Superman and Lois
Season 3 - Episode 6 - "Of Sound Mind"
Note: In-universe, a month has passed since the events of episode 5.
SM/Clark / Lois / Dr. Irons: Clark has joined a support group for those in relationships with people suffering from cancer; one man breaks down with the knowledge that his wife does not have long to live; the moderator shares her own story of her now late husband's attempt to hang on against the odds--for her sake, but at the end of it all, she had to let her husband go. Hearing two tragic accounts from people in his position shakes him to his core
Lois & Clark begin to put certain pieces together about Atom and Man and Deadline, as both were granted early release from prison due to suffering from terminal cancer, and--as everyone knows--were guinea pigs empowered by a mix of X-K and Superman's blood...but Lois and Clark cannot understand why Manheim used his concoction on two terminally ill men...
Later, Lois speaks to Clark about drafting a Last Will and Power of Attorney papers, as she's accepting the possibility of not surviving cancer. Clark seems nonchalant--almost dismissive about her concern, stating she will not need the paperwork (SEE NOTES), adding its fine if filing the papers makes her feel better...
The next day, Lois and her new friend Peia (at the cancer treatment wing) discuss dealing with optimistic husbands, and how Clark just might make Lois "lose it" if he says "everything is okay" again. Peia informs Lois that Manheim has improved healthcare and the schools in Hobb's Bay, crediting the hospital for saving her life when she (and others) were left with no option in the hands of other doctors. Lois still believes Manheim's work is a cover for something, but her friend cannot bring herself to jump on the "Mannheim-is-guilty" train....
Back at the farm, Lois becomes fed up with Clark, due to his inability to understand the gravity of cancer, which she describes as her villain. Lois adds that in Clark's reality, he never has to deal with illness, or threats which harm or kill humans, so his feel-good platitudes are especially galling to her--a revelation leaving Clark at a loss for anything meaningful to say.
Sam: Sam calls Superman in to talk to Deadline (at the villain's request), he finds the villain ailing-- seemingly close to death. Deadline begs Superman to take him to the one person who can help him--Manheim. Superman honors the request, but their arrival in Manheim's office is met with utter contempt for Superman and disinterest in Deadline's condition, suggesting Superman take the man to a hospital. As Superman whisks the dying Deadline away, Manheim's face is a curious mix of fear & outrage...
Manheim: Perhaps the fear side of Manheim is the cause of his demands for an updated serum based on the regenerative powers of Superman's blood (and presumably Bizarro's), but the mysterious Onomatopoeia warns Manheim's that his recent moves are reckless--
Jonathan II: Jordan begins his first day as a trainee at the firehouse, cleaning the truck over and over again. Visited by Sarah and Soph, the younger sister complains about her boredom, but Kyle does not have time for her. Sarah approaches Jonathan with an offer to study together (at Kyle's apartment), which the trainee readily accepts. That afternoon, Sarah and Jonathan seem to be hitting it off unlike any other point in their friendship (SEE NOTES), and this leads Sarah to be dismissive of Soph's various complaints. Before they know it, Lana arrives at the apartment, and notices Soph is missing, sending the trio into the streets in search of Soph....
After Jonathan find Soph, he's quick to understand what she's going through, relates to her his own feeling of being neglected--left out, as he did early on. Soph insists her family does not care about her, but Sarah and Kyle's reaction might lead her to change her mind.
Jordan and Clark: At the Fortress, Clark stresses that factors such as risk assessment, tactics and experience are the tools the ever over-confident Jordan needs--not just powering his way through Fortress tests. Soon, Jordan becomes fed up with the tests, spitting out his belief that Clark can't handle the idea of another person being Super...
It does not take long for Clark and Jordan sort of straighten out their differences, but their attempt to find common ground is interrupted when Clark hears Lois' pleas for help. Flying to the rescue, he discovers "Lois" was the trickery of Onomatopoeia, who attacks the second he lands, using her sonic force to blow him through the wall of a warehouse.
