Superman & Lois review: “The Perks of Not Being a Wallflower”

Superman & Lois fans didn’t get any updates this week on the status of one Captain Lois (Wolé Parks), but “The Perks of Not Being a Wallflower” is no less excited than what we’ve already come to expect from The CW’s newest Arrowverse series.

As usual, family matters are at the heart of this week’s episode. The family is slow to get settled in their new home of Smallville. Particularly with Jordan (Alex Garfin) having powers he doesn’t quite understand, you’ve got yourself a unique adjustment period.

Superman & Lois & teenage growing pains

Between the discovery of Jordan’s powers, both boys going to a new high school, and dealing with bullies, it’s already been a rocky road for Jonathan (Jordan Elsass) and Jordan.

In particular, Jordan is grappling with a lot as he comes to understand what having powers truly means. But like any typical teenager, he gets ahead of himself, going against Clark’s wishes that he lay low and joining the football team with Jonathan.

Given Jordan’s super strength, this isn’t the best idea, even if he is killing it out on the field. My heart goes out to Jonathan, however, because while he only wants the best for his brother, Jordan joining the football team essentially means he’s coopting his “thing.” Of course, Jonathan doesn’t have exclusive rights to football, but when you’re his age especially, that kind of thing matters to your identity.

Nonetheless, Jonathan is a strong advocate for Jordan, and despite feeling uncomfortable about his decision to join the football team and then hide it from their parents, he’s there for him. Sure, he loses his temper when Jordan gets in over his head, but he’s come back around.

I won’t lie when I say my emotions got the best of me when Jonathan rallied for Jordan after Clark found out he was playing football. Jordan was quick to realize that while it meant giving up some of his space as the family’s football star, it also meant that Jonathan was finally starting to find his own way. For someone with social anxiety, that’s a huge step, and Jonathan recognized that.

I’m loving this brotherly love on Superman & Lois, and I love that while they fight like any brothers, sibling rivalry isn’t the main focus. There is always support and love there, for one another and for their parents, even when they find out their dad has been secretly listening to their conversations with his super-hearing.

We’ve never quite seen Superman as a parent before, and so when the boys rightfully express their anger at this invasion of privacy, it’s interesting to see how Clark reacts. I’m glad this show is digging into this part of him.

The Lang-Cushing family

Superman & Lois hasn’t done much about Lana Lang (Emmanuelle Chriqui) and Kyle Cushing (Erik Valdez), but this week’s episode finally reveals just how imperfect this “perfect” family is. From the outside looking in, Lana, Kyle, and their daughter Sarah (Inde Navarrette) seemingly have it together, but upon closer inspection, they’re quite fractured.

Both Lana and Kyle are ashamed that Sarah is going to therapy following her suicide attempt. Meanwhile, their marriage is a sham; they don’t really speak to one another or get along.

And then there’s Morgan Edge, who they’ve both gotten involved with. That won’t end well, especially with Lois on their case, but more on that in a bit.

Watching Lana and Sarah try to understand one another is beautiful and sad. As Sarah reveals to her mother, she felt trapped in Smallville, an overwhelming feeling that eventually led her to try and take her own life. Finally opening up to Sarah, Lana confesses she too feels trapped and alone at times.

Chriqui and Navarette do a stellar job in this episode. I love that this show is addressing mental health with this kind of subtlety and grace. Whether it’s Jordan’s anxiety or Sarah trying to work through the aftermath of her suicide attempt, their struggles are something viewers can connect with. It’s not often a show, especially a superhero show, broaches topics like this, but I’m so glad to see Superman & Lois take the lead.

Lois takes on Morgan Edge

It’s interesting to see Lois Lane (Bitsie Tulloch) go from The Daily Planet to the Smallville Gazette, where she doesn’t get the same respect or authority she once had. I understand that things change, but does anyone else find it odd that ever since she joined the Gazette, it’s like she’s not taken seriously by the very young (and likely inexperienced) woman running the paper, Chrissy (Sofia Hasmik)?

In any case, Lois continues to look into Morgan Edge after a woman named Sharon Powell (Jill Teed) approaches her with some intel. As it turns out, Sharon’s son Derek, went missing after going to work for Edge in New Carthage.

Lois is somewhat reluctant to take Sharon at her word, but when someone Molotov cocktails Lois’ car, it’s apparent that someone is looking to shut her up. Matters worsen when Lois and Sharon head to her hotel room and are attacked by a metahuman who even Superman struggles to take down.

The metahuman eventually escapes but doesn’t make it very far as Edge’s assistant Leslie (Stacey Farber) brutally heat-visions him to death. Not sure what the story is there, or how she’s connected to all of this, or how in the world she has heat-vision, but I’m betting we’ll be learning all that and more soon.

Superman & Lois has me invested in every aspect of its story. It’s also clear that The CW has spent a good chunk of money making it look great.

Seeing Superman as a father is a great new angle on the character. While the comics have their share of family time, the show is very smart to zero in on it like this. My hope is that as the season progresses, we continue to see this kind of quality episode, and of course, more of Captain Luthor!

Grade: B

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