Superman & Lois wages a terrifying Battle of Metropolis
The penultimate episode of the season ends with a massive showdown and an unnerving cliffhanger
TV Reviews Lois
Live
action superhero properties may regularly level city blocks and destroy alien worlds,
but it’s rare that they manage to conjure up an actual sense of danger. So I have to give
“The Eradicator” major props for making me feel something I’m not sure I’ve ever felt
while watching an Arrowverse show before: A genuine sense of fear. Though there’s plenty
about this episode that’s painfully hokey, it was legitimately terrifying to
watch Leslie Larr rise up behind Lois as she
reports live on the Battle of Metropolis—a mirror image of the way Lois died
on John Henry Irons’ world. And it was even more terrifying to watch Morgan “Eradicator” Edge calmly
face off against Jordan, Jonathan, Sarah, and an injured General Lane with all
hope of help miles away.
Plus, as far
as cliffhangers go, EradiEdge forcefully implanting his father’s
consciousness into Jordan’s body while Clark tearfully tells Lois that their
son is gone is some of the most viscerally upsetting genre TV I’ve seen in a
while. For as frenetic as its plotting can be at times, Superman & Lois’ first season has
done a fantastic job building up the Lane-Kents as a loving family unit. And that’s key to what makes this episode’s climax so unnerving: We don’t just watch our heroes face danger, we watch their loved ones watch them face peril (as Jonathan and Jordan do when they turn on the TV coverage of the Battle of Metropolis), which is somehow even scarier. Between that affecting emotional core and some impressively cinematic visuals, the final 15 or so minutes of this episode are among the best stuff Superman & Lois has ever delivered.
Indeed, the
highs of this episode are so high that they paper over the fact that there’s a
lot about it that doesn’t work too. While Superman & Lois is fantastic
at small scale character work, it’s never been as good at larger scale social
commentary. Pretty much everything about Smallville’s post-Edge economic woes
falls flat, mostly because it lacks the specificity of the family drama stuff.
The generic protest signs the angry residents bring to the Town Hall meeting look like something
out of a Pepsi ad. And there’s a whole
lot of telling and not enough showing when it comes to local businesses leaving town
or Chrissy suddenly having to sell the Smallville Gazette to a multinational
conglomerate. (Why would they even want a small-town newspaper with two employees?)
To some degree, the first half of this episode is designed to lull viewers into a false sense of security before pulling the rug out from under them. It feels intentional that “The Eradicator” opens with smaller scale storylines about the Cushings maybe deciding to move out of Smallville and Irons pushing Jonathan away, only to unexpectedly swerve into much more high-stakes territory. But the pacing is off at times. The moment we cut away from the escalating Battle of Metropolis to watch Jonathan reconnect with Tegan is especially strange. And it also seems like we’re missing a few scenes that showcase Jonathan and Irons’ newfound bond before the fight that pushes them apart. The complex, trauma-fueled tension between them is great, it just could’ve been set up better.
Indeed, while
there’s so much about Superman & Lois that works on an emotional level,
it can sometimes struggle on a logistical one. The scene where Lois suddenly
decides to reveal classified government secrets at a Town Hall meeting is especially bizarre. It doesn’t
particularly feel like she’s operating as a journalist so much as a politician
or activist. And the whole “I know things because my dad is occupying your town”
vibe seems like the wrong move for someone who’s trying to get Smallville’s residents to trust her (and I’m surprised General Lane isn’t more pissed about it too). Elsewhere, the fact that EradiEdge can instantly give people both Kryptonian consciousnesses and powers is a bit too easy—especially compared to how laboriously he had to select and experiment on his subjects before.
And
yet the parts of this episode that work are so effective that it’s hard to complain too much about the rest. Lois jumping into a live report during the Battle of Metropolis
is a perfect encapsulation of her unique combination of journalistic integrity,
selflessness, and bravery. Jordan telling Sarah he loves her before Edge whisks
him away is quietly devastating. And the whole sequence with an injured General
Lane talking Jonathan through shooting a Kryptonite pistol is a viscerally
upsetting look at how much the Kent boys are being asked to take on now that
they’re involved in their dad’s superhero life.
As has often been the case for Superman & Lois this season, “The Eradicator” bites off more than it
can chew but winds up delivering such compelling individual pieces that it’s
easier to forgive the fact that they don’t quite add up to a satisfying whole. The Battle of Metropolis already feels like a defining setpiece of the series. And EradiEdge
turning his nephew into his dad is an appropriately eerie, deeply twisted cliffhanger
for this family-focused show. The fact that Superman & Lois continues to deliver so many game-changing shifts from week to week means there’s no telling what the season finale has in store. And best of all, there are no more hiatuses before we get there. See you back here next week.
Stray
observations
- The
scene where Clark tries to convince Lana to stay in Smallville by telling her she’s his best friend is very sweet, even if that idea kind of came out of nowhere. - It’s really moving that Irons gets the chance to save this Earth’s Lois after being unable to save his own.
