Superman & Lois: Tyler Hoechlin debuts as latest incarnation of Clark Kent on The CW series premiere

This is not your father’s Superman.

The newest incarnation of Clark Kent [Tyler Hoechlin] was revealed to be a Millennial superhero with thoroughly modern problems on Tuesday’s premiere of Superman & Lois on The CW.

Instead of being all-powerful, he is beset by troubles that leave him feeling all weak and human.

Series premiere: The newest incarnation of Clark Kent [Tyler Hoechlin] was revealed to be a Millennial superhero with thoroughly modern problems on Tuesday’s premiere of Superman & Lois on The CW

He and wife Lois Lane [Elizabeth Tulloch] are raising twin teenage boys, one of whom is a freshman quarterback at his high school and has the potential to be another Superman.

The other son grapples with social anxiety and rage, and would rather play against Superman during video-game sessions than be him.

Making matters worse, layoffs and shrinking budgets cost Clark his job at the Daily Planet, now owned by greedy billionaire Morgan Edge.

When Clark’s mother Martha Kent [Michele Scarabelli] dies, her adopted son discovers that she had taken out a reverse-mortgage on her Smallville, Kansas, farm.

Raising children: Clark and wife Lois Lane [Elizabeth Tulloch] are raising twin teenage boys in the new series

Raising children: Clark and wife Lois Lane [Elizabeth Tulloch] are raising twin teenage boys in the new series

Twin sons: Lois and Clark were raising twin sons Jonathan [Jordan Elsass] and Jordan [Alex Garfin]

Twin sons: Lois and Clark were raising twin sons Jonathan [Jordan Elsass] and Jordan [Alex Garfin]

While he grapples with that, he also needs to find out who is destroying nuclear reactors around the country, and trying to end him.

Clark is suddenly faced with the decision to either buy the farm and return to Smallville or forge ahead in Metropolis.

The answer becomes clear when Clark learns that one of his sons is hiding a secret that changes everything.

Nuclear threat: Superman also needed to find out who was destroying nuclear reactors around the country

Nuclear threat: Superman also needed to find out who was destroying nuclear reactors around the country

‘It feels like it’s my fault that this is all falling apart,’ Clark told Lois, contemplating everything.

‘Your life falling apart doesn’t mean you’re special,’ his wife replies. ‘It means you’re human.’

As the episode began, Clark recalled his journey to earth in a capsule, and his discovery by the Kansas couple who would become his parents.

Falling apart: 'It feels like it's my fault that this is all falling apart,' Clark told Lois, contemplating everything after his beloved mother died

Falling apart: ‘It feels like it’s my fault that this is all falling apart,’ Clark told Lois, contemplating everything after his beloved mother died

‘My mother called me her greatest surprise,’ Clark said in a voice-over. ‘And there were lots of them.’

After the death of his father Jonathan Kent, Sr. [Fred Robertson], the young man moved to Metropolis ‘to become who I was meant to be.’

By night, he worked as Superman saving lives; by day, he was becoming a journalist at the Daily Planet.

Clark met Lois Lane his first day on the job, and they got married and had children: twin boys, Jonathan [Jordan Elsass] and Jordan [Alex Garfin].

First day: Clark met Lois Lane his first day on the job at the Daily Planet, and they got married

First day: Clark met Lois Lane his first day on the job at the Daily Planet, and they got married

‘Suddenly here I am, living in Metropolis, raising two teenage boys, married to the most famous journalist in the world, trying to make the world safer for the people I love,’ Clark said.

When a nuclear reactor threatened to meltdown near Metropolis, Clark’s father-in-law General Sam Lane [Dylan Walsh] signaled Superman.

The superhero rushed in and froze a large body of water, using ice to cool the reactor’s core.

Close connection: When a nuclear reactor threatened to meltdown near Metropolis, Clark's father-in-law General Sam Lane [Dylan Walsh] signaled Superman

Close connection: When a nuclear reactor threatened to meltdown near Metropolis, Clark’s father-in-law General Sam Lane [Dylan Walsh] signaled Superman

When Clark got home, he apologized to Jordan for missing their weekly therapy session to ‘work,’ making up an excuse about where he’d been.

Jordan was the ‘challenging’ child with social anxiety, as opposed to his ‘easy’ brother Jonathan.

The teen stared blankly at a video game he was playing, in which Superman battled an enemy.

Top reporter: Lois had a reputation as a top reporter at the Daily Planet

Top reporter: Lois had a reputation as a top reporter at the Daily Planet

‘You make a pretty good Superman,’ Clark told him, impressed.

‘Superman’s boring,’ Jordan complained. ‘I’m Raiden.’

Clark called Martha in Kansas for advice, and she told him that he needed to be around for his kids more often.

Called home: Clark called Martha in Kansas for advice, and she told him that he needed to be around for his kids more often

Called home: Clark called Martha in Kansas for advice, and she told him that he needed to be around for his kids more often

‘Mom, I do have a responsibility to the world as you-know-who,’ Clark said.

‘Well, you’ve got a bigger responsibility to your family as a father,’ Martha returned.

