Superman and Lois: What Kills You Only Makes You Stronger review – S3 E13

Marvel’s Disney+ shows have soured me on season finales of series. What Kills You Only Makes You Stronger fared much better than most Phase 4 MCU offerings, but these final two episodes of this third season feel so far removed from the outstanding work done for the majority of the season.

The final two episodes weren’t trash, just finally different from the mature, thoughtful story that played out over 11 episodes. I’d argue the season should have wrapped with the conclusion of the Manheim storyline.

All the Lex Luthor shenanigans should have been held back until Season 4. I get it though. Faced with the uncertain prospect of if there’s going to be a Season 4, throwing out Luthor and Doomsday is a serious Hail Mary play. Now come with me as I break down the rest of this episode.

Lois is on high alert since it’s been 32 days since Lex stopped by the Kent household for a chat with Lois.

While the world — or at least Lois — awaits Lex’s next move, Clark is still holding Jordan accountable for blowing up his teen superhero spot and makes him apologize to Sarah for being such a jerk to her. Good for you Clark, don’t give him a pass! 

Jordan finally apologizes and Sarah says they shouldn’t be friends. I agree. Gee, what a great way to write this chapter out of the show…with a handshake.

Chrissy has to run to the bathroom. She’s pregnant now because yeah that makes sense all around. Chrissy sits on the bed and tells Kyle “I’m just wondering how you’re gonna tell Lana.”

I’d think where we’re gonna live or how can we afford a baby would top the questions over worrying about Kyle’s ex. Of course he rushed off to tell Lana and the girls. Sophie says she’s glad she’s not the baby anymore, which on another show would mean she’d actually get some screen time…or vanish even further.

Lana is so happy for him. “All I ask is you let me spoil that baby rotten.” Man this really doesn’t track with how their relationship has played out all season. I can’t wait to follow this storyline next season (heh heh).

Speaking of Lana, she and John Henry finally decide to go on a date. In a nice bit, he wants dressing tips from Nat and settles on a shirt even Sam thinks should be donated. The DOD wants JH to design tech and move to Metropolis.

That’s great news for Nat as she can enroll in the DOD Academy like Matteo. JH tells Lana and she decides she’s going to have to convince him to stay and they hook up in a CW-approved empty room. You’ve gotta hand it to the S&L writers. They’re giving the CW heads all they could ask for in order to get renewed.

Lois is also ready to be intimate again with Clark. This sweet, tender moment almost feels out of place with this episode. Especially after Chrissy tells Lois and Clark she’s having the spawn of Kyle. Clark can’t get so excited as he hears that Judge Ragins has been murdered. Lex is slowly going after everyone who put him in prison. 

MORE:

• Marvel Legends Retro Rogue figure review
• Fear the Night review
• McFarlane Toys DC Multiverse Superman figure review
• Secret Invasion – Home review S1 E6

Gen. Lane introduces the teens to his girlfriend, Gretchen. Naturally she’s a Luthor plant, which is gonna do wonders for his relationship trust issues though I’m sure the S&L writers will remember their continuity unlike the Disney+ MCU writers. 

Time for a flashback on what Lex has been doing the last month and a day (or two). Bizarro didn’t kill Otis — thankfully — he just Tyson’d him so he’s short an ear. Lex developed a solar blast technique that kills Bizarro. This logic seems…backwards. Actually, never mind. 

Lex asks Bizarro for permission to kill him as what kills him only makes him stronger. Pretty sure that’s not the original draft of Kelly Clarkson’s song, Lex. So far I’m not feeling this take on Lex. Headbanger Lex would get along great with Jared Leto’s Joker though. 

Kyle interrupts the coach’s rally so he can propose. And Lana’s sex afterglow doesn’t last that long after all.

Lex is at the Kent farm waiting on Superman. He’s turned Bizarro into Doomsday. Sigh. Doomsday is the creator nuclear option and shouldn’t be thrown out to give Superman someone to punch. Parasite works fine for that. Ditto for Metallo…or Bizarro. Doomsday is the creatively bankrupt point in a show when the writers have to kill Supes up to pop a rating or start a franchise — take a pick. 

And the even tougher issue for S&L is they’ve already done the whole World Without a Superman bit so the reasonable next step of the death of Superman won’t have the same impact. 

Superman and Doomsday brawl until Supes impales him on the Daily Planet globe. Killer Superman…nice. So, Zack Snyder’s been writing this series all along? Kidding, I enjoyed about 99.7% of the Snyder verse. And Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor is rapidly earning more points since he’s not Masher Lex like this version. 

Doomsday beats down Superman, who tells John Henry and Jordan to not interfere. Who does Clark think he is? Jonathan Kent Sr???? Recalling all the hardships the family’s endured gives Clark enough inner strength to fight back and crash Doomsday on the moon where we get a flight off for a pretty decent you better renew us cliffhanger. 

I’m impressed with the stops the showrunners went to in order to get a Season 4. Dropping the essential cast to the Kents is a very smart move and I’m not gonna miss seeing Lana, Sarah, Kyle & Chrissy or Nat forced into every episode. I will miss John Henry and Sam showing up weekly. 

Again, for a standard season finale this was the best way to hook viewers and the network in for one more run. It’s a shame the season couldn’t have concluded with the far more emotionally-charged resolution to the Manheim arc that truly carried this season to greatness all year. 

Rating: 7 out of 10

Photo Credit: The CW