The greatest strength of the CW’s show Superman & Lois is also Superman’s greatest weakness, and it’s not the use of Kryptonite. Superman & Lois is a welcomed addition to the CW’s slate of DC properties this year as the network will be ending Supergirl and Black Lightning at the conclusion of their seasons. This will make Superman one of the few “A-List” characters on the CW, so it’s an important show for the network. In the coming years Superman will surely play a pivotal role on the network as the remaining foundational Arrowverse shows come to an end.
Superman & Lois is actually the fourth live-action series featuring the Man of Steel, not including those that feature related characters. This means that Superman has more live-action television series than any other comic book superhero. This is incredible given the effects-heavy nature of the character and availability of more easily adaptable characters like Green Arrow and Batman. Across the other Superman shows, such as Lois & Clark, Smallville, and even the CW’s latest series, there is a common theme that connects them and it’s not their spectacular special effects. Each series prioritizes Superman’s personal relationships and makes them the central focus of much of the series.
It seems like this prioritization of personal relationships may be the secret to successfully portraying Superman on television. It’s ironic that the exploitation of Superman’s weakness, his humanity, is what allows him to work as a character in television. Although this isn’t a surprise since Superman’s humanity, as seen through his personal relationships, is what makes him relatable to audiences. After all, Superman is the most powerful person on Earth and therefore difficult for the average human to relate to. In many ways, Superman’s relationships make him more vulnerable than Kryptonite because Kryptonite is merely external, while his relationships and humanity create inner struggles.
So, while his family may be the source of inner struggles for the Man of Steel, it’s actually the series’ greatest strength, as it allows audiences to empathize and relate to Superman. Knowing Superman faces the same struggles as the average husband and father allows viewers to understand him on a personal level that isn’t possible otherwise. In fact, while Superman & Lois delivers plenty of effects-driven Superman action, most of the time is spent with Clark and the family, especially with his sons Jonathan and Jordan. In each episode, audiences watch Superman confront the challenges of raising two teenage boys.
The show leans heavily on Superman’s relationship with his children and this creates an interesting dynamic in which his humanity takes center stage. The result is a focus on Clark’s journey to balance his work life with his family life, something with which many people have struggled. Superman may be able to save the world on a daily basis, but his twin boys present an entirely new challenge for the Man of Steel. This is the struggle at the heart of the show as Superman is constantly being pulled between his role as Earth’s savior and his role as a father and husband.
Superman & Lois is not the first show to highlight Clark’s humanity through personal relationships and it definitely won’t be the last. However, there is something particularly effective in showcasing his journey as a father. It’s not often one considers this aspect of the character, perhaps because it’s a relatively new side of Superman that hasn’t been extensively explored on the cinema screen. A father’s relationship with his sons is extremely personal and Superman & Lois exquisitely captures those tender moments. Consequently, it becomes obvious that Superman recognizes his weakness as a father and is determined to be the hero and the father he needs to be.
