******SUPER-SPOILERS!******

Why can’t the cinematic DC universe be anywhere near as good as the stuff they show for free on TV (and which is made for much less money)?  Neither “The Batman” (2022) nor the two films of Henry Cavill’s Superman (2013/2016) did much for me, while the CW network’s “Supergirl” (2015-2021) and “Superman & Lois” (2021-2024) have been delights. I wrote about the recent “Superman & Lois” ‘coming out’ episode “A Regular Guy” a couple of weeks ago, and I speculated then that if the antepenultimate episode was this good, what would the finale be like?  

Short answer; the finale was everything I’d hoped for, and more. With earned emotion and elegant direction by Gregory Smith, producers Todd Helbing and Greg Berlanti have given us the best wrap-up for a TV Superman series I’ve yet seen.  As I said two weeks ago, if “Supergirl” was “Working Girl” with superpowers, then “Superman & Lois” is “Field of Dreams.” With this emotional and heartfelt goodbye, the series truly has become a field of dreams for this old Superman fan, despite a few major but clever liberties taken with Superman canon.

Anyway, get your tissues ready, as we take a deeper dive into the final episode, appropriately titled…

“It Went by So Fast.”

Following on the heels of last week’s cliffhanger (“To Live and Die Again”), we see Superman once again taking on the mutated Bizarro-turned-Doomsday creature whose rage is unquenchable, despite Lois’ (Bitsie Tulloch) best efforts to talk the creature down.  Though somewhat diminished by the life-saving implantation of his recent human heart, Clark nevertheless orders his super-powered sons Jordan (Alexander Garfin) and Jonathan (Michael Bishop) to protect the town, as he takes the creature on by himself.  

The boys disobey, of course; saving their dad by triple-teaming the creature—which is overpowered, and falls unconscious back to Earth. Clark takes advantage of the creature’s temporary quiescence to fly it into the sun, where it will be destroyed (in Bizarro’s universe, the sun makes him weaker, unlike Superman, who is highly photosynthetic). The creature stirs itself awake right before entering the sun, and Superman expects another fight. However, the pathetic creature is now resigned to its fate, and chooses death over its continual life of rage and misery.  

Note: The series wisely combines two of Superman’s nemeses into one; Bizarro, the opposing Superman from an alternate square Earth (don’t ask), and Doomsday, the monstrous, hulking creature that famously first ‘killed’ Superman in the 1990s DC comics. With Lex mutating Bizarro into Doomsday, it makes alternate-Superman a pathetic Frankenstein’s monster, and adds poignancy to the creature’s decision to assist his doppelgänger in ending its life.

During this first act of the episode, we also see Mayor Lana Lang (Emmanuelle Chriqui) discussing her relationship with superhero ‘Steel,’ aka John Henry (Wolé Parks) over a game of pool, and whether or not each of their heavy responsibilities allows them the luxury of love. Their talk is interrupted as the bar they’re in is shattered by Lex Luthor (Michael Cudlitz), who is using John Henry’s stolen “Steel” suit (think DC’s version of Marvel’s “Iron Man”) to take his final revenge on Lois, Clark, and the entire population of Smallville, for failing to yield in his attempted hostile takeover of their town.

Note: If I have any complaints about this season of the show, one would be that Wolé Parks’ John Henry Irons, aka “Steel,” is missing in episodes where he could’ve played a greater role, but his wedding later on is fair compensation.

With his sons aiding civilians, Superman takes on Lex Luthor in his modified Steel suit alone, in a battle royale among lightning and storm clouds—with imagery almost right out of Norse mythology. Lex’s suit has been modified with Kryptonite-projectiles that bore into Superman’s chest and weaken the Man of Steel. However, during the battle, Jonathan and Jordan once again come to their dad’s defense, giving him breathing room to remove the projectiles, regain his strength, and beat Lex Luthor within an inch of his metal-encased life. Using bursts of heat-vision, the modified Steel suit is destroyed, and the unprotected Lex falls helplessly to Earth.

Note: I’m glad that Michael Cudlitz’s Luthor finally looks like the supervillain we know from the comics/movies, and has stopped looking/dressing like an angry, reactionary bubba (“Sharp Dressed Man”). Also glad Lex’s arc with his amorous assistant Amanda McCoy (Yvonne Chapman) was effectively wrapped up as well, as she turns ally for our heroes.

At the last second before impact, Luthor is once again saved by Superman (ever the boy scout), and sent off to the Dept. of Defense under arrest; pending charges for his attempt to destroy Smallville. However, Jonathan is critically injured after the battle, and a tearful Jordan uses super-CPR to save his twin brother’s life after his heart stops. With Lex Luthor finally under lock and key (for good, this time), and their town finally safe from supervillains, Clark, Lois and the boys share a big, heartfelt family hug.

Note: Australian actor Michael Bishop stepped into the role of Jonathan Kent this year, and he’s done an admirable job, taking over from Jordan Elsass, who played the character in the previous three seasons.  Alexander Garfin is a fine actor, though his more sensitive character of Jordan Kent tends to be a moping pain in the ass, at times. No slight on the actor, of course; just the character.

