Is Lois and Clark worth buying? [Archive] - The Superhero Hype! Boards

Kevin Roegele

02-07-2006, 10:12 AM

cause i am thinking of buying it, this is for a casual fan too not just like a die-hard superman fan but i do enjoy the character

Bare in mind, it's not about Superman per se as much as it is about Lois and Clark's relationship. It's a very light, romantic, family-friendly version of the story. There are no supervillains, no fights, not much Superman mythology. You have to enjoy the interaction of Cain and Hatcher or you won't like the show.

TimDrake64x

02-07-2006, 10:07 PM

i meen the idea sounds interesting so i guess i can try to rent it, would a blockbuster or a movie gallery have it?

Lazlo Panaflex

02-07-2006, 10:25 PM

A few DVD rental chains carry TV shows, but only a few.

pwl4life

02-07-2006, 11:38 PM

you could probroly find it cheap on amazon. I love the show personally

Kevin Roegele

02-08-2006, 03:05 AM

I love the show personally

Me too. The only thing lacking was Cain as Superman - he was too pent up, too self-councious, and he looked about twenty years old.

pwl4life

02-08-2006, 11:46 AM

Me too. The only thing lacking was Cain as Superman - he was too pent up, too self-councious, and he looked about twenty years old.

That didn't really bother me much as I looked at the show as his first years as Superman when he was first becoming a hero. I kinda liked the idea of him growing into the hero he is, better than just showing up and automatically knowing what to do in every situation like in the movie. In the movie he finds the fortress, dissapears fr a few years to learn with jor-el, then shows up and he's superman. whereas in this show we see him finding his way to being the hero he is. this is one of the reasons why I like L&C. It wasn't perfect, but neither where the movies, but the show was pretty damn good

Kevin Roegele

02-08-2006, 04:54 PM

That didn't really bother me much as I looked at the show as his first years as Superman when he was first becoming a hero. I kinda liked the idea of him growing into the hero he is, better than just showing up and automatically knowing what to do in every situation like in the movie. In the movie he finds the fortress, dissapears fr a few years to learn with jor-el, then shows up and he's superman. whereas in this show we see him finding his way to being the hero he is. this is one of the reasons why I like L&C. It wasn't perfect, but neither where the movies, but the show was pretty damn good

But you don't see Superman learning to be a hero. This isn't Batman Begins. Cain's portrayal of Supes didn't change whatsoever from the first season to the last. He didn't make mistakes at first, he didn't learn anything along the way. It was set in stone from day one.

pwl4life

02-09-2006, 01:11 AM

I thought there were a few episode where he came off looking like a hero. The green glow of home, the house of luthor, fly hard, Super Mann,Tempus Anyone?,Lord of the Flys ,Battleground Earth ,'Twas the Night Before Mxymas,& Meet John Doe are some of the best episodes from the series in my opinion and Superman really comes off looking like a hero (some more than others).

And if you look at Superman from "strange visitor [from another planet]" and then look at superman from the new krypton arc with lord Nor, you can really see a difference.I think we would have seen even more growth if the series waited a little longer to put lois and clark togeather and Superman encountered more super villians than just metallo, Mxyzptlk,Nor, and luthor.

I don't think L&C is the best interpretation of Superman but it is my favorite and was pretty good especially for the first 2 seasons. (it kinda fell off around the 4th) but it's definatly worth buying IMHO

Kevin Roegele

02-09-2006, 05:39 AM

I thought there were a few episode where he came off looking like a hero. The green glow of home, the house of luthor, fly hard, Super Mann,Tempus Anyone?,Lord of the Flys ,Battleground Earth ,'Twas the Night Before Mxymas,& Meet John Doe are some of the best episodes from the series in my opinion and Superman really comes off looking like a hero (some more than others).

And if you look at Superman from "strange visitor [from another planet]" and then look at superman from the new krypton arc with lord Nor, you can really see a difference.I think we would have seen even more growth if the series waited a little longer to put lois and clark togeather and Superman encountered more super villians than just metallo, Mxyzptlk,Nor, and luthor.

I understand what you are saying. But I think this may be more to do with Cain growing more relaxed and confident in the role.

I don't think L&C is the best interpretation of Superman but it is my favorite and was pretty good especially for the first 2 seasons. (it kinda fell off around the 4th) but it's definatly worth buying IMHO

Agreed. It makes great television. At the moment I watch one episode before I go to bed.

SuperDaniel

02-10-2006, 03:18 AM

Yes it is. Lois & Clark, IMO, is one of the best interpretations of Superman along with the movies. I think its a damn good show, got me fanatic for Superman again, it has Teri Hatcher aka the best Lois ever and fits the era of Superman that I like wich is the Byrne interpretation with a more human Superman.