At the farm, the real Lois shows up, and once learning of the deception, asks Jordan to listen for his father--now crumbling to Kryptonite energy weapons used by Onomatopoeia's gunmen. Lois sends her son to the rescue, but Jordan--despite his best effort--is quickly shot in the chest, sending him to floor in a heap. The sight of his son appearing hurt--perhaps dead gives Superman the drive to fight back, using his heat vision to blast his assailants and super-punch Onomatopoeia out of the warehouse. The fearful Superman embraces his son who shakes off the effect of the blast, suggesting his half-human biology may give him some sort of immunity to Kryptonite...
That evening, Jordan's attempt to poke fun at his brother's firehouse t-shirt is deflated when Jonathan says Sarah thought the shirt was cool. As you can imagine, Jordan chases after his brother, wanting more information....
With a world of problems on his shoulders, Clark is close to breaking down, admitting to how afraid he's been--that his being overprotective of Jordan was due to feeling that he can do nothing to keep Lois safe. Clark is defeated in a way Lois has not witnessed before, nearly sobbing about how he does not want to lose her, but Lois--not trying to fight back tears--promises to do everything she can to beat cancer--never leaving her family...
The following day, Clark returns to the support group, letting all of his fears out about the idea--a possibility of letting Lois (or the rest of his family) go. He realizes he needs to be the best version of himself he can be, and that requires help he--Superman--never felt the need to request before...
Onomatopoeia returns to Manheim's lab--her powers and her life fading. Manheim is uncharacteristically sympathetic to the villain, who removes her mask to reveal she is...Lois' friend Peia. Manheim caresses her face, promising to save her (SEE NOTES).
Lana / Kyle / Sarah: Lana's aversion to discussing the funds the late mayor used only piques Chrissy's interest, and once Lana sits down with her, she feels discomfort when Lana mentions Kyle...
While Lana searches for Soph (see the Jonathan II entry), she runs into Kyle...and Chrissy--the nature of their rendezvous clear as day. Despite being the one to file for divorce, Lana appears to feel betrayed by Kyle (who still acts as if he's interested in reconciling) and Chrissy, who has been interviewing her--looking her in the face with this most uncomfortable of secrets...
That evening, Kyle visits Chrissy, but she senses where their drama is going and asks Kyle to break up with her. Kyle refuses, going so far as to suggest they make their relationship known to all (SEE NOTES).
NOTES:
Arguably the most powerful episode of the series so far, and the various arc are so solid that I cannot imagine it will lose such weighty momentum heading toward a mid-season finale (whenever that comes).
The moment Peia talked up Manheim's good works and revealed she's from Hobb's Bay, I concluded she had some personal connection to the villain. Now that she's revealed to be Onomatopoeia--and dying--this has the potential of placing Peia in a desperate situation, perhaps using the real Lois as bait to capture Superman with the idea that a body full of Kryptonian blood would be a great resource for Dr. Hook's experiments, yet how would Superman respond when he learns Onomatopoeia is the ailing Peia trying to save her own life?
Er...a triangle involving Sarah and the Kent twins? One would hope this does not turn into Smallville: 90210 where a jealous Jordan becomes a wild risk-taker as a means of blotting out his heartbreak, and ends up stumbling into a Manheim trap.
Kyle and Chrissy go public with their relationship...and Lana now realizes her marriage is truly a thing of the past. Perhaps this leads her to want to grow closer to Irons....
Tulloch and Hoechlin gave the performances of the series in this episode. For all of Clark's cautious behavior about his other life, and trying to keep his civilian life somewhat normal, he's made to appear consistently out of touch with what it means to be a vulnerable human--how people (the rest of the world) cannot brush off violence, disease and other threats. They have no choice but to face it, no matter the outcome, and now he--thanks to Lois being blunt and tenderhearted--finally made Clark feel her struggle, to come down from his Kryptonian pedestal and at least try to feel the fragility in being human dealing with one their worst afflictions.
BTW, in the Luthor trailer, Cudlitz sort of sounds as if he's channeling the voice of Clancy Brown's Luthor delivery from the DCAU.
GRADE: A.
