After 3 years, I am eternally grateful that Superman & Lois never used the one story I feared would

With Superman and Lois having concluded after 4 seasons and 3 years, I'm happier than ever that the DC series never delved into a notorious and prolific story trope, despite how common it is within and outside of the superhero genre. Throughout its 53 episodes, Superman and Lois hit many classic moments that audiences have come to expect from superhero releases. The live-action Superman show adapted famous comic books, featured big villain debuts, and included at least a dramatic monologue or two for good measure.

However, what the show avoided is also equally interesting. While the installment delved into some superhero tropes, it also totally sidestepped a few others that might outwardly seem too common to ignore. From a series that also wasn't afraid to delve into relatively unexplored territory – with Superman and Lois Season 4, Episode 10, killing off Superman and Lois permanently in its finale – these decisions carry even more weight. In fact, I think I'm eternally happy that the show wasn't afraid to let go of some television storytelling conventions when it came to two of the main characters and their stories.

Superman and Lois avoided one of the superhero genre's most common romantic tropes

A considerable amount of love triangles and dramatic romance stories have appeared in superhero releases

Superman and LoisThe first episode saw the titular duo's family move from Metropolis back to Clark's hometown of Smallville following the passing of his mother, with the couple believing this is what's best for the family after they both lost their jobs at the Daily Planet, and shortly after discovering their son. Jordan began to show signs of developing Superman-like powers. Returning to the city means Clark will reunite with many of the familiar faces that flesh out the story. Superman and Lois cast, including Lana Lang.

Lana and Clark were childhood best friends – and childhood sweethearts, dating during what is suggested to be a not inconsiderable period of their adolescence. Other live-action shows have spent more time investigating the idea of ​​the couple being a couple in their actual plots, with Lana being Clark's first love interest in Smallvilleand even the classic Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman featuring a pair of alternate universe characters who remain a couple into adulthood.

Despite the fact that the show wasn't afraid to delve into soap opera-type relationship drama – as evidenced by much of Jordan and Sarah's romantic relationship – Superman and Lois avoided the cliché of even teasing that Clark and Lana's romance could rekindleinstead, cementing them as dear friends through and through. With other Arrowverse shows like Arrow and The Flash centering its hero on relationship conflicts and love triangles, it's nice to see that this wasn't considered a necessity with Superman and Loisdespite how common these stories have been elsewhere.

Superman & Lois' ending proves it was right to focus on Lana and Clark's friendship

Clark and Lana being friends through and through pays off to provide even more real emotional weight to the show's finale

I had Superman and Lois simply deciding to add drama to her story by having Lana fall in love with Clark again would have risked losing much of what makes the pair's real dynamic interesting. After Martha Kent's death, Lana is the person in Clark's life who has known him the longest, and her long history makes Clark more interesting – both because we get to see the perspective of someone who has known him since he was a child, and because we initially know that Lana still doesn't know that Clark is Superman, despite all the years and the trust between them.

Superman and Lois'The ending underlines how crucial Lana and Clark's platonic friendship is in some crucial ways, with the first coming when Clark walks Lana down the aisle as she marries John Henry Irons. As the pair walks, Lana thanks Clark for always being her best friend, and the moment has even more impact given the seasons the show has dedicated to detailing their friendship. – which would have been undermined if Clark needed to reiterate his romantic loyalty to Lois at any point in the show.

Likewise, during the final sequence when Superman says goodbye to all the key people he has cared for throughout his life before entering the afterlife with Lois, his goodbye to Lana is a notable part of things. Once again, the time the show spent developing their friendship over its seasons with a wide range of storylines pays off twice here, as it adds far more depth to their bond – and more emotion to this moment – than any tease of love triangle could. I probably already did.

Why Superman's friendship with Lana is such an important part of his story on the DC show

Superman's bonds with those around him are a crucial part of his story

Superman and Lois understandably focuses on the importance of Clark's romance with Lois throughout its run, as well as the importance of his bond with his children. It is in this same vein that Clark's friendship with Lana is so important, as each of these people shows who Clark is as a person in a slightly different way. Seeing the Man of Steel being able to reminisce about being an awkward teenager with a childhood friend works really well for the series, as it shows Superman on a very human level – playing with an old friend, and being able to ask her for advice and give her advice. advice for her.

The superhero genre focuses a lot on romantic relationships, and while that makes sense, it often also means that the valuable platonic friendships that helped make the characters who they are can be ignored – which is a shame when they can offer such an interesting take on the heroes. in these stories themselves. As such, I am very happy that Superman and Lois ensured that Clark and Lana's friendship was a key part of their overarching story – especially since the way their bond was explored allowed the focus to remain on the love between Lois Lane and Clark Kent throughout the show.

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