Spoilers "Superman & Lois" Season 1 spoiler discussion!

[The Realist]

Superman & Lois is the most CW-ish show of the currently running Arrowverse shows, the entire show is based around teen angst, with Superman added in to try to appeal to people who don't like the generic CW teen drama stuff.

Still haven't watched it, right? Then you.

Do.

Not.

Know.

WTF.

You're talking about.

 

[The Realist]

Just before she showed up, I think I heard the assassin mention someone named Lar who'd be taking care of something. That sounds like a Kryptonian name, but I don't know if it's meant to be hers. The DC Database doesn't mention any female Kryptonians of that name. There's a male Phantom Zone criminal named Lar-On (basically a Kryptonian werewolf). Plus there's Lar Gand, but that's Mon-El's other name, and he's a Daxamite.

The character’s name is Leslie Larr, which is clearly a play on the Silver Age Kandorian villainess Lesla-Lar. Not certain yet what relation this character actually has to her near-namesake, or if it’s more just an Easter egg a la “Beppo.”

 

[Romulan_spy]

Superman & Lois is the most CW-ish show of the currently running Arrowverse shows, the entire show is based around teen angst, with Superman added in to try to appeal to people who don't like the generic CW teen drama stuff.

That's a rather cynical view which I disagree with. Superman & Lois has "CW" elements yes but it also has very clear Superman elements as well like the plot with Captain Luthor, General Lane and the superpowered henchmen. The show is a balance of both IMO. I've heard some describe the show has half CW, half HBO Max. So far, it's really working for me. While I don't love the teen angst elements, it's tolerable. And the Superman elements are great. I am very interested with what will happen with Captain Luthor and I find the concept that he thinks he is the hero trying to stop our Superman from becoming evil, to be a good premise for the season. Also, the show does a great job with the visuals and the action sequences. It's a very "Man of Steel" presentation of Superman. I like it a lot.

The show could easily have have kept Superman to having one kid, and keeping that kid a toddler, if they wanted to get away from the stupid CW angst. But instead they added an extra kid and changed the ages during Crisis, making this is the only Arrowverse show focused on teenagers (well, Black Lightning kind of is, but as bad as that show is BL himself still felt more like the main character then his kids did, from what I watched at least).

Sure it could have gone that route but the writers decided not to. This is the direction they want to take the show. Frankly, I think it is better because it opens up more possibilities. You really want a Superman show to be about Clark Kent changing diapers? This way, there are more stories to tell with the kids. Especially with one of the kids manifesting powers, it opens up interesting stories.

 

[Christopher]

That's a rather cynical view which I disagree with. Superman & Lois has "CW" elements yes but it also has very clear Superman elements as well like the plot with Captain Luthor, General Lane and the superpowered henchmen. The show is a balance of both IMO. I've heard some describe the show has half CW, half HBO Max.

I find it rather different from what I think of as a typical CW show -- more subdued, more sedate, more cinematic. Or at least, it's trying to be more like the CW's family dramas and such than its action-adventure shows.

I am very interested with what will happen with Captain Luthor and I find the concept that he thinks he is the hero trying to stop our Superman from becoming evil, to be a good premise for the season.

I dunno, I'm not sure where you go with that if it turns out Cap'n L is a good guy and so is Superman. You'd think one conversation would be enough to clear that up. Although I guess it's more Cap'n L's fear of how a good Superman might let power go to his head and break bad -- but that seems like a story that would be more credible to tell about a young Superman just starting out. This Superman has been at it for a couple of decades now; if he were going to be corrupted by his power, it would've happened by now. Just reading some history books and newspapers should clear that up.

 

[Nerys Myk]

The writers might need to up their pop ref game. Morrisey and El DeBarge? Are the boys raiding Martha's record collection?

 

[kirk55555]

Still haven't watched it, right? Then you.

Do.

Not.

Know.

WTF.

You're talking about.

Yeah, I do. Unless every person and every site describing/talking about the show online, and every single officially released trailer and synopsis are all lying. Its a CW teen drama that sprinkles in Superman elements because it wants Arrowverse viewers to keep watching.

That's a rather cynical view which I disagree with. Superman & Lois has "CW" elements yes but it also has very clear Superman elements as well like the plot with Captain Luthor, General Lane and the superpowered henchmen. The show is a balance of both IMO. I've heard some describe the show has half CW, half HBO Max. So far, it's really working for me. While I don't love the teen angst elements, it's tolerable. And the Superman elements are great. I am very interested with what will happen with Captain Luthor and I find the concept that he thinks he is the hero trying to stop our Superman from becoming evil, to be a good premise for the season. Also, the show does a great job with the visuals and the action sequences. It's a very "Man of Steel" presentation of Superman. I like it a lot.

Sure it could have gone that route but the writers decided not to. This is the direction they want to take the show. Frankly, I think it is better because it opens up more possibilities. You really want a Superman show to be about Clark Kent changing diapers? This way, there are more stories to tell with the kids. Especially with one of the kids manifesting powers, it opens up interesting stories.

I want a Superman show about Superman. I'd have preferred him not having any kids but a toddler would still take up less screen time then two teens. There hasn't been a single live action Superman show actually about an adult Superman since the 1950s, every damn show since George Reeves has had to put a "twist" on Superman. I just want a straight up Superman show, where he is the main character and is actually Superman. Instead, the show has a lying title (it should be called something like Super Sons, since they're the main characters and focus, but that doesn't sell well, branding wise) and is just generic CW teen crap with a few minutes of superman showing up to try to bring in viewers.

