Superman and Lois season 1, episode 1 review: Pilot

“I like your costume!” “Thanks! My mom made it for me!” Spoilers for Superman and Lois season 1, episode 1 follow.

The newest entry to the Arrowverse has arrived and he moves faster than a speeding bullet. As Superman, you can count on him to always save the day. However, what does that mean for Clark Kent?

After tragedy and bad circumstances befall Clark and the Kent family, Clark must really learn what it means to be a father, while also still trying to be Superman.

Superman and Lois

From the first five minutes of the premiere episode, it really felt like Superman & Lois was going to be special, which is very much true for the time being. The beginning sequence is utterly perfect. It captures the heart of both Superman and Lois incredibly well, sets up the struggles that they will have as parents, as well as doing a great job of introducing the twins and how different they are.

It takes just five minutes to introduce everything that you need to know about these characters before getting to the story of the episode and season. It’s incredibly well-executed and it’s also one of the only times that voiceover narration has felt fitting in the Arrowverse.

But that should bring us to the shining beacon of this pilot episode: Tyler Hoechlin. Hoechlin is utterly incredible. From his line delivery in a quick flashback scene (while wearing a classic Superman suit no less) and his bumbling rendition of Clark Kent to the emotional, character-driven scenes, such as when Martha Kent dies and when he reveals his secret to his children, Hoechlin is phenomenal – truly making the best part about this overall great premiere episode.

Elizabeth Tulloch is no slouch in this episode either. She doesn’t get nearly as much screen-time as Hoechlin does, but she shines every time she’s on-screen. The pair’s repartee is fantastic and her performance truly feels like the emotional rock that Clark, and the show as a whole, will be anchored to.

The twins

Here’s where we get into what was probably the most controversial story choice ahead of the show’s release. The introduction of twin boys for Clark and Lois contrasted with the fact that they have one child in the comics and this is something that many comic readers were not a fan of when the first trailer released (this writer didn’t care either way). However, now that the show has premiered, it’s clear that the twins were the absolute correct way to go story-wise.

By using siblings instead of one child, it opens up a gateway into different character interaction possibilities that simply wouldn’t be possible if the show was 100% comic-accurate. This is clear from the first episode just by showing us how Clark and Lois parent each kid differently. The different dynamics open up a lot of story and character potential that wouldn’t be present otherwise.

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As for the twins themselves, they need some time to grow, but there is some interesting stuff at play here. Probably the most interesting of the two is Jordan. Jonathan is a relatively cliché high school jock-type who also has a bit more depth than the show initially lets on. He obviously loves his brother, as shown through several actions during the episode, but he doesn’t always know how to say – or show – it.

As for Jordan, this is where the show really gets interesting. Very early on, he’s shown to have Social Anxiety Disorder, which in itself is an interesting story and character trait if portrayed well, but as the episode goes on, it becomes clear that there’s so much more to this character. He’s angry, sad, and feels alone, which is relatable to a lot of people. He’s a relatively-nuanced look at mental illness, which hopefully continues as the show goes on, and once his powers reveal themselves, a fantastic story catalyst.

However, with all that said, the twins were possibly the least interesting part of the episode as a whole. Hopefully, moving forward, they become just as interesting as their parents are.

Superman and Lois starts off strong with a pitch-perfect rendition of Superman that also has an emotional depth that wasn’t necessarily expected from the show.

What did you think of Superman and Lois‘ series premiere? Let us know in the comments below!