**This review contains some SPOILERS**
Watch the SPOILER review on YouTube
In its third season, “Superman & Lois” continued to have strong stories anchored by a combination of down-to-earth family drama and superhero action. Add in an unflinching look at the real-life threat of cancer, and the leads had plenty to work with. However, the big bad storyline never quite delivered, and was wrapped up too quickly to introduce a new big bad with not enough time for a setup and payoff.
While Superman and Lois are the stars, all the meat of this season went to Lois and Jordan. Each episode dug deep into Lois’ cancer and how it affected her and everyone in her family. All this was portrayed as realistic as possible, and thankfully they didn’t cheapen it by going for some magic/sci-fi solution. Unfortunately, this didn’t leave much meaningful material for the rest of the cast. Superman was mostly there to cheer on Lois and leap into action when needed. (This is taking nothing away from the action, that combined with the chemistry between him and Lois, continues to give us possibly the best version of this power couple.) Despite all the character growth for Jordan so far, this season spent more time taking him back a few steps instead of moving him forward. Every time it looked like he was ready to finally become a full-on superhero, he does something stupid that forces his parents to essentially ground him from being Superboy. Even worse, the back and forth between him and Sara has become too one-note. They’ve been friends, a couple, friends again, a couple again and back to friends. And each time he ends up becoming more unlikable because of how whiny he becomes. (And poor Sara doesn’t have much else going on in her character arc besides this toxic relationship. Even her singing career sub-plot was completely dropped.) This season also introduced the recast Jonathon. Thanks to his similar appearance to the original actor, the new one slips in pretty seamlessly. However, he still doesn’t have a lot to do once again outside of drama with his girlfriend’s dad and a stint at the fire station that ultimately goes nowhere. The rest of the cast isn’t given that much material. Lana as mayor didn’t really add that anything too intriguing to her character. (Not to mention they seemed to drop a storyline about some shady dealings the previous mayor was trying to cover up.) Nat’s relationship arc was fairly interesting, but it came at the expense of her superhero action. John Irons also got the shaft the season, as the Intergang story seemed to be set to revolve around him, but in the end, he got shoved into the background and Superman and Lois took over.
As for Intergang, it felt less like a cartel of super-villains, and more just another untouchable mob boss story. Thankfully, Mannheim is an extremely sympathetic bad guy that is just doing everything he can to save the people he loves. I would’ve liked to see just how much bad stuff he did to earn his reputation and if it all really was just for what he thought was the greater good. In a strange course correction, his story wrapped up with two episodes to go, and we are given a lightning-fast introduction to a new Lex Luthor as he is set-up up as the true big bad. They went an interesting route with the character, making him less the genius that’s always three steps ahead and more of an intimidating Kingpin-like figure. He’s also stripped of his sophisticated style, and given more a biker look, complete with heavy-metal soundtrack.
“Superman & Lois” succeeds in season three as the family stuff and character moments help this show soar. The action is a little limited, but well-done when it’s there. The show pulls no punches in giving a realistic looks at a battle with cancer and doesn’t cheapen it by coping out with a magic cure. The soap opera relationship stuff is overdone at times, and the Jordan/Sara drama has run its course. Mannheim was a decent villain for the season, but his story is cut short in order to shoehorn Lex Luthor into the show at the last minute.
***1/2 out of *****