Well, we certainly weren't expecting that. It's fair to say that we've grown used to a certain tone from The CW's DC TV shows, with the titular superhero surrounded by love interests, mentors, goofy allies (here's looking at you, Cisco), and a rinse-and-repeat weekly villain with a big bad waiting in the wings to be defeated in the finale. It remains to be seen whether Superman & Lois succumbs to those familiar, clichéd trappings, but as of right now, this series premiere points to the network moving on from the Arrow-formula, and delivering a cinematic, exciting new take on the Man of Steel.
After a fantastic recap bringing us up to speed with the history of the post-Crisis on Infinite Earths Superman, we pick up with Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and their two teenage sons in Metropolis. A family tragedy takes them back to Smallville, though, and this hour-long opener does a terrific job of laying the groundwork for a fresh interpretation of Superman's world, all while making it feel like a big-budget movie. The Man of Steel inspiration is clear to see (we're surprised Zack Snyder doesn't have an Executive Producer credit), but that's not a bad thing, and what many felt was a glum take on this iconic DC Comics character in that movie is replaced with the hopeful, optimistic Superman many fans have been desperate to see on screen for years now. Jonathan and Jordan Kent are by no means a detriment to the series thus far, and while teenage drama could ultimately bog the series down, their story is currently every bit as compelling as their parents'.
Tyler Hoechlin has been a great Superman ever since he first made a cameo appearance in Supergirl, but with stronger material to work with here, his work really soars. The same can be said for Elizabeth Tulloch's Lois Lane, though we would like to see future episode show what makes her the world's greatest journalist. As Jordan and Jonathan, Alex Garfin and Jordan Elsass deliver some strong work, with the former, in particular, one to watch. Honestly, there's not a bad performance to be found in this premiere, and it helps that the cast aren't reeling off silly puns, meeting up in sci-fi inspired, unrealistic bases, or heading down the routes we expect these CW shows to take.
From a visual perspective, Superman & Lois looks phenomenal. It feels like a series The CW has spent a lot of money on, with the battle between the Man of Tomorrow and his mysterious new arch nemesis looking like something we could expect to see in a big budget superhero movie. Honestly, the show is better than it has any right to be, and while there don't appear to be plans for Superman on the big screen for the foreseeable future, this show promises to fill that void nicely (and on a weekly basis too). Dan Romer's score is perhaps the only part of this premiere which doesn't always work, because it doesn't consistently manage to match the epic action playing out on screen. The big question from here is whether Superman & Lois can maintain this level of quality; right now, we're glad COVID means it will remain standalone in nature, as it doesn't feel like it would benefit from Batwoman or the Flash racing into Smallville for a team-up, but The CW really does seem to have something special on its hands with what could ultimately be the best DC TV show yet.
The epic Superman series we've been waiting for, Superman & Lois' series premiere is cinematic, bold, and a step in the right direction for the Man of Steel as The CW looks to embrace what makes this character great.