 

[The Realist]

Two additional scenes in this week's online extended cut: a brief bit at the Cushings' with Sarah refusing to eat with the family, and a humorous scene with Clark applying for the assistant coach's position.

 

[The Realist]

Instead, the show has a lying title (it should be called something like Super Sons, since they're the main characters and focus, but that doesn't sell well, branding wise) and is just generic CW teen crap with a few minutes of superman showing up to try to bring in viewers.

See.

Above.

 

[thribs]

Two additional scenes in this week's online extended cut: a brief bit at the Cushings' with Sarah refusing to eat with the family, and a humorous scene with Clark applying for the assistant coach's position.

The iTunes version is the same. Obviously pushing this show to do better on blu ray/streaming

 

[CorporalClegg]

Or. you know, commercials.

 

[thribs]

Commercials are the reason those scenes were cut.

 

[theenglish]

This show is not really a CW teen drama. In those shows the adults are either foils or secondary characters. This show is a family drama, and it is doing a damn fine job of realistically portraying a family. The situations, problems, and family moments have all been relatable and well done. As a father of two teenage twins, watching it together, the family dynamics really hit.

 

[dupersuper]

Yeah, I do. Unless every person and every site describing/talking about the show online, and every single officially released trailer and synopsis are all lying. Its a CW teen drama that sprinkles in Superman elements because it wants Arrowverse viewers to keep watching.

So...every one on this forum is lying to you? Got it.

Two additional scenes in this week's online extended cut: a brief bit at the Cushings' with Sarah refusing to eat with the family, and a humorous scene with Clark applying for the assistant coach's position.

Sweet: I was worried I wasn't getting the full show, but those scenes were included in my area.

 

[crookeddy]

Let's be honest with kirk. It's not a show he's going to enjoy. He wants a live action cartoon starring superman. This type of show is still something he won't like, even though he's describing it wrong.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Apparently this isn't even available to watch in the UK. The battles and effects look really cool on YouTube though. Very Man of Steel, right down to the music, camera angles etc.

 

[Romulan_spy]

I want a Superman show about Superman. I'd have preferred him not having any kids but a toddler would still take up less screen time then two teens. There hasn't been a single live action Superman show actually about an adult Superman since the 1950s, every damn show since George Reeves has had to put a "twist" on Superman. I just want a straight up Superman show, where he is the main character and is actually Superman. Instead, the show has a lying title (it should be called something like Super Sons, since they're the main characters and focus, but that doesn't sell well, branding wise) and is just generic CW teen crap with a few minutes of superman showing up to try to bring in viewers.

The show is about Superman and we've seen Superman being Superman or were not paying attention to the scenes in the pilot where Superman saved the nuclear plant from a meltdown or the multiple fights between Superman and Luthor, or Superman saving the bridge and fighting the powered henchmen in episode 3 etc...

But every Superman show or movie has also been about Clark Kent which necessarily involves more down to earth drama. Previous shows have often focused on Clark Kent and Lois falling in love. I am glad this show does not rehash the will they won't they of that relationship but instead jumped past it to them being married for several years with kids.

 

[The Realist]

Sweet: I was worried I wasn't getting the full show, but those scenes were included in my area.

You don't mean on the TV broadcast version? Because it was my understanding the extended cuts were exclusive to streaming. (Unless you're not in the States? Don't know about broadcast versions elsewhere.)

Let's be honest with kirk. It's not a show he's going to enjoy. He wants a live action cartoon starring superman. This type of show is still something he won't like, even though he's describing it wrong.

Well, true; the first time any character in their teen years so much as poked their face in a corner of the screen, he would start raging about what a shit travesty of a not-Superman show it is, or whatever. Still, it's just good form not to declaim authoritatively about the supposed contents of something you haven't actually watched.

 

[Christopher]

Previous shows have often focused on Clark Kent and Lois falling in love.

Hmm, "often?" Call it two out of four live-action shows, Lois & Clark and Smallville. Adventures of Superman was from a time when Lois's sole romantic interest was in Superman, and Superboy didn't include Lois. I don't think it's been a major element of any animated Superman show.

I am glad this show does not rehash the will they won't they of that relationship but instead jumped past it to them being married for several years with kids.

It's pretty much the next step beyond Lois & Clark, which ended with them married and thinking about starting a family (with a never-resolved cliffhanger of a mystery baby being left on their doorstep).

 

[Mudd]

Every television version of Superman has featured Clark in the unitard for only a handful of shots in the average episode.

 

[FPAlpha]

This show is not really a CW teen drama. In those shows the adults are either foils or secondary characters. This show is a family drama, and it is doing a damn fine job of realistically portraying a family. The situations, problems, and family moments have all been relatable and well done. As a father of two teenage twins, watching it together, the family dynamics really hit.

And that's what is currently so interesting to me and what the show does so well. We have Superman/Clark being faced with problems he can't punch or heatvision away - he has a family and with that comes its own set of problems and drama, that's just life. I also really like that they toned down the one liner ratio for this one - i do enjoy these from the Arrowverse but it's also good to have something different occasionally.

Right now the show has a very good mix - part family drama, part teenage drama, part mystery and some superheroics for good measure. Who knows how long they will be able to keep the balance and interest, i hope for quite a while but right now it is working very well.