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Remember when Superman & Lois totally pulled a bait and switch in Season 2 by teasing the arrival of iconic DC villain Doomsday, only to give us (the also iconic) Bizarro instead? Well, the CW drama turned that trick into a treat on Tuesday, transforming Bizarro into Doomsday (by way of Lex Luthor killing him over and over, increasing his power each time) and pitting him against the Man of Steel in an epic, winner-takes-all battle for supremacy — with a bitchin’ soundtrack to boot!
Unfortunately, Doomsday wasn’t the only dark cloud looming over Tuesday’s finale. As previously reported, cost-cutting efforts to secure a fourth season included cutting seven series regulars, meaning this very well could be the last time we ever see General Lang, the Cushing family, the Irons duo or Chrissy Beppo, all of whom were given intriguing developments — and one of whom ended the episode in Lex’s custody. So many cliffhangers!
Of course, the biggest cliffhanger of all is that Superman and Doomsday’s battle is far from over; upon discovering that he can’t be killed, Superman lured Doomsday out to space, where they were last seen barreling towards one another on the moon. No big.
Now for a quick breakdown of where everyone else ended the season:
* Chrissy revealed that she’s pregnant, news Kyle handled extremely well. Like, surprisingly well for a guy whose life recently fell to pieces. It was also sweet seeing how genuinely happy Lana was for the couple, especially knowing that she hoped to have another child herself — though she found it more difficult to celebrate their surprise engagement in front of the whole damn town. (Quick aside here: I actually do like Kyle and Chrissy as a couple, but I wish the show hadn’t completely sidelined Chrissy this season, reducing her to nothing more than Kyle’s love interest. She went from being an interesting, compelling scene stealer to someone’s dirty little secret, and she deserved better.)
* Jordan admitted that he’s only been a jerk to Sarah because he’s upset that they’re not together anymore. She appreciated his apology, but she still suggested that it’s too soon for them to be “friends,” so the exes parted ways with a firm handshake.
* Sam, who was kidnapped by his new girlfriend who turned out to be one of Lex’s hired goons, offered John Henry a job developing new technology for the DOD. The catch? It would require him and Natalie to relocate to Metropolis, and Natalie would have to enroll at the same school as Matteo. (OK, so it wouldn’t be a total disaster.)
* Speaking of the Irons’ big move, John Henry and Lana lamented the fact that they didn’t get together sooner. And then they had sex! And it was hot! But also brief!
* I don’t know where else to discuss this, so I’ll just leave it here: How beautiful was that sequence where Lois and Clark have sex — nay, make love — for the first time since her mastectomy? The way he alleviated her fears by lovingly placing his hand on her breast? Touching! Something about the juxtaposition of the Man of Steel being extra soft just does it for me.
OK, let’s talk: How are you feeling about that cliffhanger? And which departing character(s) will you miss most next season? Grade the finale and third season in our polls below, then drop a comment with more of your thoughts.
That was a great season finale. Man the red herring from season 2 wasn’t a red herring. Bizarro became Doomsday! That’s crazy.
Man i gonna miss the cast. I hope they get a send off in the first episode of season 4
I still think that all the supporting characters (except maybe General Lane) will be in 4-7 of the 10 eps next year, just not all of them in the same eps.
It may depend on their availability since they’ll be free to take other projects but I think that is the ideal. I could see some being a bit less – Chrissy and Kyle being less because she’s on maternity leave, Lana and Sarah a bit more, for example. But we’ll see.
This came so late in the process, and the strike could really drag on, both of them, so IDK what other options they’ll have.
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Honestly, I’ve wondered if the CW didn’t officially drop folks as regulars, while planning to have most of them in almost every episode ANYWAY. It is a very calculated and mean thing. By not calling them regulars they can save a lot of money. But the actors won’t have many options, so many will be just as available even though they are only recurring.
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Basically, the PTB are secure in the hope that they will have just as much of the former regulars as the PTB wish, but they’ll pay them far less.
I mean yeah thats the idea, the actors know the buisness, it’s in British Columbia but only over 16 or so weeks so should be possible, it’s a paying gig, so as long as it doesn’t get in way of other paying gigs they’ll be back.
It’s a 10 episode season, wb did them a favor being open to other work. If strike wasn’t going on, especially in a show that has at most 2 10 episode seasons to go. Options open will make it much easier to find steady work
I think it would be more like 1-3 episodes. The season isn’t that long and it could be a contractual thing where exceeding a certain number of episodes would make a difference between a guest star and recurring.
Doomsday not having an iconic backstory/origin really lets DC play with that character.
I mean that was pretty much his origin he was a kryptoniah, that kept getting killed off coming back stronger and madder and Luther was involved, if memory serves me
It was an interesting take having Bizzaro turn into Doomsday. Since the “Death of Superman” storyline has been done several times, I was surprised they went up to those final moments and ended it mid-fight.
