REVIEW: Superman & Lois Season 4, Episode 4 (A Perfectly Good Wedding)

Well, Superman & Lois Season 4, Episode 4 is… an episode. After Sam (Dylan Walsh) injects himself with the Mannheim serum and sacrifices himself to give his heart to his beloved son-in-law, Clark (Tyler Hoechlin) returns from the dead just in time for the upcoming marriage Kyle (Erik Valdez) and Chrissy (Sofia Hasmik). Truthfully, this is the weakest hour of the season thus far. It lacks the emotional tension that has been providing the fodder for some outstanding performances from this talented cast while leaning on the most untenable romance of the entire show, ultimately making for an enjoyable but uninspired hour.

The Resurrection of Clark Kent

While I am ecstatic to see that Clark has already returned, given the shortened episode count for this final season, I’m surprised to find myself a bit disappointed. His return is rather anticlimactic. My theory is that it’s because not enough time had passed in-show between his death and return, so the characters didn’t even really have an opportunity to fully mourn his loss and begin trying to pick up the pieces of their lives. They didn’t really have to grapple with life without their loved one, and the rest of the characters didn’t have to imagine a world without Superman. So, while I’m thankful he wasn’t dead too long, it’s clear the episode count being cut severely impacted this story and its potential.

Additionally, it’s a bit frustrating that Superman & Lois immediately skips over Clark’s first three weeks home. Perhaps the heavy, but fulfilling emotions would’ve come from the series digging into Clark’s first few days home and seeing everyone, including Clark, come to terms with everything that had happened since Doomsday arrived. (I also would have loved to have seen Lana (Emmanuelle Chriqui) react to Clark’s return, so I’m not a fan of these cast demotions and cuts so far.)

Nonetheless, it was nice to see Clark back to his usual (cute, dorky) self as he stepped in as Kyle’s best man and finally learned how to make some decent ribs on the grill. In that regard, this episode wasn’t a total loss, but it was quite the reminder of how cruelly unfair it is that this perfect adaptation of Clark Kent and Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch) is being taken from us. These characters have never been portrayed, both in acting and writing, better than they are in Superman & Lois. (It’s a bold statement, but it’s true.)

I’m curious to see how things play out now that Clark is back and the world—specifically Lex Luthor (Michael Cudlitz)—knows Superman is alive again. I still cannot fathom how the series is going to even remotely realistically stop the Doomsday threat, particularly now that Clark is weaker and due to the cast limitations, so all of the heroes can’t team up to take him out unless this is dragged out until the series finale.

The Almost Marriage of Chrissy and Kyle

You know, when I said I wanted more of Chrissy way back during the first season, this was not what I meant. This romance between her and Kyle, and subsequent pregnancy and engagement, is such a weak point for the series because it’s clearly just the result of not knowing what to do with either character. Chrissy should be at the club (AKA the Smallville Gazette, helping Lois take down Lex). Furthermore, can we stop with the comments about Chrissy being nearly the same age as Sarah (Inde Navarrette)? It’s so weird, especially to call out and ignore multiple times, and definitely not helping this couple gain any favor with the fans.

That aside, I’m glad that, despite being titled “A Perfectly Good Wedding”, no wedding took place. This isn’t The Bachelor. This relationship has been moving far too quickly, and it’s kind of bringing out the most boring sides of both Kyle and Chrissy. What’s the point of this again?

Time to Close the Jordan Kent Rollercoaster Ride

The back-and-forth with Jordan (Alexander Garfin) in Superman & Lois Season 4 alone is getting rather exhausting. Setting aside how he let Lex manipulate him with that ridiculous phone call, and then refused to consider his mother’s position in the matter and the nuances of the situation, Jordan is an incredibly exasperating character. It doesn’t feel like there’s any real trajectory set for the character, and any growth he has in one episode is completely wiped away by the next.

For now, I did enjoy his step forward in this episode. Deciding to take a step back to figure out who he is and what he wants, giving his costume and goggles to Jon to fill in, could potentially be a monumental move for him. Of course, he could go back on it and demand his outfit back in the first three minutes of the next episode, but should it last, this provides a pivotal opportunity for the character that has been much-needed for years now. Who is Jordan? Is he the sweet, damaged boy that we’re constantly told he is by the series? Or is he the egotistical, reckless, and self-absorbed boy we’ve actually seen on-screen for years now? Let’s take these final moments to settle on one and, if it’s the former, show us this version of Jordan without fueling the fire of hatred that many fans still hold for him.

Final Thoughts

I continue to wonder about the never-before-seen (in live-action) thing Superman & Lois is going to do in the series finale. Now, I’m wondering if it’s that Clark is going to lose his abilities permanently. Given that his powers are already weaker, and he can even feel the wine (albeit after several glasses), it would make sense, especially if the plan is for Jon to step in as the new Superman eventually.

The series is emphasizing—and rightfully so—how naturally Jon is embracing and utilizing his new abilities. He struggled with fighting Hacksaw Kronick (Petar Gatsby), but that’s only because he hadn’t had any fighting training, so he did rather well considering. Side note: I’m rather disappointed we didn’t get to see Clark’s reaction to learning Jon has powers, though it was nice to see him marvel at his son during their brief training session.

After losing both her husband and her father, and then getting her husband back, I would’ve loved to see a bit more desperation from Lois as she pleaded with Clark to go easy and take things slow with his powers. The concept of losing Clark again, especially with the threat of Doomsday and Lex still looming, should’ve been weighing more heavily on her. Tulloch gave it some of that energy, but it’s clear that’s not what was in the script, as they were leaning into trying to capture some lighthearted energy following a few heavy episodes. Ultimately, I’m not sure that was the smartest move.

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