Superman & Lois Season 4 Premiere Review – A World Without A…

Usually, on The Outerhaven, I’m the one doing binge-season reviews; that way, I have the “full story” and can judge it on its full merits. However, when it comes to the Arrowverse (which I wholeheartedly miss…more or less), I always took an episodic look at seasons because it was always about the build toward the finales and the arcs that ran throughout the season. The final show of the Arrowverse, Superman & Lois, is in its last season, and the two-premiere had much to discuss. So, as my Superman & Lois Season 4 Premiere Review will break down, what is it like when you lose someone you thought couldn’t die?

Yes, as was teased emphatically in the leadup to season 4, we are getting the “Death of Superman” arc, and while they do extend the death quite a bit, we do “definitively” see Superman die as Doomsday full-on rips out his heart and gives it to Lex Luthor, leaving the body for Lois and the others to mourn over.

In many ways, this is the most important point of the whole season. They do “drag you along” for a bit, but once Lois sees his heartless body and they rush him to the Fortress of Solitude, they make it clear that they are all up a creek…and the dangers are far from over.

Between “The End and the Beginning” and “A World Without,” we see the very menacing portrayal of Lex Luthor by Michael Cudlitz, who easily delivers one of the most menacing and intimidating versions of Lex ever. This is a man on a mission, and not unlike many legendary supervillains, he doesn’t accept failure and always tries to get his way, no matter what. Seeing him get so many victories right under Lois and the boys’ noses was gripping, and you almost dreaded what was coming next.

After all, in just two episodes, he killed Superman, made his first roots in Smallville, almost killed Sam Lane (more on that later), made it clear that Lois would suffer, forced Lois into a “Sophie’s Choice” situation, destroyed Superman’s heart (more on that also later), and promised more was to come. The showrunners made it clear that this whole season is dedicated to taking down Luthor, and I’m not mad about that at all.

What kept me invested throughout much of the two-part premiere was the emotional core of the series shining through. Superman & Lois has honestly been at its best more times than not when it revolved around the Kent family and their allies versus the superhero madness going on around them. While you didn’t read my reviews on it, I thought the Lois cancer storyline from Season 3 was one of the most powerful storylines in TV history. It was that good. Thankfully, the fear of losing Superman, and then the “Death” of Superman brought forth many great scenes that made me happy despite the sad subject matter.

For example, Lois flashing back to key past moments with Clark felt so right. It you want me to say that Tyler Hoechlin and Bitsie Tulloch are the best on-screen Lois & Clark…they ARE the best on-screen version of Lois & Clark. They’re just so good together! Even the final scenes with the Superman hologram were touching to the fullest.

Furthermore, watching Jonathan and Jordan struggle with what to do, including making several questionable decisions out of grief and loss, helped make things even more compelling. Sure, I figured no one else would die in the premiere, but at one point…you had to wonder, given what Luthor was doing.

I even loved Lana and Sarah getting involved where they could so that they could try to save Clark and put a stop to Luthor where possible. Obviously, it won’t end well for them, but I appreciate their “Smallville Loyalty” shining through. Just like with Chuck, who learned the truth…but promised not to tell because of all Superman had done. It’s nice seeing…just nice people on TV. A strange thing, I know.

Sadly, there were a few things that definitely brought down the premiere from the high point it got at times. For example, one of the biggest plot points in the first episode was Jordan trying to find Sam Lane. Yet, he couldn’t find him definitively. However, just a scene later, when we KNOW he’s listening for him, Sam and “Gretchen” have a full-on conversation, and yet he doesn’t hear it. Yet he hears a one-off line from Gretchen RIGHT after she and Otis bury him? Really?

That wasn’t the only plot hole. Such as Lex Luthor hiring “Gretchen” to seduce and then kill Sam Lane…only to hesitate because she “actually liked him.” That is SO CW and contrived it hurt to watch. Not to mention, it backfired on her twice! Of, speaking of that second time, how in the heck did both Gretchen and Otis get away, when Gretchen was KO’d by Lois, and Otis was sent FLYING INTO A BUILDING and then landed hard on the ground due to Jordan? That doesn’t make any sense. Not to mention, Sam saw Luthor ordering his hit, but he didn’t try to get him arrested. Even though he’s with the D.O.D. and definitely has the authority to do such things?

Just as important, this season will be “memorable” because, much like with the rest of the Arrowverse and LOTS of other original programming on The CW, it got serious budget cuts. That means many long-time characters won’t be in many episodes of the final season. That sucks, and you could already feel the absence of them, including Chrissy, the Irons, and so on.

Finally, and arguably most importantly, while I appreciate the two-part premiere doing the fallout of a “Death of Superman” storyline, it kind of rings hollow because we KNOW he’s coming back. Sure, the showrunners are “playing coy” about “how they’ll bring him back” or “if he’ll bring them back,” but we all know they will. Thus, while it’s nice to see the drama on display…it’ll be undone within the next few episodes.

As I wrap up my Superman & Lois Season 4 Premiere Review, I will say that Superman & Lois as a whole continues to be a bright light in superhero television. It tells deep, meaningful, and realistic-esque storylines without trying to “dumb down” things for viewers…unlike certain other shows I can mention. Sure, not everything fired on all cylinders, but that’s just how things work sometimes. We all want this show to go off on good terms, and I think this is a great start to that.