SUPERMAN & LOIS 1.2

 

RECAP - SUPERMAN & LOIS  1.2:  "Heritage"  

The Kents have moved back to Smallville....but sadly, they're NOT endearing themselvs to the townsfolk since they've arrived.  Jordan and Jonathan have already gotten in trouble with Sarah Cushing's boyfriend because Jordan made a pass at her, not knowing she was taken.  On top of that, Lois is in full reporter mode since finding out Morgan Edge has interest in opening up the coalmines in the town, knowing HIS checkered past.  She's meeting resistance from Lana Lang Cushing's husband, as well as Edge himself.  Clark, however, has TWO problems:  trying to be a better father to BOTH his boys...and dealing with this new threat as Superman.  This week....things intensify.  

Lois and Clark have decided early on in this episode that Jordan isn't ready to go to school until they find a way to help him control his powers.  So, the family has to cover for him, while Clark files him out to the Fortress of Solitude to have Jordan tested by his grandfather, Jor-El.  Jordan is in awe of his Kryptonian heritage, and learns about Krypton up until its explosion.  He DOES end up getting tested, but it turns out that his powers will NEVER be at the level of Kal-El's.  Jor-El emphatically tells his son that Jordan will always have limited powers, and they will never develop past what they are.  Jordan is obviously upset by this, and doesn't take it well.  Jonathan, on the other hand, has to get used to going to a new high school, and making the football team.  He's a little too cocky this episode about having knowledge of the playbook, even though he didn't get it on time, and pays the price for it by getting drilled by the team, as well as Sarah's boyfriend.  Jonathan isn't happy about it, nor is he all that thrilled about the fact that Clark is spending more time with Jordan, and getting Jordan in touch with his Kryptonian roots.  Clark is obviously just as disappointed in the fact hat Jordan will NOT be able to continue Clark's legacy, but whatever fence-mending he had with Jordan, dissipated rather quick.  Jordan's human DNA prevents him from being what his father is, but I have a feeling Clark won't give up.  Jordan however, IS allowed to go back to school at the end of the episode, because Clark gives him an alert, allowing him to contact his father should there be trouble.  In the end, however, both Lois and Clark feel that they've made progress with the boys.  

Clark, however, also faces his problem with this alien threat that knows WHO he is, and says that he is destined to destroy the world.  Sam and Superman continue to confer on who this threat is, and he makes yet another move to obtain Kryptonite in order to destroy The Man of Steel.  This Luthor makes an attack on General Lane and the DOD.  He manages to get to Sam, and tries to warn him that Superman is NOT who he seems, and that he will destroy the planet.  Superman DOES arrive in time to save the General, and takes down Luthor....only to discover that it's a robot that this Luthor sent in his place.  Superman and General Lane have more questions than answers after this, but it's clear of ONE thing:  this Luthor is planting the seeds of doubt in General Lane's mind about Kal-El.  It also hasn't helped that General Lane is NOT happy that Lois and Clark told the boys about Clark's life as Superman.  He feels that Clark has endangered his own sons, and STILL wonders why Lois has endured what Clark does all these years.  We then learn at the end of this episode that THIS Luthor is from another world...another universe where HE and General Lane were soldiers, and Superman was the evil rogue who killed everyone, and that General Lane from THAT world gave this Luthor a dogtag necklace with Superman's logo on it.  So, we get more clarity as to WHY this Luthor is here, and what HIS purpose is.  And as much as his ship's computer told him that this version of Superman seems like a hero, Luthor isn't convinced...saying that THIS Superman isn't evil....yet.  Because Superman DID save the town from destruction, as he went after Luthor's ship, who sacrificed it in order to have Superman make a choice.  Superman made the right one.  

Lois and Clark were invited to the Cushing's BBQ, and Lois and Tyler get into it again about Morgan Edge.  Seems that Tyler is happy thinking that Edge is giving Smallville a leg up with the mines opening up again, and people getting work...even if it is at a lower wage.  This conversation happens because Lois attended the town hall meeting the night before, where Morgan Edge DID show up to talk about his plans for Smallville.  But Lois---being the intrepid reporter that she is....wondered about Edge's plans considering the last town he tried to uplift--Carthage--suffered at his hands.  Edge compliments Lois on her tenacity, and then says that he TRIED to give the townsfolk of Carthage a chance, but never PROMISED anything.  Then, he decides that maybe he'll rethink what he does with Smallville.  This doesn't go over well with the townsfolk, but it DOES get the attention of the reporter from the Smallville Gazette, who is all-too familiar with Lois' work.  But her and Tyler continue to butt heads on the Morgan Edge matter.  Later on, she tells Clark what she found out, and as much as Clark is hesitant about it....he knows that she won't let it go.  So, he gives her his blessing.  

Lois isn't thrilled when she finds out, however, that Edge had her story re-written for the Daily Planet, and she's pissed off about it.  Lois, in her career, has NEVER been re-written.  Edge ordered the re-write, saying that it was a smear piece, and he won't have it for the paper.  Then, Lois decides to leave the one thing she's loved more than anything....she quits the Daily Planet.  We then see Lois going to the Smallville Gazette...where she meets up with the reporter---who also happens to be the editor and everything else.  Lois asks if she'd like a reporter, and she asks when Lois can start.  

