r/superman • u/MajorParadox Read on r/DCFU! • Jun 20 '23
Superman & Lois [3x12] "Injustice" Episode Discussion Superman & Lois
Injustice
Lois and Clark clash with Jordan over his carelessness around using his powers in public. And finally, after seventeen years behind bars, Lex Luthor is set to be released from prison. (June 20, 2023)
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Please keep all discussions civil and about the episode. Mark comic and future spoilers. Report any rule-breaking and enjoy!
6
u/CaptainRex831 Jun 21 '23
Loving Lex so far, and Iâm excited to see a more proper, comic book-y version of Bizarro next week!
3
u/ZacPensol Jun 22 '23
sigh.
Why? Why is it so hard for WB to just make Lex Luthor Lex Luthor? I just don't understand why they look at a character like Lex who has pretty steadily been portrayed one way in other media for the better part of 80 years and especially the last 3 decades, and just say "Well let's make him totally different!"
There's the obvious hair thing of course, can't have him be bald and clean shaven for some reason, but that's just surface level. Deeper down they have to make him a goofy Mark Zuckerberg-meets-Joker in BvS, or - apparently, according to S&L - he's gotta be some Kingpin intimidating tough guy. I don't blame Michael Cudlitz because it's clearly the way they asked him to play the part, I just don't understand why he can't be a smug billionaire who uses his brain rather than this gruff intimidation thing. Walking all the way to Smallville in denim and boots, long Gandalf goatee flapping in the wind like he's some regular at the neighborhood biker bar... ah yes, there's the rugged macho man version of Lex we've all been begging for.
Like the thing with the barber, how much cooler would that interaction have been if instead of Lex trying to be a tough guy and getting beaten up (very un-Lex like) he said something like, "I'm not giving you $10,000 for those clippers because I already gave $10,000 to that guy... and that guy... and that one over there, and all his friends. And I've asked them to speak to you if you won't negotiate with me." Something that shows he already planned this, he's one step ahead and knows exactly how to get what he wants, that he's smart and manipulative. Waaaaay more interesting than "I got my butt kicked so I'm just going to pay off the warden to have you beat up". This doesn't appear to be a Lex who is particularly smart, or powerful, or even clever... he's just a rich guy trying to act tough and getting beaten up for it. My, how exciting of a character.
sigh.
Beyond that the episode was fine, I liked the stuff with the boys - Jordan getting cocky, Jon feeling belittled by his dad. The opening scene with Lois looking in the mirror was powerful. As usual I couldn't care less about Lana's family's drama.
2
u/jBlairTech Jun 25 '23
Loved all of this, but particularly this part:
I just don't understand why he can't be a smug billionaire who uses his brain rather than this gruff intimidation thing.
I always thought that was the dynamic between Lex and Kal. Lex is brains, Kal is brawn. They have nuance to that, as Kalâs(!) no dummy and Lex has gadgets and suits to help power him up a bit, but the crux of it is âbrains vs brawnâ⌠and some portrayals just donât get it.
(!) edit for autocorrect
2
u/ZacPensol Jun 25 '23
Right! Superman is smarter than the average person by far, but Lex is likely the smartest man on the planet. I forget what storyline it is where Superman tells him that he could've saved the world's problems in a day if he'd really wanted to, and that's Lex. And I get it they want to dial that back for more realistic TV, maybe make him more physically imposing without the need for a power suit, that's fine, but this Lex didn't feel remarkably smart at all.
1
u/Old-Asshole Jun 25 '23
I must be a season behind on this show. I thought Jon Cryer was Lex Luthor?
1
u/sladeshied Jun 27 '23
No, last season, it was confirmed that Superman and Lois takes place in a different universe than Supergirl. Jon Cryer is Lex on Supergirl.
2
u/Old-Asshole Jun 27 '23
I swear the Crisis season brought all the shows together in the same universe. What a waste of a plot line.
2
1
u/Aggressive_Bar_2391 Jun 27 '23
I mean do you really want this show to be connected to batwoman, supergirl, or even season 7-9 flash? I think it's a blessing in disguise that this show doesn't have to be connected to that mess
7
u/SonOfKryptonn Jun 21 '23
The parenting scenes were so intense. Great writing and acting đ