SUPERMAN & LOIS 1.4

 

RECAP - SUPERMAN & LOIS  1.4:  "Haywire"  

Smallville is starting to become a hotbed of trouble---and Morgan Edge seems to be at the center of it.  This week, we find out exactly WHY Edge has such an interest in the tiny Kansas town, and it's MAJOR.  And now he's trying to ensure his TRUE intentions are NOT discovered by TRYING to stifle Lois from writing the story...because he KNOWS how tenacious Lois will be in pursuing the story and getting to the truth.  Clark as his own issues, as he tries to keep performing the balancing act between being Dad and being the World's Greatest Superhero.  And this situation is putting him at odds with General Sam Lane---who expects him to be the hero FIRST, and father SECOND.  We also get MORE in depth into Lana's life, and what SHE has been going through.  So, let's recap what's been happening in our favorite Midwestern town this week....

Morgan Edge is moving quickly with his plans to gain a foothold in Smallville, and the townsfolk at a town hall meeting this week to vote on whether or not to allow Edge to come into Smallville, and open up the mines.  Before we get to the town hall meeting, we see Edge, Leslie Larr, and his team from Six Months Back, as they were in Saskatchewan, Canada, responding to meteorites hitting the Earth...they look like pods, and Edge is pleased...saying that the Resurrection has begun.  As for the town hall meeting, Lois wanted to cover it, as well as voice her opinion on how Edge will only destroy the town, but before she even gets to go to the town hall meeting, she got handed papers by Leslie Larr, who basically handed her papers that said if Lois prints ANY story that paints Edge in a negative light, it's a violation of her contract with The Daily Planet, and she will face litigation.  Because of this, Chrissy is unable to print Lois' story, and Lois is stifled at that point.  With no way to report, she relies on Clark to be able to show up at the town hall meeting, and write the story, since Clark was fired from the Planet, and thus could report freely without consequence.  

Edge also seemed to be working his influence over Kyle...who's been a big supporter of his...as he asks about Lana, and Kyle tells him that she works for him at the bank.  Edge cozies up to Lana, and tries to offer her a better job, but she says she came back to Smallville after college, because it's her home.  Her and Kyle argue about the issue of Edge coming at her in an uncomfortable manner, and it causes a fight between the two.  Edge continues his research into Smallville by checking one of the mines, where he's confronted by Lois.  The two have an exchange, and Lois promises to fight him all the way, and get to the truth.  Edge and Leslie then discuss their ultimate plan.  And they plan on using the miners to dig into the walls to extract what we discover is Kryptonite once Leslie punches a hole in the wall.  This is NOT a good sign for the Man of Steel.  ESPECIALLY since we have an alternate Luthor out there DESPERATELY looking for Kryptonite himself.  How long before THESE two cross paths?  And join up to ultimately destroy Superman?  It's a scary thought, and one we should be keeping an eye on as the season runs on.  

Lois...poor Lois.  Now she's been silenced from writing about Morgan Edge due to his legal maneuvering, prevents her from having her story told.  This episode sees her relying on Clark more to not only be a father to the boys, but to also help HER in her quest to take down Edge.  She asks Clark to cover the town hall meeting, and be supportive, since he CAN write the story, because he was FIRED form the Planet, and thus NOT under contract to them.  Clark, of course, makes a promise to her, but we know that in the life of a superhero...promises are hard to keep.  On top of that, Clark still has to deal with Lois' father, as Sam is vehemently upset that Clark and Lois relocated to Smallville to take care of the boys.  Sam is insistent that Clark put his role as Superman FIRST...because the world is MORE important than the boys.  Sam even tells the boys that their father has a responsibility, and that it will fall on Jordan to pick up the slack should Clark falter or when he's done.  Once word of this gets to Lois and Clark....it doesn't go well for Sam.  Sam wanted Superman to play security for the transfer of a criminal named  Killgrave to a more secure location, since Superman isn't in Metropolis much, and the underworld has noticed...especially Intergang.  This leads to Lois, Clark, and Sam having an argument about priorities, and Lois calls the General out on his parenting skills, and tells him that if he continues to press on this issue, he won't be welcome anymore.

Killgrave DOES escape his transfer with help, and he sets a trap for Superman...who promises General Lane that he'll keep searching until he finds him, thus breaking his promise to Lois.  The town votes to let Edge open up the mines, and Lois is disappointed that Clark isn't there, but he's busy fighting Killgrave at this point in time.  Lois is pissed off, as is Lana, who had a fight with Kyle about Edge trying to hustle her.  Lois is upset with Clark, and lets him know it.  She and Lana go out for drinks, and they talk about their spouses.  Lana says that, despite knowing Clark pretty much their whole lives, and is her best friend, Lois is the one that brings out the best in him.  Lois says that despite what Kyle and her argue about...he's a good man.  Later on, we see Clark has lured Lois into a date night in the barn...only to be interrupted by a call for Superman, but it seems that Clark assures her that---despite him having to balance his life as himself and Superman---Lois is the one that keeps him grounded and together.  

Lana also finds out that her husband is still a good guy, as she wakes up with him making the family breakfast.  It seems he understands that Lana was uncomfortable with Edge, and he'll be more attentive.  They also seem to make up.  