The drama was dripping this episode, and it seems like Clark's second go around back home is going to be a rougher road than what it was when he was growing up.  His mother is gone, so he has no guidance from her as a parent....so he and Lois have to lean on each other MORE to get the parenting thing right...and it's been  A LOT of hit-and-miss thus far.  Jordan feels even MORESO like an outsider now that he finds out that--due--to his human DNA, he'll NEVER have the level of powers that his father has.  Even Jonathan felt a bit jealous this episode because Jordan was getting some on-on-one time with their Dad, and he felt a little left out.  I do like the boys, but I do think they might be a bit TOO angsty.  If they dial it back A LITTLE, I wouldn't mind.  Lois is the anchor here, desperate to keep her family together.  But Lois is also dealing with the fact that she isn't getting the chance to be what she CAN be---Lois Lane.  Having to quit The Planet was tough for her...leaving all that she loved behind.  But in the end, we see that Lois doesn't regret her decision.  Despite all that she and Clark face---she's putting family first.  It's a new side to Lois Lane that we have never gotten to see, because she's been the top notch, fierce reporter who has no fear when it comes to the danger that comes with following a juicy story.  

Clark has the hardest road:  trying to be there for his boys, but also trying to balance his life as Superman.  It was EASIER for him when it was just he and Lois---but with two teenage boys---ONE of which with social anxiety issues, trying to be the best father he can be, and also be the superhero everyone looks up to is becoming TWO full time jobs.  And he's struggling to find that balance.  And with this new Luthor threat...who knows all about him...he's going to have to work overtime to reign it all in.  

But THIS is why we watch...

I DO have ONE bummer out of this, though:  it's the recasting of Morgan Edge.  When last WE saw Morgan Edge in the Arrowverse, he was played by Adrian Pasdar.  NOW, we have a new guy in the role, and he's got an accent.  I don't know if this was just something that slipped through the cracks, but it's inconsistent with what we've known previously.  Unless, in this Post-CRISIS world....THIS Morgan Edge is the one that's existed all along, and they couldn't get Adrian Pasdar back.  So...that's the ONE thing I was no right about this episode.  

We're learning to grow with The Kents, and we'll see how they face each new challenge as a family going forward.  How long before Superman's problem hits close to home?  And then when will General Lane start to question Clark and his motives MORESO?  And will he try to convince Lois that being with Clark is a bad idea, and that she---AND the boys---would be better off without him.  That his ONLY life should be that of Superman?  These are things pondering my mind as we go forward.  Overall, a good episode, and I'm awaiting to see what happens next....like all of you.

What did all of YOU think of this installment?  Subscribe to the blog and leave YOUR theories below.

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

THE FLASH 7.1

 

RECAP - THE FLASH  7.1:  "All's Well That Ends Wells"  

Welcome back to Central City!  When we last visited, The Fastest Man Alive had come out of the CRISIS, only to be faced with a brand new version of the Mirror Master.  If he only knew how bad things would get, as his beloved Iris was lost inside the Mirrorverse, trapped with seemingly NO chance to escape....as well as Chief Singh and Kamilla. Cisco was traversing the new world, cataloguing the new threats, Frost and Caitlin suffered an injury that's caused their powers to go bad, and Ralph Dibny was trying to save Sue Dearbon from the Black Hole Gang and Eva McCulloch's husband, William Carver.  Carver is now dead, thanks to Eva, but Sue is on the hook for it.  So, now we join Team Flash at a critical juncture---as they try to get their friends back, and stop Eva from making Central City her own funhouse of mirrors...

This season premiere gave us a couple of big shockers, as well as some new surprises.  We start this season picking up where we left off---with Team Flash working on getting Barry his speed back, as well as trying to find a way to rescue Iris, Singh, and Kamilla out of the Mirrorverse.  Barry's speed has been ebbing away, and he's now relegated to going to some kind of chamber build for him to keep him stable and preserve what little speed he has left---which is about 1% at the beginning of the show.  Chester is on monitor duty, what with Caitlin/Frost still being treated for her injury by her mother, and Cisco is off somewhere, Atlantis, I believe, trying to find a way to save his friends on his end, and Ralph & Sue are off the grid, due to Sue being accused of killing Carver.  Chester gets an alert that Eva is on the move, looking to destroy more of Black Hole's technology.  Barry is awakened, and he's off (I do like the new speed force mask that just automatically comes over his face), and he's off, chasing her all over the city.  He catches up to her, and she tries to tell him that they're on the same side, but Flash isn't buying it, and if she was on HIS side, she'd give him Iris back.  He attacks, and she dodges, knowing his speed is waning.  She knocks him out, and she's off to go destroy the latest shipment of Black Hole tech being moved by the original Mirror Master, Sam Scudder, and his partner, Rosa Dillon.  Eva kills Scudder, and informs Dillon that she created him, and that he was her first creation.  Eva destroys the tech, and is off.  

