REVIEW: Superman & Lois S1 Ep 9: Loyal Subjekts

Superman & Lois S1 Ep 9 continues an incredible series that really has impressed me and countless others. Each week the series gets better and better, with excellent character development, effects and twists. For anyone not watching this series, I ask you ‘WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!’

This episode was no exception to the above statement and it really played out some of the mysteries that have been slowly unfolding throughout the series so far, which felt like a great pay off for viewers. Please note, this review will feature spoilers going forward, so please make sure you’ve seen the episode before you read this!

It was really great to see Lois in action and I adore seeing her trail of thought when it comes to her detective and reporting work. She really is the one to crack this case wide open by using the resources and people around her, and I cannot wait to see how this plays out.

Like I said, thanks to Lois we really get to see what Morgan Edge is up to with his new campaign, especially when it comes to the ‘programme’ he has recently created. Actor Adam Rayner has crafted a phenomenal portrayal of Edge, he’s charming yet so manipulative and knows exactly how to get inside peoples head and use it to his advantage. The score is really noticeable in this episode as well, sometimes I feel the contents of the episodes overshadow it, but not in this episode. There were several moments where it really escalated the stakes at hand, especially when Lois was confronting Morgan Edge, it was masterfully done.

There were some really great Superman action sequences yet again, which really reminded me of the golden age comics. Tyler plays a very confident Superman who knows exactly what to do, when and how much force to use to get the job done, even when he is distracted and weakened. I feel like the Superman sequences are sprinkled throughout the series, we see far more of Clark than we do Superman and I have to say I rather like that. Not only does it allow audiences to get to know Clark and face more relatable issues, it really adds novelty to the moments where we do get to see Superman.

As well as this, I am really enjoying seeing Jordan deal with his new powers. This boy is going through a lot, as if being a teenager wasn’t hard enough, and now ice breath and Kryptonite poisoning has been thrown into the mix. I’m really enjoying seeing him develop these new skills throughout the series. Normally a lot of people wish they had powers and think it’s all hunky dory, but this series shows the realism of it (well, as real as it can be!). It isn’t just a walk in the park, there’s a lot of responsibility involved with this and it isn’t as easy as you’d think. The Kryptonite poisoning which is affecting both Jordan and Clark, felt very ‘of the time’ and personally I do think there were other ways they could have progressed this storyline without bringing something so familiar into the mix.

Lois is still very much on an emotional journey when it comes to keeping her family and especially her sons safe. We see her get into a huge row with her father regarding the synthetic Kryptonite weapons that were used to disable Superman in a previous episode, and that is the cause of the Kryptonite poisoning which is affecting Jordan and Clark. This is a very difficult tiff to be having because both sides to the argument have a very valid point. For her, her own father is putting the people she loves in danger because he knows what power can do to people and he knows what Superman is capable of, especially after hearing John Henry Iron’s history.

Whilst we know how ludicrous it is for Superman to go bad (with a few exceptions), you do have to understand General Lane’s reasoning behind the Kryptonite weapons and this episode did a fantastic job of showcasing that and also the reasons that these weapons are required. It was essentially General Lane and his Kryptonite weapons that saved both Lois and Jonathan, so it was nice to see him in action and doing some good to make up for what he’s done.

It was great to see Sarah’s dad step up and really take his role as a father by the reigns. They’ve had some issues throughout the series and this was the perfect opportunity to make up for some of the wrongs that were done and it was adorable to see how proud he was of her and her, him. It’s this sequence that really makes one of this episodes revelations really hit home, as Eric too is under the influence of Morgan Edge’s procedure and is therefore brainwashed.

Superman & Lois S1 Ep 9 also brings us another incredible reveal, as Morgan Edge reveals himself as being a Kryptonian. Based on the suit we see in this episode and his plans (well, what we’ve seen so far) it really leads me to believe that he is General Zod. The symbol on his chest is not one that we’ve seen before so I could be wrong, or it could just be a brand new version of the House Of Zod Crest. This was a reveal that I was certainly not expecting, especially after the jaw-dropping reveal we got in the previous episode. This series is really holding nothing back when it comes to introducing characters from the Superman mythos and as a Superman fan I am loving every twist and turn we are subject to!

Superman & Lois S1 Ep 9 really continues a fantastic series. Arguably it is one of the best Superman TV shows to date, with mind-blowing reveals, excellent character portrayals and brilliant storytelling. I have thoroughly enjoyed this show so far and cannot wait to see what else it brings going forwards. This is the Superman show we deserve.

If you haven’t watched Superman & Lois yet, you can catch up now for free on The CW App.