Okay, sort of a cliffhanger, that was what the head of the studio said. I mean and the last time we all thought it was Doomsday before we knew who it was (and this is all sad considering what we learned of Bizarro) that they have the pieces for a Death of Superman story (also maybe even a time jump, time moves different there on, um, I want to say Saturn but its not that)
Show never fails. Bitsie and Tyler are fantastic. Can’t wait for season 4
Love Bitsie and Tyler, and Tyler as this version of Superman/Clark is so dreamy. Like forget that he has powers – just how he’s so supportive, it’s swoonworthy.
Great finale. Show is so underrated. Was very happy I didn’t have to watch a Tyler Hoechlin character die twice in 2023! Not sure how Superman is getting out of this one though!
Doomsday needs to be thrown into the sun.
I liked doomsday showing up, hope he isnt killed quick when he shows back up. Probably to kill him would be to cut his head off I am guessing, not many fictional characters in general can survive that anyhow.
I think Id like to see john, natalie and jordan face him off too when show returns.
Wow they lucked out with the last minute renewal. If this had been the last episode ever I would have been very upset with so many things left hanging its going to be a long wait for season 4.
This. I’m actually kind of mad at the showrunners for choosing to end on a cliffhanger like this, because they didn’t know if they’d be renewed. They learned nothing from Legends of Tomorrow’s fate and in fact tempted fate. Fortunately for us they won that battle, but I would have been so bummed if this was the series finale due to non-renewal.
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That said, a lot of ground was laid in this season finale for current season regulars to be off-screen a lot next season, so a plan was clearly in mind here.
yes
how horrible it would be for a Superman tv series to close out on a NEVER-ENDING BATTLE
Great show. Great finale. Hopefully some of the actors can come back for some episodes. I’ll massively miss John Henry & Nat if they’re not there for season 4. Goes without saying but they struck gold with the casting of Bitsie and Tyler
This show always nails the landing. I trust the writers (who hopefully get a fair deal) to deliver with season 4 as well.
That was a great finale. However, I’m disappointed that the rest of the cast won’t be back. I am looking forward to the fourth season, but at this point the season 4 renewal feels like a hollow victory. I guess, we’ll have to wait & see.
It sure is a hollow victory, this could have been avoided if they planned better the storyline for S3 better and that way none of the cast members would have to be axed. Helbing ignored all of last year’s warnings and STILL went for a cliffhanger despite what happened to Legends of Tomorrow, Batwoman, Roswell, Legacies etc. What an idiot. He got his 4th Season but at what cost? Half of the cast is out of their job and in the middle of a writers strike. Did you notice as well that the new overlords of the network slashed the cast members that are non-white and mainly female too? They’re truly bigots.
I hate the cast cuts too. But, come on. I don’t think we can call them bigots. The Kent family is white. But, Clark is an alien. So, not sure how that factors into your argument. Anyway, the Kent family will be the only main characters. It makes sense since the show is about their family. What, did you think they were going to cut one of the twins and leave John Henry?!??! It just so happens there are more female side characters than male side characters. Kyle, John Henry, and Sam are the only male side characters who were main characters. That’s three. Lana, Sarah, Lana’s other daughter who is gone so often that I forget her name, Chrissy, and Natalie are the female side characters being cut. That’s five. There’s just simply more of them. So, yeah, more women got cut from the show. But, that’s not because they were women. It’s called math. The Irons family isn’t the main family. They got cut. Not because they’re not white…because they are not memebers of the Kent family.
Unbelievable how you’re trying to reason the obvious bad optics that go into the decision to fire half of the cast that has been part of the show since the very beginning. This isn’t any difference to the cost-cutting practice CBS did to Bob Hearts Abishola cast in CBS for it’s 5th Season. And bringing up “Clark is an alien” does nothing to help your argument. I never said they should cut any of the brothers, don’t put words in my mouth. “It just so happens there are more females” wow what an intelligent way to put it as. Wording side characters as also main characters as if that was interchangeable doesn’t help your weaked formed argument in any way. They cut out FIVE female characters, be real. It’s called being bigots, not math. Tell me where was the math when they also axed Kung-Fu despite saying previously on other trades back in October that they were fans of the show. And also axing Nancy Drew, The Winchesters, Walker Independence, STARGIRL etc. All of them featured female-led shows with females in the main cast. I’m truly aghast that you are defending this. Now the show is composed of, guess what? An all white cast from the Kents to Lex Luthor while they let go of two black characters and 4 females in total. Come on, be real.