Dillon was captured, and Cecile and Joe and discussing the recent happenings (and thus catching US up on what's going on).  With Black Hole's tech still all over the place, Joe needs to find out where the next shipment will be.  Cecile takes on this one, as she has a discussion with Dillion about where the shipment is.  Dillon says that SHE was actually the brains, and Scudder just did her bidding.  She then demonstrates to Cecile her powers, by saying that Cecile holds back on hers, and Dillon says she can control people, cause vertigo, and manipulate them like a top (hence her name).  She also reveals that she's been working with Eva all along, and that Eva has given her vision.  However, we get a brand new surprise when Cecile returns later, and tells Dillon that she HAS been afraid to open up her empath powers, because she was afraid of becoming Dillon...but then she realized that she can focus it and turn it on her...which she does.  Cecile causes panic in Dillon, and she coughs up Eva's plan to destroy the latest Black Hole tech:  a bomb attached to a plane coming in through Central City tonight.  She warns Joe about Eva's plan. 

Our primary focus this week was on Nash Wells---who has been housing the Council of Wells in his head.  As the team is trying to work on the Speed Force Generator, the Council comes to the conclusion that their energy channeled through Nash as the focal point, can help power the generator, and help Flash get his powers back.  Nash, however, is NOT happy about it.  So, he's mulling over all the research he can trying to find another way, when Allegra meets up with him.  He figures that if he has Allegra channel HER powers into him, then he can draw the Wells energy out of HIM, and into the generator....all without dying.  So, they make the attempt, but Allega can't control the energy, and Barry saves her from the backlash, but the Wells energy ends up inside Barry.  Now, all the past Wells are inside his head, and we see Barry manifest each of them.  But Barry ends up passing out, and the team realizes that only his powers is keeping him alive.  If his powers fail, Barry will die from the energy of the Wells.  Nash ends up admitting that he did what he did because he isn't ready to die, which--once again--makes him look awful in the eyes of Allegra.  

While Allegra and Chunk (as she now calls him...FINALLY....his nickname comes out!), work on a way to help Barry, Nash ends up talking to Harry...who occupies Barry's mind at the moment, and he discusses how he worked for Zoom when he first arrived to Team Flash.  He urges Nash to find the hero within.  Things pick up pace for the team, when they get word about the plane carrying the Black Hole tech headed to Central City with a bomb attatched to it.  They then have Allegra once again use her powers to transfer the Wells energy back into Nash, thus bringing Barry back.  Chunk warns them of the plane, and Barry says they need a plan...but it turns out that they need the Flash, as Nash attaches himself to the generator.  Barry doesn't want him risking his life, but Nash says that---for once---he feels pride and honor.  We then get every other Wells giving Barry a farewell....telling him to run.  As Nash slowly dissipates into the generator, Barry takes off.  The generator is full, and the energy strikes Barry....thus giving him his powers back.  Barry then races out as The Flash, and manages to avert disaster by swatting the bomb off the plane, where it explodes harmlessly in the sky.  Flash returns to find that Nash is gone.  The team mourns his loss, and Allegra wishes she had gotten to know him more, but in the end, Chunk says that he made the sacrifice so that Barry could keep moving forward...and to save their friends.  

Our other business this week has to do with Iris, as she is still trapped in the Mirrorverse.  At first, she's imagining having dinner with Barry, but it turns out it's just her imagination.  She then starts seeing past versions of herself, telling her that she's losing her grip on her sanity.  At frist, Iris runs in fear, but then she stops, and focuses.  And then realizes that it's just Eva who is trying to drive her insane.  But Iris says it won't work, and that she's getting close to getting out.  Iris then notices the mirrors fluxuating.  Iris was later on the laptop trying to work when the surface of the screen ripples.  It seems that she's starting to gain control of her realm.  

Not so for Eva, however, who is STILL haunted by her late husband, who won't leave her thoughts.  She comes across a video of the night the Particle Accelerator exploded, and she went into the Mirrorverse---but upon looking at the video in her office.  She realizes that she never went INTO the mirror...she bounce OFF of it.  We see Carver in the video calling for help, as Eva finally realizes that she died.  And that SHE...the current version of Eva....is the mirror duplicate.  

Admittedly, this episode would've had more punch had it happened as originally planned last season....but for what it's worth, it STILL got to me when Nash was sacrificing himself, and we got to see all the other previous Wells give a final farewell to Barry.  Now, I am not sure at this juncture if this is the LAST time we get a Wells character from Tom Cavanaugh, but it was a very heartfelt sendoff to the Wells of the past.  Now...here's ANOTHER thing to think about:  Barry wondered what the team would do WITHOUT a Wells.  What if---and I know this has been bandied about by a few in the community---that everytime we "see" a representation of this new Speed Force....it's Wells instead of Barry's mother, Nora?  It WOULD be a way to keep the Wells legacy alive, and allow Cavanaugh to have continued appearances on the show....even if only part time.  Also....the impact of the loss of Wells would've been BETTER felt if the rest of the team had been there.  Even if that only meant Joe and Cecile.  

