Superman & Lois (2021–2024) Different, but not Wrong
It's as much about Clark and Lois as a couple than it is about Superman saving the world...which is also built into the fabric of the show. It isn't confirmed until the end of season 2 but this series takes place on another Earth in the multiverse. While the heroes of Flash don't realize this, we as the audience knew at least 5 other Earths did survive the Crisis of Infinite Earths. In the season 2 finale General Lane mentions that Clark is the only Super-powered hero on this Earth. Meaning there is no native Flash and no native Supergirl.
They kept a continuity of things that could be read either way. Diggle's comment about fighting alongside Superman could have been possible on Earth Prime since post-Crisis they have always lived on the same Earth. This Earth's Oliver Queen did know them, and is as dead as ours. There is no native Supergirl on this Earth, anymore than there was on Earth-1. The lack of any mention of Supergirl was conspicuous -- because of the assumption that this was Earth-38 Clark and Lois now living on Earth Prime. You'd actually have to watch the last episode of Arrow to see why some Earth's merged and others didn't. Tal-Rho and General Anderson are original characters...but Tal-Rho is unique. General Anderson is a proxy for any human authority-figure who doesn't understand that Superman is anything but Superman.
Lana Lang Cushing is the single most annoying character in the show. Superman can have kids. Traditionally Superman cannot procreate with humans because what we think of as Kryptonian physiology, is incompatible with an Earth humans for making offspring. In Supergirl Lois and Clark could have a kid because they were on the asteroid of Argo City when Lois became pregnant. No yellow sun means no powers, no powers means Clark is essentially human and they can get pregnant. I bet a lot of people watching this show were wondering how Lois and Clark could have had kids if there was no mention they'd ever gone to Argo City. It's never stated as even a thing here. Generals Lane and Anderson might not be surprised to learn Superman can have kids. Anderson was surprised Superman had a human Life...at all. And he gets WAY too much hate for only seeing Superman AS Superman. And for not being as good a leader as General Lane. Ultimately this show is part of the multiverse...but THIS Superman and Lois are not connected with the heroes of the other shows. Team Arrow is a group of self-made heroes without superpowers. That becomes relevant at the end of season 2. The writers established our/these characters and developed a fan base before telling us, but this is not Kara's cousin and his fiancé now living on Earth-prime. It's thier doppelgangers on Earth 12, 19, 21 or Earth 9. General Lane gets RESPECT in this show. And is equally respectful fo Superman Which is above the call and a particularly rare kind of awesome. (No Hank Henshaw and no J'onn Jo'nzz though)
The last few minutes of the Crisis on Infinite Earth's crossover showed that Earth 12, Earth, 21, Earth,19, Earth 96 and Earth 9 and a version of Earth-2 with Stargirl survived crisis. The merging of the multiverse was people and things from Earth-38, Earth-2 and Earth-3. But that history had been rewritten so that they've always lived on the same Earth. Hence Diggles initial comment. Most of the multiverse was destroyed. Explaining why Sam and Lucy Lane are such completely different characters from Supergirl. Although the old world-new world differences Supergirl and Barry spent a few episodes getting used to could have explained that. Almost everyone goes over the top in both drama and emotion in season 3. I mean the writers, producers and the actors. There were more real-world problems, far more normal human emotions. Which I was fine with, but a lot of people had trouble with. There was increasing dissension that felt like it's mostly there to make something. Most of the discontent, assumptions, and arrogance does not actaully come from Lana Cushing. She seems pretty chill after the scary moment 4 episodes into season 3. Instead it comes from practically everyone else. Most especially John Henry Irons and Jordan Kent. But that is absolutely another story.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
I don't understand how blind people are 5 out of 6 users found this review helpful.