I’m liberal, progressive, a fighter for equality, but some of you are being ridiculous. Lex Luthor was already being planned to be the villain for the season before they found out about the budget cuts and it does make total sense to keep the core family that happens to consist of mostly boys. Absolutely it sucks that they cut Kung Fu, and they’ve also cut a lot of LGBTQ representation including on Kung Fu, Winchesters, LoT, etc. but they are bringing back All American & its spinoff, airing the acquired 61st Street, have Asian comedy Run the Burbs, Children Ruin Everything has strong Indian presence, so maybe some of it really is about money and not about race.
Race maybe not-homophobia, on the other hand…The CW has gone from a network with strong LBGTQ representation to almost non-existent LGBTQ representation ( I think Family Law has a lesbian character but the deal to carry that in America was struck with the old CW management and Nexstar may still be stuck with it.) Nexstar is notoriously right-wing conversative-staff including an anchor, Jennifer Lynn have quit over it-and they seem only too delighted to erase LGBTQ representation from the CW…
Maybe CW’s focus on LGBT doomed the network. Those shows tend to get really poor ratings to be honest. The new owners want to make a profit so they’ll cut all low performing shows. All American and Superman and Lois get decent ratings for the network but do extremely well on streaming. It’s all business. Quit trying to make more out of it than it is. The real issue is the majority of the US don’t want to watch LGBT shows as demonstrated by all the Disney movies with a LGBT focus failing, that gay romance movie failing, and other movies. The majority of America doesn’t have an appetite for it. Disney is a multi-billion dollar company that can take the hit in losses but many companies can’t. This is all just business.
I am gay so I hate seeing some loss of representation but Walker has a gay brother, All American franchise has LGBT characters, I googled Sullivan’s Crossing and found this review from a bigot: “This was a good family show originally but like so many other shows it the writers had to bring in gay relationships. We will not be watching this show anymore, too bad it was a show the family could watch.” Ah what a poor baby that poster was. The daughter in Run the Burbs is also a queer character. So as frustrated as I’ve been to see shows like Legacies meet premature ends, it might also not be as homophobic as it seems.
No one cares that you’re a “fighter for equality” and no one believes you anyway.
Bigotry is in your words and attitudes
I don’t know how one proves it as a random commenter on TVLine – a worker could look up my IP and find plenty times I called out others but I don’t think that’s going to happen. There’s a difference between calling out actual bigotry and creating an issue where there isn’t one though. As for me, I have volunteered for charities that raise funds for groups like MTUG (a local trans group), PROMO (fighting for equality in Missouri), Lambda Legal, and more. I’ve supported and voted for progressive candidates. I’m gay in a red state so yeah, fighting for equality is pretty much a must to survive here, but I also have attended rallies for women’s rights and supported black-owned business. This is all words, you don’t have to believe me. I do kind of hope the new CW fails after canceling so many of the shows I loved, don’t get me wrong with that either. But facts are facts, and it’s a fact that there are LGBTQ characters in acquired series like Sullvian’s Crossing and Run the Burbs; it’s a fact that 61st Street is about race in the judicial system and they chose to air that; it’s a fact the All American series are coming back. No where in my words or attitude have I expressed any sort of bigotry simply for pointing out facts about what CW is still going to be airing.
Excellent season. Not sure how season 4 is going to start and tie up stories. Thinking there may be a time jump with Superman stuck in space for a bit???? Really good show.
Killing Bizarro over and over again was actually a bit disturbing, yikes, but I get it Awesome finale, awesome season. I’m gonna really enjoy watching this thing wrap up next season.
Ther’s no indication that season 4 will be the end. Season 4 sounds like a semi-reboot. Let’s wait & see what they do.
You can say you hope its not the end but there’s actually plenty of indications its going that way. 1. It was already a bubble show because of profitability for the network. 2. to secure a renewal just for s4 they had to make dramatic cost cutting moves to the cast. 3. After 15 episodes in season 1 and 2 it was cut to 13 last yr and now renewed to only 10(which points to the cost and the diminshing profits) 4. Every year returning shows become more expensive thus by s5 it would be even more expensive than this coming season
Interesting cliffhanger that is clearly inspired by the Smallville Season 6 one where Clark and Bizarro were also fighting at a damp and it ended with Bizarro having the advantage by taking the fight out from there. However I’m frustrated by how they didn’t properly planned this storyline to wrap up with just crumbs instead of forcing a cliffhanger at the expense of half of the cast. I don’t care what people or close-minded Clois fans say, a show that takes place in a small town needs to have this kind of “bloated” cast.
And also frustrated with how much they’ve undone the journey Jordan and Sarah started together in S1 to the mess that it is now where it’s even too soon for them to be friends. They’re not my favourite DCTV relationship but I did like how they developed things between them back in S1 just to suddenly undo it all and distancing them more and more since S2. Seriously, what has been the point of it all along? Helbing really sucks at developing these relationships more than building them. I’m starting to think someone else did the earnest written story for these 2 characters back in S1 because it seems he just knows how to tear teens apart. What is even the lesson here? I’m drawing blank. What a waste of the work put behind by Alex and Inde tbh, they deserve much better material if they’re not even going to be allowed to share scenes as friends.