After Lex’s epic defeat, we cut to a year later. Once again, we’re outside the Kent barn (the secondary hub of the town’s social activity, after Vicky May’s diner) for the outdoor wedding of Mayor Lana Lang and John Henry; who finally found the time to make their budding relationship work. Lois officiates at the wedding, through ordaining powers granted to her online.  During the reception, we see that family friends Kyle (Erik Valdez) and Lois’ former editor, Chrissy (Sofia Hasmik) are now expecting their second baby. Ex-spouses Lana and Kyle are happy as they each enter new chapters in their respective lives. High school seniors Jordan and Jonathan catch up with Jordan’s former flame Sarah (Danielle Fabiola Navarette), daughter of Lana and Kyle, whose wanderlust is sated by studying overseas in Greece. Also in attendance is John Henry’s daughter, Natalie (Tayler Buck), who, after arriving with her dad from an alternate Earth a couple years ago, now feels firmly rooted. The good townspeople of Smallville, Kansas are thriving.

Note: The episode ties up four years of loose-ends, including at least ten story arcs. It also smartly fills its action quota in the first half hour, to allow for the deeper, more emotionally resonant stuff later on…

The next half-hour of the finale is told entirely from the perspective and narration of a dying Clark Kent, as he relates what happened to his family and friends after Lana’s wedding. As his powers waned, Clark helped Lois set up a world charity foundation to continue inspiring altruism wherever they could. Clark also started delegating superhero duties to his two sons, Jordan and Jonathan, and we see them being fitted for their own custom “super-suits” in the Fortress of Solitude.  As the three of them fly back to Smallville, they are joined in aerial formation by the Steel-suited John Henry and his daughter/partner, Natalie. The increasingly-mortal Superman now serving as a mentor to his super-successors. 

Note: Having both of the Kent boys inherit their pop’s superpowers this season (as opposed to only Jordan) may be considered a cheat by some, but it fits logistically as the only possible way for Superman to truly defeat both Doomsday and the super-suited Lex Luthor in one episode, so I’m fine with it.

The next minutes chronicle what Clark remembers as the best times of his life; seeing his sons grow up and have kids—many kids—of their own. His heart is full. Life is good.  We later see Clark and Lois aging gracefully, as they watch another sunset together from their porch.

Note: I can imagine this was the dream Clark originally had for his family when he first suggested they relocate from bustling Metropolis to bucolic Smallville in the show’s first episode back in 2021. Too many superhero shows have taken place in big cities, and this series successfully broke that mold by relocating its heroes to a more rural setting (no doubt similar to places from where many of its North American fans watch).

Sadly, contentment and happiness are as fleeting as human mortality. Lois’ cancer has returned with a vengeance. She bravely fought it before, but she’s older and tired now. We see a weakened Lois in bed, her hair ravaged by futile radiation treatments, still summoning smiles for her attending husband and adult sons. Narrator-Clark tells us he was most surprised by Lois’ final moments, as she leaned over to smile at an invisible someone, and said only “Daddy?” before she passed.

Note: As a happily married man of over 25 years, this was especially hard for me to watch, as was Lois’ prior battle with cancer. Seeing your spouse diminish and pass away before you is the nightmare of every married person. Last time I teared up this much to a piece of pop entertainment was when my wife and I watched the first ten minutes of Pixar’s “Up,” back in 2009. Not ashamed to say the beginning of that movie positively broke us.

Following Lois’ death, we see widower Clark getting condolence pies from Lana, as well as daily visits from his sensitive son, Jordan. However, he acknowledges that even this outpouring of love from friends and family weren’t enough to fill the void left in the wake of Lois’ passing. Clark then adopts a dog, which he names “Krypto,” and it helps to fill the void, as she showers the beloved pooch with affection; taking Krypto on daily walks and sharing lazy afternoon naps together.  They’re best buds now. Narrator Clark is amazed he’d never previously considered owning a dog…

Note: Admirable restraint for not making Krypto a “super-dog,” as he was in some iterations of Superman lore. The love and unwavering devotion an animal can give us undeserving humans is superpower enough.

We then see the end of Clark’s own story, as he and fellow septuagenarian Kyle are taking Krypto out for another walk in front of a banner celebrating Smallville’s proud 25 year history of producing superheroes.  On nearly the exact spot where Clark’s adoptive dad Jonathan Kent had his own fatal heart attack, Clark’s human heart (a 32-year gift of life from Lois’ late father Sam) finally fails.  Luckily, former fire fighter Kyle manages to stabilize Clark just enough for him to go home, one last time…

Note: I’ve never been a big fan of Kyle (again, no slight on the actor; just the character), but he was nicely served in this final episode.

