Superman and Lois – In Cold Blood review S3 E3
While I still think the whole Lois facing cancer is a lousy subplot, largely because this series needs a break from the heavy storylines, the writers are giving it the proper gravitas and handling it in a meaningful and relatable manner. That’s a big deal for a show that treats its teen subplots with the same importance as an alien invasion or reality shifting Earths.
Clark is clearly having a dream — as he can’t save Lois and she’s just out of reach from getting buried by The Daily Planet globe. It’s a decently subtle metaphor for what he’s facing with Lois’ cancer. Even as Superman, he can’t save Lois from this one.
Lois has to break the news to her circle telling her dad, sister, Lana and Kyle, Chrissy, John Henry & Nat about what’s ahead for her. Gen. Lane asks about Kryptonian tech that could help. At least someone’s thinking outside the box. It’s incredibly frustrating seeing how mature the show can handle this kind of storyline yet the writers will try and present the teen subplots and Lana/Kyle foolishness as if they’re on the same level.
Lana doesn’t want Kyle to be admitted with the house security system. Seemed like Lana asked if Lois’ cancer diagnosis was hard on him to verify he didn’t have any lingering attachment to her. Lana goes off on Kyle for trying to ask about who set up her security system.
Lemme see if I’m using this correctly. Lana is amazingly toxic now and her yo-yo treatment of Kyle isn’t cool. And Kyle actually does have a right to be concerned about Lana’s security seeing as how his daughters are in her house too.
Lana then goes off on Sarah, who goes for some serious gut punches by saying that’s why dad cheated on you. I was actually proud of Lana for smacking Sarah over that mean-spirited comment and then immediately annoyed when Lana went into apology mode. Kids, especially teens need to know that there are consequences for acting like a little twit. Sometimes it’s not as nice as a smack across the face.
I’m not the biggest Chrissy fan, but her laying into Lois for missing chemo was good accountability. This was overall a really strong episode for Chrissy. Ditto for Gen. Lane going off on Clark and saying Lois is always going to focus on the next big story over her health and they need to work together.
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Clark hears a mudslide in Nepal and Lois tells him to head off while she sits and waits for her chemo. Clark is Superman, but he would never abandon Lois for that kind of situation. Superman writers have always been very clear that Clark has a good hero work/life balance.
As Superman he really can’t ever be off the clock, which is why Clark Kent still exists. This is also where the CW went wrong its superhero universe. Instead of cramming 5-7 heroes on one show, they could have created an Earth-based team of roving heroes to tackle random problems when Superman, Supergirl or The Flash can’t get to them.
Lois bails on another treatment to get back investigating with Chrissy. They find Intergang’s blood bank stored in a freezer, which they hide in to avoid getting detected. Watch the lock! Oops. Good thing Lois has her signal watch, which can’t get through the freezer. D’oh!
I’m totally with Gen. Lane for going off on Superman again for leaving Lois and I appreciated John Henry for diffusing the situation. How amazing would this show be if they never worked in the teens beyond background characters that rarely show up like Sophie? Who? Exactly. Maybe they can send the kids off to Gotham Knights?
In the D-level subplot, Nat wants to give Lois her the watch her mom gave her. That’s weird. It gets kinda hastily resolved and since Nat can’t be wrong, it gets wrapped up with little fuss.
And with our E-level subplot, Jon gets his truck stolen by Candice’s father prompting Nat and Jordan to go into superhero mode to get it back. That was the opposite of an entertaining subplot.
Lois eventually does get discovered by the goons allowing her to shout out to Superman. These goons are actually prepared as the Top Goon has Kryptonite gauntlets? Those’ll come in handy. Steel arrives in time to save Superman, but I wonder if he could have stopped a mudslide in Nepal? Gen. Lane finds out the blood in the bank was Superman’s, but how is that even possible?
This episode featured another great performance from Elizabeth Tulloch, who is delivering on all the aspects of a person who just learned they have cancer. Lois has been struggling with the acceptance part and her desire to actually fight it now felt like a big moment for the character.
The formula of this series hasn’t deviated for a moment. Great superhero/adult drama (mostly) while the teen elements continue to feel tiresome and a drag. So far, the quality of the former continues to outshine the latter.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Photo Credit: The CW