I really love the show. Neverending battle, the green glow of home, Tempus Fugitive is one of the shows best episodes. Also, IMO its a thousand times better than that stupid TV show called Smallville. After watching Reckoning, one of the show worst episodes, i`m done with this show.

At least in Lois & Clark you feel the Superman magic, even if it doesn`t have the fortress of solitude or more Superman elements.The magic is the relationship between Cain and Hatcher.

Erundur

02-11-2006, 12:18 AM

I forgot which episode it was but from what i can rmember i liked the episode with the guy fromthe jeffersons :up:

DrMylesOBoogie

02-12-2006, 07:32 AM

Season 1 is brilliant. Best live action interpertation of Superman to date.

Kevin Roegele

02-12-2006, 08:08 AM

Season 1 is brilliant. Best live action interpertation of Superman to date.

I strongly disagree. Donner's 1978 Superman movie has a far better Superman - come on, Reeve is vastly superior to Cain; better writing, direction, effects, music. I'd argue Teri Hatcher is the superior Lois, but that's all L&C has over the movie.

TimDrake64x

02-12-2006, 01:54 PM

ok i just bought it and ive watched the 1st and 2nd episodes and i love it. sure its a little corny but come on, its a guy in a big blue suit flying around. i love how the show the kents reaction to clark saying that no one will notice him because he wont have the glasses. its just like ok ur just gona have to accept this. i think cain is as good as reeves and everyone else is great except lex luthor, hes just a little weird in this but the convo b/t him and supes the 1st time they meet is great. over all definatly woth buying. thanx guys

Happenstance

02-12-2006, 03:50 PM

I strongly disagree. Donner's 1978 Superman movie has a far better Superman - come on, Reeve is vastly superior to Cain; better writing, direction, effects, music. I'd argue Teri Hatcher is the superior Lois, but that's all L&C has over the movie.

Id say that Cains Clark Kent is definately superior to Chris Reeves, I absolutely hated Clark in the movies he is supposed to be mild mannered not down right unlikable. I also prefer Lex in the series.

Kevin Roegele

02-12-2006, 05:59 PM

Id say that Cains Clark Kent is definately superior to Chris Reeves, I absolutely hated Clark in the movies he is supposed to be mild mannered not down right unlikable. I also prefer Lex in the series.

Cain is great as Clark, but weak as Superman. The show is unbalanced. The very concept of Superman demands Clark be meek and forgettable for the dramatic contrast to be as powerful as possible.

Happenstance

02-12-2006, 06:07 PM

mathhater

02-12-2006, 06:48 PM

I strongly disagree. Donner's 1978 Superman movie has a far better Superman - come on, Reeve is vastly superior to Cain; better writing, direction, effects, music. I'd argue Teri Hatcher is the superior Lois, but that's all L&C has over the movie.

I'd have to add one more thing besides Teri Hatcher, in terms of L&C one-upping the movie. And that's Lane Smith as Perry White. IMO, he is by far the best version of Perry I've ever seen.

Kevin Roegele

02-12-2006, 06:56 PM

I never thought he was that weak as Superman but I know I was definately in a minority with that. Still the show was focused on Lois and Clark and I expect if it'd been more on Superman we'd have got a lot more development in Cains performance of him.
I think the reason I liked the Lois & Clark series so much was because it did set Superman up as just the disguise, it made more sense to me. Clark was raised on Earth and even if he does have all these powers he'd still act like us. The series didnt make him change his basic personality when he was Clark Kent.

But the point of Superman is the very basic power fantasy; beneath the facade of a normal man is the invincible hero. Clark, the man on top, the glasses and suit, is literally just a cover that is removed - and Superman is underneath.

The 'Clark is the real person' invented by John Byrne in The Man of Steel is really just a conceit to Marvel Comics, that Superman had to become a fallable character with an intresting personal life.

Kevin Roegele

02-12-2006, 06:58 PM

I'd have to add one more thing besides Teri Hatcher, in terms of L&C one-upping the movie. And that's Lane Smith as Perry White. IMO, he is by far the best version of Perry I've ever seen.

:up: Good call. It was only when I picked up the season one DVD last week that I realised Smith was playing the whole thing for laughs. And he is hysterical. His comic timing is superb.

mathhater

02-12-2006, 07:16 PM

^ Amen

Happenstance

02-13-2006, 10:52 AM

The 'Clark is the real person' invented by John Byrne in The Man of Steel is really just a conceit to Marvel Comics, that Superman had to become a fallable character with an intresting personal life.

I guess I just prefer it that way, makes more sense to me and otherwise I doubt id read comics that much if it was just one side or the other was interesting.

