to get to her was to eliminate the safety net. 

For the next 33 days, Luthor poured every inch of himself into concocting his master plan, which involved killing Bizarro over and over again and making him immune and indestructible. Luthor always knew he wanted payback, but Bizarro was the secret weapon that simply fell into his lap, and Luthor wasted no time taking full advantage. By the time he was done with him, the Inverse Superman morphed into a beast that set his sights on the Man of Steel in one of the most epic fights to ever play out on The CW. (And just as a reminder, with The CW doing away with most of its programming—and giving Superman & Lois a shortened fourth and final season with virtually no cast— so this fight scene is likely as good as it’s ever going to get for the network.)

Things weren’t looking so hot for Superman, but while it’s one thing to have an immense amount of power, Superman has two things that Bizarro doesn’t—brains that he can use to outsmart him and love; and the love he has for his family is what brings him back from the brink of death and energizes him. 

Superman and Lois Season 3 Finale Review Episode 13 What Kills You Only Makes You Stronger

Superman & Lois — “What Kills You Only Makes You Stronger” — Image Number: SML313a_0028r — Pictured: Michael Bishop as Jonathan Kent — Photo: Katie Yu/The CW — © 2023 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Pretty soon, Doomsday and Superman’s heads to the moon far away from any humans that can be harmed, though there’s no telling how it ends. 

With General Lane in Luthor’s possession, and Superman otherwise occupied, Luthor has Lois right where he wants her–vulnerable…or so he thinks. The one thing he didn’t account for (and how could he?) is that she’d have another asset in her corner—a son who inherited his father’s powers. Of course, Jordan is still pretty new at this and just getting the hang of his powers, but I’d say it’s enough to keep his mom out of harm’s way and stall until his dad returns. 

Clark thought he was doing the right thing by punishing Jordan and forbidding him from using his powers, but with danger lurking in every corner—and the imminent threat of Lex Luthor (Lois knew he was coming for her)—it would’ve been more beneficial to have him continue training specifically for this moment. 

Superman exchanged a telling look with his family before flying off to handle Doomsday, and in that look, he made it clear that Jordan was under no circumstance to help him. As a father, it only makes sense that he wouldn’t want to put his son in the line of danger. 

But what’s next? Doomsday is bred to kill, and he won’t stop until Superman is neutralized as those were Luthor’s orders. What’s the solution?

It almost seems as though there were two different episodes smushed into one, with the first half providing a happy and positive update on the families in Smallville, while the second half unveiled Lex’s plans and set the tone for what’s to come in the final season. 

I thoroughly enjoyed both parts—even if I’m far too skeptical when things are too good as I know the other foot is about to drop—particularly as it gave us some good momentum on all the characters that make this show so fantastic, and the ones that won’t be around much, if at all, next season. 

Lois’ recovery was tough and personal but she finally arrived at a place where she felt ready to be intimate with her husband again—and it was so beautifully captured. Clark being so soft with her when placing a hand on her chest was incredibly touching. They truly did right by her storyline this season, giving a realistic glimpse into a cancer battle rather than using it solely as a plot device.

It was also so nice to see her genuinely smile with excitement as she talked about their family vacation—Lois deserves this triumphant moment, and it’s a shame it was cut short by Lex. 

Fans who have been picking up on vibes between Lana and John Henry finally got their moment as well. Not only did the two go on a romantic first date, but they also hooked up in a hot and steamy moment as she was determined to make him regret accepting Lane’s offer to move to Metropolis. 

And yes, that’s an attempt at seemingly writing off John Henry and his daughter Nat for next season, which is a bummer, but it’s also a natural progression for the characters as they’ve always been destined to work closely with the DOD, doing what they do best and creating tools and gadgets to help them fight the enemy. Plus, it makes sense that Nat would go to the DOD Academy where Mateo just enrolled—it’s a promising future for her that allows for so much more than Smallville could ever offer someone with her brains and skills. 

Kyle and Chrissy Beppo also had quite an eventful episode as they not only found out they’re expecting their first child together, but Kyle even hopped on stage in front of the whole town and asked her to marry him. I enjoy this coupling, so no complaints, but I wish Chrissy continued to have a storyline of her own separate from Kyle instead of being reduced to his secret hookup for most of the season. Chrissy was always on the same playing field as Lana and Lois—and she deserved to stay there. 

