The CW continues to expand the Arrowverse in the wake of the flagship series, Arrow, ending. The latest addition is Superman & Lois. Spinning out of Superman's appearances in Supergirl and crossover events, the show takes Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and their twin sons Jordan and Jonathan to Smallville. Though the series doesn't appear to line up with the events of other shows in the Arrowverse, the writers work to balance Superman's superhero adventures with the drama of a family adjusting to a new life.
The Kent family relocates to Smallville after Jordan exhibits some Kryptonian abilities. Clark also loses his job at the Daily Planet. Lois starts investigating developer Morgan Edge when he makes an impact in the small town while Clark is preoccupied with a new enemy. Unlike most movies and TV series focusing on Superman in the past, however, the adventures of Superman aren't the highlight of the show. Instead, the best part of Superman & Lois is the family dynamic.
How Superman & Lois Is Different From The Arrowverse
It's a rule of thumb that the hero at the heart of an Arrowverse show struggles to keep their identity a secret. Most of the Arrowverse series involve masked vigilantes. They also involve hideouts and new careers in saving their city. Superman & Lois is different from the usual superhero story as a result.
Clark Kent is an established hero. He grew up learning to control his abilities. The series skips much of his past since he's also already established by the time Supergirl dons her suit for the first time - six years ago. That means there isn't a learning curve for Clark. Clark's role as Superman also means he faces villains all over the world. His "super" hearing even allows Clark to save civilians from a bridge collapse in China, taking him away from the family.
Without having to trace the usual steps of a hero's journey, there's room for more story in the series. Superman & Lois can focus on new conflict instead of simply how Clark would hide the truth from his loved ones. That new conflict includes things like his kids feeling like outsiders, his abilities giving him the means to cross lines a parent shouldn't, and just how his wife and children deal with him not being there. That all makes the series even better.
Superman's Heroics Take A Back Seat To Smallville Life
It's not that the audience doesn't get to see Superman in action. The collapse of the bridge in China is just one of several sequences that demonstrate how skilled Clark is with his powers. Not to mention how committed he is to helping all of humanity. There are, however, multiple running arcs in the show for the main cast of characters. They leave the Superman of it all to take a backseat to the rest of life in Smallville.
Jordan and Jonathan deal with just what it means that Jordan demonstrates abilities while Jonathan doesn't. The two, despite their huge differences, often present a united front. Jonathan helps Jordan fit in, talk to girls, and talks through problems with him that Jordan doesn't want to talk to their parents about. Jordan doesn't always have the ability to do the same for his brother, but he tries to. The emerging powers slowly drive a wedge between the two of them. It makes for a family conflict that's more interesting than whether Dad will be home in time for dinner.
Likewise, Lois has her own crusade against Morgan Edge to worry about. The first five episodes reveal Edge's interest in Kryptonite in the mines. Beyond that, the full mystery of just what the developer wants in Smallville is yet to be revealed. He clearly has a nefarious agenda he wants to keep hidden, and that mystery is more compelling than Captain Luthor thinking Superman could turn evil at any moment.
The Family Dynamic Makes The Show Great
All of those stories build to create family conflict in a group of characters that is clearly trying to maintain their relationships and support system. When Clark leaves to save the world, he misses therapy sessions, football games, and family bonding moments. He's not the only one though.
Lois chasing down Morgan Edge means that her sons see her in action at town council meetings. It also means that sometimes, she's the one missing from dinner instead of Clark. Having two parents always bent on doing the most good for the most people means the teenagers in the house have a lot to live up to.
It also makes for the actual bonding moments between the family all the better. That includes the lighter moments as well as the drama. When the group decide to put their own stamp on the Smallville farmhouse that Clark called home as a child, Lois can't decide on a paint color. The men in her life just want her to pick one. The teasing leads to them all throwing paint on one another instead of the walls. When Clark leaves to save another corner of the world, Lois accepts it and keeps goofing off with their sons. It's a small moment that shows how connected the family is, and it's in those small moments that the series soars. Superman & Lois is a superhero show about what it means to be a family instead of what it means to be a hero, and that's refreshing.