Superman & Loishas taken its time with their latest Lex Luthor story, but it appears that the villain’s origin has finally come to its end, launching one of the most important iterations of theDC Universecharacter yet. While the show spent a great deal of time on crafting a uniqueversion of Lex Luthor,this character has only been prominently featured in the latest, final season of the show.Following a legacy of incredible villains, this Luthor has shown some of the most unexpected details and tics of any Luthor yet.
Superman has an extensive library of villains to choose from, with manySuperman villain quotesfinding themselves among the best dialogue in their respective features.Superman & Loishas done a great job of featuring villains other than the oft-used Lex Luthor throughout its run, with unique takes on characters like Parasite and Bizarro.With recentBrainiac casting theoriesproven false, it seems that the show is now set to focus primarily on the final conflict between Superman and his greatest foe.
Superman & Lois Finally Gives Lex Luthor His Classic Comic Look
Cudlitz Is Beginning To Look More Like The Classic Villain
Episode 8 ofSuperman & Loisfinally gave audiences a first look at the comic-accurate Lex Luthor, asactor Michael Cudlitz shaved his face and put on a suit for the episode. Following each of the subversions and twists on his character throughout the series, this feels like an appropriate point to have built towards. There is certainly a darker legacy to this hero, especially as he has been revealed to have spent more than 17 years in prison, but all of that simply contributes to a complex and compelling character.
Much of Superman media in recent years has looked to subvert the classic stories and characters, withJesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthorbeing perhaps one of the more glaring examples of this.While there is a need to reinvent themes and stories to remain topical, there is also a lot of value in exploring the classic roots of the characters, and allowing those features to be embodied. It is a relief to finally see a comic-accurate Luthor inSuperman & Lois, and it bodes well for an exciting conclusion to the show.
Superman & Lois' Longer Lex Luthor Origin Story Makes Sense For The Show
Lex’s Long Origin Story Makes Sense For This Lived-In Superman World
Having a Lex Luthor who has been around for a longer period makes sense forSuperman & Lois.The series has done a great job in creating a lived-in world where much of Superman’s crimefighting career is already behind him.Having an offscreen past with Lex helps to contribute to this. Following up on that,Luthor’s latest villain plansfeel more significant and emotionally laden with the context of a significant history behind the characters.
Like Superman, this Lex Luthor is lived in, with much of his villainous life behind him.Using this as an avenue to finally culminate in a comic-accurate version of the historic villain makes a lot of sense for the show.Seeing the final details of the ultimate conflict between Lex and Superman is a promising prospect for the upcoming episodes of the show, and feels earned. Even with much of Lex’s history taking place offscreen, this version now feels analogous to Hoechlin’s Superman.
It’s A Good Thing Superman & Lois Waited This Long To Give Us A Fully Comic-Accurate Lex Luthor
The CW Series Has Made Many Uniquely Satisfying Choices
Superman & Loishas always felt faithful to the comic book roots of the characters, although it has not been rigidly faithful to them. With stories thatrewrite DC lore, including the unmasking of Superman to the world,the series has crafted a unique story of heroism with rich and satisfying characters.However, it seems that the show also recognizes the importance of being respectful to the source material, and has struck an excellent balance between doing both of those things.
Seeing a comic-accurate Lex Luthor by the end of the series is a satisfying way to bring closure to the show. The series is destined to end with the characters in a unique place, and could even result in the permanent death of Superman. Seeing conflicts build between Lex and Superman in this final season has been a satisfying way to tie up the hero’s story, and allowing Lex to finally appear in his classic look feels appropriate as the show moves into its final episodes.
I Can’t Believe Superman & Lois Just Made Me Invested In Lex Luthor’s Love Life For The First Time Since Smallville
The latest episode of Superman & Lois has followed in the path of Smallville, humanizing Lex with the introduction of a compelling love interest.
Michael Cudlitz has brought a great deal to his Lex Luthor performance, andit is exciting to see that performance culminate with such a comic-accurate rendition of the famous villain.Lex Luthor remains Superman’s greatest foe, andSuperman & Loishas worked hard to make their tension believable. Building into an ultimate conclusion with deep storytelling, the series has done an incredible job of creating a fully realized Superman world. It is likely that the show’s culmination will be entirely satisfying.
Superman & Lois
Cast
Superman & Lois follows the Man of Steel, Clark Kent, and journalist Lois Lane as they navigate the strains of contemporary parenthood while confronting threats from supervillains and alien invaders, blending personal challenges with heroic responsibilities in this 2021 television series.
