Superman & Lois 1x11 : A Brief Reminiscence In-Between Cataclysmic Events review

 

            Be warned there will be *SPOILERS* involved in this review. With that being said let's get into it.

What a mouthful of an episode title for the eleventh episode of Superman and Lois's first season. With a title as big and long as this episode has can it live up to it all?? and the answer is a strong yes! the episode begins with a young Clark Kent whom we see searching for the Fortress of Solitude. He has a piece of the sun stone in his hand, the same stone that was in his pod when he crash landed on Earth. Getting frustrated with being unable to find the towering Fortress he flings the stone in anger only for it to insert itself into the ground slowly buy surely revealing the Fortress to Clark who ends up getting caught in the various snow imbued debris. He eventually makes his way into the Fortress where he meets the hologram version of his father Jor-El. He tells Clark that his real name is Kal-El and that he is the last son of Krypton a planet that was destroyed. We then get a montage of Kal-El doing various super things like running and the power of flight as he ages and matures into the Clark we know in this show. He is seen meeting with his father once again who says that he has to choose just why he will become the champion of people on Earth. Back on Earth we see Martha Kent again who is very much alive signalling that this is indeed a very flashback heavy episode. And a heavy flashback episode it is as we're show various snippets of Clark meeting getting a job at the Daily Planet, meeting and marrying Lois Lane and finding out they're having a baby or should I say babies together. There's plenty of new stuff in here too like a callback once again to Superman's debut in Action Comics and Lois interviewing Superman on TV in an exchange that is equal parts funny and adorable. The chemistry between the two is just pure fire. 

Speaking of Lois Lane she informs a coworker of hers that she is in love with Clark Kent but little does she know that Superman is behind her is actually listening in intently. It's all just great stuff here with some truly smile inducing moments that will leave any DC / Superman & Lois fan with the biggest cheesey grin on their faces afterwards. Clark who ends up taking Lois back to meet Martha and various other members of the Smallville community ends up revealing his secret to Lois who not only accepts it but also embraces it saying that she wouldn't spend her life with anyone else. But of course this isn't real right? well actually no as throughout the episode Clark sees a shadowy figure coming in and out of the picture. What could this be? a dream? is he dead? well the last time we saw Superman he wasn't in good nick at all. As Lois is about to give birth to their twin boys Clark finally snaps out of it and learns that he has been under some sort of time / memory lapse thanks to Tal-Rho (Morgan Edge) whom not only says he wants to harm his twin sons but also condemns Lois for changing Clark in such a way that made him forget all about his family and Kryptonian peers. Could he actually be right in his claims?

The episode ends as a giant battle ensues within the Fortress which is where Tal-Rho had his brother watching over him invading all of his memories and thoughts. The Fortress gets badly damaged in the fight which Tal-Rho gets the upper hand in finally saying that it did not have to be and end like this. Back on the ground and we see Lois, Jordan and Johnathan at Lana's house. After the events of last weeks episode they're mainly there to see how Kyle is doing after what he went through under the command of Tal-Rho. He is doing better minus a bad headache. As for the boys who are seen with Sarah Jordan is happily informed to learn that Sarah wants to more than just friends as they officially become a couple. What happened with her dad last week changed her mind and vision on a lot of things. Lois and the boys are soon on their way with a final thank you from Kyle who shows a much softer side which was great to see honestly. They arrive back at home and hear the familiar sound of Clark arriving back home but it's not him this time. This time it's Tal-Rho and he once more not only blames the boys for bringing out the human side of Kal-El but he also again fully blames Lois and even though Jordan stands up to him he is easily overpowered by the vastly more experience brother of Superman. Speaking of Superman he arrives back in front of the Kent Farm home in front of Lois and his sons. He says that he will do anything to stop Tal-Rho from harming them even if that does mean pledging and submitting to him and his cause. And that's exactly what he does as seconds later they both disappear high into the sky heading straight for Tal-Rho's own Fortress which is the perfect contrasts of the desert to the cold sharpness of Kal-El's Fortress of Solitude. We first see a young Tal-Rho entering the structure where much like a young Clark he meets the hologram version of his father who questions him on a number of things including The Eradicator. He does have some tests for his son which includes pain tolerance among other things. The same fate befalls Kal-El who gets put through a very similar process but with one big difference. This process is actually turning him to the side of Tal-Rho proving that John Henry Irons's theory true. The episode ends with the final shot of a red eyed Superman as Lois is seen on the phone to Iron's stating that he was right Superman has been turned. And that was the episode. Man this was such a good episode overall. It absolutely flew by and was filled with so many easter eggs and hints to DC lore. The balance and chemistry truck between Clark and Lois was perfect and as a whole this is really in the running for the best episode this season. A perfect origin story done so well with some amazing present day moments sprinkled in for good measure. This is how you do a Superman based show ladies and gentlemen. Sadly however it does now go on break for a few weeks and will return on July 13th with the fallout of Superman turning to the dark side..literally. I look forward to seeing what happens then!

★★★★★