The only convoluted parts of this movie are Lex Luthor's plan and why the world suddenly hates Superman. As far as Why Bruce is so relentlessly pursuing Superman and why 'Save Martha' actually pulls him back, they could not have set it up more clearly. And I realize a lot of Batman fans were disgusted/surprised at this version of Batman but they do explain his character perfectly: this is world weary, Robinless Joker beaten Batman who has almost given up on hope for the world. He spells out his motivations to Alfred "He has the power to wipe out the entire human race and if we believe there is even a 1% chance that he is our enemy we have to take it as an absolute certainty." Also "How many good guys are left; how many stayed that way?" He sees this alien as another freak in a costume. He even tells Superman while he's punching his face r "You were never a God, you were never even a man." It is not the happy name coincidence nor 'sloppy writing for plot convince' that makes Batman suddenly stop. The fact that Superman with potentially his last breath put someone ELSE's life before his own...Superman asking Batman to save someone else was enough to make him pause and realize this evil alien cares about people just for the fact that he cares about another humans life more than his own life. And then Lois comes in and yelling at Batman "Please stop.... It's his mother's name." All the sudden Bruce realizes A Superman has a human family, has a life IS a good man I almost murdered. He finally realizes that "How many good guys are left, how many stayed that way" is a question he should have been asking about himself all along. It's a line straight out of Aaron Eckhart's Harvey Dent "You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." There's a powerful irony that Bruce was so focused on Superman *maybe* going bad he didn't realize he WAS. And he and Superman never get the chance to sort thier differences out. Setting up Bruce's mission, motivation and single-mindness for the next movie where he brings the Justice League together. This is not "Batman" anymore. This is not Superman *yet*. I'm wondering why it's so hard for people to stop, look at the film and realize this. Superman is a new-born superhero. Batman has been a part of the Gothamite's lives for more than 20 years. People call it unrealistic or something that neither hero reacts how they would in thier prime. Neither hero IS in thier prime. Supposedly Batman hates Superman for clear obvious reasons but Superman has no reason to hate Batman? Well, Superman doesn't. But Clark Kent has a pretty clear reason for at least mistrusting a vigilante who tramples on the law and civil liberties. And scares people/beats people up completely unprovoked. People see this movie fail thier own expectations, and write it off as trash. But if you see this movie in the context of this universe, you see it for the brilliant, fresh and relevant story that it was made to be.
Arrow: Elseworlds, Part 2 (2018) Oliver finally figures it out!
11 October 2023 - 1 out of 1 users found this review helpful.
Oliver wasn't around for most of Barry's adventures and he has always seen Barry as someone who laughs everything off running around without a care in the world. Here, after seeing RF's taunts for himself he finally realizes Barry's carefree attitude is a REJECTION of everything bad that's happened to him, not an *absence* of bad things happening to him. Barry's attitude is a refusal to live in darkness, not an absence of difficult circumstances or things to take seriously. Going all the way back to when The Flash first showed up in Starling City in season 3 of Arrow, Oliver always dismissed Barry as someone who could afford to be happy all the time because he never had anything that could bring him down. And while Oliver had walked in Barry's physical shoes in the Flash portion of the crossover, that probably only reinforced his belief that Barry's life is a sappy, emotional and smooth ride compared to his own. Everyone likes him and he has a team and family at his back. Now, walking a bit in Barry's Mental shoes, seeing Reverse Flash shred Flash for 'being so weak you couldn't stop me from killing your mom' Oliver FINALLY gets that Barry could have been...well more like himself actually and simply didn't let himself be dragged down into that darkness. He'd met Thawne briefly, fought against him at the end of Flash season 1 but never really understood who Thawne was to Barry. He'd heard, once that Barry was stuck in some personal issues having something to do with Dr. Wells, but that was it. And to hear Oliver *validate* him, rather than simply be there for him was probably the greatest compliment Barry could ever have been given. For Barry, that was paradise. Barry Allen in the Green Arrow get up looks and for a brief moment even sounds like Roy Harper. Which was a pretty amazing thing. Roy was at Oliver's side for 2 years, his only protégé on the team and died/disappeared to protect Oliver's secret. And after they got back from Arkam and were safe in A. R. G. U. S. Barry was the one giving the advice for a change. Which is always awesome.
Smallville: Cure Vandal Savage - Jeremiah Danvers 2 out of 3 found this review helpful.
After watching Legends of Tomorrow I learned that Curtis Knox was a name assumed by immortal madman Vandal Savage, and is one of his more popular aliases. I assume that's who Dean Cain is here: the Smallville version of that minor DC villain. But what's kind of cool is the connection to a future series. In Supergirl Dean Cain stars as Kara Danvers/Kara Zor-el's adopted father Jeremiah, a recurring character. As well as far more obviously starring in Lois and Clark new adventures of Superman in the 90's. And apparently it's a continuing trend. Teri Hatcher also stars in a few episodes of Supergirl and one episode of Smallville. But while Dean Cain's character is far less likable here, compared to the others he plays in Superman productions, he shines MORE as an actor. Bringing a humanity and an emotionalism to someone who until the very end is a single-minded mad scientist type of character. That it's hard to imagine he feels anything except the need to never be alone again.