Really enjoyed that. While I like all the actors and I hate the way casts are being cut in so many shows, if I’m being honest the main reason I watch is for Tyler and Elizabeth’s performances. With only 10 episodes in season four IMO having a smaller cast is not a bad thing.
Really happy with the finale, especially now we have a season 4.
The writes need to take a page out of Stargirls playbook. They created two endings to season 3 because they knew there was a chance it would be cancelled and it was. They need to to create 2 possible endings to season 4. One with a cliffhanger and one where they wrap up the show.
I agree with you. They should film 2 endings for season 4 just in case they decide to end things, however, I hope this show lasts for another six seasons after season 4.
They had a chance for that in this Season knowing they were in the bubble and Helbing chose to literally ignored that by adding a cliffhanger. Now they got their new Season by slashing half of their co-workers that worked their butt off in the show. This was the time to showed they learned from what happened to their peers shows. Stargirl’s cancellation still stings to the date, despite the big and active campaign to prove Nexstar that it was worthy to stay despite it being also expensive they still didn’t care, not so different when you look back at all the other female-led shows they’ve scrapped along the way since they came. Yet this one that is also expensive was allowed to continue. The biased sexist optics couldn’t be more clear if they could.
Great finale, thank Supes it’s not ending there. They managed to set up reasons for everyone not to be around as much even though this was filmed long before the announcement… so that was a neat trick. I hope we at least see everyone a little bit though… Especially Lana and John’s budding romance.
On a random side note, they definitely showed an ad for last week’s Gotham Knights near the end… oooops
Congrats to Rachel Brosnahan and David Corenswet and all, but Tyler and Bitsie are definitely my Lois and Clark.
Agreed. Tyler and Bitsie are perfection in the roles. I would have loved to see them on the big screen
Great finale and set up for next season. Can easily be explained why most won’t be around much next season. Except for poor Sam, worried about his fate! This iteration of Superman/Clark and Lois has been a joy to watch. Their dynamic and on screen relationship elevates this show. Glad we’re getting more.
Like I said, this season 4 renewal feels like a hollow victory. Also sad because I’m forced to say goodbye to “Gotham Knights,” another great show. We are losing more than we are gaining here.
The 2 songs used by the bands Ministry and Soundgarden were awesome to hear. Now that we saw this cliffhanger of an epic battle, what can we expect next season. Also 10 episodes. That’s no different from something Marvel has on Disney. I hate this buy out this company ruined the super hero free TV universe. Could next year be the last of the superhero universe as we know it and watch boring junk TV. If superhero shows die. Then CW you suck and are off my list of watching TV.
I’m worried about superhero TV too and hope that this isn’t the end of it…
So a few weeks ago Clark was upset with JHI for killing Henry Miller in self defense. Yet he knowingly tries to kill the other Kal-El with a spire. He didn’t try to restrain him. He didn’t try to dose him with XK, didn’t take him to the fortress. Clark just went straight for the kill. Does this double standard seem bizarre to anyone else?
Disappointing, rushed finale. Can already see the setup for the 10 episode season 4. Most likely, Superman will not survive the fight. Doomsday will also die in the fight. Lois and the boys will move back to Metropolis. Lois will investigate Luthor’s involvement in the creation of Doomsday. Jordan will fill in for Superman and become Superboy. Clark will go through his resurrection, we will get the black suit Superman for a couple of weeks, and by the 10th episode finale of season 4, Lois will have helped send Luthor back to prison, Superman will be back, and the Kent family will be reunited. All wrapped up in a reduced cast, limited budget bow.
Sounds like the perfect plot for season 4. A readaptation of The Death of Superman.
I hope they swerve and avoid such an obvious plot. I think you are probably right, but I hope they do better.
Great season finale though can’t see how Superman can beat this one on one. Will be interesting to see the direction for season 4.
This show just gets Superman, Clark Kent and Lois Lane. Strong finale and season overall. The highlight as always the performances from the 2 leads.
Loved the finale. I think the only departing characters I’ll miss will be the Irons. With reduced episodes the show can easily pivot to focus on The Kent’s. It suffered at times especially in season 2 with the Cushing fam Story, so while the actors are great I’m not disappointed from a story perspective that we’ll see them less.
I love the way Clark is so compassionate and understanding towards Lois and her fears. He treats her like a man should treat a woman he passionately loves.
Agreed though I would say as anyone treats someone they passionately love. I am gay and I want a partner like that 100%