SUPERMAN & LOIS 1.3

 

RECAP - SUPERMAN & LOIS  1.3:  "The Perks of Not Being A Wallflower"

Just when you think the Kents have made strides with the boys---something ELSE mucks up the family dynamic.  This time around, it's Clark's own powers and is overbearing parenting at times that gets him into trouble.  This week was no different, as he tries to let the boys be boys and find their own way, without having to be paranoid about Jordan's powers...limited as they may be.  And then there's Lois....hot on the trail of whatever it is Morgan Edge has in store for Smallville, and it's DEFINITELY getting her some unwanted trouble....but that's expected for the world's most intrepid reporter.  Also...we finally get the showdown between mother and daughter as Lana and Sarah finally hash it out with each other.  Just another fun day in the small Kansas town...

The episode started off nice enough...the Kents looking to paint the house, horsing around with each other until Clark hears some screams from far away, and then he's off like a shot as Superman.  The Man of Steel winds up in China, where a bridge is collapsing due to some earthly disturbance.  The Man of Might manages to save a fisherman from being squashed by part of the bridge, and saves the day yet again.  Later on at dinner, the boys ask their dad about how he hears things, and how he's learned to tune out all the sounds he doesn't need to hear.  They then tease him about whether or not he's misused his powers for....other things.  He teases them, and they all laugh about it.  But, in all seriousness, Clark does try to get the message across that it's about using his powers responsibly and learning how to control them. 

We finally get to delve more into the Cushing family and THEIR issues, as Lana and Kyle pick up Sarah from therapy, only to argue, and have Sarah completely sick of all of it.  As we've seen from the get-go...Lana and Kyle's marriage seems to be on extremely rocky terrain.  And with Sarah already having attempted suicide, the family dynamic sucks...especially with the younger daughter turning into something of a Mean Girl.  At school, Jordan was hoping to hang out with Sarah and talk, but she bolts off to be with her boyfriend before he gets the words out.  It goes from bad to worse for Jordan when her boyfriend and the rest of the football team pick on him, and look like they're about to beat him up.  Jonathan tries to stick up for his brother, but he's held back, as we see Jordan close to unleashing  his powers again.  Clark is at home when he hears this, and---fearing the worst---races to the high school, just to see what's going on, saving Jordan from himself.  But this doesn't sit well with him OR Jonathan, and they argue with Clark, with Jordan saying he liked it better when his dad wasn't around much.  

Lois is still chasing her story on Morgan Edge and his connection to Smallville and Carthidge, but she's meeting some resistance from her editor, Chrissy, who isn't used to this kind of story for the paper.  But before Chrissy can say more, a woman shows up whose son, Lawrence Powell, was one of the missing miners in Carthidge, and she wants to nail Edge to the wall.  So, Chrissy and Lois listen to her son's last message before he went missing....all the while, they're being watched by somebody...who more than likely works for Morgan Edge.  

Jordan is still being picked on, but then he overhears Sarah ending things with her boyfriend.  We later see her at cheer practice---where Lana happens to be the coach---and Sarah can't focus.  Lana wants to know what's wrong, but Sarah blows her off and quits the team.  Jordan, however, gets it in his head that he's going to join the football team with his brother, who thinks this is a bad idea.  Jordan, with a little help from his powers, manages to make quite the impression on his coach...who admonishes his brother for keeping him a secret.  This is NOT lost on Jonathan.  The boys and Sarah meet at the diner a little later after practice, and Jonathan wonders how long Jordan can keep this secret from their dad.  Sarah talks about her own mother being nosey, and---sure enough---Lana shows up, wondering what the issue with Sarah is.  But they argue in front of the boys, and then they take off.  Clark then shows up, and the boys play dumb for their dad.

Chrissy and Lois are still debating about the validity of the Powell woman's story, but Lois' gut feeling tells her there's a story here.  Before they can say more, they hear a loud noise, as Lois' car is blown up.  Now Lois knows FOR SURE there's something going on.  And again...the same guy spying on them earlier had something to do with the car.  Kyle comes to put out the car fire, but still isn't thrilled with Lois bashing Edge.  She knows he's dirty, but Kyle isn't buying it.  She later tells Clark about what happened, and he tells her that whatever happens, he'll be supportive of her.  The next day, Clark is in town, and he catches up with Lana...and she drops the bombshell about Jordan trying out for the football team.  This doesn't sit well with Clark who shows up to practice after Jordan goes through another practice, actually taking down Sarah's now ex-boyfriend.  However, he extends his hand and offers up an apology to him for having kissed Sarah.  They boys come to a mutual understanding, and practice ends.  When the Kents get home, Clark lectures the boys about Jordan using his powers irresponsibly, but Jordan reacts like a typical teen does, and then he's ordered up to his room.  Jonathan tries to side with his dad, but Clark sends him up too....for hiding it.  Lois and Clark talk about how he screwed up with his powers when he spied on Lois after he first arrived in Metropolis.  He said he was lucky, and that he almost lost her.  Lois assured him that she still loved him, but that he's got to adjust to letting the boys go through things on their own.  