Cecile showing a new way to use her powers was awesome!  It shows considerable growth for Cecile and her character, and that's going to be an asset down the road for the team as well.  We also bid farewell to Rosa Dillon's partner in crime, Sam Scudder...the original Mirror Master, as he's wiped off the canvas thanks to Eva.  So...in much like their comics counterparts, the new Mirror Master takes over for the old.  

Iris is closer to getting out, as she managed to work past Eva's mind games, and figure out that he has the power to manipulate reflective surfaces.  Now, we just have to see if she can find Kamilla and Singh, and get out of there.  

All in all, not a bad way to start the season off.  Got some surprises, and some heartfelt moments...but glad they didn't drag out Barry getting his speed back.  Now, the final chapters of THIS particular story are about to be written.  So....did this episode get you back into the flow of the show?  Did it satisfy the long wait?  Subscribe and leave a comment below.

Until next time....Keep on running!

BLACK LIGHTNING 4.4

 

RECAP - BLACK LIGHTNING 4.4:  "The Book of Reconstruction - Chapter Four:  A Light In The Darkness"  

In Freeland.....things are going to get WORSE before they get BETTER.  And for the Pierce Family....it's getting downright UGLY.  Tobias, along with talk show influencer Rebecca Larson are doing what they can to sway public against metahumans, as well as gain public support for their causes.  Meanwhile, Gambi continues HIS dalliance with Lauren and Montevista, as he tries to find a way to shut down the DEG guns before they hit the street and cause REAL damage.  Lynn and Jefferson are still at odds, Anissa and Grace adjust to life as newlyweds, and Jen is continuing to build up power, and not thinking of the consequences....but TC is.  

Jefferson spent the majority of this episode vehemently pissed off.  So much so, that he continued to do the one thing he SHOULDN'T have done:  continued cage fighting.  At first, he having more nightmares about Tobias, this time with Lynn poisoning him, then herself, before Tobias finishes him off....at that point, he wakes up.  He's been mad at Lynn  for the last few days for NOT telling him about her so-called "dinner date" with Tobias.  Gambi tries to reason with him, and Jeff manages to let up on her...for a bit.  But he then goes to face Tobias himself, and they have a chat.  Tobias continues his little cat-and-mouse game with Jefferson, getting under his skin and goading him about destroying his family as much as possible.  

He then eventually goes to vent some steam...this time to Lala's underground cage fight club.  Lala doesn't want Jefferson there, and wants him to quit---mostly because IF Jefferson somehow dies fighting someone....the fact that Jefferson is such a public face in the community, raises flags, and brings heat right to Lala's door, and HE doesn't want that.  However, Jefferson continues to fight, and he takes down yet another fighter.  However....there's consequences this time around:  TC had stumbled upon the cage fights online, and watched with Jen, who had just popped into the Bunker.  The faces were hidden with colored distortion.  But Jen noticed something, and had TC use his powers to remove the distortions.  Jen is pissed off and shocked when she sees her dad celebrating a victory.  

This, in turn, brings yet ANOTHER argument between Jefferson and Lynn when he gets home, and he finds out from Lynn that Jen saw the whole thing.  This is when he brings up the meeting she had with Tobias, and he storms out to the bar.  There, he listens to yet another Rebecca Larson broadcast about how Lightning used the REAL footage of what happened (and not the doctored crap Larson used for her broadcast), to twist the narrative yet again on Lightning, and essentially threw it back in Jen's face.  The patrons at the bar Jefferson went to all talk about the younger heroes, and then mention Black Lightning.  Jefferson hears how they think he's a hero, but he counters with what if he really ISN'T?  What if he caused more harm than good.  It's then that the detective (who was also a pal of Henderson), got up and gave his speech about how Black Lightning saved his life, and got him on the right path.  So, they need to speak of him with respect---because he misses Black Lightning.  Jefferson hears all this as the bar patrons agree.

Jefferson goes home and actually TALKS to Lynn, and they hash out some things.  Lynn says she has no interest in working with Tobias, and Jefferson apologizes for his behavior, because he let Henderson's death haunt him.  He also realizes that Tobias has been one step ahead of them the whole time...and it's time to turn the tables.  So, he encourages Lynn to work with Tobias.  She says it's a dangerous game he's asking her to play.  He then goes to try and apologize to Jen through her bedroom door....promising that he'll work on redeeming himself in her eyes....be the man he's supposed to be.

