REVIEW: Superman & Lois S3 Ep 6: Of Sound Mind

Superman & Lois S3 Ep 6, ‘Of Sound Mind’ continues a slow burn towards the major antagonist plot. This episode delivers some intriguing payoffs that continue making this one of the best Superman shows in recent history. 

Written by George Kitson and directed by Diana Valentine, “Of Sound Mind” plays on its title throughout the episode. We see Lois starting to prepare legal documents which usually has that phrase involved, and we get exposed to another appearance of this world’s Onomatopoeia. Focusing more on character development this season has ramped up the drama level but it remains grounded and believable. This episode not only brings heartfelt awareness to the trials brought upon by unexpected illness, but also allows us to see Lois work a story that affects her on so many levels. One of the major payoffs from this slow burn, higher drama approach is the revelation of Bruno Mannheim’s motivations and the sympathetic complexities it creates for the character.

Bruno Mannheim (Chad L. Coleman) doesn’t have a lot of screen time but is still a major focus as Lois (Bitsie Tulloch) tries to find the angle to her story involving his connection to the strange encounters Superman has had with two of his villains. Meanwhile, Clark (Tyler Hoechlin) struggles to accept the reality he’s powerless to protect Lois from what ails her. Trying to grasp some measure of control, Clark takes to overseeing Jordan’s (Alex Garfin) training. The two clash as Clark has difficulty letting Jordan go out on his own, but another payoff of the show occurs when Jordan dons his outfit for the first time to help save his father from an ambush. The one major action sequence doesn’t feel as shoehorned in and leads to the reveal of who’s under Onomatopoeia’s mask. This was an unexpected twist that still made sense and really shines a light on what Bruno is really planning. 

Michael Bishop continues to shine as Jonathan Kent. Trying to find his place in a family of heroes, Jonathan begins his cadet training with the Smallville Fire Department. This positions his character to interact with the Cushings a bit more which proves pivotal as the show addresses their treatment of Sophie (Joselyn Picard). While Lana (Emmanuelle Chriqui) navigates her new hectic life as a single mom mayor and Kyle (Erik Valdez) is busy rebuilding his life, Sophie and Sarah (Inde Navarrette) end up sidelined by their parents a bit more.

Sarah being old enough to be more understanding and independent with their new family dynamic is feeling put upon by her younger sister’s needs. Feeling forgotten and unloved, Sophie goes off to be alone which puts the Cushing/Lang family in a bit of a panic. Jonathan manages to be the one to connect with Sophie and help the family see what she’s going through. On top of all that, Chrissy (Sofia Hasmik) and Kyle’s relationship continues to move forward which weighs on Chrissy’s conscience. At first their involvement felt a bit out of nowhere, but as the season’s progressed it’s been adding some interesting dramatic complexity that feels relevant. 

There’s still plenty of dots that need connecting to make this arc truly satisfying, but the moral and ethical decisions everyone seems to be facing helps keep this season feel as nuanced as previous ones. Personally, I’d like to see more jobs for Superman, but the cast masterfully keeps you invested in their character’s lives that has yet to get too outlandish or far-fetched. 

Haven’t watched Superman & Lois S3 Ep 6: Of Sound Mind yet? You can watch it for free NOW via The CW website.