Lois gets a call from the Powell woman, and agrees to meet her and a few others who're looking to give statements to her about Edge's dirty dealings in Carthidge.  When she arrives in town, she goes to a motel, only to find it trashed, and meets Powell's assailant.  Lois tries to buy time until Superman arrives, which he does.  He battles this big man, and soon discovers he's got super powers.  He's a bit of a handful, as the Last Son of Krypton has to work overtime to take him down.  Meanwhile, Lois looks after the Powell woman, who is alive, albeit barely.  Superman manages to defeat the assailant by freezing him with super breath, than punching him out a few dozen times before the man is incapacitated.  Lois calls to him, and has him take the Powell woman to the hospital.  

Lana goes to see her daughter at home, and tries to get Sarah to open up.  Lana admits that...because how SHE was raised...that she always must put on the best face possible in public.  She says she's the most full of crap woman in Smallville, and feels she has to hide her pain and sadness to the rest of the town.  Lana is worried about losing her, but Sarah says that she's figuring it out, and that she's much better than she was.  The two hug it out, and it seems that they've reached a mutual understanding.  

We later see Clark and Jordan talk, and Clark discusses how his father never let him play sports because of his powers.  Clark doesn't want Jordan to miss out on that opportunity, but he's going to be there to help him out to control his powers.  So, he's now the assistant coach of the football team.  Clark does his clumsy Clark routine in front of Sarah for Jordan's sake, and Sarah seems like she'll stick around for Jordan's game.  But now we can see father and son bonding a bit more.  

Lois and Chrissy are at the Gazette discussing what happened to the Powell woman and Lois, and it looks like she's been busy while Lois was out:  she's picked up some evidence about the stalker they had, and now realize that they are most definitely onto something with Morgan Edge.  Lois wonders WHY he would need a super powered guy in his employ, though.  The episode ends as the man is driving when we catch up to a mysterious woman named Leslie Larr...who's in the middle of the road late at night.  She ends up frying the guy with heat vision, and then calls Edge to inform him that the job is done.  

Another solid episode, as we got to peel back some more layers to our happenings in Smallville, and just what the hell is going on with Morgan Edge.  The Luthor story took a back seat, which was nice, so that we could see Lois in full investigator mode, while Clark continues to try and build a better bond with the boys.  We see some Superman action this week, but it wasn't overwrought with it.  A nice balance, considering that the big story is how the World's Greatest Superhero deals with being a parent.  While he's still struggling trying to connect with Jordan, we have seen some great strides the first few episodes.  It also looks like it's possible for Lana and Sarah to get back on track with each other...though Lana STILL needs to sort out her marriage to Kyle...it seems that it's hit the rocks, and not sure what it will take--if ANYTHING--to save it.  Kyle is still hard-headed about the whole Edge thing with Lois, because he doesn't quite see the big picture of what Edge can and will do.  On the surface, he looks like the town savior, but Lois knows better...and come Hell or high water...Lois will expose the truth.  

Jordan seems to be coming out of his shell more, and maybe the football thing will work for him.  But I wonder what that will do with Jonathan and HIS dreams of being a football star?  So far, he's a benchwarmer, and hasn't made ANY impact whatsoever.  So, I'm curious how long it will be before the jealousy REALLY kicks in?  As close as they are right now....this COULD be the one thing to fracture the brotherly relationship.  

And what DOES Morgan Edge need with super powered people?  Who is this guy that got fried by Leslie Larr...and just WHO is SHE anyway?  Hopefully, more answers on the way.  I'm loving how the relationships are developing on this show, and we see that EVERYONE has flaws...but that's what makes it interesting.  And I'm curious how Superman will deal with these other-worldly threats down the road...especially the Luthor one.  I feel he and the General's relationship is going to be severely tested as well as the season goes on.  And how long before Lois stands her ground with her dad about Clark and the family?  The General has ALWAYS been a military man FIRST, and a father SECOND.  And we KNOW his relationship with Lois treads water at best.  But when push comes to shove, I don't think the General can dodge the barrage that is Lois Lane Kent.  

How did YOU all feel about this week's installment?  Who are YOUR favorite characters on this show thus far?  What are YOUR theories on these superpowered villains, and their connection to Morgan Edge?  Subscribe and toss your ideas at me below.

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