As for Tobias....aside from goading Jefferson, he managed to influence the Mayor (who'd brushed him off the week before), with his new initiative to help continue to renovate Freeland.  He also thought it would be a good idea for the Mayor to hold a gun buyback for the police, as they're about to get the new DEG weapons, at a homeless shelter.  The Chief and the aforementioned detective were there to ensure the peace be kept, but leave it to Lala to find out about it through the corrupt Deputy Mayor, and wanted the new guns, as the old ones had a glitch.  So, Lala and the 100 sneak into the rally, and they attack, looking to get the shipment of guns.  This brings out Blackbird, Wild (as Grace is now calling herself), and Lightning to the proceedings to try and prevent anymore violence.  They managed to try and stop Lala from getting what he wanted, but in the process, the Mayor himself is killed.  The Chief blames the three heroes for his death, and that can only spell trouble for more metahumans.  It turns out, Tobias set the whole thing up, and made sure the Mayor paid the ultimate price for defying him.  

Anissa and Grace started newlywed life off on the wrong foot, as Anissa was so used to her home being EXACTLY that:  HER home.  And when Grace wanted to move some of HER things into the loft, Anissa resisted, thus causing their first fight as a married couple.  It took Anissa some time to realize that it's not just HER that lives there, anymore---it's them.  So, with that, they kiss and make up before they get the call to spring into action.  

Jen, though.....paid the BIGGEST price this week, as her absorbing energy from being in the ionosphere finally had consequences.  After the last couple of weeks of TC TRYING to warn her about her continued power absorption, and her lack of ability to control it....she kept pushing him away.  He told her that she had gotten more followers as Lightning, tried giving her soda to give her energy, because she looked beat---but time and again, she brushed him off.  After being upset at watching her dad fight in the cage, and listening to him apologize, she took off to the skies again.  TC had been keeping tabs on her, and warned her that she was overloading, as she started to feel pain, and unable to move.  TC told her to come down, but she couldn't---and in one quick go...she build up like a bomb....and exploded her atoms across the sky.  I am not sure what this means for Jen...or if she's destroyed herself...but now the family is going to have to fly into panic mode to save her.  

Gambi's worked his way into Montevista, and is working with TC to try and get the guns stalled from entering circulation.  He noticed the sights were off and told Lauren about it, but with her boss there, she reamed him for it.  Of course, she later apologized in her own little way (there's something romantic going on there), but Gambi knows those guns will kill everyone if put to use.  And while they were delayed a few days, it won't be enough once the police get them.  So, working from the inside is his best bet.  But Lauren saves her last surprise for him:  a secret project where she's trying to harness electricity remotely, and thus being able to power the city...for which she's gotten a few square blocks.  She wants Gambi to help her work on it....and he agrees.

Overall, not too bad an episode.  It looks like Jefferson is coming out of his deep funk, and realizes that....like it or not...Black Lightning IS needed.  He can't take Tobias down as Jefferson Pierce, and can't deal with Lala that way either.  Plus...the city still looks up to him. Now we see if he, Lynn and the the rest of the team can rally together before things get REALLY bad.  CAN they get one step ahead of Tobias?  He's been playing Master Chess the whole time, and he's done a great job of keeping himself OUT of trouble, while making himself teflon in the process. While Lala wants to expand his hold on the criminal underworld, he's still going about it in a thug mentality.  He'll take down everyone in his path....Tobias included, to get what he wants.  But he has no idea how much of a patsy and a chess piece he is at the hands of Tobias.  Tobias already took one pawn off the table---the Mayor---and he'll ensure he has his hands in police affairs before he eventually turns his attention to the Pierce family.  And he's going to pick THEM off one by one.  And anyone else happy that Grace is back, and back in action?  "Wild" is a new name we'll have to get used to.  

Can the team save Jen?   That is going to be the BIG issue coming up in the next installment.  And will she be the same IF she...or the team...can manage to get her to reform herself?  The next book will begin soon.  And this final ride is going to be fun.

What did YOU think of this week's show?  Subscribe and drop me a comment.  I look forward to everyone's thoughts on the show.

Until next time...the Power is OFF!

BATWOMAN 2.6

RECAP - BATWOMAN 2.6:  "Do Not Resuscitate"  

Lies.....they're gonna get you.  And the more we've seen on Batwoman, the more they have bitten everyone in the ass---and this week is a prime example of that.  We have Alice and Ocean being lied to by Safiyah, Mary had lied to Jacob about her underground clinic, and Ryan has been lying about the severity of her injury from the Kryptonite blast she took.  And YET....all roads are eventually leading towards ONE place:  Coryana.  

It seems that ever since Jacob and Mary sold their shares of Hamilton, they've begun doing some SERIOUSLY shady stuff.  And we see it on display this week, as one of the doctors on staff there has been aiming to get the cure to the bat toxin, so that they can market it, and make a new cure.  But there is no more of the antidote, since they used all of Mary's blood to synthesize it the last time.  But that's not enough of this guy.  This Dr. Rogers wants to get it...any way he can.  And he sets free an unstable patient named Aaron out to get the cure...and that means getting it from the source.  

This directly leads into story #2, as Mary and Jacob are driving, talking about someone trying to nab a piece of Kate's estate.  Mary likes the fact she's gotten a bit more attention from her father, but she also understood that when she was younger, it was about finding Beth, and dealing with Kate.  Jacob gets a call about the Napier painting from Sophie, which she verifies as a fake.  They track the info about it to Ocean, and Jacob tells Sophie to start tracking him down.  But before they get any further, they're t-boned in a car accident by Aaron, who takes the both of them hostage.  

