Superman & Lois 3x12 : Injustice review

 

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

Superman and Lois returns from it's short hiatus and we're finally introduced to this show's version of Lex Luthor. The episode opens up with news of Lex Luthor being released from prison after almost two decades. We see him in prison as he is presented with a letter declaring him a free man. He's about to get out of prison and he has only one person in mind that he wants to see but more on that a bit later. Last time out we saw that Jordan was under the microscope of a fellow classmate after both he and Sarah toppled a car and they were saved by someone. Well now it turns out that the Daily Planet has been informed that a new super-powered person may infact be in Smallville and a story is soon to be published. This leads to the center point of the episode as Jordan brags about this new hero at school in-front of everyone including Sarah who tells Lana about Jordan's ego seemingly getting out of control. Lana tells Lois and Clark and the two confront Jordan later about everything going so far as to take his suit and goggles at least until things die down in the media. 

Stryker's prison is the destination next and in a series of flashbacks Lex Luthor rises to power within the prison as at first he goes from someone who gets beat up by fellow inmates to by the end of the episode getting the prisoners to practically wait on him and serve him food. It's a genius way of showing just how terrifying and intimidating Lex Luthor can be and it's played perfectly. Lex is always in control even when behind bars and it shows when he gets the security and main man in charge under his thumb. This is a different version of Lex one unlike we've seen before and honestly I really did like this a lot. We eventually see Lex in present day as he leaves prison and just begins walking along the road by himself, his final destination?? the Kent Family home but before that a giant Tornado hits Smallville putting a lot of people in danger. 

The episode draws to a close as the Tornado strikes leaving people running for their lives both inside buildings and on the outside under an underpass where Sam Lane helps people. Jordan is there too and as Superman arrives to control the situation Jordan spots his suit in Sam's car and takes it donning it to go help his dad stop the Tornado in it's path. Superman tells Jordan to go home but he disobeys him directly and helps. The two do end up stopping the Tornado and as the situation is now under control Jordan again disobeys Superman and begins posing with people they saved. Jordan clearly loves the attention and it's clear to see that he really doesn't care about being discovered as a superhero at least not in the way Superman did. It all comes to a major head at home when Clark and Jordan even come to minor physical blows. Clark sends his son to his room and tells him to not come out until he is asked to. A very intense scene indeed and one that didn't feel forced or unwarranted it was built up brilliantly. Jordan is the last thing on Clark and Lois's mind soon however as Lex finally arrives at the Kent Family home. He gets right in Lois's face demanding that she retire from reporting or there will be consequences. It's a very intense scene that is brilliantly acted by everyone involved. Lex leaves in a car as Otis Greaves turns up and takes him away but not before Lex says that Superman is next on his list. Will Lois retire?? unlikely. As for how this episode ends it ends as Lex Luthor and Otis go to Bruno Mannheim's former site where Bizarro was being kept. Bizarro is still there when they enter the building but he is different. More Zombie like he is eating what looks like rats or something as when he sees Lex and Otis he kills Otis it sounds like as all that can be heard is screams of terror and pain as the only thing we see is a flashlight on the ground. Could this lead to Lex turning this zombie version of Bizarro into a version of Doomsday for the finale?? probably just wishful thinking on my part but man that would be truly epic. This episode was fantastic from beginning to end. The conflict between Jordan and his parents and ultimately him being unveiled as super powered being was gripping. Lex Luthor was the stand out here though as I was expecting him to be. Brilliantly performed and acted in such a terrifying and menacing way. He didn't really interact with Clark much or Superman but hopefully we get that rivalry in the finale explored a bit. Next weeks season finale is shaping up to be something truly special indeed!

★★★★