iReview | SUPERMAN & LOIS: The Fourth and Final Season

JC Alvarez
Apr 12
4 min read

The Original Series is available now on Blu-ray.

The family drama signs off and offers the most dramatic emotional take on the Man of Steel’s mythology, making SUPERMAN & LOIS: The Fourth and Final Season available now on Blu-ray one to remember.

DC Comics' televised cinematic universe, lovingly dubbed the “Arrowverse” by its fans, ceremoniously came to a close once the final episode of The CW hit series The Flash, starring Grant Gustin, aired on May 24th, 2023. The proper superpowered spin-off of Greg Berlanti’s Arrow, starring Steven Amell, did for DC what Warner Bros. Studios had long-attempted and Marvel Studios had gotten so right: successfully imagined an interconnected narrative that rivaled that of both of the imprints’ more than eight decades of publishing continuity.

Among the other characters from the DC pantheon to headline a series in the “Arrowverse” was the introduction of the Maid of Might as Melissa Benoist stepped into the role of Supergirl. It wouldn’t be long before her famous cousin, Superman, played by Tyler Hoechlin, arrived on the scene. Hoechlin continued to play a pivotal guest star throughout the series, and he would eventually be joined by Lois Lane, portrayed by Elizabeth “Bitsie” Tulloch. The pair were an immediate draw and welcome addition to the television mythology, bringing the Man of Steel and Lois back to primetime.

During the events of the landmark 5-part (2020) televised event “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” it appeared that at the climatic conclusion of the crossover, a Prime-Earth emerged where all the various cast from each separate series, including those that inhabited alternate earths (Supergirl and Black Lightning) would now inhabit one singular continuity. In theory, that included a new series that would premiere the following season: Superman & Lois, with Hoechlin and Tulloch reprising their super roles. The new series would center on the trials of the superfamily, which would include their twin sons.

Almost immediately, it was clear that this interpretation of the Superman mythology would take on a very different spin. It wasn’t only that the series, executive produced by Todd Helbing (who previously worked on The Flash), would focus on the family, Clark, Lois, and their twin sons, Jonathan and Jordan, returning to The Kent family farm in Smallville. Still, it would also become evident that this adventure was taking place on an alternate earth, not the newly minted Prime Earth. With the future in flux for many for the then-running “Arrowverse” series on the network, it made better sense to separate S&L.

A Life Well Lived

Throughout the four seasons of Superman & Lois, many significant narratives centered on Superman, an alien from the planet Krypton, and the implications of someone so superpowerful living among humans. The Kents met several adversaries from across the multiverse and allies. Still, in the end, their hubris brought them into direct conflict with earth-bound enemies and a more personal battle for the family as Lois battled cancer. And in a more dramatically sinister interpretation, Lex Luthor, portrayed by Michael Cudlitz, confronted our heroes as never before on screen.

Much of the drama of the final episodes of the entire series revolved around Luthor’s plot to take revenge on his arch-nemesis… Lois Lane! Luthor begins by torturing a bizarro Superman doppelgänger from an alternate world into his relentless instrument of destruction for the ultimate “doomsday” endgame. It’s a horrible, sadistic plan that plays out very effectively as Luthor destroys everything Lois holds dear. The writing is well structured, and Cudlitz delivers the most diabolical version of Luthor to come to light, and our heroes still hold to form.

All 10 episodes of the Fourth and Final Season are featured on two discs, uninterrupted and in beautiful high-definition, elevating the action and drama to blockbuster levels. The series perfectly bookends a refreshingly grown-up look at the Man of Steel and the First Family of DC comics. Amped up to an entirely new level! This version has a “rockstar” and guttural feel, reaching a heartfelt and emotional climax, making Superman & Lois startlingly far more reflective of our world. A world that desperately could use a Man of Tomorrow today.

The only thing most obviously missing from the overall package is its lack of bonus content. Given The CW network’s decision to absolve itself of any original content, including the fast-track cancellation of many Arrowverse line-ups, the producers may have been inclined not to cover any behind-the-scenes of this final season. It would have made an excellent bit for fans to follow along as the series ended and highlighted the insight into the cast’s own experiences as they brought the story to an end, but alas, it just wasn’t to be had.

For any completist, The Fourth and Final Season Blu-ray is a must-have. It marks the end of an era and a hopeful new outlook as James Gunn and DC Studios explore a new expanded universe.

Get your #FanzEyeView of the profoundly emotional final scene of SUPERMAN & LOIS: The Fourth and Final Season, available now on Blu-ray, DVD: