Superman & Lois: a unique novelty in the world of Superman adaptations never before made.
Tl;dr
- Superman reveals his secret identity as Clark Kent in “Superman & Lois”.
- This revelation profoundly changes the family dynamic and Clark Kent’s life.
- At the same time, Superman gradually loses his powers and ages.
An unprecedented identity revelation
Secret identity is a fundamental element of superhero stories. This is what fuels the illusion that anyone could be a hero, that anyone could hide behind the mask. However, there are superheroes without secret identities. For example, Tony Stark revealed his true identity to the world early on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And in the DC Universe, Wonder Woman and Aquaman live without secret identities. However, for iconic heroes such as Batman, Spider-Man and Supermantheir identity remains sacred and generally inviolate.
In the series finale of “Superman & Lois,” the “Man of Steel” did something he’s never done before in a live-action movie or TV show: He publicly revealed his secret identity and declared to the world that he was Clark Kent.
The consequences of a revealed identity
The “Superman & Lois” series explored a lot the idea of secret identities, the cost of maintaining them and their impact on the heroes’ personal lives. For much of its run, the show focused on the burden it placed on Clark Kent to keep his powers a secret from his friends and family. The moment Clark and Lois decide to reveal to their two sons that he is Superman immediately changes the family dynamic and the trust between them.
When the world finds out who Superman is, everything changes forever. However, the show found a way to avoid the main problem of revealing Superman’s identity: once everyone knows who Clark Kent is, he’s essentially dead, because no one would treat him the same manner.
A changing Superman
All other Superman adaptations have lived within the classic Superman paradigm, retaining the status quo even if some things changed briefly. But that’s not the case with “Superman & Lois,” a show that has always pushed the character forward. Not only has Superman revealed his identity to the world, but he is also becoming mortal.
Indeed, the Man of Steel is losing his powers. In the first episode of the final season, Superman died fighting Doomsday, and even when he came back to life, he didn’t just recharge with the sun and return to normal. Rather, he began to age, grow gray hair, and eventually learned that he was slowly losing his powers and becoming an ordinary man who will not outlive his loved ones, but will grow old and die like Lois.
“Superman & Lois” is a series that has always been about family, about legacy. And what better legacy than to be the man of tomorrow, and to leave the mantle to his two sons for them to take up?
