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?

As far as first impressions go, that wasn’t the ideal first dinner date with your significant other’s parents. 

Superman & Lois Season 3 Episode 8 kept unraveling the mystery of Bruno Mannheim and Peia, his wife and the warbled assassin known as Onomatopoeia. 

Fans had an advantage as they about Peia’s darker side for a bit longer before Superman and Lois were clued in, but once they finally had the missing piece of the puzzle, it all began to make a lot more sense. And it’s a very distressing situation for everyone involved because personal feelings are also in the mix. 

This isn’t just a villains versus heroes ordeal—it’s much more complex and impacts every single person. 

Nat and Matteo are genuinely in love, and now they’ve got a Romeo and Juliet situation on their hands as they’re the victims of two feuding families. 

Once Henry Irons realized who Matteo’s parents were, he immediately went to fetch his daughter, and an altercation with Bruno and Peia almost cost him his life. Understandably, he’s adamant about Nat never seeing or speaking to Matteo again, even if he was just as much in the dark about his family’s criminal involvement. Henry Irons is protecting his daughter at all costs as he knows exactly what Mannheim is capable of. And it’s hard to side with Nat here considering she’s thinking primarily with her heart when it comes to Matteo. She may trust him but getting involved with his family is simply too dangerous, particularly considering the previous history between Henry and Mannheim. 

It’s also hard not to feel for Matteo who just learned the truth about his parents all while watching them nearly kill his girlfriend’s father and seeing his mother collapse to the ground, weakened by her powers and the cancer. His life will never be the same, and he may lose the people closest to him.

Lois Lane has been invested in bringing down Manhheim for years, and with the reveal that Peia is his wife, she seemingly finally got the ammunition she needed. However, her friendship with Peia clouded her judgment, and she forbade Chrissy from running the story and revealing Mannheim’s private relationship. While that seemed like a bad idea initially, it’s probably for the best as the story basically wrote itself once Henry Irons confronted Mannheim and Peia was forced to use her powers. No one ever thought that sweet Peia could be the person causing all this mayhem.

Mannheim is a murderer, no doubt, but he’s been assisted by his wife, who has her fair share of blood on her hands. And they both let Lex Luthor take the fall, which weighs heavily on Lois as she’s the one who reported on the murder of Boss Moxie and put Lex behind bars. 

This is a lot to process for Lois—on top of the cancer—especially as she formed a bond with Peia and trusted her. 

Superman wanted to give Peia the benefit of the doubt considering her cancer spread and weakened her immensely, but Henry was right—her behavior and criminal actions cannot be excused simply because she’s sick. She can’t hide behind the cancer because she didn’t hesitate to attack Henry to defend her husband. She’s dangerous. 

Mannheim, however, let his personal feud with both Henry and Superman take hold, allowing his wife to risk her life and nearly kill herself for vengeance. When push came to shove, he needed to trust his foe to save his wife. 

Again, it’s a messy and complicated situation with a lot of personal feelings involved. 

Peia is now being held captive at the DOA with her powers, Mannheim has a lot of explaining to do to his son, and Lois has a new story to dig into that includes possibly clearing Lex’s name. 

Superman & Lois — “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” — Image Number: SML308fg_0017r — Pictured (L – R): Daya Vaida as Peia and Chad Coleman as Bruno Mannheim — Photo: The CW — © 2023 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

It’s something to keep her mind off of the cancer treatment that has intensified and gotten quite unbearable. The series has been giving an accurate portrayal of what a cancer patient goes through, specifically depicting Lois’ battle and how it’s impacted her relationship with her family, herself, and even her career. 

Though Lois may not be entirely motivated to take this on right now, she’s also not one to pass up on this kind of an opportunity, so with Clarke and Chrissy’s help, we know she’ll do it justice. 

Chrissy also has a lot on her plate right now as well as she’s navigating her new romance with Kyle and her fragile relationship with Lana. A journalist needs the town’s mayor on her side, but it’s obviously a new situation for everyone involved and Chrissy doesn’t always know exactly how to handle it. 

It’s not any easier for Lana, who is realizing that seeing Kyle move on so quickly has impacted her in a way she didn’t imagine, especially when she doesn’t have anyone to go see The Cure with. 

We’ve never really had much interaction between Lana and Sam Lane, but it was nice to see them cross paths. Sam is the best person for a heart-to-heart about moving on because he’s been single for decades and is finally opening up to the idea of dating again. It’s advice Lana needed to hear, even if she isn’t exactly ready to embark on something new in her love life. And yes, I’m still confident that she will eventually realize there’s plenty of chemistry between her and Henry!

The Kent boys are also navigating a new world as Jordan figures out his powers while Jon is a firefighter-in-training. They got into a bit of an altercation during which Jordan made himself seem more important than Jon, but Sarah made sure to bring him down to Earth and remind him that it wasn’t fair to diminish Jon’s role after he finally found something that made him feel special and worthy. Hopefully, Mr. Cushing won’t fire Jon, but Jordan’s identity may be at risk as he’s been leaving behind traces of ice at every single fire scene piquing the interest and curiosity of Sarah’s father. 

Has Jordan been made?

What did you think of the episode? Do you like how things are unfolding this season and bringing Lex Luthor to the surface?

Is Mannheim the foe that you always imagined he would be? And will we ever find out how Peia got her powers? I sure hope so. 

Superman & Lois Season 4 Episode 5 was an even mix of the start of Lois’ chemo journey and a glimpse into Intergang’s next move. 

Bruno Mannheim spun up a tale explaining his motivations behind opening the cancer center, noting that it was personal and stemmed from his mother’s illness caused by a chemical waste dump built next to what was known as the Suicide Slums.

