Superman & Lois: Broken Trust

Superman & Lois 1.6: Broken Trust

After a COVID-related hiatus, Superman & Lois was back this week with a new episode! Lois dug deeper into Morgan Edge, Jordan proved once again that he is unable to control his powers, and Superman ran into some major conflict with the DOD on how to handle Tag and his powers. Here’s a summary as well as my thoughts on the episode (full disclosure: I’ve never read a comic book, but I have watched lots of DC-themed shows and movies).

**Spoilers ahead**

Things got started right where they left off in the last episode – with Tag attacking Jordan. He accused him of being the cause of his broken arm and powers and Jordan of course denied it. Superman showed up, leading to a chase and Tag escaping while Superman tried to clean up the carnage he left behind such as a train about to derail. Turns out Tag’s powers are similar to Superman’s and he escaped from Army custody because they underestimated his abilities. General Lane takes this personally and is determined to recapture him. Clark takes a battered Jordan to the Fortress and he seems to be okay except for 2 black eyes.

It turns out that Jordan is more hurt that he appears – he’s very sensitive to sounds and having flashes of his laser vision that he can’t control. But, he hides it from Clark and Lois because the big football game against Metropolis is only a day or two away and he can’t miss the chance to teach all the boys from his old school who used to harass him a lesson. Clark stupidly lets him play, despite him showing evidence of a concussion, after taking him into the basement (of the barn?) and convincing him that he does indeed have super strength after all based on him punching this old tree trunk that Clark’s dad used to train him. [Aside: where is Metropolis? I always assumed it was NYC or maybe Chicago…definitely not close enough to Smallville for them to play each other in high school football!]

Lois continues to dig into Edge’s dealings and wants to get into the mine to snoop around. She tries to get Lana to help her, as she has just been given a new job by Edge, but she declines and Kyle threatens to throw Lois out of the house. Lois warns Lana to be careful. Enter Captain Luther back into Lois’ life in the form of his mild mannered reporter alter ego with passes that will get him and Lois into the mine – convenient! But, she’s not going to look a gift horse in the mouth and they go into the mine and find the x-kryptonite, which Luthor of course  knows all about. They are caught by Leslie Larr, henchwoman extraordinaire, but Luthor pulls out a space-age weapon and shoots her when she turns on her laser vision and they escape. But it is now obvious to Lois that he’s not just a reporter and she wonders what his connection is to Edge.

Kyle takes Lana out to celebrate her promotion and Sarah agrees to stay home with her sister, even though it’s the night of the big football game against Metropolis. Unfortunately, Tag shows up and kidnaps her and then explains to her that he has powers and that he blames Jordan and shows her a video from the bonfire that shows the light before the explosion.

Meanwhile, at the football game, Jordan is definitely not well enough to play but insists on doing so and mid-play is incapacitated by a headache due to a whistle blowing which results in the Smallville quarterback being brutally sacked and suffering a fracture and Jordan losing control of his laser vision again and needing Clark to cover for him by absorbing the energy. Now down two QBs, Jonathan finally gets his chance and leads the team to victory. After the game, in a hotel room, Clark hears that Tag took Sarah and the Army is after him so he tells the boys to stay in the room before running/flying off.

Some Army officers show up before Superman has time to convince Tag to turn himself in and things get heated as the soldiers came loaded for bear…er…Kryptonians including kryptonite bullets when they are supposed to just be taking a scared superpowered kid into custody. Superman gets between them and Tag, deflects some normal bullets and takes a few kryptonite ones for his trouble. Superman gets very angry at this turn of events, but manages to control himself and avoid hurting anyone. The whole situation makes it clear how powerful Superman is and adds credence to Luthor’s warning to General Lane that he is dangerous.

Meanwhile, of course the boys do not stay in the hotel room while Clark is gone – Jordan convinces Jonathan to go out with some of their teammates to find liquor. They run into some Metropolis players who taunt Jordan and he loses his cool and goes to punch one of them. Jonathan, knowing that Jordan is out of control and knowing his super strength, intercepts his punch, which results in him fracturing his hand, thus quickly ending his brief tenure as QB of the Smallville football team. Clark arrives just in time to take Jonathan to the hospital and then to get both boys home.

Jordan talks to Sarah about her experience and she tells him what Tag told her. He denies that there is anything to it and assures Sarah that he knows he can tell her anything.

***

C’mon Clark! Jordan was clearly addled and has no control over his powers. I get that you are trying to let him have a normal life, but look at the aftermath. Also, why the heck aren’t both boys grounded for like forever for leaving the hotel room when Clark specifically told them to stay there? It will be very interesting to see how the family will manage to keep Jordan’s (and Clark’s) secret when Jordan seems to have little in the way of a self-preservation instinct.

Things seem to be set in motion for a major conflict between General Lane and Superman/Clark, with Lois of course caught in the middle. Predictable based on the Superman canon, but I’m interested to see how it all plays out in this version.

Will Lana end up being a spy for Lois embedded deep in Edge’s business? And exactly what is Edge playing at keeping her close? Is it to keep Kyle in line, as a public relations move, or does he have anothr motive?

So many questions! It’s good to have the show back!

The next episode is scheduled to be shown on The CW on Tuesday, May 25th. Check out our other coverage of Superman & Lois here.