The next day, Clark was fired by the Daily Planet, infuriating Lois, who felt the paper’s owner cared more about click-throughs than facts.

Staff cuts: The next day, Clark was fired by the Daily Planet, infuriating Lois, who felt the paper's owner cared more about click-throughs than facts

Staff cuts: The next day, Clark was fired by the Daily Planet, infuriating Lois, who felt the paper’s owner cared more about click-throughs than facts

Suddenly Clark got news that Martha had suffered a stroke, and he zoomed off to Smallville as she died.

‘It’s time,’ her voice whispered in the wind. ‘Come home.’

At the funeral, the twins spotted Sarah Cushing [Inde Navarette], a girl they’d met in Smallville one summer.

Old friend: At the funeral, the twins spotted Sarah Cushing [Inde Navarette], a girl they'd met in Smallville one summer

Old friend: At the funeral, the twins spotted Sarah Cushing [Inde Navarette], a girl they’d met in Smallville one summer

Sarah was the eldest daughter of Lana Lang Cushing [Emmanuelle Chriqui], who had an acerbic relationship with her fire chief husband Kyle Cushing [Erik Valdez].

Her youngest daughter, Sophie Cushing [Joselyn Picard] mentioned that Lana had dated Clark and sometimes stalked his Facebook page.

Clark and Lois then learned that Morgan Edge was retrofitting the local coalmines to produce ‘alternative energies.’

Alternative energies: Clark and Lois then learned that Morgan Edge was retrofitting the local coalmines to produce 'alternative energies'

Alternative energies: Clark and Lois then learned that Morgan Edge was retrofitting the local coalmines to produce ‘alternative energies’

‘He busts up unions, he barely pays a living wage,’ Lois said. ‘I don’t understand how he can keep fooling people.’

As their parents spoke, Jordan and Jonathan hung out in a barn with a flirtatious Sarah.

Jordan climbed up and dozens of large, heavy steel poles fell down on him.

Barn fun: As their parents spoke, Jordan and Jonathan hung out in a barn with a flirtatious Sarah

Barn fun: As their parents spoke, Jordan and Jonathan hung out in a barn with a flirtatious Sarah

Jonathan rushed to protect his brother and they were both buried by them.

Sensing trouble, Clark rushed to the scene, where he flung the heavy pipes away and saved the boys.

Jordan resolved to find out how they’d survived, while Clark wondered if Jonathan had super powers.

Close call: Jonathan rushed to protect his brother and they were both buried by falling pipes

Close call: Jonathan rushed to protect his brother and they were both buried by falling pipes

Lois urged him to tell the kids who he was, but Clark worried Jordan would be upset by the news, especially if Jonathan was stronger.

‘When we were dreaming about having a family, it didn’t look like this, did it?’ Lois asked him kindly. ‘Didn’t have lost jobs, or teens with severe anxiety, or parents gone too soon. No one ever dreams about the problems, but every life has them. Even the extraordinary ones.’

To complicate matters, General Lang showed up to tell Clark they’d spotted someone at the site of two ruptured nuclear reactors.

Family life: 'When we were dreaming about having a family, it didn't look like this, did it?' Lois asked him kindly. 'Didn't have lost jobs, or teens with severe anxiety, or parents gone too soon. No one ever dreams about the problems, but every life has them. Even the extraordinary ones'

 Family life: ‘When we were dreaming about having a family, it didn’t look like this, did it?’ Lois asked him kindly. ‘Didn’t have lost jobs, or teens with severe anxiety, or parents gone too soon. No one ever dreams about the problems, but every life has them. Even the extraordinary ones’

He’d left a message written in Kryptonium: ‘You are not a hero, Kal-El.’

‘Whoever did this knows who I am,’ Clark said grimly.

The next day at the bank, loan officer Lana gave Clark and Lois a chance to buy back Martha’s farm.

Family farm: The next day at the bank, loan officer Lana gave Clark and Lois a chance to buy back Martha's farm

Family farm: The next day at the bank, loan officer Lana gave Clark and Lois a chance to buy back Martha’s farm

While they were thinking about it, their twins investigated a secret floor within their grandparents’ barn, which held a strange otherworldly object.

They confronted their parents and asked them if their survival in the pole collapse really had been a miracle.

‘No,’ Clark said, taking off his glasses as he began to tell them who he really was: Superman.

Major revelation: Clark took off his glasses as he began to tell his sons who he really was: Superman

Major revelation: Clark took off his glasses as he began to tell his sons who he really was: Superman

The twins stared at their father agog as he lifted his truck into the air to prove it.

‘All the times you were gone, you lied to us—you both did!’ Jordan said. ‘All the things I’ve been feeling… you made me think I was crazy. They put me on pills!’

Lois said his mental health was an unrelated issue, and Jordan cried, ‘How do you know that? I’m half-human, half-whatever the hell he is.’

Showing off: The twins stared at their father agog as he lifted his truck into the air to prove that he was Superman

Showing off: The twins stared at their father agog as he lifted his truck into the air to prove that he was Superman

Rough reaction: 'All the times you were gone, you lied to us—you both did!' Jordan said. 'All the things I've been feeling… you made me think I was crazy. They put me on pills!'

