What I’m Watching: Superman and Lois

Superman and Lois: Season 1, Episode 7 “Man of Steel” (B)

Things would be considerably simpler if everyone was just honest, right? Maybe not when people have truly nefarious aims, like Morgan Edge, and are only recruiting top talent because they’re meant to be guinea pigs for his latest super-powered experiment. I’m glad to see that Lana is secretly spying for Lois, though Kyle would be just as angry to learn that as he would that Lana apparently didn’t recommend him for the executive program, something that will likely save his life down the road if he ever comes around to appreciating that fact. I am very intrigued by Captain Luthor’s story and the fact that he worked so hard with his daughter to create a suit that could render it possible for him to fight back against the destructive and evil Kryptonians on his earth. Unfortunately, that’s not the case in the world we know, and he’s too blinded by the capacity for corruption that he saw to consider that it might not be an inevitability. What’s actually hardest to believe on this show is the idea that someone could be looking right at Clark and not have any concept that he’s also Superman, but I suppose that’s something that must be forgiven since it’s part of the whole comic book mythology. Jordan did a good job of focusing his powers on hearing just one thing, and it’s a relief that, after he got very angry with his brother for allegedly flirting with his would-be girlfriend, they bonded in a brotherly way and will continue to confront both their slowly-emerging powers and teenage angst together.

What I’m Watching: Supergirl

Supergirl: Season 4, Episode 3 “Man of Steel” (B+)

Apparently, this character of Agent Liberty first appeared in comics decades ago, but this version is extremely prescient today, representing all of the anti-immigrant xenophobia that has led to so much hate and violence. The way in which the story of Agent Liberty was told in this episode was very effective, explaining his motivations as inspired by events that we’ve seen already, like Supergirl helping people get out of their hypnotic daze with her televised speech, the Daxomite invasion, and interactions with all of the characters we know well. I appreciated the casting of Xander Berkeley, alumnus of “24,” “Nikita,” and much more, as Ben’s spiteful father, who transmitted his disdain with the fact that alien influences were taking away human jobs to his son long before Ben ever became radicalized. Watching him start to believe that progress is not a good thing because it erases achievements from the past and proudly give a lecture about nativism with multiple alien students in his class was powerful and disturbing, and this show really does hold up a mirror to our own society. What that means in the long term for Supergirl and the fight to keep Earth safe from all threats will be resolved eventually, but for now, we have a dedicated resistance fighter who is eloquent and feels like much more of a formidable villain than the stunt-heavy Graves siblings since he can, has, and will articulate his sentiments in a stirring fashion designed specifically to encourage others to adopt his worldview.