Superman & Lois
Superman & Lois is an American superhero drama television series developed for The CW, focusing on the iconic characters Clark Kent (Superman) and Lois Lane as they navigate the complexities of parenthood while raising their teenage twin sons, Jonathan and Jordan, in Smallville. The series blends traditional superhero action, featuring cosmic battles and powerful villains, with contemporary family drama, exploring themes like identity struggles, social anxiety, and marital challenges. It aims to provide an intimate look into the lives of the world's most famous superhero couple as they balance global responsibilities with their commitment to family. The show has aired four seasons, with each installment delving deeper into character development and raising the stakes for the Kent family.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe show contains frequent superhero action and cosmic battles with significant intensity. Characters engage in physical confrontations, and some deaths occur on screen, typically portrayed quickly and without excessive gore. The threat level escalates with powerful villains like Doomsday in later seasons.
Throughout the series, there are 'cosmic battles where people get beat up, blown up and everything in between.'. In Season 4, Superman engages in a major fight with the mutated Bizarro, known as Doomsday, which involves intense action.. The series finale features 'intense action violence.'.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe series features high-stakes superhero conflicts against powerful villains, leading to intense and sometimes frightening situations. Emotional storylines involving serious health issues and mental health struggles also contribute to intense content.
In Season 3, Lois Lane is diagnosed with and battles 'stage three inflammatory breast cancer,' a storyline that brings significant emotional intensity and distress.. The series includes encounters with 'megalomaniacal supervillains, monsters wreaking havoc on Metropolis, and alien invaders.'. Additionally, Jordan Kent is diagnosed with 'social anxiety disorder' and experiences 'night terrors' in Season 1, adding to the psychological intensity..
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumThe series features a bisexual character, Sarah Cushing, who reveals a same-sex kiss. Discussions regarding the bisexuality of Jon Kent, Superman's son in the comics, are present, but the show's version is portrayed as heterosexual. Another character, Natalie Irons, is speculated by fans to be queer-coded, inspired by a comic character who dates women.
In Season 2, Sarah Cushing confesses to her boyfriend, Jordan Kent, that she kissed a female friend named Aubrey at summer camp, revealing her bisexuality.. While Jon Kent in the comics is bisexual, the show's creators and actor Jordan Elsass confirmed that the TV version is distinct and 'most likely straight,' without exploring this aspect..
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumThe series includes passionate kissing among both adult and teenage couples. It addresses teenage romantic relationships, including instances of implied sexual activity. A notable plot point involves a character's infidelity through a same-sex kiss.
Lois Lane discovers her teenage son, Jonathan Kent, in his bedroom with his girlfriend, kissing on the bed, and Jonathan is noted to be shirtless, leading to a parental discussion about commitment.. In Season 2, Sarah Cushing admits to Jordan Kent that she kissed a girl at summer camp, an event central to their relationship's conflict..
Profanity
MediumThe series includes occasional use of mild to moderate profanity. While not pervasive, language can be 'a little harsh at times,' and 'brief foul language' is present, particularly noted in the series finale.
Reviewers note that 'Language can be a little harsh at times.'. The series finale specifically contains 'brief foul language,' indicating the presence of expletives beyond very mild terms..
Witchcraft & Occult
MediumThe series introduces elements related to a cult, 'The Inverse Method,' led by Ally Allston, which involves manipulation and pseudo-spiritual practices that influence characters like Lucy Lane. While not explicit witchcraft or demonology, these themes touch on supernatural and otherworldly concepts.
In Season 2, Lois Lane confronts the 'Inverse Method cult led by Ally Allston,' which manages to sway her sister, Lucy Lane, to its side.. The storyline involves a 'Bizarro world' and alternate realities, which while more sci-fi, introduce non-traditional mystical elements and power dynamics..
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumTeenage characters exhibit typical rebellious behaviors and disrespect common for their age group, including talking back, minor defiance, and relationship conflicts. One character is explicitly described as 'rebellious,' and another experiences 'tantrums' due to social anxiety.
Sarah Cushing is characterized as Lana and Kyle's 'rebellious daughter.'. Jordan Kent, due to his social anxiety, is noted to have 'tantrums,' which can manifest as disrespectful outbursts.. Sarah's decision to kiss another girl while in a relationship with Jordan can be interpreted as an act of rebellion within their romantic dynamic..
Substance Use
LowThe show mentions a character's past struggle with alcoholism as a backstory element. However, there is no significant depiction of active drug use or pervasive alcohol consumption as a central or recurring theme within the ongoing narrative.
Kyle Cushing, the ex-husband of Lana Lang, is identified as a 'former alcoholic,' which is part of his character's history and challenges.. Beyond this character's past, no prominent or explicit instances of substance abuse are highlighted in the show's primary plotlines.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowNo anti-Christian themes were found. On the contrary, the series has been praised by some outlets for portraying a 'strong moral worldview with strong Christian values,' emphasizing themes like family, joy, hope, forgiveness, and love, particularly in its conclusion.
Movieguide states that the series finale of Superman & Lois 'presents a strong moral worldview with strong Christian values. It stresses family, joy, hope, forgiveness, and, above all, love.'. Dove.org lists 'Faith: None,' indicating an absence of explicit religious content rather than anti-Christian themes..
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Ages 12-14, due to themes of intense action violence, romantic situations including implied teenage sexual activity and a same-sex kiss, occasional mild to moderate language, and mature emotional storylines like cancer and social anxiety. Dove.org suggests ages 12+, while Movieguide advises caution for older children.
Additional Notes
The series emphasizes strong family bonds and the challenges of balancing extraordinary responsibilities with everyday life. While content concerns exist, the overarching narrative often promotes positive values like commitment, resilience, and problem-solving through teamwork. The show evolves, with later seasons introducing more serious emotional and physical challenges, such as Lois's cancer storyline and more powerful adversaries.
Related Reviews
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