- Tegan
explains that she moved to Smallville from Central City when her dad went to
prison two years ago. Is there a Flash connection there? - Lana
randomly making a mid-afternoon pie felt a little bit too cutesy,
even for this show. - On
the other hand, I did love how realistic Sarah’s teenage outburst was. - FYI, I’m
also covering Superman & Lois’ new Tuesday night sister series Stargirl, if you’d like to follow along with those reviews this season.
47 Comments
Yeah I feel like at this point if they want to do a story about the Superfamily in making a new life in Smallville we kind of need to see more of it and meet more of its residents. Like the asshole mayor from last episode, where was he before that, or this week for that matter?I’m guessing that Teagan is the daughter of a supervillain, but I’ll bet it’s one we’ve never met before. Or have met but is recast.I did like Sam Lane yelling at a kid at that party. Of all the places I expected Sam Lane to show up on this show, a high school party wasn’t one of them.
I thought for a second Teagan might be Weather Witch, but it’s a completely different actress. I do think this is definitely laying groundwork for something next year.
Parts of the “small town dying” subplot definitely hit home for me; during the hiatus I took a trip back to my old hometown, which is in a similar state of abandonment like Smallville (only without the supervillain attacks and military occupation). So when Clark says the local hardware shop’s closed up, that was relatable. Simultaneously…I have little sympathy for what plays as a town hall of angry small-town simpletons demanding answers they won’t fully understand. it was legitimately terrifying to watch Leslie Larr rise up behind Lois as she reports live on the Battle of MetropolisI loved this reprise, and I almost wish the show had saved it for the season finale, and maybe made an even bigger thing of it. Does Irons know he saved this world’s Lois from a similar fate? The show has an odd tendency to introduce genuinely terrifying threats, then resolve them in the span of an episode.Hoping Edge returns after this season, it feels like there’s seeds of an interesting character but at this point he’s been stripped of personality and is a walking evilizer.
“Hoping Edge returns after this season, it feels like there’s seeds of an interesting character but at this point he’s been stripped of personality and is a walking evilizer.”They could have it that Morgan regaining his own personality is what defeats the evilizer.
He can always be brought back to normal, he does have his mothers voice inside him.
Two former big-city reporters with a huge mortgageable farm could certainly afford to buy a little, small town paper, if that’s something they wanted to do.
Or you know call in Ray Palmer who I’m sure would help Clark with money without any fuss.
Is Ray even rich anymore? He had to take that job at Upswipz after all. Although, maybe Jordan or Jonathan could wish for Nora to be their fairy godmother for a while…
Gah you’re right. Who owns Queen Consolidated now?
Felicity maybe? I’m pretty sure in one of the trips to the future the QC building was rebranded SmoakTech.
No one owns it apparently. Felicity somehow got fired as the owner and then the company immediately went out of business.
Serves her and Oliver right for hijacking someone’s wedding! Maybe Ray creates a new app that gets his money back. God I miss him and Nora on the waverider.
Ray’s personal stock probably tanked after being possessed by Neron and endorsing the whole soul-stealing app thing.
Ironic, considering that Dark Ray Palmer would probably open some new demos up for him
I’m over Sarah and her teenage angst, and constantly yelling at and berating her parents because they took a chance to save their dying town. Yeah, life sucks, this situation is fucked. Screaming at it won’t fix it. If you think you’re old to no longer be treated like a child (an accusation she HAS made in a previous episode), then stop acting like one. Stop throwing a temper tantrum every time things don’t go your way.
Shes 14.
. (Why would they even want a small-town newspaper with two employees?)Several exhibitshttps://www.npr.org/2021/05/21/998730863/vulture-fund-alden-global-known-for-slashing-newsrooms-buys-tribune-papershttps://gothamist.com/news/metro-new-york-staff-fired-without-severance-schneps-media-gobbles-more-local-news
I would suggest adding The Loudest Voice to your list, but the descriptive URL’s are all about Ailes and Fox News, not the little paper he bought for spite.
I did recently read an article about how many local news sources are being taken over by fake news syndicates(or whatever they try to call themselves). Next season could have a plotline about how the Smallville’s paper gets stuck reporting fake news and Chrissy and Lois trying to get it back.
I hope they do a better job with that angle that Supergirl did last season. I REALLY wish that Andrea wasn’t treated as sympathetic in the end.
Supergirl was always neocon garbage. That show was steeped in social commentary while only ever being able to get a fraction of its criticisms correct.
All in all that was a strong episode, and seeing Clark have to fight a possessed Jordan is going to be one hell of a gut punch.So wait, the Kent boys are being paired up with a Sarah and a Tegan? I still think Tegan’s running a con on Jon btw. Kyle’s buddy at the firehouse definitely felt like the show’s attempt to course correct on the earlier criticism that there were no sympathetic PoC on the show, and good for them for trying, but maybe don’t make it quite so on the nose there.
So wait, the Kent boys are being paired up with a Sarah and a Tegan? I still think Tegan’s running a con on Jon btw.Didn’t catch that at all (mostly because I kept forgetting the name of the girl playing with Jonathan). That’s hilarious.
It didn’t click with me until I read Caroline’s review.