The Flash: Success Is Assured Why are people SO hung up on Nash? (season 6 finale)
People
are idiots. Hung up on the wrong things. Nash Wells is not wearing
anything to hide his face in a police station full of cops. Which
apparently is an obvious goof that he's standing in a room full of
cops without disguising his Wells face and yet no one arrests him for
being season 1 Harrison Wells. Fake Harrison Wells confessed to the
murder of Nora Allen, Barry's mom. Barry is standing next to Nash
perfectly at ease. If Barry even suspected this was the man who
killed his mother, he'd have his hands around the guy's throat. These
cops work with and trust Barry. Plus nothing about Nash's demeanor or
attitude screams crippled 'arrogant, prickly, brusque' genius
scientist. Everything about him screams Indiana Jones, mysterious
action-adventure hero. He certainly does not come off as the guy in a
wheelchair who accidentally blew a hole in Central City years ago.
And who was reported dead a year later. His confession was
posthumous.
A cool thing is, Nash does his second best if not
his *absolute* best channeling of Harry Wells. A couple episodes ago
he deliberately tried to get a rise out of Barry, provoking him and
encouraging him to believe in himself again. Nash channels Harry as
he literally has Harry and Sherloque along with 70 other Wells' in
his head. Some of whom are telling him (Nash) they are shocked Barry
is even considering the deal fake-Singh offered. Nash is then able
to give Barry some perspective on what the result would be if he DID
take the deal. Even if it was for absolutely PERFECT reasons, it
wouldn't have worked out like he planned. "I understand doing
everything to save your wife but if you go *this* far to bring her
back, Iris won't forgive you. And you will have gained nothing."
Only Harry Wells and Oliver were this much of a mentor to him. Ever
spoke to him in such deeply personal terms and yet as a teacher not
parent. With Harry, Sherloque and technically H.R. in his head, the
absolute newbie who didn't want to hang around the team much to begin
with is absolutely a mentor to the Speedster who seems to have lost
everything.
The season was supposed to end with a Thawne finale and what would actually be his last appearance. Because of Co-vid's shelter in place order, all series were prematurely ended. The first 3 episodes in season 7 are re-shoots of what would have been the last 3 episodes of season six. Also, for those who take the goof on this page at face value acceptance, look back to the first episode of season 2. Thawne did not 'turn himself in'. He left a will as Harrison Wells confessing to the murder of Barry's mom that was released after his death. He has been dead for 4 years now. The cops would need a reason to suspect he was alive (or could be alive) for it to even be a question in their minds.
Superman & Lois: Anti-Hero season 2 episode 7 Awesomeness with one splinter
5 September 2023 - 1 out of 1 users found this review helpful.
This
episode is chock mostly full of awesome things. Beautiful moments
like hearing so much actual Kryptonian. I think it sounds a lot like
Hebrew. Shuster and Sigel were both Jewish so it makes sense. Not
that I'm a fan of it but seeing Anderson in this state makes a lot of
sense. He sees things so perfectly clearly and is so completely sure
of what he knows. Thankfully he learns the truth in a later episode.
And just how wrong he was. Then again, Superman is harboring the man
who killed his men and has been keeping things from him forever. The
scenes at Tal's Fortress are the highlight of the episode. Especially
that brief little smile on Bizzaro's face. The only real drawback is
the brief scenes with Johnathan being basically punished for being
honorable. And feeling so completely stuck. He's alone and scared
that he won't be able to win his family back...and he literally did
nothing wrong. I'm not saying those are weak scenes just, kind of
sad.
Superman & Lois: Injustice (2023) Season 3, Episode 12 7/10
Jordan is not his father: He's Jon-El 7 out of 10 found this helpful.
Seriously
if Jordan Kent was real and I met him on the street, I'd walk up to
him and say 'Hello Jon-el". It's the only reference he would
get. But he doesn't have Jon-el's history. He didn't have an
attention grabbing, only interested in your son once he has powers
Kal'el for a father. He has a father who cares about him, who
actually did raise him right. And somehow he's managing to push
EVERYONE away while still claiming that everyone else is making
everything about them. Johnathan and Sarah's self-interest is normal
and realistic for thier age and actually a perfectly understandable
reaction to thier unusual lives. I don't like seeing it, but it makes
sense.
The reason I rate this episode as high as I do is
because everything else about it is stellar. Seeing Luthor again, for
the first time. Sam Lane being an involved family member who is as
hurt as Clark and Lois to see Jordan becoming the attention grabber
that he is. Wally West over in CW Central City was never this much of
a showboat but even when he was a little bit, he wised up pretty
fast. And to have Jordan basically oozing disdain and callousness
seems... like Jordan isn't the person on drugs to have taken the show
down this particularly dark rabbit hole. I say it that way because
he's giving a more convincing portrayal of being 'on drugs' than Tom
Welling's Clark Kent did when he discovered Red Kryptonite. A
substance that by its nature removes Kryptonian inhibitions and
promotes aggressiveness.
