Superman on Television

Lois & Clark: Episode Reviews

Season 4 - Episode 15: "Lois and Clarks"

Reviewed by: Nathan MacKenzie

Originally Aired: March 9, 1997
Directed by Chris Long
Written by Eugine Ross-Leming and Braf Buckner

Guest Cast:
Lane Davies as Tempus
Fred Willard as President Garner
Hamilton Camp as H.G. Wells
Rick Dean as Dragon
Ben McCain as Anchor
John Kendall as Rustic

Synopsis:

Superman is gone and President Elect Doe aka 'Tempus' is about to take office and be the most powerful man on the planet. He must be stopped but how? That's right Superman. Ok, let me explain, Superman from a parallel universe. H.G. Wells returns (the older one played by Hamilton Camp, not the younger one played by Terry Kiser) after he sees what the future has become under the reign of Tempus. He has brought with him someone who can help stop Tempus and hopefully discover what has happened to this Earth's Superman.

Review Rating - 3 (out of 5): This episode continues on from the previous episode titled 'Meet John Doe' where Superman was tricked and trapped in a portal of time. President Elect Doe is still using his subliminator to implant subliminal messages to the people by way of the phone. If people did not have a phone, they would be shot. Eventually President Elect Doe found a way to use the subliminator not only just phones but the electrical system as well. H.G. Wells returns to find out what has happened for the future to not be the Utopia it once was. He brings to this Earth Superman from the parallel universe from Season three. Lois and with the help of the parallel universes' Superman and Mr Olsen (Jimmy Olsen) work together to track down Tempus and stop him.

I enjoy how the series has brought not one but two H.G. Wells. Considering the man travels in time you never really know which one you will see. In this episode we get the older version and he brings to this Earth Superman from the parallel universe. You see immediately the chemistry between him and Lois after what happened when she went to his world and literally turned it upside down, for the better I must add. Martha and Jonathan meet this version of Clark for the first time, not knowing if any of this is real or even if it makes any sense.

As a whole I felt the story continued on well from the previous episode, with some inconsistencies. Even though the parallel Superman/Clark Kent is still played by Dean Cain, I like how he plays this version a little bit different to his normal version. The chemistry between himself and Teri Hatcher is always strong but I enjoyed how the scene at the house between the two was written with Lois treating this version of Clark the same as if she would if it were her Clark. The two together make this scene play out really well and you feel for both characters. At the end of the episode after Superman is found and he makes a press conference eluding to who President Doe really is. Tempus decides to reveal Superman's secret identity to the world that it's none other than 'Clark Kent', but then we see Clark with Lois. Great scene, especially with Tempus trying to explain who the other Clark is, I mean it's obvious, Duh! But, what I don't understand is what we don't see after H.G. Wells and Lois find Superman. What I don't understand is Jonathan and Martha doesn't even see him return or thank the Superman/Clark from the parallel universe for his help. Knowing these two characters I hope (and correct me if I am wrong) there is a deleted scene somewhere showing this.

Lane Davis is great as Tempus as I have said previously and I like Hamilton Camp as H.G. Wells. I like what they both bring to the series and I like too how Lane Davis acts with both versions of H.G. Wells. I know what they were going for with Rick Dean who plays Dragon, I think he tried hard but the script was not written overly well for his character in this episode. Teri Hatcher is the stand out in this episode; she brings a lot to the table and does a really good job. The special effects used in this episode were good for its time as I've said previously; I liked the scene where H.G. Wells and Lois are in the Time Machine and are speeding through time to find Superman, I thought that was really well done.

Next week, the T-X herself in AKA Superman.

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