As for the boys themselves---we got to see Jordan become the football hero in the game, as he caused a turnover, and allowed the team to score the winning touchdown.  There IS one teammate of theirs, however....a boy named Ted...who's arm is in a sling, but he seems to have an issue:  his arm is supposedly broken, but he seems to have healed fast.  He's got some kind of vibrating powers, and they begin to start manifesting more and more as the episode goes on.  Things REALLY hit a snag as the boys attend a party with Sarah.  While Sarah and Jordan continue to bond, Jonathan---who's been concerned about Ted all episode, goes to look after him, but then Ted's powers get out of control, and things start to shake around them.  Jordan follows, and tells Jonathan that he's got to do his part..and that his powers can help Ted.  As Jordan tries, though, he's knocked out.  Jonathan hits the signal to call their dad, and Superman hears it---takes out Killgrave and his men, let's General Lane know, and flies off to save Ted by flying him up to the upper atmosphere, making him pass out, and calming him down.  Later on, we find out that Ted is in a special facility to help him with his powers until he can control them.  The boys want to see him, but General Lane refuses.

We end up seeing General Lane at the end of the episode hold the Superman dogtags left by the Alternate Luthor, and remembers what this Luthor said.  He calls on one of his staff, and says that he's going to start a secret project:  Project 7734.  It seems that Alternate Luthor is in General Lane's head.

Another solid episode, as we got a little more family drama this time around.  Part of it focused on Clark's ability to TRY and balance both his lives, but is finding it difficult to do.  Not only has he neglected the boys, but Lois as well.  When she needed him the most, he wasn't there.  But--he was busy with Killgrave, and couldn't get back in time.  Lois is very understanding, she just feels neglected as a wife.  Clark reassures her that it will NEVER come to that---Clark reminds her that it's because of HER that he's able to do all of this.  She's just as important to him as the boys are, and he'll keep working on it.  But I WAS happy to FINALLY see Lois call out the General on his awful parenting.  That's always been the thing about General Sam Lane---his commitment to country and duty.  Admirable traits, but it made him a LOUSY father---especially to Lois.  While Lucy may have followed in her dad's footsteps, Lois has always bucked the trend.  And the fact that SHE can stand up to him with no problem as always been one of Lois' strengths.  It's the reason why they have such a dysfunctional relationship.  Sam is all about duty...and he tries to push that down the boys' throats in regard to their dad...but it backfires.  Sam's continued commitment to duty, and his expectations of Superman cause him to rethink things.  With Alternate Luthor telling him of how much a menace Superman is....it's allowed Sam to go behind Clark's back to set up a project designed to STOP him.  This is NOT going to end well for this family...and Sam will be the worse for wear for it.  If he thought he had a rift with Lois NOW...just wait.  

Killgrave seemed to be just a villain of the week deal---not sure if he'll come back around, but he served his purpose:  be enough of a threat to cause Clark to miss the town hall meeting, and prove General Lane right about Superman being too distracted.  While Superman still saved the day, it caused an issue between he and Lois temporarily.  Clark continues to feel the mounting pressure of fatherhood, being a loving husband, and The Man of Might all rolled into one.  How he manages to try and balance it all makes us see WHY he's called Superman.  It's Clark's personal struggles that make him relatable...and make us cheer him on.  

The boys---powers or limited powers---have inherited their father's compassion for others.  Jonathan especially this episode, as he is concerned about his teammate the whole time.  These boys are wise beyond their years, and with the parents they have---will grow up to be great men.  While Jordan's powers work to an extent....he's still vulnerable....which means he can't use his powers best ALL the time.  But we cheer these boys on, anyway, and it shows growth.  Jordan and Sarah's friendship getting stronger is a good sign.  They boys need a third to balance things out....Sarah fits in nicely.  As for Sarah's parents---it seems that Kyle and Lana finally hashed out some issues, and it took a ladie's night out with Lois for both women to see the value in their spouses.  Lana noted that while he and Lois disagree on the Edge issue---Kyle does like her.  Probably because she stands her ground.  But we'll see how he respects her, as she continues to dig her heels in on wanting to take Edge down.  BUT....I DO like the fact that Lana and Lois are bonding.  It COULD be that Lana ends up becoming an ally to help Lois and Clark take down Edge before the season is out.

As for Edge...we learn that there is A LOT more to him than what we realized.  Starting with the discovery with Leslie in Saskatchewan with the pods, and to finding the Kryptonite in the mines in Smallville, he's plotting some huge take over of the world...and the destruction of Superman in the process.  And he won't be afraid to use Lois and the boys to achieve that end.  He's not sure why Lois is in Smallville, or why she moved her family here with her unemployed husband, but he'll find out.  But safe to say that Edge's plans are epic, and will be the BIGGER threat going forward for the Superman Family than this Alternate Luthor.  But they're getting it on all fronts.  It's making for some damn compelling television.  Especially when Sam starts HIS little project against Clark, and THAT little nugget of info slips out---it's going to destroy Sam's relationship with Lois forever.  And the trust and partnership between Superman and General Lane will be shredded.  

So...how do YOU all feel after this week's show?  Subscribe and lemme know YOUR thoughts and theories going forward.  

Until next time....Up, up, and away!