Rough reaction: ‘All the times you were gone, you lied to us—you both did!’ Jordan said. ‘All the things I’ve been feeling… you made me think I was crazy. They put me on pills!’

As the family struggled, Clark heard that another breach was occurring at a nuclear facility, and flew off to deal with it.

Once there, a voice revealed that he’d been watching Clark through the facility’s lead encasements, which he couldn’t see through.

Eventually Clark ended up chasing the villain (Wolé Parks) through a city and into outer space, trying to breach his seemingly impenetrable armor.

Space fight: Eventually Clark ended up chasing the villain (Wolé Parks) through a city and into outer space, trying to breach his seemingly impenetrable armor

Space fight: Eventually Clark ended up chasing the villain (Wolé Parks) through a city and into outer space, trying to breach his seemingly impenetrable armor

The villain stabbed Clark with a Kryptonite dagger, teasing, ‘Dust to dust, Superman.’

Clark fell to earth but pulled the dagger out at the last minute, then flew home.

Jordan had been at a party with Sarah, who confessed that her parents were struggling and that people around Smallville seemed sad.

Kryptonite dagger: The villain stabbed Clark with a Kryptonite dagger, teasing, 'Dust to dust, Superman'

Kryptonite dagger: The villain stabbed Clark with a Kryptonite dagger, teasing, ‘Dust to dust, Superman’

Chest wound: Clark fell to earth but pulled the dagger out at the last minute, then flew home

Chest wound: Clark fell to earth but pulled the dagger out at the last minute, then flew home

Her firefighter father saw things no one should see, she added, such as meth labs catching fire with kids inside.

Sarah herself had attempted suicide with pills, a revelation that led a moved Jordan to kiss her.

Once he did, Sarah’s boyfriend emerged and attacked him, as Jonathan immediately stepped in.

Quick kiss: Sarah herself had attempted suicide with pills, a revelation that led a moved Jordan to kiss her

Quick kiss: Sarah herself had attempted suicide with pills, a revelation that led a moved Jordan to kiss her

But when Jonathan came under attack, Jordan saved him by shooting ‘death lasers’ from his eyes at the partygoers.

Clark arrived and Jordan admitted that he’d sensed he had superpowers.

At the barn, he remembered, ‘I felt something come over me. It was a strength I’ve never felt before. I felt… control.’

Explosive eyes: When Jonathan came under attack, Jordan saved him by shooting 'death lasers' from his eyes at the partygoers

Explosive eyes: When Jonathan came under attack, Jordan saved him by shooting ‘death lasers’ from his eyes at the partygoers

Clark knew that things would change fast. Martha had wanted him to slow down for the boys’ sake, and he and Lois decided to buy the farm.

‘I haven’t always been there for you,’ he told Jordan. ‘But I promise you, from now on, I will be.’

When he and Lois told Lana they wanted to buy the farm, Lois revealed that a shareholder group led by Morgan Edge had acquired the bank months before.

Big promise: 'I haven't always been there for you,' Clark told Jordan. 'But I promise you, from now on, I will be'

Big promise: ‘I haven’t always been there for you,’ Clark told Jordan. ‘But I promise you, from now on, I will be’

‘Why would someone like Morgan Edge be interested in a bunch of family farms in Smallville, Kansas?’ Lana asked.

‘That’s a very good question,’ Lois responded.

Outside their home, Jordan apologized to Sarah, who said she’d always thought him sweet and figured they were both ‘messed up.’

Apology offered: Outside their home, Jordan apologized to Sarah, who said she'd always thought him sweet and figured they were both 'messed up'

Apology offered: Outside their home, Jordan apologized to Sarah, who said she’d always thought him sweet and figured they were both ‘messed up’

Jordan also spoke to Jonathan about his powers, who cracked that powers were overrated anyway, adding, ‘this just proves that my skills on the field are legit.’

Clark and Lois went to tell their boys they might be staying put.

The caped crusader offered to show his kids a few things in the barn, and they asked ‘Like Superman things?’

Sibling rivalry: Jordan also spoke to Jonathan about his powers, who cracked that powers were overrated anyway, adding, 'this just proves that my skills on the field are legit'

Sibling rivalry: Jordan also spoke to Jonathan about his powers, who cracked that powers were overrated anyway, adding, ‘this just proves that my skills on the field are legit’

‘Like how to attach a plow to a tractor,’ Clark said, smiling.

As the show closed, the armor-covered villain entered a snowy mountain hideaway calling for more Kryptonite, and better armor.

‘I’ll start the upgrades right away, Captain Luthor,’ a voice said, evoking the name of Superman’s longtime arch-enemy.

Superman & Lois will return next week on The CW. 

Familiar foe: As the show closed, the armor-covered villain entered a snowy mountain hideaway calling for more Kryptonite, and better armor, and was addressed as Captain Luthor

Familiar foe: As the show closed, the armor-covered villain entered a snowy mountain hideaway calling for more Kryptonite, and better armor, and was addressed as Captain Luthor

Leave a Comment