Kevin Roegele

02-13-2006, 04:31 PM

I guess I just prefer it that way, makes more sense to me and otherwise I doubt id read comics that much if it was just one side or the other was interesting.

Absolutely dude, I like it both ways.

Er....that came out wrong.

TimDrake64x

02-13-2006, 04:54 PM

i duno, i think superman is the real person, but tis just my opinion

Happenstance

02-13-2006, 06:05 PM

Why though? This isnt me complaining about other peoples opinions I just would really like to know.

Clark was raised as human, so he has all our values, interests etc. Superman to me is just his way of using the special powers that he has to help others. It wouldnt make sense to me for him to be Clark up until he's about 18 and then just from learning about Krypton become one of them.

TimDrake64x

02-13-2006, 07:22 PM

Mr. Socko

02-13-2006, 10:11 PM

the_scream

02-13-2006, 10:19 PM

I haven't seen it in years but when I was younger, I really enjoyed the first two seasons. Everything after that was terrible when the show started straining for ideas.

No Supervillians, is Luthor even in this?

Actually, there are supervillains occasionally. Also, Lex appears as a main character in the first season.

Kevin Roegele

02-14-2006, 03:30 AM

I'm not getting it because

1) Dean Cain looks silly in that costume

2) No alot about Superman

3) Deals too much with the relationship with Lois and Clark, I'd rather see Superman

4) No Supervillians, is Luthor even in this?

5) Some of the episodes are bad, it's like they couldn't think of anything so slapped a wet chunk of doo doo together and called it an episode.

1. True, but what gets me is that he seems to drop ten years of age when he becomes Superman. The press used to call him Superboy and he really does look like an Italian teenager.

2. Also true. Although sometimes the plot is about Superman, he never has much screen time.

3. Yep. It is a female take on Superman. Deborah Joy Levine, who came up with the show, is interviewed on the DVD. She says she refused to do a Superman TV show per se, but said she would do a romantic comedy.

4. Luthor is in almost every first season episode, and villains like Metallo, Bizzaro and some General Zod stand ins did appear. Most of them were lame, though. The show simply did not have the budget or the ambition.

5. True, but this happens with all TV shows.

You could also add that it's the yuppie Superman, and the touchy-feely new-man Superman. Many of the special effects were amateur, and many episodes ended with woefully quick and lame 'action' climaxes.

the_scream

02-14-2006, 06:39 PM

The series was never supposed to be about Superman. It was a romantic comedy with a bit of Superman on the side. That's why it's called "Lois and Clark" not simply "Superman". That's why the series was entertaining for the first couple of seasons. When it finally got Lois and Clark together and when the episodes became more hero orientated, the show lost its spark. It didn't have the effects, budget or characters for a superhero show. It did have chemistry between Cain and Hatcher before they got together.

TimDrake64x

02-14-2006, 10:48 PM

this is true, they did get together too early

Spider-Steve

03-12-2006, 07:35 AM

[quote=Kevin Roegele]villains like Bizzaro

Was Vatman the episode about Bizzaro?

Steve

TimDrake64x

03-12-2006, 01:39 PM

i dont think so, i jsut think it was a clone of supes, though the scene at the end when he is flying him off to the sun is really touching

LostSon88

03-20-2006, 12:39 AM

well because hes from krypton, thats who he is, hes the last son of krpyton. the fact that he wears the "s" symbol found on his spaceship proves the superman is the real him. also have u noticed that superman is one of the only heros to not wear a mask or something, thats because he wears his mask as clark kent and when he becomes superman hes peals off the fake him the reviel the true him underneathe the suit and glasses

So all those years Clark Kent spent growing up in Smallville was an act? Clark Kent didn't become a mask until he arrived in Metropolis. Clark Kent is the real man. I know this has been covered to death but whatever, i'm bored:

The way I see it, there are 3 facets to Superman:

1) Kal-El of Krypton
2) Clark Kent of Smallville
3) Clark Kent of Metropolis

Superman is a combination of the physical powers of Kal-El of Krypton and the Moral values of Clark Kent of Smallville. If he were simply Superman, he'd be a tyrant. What makes him human has much to do with his upbringing in Smallville as Clark Kent.

Clark Kent of Metropolis is nothing more than a ruse to throw people off.

If Superman were the real man, why don't those close to him, (Ma, Pa, Lana) call him Superman? They call him Clark because that's who he is.

Kevin Roegele

03-20-2006, 03:07 PM

i dont think so, i jsut think it was a clone of supes, though the scene at the end when he is flying him off to the sun is really touching

Yes it is Bizarro, it's based on Byrne's Bizarro story from the original Man of Steel mini-series.

