Superman & Lois Season 3: Jaw-Dropping Doomsday Twist Unveiled After 7 Years

Summary

In contrast to Batman v Superman's hurried and unexplained rendition, Superman and Lois skillfully transformed Doomsday's origin tale into a more gradual and profoundly moving narrative.

Superman and Lois on The CW has successfully incorporated both well-known and lesser-known villains associated with Superman, such as Lex Luthor, Bruno Mannheim, and Lucy Lane. These villains are portrayed in a nuanced manner, with intricate and relatable storylines.

What makes Superman and Lois stand out from other larger-scale live-action projects in the DC universe is its thoughtful storytelling. The show highlights the importance of well-rounded characters and compelling plotlines, illustrating the impact they can have.

Superman and Lois managed to depict the iconic DC Comics villain Doomsday much better than the controversial portrayal in the DC Extended Universe. Premiering on The CW in February 2021, Superman and Lois was initially a spinoff from Supergirl and intended to be part of the "Arrowverse." However, following the dissolution of DC's TV shared universe, Superman and Lois continued in its own separate continuity. It has since aired three seasons, with a fourth confirmed. Unlike DC Studios' theatrical releases, Superman and Lois has successfully adapted similar storylines and, at times, has done a better job than Warner Bros. did.

Tyler Hoechlin portrays Clark Kent, also known as Superman, in the series, while Elizabeth Tulloch plays the role of Lois Lane, a renowned journalist. The couple returns to Smallville and faces various threats while protecting their growing family, as well as their town and the world. Throughout the three seasons, Superman and Lois introduced several recognizable DC villains such as Parasite, the Eradicator, Bizarro, and Lex Luthor. In the show's season 3, set to air in 2023, Michael Cudlitz will portray Lex Luthor, who will have a significant role. Lex Luthor's introduction in Superman and Lois allowed for the creation of yet another major DC villain, and his debut was much stronger compared to the DCEU's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

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Batman v Superman And Superman & Lois Have A Similar Doomsday Twist

Doomsday, one of Superman's most infamous adversaries, made his debut in 1992's Superman: The Man of Steel #18 by DC Comics. He became notorious as Superman's killer in the iconic storyline, The Death of Superman. This narrative was later adapted into the 2016 film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which belongs to the live-action DC Extended Universe. However, the movie significantly altered Doomsday's backstory. In the comic books, Doomsday is a genetically engineered monster hailing from the depths of prehistoric Krypton who eventually clashes with Superman on Earth. Nevertheless, both Batman v Superman and Superman and Lois took a divergent approach in portraying this character.

In Batman v Superman, the creation of Doomsday occurs within a crashed Kryptonian vessel. Lex Luthor submerges General Zod's body in the Genesis Chamber and adds a few drops of his own blood to the mixture. This transformation results in Zod becoming Doomsday, who ultimately kills Superman during their final battle in the film. Similarly, in the television series Superman and Lois, a comparable storyline unfolds with the villain. However, in this rendition, Doomsday is portrayed as the mutated form of Bizarro, the counterpart of Superman from the Inverse universe. Bizarro's character first appears in season 2, episode 4, entitled "The Inverse Method." While both franchises explore a similar origin story for Doomsday, it is in Superman and Lois where the portrayal of this narrative succeeds, unlike in Batman v Superman.

Why BvS' Doomsday Didn't Work

The Death of Superman storyline from the DC Comics was adapted in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which was only the second project in the DCEU. However, this decision seemed too hasty as it occurred right at the beginning of the franchise. The film received criticism for the visual effects of Doomsday, the iconic villain, and for the rushed and unexplained origin story. This was in contrast to the more gradual, thought-out, and emotionally impactful origin story for Doomsday that was presented in Superman and Lois on The CW. The TV series allowed the villain to make a significant impact, which was lacking in Batman v Superman.

Bizarro Superman made his debut in the second season of Superman and Lois, where he acted as an opposing force against a greater foe, Ally Allston. In a selfless act, Bizarro sacrifices himself to protect the primary heroes, Superman and Lois. However, his resurrection in the following season by Bruno Mannheim leads to him being subjected to horrific experiments conducted by Lex Luthor. Recognizing that Bizarro gains enhanced strength and revival with each death, Luthor repeatedly kills him until he evolves into Doomsday, a formidable entity capable of defeating Superman. This intense storyline delves deep into the emotional transformation of Bizarro, further exposing the underwhelming adaptation seen in Batman v Superman.

Doomsday Continues A Great Superman & Lois Trend

In addition to the impressive reimagining of Superman and Lois' handling of Doomsday's backstory, the show has also applied the same level of creativity to other well-known and lesser-known villains from DC Comics. Michael Cudlitz's portrayal of Lex Luthor was particularly noteworthy, introducing new dimensions to a character that has been portrayed numerous times before. Additionally, villains like Bruno Mannheim, the leader of Intergang, Morgan Edge, also known as Tal-Rho, and Lucy Lane, all had intricate and relatable storylines. This sets The CW's Superman and Lois apart from other mainstream DC live-action projects, highlighting the strength of thoughtful storytelling.