Aaron takes them to Mary's underground clinic, demanding to know where the cure is.  Mary informs him that there IS no more cure, and Aaron stabs Jacob in retaliation.  This is forcing Mary to reveal more about Alice, the Desert Rose, and Coryana.  Aaron wants the map, and this has Mary calling Luke and Ryan and telling them in her own way that they're in danger.  She also finally did fess up to her father that the place they're being held hostage at is her underground clinic. Sophie is also called.  Sophie had managed to track down Ocean and Alice, and got the Napier painting from them.  

Speaking of Alice....she and Ocean discuss how it is that their memories were wiped when they were in Coryana.  She tells him that they were closer than they realized, and Safiyah wiped their minds of the entire romance.  Turns out that Ocean didn't agree with this sister's ideals, and felt that the Desert Rose could be put to use in saving lives, and she wasn't happy with it, hence WHY she wanted Alice to kill him.  Alice had a choice to make....and she made one.  She disguised a body as Ocean, called Safiyah to confirm the kill, but Safiyah wants to see the body.  Alice and Ocean are happy to oblige.  

Ryan herself is dealing with the problem of her wound, which causes her pain while out in the field.  Angelique has her go to the hospital, and wants them to run tests, and pays for it.  Ryan doesn't have health insurance, so Angelique covers it all with the money she got dealing snake bite.  Ryan isn't thrilled that Angelique is still dealing, and Angelique had been on the fence about getting out, and Ryan offers to help.  Ryan then gets a visit from Sophie at the bar, where Sophie asks her to get info from Angelique's phone for info about Ocean.  Ryan refuses at first, but Sophie tries to convince her that all Angelique did was get her thrown into prison.  Ryan asks Sophie if she's ever been in love, which Sophie says 'yes'.  But Ryan says that when you love someone, you fight for them, you don't abandon them.  Ryan and Angelique talk further, and Ryan has another attack.  As Angelique is distracted, Ryan uses the equipment to get the required info.  This comes back to bite Ryan later on, as Angelique finds out.  Ryan wanted to have Angelique quit selling drugs, but Angelique actually likes it, and doesn't want to quit.  The two argue, and Angelique leaves her...especially when Ryan needs her most.  

Now, before Ryan and Angelique's fall out, Ryan gets bad news from the doctor:  she's got radiation poisoning.  He informs her that there are some alien elements he can't identify, so she's in the Cave researching Kryptonite when Luke shows up.  She eventually reveals her wound, and said that she didn't fess up to it, because she's been trying to prove to him AND the city that she CAN be Batwoman.  She didn't want to be taken out of the field.  Luke actually helps her out by installing an adrenaline shot into the suit to help her should she falter.  She goes to save both Jacob and Mary, and does so, but Sophie was hurt by Aaron.  And as she has taken care of Aaron, and goes to get Sophie, Sophie is held hostage by people who are looking for the map of Coryana.  Rather than hold onto the map, Batwoman makes the choice to save Sophie instead.  

Luke and Mary talk about Ryan's wound, and Luke realizes that Ryan has done everything she can....even hurt....to inspire the city, and be the hero Gotham needs.  He now realizes that the ONLY way to save Ryan is getting the Desert Rose.  Mary then talks to Jacob, and he plans on shutting Mary's clinic down, despite her saving lives.  He says that because there were experiments happening at Hamilton...probably at the behest of Mary's mother, that he can't take chances.  Mary is crushed, and said that he is taking the ONE THING that gives her purpose....and she liked it better when he paid no attention to her.  I can tell you right now...Jacob is a crap parent.  His total devotion to law and order, his hatred of ANYTHING Batman related, and what went on with Hamilton Dynamics, has put him at odds with his own kids.  First Kate, now Mary.  He's really batting 1.000 right now.  

This was another solid episode, and we are now seeing all lines crossing and heading towards one place:  Coryana.  You have Hamilton Dynamics wanting the Desert Rose, Alice and Ocean wanting to end Safiyah, and Sophie & Jacob wanting to save Kate---along with Mary and Luke---who NOW have to obtain the Desert Rose to save Ryan's life.  Things criss-crossing and coming to a head has been making this season fun to watch thus far.  Luke FINALLY getting on board with the fact that Ryan has been the Batwoman they've needed right now has been long overdue.  But I do love the interaction between Sophie and Ryan this week....talking about sticking by the ones you love...even when there's trouble involved with it.  But Ryan also finds out  the hard way that no matter how much Angelique apologizes....Ryan took the fall for her activities, and she doesn't plan on changing anytime soon.  I can only imagine what will happen when Batwoman is going to have to take her down in order to get to Black Mask....because HE is still out there somewhere.  

Business is about to pick up in Gotham...and beyond.  And I'm along for the ride.   Are you?  What did you think of this week's installment?  Subscribe and drop me a line....would love to hear your thoughts. 

