Superman and Lois: Every character ranked from worst to best

7. Sam Lane

Sam Lane is an inherently unlikable character in DC Comics. Driven by the greater good to such an extent that he always prioritizes his work as the general over being a father to his daughters, he missed out on much of Lois and Lucy’s younger years. All of that carries over into Superman and Lois‘ adaptation of him, and yet he’s nothing like his comic book counterpart.

Is this version of Sam Lane driven by his work? Yes. Does this version of Sam Lane make mistakes? Absolutely. Can this version of Sam Lane be ruthless when he needs to be? Definitely. However, Superman and Lois‘ version of Sam is a lot more human than his comic book counterpart. He acknowledges when he makes mistakes, he even wants to make up for them. And sometimes, he can even be talked out of making a bad decision.

Yes, his ruthlessness has made him hard to like from time-to-time, but as the show has gone on, he’s learning to unlearn that soldier mentality. He’s learning to trust people more. And he’s learning to let his loved ones in so that he doesn’t end up a lonely old man.

Some of Superman and Lois‘ finest scenes are between Sam and Lois. The two have had a tumultuous relationship but the love they have for each other is evident in every single one of those moments, and that’s a testament to the strength of writing and the performances of Dylan Walsh and Elizabeth Tulloch.

We like this Sam Lane better than the others.