Superman on Television

Superman & Lois: Episode Reviews

Season 2 - Episode 12: "Lies That Bind"

Reviewed by: Michael Bailey

Originally Aired: May 31, 2022
WRITTEN BY: Rina Mimoun
DIRECTED BY: David Mahmoudieh

REGULAR CAST:
Tyler Hoechlin (Clark Kent/Superman)
Bitsie Tulloch (Lois Lane)
Jordan Elsass (Jonathan Kent)
Alex Garfin (Jordan Kent)
Emmanuelle Chriqui (Lana Lang Cushing)
Inde Navarrette (Sarah Cushing)
Wolee Parks (John Henry Irons)
Tayler Buck (Natalie Irons)
Erik Valdez (Kyle Cushing)
Inde Navarrette (Sarah Cortez)

GUEST STARS:
Dylan Walsh (General Sam Lane)
Adam Rayner (Tal-Rho/Bizarro Tal-Rho)
Rya Kihlstedt (Ally Alston)
Joselyn Picard (Sophie Cushing)
Pavel Romano (Corey Wellnitz)
Fritzy-Klevans Destine (Sean Smith)
Zane Clifford (Timmy Ryan)

Rating - 5 (out of 5): The bulk of this episode dealt with the fallout from Clark's revelation to Lana and I honestly didn't know what direction the writers were going to take. There were several options from Lana never speaking to Clark again to Lana immediately accepting it and being totally cool that the man she dated and loved in high school has been lying to her their entire lives. It turns out the actual reaction was nuanced and while it might not make sense to some, I think it was the right way to go.

This is where I admit something. Before this episode I honestly didn't know if Clark and Lana had dated in high school in this telling of the legend. I don't know if I just missed it or if they weren't clear or if it was some combination of the two. The flashbacks at the beginning of the episode cleared that up and it retroactively made the scene from last season's flashback episode sadder than when I first watched it. It wasn't, as I thought, that Clark had a thing for Lana but never pulled the trigger on it and when he saw Lana and Kyle together, he realized it was never going to work. No, it was that he was back, wanted to see the woman he was in love with, and she moved on after he left.

That is definitely more of a gut punch.

I feel bad for Lana. I really do. She loved Clark but always felt that he was keeping something from her and then one day he just leaves. He shows back up decades later with a wife and two kids and instead of, as she said in the show, being neighborly, she reconfigures their relationship into a friendship. Then, after finding out that her husband not only cheated on her but lied on top of that she finds out this person she opened up to (and his wife, who she also opened up to) were keeping one of the biggest secrets on the fact of the planet.

That's…a lot.

Lana getting angry at Lois was a surprise, but I feel like the writers came up with a good reason behind the brief animosity. To be fair, Lois had a point. It wasn't her secret to share. It was her husband's secret, but Lana was open and honest with Lois, and it would be hurtful if you find out that the person you poured your heart out to wasn't giving you the same level of trust. The two scenes Lois and Lana had together were well written and the performances on the part of Tulloch and Chriqui totally sold what the writers were selling. Lana taking a break from her friendships with both Lois and Clark was surprising, but it also made perfect sense. Lana has a lot to think about. Her knowing the secret is one thing. Her telling Sarah and burdening her with such a major secret is not right, so the best thing to do is just have everyone stay in their corners until Lana decides how to deal with everything.

The level of maturity on this show is shocking.

My favorite part of the episode was Tal showing up with the flowers. The pacing of that scene and the reveal of Tal standing there with a bouquet in his hand made me literally laugh out loud. The reformation of Tal-Rho was something I didn't think I wanted and now it's something I want more than anything. A lot of that has to do with the way the writers have shifted the character and Adam Rayner's performance. He is so charming, and I've mentioned this before but there is more than a little bit of the Loki/Thor thing from the MCU going on here. I also want Clark to forgive him because the reasons Tal gave Lois are all true. He never had a chance and made the worst possible decisions. Watching Superman and Tal work together was great and the fact that he escaped at the end was not surprising, but I don't think this is going to end up biting Superman and crew in the behind.

Watching Nat, Jordan, and Jon all pal around was also heart warming and the revelation that Nat is building her own armor was not surprising at all. I like the fact that the kids are all working together. They're family, in a multiversal sense.

This was another great episode. My only issue was Sarah singing at the end. This is nothing against Inde's singing voice, which is lovely, but while it was a nice moment between Sarah and Kyle it also felt out of place. This is a me thing. I totally admit that.

Three more episodes and I have no idea where this is going to end.

I love that.

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