Kevin Roegele

03-20-2006, 03:11 PM

So all those years Clark Kent spent growing up in Smallville was an act? Clark Kent didn't become a mask until he arrived in Metropolis. Clark Kent is the real man. I know this has been covered to death but whatever, i'm bored:

The way I see it, there are 3 facets to Superman:

1) Kal-El of Krypton
2) Clark Kent of Smallville
3) Clark Kent of Metropolis

Superman is a combination of the physical powers of Kal-El of Krypton and the Moral values of Clark Kent of Smallville. If he were simply Superman, he'd be a tyrant. What makes him human has much to do with his upbringing in Smallville as Clark Kent.

Clark Kent of Metropolis is nothing more than a ruse to throw people off.

If Superman were the real man, why don't those close to him, (Ma, Pa, Lana) call him Superman? They call him Clark because that's who he is.

They call him that because he's been called Clark since the Kents discovered him as an infant. He only took on the name Superman when he reached maturity. Clark Kent is his name, but so is Superman.

I agree with most of your points, but look at the very basic stuff. Superman hides amongst humans with a suit, glasses and a fedora. He pretends he doesn't have superpowers, acts like he's meek. Underneath he wears his real clothes, the S symbol, and is waiting for the moment when he is needed.

Happenstance

03-20-2006, 03:22 PM

And underneath the S is Smallville Clark again.

As for the Superman clone it definately was supposed to be Bizzaro, at least a nod to him. They even made a point of getting Lois to say Bizarre in the episode.

The Question

03-20-2006, 07:22 PM

Way I see it, Clark should not be an act. It cheapens the stuff that goes on with Clark and the Daily Planet that way. Way I see it, everyone acts differently in different situations. You're different when you're at work from when you're working at whatever your hobby is. Neither version of you is a lie. Just different aspects of the truth.

SuperDaniel

03-21-2006, 11:11 PM

Clark is his connection to humans. A way he does human things without the burden or responsibilty of Superman. Its not an act and shouldn`t be. Its just a different part of his personality. I don`t think he should be an act. I even think that Clark itself is Superman`s real personality. Someone who doesn`t want the media attention. Someone who is lonely, outcast.

Superman is real too. He uses his values he learned from the Kents and life experience to do good. Its his kryptonian side.

Superman without Clark wouldn`t be Superman. He would consider himself a Superman. Above others. Thats not how Superman is. Note that Superman never calls himself Superman. He always refers to it as "people call me Superman". Thats his modesty. Thats Clark from Smallville speaking.
Clark without Superman is repressed feelings and actions. Always had to hide and control himself.

So, neither are an act. They are part of the same personality. Pure psychollogy. And thats why Superman endured so long.

Tzigone

04-30-2006, 08:32 PM

FTR - I don't think they got together too early. It was all the stupid tactics to keep them apart that killed the show, IMO (amnesia, clones, etc).

TheFalcon

05-01-2006, 08:04 AM

FTR - I don't think they got together too early. It was all the stupid tactics to keep them apart that killed the show, IMO (amnesia, clones, etc).

Those stupid tactics weren't too keep them apart, but to delay the wedding.
It's been a while since I saw the show, but if I remember correctly they were together from the second season until the end, but there were alot of stuff that delayed their wedding (which was demanded by DC because they delayed the comicbook wedding).

Either way I think the show is worth buying, atleast the first two seasons.

Tzigone

05-01-2006, 02:38 PM

Both actually. The amnesia was definitely a "keep them apart" thing since Lois didn't remember who she was. The clones, and probably the New Krypton arc would count as delaying the wedding (I actually like Zara and Ching, though).

They dated in the second season and he proposed in the finale. She had figured out he was Supes and was angry at him for not telling her. Several eps passed before they got back together. They got engaged again when she Ultrawoman, I think. Then they broke up again (abeit, I'm not sure if it lasted more than an ep or two) when he broke up with her "to protect her."

I'm not sure on the delaying the wedding thing, but I think it was the LnC side of things, not the DC side that wanted to delay. But I could very easily be wrong on that.

BTW, I love the show, and plan to get all four seasons.

Captain Kirk

05-01-2006, 03:09 PM

:down This show should be buried in a deep hole ,and forgotten. This is the worst interpretations of Superman that I have EVER seen. Cain inspires no confidence as Superman. Clark is not the disguise that he should be. Lois is the ONLY redeeming aspect of the show. I fact, I would have loved to see Hatcher's Lois along side Christopher Reeve's Superman. I would not waste my time with this show, but rather get the Adventures of Superman with George Reeves. That show is far superior to Lois and Clark.