Superman and Lois managed to make Lex Luthor’s tragic comic story one step sadder again. The question of how DC handled Lex Luthor’s story has been a crucial question for the franchise since day one, with the original Lex Luthor – that of Alexei Luthor – being drastically different from the version of the character that audiences are generally familiar with. is familiar today. The story of Lex’s baldness is also something that is still discussed to this day, especially since the previous story of Luthor swearing eternal hatred to Superman because he went bald, something I think we can all agree on, is at least a little silly.
Naturally, the live-action versions of Lex Luthor also had to bring their own iterations of the character’s backstory, with which elements they had to choose from, becoming more complex the more different iterations of the villain and his life we ​​see in the pages of comics. . Some major comic book outlets have created interesting versions of Lex, with shows like My Adventures with Superman creating almost entirely new origin stories for the figure. However, a live-action Superman show managed to make the tragic parts of Luthor’s story even more regrettable in the long run.
Superman and Lois made the sad part of Lex Luthor’s comic book origin story even sadder
Superman & Lois strived to add a tragic human element to Lex Luthor’s life and arc
Superman and Lois Season 4 Episode 5 delves deeper into Lex Luthor’s story – an aspect of the show’s narrative that, prior to this episode, remained relatively untouched, other than acknowledging that Luthor had a daughter he hadn’t seen since he went to prison. Luthor says he grew up in hardship and that, when his father abandoned the family, his mother began beating Lex with her belt, “because it was the only thing he left behind“.
The abusive parents and growing up less fortunate angle is a conventional Lex comic book story, with the comics and adaptations thereof often using this aspect of the story to add a more sympathetic slant to the villain. However, Superman and Lois adds further, suggesting that the abuse Lex received at the hands of his mother meant he never learned to trust others or let them in, leading to his divorce and estranged relationship with his daughter, Elizabeth.adding new dimensions and tragic connections to this part of his life.
Lex’s wife – before the divorce – explains to Lex that she feels he never reveals his true thoughts or feelings to her, to which he responds: “It’s not that simple. You don’t know what I went through growing up.” Erica responds that Lex is, “He’s still that angry little boy from South Metropolis“, and that your inability to try to change that and learn to connect with people will ultimately come between you not just between them, but also between them,”One day, Elizabeth will come to you and beg for your love, and you will push her away, just like you did to me.“
The context of this conversation – which occurs right before Erica tells Luthor to only contact her through her lawyer – initially suggests that this could just be built-up resentment coming to the surface, until Lex does just that in exactly the same episode in end. Lex’s daughter begs him to leave his grudge with Lois and the Kent family behind so they can start over, but he is unable to do so, despite his clear love for her and a future grandchild on the way, cementing the idea that his anger is over. He has overcome his desire to be in the life of the person he cares about most.
Lex Luthor’s History From Superman & Lois Makes Him An Even Better Villain
Superman & Lois’ Lex Luthor avoids a major pitfall when it comes to the character
Lex Luthor adaptations have had varying levels of success over the years, and I think that’s often because it’s easy to intentionally or inadvertently limit character depth. Although Luthor is best characterized as a corrupt and heartless business tycoon whose self-centeredness leaves him with little to no regard for others, this path could easily be approached in a way that makes the antagonist merely a stereotypical villain, rather than also trying to show the complexities of his character that led to this point.
Superman and Lois‘ Lex’s story does well to avoid this, as showing Luthor’s tragic backstory and its even sadder effects of essentially dooming him to distance himself from any positive ties in his life adds nuance to his arcwhile also making it clear that he is still choosing to choose hatred and anger over breaking the cycle and being there for his family, even when the option is presented. The fact that this comes after we’ve seen Lex commit some of his worst acts also works, as it adds crucial context while also making him seem more fallible and human.
Superman & Lois’ Lex Luthor History Suggests His Story Can Only End One Way
Lex Luthor’s eternal grudge means he can only be stopped by death
Superman and Lois Season 4, Episode 5 finds Luthor rejecting the only way he could have found it in himself to let go of his grudge against Lois and Clarkas choosing to be in Elizabeth’s life as her father – and in his son’s life as a grandfather – seems like the only thing that could have been more important to him. As it stands, though, there’s now nothing stopping him from focusing entirely on ruining the Kent family’s lives, as the only other previous motivation Lex really had was to find Elizabeth once again.
With that in mind, it seems like the series is destined to end with Lex’s death, given all the other opportunities for his story to go down a different path seem to have run out, and he is more intensely opposed to Lois and Superman than ever before. . before. With Doomsday possibly now close to help the Kent family after his interaction with Lois in Superman and Lois In Season 4, Episode 5, the stage seems set for this eventuality, though whatever the case, Lex’s ending on the series will certainly be a central element of the story.
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