Superman and Lois season 4 episode 3 ending explained: Is [SPOILER] really dead?

The fourth and final season of Superman and Lois opened on the most game-changing of notes. That's not an exaggeration, because the Arrowverse offshoot's season premiere literally featured the death of Superman. Yep, that's right; the Man of Steel died before viewers' eyes as the beloved CW series adapted one of the most iconic - and infamous - storylines in DC Comics history.

It was a bold way to start what is gearing up to be the show's final outing, but it has received an incredibly positive response, allowing the tighter fourth season (which only features the core four and Lex Luthor in the regular cast) to tell a more personal story.

That very much continues in the third episode of the season, as "Always My Hero" continues to pull on the heartstrings of viewers while emotionally destroying them at the same time. Yeah, it's one of those episodes. Another one.

This is your typical SPOILER warning as this recap will feature major spoilers from Superman and Lois season 4, episode 3.

Jonathan Kent takes center stage in Superman and Lois season 4

The third episode of Superman and Lois season 4 opens with a funeral scene, as Lois Lane, Jonathan Kent, and Jordan Kent all prepare to bid a loved one farewell. Lois narrates, telling us how hard it is to say goodbye to a loved one as no words could ever truly sum up what they mean to them. As she does so, we see her emotionally look over at Clark Kent's glasses, which are on the nightstand.

After the title card, we're back at the Kent Farm at a different point in time as Lois and the boys attempt to begin the impossible process of moving on with their lives. Before Lois can do that, she has to tell the world that Superman is gone, and thus her article has been published - which the boys don't particularly agree with. They get it, but they don't agree with it, and this leads to an emotional outburst from Jonathan, who blames Jordan for the loss of Superman's heart, which would have brought their father back.

Jordan follows his twin brother into the storm cellar where Clark's ship still resides and things get even more emotional, as Jonathan emotionally unloads on him. He screams about his frustration over Jordan having powers and losing their father, all while punching the shelves so hard that he draws blood. Seriously, some stunning work from Michael Bishop here, who commits to Jonathan's grief wholeheartedly.

And then, the big reveal: Jonathan's powers kick in, his bloodied hand heals itself, and he develops X-ray vision all in one. Jordan looks on in awe, but he knows what has happened: The more refined, sensible, and collected brother now has the powers he always wanted. And in an even bigger twist, they all developed at once: Including the ability to fly.

This plays into Jordan's long-running insecurities about Jonathan being the favorite child; insecurities that Lex Luthor capitalizes on, showing up at the farm and playing back a recording of the phone call he threatened Lois with in the previous episode - the phone call in which she opted to choose Jonathan as the child she wanted to save. You can see Lois' perspective here as Jonathan didn't have powers, so she knew Jordan had a better chance of survival from any of Lex's attacks, but that didn't help Jordan feel any better as he confronted his mother and brother at the DOD.

Jonathan was there to visit his grandfather, ready to begin training in case the world needed a new hero. As General Sam Lane always saw him as a leader, now was finally his time to showcase what he was capable of with super powers. But the confrontation with Jordan wasn't the only thing that prevented him from meeting with Sam.

Always My Hero

Sam Lane was at the heart of this episode (no pun intended) as he made it his mission to figure out a way to protect a world without Superman. It seemed impossible, but the first thing he did was recruit John Henry and Natalie Irons to the DOD. Their original plan from the season 3 finale (to move to Metropolis) was no longer an option, as Steel and Starlight were now part of Earth's only line of defense against Lex and Doomsday. And it seemed as if they might have been joined by Jonathan, as Sam was thrilled to learn that his other grandson had developed all of the super powers.

But Sam also had a contingency plan in place, which involved the serum that Bruno Mannheim was using in season 3 to give people Kryptonian super powers. He obtained the last sample of it from General Hardcastle and was planning to find a donor that he could use the serum on. But before he could find one, he was confronted by a DOD agent who was, under pressure from Luthor who was holding his family, demanding to know the location of Sam - Luthor's daughter.

Much of this episode was also focused on flashbacks to Clark and Lois' early years as a couple. This time, they were through Sam's POV, as we saw the moment that Clark revealed to the general that he was Superman. Shortly after that, we saw Clark requesting Sam's permission to ask for Lois' hand in marriage. He refused to give it, out of fear that Clark would one day be taken away from Lois due to his life as Superman, leaving her with grief.

In the end, Sam reluctantly attended Clark and Lois' wedding, overhearing a conversation between Clark and his mother Martha Kent. He then visited Lois and, together, the two of them agreed to be brave. Sam told her that he would always be brave for her, and suddenly I felt myself getting incredibly emotional. It was clear where this was heading.

Back in the present day, Sam was accidentally shot by the DOD officer after a struggle ensued when he refused to tell Luthor where his daughter was. He then took the serum and injected himself with it before concocting a plan with John Henry and Natalie. Though we don't see that conversation, Sam confronts Doomsday outside the DOD. The beast wants answers for Lex, but Sam refuses to give them. He turns to his daughter and smiles, reminding her that he would always be brave for her. With that, Doomsday lifts Sam by his head and crushes him, killing him instantly.

However, it was subsequently revealed that Sam had instructed the Irons' to take his body to the Fortress of Solitude and have Clark's mother begin the process of transferring his serum-charged heart into Superman's body, potentially saving his life. Lara tells them that the process should work, but it might take days and perhaps come with its own complications.

Sam created a hologram message for Lois, telling her that she was the greatest gift in his life and the best thing to have ever happened to him. It's incredibly sad as Lois breaks down, having suffered another great loss in a matter of days. He says that his initial hesitations about her marrying Superman were out of love and that now he will do whatever it takes to ensure that love carries on, even if it means giving the Man of Steel his heart; knowing that it will continue to beat for her every single day.

We cut back to the funeral scene from the opening of the episode where it is revealed that this wasn't a funeral for Clark, but for Sam. The boys stand beside Lois, both wearing colorful Hawaiian shirts in tribute to their grandfather. The Irons are also there, as Lois emotionally says that she was so thankful to have had Sam as her father, and that he was always her hero. Honestly, we're all so thankful for Sam. He deserved better.

The episode ends back at the Fortress as Superman opens his eyes!

Is Sam Lane really dead in Superman and Lois?

Well it's safe to say that Superman and Lois absolutely crushed us all for the second week running. The show has had no shortage of emotional scenes this season and we're only on episode 3. But was "Always My Hero" truly the end for General Sam Lane?

Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Dylan Walsh was one of the seven Superman and Lois cast members that were cut from the show as series regulars in its final season as part of The CW's attempt to reduce its budget. The veteran actor almost didn't return for any episodes but he ultimately agreed to return for two. Those two episodes have now aired, meaning that we've seen the last of Sam Lane.

There are no doubt going to be a lot of upset and angry fans after watching this episode. Sam had just escaped a near-death experience in the season premiere, so to put him in another one so soon - and actually kill him off this time - was a little jarring. But the episode count is limited, as was the amount of episodes Walsh was appearing in, so it makes sense that both of his installments came so close together.

The violence of Sam's death did feel a little unwarranted for such a beloved character, but it was also incredibly in-character for the general. Sam is a man who would do anything to protect his family, and he knows that bringing back Superman is the best chance of making that happen. So, if he felt that he had to sacrifice himself to do that, he had absolutely no problem doing it.

RIP General Lane. Thank you for your service!

Superman and Lois season 4 airs on The CW on Monday nights at 8/7c.