Season four of Superman & Lois brings the series to close with Lex Luthor unleashing Doomsday on Superman! Lex Luthor is freed from prison and brings Doomsday! The ultimate, brutal villain first appeared in Superman: The Man of Steel #18 (1992). It crashes into the farmhouse as Luthor walks away. Then, out into Smallville streets to Metropolis. Doomsday is pinned on a spire of a building. Then, it slams Superman down before taking him into the sky. "The End & The Beginning" is directed by Gregory Smith. Greg Berlanti is the writer. Superman (Tyler Hoechlin) revives, curls his fist, and punches Doomsday (Paul Lazenby) to the moon. The two mortal enemies face each other. Doomsday rips off two of his body spikes, Superman flies towards him, and they collide in an explosion. Darkness.
We see the aftermath, a floating mass of blood and rubble. Then, the cape of Superman’s torn cape floats against the Earth. Jordan (Alex Garfin) extinishes the barn fire with his super breath. Jonathan (Michael Bishop) has found a ELT, the device that sends a signal only Superman can hear. They realize that this is why Luthor wanted his grandfather. Lois (Elizabeth Tulloch) tells Jordan to focus on his voice not his father. Lex Luthor (Michael Cudlitz) exits a truck to see the destruction site. He made his debut in last season's “Injustice” (2023). Cudlitz is known for playing Abraham Ford in The Walking Dead. He is met by Amanda McCoy (Yvonne Chapman) says it has a been a month since he was in prison. Chapman plays Kyoshi in the live action Avatar: The Last Airbender. The character was introduced in Superman #2 (1987) and it is her introduction here.
She gives him a key. He says things have worked for seventeen years. Luthor says she is the only one he trusts. He asks about Elizabeth. It is a dark room, with torn paper on its window, he tears it off and sees the Smallville Gazette building. Sam Lane (Dylan Walsh), tied up and gagged, is thrown out of a trunk. Gretchen Kelley (Rebecca Staab) and Otis (Ryan Jefferson Booth) have him prisoner. She first appeared in the episode, “What Kills Only Makes You Stronger” (2023). The character was introduced in Superman #2 (1987). I recalled seeing her at a convention promoting the infamous Fantastic Four (1994) movie, and she was the perfect Sue Storm. Booth plays a tough version of 1978's Superman's goofy henchman. He played King in 2021 and 2022 episodes of The Flash.
Night, Jordan can only hear a muffled sound. Lois walks away saying the radiation makes her brain foggy. The brothers talk to each other. Jordan worries and remembers the look on his father’s face. Jonathan says he will survive it. Jordan says he is not ready without him. Lois sees the stitched sign, “It went by so fast”, she flashes back with Clark joining her. Clark says his mother went to town for privacy. He says he’s in love with her. They talk about the Superman interview and then they kiss. Clark shyly says, “I never -“! This is so Clark, touching and funny. Lois says, “Get ready for having the best day of your life.” Lois activates the ELT. A trail is made on the mmoon as Superman continues the battle with Doomsday. It is brutal, swings, and masses of rock. They blast each other. Superman snaps off one of Doomsdays’ spikes. It roars at him! Superman flies towards the monster.
Morning at Smallville, Lois is met by Luthor at the Smallville Gazette office, she wants to know where is her father. Lois shows him the ELT. He says she should have taken his offer. Luthor says she has been hidden behind Superman and her father. He asks her if she likes the small town. He points out his room. Luthor says almost losing his business and having his daughter turn against him. He sees the headline. At the Daily Planet, Lois watches a news report on criminals using Kryptonite weaponry, Clark walks in and says it was Luthor. She takes out a Kryptonite shard from his neck. Lois says they just got married. Clark says, “You’re stuck with me forever.” These are moments where the series shines, Clark married with Lois, usually the doom of television shows, this gives added dimension to the superhero and adds romance.
Sam struggles in his handcuffs to a chair. Gretchen offers him water from a canteen. He says the DoD does not negotiate. Jordan blames himself for setting Sam up with Gretchen. Jonathan tries to tell him that it is not his fault. He gives his brother his jacket so they can go eat. Gretchen gets a phone call from Luthor. He says, “One to the head and one to the heart”! Sam knows that it is Luthor as Gretchen takes out her gun. He mentions this grandkids and daughter. He makes promises as he tries to slip out of the rope. Gretchen kisses him. She says she can’t hide from Luthor. Sam pulls free from the rope, struggles with Gretchen, and then headbutts her. Jonathan and Jordan are at the diner as Luthor walks in! He sits down next to Jordan. They know him. He says seventeen years ago he was put in prison by Superman. He shows a picture of his daughter, Elizabeth, the only person who loves him.
SUPERMAN & LOIS -- “The End & The Beginning” -- ELIZABETH TULLOCH, TYLER HOECHLIN -- Photo Credit: Colin Bentley/The CW — © 2024 The CW.
Luthor says their mother took her from him. He clenches his fist. A younger, blond with full hair Luthor tells Lois not to run a story. He says she is protecting Superman. His threats don’t work on her. The sons tells their mother about Luthor. She forbids him from taking action against Luthor. She wants him to help her father. Sam tries to smash out of the door, uses a fire extinguisher, and finally breaks out. Then, he is knocked out by Otis. The moon, under it, a grave is dug by Otis, Sam is bound and gagged, he mentions that Gretchen. Luthor says he wanted to make it painless. He wants to show him the newspaper. Sam taunts him with his daughter. “He always comes back.” Luthor digs him into the grave and throws the paper. Otis shovels the dirt on Sam as Gretchen watches. I know the comic book, "Death of Superman" storyline, but the show has the parallel danger with Sam Lane in mortal danger.
Lois is in a hospital bed, twitching, a nurse tells her that she has had a seizure! She is giving birth. Lois wants Clark to get Dr. Patel. Then, she pulls him back. Jonathan gets Lois’ attention. Jordan has heard a faint sound from his grandfather. Jordan hears the sonic signal and then hears Gretchen. They are walking to a truck. Jordan in a goggles and suit brings Lois. Lois slams Gretchen to the truck and told she is too late. She realizes that the duo buried Sam! Jordan uses heat vision to find Sam and then digs him out at super speed, wow. Lois hugs her father. Sam recovers in a hospital bed, his grandsons, and Lois are there. He asks about Clark. Lois sends her sons outside. Sam says he saw the headline. Luthor looks at the photo of his daughter. Gretchen and Otis drive up in the van. It is clear that Lex Luthor is ruthless with the obession of his daughter.
Otis says Lois Lane showed up and tells him about the boy with super powers. Gretchen shows him the video of Jordan with his fans. Lois tells Sam that Luthor is coming after her. Sam says he let his guard down with Gretchen. He says Clark survived Luthor. Lois says that this time is not the same. The battle, Doomsday pounds Superman. Closeup of Doomsday’s fist slamming into Clark’s cheek. Superman is slammed into rock. His vision is distorted. Doomseday hurtles towards him. Superman lifts up, battered, his shoulder torn by Doomsday’s spikes. It is a brutal fight, CG matched with the stunts, but feels real with Hoechlin. Superman's eyes glare with heat vision, he screams and the asteroid there are on explodes. Doomsday’s fist is clutching a patch of red. Superman is suspended, eyes open, gone. Superman and Lois shines with "The End & The Beginning", the super hero battle is matched with the human drama, kidnapping, teenage sons, and romance.
Five Kryptonite Crystals out of Five!
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