Review: Superman & Lois 2×01 – “What Lies Beneath”
[Editor’s note: This review may contain spoilers!]
Director: Gregory Smith
Writers: Brent Fletcher, Todd Helbing, Julianna James, Katie Aldrin, Jai Jamison, Andrew N. Wong, Adam Mallinger
Starring: Tyler Hoechlin, Elizabeth Tulloch, Jordan Elsass, Alex Garfin, Tayler Buck, Ian Bohen
Reviewed by: Steven Brown
Summary
Three months have passed since the assault on Smallville and the world by Morgan Edge and his planetary invasion. Clark and Lois struggle to regain normalcy, while John Henry tries to help his daughter Natalie find a new life on Earth.
Positives
Although it’s been only a few months since Morgan Edge’s attack on Smallville, things seemed to have changed all around for Lois and Clark. Smallville seems to have become “Superman Central,” with stands and booths lined up all over downtown selling Superman memorabilia. Clark doesn’t seem to mind the boost in the town’s morale, especially since what’s happened in the months prior. Lois is having difficulties it seems with everyone. Butting heads with her coworker Chrissy, her sons, and even Clark for hardly any reason. This mainly stems from some guilt of not talking to John Henry’s daughter Natalie when she had the chance. On an alternate Earth, Lois and Natalie are mother and daughter, and Natalie’s sudden appearance is a shock for both. I found myself being torn because one moment I felt sorry for Lois, but the next I was angry at her myself. She was lashing out at almost anyone for no reason at all. However, she does end up attempting to make a relationship with Natalie.
Negatives
Superman’s relationship with the U.S. Government seems to have gone from strained to now difficult. Lt. Mitch Anderson is the new head of the D.O.D. responsible for dealing with alien affairs and also Superman. When Superman answers a distress call for a North Korean nuclear submarine, he acts heroically and rescues all involved. Returning back to American soil, the Man of Steel doesn’t receive a warm reception from Lt. Anderson. Wanting a decree from Superman to put “America first,” Superman flat out refuses and tells Anderson he’ll continue saving the people of the world, and not just America alone. Anderson doesn’t like this at all and seems to have enacted a plan to make Superman ineffectual as a hero.
Verdict
Superman & Lois 2×01 was a great episode and a wonderful start to the second season. I’m excited to see how Natalie and John will fit into the lives of the Kent family. Also, at the end of the episode, there seems to be something trapped down in the Smallville mines that want to be free. Causing a minor earthquake in Smallville, I have a feeling we’ll be seeing what this new threat is sometime soon.
