Superman & Lois Season 4 Episode 8 Review – A Gloriously Muddled Conflict

I’ve done my best to be fair and honest about the final season of Superman & Lois because I really do love this show when it’s firing on all cylinders (Season 3 still is special to me because of the cancer storyline), and just two episodes ago we had the seasons’ peak. Yet, since then, it’s struggled to match that quality, and as my Superman & Lois Season 4 Episode 8 Review will show, it had that issue again despite some cool moments and beats.

Following the events of the last big conflict with Superman, Amanda had the “big plan” to make Luthor more sympathetic in the public eye by trying to “expose the lies” of Lois and challenged her to a debate. But where would they host such a debate? Why, on the show of one G. Gordon Godfrey…played magnificently by Tom Cavanaugh. Yep. He’s back!

At first, I was almost balking at this, because it felt like a “ruse” of sorts, and yet, they made it work. Just as sad, the whole “debate” with Godfrey being something not even CLOSE to the “Switzerland” he promised was an eerie mirroring of our own world. Hopefully, I don’t have to explain why.

Anyway, the question was whether Lois would take the bait. At first, Clark steered her away from it, and I’m happy that she listened at first because she’s smart enough to know a trap when she sees it. Yet, somehow, Lex got to Otis, and that forced her hand.

The debate itself was honestly great because you likely thought that Lex would have her on the backfoot the entire time, as this was his “home-field advantage,” as Clark put it. Yet, Lois held her own throughout, to the point where she almost brought in Luthor’s daughter to finish him off. Naturally, that caused another “event” to happen, but I was smiling from ear-to-ear when she mentioned her because this was the ace in her hand that would’ve doomed Luthor, and it reiterated just how brilliant Lois can be.

Sadly, elsewhere, two much lesser storylines happened concurrently that made me roll my eyes in a big way. As I noted in last week’s episode review, we likely weren’t going to get the “reaction” to Superman’s identity be revealed in good ways, and sure enough, that’s what happened here. Jonathan and Jordan were almost mobbed by “adoring fans,” and then Candice got cold feet after some internet hate and decided to break up with Jon without even talking to him. I literally groaned when it happened.

The phrase, “It’s the CW,” really comes to mind with this. It would’ve been one thing if she found out BECAUSE of the interview and blamed Jonathan for not prepping her for this, but instead, we had this. Now, yes, I totally find it believable that Candice would’ve been harassed online by idiots just because that’s how the internet works, no matter where you are in the multiverse. However, the way it was handled here was not only stupid, it was fixed in literally one conversation.

That brings us to the Irons, who magically reappeared just in time for Natalie to have a crisis of conscience about her job at the D.O.D., only for that to also get 180’d pretty quickly, and then both of their suits to get hacked, with one being destroyed and the other being brought to Luthor.

On the one hand, Lex needed his infamous “warsuit” for the final battle to come, but it would’ve meant more if it wasn’t spoiled in the trailer for the final episodes. Or, if Lex just built his own suit. We know he could’ve done it.

What made me really sad about this was that the two other storylines involving the health of Clark & Lois were either swept under the rug, or we just aren’t sure what to make of it. Lois is cancer-free, which is awesome! Yet, the revelation was buried quickly and only mentioned once more in the episode. As for Clark, his heart is the reason he’s dying…again. Yes, it’ll be a “normal” kind of death, but given all that’s already happened in this season, it just feels “a little much.” Especially if, potentially, they find a way to fix it and he’s able to be Superman in full again.

Yet, arguably, the most frustrating part of this episode was the obvious loopholes that were showcased many times over. First was Milton (who apparently is Brainiac…and I hate that for so many reasons…), who was clearly the reason for John Henry Irons’ security system at Lana’s being hacked. That was mentioned multiple times in the episode itself, and yet John either never found out about it or didn’t find it odd that Luthor could do that. That’s way too weird, especially given the “tightness” of John and Lana…who STILL haven’t been on screen together since the attempt on her life.

Just as bad was that Lois bringing out the trump card of Lex’s daughter was “interrupted,” and yet…we didn’t see what happened next. Remember, she was dialing the number when Superman had to save them, and yet…the interview ended? Really? Also, Superman didn’t bring John Henry to explain what happened or confront Luthor about it after the attack? That makes no sense. Plus, based on the conversation that Jonathan and Jordan had, it’s unclear that they even mentioned what happened with Nat’s suit at Candice’s, which would’ve been even MORE evidence against Luthor.

Sure, you could argue that “this was the point” and that Godfrey stopped the interview and then took the chance to make a final stab at Lois with that final bit, but it just doesn’t add up in the ways that matter.

As I end this Superman & Lois Season 4 Episode 8 Review, I will say that “Sharp Dressed Man” had its moments and surprised. Yet, again, this show seems bent on rushing key storylines or making true CW-style decisions instead of focusing on the characters that matter. Yes, not all of this is the team’s fault due to the budget issues, but other issues still stand out.

Two episodes left…let’s hope they stick the landing.