Superman & Lois Review: Pilot (Season 1 Episode 1)

Superman & Lois Season 1 Episode 1, “Pilot,” is less of a means to catch up with Clark Kent and Lois Lane post-Crisis and more of a reintroduction to established characters. This lends itself to an engaging series premiere. It allows new fans to watch the series without having to knowing everything about the Arrowverse.

This isn’t a groundbreaking episode of television, and that’s not a bad thing. It prefers to stay firmly rooted to the ground more often than expected – forcing us to become invested in Clark, Lois, Jonathan, and Jordan.

Superman & Lois is lucky because it can lean on the established, electric chemistry between Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch. That being said, it doesn’t have to fall back on them entirely because the other cast members match their chemistry so well.

For example, Alex Garfin and Jordan Elsass are so good as Jordan and Jonathan that it’s easy to forget there was ever a time when Clark and Lois had only one son. There isn’t a whole lot to thank Crisis for but this family dynamic is really working in its favor. 

Superman & Lois never explicitly acknowledges the massive event during this episode, but its effects are seen beyond just Jonathan and Jordan. General Samuel Lane is played by another actor on Supergirl. This could very well just be a recasting of this character, but it’s impossible not to think that there could be some multiverse explanation for the change. 

Trying to understand how Superman & Lois aligns with the already established interconnected universe is not the focus of this episode, and it shouldn’t be. It is still worth mentioning. Especially because of how this episode ends.

The series is essentially introducing Lex Luthor (or another Luthor) from another universe as Superman’s nemesis, while Morgan Edge seems to be Lois’ antagonist.

The “Pilot” gives us plenty of time to see Superman doing his thing. He’s always working, whether it be with General Lane or otherwise. This puts an understandable strain on his relationship with his family, but it also begs the question of why the series doesn’t offer the same time and space to Lois and her job during this episode.

The extended premiere could have lent itself to equal time for the couple to find answers to questions, but that doesn’t happen. Lois is left to do a lot of her sleuthing off-camera or in questions she slides into larger conversations. It’s only the first episode of the series, but she is 50% of the title.

Lois Lane is, as Clark describes her, “the most famous journalist in the world,” after all. She is so clearly passionate about truth, justice, and maintaining the respect of journalists – especially in the face of power-hungry people like Morgan Edge. Why not let us see more of that?

In their family dynamic, Lois appears to be the glue. The boys and Clark are always pushing and pulling away from each other respectively, but Lois is the one that brings them all together. That’s a powerful and necessary force they’re sure to need for the remainder of the season, let alone the series.

Hopefully, we’ll get to see Lois work more on camera and be more than just the glue in the upcoming episodes.

This isn’t to say that she isn’t amazing and inspiring on this episode, because she is all of that and more. Superman & Lois notes the importance of this character when during Lois and Clark’s meet-cute. Clark’s focus is only on her – the rest of the world is literally blurry. That’s true love at first sight, at least on Clark’s end, but it’s also the power of Lois Lane.

Lois demands people’s attention without even knowing it because she is that compelling. This character is as legendary as her husband, and it is nice to see the series acknowledge that in her very first scene.  

In the same way that we get to Lois in a new light now that she’s a mother to two teenage boys, we get to see Clark in a new way too, as a father. It’s taking two world-famous characters in a new direction on the small screen, and that’s part of what makes Superman & Lois so exciting.

This episode sees Hoechlin’s Clark at his most vulnerable. Throughout his Arrowverse appearances, he’s been a pillar of strength, heart, and humor. He’s still all of those things, but this show allows us to see the very human cracks in those parts of him, where the vulnerability can shine through.

More specifically, the tenser moments, like Clark telling his sons he’s Superman, between the core four almost feel intrusive on our end. They are so emotionally charged that it feels as though they should remain private. That’s a testament to the talent of those involved with this show. It’s also one of the show’s greatest strengths.

These intimate moments are looks into the lives of a family that just so happens to include one of the world’s most famous superheroes and the world’s most famous journalist. This series premiere is proof that heroes are just like us, and we’re all doing our best to make it through each and every day.

That’s not a new phenomenon, but it is a welcome one during this time of uncertainty.

Stray Thoughts

• Clark’s phone background is a photo of pregnant Lois!
• Can Lois and Lana team up to investigate Edge?
• There are so many fun Easter Eggs in this episode!
• Martha being Smallville’s Superwoman is so wonderful.

What did you think of this episode of Superman & Lois? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Superman & Lois airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on The CW.

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