Lana has put on a happy face throughout it all, even telling Kyle that she was happy for him and asking to spoil the baby, but it has to hurt on some level. She’s watching him become the man she’s wanted him to be for years, and that has to be so hard. Someone else got the version of Kyle that she always knew he could be, but he never was for her. 

However, Lana is right when she says that they are better as friends—and they make great co-parents, so at least there’s that. She’s tough and strong, so she’ll get through this. It may have taken her a little longer to move on than it has Kyle, but at least she’s seeing a future outside of her relationship with him.

This is also a good time to remind anyone who is online dating to just be super cautious about who they allow into their lives. 

Sam Lane was so eager to get back out there that he allowed the enemy to get too close to him, and he paid the price. 

The moment he introduced his new girlfriend to his absolutely stunned grandchildren, I knew there was something off about Gretchen and the way she was so eager to be involved in his life. 

It’s a shame because someone in Sam’s position should’ve vetted anyone he ended up meeting and pursuing for this exact reason. He works for the DOD for crying out loud—there have to be some protocols because this was just too easy. 

It’s also a bummer because Sam let his guard down one time, and now he’ll never trust anyone else with his heart again. 

And finally, Clark gave Jordan a pep talk that convinced him to apologize to Sarah. He admitted that his anger stemmed from them not being together, and they agreed to remain cordial but go their separate ways, which is honestly for the best considering everything that transpired between them. 

How do you think the series will continue on without Sam, Lana, Sarah, Kyle, Chrissy, John Henry and Natalie as series regulars, especially as we may never see any of them again and there were so many developments with their storylines? It seems like a huge miss for the series as they are so integral to the series and are responsible for making the small town of Smallville what it is.

And how do you think Superman will bring down Doomsday? Will Lex Luthor finally get what’s coming to him, rightfully this time around? He’s just giving Lois so much more ammo to put him away for good. 

Grade the season in the comments—we’re giving it a solid B! 

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Superman & Lois

Superman & Lois Review – Lex Luthor’s Arrival Reveals His Master Plan (312)

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Superman & Lois Review Season 3 Episode 12 Injustice

Superman & Lois Season 3 Episode 12–also the penultimate episode of the season—introduced Lex Luthor in all his glory. 

As Lex was acquitted and released from prison, he set his sights on his #1 enemy: Lois Lane, before hatching and revealing his post-prison master plan. 

If the episode had solely focused on Lex Luthor’s arrival, it may have felt out of place, but it found the right balance of introducing this new yet familiar menacing figure all at once while keeping in tune with the tone of the series. Luthor’s arrival was interposed with the introduction of Smallville’s new superhero, SuperBoy, which brought forth plenty of drama with Sarah and Jordan, while also managing to deliver some parenting strifes for Clark and Lois with both Jordan and Jon.

There was even a tornado, which I was fully convinced was conjured up by Lex Luthor, hinting at a new supernatural take on the iconic character, though it turned out to be a mere coincidence. There’s truly never a dull moment in Smallville—one moment there’s an unanticipated tornado, and the next moment the scariest man on the face of the Earth is just casually walking the backroads. 

Lex’s release from prison was paralleled with his time in prison, showing that even behind bars, the CEO of LuthorCorp yielded all the power and was able to manipulate people into doing whatever he wanted through sheer force. He’s a bully in every sense of the word, but seeing how he obtained control of Stryker’s Prison is enough reason to make us fear him. 

Superman & Lois Review Season 3 Episode 12 Injustice

Credit: Superman & Lois

This version of Lex is rough around the edges; a blue-collar villain, if you will, who swaps the dapper suit for a jean jacket and freshly shaved head. 

And it somehow makes him even more terrifying. Michael Cudlitz plays him well. 

Mere minutes into his prison stay, flashbacks reveal that he managed to get his goons to show the others who was boss, and by the end of the day, he was catered to hand and foot, enjoying a fancy meal with a glass of wine. He’s a man that will get his way, one way or the other.

He’s a man who was misjudged and cast away by society only to regain his freedom—and it gives him the room to do a lot more damage than previous iterations of the character. He’s a man scorned, looking for vengeance and comeuppance for those who wrong him, something Lois is all too aware of.

She assumed that Lex would have it out for her the minute he was released from prison, but what she didn’t anticipate is that he would make a beeline for her house, simply to show her that he’s kept tabs on her and threaten her if she doesn’t agree to his terms to retire.

He also made a point by walking all the way to their house, proving that while he has men who will carry out tasks for him, he’s not above doing the dirty work when necessary. 

