DC series is anchored by emotion as it prepares for an explosive finale

Superman & Lois is back for his final season. That wasn’t always the plan, which was meant to include at least seven seasons of the popular DC series. Still, with changes at the CW, DC Studios and the arrival of David Corenswet’s Superman in theaters next year, it has been decided that Superman & Lois Season 4 would be the swan song of the series. The final season of the show picks up where Superman & Lois Season 3’s ending left off, with Superman and Doomsday going head-to-head.

I enjoyed Tyler Hoecklin’s Superman and Elizabeth Tulloch’s Lois Lane in the Arrowverse, but it wasn’t until Superman & Lois That the actors can fully live up to their potential in the roles. Superman & Lois Season 3 was a masterful lesson in how to develop a superhero series. Sure, there was engaging action throughout, but Lois’ battle with cancer and how it impacted her loved ones was the season’s true driving force. Season 4 once again taps into the family drama that makes the show special, and Season 3’s ending is fundamental to that.

Superman & Lois season 4 is firing on all cylinders

The DC series continues to balance drama and action with ease

I had the opportunity to watch the first three episodes of Superman & Lois Season 4, and I was impressed by how high the stakes were in each episode. There is no way to talk about Superman & Lois Season 4 without talking about Michael Cudlitz’s Lex Luthor. The actor already showed that he was the real deal when Lex appeared in the last two episodes of season 3. Cudlitz is back and better than ever in the role, making Lex Luthor the most terrifying villain the DC series has ever seen.

The character’s presence on screen is unnerving, which makes it a great choice to reserve him for the end of the show. Despite budget cuts, the Superman series continues to have the same stunning visuals and dynamic action scenes it has become known for. Superman & Lois The action of season 4 is effective, with every development as important as the schemes and motivations of the characters. While the action scenes are exciting, the first three episodes of season 4 are rooted in the bonds that bind the Kent family together, and their connection makes the fight harder.

It took me a while to get used to the show recasting Jonathan Kent, but I’m now a fan of Michael Bishop’s take on the character. Jonathan had an interesting arc in season 3 with his firefighter training, and the character continues to be one of the high points of Superman & Lois Season 4. His brother, Jordan (Alex Garfin), also has a key role to play in the show’s final year. After training to control his powers for multiple seasons, Jordan must show if he made good use of the lessons, because he is being tested in a big way.

Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch remain the heart of Superman and Lois

Season 4’s cuts to the cast were noticeable and negatively affected the show

Much like the first season of the show, Superman & Lois Season 4 features many flashbacks. Clark and Lois’ past is beautifully explored, and it goes to show again how much chemistry Hoechlin and Tulloch have in these iconic roles. At this point, Hoechlin’s version of Superman has easily become one of the best live action iterations of the hero. The actor plays both the confident, heroic side of the Man of Steel and the bubbly, vibrant Clark Kent persona perfectly, making both Clark and Superman matter equally, which is not always the case in adaptations.

As for Tulloch’s Lois, the character was spotlighted throughout season 3 with her battle against cancer. Now, Lois is stronger to get through the ordeal, and that strength is much needed for her arc in the final season of the DC series. Superman & Lois Season 4 is dark and emotional, with Tulloch anchoring many of the most emotional scenes in the first three episodes of the season. The stakes have never been higher, and Lois Lane is right in the middle of the action, dealing with major events in rapid succession.

My one problem with Superman & Lois Season 4 is related to the ensemble of the show. Seven actors were removed from the series’ main cast due to budget cuts – the same reason the final season only had 10 episodes. When you watch season 4, the absence of these characters is felt in key moments, because they should be present in key events. But they are either not there or appear sparingly. I hope the rest of the season will have more returning faces, because Smallville loses a lot of its charm without them. besides that, Season 4 is off to a solid start.

Superman & Lois Season 4 kicks off with a two-episode premiere at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, October 7 on The CW.