"Something is going on that has
Mr. And Mrs. Kent calling my house. They're really worried. It's
like, they think he's on drugs or something."
"Clark would have to BE on drugs to be on drugs." ...Chloe and Pete in Smallville noticing Clark on Red-K. The class ring that was supposedly a ruby, was a red meteor rock. It was a pretty cool way for Tom Welling to shed Clark's upstanding morality for an episode. But this is 4 episodes in a row without any apparent explanation whatsoever. It's exhausting. And more than a little bit of a shut off. Like literally I SO wanted to shut the TV screen off but I kept it on til the end of the ep.
Stargirl: Frenemies - Chapter Six: The Betrayal (2022) season 3 episode 6
They have Justice in the name, not JUDGEMENT
I mean seriously, why these guys think that calling themselves the JSA automatically makes them not only heroes but judges of everyone who doesn't wear thier stripes has been a growing problem for a while now. And here it came to a glaringly cruel head. For the entire season Wildcat and Hourman have made it perfectly clear they don't trust Cindy and are simply waiting for her to show her true colors as a villain. So when Cindy's secret is revealed, that her father's experiments were transforming her into something else Courtney's first reaction should have been 'so that's why you've been keeping things from us'. Instead the first words out of her mouth were "If you had just been honest with us." Seriously? No one on that team would have listened, most of them were barely willing to try as it was. Why should she trust people who don't even give her a chance to begin with? I mean, has Courtney been paying attention to, well the last conversation the group had at the school lunch table where her supposed friends couldn't even stand Courtney being friends with Icicle's son for no other reason than he WAS Icicle's son? Like that somehow made her fall from grace in thier eyes? Courtney at the time rightly stood up for the boy. "He's no more his father than I am mine. And that wasn't fair to him...or me." And as soon as they get done saying how this revelation about Shiv vindicates thier attitude and proves she can't be trusted they instantly buy into her report that Courtney is *Training the boy she likes to be the next Icicle*. Not hanging out with him, not dating him. And somehow they trust Shiv someone they all but gloat over knowing isn't trustworthy. Rather than their friend and the leader of thier team. And feeling all betrayed Both Wildcat and Hourman turn thier backs on Courtney because she somehow betrayed them. Didn't we feel enough of this mode when the newbies of Team Arrow broke off in disgust, just because Oliver didn't trust them *as much* as he trusted his friends who had been there since day one? Or how they ...Rene and Curtis and especially Dinah Drake...were so busy supporting thier friends and standing with someone they could trust they almost were willing to overlook the fact that one: killing was wrong. And spent a series of episodes ignoring the fact that Oliver was right, one of them HAD been talking to the feds. Team Arrow was full of people who had been changed and redeemed, who struggled to become better. Flash was full of people who were shown and accepted a better life. And with the exception of Dinah Drake they had none of these sanctimonious idiots who didn't even feel like heroes. I realize these guys are still teenagers and everything, emotional, naïve and quick to judge but this over-simplicity and having judgment on speed-dial is disorienting in any hero team. And not very heroic on anyone's part.
Star Trek: Discovery: If Memory Serves (2019) Season 2 episode 8
The timeline actually fits...here's why
The
original TOS pilot 'The Cage' happened 12 years before the season one
episode Menagerie. Pike will soon start counting down the number of
months until he lands in the chair. But Pike and Spock have been to
Talos the first time. An episode summary said Tyler works to overcome
the crews *Suspicions* of him because of his time as Voq. Which isn't
quite true. He works to overcome Dr. Culberts' feelings over having
been *killed* by him. In a pretty powerful and explosive scene in the
mess hall. Afterward Pike and Saru share a little time together on
screen which has its own kind of quiet camaraderie. Emperor Georgiou
is being a classic military general in this episode, and inmost of
the episodes in this part of the season.
The episode opens
with scenes lifted from the original TOS pilot but leaves one piece
out -- why Vina didn't go with Pike in the first place. Vina's reveal
to Burnam is that explanation. I think they give and keep just enough
information so that if you've never actually seen "The Cage"
you still know plenty about what's going on. Most things with
Section-31 are kept to a minimum in this episode. Which leaves a kind
of anticipation for the upcoming stretch. And the best thing is
Captain Pike FINALLY learns where Ash Tyler stands on pretty much
everything and that being part of section 31 doesn't make Tyler a bad
guy. They'd gone through things together personally in the previous
episode, so Pike is at least willing to listen. And when Ash Tyler
leaves the ready room for the second time Pike's quiet smile of 'He's
not such a bad guy after all slash 'I really DID misjudge him' is
positively gorgeous.
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