Until next time...the Signal is OFF!

 

SUPERMAN & LOIS 1.1

RECAP - SUPERMAN & LOIS 1.1:  "Pilot"  

Welcome back to Smallville...albeit different from what WE remember.  This is a brand new show for The Man of Steel as he faces many new challenges:  devious criminals, saving his parent's farm, and balancing his life as the World's Greatest Superhero....and a husband and father.  Superman has come a looooong way, and now we get to see a NEW aspect of The Man of Might, as he and Lois Lane try to balance their professional lives, while trying to raise two sons.  And we packed A LOT into the debut episode of this new Arrowverse series.  So, let's dive in, and see what happened to kick off this new program:

One of the things we get to kick off this show is a quick recap of Kal-El's life from the time he landed on Earth, until he and Lois had Jonathan and Jordan.  We also find out that Jordan suffers from a sociological disorder.  Jonathan is protective of his younger brother, and Lois and Clark struggle with him....as well as just being there for the boys as they try to balance their work at the Daily Planet (as well as Clark's time as Superman).  It's a good way to catch us up to speed on the happenings in the life of the Kents as we dive into current time, where this story truly begins.  

This episode gives us Superman saving a nuclear reactor from having a meltdown, being called in by Lois' father, General Sam Lane.  Apparently, this isn't the FIRST reactor that's been attacked.  Someone put a hole into it, to cause it to overload and heat up.  Superman and the General discuss what's happening before the General mentions that he wants to spend time with the boys (especially Jonathan), and Superman says he'll talk to Lois, and flies off. Once Clark gets home however, Lois reminds him that he missed Jordan's therapy session, and Jonathan wanted to talk to him.  We see in this episode that Clark is truly struggling as a father, and having trouble balancing everything.  Lois IS supportive, however, but she also sees that Clark hasn't done the ONE thing he needs to do with the boys:  tell them the truth.  He ends up talking to his mother Martha about what's going on, and she suggests that he come home to Smallville.  Clark agrees to do make those arrangements.  

Things go from bad to worse, as it turns out that Clark has been the newest Planet employee to be laid off since Morgan Edge took over the paper.  Lois is pissed about it, but Clark says they will find a way to manage.  Lois mentions that ever since Edge took over, he's gotten rid of all the members of the staff, and the paper isn't what it used to be.  Clark gets another call, this time from his mother's doctor, and he's off like a rocket---racing back to Smallville, only to find out that Martha had a stroke, and she passed away. Here, we meet up with Lana Lang, her husband Tyler, and their two daughters.  Lana gives her condolences to Lois and Clark, and the boys catch up with the elder daughter of Lana, Sarah Cushing.  Lana, Tyler, Lois, and Clark talk about Martha, but also talk about how bad Smallville has gotten---fallen on hard times.  Tyler brings up Morgan Edge, and his plans on revitalizing the town, which certainly gets Lois' dander up, and she has a debate with Tyler about it.  The conversation is tabled, and Lana tells Lois and Clark to show up at the bank, because they need to discuss what's going to happen with the farm.  

The boys are in the barn trying to fix the wifi, and Jordan falls after he slips on the pipes in there.  They fall, and Jonathan goes to save his brother, and they're buried under the pipes.  Sarah warns Lois and Clark about it, and they head to the barn, and help moves the pipes and save the boys.  However, Jordan wonders WHY they didn't suffer more severe injuries.  This leads the boys to investigate the barn---which they've been told to stay OUT of all their lives---and they go into the cellar of it....and find their dad's rocket that he came to Earth in. In the meantime, Lois tells Clark he needs to fess up to them about him being Superman.  General Lane shows up with info on the attacks on the reactors, and he says that whomever it is, is sending messages saying that Kal-El is no hero, meaning they know who he is.  The General tries to get Clark to check it out, but Lois tells him that the family needs him more right now.  Clark agrees with her.  But the General says that because he's Superman, he doesn't get to have a life, and Lois knew this going in.  She throws it back in her own father's face when she says that Clark is doing what he needs to be doing---being a father. 

Turns out, when the Kents go to see Lana, that Martha and many other farmers took out loans on their farms at extremely low prices, and now they have had to sell them.  And despite Martha's help, many lost their land.  She tells Lois and Clark that they have to make a decision on what to do with the Kent farm----sell it, or pay off the loan.  Clark now understands WHY his mother told him to come home. 

After finding the rocket ship, the boys confront Clark about it...and he finally tells them...and shows them....that he's Superman.  They are pissed because he kept this secret from him...and aren't happy with their mother, either.  They want space, and Jordan gets invited to a party with a bunch of kids by Sarah later on.  Clark, however, is mulling over the fact that he's a bad parent, and Lois informs him that it wasn't going to be easy, and that it's what makes him human.  Clark then hears about another reactor being attacked, and he's off.  Superman arrives at the facility, but it's lined with lead, ensuring he can't see his attacker, but he does.  They have a battle that rages from the reactor, to Metropolis, and eventually into subspace just above the Earth, where Superman gets stabbed with Kryptonite, and is falling helplessly back to the planet.  The perpetrator flies off as The Last Son of Krypton falls.  