We then see a dying Clark in bed.  And like Lois before him, he’s surrounded by his sons. Through a postmortem narration, Clark relates that this marks the second time he’s died; the first was after his fatal battle with Doomsday earlier this season, before he was resurrected by the late Sam Lane’s 60-year old heart.  This time, Clark is truly gone. However, his story doesn’t end just yet. Unlike the nothingness Clark experienced the first time he died, Clark’s youthful-looking spirit (or Force-ghost, if you prefer) now rises from his discarded mortal coil, and he wanders through an afterlife representation of the Kent family home…

Note: Some may have issues with this perhaps too-literal interpretation of an afterlife, but Superman has long been written from a Judeo-Christian perspective. “Superman” creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster were two Jewish teenagers from Ohio, and they used lots of Judeo-Christian messianic elements and ideas in Superman’s backstory. As an atheist, I am fine with that. You don’t have to believe in a philosophy or religion to lose yourself in a story for an hour or two. I can watch “Star Wars” without becoming a Jedi, for example…

Spirit-Clark acknowledges the love he’s received from various representations of his friends and family (some alive, some not), and he then sees a deeply contrite Lex Luthor, quietly weeping at the Kent family dinner table. In a show of forgiveness, spirit-Clark reaches over and puts a hand on spirit-Lex’s shoulder.  To forgive truly is divine, after all…

Note: I didn’t see this angle coming, but I’m very glad that it did. One element too often missing in comic book movie/TV adaptations is forgiveness, which is supposed to be championed in Christianity, but is not represented in pop entertainment nearly enough.

Now comes spirit-Clark’s own reward for a life well-lived and cherished, as he opens the front door to see spirit-Lois standing bathed in white light, in her healthy prime, and looking breathtakingly beautiful in the sexy red dress Clark once bought her for an awards gala, many years earlier (she also wore it during her first battle with breast cancer). In a scene clearly homaging James Cameron’s “Titanic,” the reunited spirits of Lois and Clark share a long-awaited kiss.  Narrator-Clark then tells the audience to seek love however they can, and to hold on for it as long as possible, because “it goes by so fast.”

The End.

Note: The episode gets its title from a sign hanging over the dining table in the Kent kitchen, and it’s now acknowledged by narrator/spirit-Clark himself. While the ending can be interpreted as a bit too mushy for some, it certainly landed well with me, as I am fighting through my own welling tears just to write about the damned thing.

Summing It Up

Elegantly wrapping up four seasons and about ten separate plot threads with a single punch, “It Went by So Fast” smartly gets the action stuff out of the way in its first half hour, while spending the rest of the episode showing us what we really wanted to see—how Superman & Lois’ story ultimately ends. In the process, writers Brent Fletcher and Todd Helbing gave us one of the most tear-inducing pieces of pop entertainment I’ve seen since my wife and I bawled like infants during the first ten minutes of Pixar’s “Up” back in 2009.

I’ve been following this contagious little CW show since its beginning three years and four seasons ago, and while it’s always been engaging, it’s truly flown past the stratosphere of its potential in this final season. Don’t get me wrong; the prior three seasons were certainly nothing to sneeze at, and I enjoyed the mix of human-scale drama (such as Lois’ battle with breast cancer) with the super-shenanigans. However, it wasn’t until Superman’s sons Jordan and Jonathan followed in their father’s footsteps this season that it became a true family affair (even if the ever-maudlin Jordan can be a real pain in the ass at times). The Kent family’s strength was tested when Lex Luthor came to town with his “Cape Fear”-inspired revenge plot. “Superman & Lois” is now my close-second favorite live-action Superman mythology; just behind the legendary Christopher Reeve in “Superman: The Movie” (1978).

In the finale, the super-adventure ends after the first half to make way for the human story.  Seeing Clark & Lois living their golden years with full hearts as their family grew was genuinely moving, as Tyler Hoechlin and Bitsie Tulloch gave beautifully understated performances under minimalist, yet convincing age makeups. We even glimpse Clark’s time as a widower, as he takes stock of his life. My tears involuntarily welled, as the freely roaming souls of Clark and Lois shared a “Titanic”-inspired embrace in the great beyond. As a viewer, I was fine with Clark’s spiritual ascension, though I get why some agnostic/atheist viewers might have issues with his sentimental journey into an arguably too-literal Judeo-Christian afterlife. However, if one can accept ‘the Force’ in a Star Wars movie or TV series, one can accept a little spiritual schmaltz in a superhero TV show.  It’s pop entertainment, not a sermon; just like the angels of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” And like “It’s a Wonderful Life,” this heartfelt sendoff gives us the full breadth of one man’s gratitude and love for his life and family. 

If this finale were aired on TV before streaming overtook the broadcast milieu, it might’ve been remembered as one of the great TV series’ finales.  Sadly, it’ll most likely be unfairly forgotten in the current streaming cascade. Hence, my writing about it here. I plan to keep “It Went by So Fast” on my DVR for the foreseeable future, whenever I need a booster shot of gratitude for everything I have in my own life. 

Where to Watch

“Superman & Lois” is, for the time being, currently available to stream on the CW’s free streaming platform, while the previous three seasons are also available to stream (with subscriptions) on Hulu and Max.  The first three seasons are also available on DVD through various sellers, via Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com (prices vary).