And honestly, Lex’s anger is justified; Lois and her words are the reason he’s in jail. It wasn’t sloppy reporting as she followed the evidence, which led her to Lex, but it was an error nonetheless. And sorry doesn’t really cut it when you’ve missed out on two decades of life, a point he drives home when he informs her that his daughter, who was 14 when he was locked up, is no longer willing to speak to him. 

However, he can’t overlook the fact that he’s seeing the light of day once again because Lois chose to do the right thing and clear his name, ignoring every warning from Peia about how he’s the devil incarnate and the world is better with him behind bars. Lois knew that setting Lex free would likely unleash evil onto the world—including herself as he’s had two decades to plan his perfect revenge—but her journalistic integrity couldn’t let him sit behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit. She had to do the right thing and set the record straight. 

And now, with her decision to give in and give up her career in journalism, she’s making herself a target for Lex. 

As for Superman, well, he’s clearly someone that Lex has in his line of sight as well, otherwise he wouldn’t be risking it all to get his hands on Inverse Superman, who has really evolved into a creature of the night type monster thanks to Mannheim’s experimentation.

When Lex and his buddy Otis make their way down to the underground bunker once occupied by Mannheim, they find Inverse Superman literally gorging on rats—and he doesn’t waste time turning Otis into dinner. 

What’s Lex’s plan for Inverse Superman? Will he try to coach him into killing Superman?

Superman & Lois Review Season 3 Episode 12 Injustice

Superman & Lois — “Injustice” — Image Number: SML312fg_0018 — Pictured (L-R): Inde Navarrette as Sarah Cushing and Alex Garfin as Jordan Kent — Photo: The CW — © 2023 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Other Memorable Moments

  • Superhero or mere mortal, parenting teenagers—and all their raging hormones—is hard, and it didn’t go so well for Lois and Clark when Jordan disobeyed them and decided to go public with her alter-ego. He helped his dad stop a tornado, but instead of whizzing away before anyone saw him, he stuck around for a photo-op, proving that he’s absolutely careless about protecting his identity and superpowers. He doesn’t realize the weight of what he’s doing and rather, chasing the clout and trying to stroke his ego, which makes sense considering he’s always been pushed aside by the popular kids. However, I’m with Sarah on this one–he’s letting it get to his head and he’s losing the charm he once had in the process, including the level-headedness. Even his parents are stunned by his behavior and realize they have to rein him in before it’s too late. 
  • Jordan thinks that he’s so much smarter than everyone, but he failed to realize that the two Smallville encounters will prove that Superboy has a connection to the small town. If Junior put two and two together, it won’t be long before everyone else does. And then what? 
  • Can no one really see past the goggles? I know, I know, goggles are better than glasses! 
  • Clark, however, overstepped by going to talk to Kyle about treating Jon differently. He may have noticed his boss’ behavior changed upon learning the truth about his father’s identity, but if he wanted his dad to handle it, he would’ve asked him to. Clark’s decision to head over to the firehouse and ask Kyle to treat Jon like all the other guys simply proved Jon’s point about his father controlling his life. And, naturally, Kyle felt offended and took it out on Jon. Overall, it was messy and would’ve been better if Clark just let Jon handle his own problems. But what will come of it? At this point, it seems like the show doesn’t really know what to do with these two characters.  
  • The parents of Smallville are all really busy, but they still manage to meddle in their children’s problems all too often. Case and point: Lana telling Jordan’s parents that he was letting the powers get to his head. It further drove a rift between Jordan and Sarah, though, at this point, they really just need space from each other. 
  • Sarah decided she was over this version of herself, including the one who lied to everyone to keep Jordan’s secret, and she asked her mom to dye her hair, which was a cute bonding moment. I can’t wait to see how she changes it up.
  • Lois may be taking on a new villain in her life (an unwelcome distraction), but she’s still very much in the healing process from the cancer as it’s a full-time job. Maybe Lex is the push she needs to get back to her old self and regain the confidence and the fire. She was the Lois Lane when she didn’t even wince when confronting him on her front porch—a very targeted move on his part as he encroached onto her personal territory.
  • It’s also nice that amid all the drama and chaos that the series is introducing as it barrels toward a season finale, it isn’t losing sight of Lois’ health journey that’s been so crucial to the plot this season. 

What did you think of Lex Luthor’s arrival? Should Superman and Lois be scared? And who do you think his daughter is? How will she play into all of this?

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