Superman & Lois 1x12 : Through the Valley of Death review

 

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

Superman & Lois returns from it's hiatus and last time out we were treated to a season best episode can this episode continue in that vain? we begin as we see John Henry Irons in his RV. He is looking for someone who we hear his AI say is this Earth's counterpart to his younger sister. He stops her getting out of a cab but then ends up getting a call from Lois Lane. The same call we saw her make at the end of the previous episode. John was right Superman has been turned. It leads right into this new episode as we're then back with Superman who hasn't been fully turned yet but is instead trying his upmost to fight back against what is happening to him. With each passing moment however he is struggling to fight back as the eradicator pushes him further and further into a monster so to speak. Back in Smallville and both Johnathan and Jordan come up with a plan to use Jordan's powers much like they did to find their dad when he was up against John Henry Irons in episode 7. Jordan attempts to use his power of super hearing to try and isolate his dad's voice but it's no use. He gets pushed pretty hard by Johnathan who really wants his dad back. With the boys busy Lois is struggling quite a bit with the whole ordeal. She can't quite believe that Clark would just turn. That is the big narrative point of the episode as it goes on. She refuses to believe throughout that Clark is gone and that he actually can be saved. But can he?

Back at the Kent Farm and a meeting between John Henry Irons, Lois and her dad takes place. The gist of it basically is that John deems a rescue plan a bad idea after all Superman pretty much signaled to Lois to contact John to put an end to Superman if he ever did turn fully. Lois is for the rescue plan as expected but it does get pretty heated between all 3 with even her dad being with John in some key aspects. With Lois stepping out of the room John tells General Lane of his secret weapon that he will use to kill Superman. It's powered by Red Solar Tech which will weaken Superman to the point where he is so vulnerable that he can be killed. General Lane too has his Kryptonite based weapons we must not forget. The two along with the D.O.D get to work and set up a base site where Lois meets a familiar face. 

The episode draws to a close as Lois who arrives at the base site meets none other than John Diggle who has shown up on pretty much every DC / CW TV show as of late. He's in town to hand over something from ARGUS to help in the fight against Edge and a turned Superman. Diggle learns of John Herny Irons's trip from another Earth and is both curious and skeptical. Can they really trust him?? and what if his weapon doesn't even work on Superman?? speaking of John Henry Irons we see him get given the direct order of killing Superman by General Lane. John gets to meet Johnathan Kent and the two share quite the emotional moment. Lois soon ends up pulling John aside however telling him everything. She tells him that Clark is Superman and that they're married and have two sons. John is taken aback by this of course and still goes and dons his Steel armor suit equipped with his hammer and the Red Solar missile. A giant scale fight breaks out between Superman and Steel who had previously been found thanks to Jordan's own super hearing powers. Superman who is still fighting back against the turning process managed to get outside of the desert fortress and call out to his son. It is Superman who gets the upper hand here battling and beating Steel pretty heavily. But as expected it turns out to be Lois who is the voice of reason especially in John's mind as it looks like he is about to end Superman he instead urges him to fight back. Fight for those who love him because if he doesn't it's going to be a whole lot worse if he turns and they're no more. Superman ultimately fights like he's never fought before and overcomes the ordeal letting out a giant scream of pain before laying on his back. We got him back says Steel but Edge is still inside of the Fortress and he needs to be stopped. With his plan a failure Edge takes the eradicator by himself and flies high up into the night sky almost into outer space. Steel and Superman chase him with Steel especially hot on his tail. Before Steel can fire of his missile Edge uses his heat vision on the eradicator destroying it in the process. I have a feeling this is going to mean a whole lot more going forward however. Back on the ground and Superman has a new ally in John Henry Irons who leaves Clark to be with his family for now. Edge is in high maximum security and the final thing we see in this episode is infact Edge in a Kryptonite powered holding area. But something is not right with him. His eyes flash a light blue and a voice can he heard whether it be in his mind or not I don't know. A real cliffhanger ending to an episode that had pretty much everything. Action, fun moments, family bonding and heartache and even a new ally being found. This show is just so good and shows absolutely no signs of slowing down anytime soon. 3 episodes remain in Season 1 and I am thoroughly looking forward to them all. 

★★★★