The final season of Superman & Lois brings the iconic “Death of Superman” storyline from the comics to life with an emotional twist. Season 4 is shaping up to be one of the show’s best.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for Superman & Lois Season 4
If there is one thing Superman & Lois is known for, it is the show’s emotional aspect, rooted in family. This is why it should come as no surprise that the series has taken a deeply emotional approach to “The Death of Superman” storyline from the comics. In the show’s fourth and final season it’s not just Clark’s fate at stake—It’s his family at risk as well. Superman & Lois gives this storyline a more personal touch than previous iterations. “The Death of Superman” has been adapted many times, but never like this.
Superman & Lois has shown us Superman’s death, the rollercoaster of emotions that followed, how it affected his family, and then one of the biggest moments happened in episode 3 when Lois Lane’s father, General Sam Lane (Dylan Walsh) was killed off in an unforgettable way. Despite having only 10 episodes in the final season, the writers are packing quite a lot into each episode, making season 4 one to remember.
“The Death of Superman” comic was first published in 1992 as a crossover story. The key events in the comics include the fight with Doomsday, Superman’s death, the aftermath of his death, and his resurrection—all of which have now been witnessed on the show, but in a very different way from the source material.
In the penultimate episode of Season 3, Superman (Tyler Hoechlin) faces off against Doomsday, who is under the control of a vengeful Lex Luthor (Michael Cudlitz). Luthor, having created Doomsday by repeatedly killing and resurrecting Bizarro, sends him to kill Superman and retrieve his heart. In order to punish Lois Lane (Bitsie Tulloch) for wrongfully convicting him years ago. After an epic battle that serves as the cliffhanger for Season 3 and the beginning of Season 4 in the two-episode premiere, their battle culminates in a gut-wrenching moment in the Season 4 premiere when Doomsday delivers Clark’s lifeless body to Lois, devoid of his heart.
Courtesy of The Cw
The show has made several changes to the “The Death of Superman” storyline. For one, when Superman and Doomsday fought, Superman was not the only one who died; in the comics, they both killed one another in front of The Daily Planet. In the show, however, Doomsday not only survives but continues to be a threat in the following episodes.
In the aftermath of Clark’s death, the series has put their own emphasis on just how emotional “The Death of Superman” storyline can be. In the comics, Clark’s death is mourned by everyone, including all his fellow superheroes. What makes Superman & Lois so unique is its continued focus on family. This is why, in the show, it is only Clark’s family and closest friends who are seen mourning his death. This heightens the emotional impact, as we see Lois struggles to cope with losing Clark while Jordan tries to retrieve his father’s heart, but not before it is destroyed by Luthor.
Courtesy of The CW
In Episode 3 of Superman & Lois, which recently premiered, we see just how much Jonathan is struggling with losing his father, especially after their only hope of bringing Clark back to life is quite literally squashed. In one particularly emotional scene between Jonathan and Jordan we see Jonathan finally get his powers.
One of the most striking creative decisions in Superman & Lois season 4 was the death of General Lane. In the comics, Superman was resurrected using the Fortress of Solitude’s Kryptonian Regeneration Matrix. In the show, however, his resurrection occurs in a unique and unexpected way. When General Lane is shot, he sacrifices himself to save Superman by injecting himself with a serum containing Superman’s blood, allowing his heart to be used to bring him back. By going in this direction, the writers have added another layer of emotional depth to the show. Lois loses her father, but the world gets its protector back.
With the changes Season 4 has made to “The Death of Superman,” story, the showrunners have made its final season all the more intense, with flashbacks spliced throughout to add more impact to Clark being gone. What Superman & Lois highlights is that while the world may need Superman, Clark’s family needs him more. The show offers both comic book fans and TV viewers something exciting to look forward to every week. With only seven episodes remaining, anything could happen. With an ending that will be the culmination of the entire Arrowverse. Superman & Lois Season 4 is a can’t-miss for any DC fan.
Watch the trailer for Superman & Lois Season 4 below:
The final season of Superman & Lois airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.
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