REVIEW: Superman & Lois S3 Ep 1: Closer

Superman & Lois S3 Ep 1 is finally here with new cast members, characters, and even new settings in the CWverse have been announced and confirmed. This all adds to the hype that perhaps the third season will do something different. The Kents and the Lanes are back and so is Smallville in the first episode of the third season along with some returns to Metropolis. 

Clark (Tyler Hoechlin) and Lois’ (Elizabeth Tulloch) iconic relationship is the familiar and heartwarming center of this episode. Both of them are reporters at the Smallville Gazette just as they were with the Daily Planet when they first met. Lois is chasing a story on Intergang and is set to meet their leader, Bruno Mannheim (Chad L. Coleman). As usual, the criminal, arms-dealing, military corporation has been plaguing the city of Metropolis and Lois plans to take them down from behind the keyboard. However, a visit to her doctor reveals a possibility that can change her and her family’s life forever. 

Jordan (Alex Garfin) is now being trained by Clark at the Fortress of Solitude. He’s really growing into his powers as he is now able to transverse the planet internationally and even uses the Fortress’ villain training simulator, which is a pleasant Easter Egg in itself. Jordan still has a way to come when it comes to-hands on superheroing. He still has feelings for Sarah (Inde Navarrette) and he thought that she and her mother knowing about his powers and who his father is would bring them closer together. Whist Jordan is training at the Fortress, Jon (Michael Bishop) simply practices for his driving test with Lois.

Other happenings in Smallville include Lana (Emmanuelle Chriqui) settling into her new role as mayor while her ex-husband Kyle (Erik Valdez) becomes a potential love interest for Crissy (Sofia Hasmik). Crissy is fun, she’s really like the Jimmy Olsen of Smallville. There’s no animosity between Lana and Kyle after they broke up last season and they still come together for the good of the community by arranging events and drives.

The most major interpersonal drama in the episode naturally stems from Natalie Irons (Tayler Buck). With trauma that rivals that of Supergirl’s origin story, how she interacts and sees others tends to be the most interesting. Here, Sam (Dylan Walsh) has already recruited John Henry (Wole Parks) into the DOD and may have plans to do the same with Natalie – she naturally feels used. This is also especially dramatic because Sam Lane was her grandpa on the Earth she is from. 

Of course, it wouldn’t be Superman & Lois without some Superman action. While in Metropolis, Superman takes on the classical villain Atom Man (Paul Lazenby) in the southern part of the city. With Intergang’s machinations and this new, spine-tingling villain, the next chapter in continuing adventures of Superman and his family has the potential to be a grounded story compared to what we have seen in the last season.

The cast of characters in Smallville is designed to provide that homely, family comfort, so it’s refreshing to see them after so long and after the future of DC in movies and television was evaluated. Of course, the question on every viewer’s mind is “was recasting Jordan Elsass with Michael Bishop a good call?” Honestly, there are some shots where he is the spitting image of him. Even though he’s a new cast member, he is able to jump into the role of a character that clearly has had some arcs already and is anything but new really well. There isn’t much that can be said about Jon since he didn’t have a major scene in this episode, but what is known is that he and Jordan are heading down very different paths. 

Clark and Jordan have the high-flying adventures. Some of the scenes, like them flying at supersonic speed to the Fortress of Solitude, look really good (even improved over last season’s CGI) while others don’t quite have the same quality. The scene wherein they stop a crane collapsing and falling off a building in Malaysia lacks a lot of detail – the building looks like a blank block falling apart. The lighting doesn’t really help either. Still, the Superman costume design, along with that of the villains, really hit it out of the park. The Atom Man fight is a 1950 serial short shot in the modern day, definitely the highlight of the episode. Chicago is also used for shots of Southern Metropolis – now, it’s been both that and Gotham City on screen. 

Superman & Lois S3 Ep 1 brings us back into the lives of our Smallville cast by throwing us directly in by firstly showing us exactly what we wanted to see. The whole first half of the episode feels like a where are they now piece before the new threat rears its head. All signs point to Metropolis. Even though Clark is from Smallville and him moving his family back there a return to his roots, we may see Superman and Lois return to their roots in the city where their adventures began. 

Haven’t watched Superman & Lois S3 Ep 1: Closer yet? You can watch it for free NOW via The CW website.