I don’t think Tegan is playing games her but wouldn’t leave out the possibility. She said she moved with her mom from Central City after her dad “kind of” got put in jail. It seems there could be a link to The Flash here. Maybe her dad is a villain(or criminal) Flash defeated at some point.
“Somehow, Weather Wizard has returned”
It makes sense, both Kent boys seem to be fools for love.
I sure hope Supergirl explains why Kara has never once beem called in to help with this situation.
I think this is supposed to take place at the same time she was in the Phantom Zone. Covid messed up the shooting schedule and continuity so much though so it’s hard to make the timeline out.
That’d be a totally acceptable reason if only the show could actually confirm it. And I get that they may not have known for sure when this was all gonna air in relation to season 6 of Supergirl, but any of the S&L writers/producers could’ve also confirmed this in an interview, tweet, etc. by now. It just gives off the impression that they really don’t care at all
I’m still thinking that Superman and Lois jumps ahead to after Supergirl has left Earth after her series ends.
Like most comics book stories, just assume that all the other heroes are busy with equally important super-villains. Otherwise every S&L episode could be easily solved by having every Super-friend swoop in and help solve the situation.
Smallville Gazette getting bought out by a media conglomerate – CatCo, by any chance?
Nope
I doubt that Kryptonite bullet would have had any effect on EradiEdge considering he effortlessly broke out of the Kryptonite jail once Edge turned himself over to the device. If he ends up being stopped by K, it would be one of the worst inconsistencies ever. Steel’s Red solar flares should be what ends up stopping him.
I mean, it probably seemed like a good idea at the time for Sam.
The scene where Clark tries to convince Lana to stay in Smallville by telling her she’s his best friend is very sweet, even if that idea kind of came out of nowhere.
This is a fair critique; this is one thing where the show would’ve done well to lift a page from Reservation Dogs, if only so we got a scene where Clark and Lana greet each other with “hey bitch.”
Why do I get the feeling that Jonathan’s turning into Brad Taylor? 😉
It all make sense for Edge to capture and hijack Jordan. Like Darth Vader said about Luke: “If he could be turned, he would become a powerful ally.” And look at the psychological angle: Edge would force Superman to fight his own son. Brilliant!At the same time, it makes me think the scheme will unwittingly unlock many of Jordan’s powers. Save Clark some time and effort while training him. LOL
Plus, that scene where Edge ambushes the boys, General Lane and Sarah in the car? It’s eerily similar to Moira Queen’s death in Arrow, Season 2. It’s like Jordan saying goodbye for the last time…
Edge using his body as a weapon to make the car crash was a genuine ‘holy shit!’ moment. And Superman looking upset at not being able to find Jordan was…actually upsetting. It’s like seeing your own dad have a cry – natural, yet at the same time not something you expect. Bravo to the writers for making Superman’s true vulnerability his family, as a solid thematic point. Also bravo to Tyler Hoechin and Bitsy Tulloch for selling the hell out of that scene.JHI smacking Leslie with his hammer from miles away in the nick of time? *chef’s kiss* “I never miss.”
• It’s unnerving to see The Edgeradicator (sorry, not fond of EradiEdge) overwrite his nephew with his father, but I imagine it sets up a moment in which Zeta-Jordan is shouting terrible things at Edge while he watches Superman refuse to do any harm to his son. Because the power of love is moving.• Is Lois an independent reporter in Smallville or is she under contract? If the latter, buying out a small paper to get one of the best reporters in the world is a brilliant move.• It’s bothersome that the parts that don’t quite work in this episode involved Jonathan. The character gets the short end of things in multiple ways on this show.
As with the Smallvillians, are they ever going to explain how humans who become possessed by Kryptonian ghosts instantly gain superpowers and have a lifetime of experience in how to use them?
It feels like a lot of reviewers tend to ignore class commentary in major TV shows. This show is doing fine in that regard. If it was The Flash or Supergirl, the studio would have certainly create a scenario in which a random billionaire is treated as a good person despite being a monster moments earlier.
A Sarah and a Tegan? Clearly everyone’s talking about “Doctor Who”, right? That’s the only way I can process it.
Tegan and Sara are a Grammy-nominated indie music duo – twin sisters – with nine albums under their belt.I had to look that up because speaking as an early GenXer they’re kinda off my radar.
Interesting stuff for a cw show for sure
“or Chrissy suddenly having to sell the Smallville Gazette to a multinational conglomerate. (Why would they even want a small-town newspaper with two employees?)“Well … https://www.npr.org/2021/10/18/1046952430/the-consequences-of-when-a-hedge-fund-buys-newspapers
“The scene where Clark tries to convince Lana to stay in Smallville by telling her she’s his best friend is very sweet, even if that idea kind of came out of nowhere.”We all know that Lois is Clark’s real best friend. But outside of his family, Lana is probably his best friend. In most adaptations Clark doesn’t really have lots of friends – Perry and Jimmy are probably the closest, and I wouldn’t consider either of them his “best friend”.Lana and his mother are probably the only two people in Smallville that Clark was actually close with when he grew up there. He doesn’t seem to be friends with anyone else in the town. So the “best friend” designation here seems to be a “by default” choice.