Season 1, Episode 8: "Holding the Wrench" (SPOILERS)

I'm assuming that this is when Jonathan has his near death experience, which results in Lois having her emotional breakdown.

 

I think this is the one where Lois and Jonathan do something together, according to Bitsie.

 

Is it just me or does the neckline for Superman's suit look lower than usual?

 

SUPERMAN: Here, try the new Kansas chocolate bacon syrup.

SOLDIER: (Resisting) I'm a vegan bro!

 

I predict that Superman assaults the former Captain Luthor, John Henry Irons, during interrogation Dark Knight-style causing General Sam Lane and the military to intervene.

 

Yeeeeeeesssh this got heavy.

 

Was this episode......... weird, to anyone else?? The music was, different?? The dialogue was clunkier. The acting from everyone was kinda off, just a little. Lois in therapy talking about the miscarriage. Jon and Jordan at the rehearsal, especially Jordans response to Jonathan's plea. His line delivery felt off. Maybe it's just me. I don't usually catch the show live. I'm probably just a little tired. But this episode just seemed off compared to the first 7.

 

Yeah, maybe a little. Definitely a bit of a weaker episode for me. The highlights were the scenes between Lois and Jonathan.

 

Yeah your definitely not the only one who felt something was a little off about it, but I thought the scenes with Lois were all pretty fantastic and I really liked the fact that they tried to give her more depth and actual character development in this episode which made me enjoy more than I probably would have honestly.

Bitsie Tulloch is just great in this show and works perfectly balancing Lois as a headstrong, investigative reporter aswell as her also being a mom with her own tragic, personal problems.

 

Glad to see some trust being built between Superman and John Henry Irons in the end while trust issues came up with General Lane.

Lois is paying the price for involving Jonathan in her world. Now she’s in a similar mindset like her dad, who wanted a son but got Lois instead.

 

Yes! Jonathon was the only one up to par. So everyone else really stood out. The pacing was really weird too. Hmm.

 

I take it that watching last week's episode and tonight's felt like a movie?!

 

Really good episode. Some nice emotional stuff there with Lois and Jonathon.

Makes me wonder if Superman going eeevil in the other world was because he had another Kryptonian's essence take over his body.

 

Yeah, I was curious about this decision, too.

 

I heard there was a pre-emption in NY.

 

Whew this was an EPISODE. I could've done without the school play, CW + Singing...I'm extremely over lol but other than that it was a grade A episode.

The Lois/Jonathan scene omg that was good! If this werent CW, Bitsie would win an award.

I will be annoyed if they dont introduce her as Natasha of E1 and her be E1 JHIs neice.

 

First, I respectfully disagree with your last comment.

Second...

Kryptonite, especially when it’s in its usual rock/ore formation, is a short-range weapon. And the same is true for certain other manifestations — like edged weapons or gas. Consequently, the villain has to lure and ambush an unaware Superman. But, needless to say, this has gotten to be a familiar (if not tired) trope. You’d think that an experienced Supes would know about the (apparent) ubiquity of kryptonite and, therefore, anticipate the possibility (or even likelihood) of the classic ambush.

At this point, however, I’m almost inclined to treat the ambush scenario as an accepted convention of the Superman mythos. So just as we “wink” about eyeglasses being a good disguise, perhaps we should (likewise) ignore Supes’ tendency to repeatedly fall for the same trap…?

All that said, the kryptonite ambush is far more plausible in the case of a new iteration or reboot. In BvS (for example — since you brought it up ), kryptonite had its own origin story. Indeed, it did not exist until Luthor excavated the raw materials from the remnants of the Black Zero ship and then refined it into a purer form. Subsequently, Batman developed the gaseous and spear tip variations. Thus, it’s hard to blame Superman for failing to anticipate a weakness he didn’t even know he had.

With S&L, on the other hand, we’re dealing with a Superman whose career spans decades. So it’s less excusable that he didn’t “hold his breath” to thwart the kryptonite gas attack — especially since General Lane explicitly warned him that such a weapon was stored in the very place that the villains had infiltrated.

Yeah. An additional, explanatory scene was needed to rationalize the sudden shift in attitude towards Irons. (Perhaps one was written/shot but then deleted for time…?) Methinks this is the sort of narrative omission that we often just accept in the other CW/DC shows. But since S&L has raised the bar in so many respects, the flaw here is more conspicuous.

Still, overall, I quite liked the episode. And I didn't notice that it was tonally different or "off" compared to the previous one. Thumbs up from me.

 

It would be cool if angora lapin turned up. This earth's John Henry Irons evil ex messing with John could be fun.