Back at the party, Jordan plants a kiss on Sarah, but she tells him she has a boyfriend, he feels bad, but not before the boyfriend sees this, and attacks Jordan.  This brings Jonathan into the fight, and the elder Kent boy tussles with Sarah's boyfriend, all the while, Jordan's eyes light up, and eventually fires heat vision out, causing a fire, and the kids start fleeing.  As Superman falls back to Earth, he think about his life, his kids, Lois....and pulls the Kryptonite out and manages to save himself.  He then flies off, hearing that his kids are in trouble, and goes to save them.  He arrives to see Tyler---who's a firefighter---make sure the kids are okay.  He thanks him, and he takes the boys home.  Lois had contacted Clark as she was starting to get dirt on Morgan Edge and his interest in Smallville.  

Lois and Clark talk, and now he realizes that his mother meant to come home and save the farm.  So, Lois and Clark believe that they can live on the farm, and make everything work.  Of course they discuss it with the boys.  He apologizes to Jordan for not being there, and promises to work harder on being a better father.  They boys, of course, have A MILLION questions for their superhero father, and it seems like they're beginning the healing.  Earlier on, Sarah and the boys make amends, and decide to remain friends as well.  

The episode ends with us seeing the mysterious assailant arriving at a remote, artic HQ, where he says he needs more Kryptonite in order to destroy Superman.  The computer system refers to this man as "Captain Luthor".

This was a pretty raucous start to series.  We got a HEAVY dose of drama, and we get to see just how much more HUMAN Superman can be.  Despite all his powers...and all he can do...he's still learning A LOT about being human---especially now as a parent.  And while Lois is there to ground him...give him his humanity...she is ALSO learning on the job as a mother.  You have, essentially, two really good young men...but one is troubled, and NOW has this added burden of superpowers manifesting.  This is going to be the next challenge for both Lois AND Clark as parents...to navigate Jordan through his special abilities.  

I DID enjoy Lois dressing down her dad on this show in regards to Clark NEEDING to be a parent at that point in the episode, and NOT just go zooming out as Superman---especially at General Lane's request.  It's another little subtle clue as to the acrimonious relationship Lois has had with her father her whole life.  While we haven't seen Lucy in awhile (and not sure if we'll get to see Jenna Dewan as Lucy anytime soon), Lucy is the military gal that followed in Sam's footsteps, while Lois was the military brat who bucked the trend.  So, it will be more fun to explore Lois' relationship with her father as the series progresses.  But I DO wanna see her and Lucy interact---would be fun!  

Jonathan and Jordan---these kids are GREAT.  I love the chemistry between the two actors, and I enjoy the relationship they have with each other.  Jonathan is protective of Jordan when it matters most, and they seem to have a pretty tight bond.  Being twins, I guess that's what happens.  But to know that they have each other's backs  is an awesome feeling to have, and just reminds me of the relationship I have with my own brothers.  The addition of Lana Lang's older daughter Sarah just means that the boys can get into more trouble in Smallville with her in tow.  She seems to also be someone who's slightly damaged, considering that it seems that her mom and dad don't always see eye to eye.  It appears that Lana and Tyler's marriage is contentious at best, and they're together for the girls' sake.  But Lana's story is one to pay attention to.  

And as for the villain---is this the "new" Lex Luthor we've been hearing rumors about?  And a much different LOOKING Luthor at that?  And what happens to Jon Cryer's Lex Luthor?  Where does HE fit into all this?  Will we even SEE him on this show?  I get that the pilot wanted to established Superman in the Arrowverse, but I AM hoping we get Kara's name dropped or SOME kind of Easter Egg planted that will tether the show to the rest of the Arrowverse.  Maybe we'll get Diggle this season---sure would like to get him into being Green Lantern at SOME point---this show would be a good start to do it (hey....if it worked out for Barry Allen being on Arrow....it can work here!).

And to give you all a quick lesson on Morgan Edge:  You saw him in Supergirl, and he hasn't been seen since.  And...on top of that....CRISIS kind of re-wrote the Arrowverse in a way, so it could be that the Morgan Edge we get to meet on THIS show will NOT be the same Morgan Edge we saw in National City.  But don't quote me on that.  But it's interesting to know that HE is still playing dirty, and is someone the town will have to deal with.  I like that Lois' reporter itch is getting scratched, as she looks into what he wants from Smallville.  It allows us to not only get our dose of Clark/Superman, and the boys....but also allows Lois her own little side story.  

Overall, I'm happy with this show, and curious how it will all play out.  Hats off to the show as well for giving us the flashback of Superman in one of his classic suits.  "My mom made it" is such a great quote from this first episode.  Enjoyable program, and looking forward to how the story plays out.  

What did YOU think of the show?   Do you enjoy THIS version of Lois & Clark?  Parents with kids?  And what about the new Luthor?  Subscribe and leave a comment below.  

Until next time....Up, Up, and Away!