He put up a great front, and I have no doubt that he was telling the truth—the bottom line is that he still has a nefarious plan in motion, which we see when Mr. Distefano, Deadline, attacks the DEO, stealing the location of several secret locations and thus, Bizarro’s frozen corpse (or whatever that is!). 

Mannheim strikes me as the kind of guy who thinks he’s doing a good thing and overlooking all the hurt and danger he’s causing in the process. 

We know that he’s been using Superman’s blood to give the lifeless power, and when he sees Bizarro—who looks just like Superman only deader—he seems to want to try out his little life potion on the Man of Steel’s replica. 

Is he hoping Superman’s blood will provide him with a cure for cancer while creating people with superpowers in the process? It’s possible that it’s the reason why he chooses people who are sick and dying. 

But all of these experiments could be very dangerous for the world, especially since Superman seems incapable of fighting against said powers. Deadline was able to keep landing jabs with Kryptonite, but Superman couldn’t get a hit on him no matter how hard he tried. Could this be a fight that Superman simply cannot win?

It seems as though Mannheim’s idea of helping his community and taking matters into his own hands hinges on giving the people back their power—the power and voice stolen from them—but at what cost?

Mannheim is a man who doesn’t have much trust in a government that’s turned its back on him and his community, so he doesn’t seem to care that the DOD is protecting certain assets for the greater good. 

I have some major questions about the security of the DOD if they keep having breaches. First Superman’s blood was stolen and now this? The place isn’t as impenetrable as I thought. 

And maybe that just means that Sam Lane needs to spend a little bit more time running the ship rather than hanging out at the farm. It’s nice that he’s spending time with his family and being a grandad to Nat—they had some genuinely heartwarming moments and heart-to-hearts—but things are falling apart when he’s not around.

He’s seemingly been in Smallville lending a hand due to Lois’ cancer. It’s a parent’s instinct to make sure a child is safe, and he’s on hand to make sure she’s well taken care of and making the best choices that respect their limits, particularly in this new phase of her life. 

Lois hasn’t come to terms with the fact that chemo is going to take its toll and slow her down. She’s an on-the-go gal with a fervor for life and a desire to seek out the truth at every cost. She focused more on breaking into Dr. Hook’s office at Hob’s Bay to get some dirt on Mannheim and less on the chemo process, but she can’t run away from the truth forever. 

For this to work, acceptance is necessary; she has to accept that she’s sick, that she needs to change her lifestyle, and that she needs to lean on her loved ones for help.

She was so determined to make it to the dance because she wanted to prove that she was stronger than the cancer, but it was actually strong of her to admit that she simply couldn’t do it no matter how hard she tried; there was nothing wrong with that. She acknowledged her limit and everyone was grateful that she was putting herself first.

Superman & Lois — “Head On” — Image Number: SML305a_ 0468r — Pictured (L – R): Sofia Hasmik as Chrissy Beppo and Erik Valdez as Kyle Cushing — Photo: Colin Bentley/The CW — © 2023 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

That same zest for life and desire to come out on the other side will come in handy, according to other cancer patients, when the “pull” starts to set in. It was heartbreaking hearing these tough women and survivors detailing the effects that cancer and chemo have on people, but it was important for a series to highlight it as well. Information is power. 

Essentially, Lois is going to need to channel all that courage and energy into getting better rather than giving up when her body wants nothing more than to shut down. Thankfully, she has an incredible support system, not to mention a case that she needs to see through. That seems like all the motivation she needs. 

I was actually a little concerned that Lois was being treated at Hob’s Bay where the show is run by Mannheim because if they are sworn enemies, it would so easy to have her eliminated. He would have the resources to inject her with something other than the chemo and he doesn’t have to care about bad press as he has enough money to make it go away and never see the light of day. 

It’s a dangerous game Lois is playing because Mannheim has absolutely no good or valid reason to keep her alive unless he personally benefits from her survival, which would be a very interesting plot twist. 

Lois may not have made it to the school dance, but Clark and the boys brought the dance to her—and it was all the more special. 

The dance was your run-of-the-mill high school experience, and I was actually more invested in the adult relationship developments than I was in the teen ones. 

Natalie’s moment with Matteo was cute because it proves he’s a good guy who really likes her (and she got a love life pep talk from this Earth’s version of grandpa), while Jonathan realized that his relationship with Candice would be tested by her move and his new firefighter training gig on weekends. I don’t actually believe young love could weather a long-distance storm, but I am eager to see Jonathan find a new purpose in life. 

Meanwhile, Sarah was a good friend to Junior, providing a shoulder to cry on as he reminisced on his late father. Junior is going through a grieving process, but thankfully, Sarah figured out that it’s what caused him to lash out—and her mom understood exactly why her daughter was being a good friend. It even inspired her to bury all of the drama with Mayor Dean and dedicate a memorial hall in his honor rather than digging up secrets and exposing him. It would be no good to do that to a man who can’t defend himself, plus I don’t think the town would react well to those tactics, even if she is simply being honest. It would only fuel the flames and serve as proof to those that believe she wanted to destroy him and cheat the election—some people just don’t want/deserve the truth. 

Chrissy let out a sigh of relief when she realized Lana’s text was to discuss Mayor Dean and not the fact that she was hooking up with her husband. 

Lana doesn’t seem to know about Kyle and Chrissy just yet, but it’s only a matter of time before people start figuring out that the duo is sneaking around together. Everyone saw them dance, right? The sparks were flying.

Considering Lana’s close relationship with Chrissy, it might feel like a betrayal, but at the same time, Kyle is single so he’s allowed to mingle. 

What did you think of the episode? Do you think there was too much of a focus on Lois’ cancer or do you feel like it’s vital to Mannheim’s storyline?