Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers for and an analysis of Superman & Lois Season 4 Episode 7.
Yes, Superman did something very surprising in Superman & Lois Season 4, Episode 7 titled A Regular Guy. After hiding his identity for years, Clark Kent proved that he is Superman by exposing himself on live TV, shocking his close friends and family and everyone else around the world.
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The long-term consequences of such a secret could easily push a gentle and risk-averse Superman from the CW series over the edge, and that's not all; with emotional breakdowns turning into fatal turn-outs for his loved ones, he finally decided to come clean to the public as the Man of Steel.
Erik Valdez, who plays Kyle on Superman & Lois, told TVLine:
“I was very emotional, and I felt honored to be part of such a profound moment in such a massive story.”
This is an in-depth look at the reasons and effects of this unusual choice, and what it could mean for the last episode of Superman & Lois.
Superman reveals his identity in Superman & Lois Season 4 Episode 7
Clark decides in a climactic diner confrontation, an event that will forever change his life (as well as the viewers) he chose total openness at the expense of risking the lives around him.
A scene that previously featured Candice's dad with a vendetta against Clark waving a gun at him becomes an ultimatum: should he keep the secret and sacrifice all the lives around him or finally opt for total openness?
As the shot was fired, a slow-motion sequence revealed Clark contemplating his decision, then transforming into his Superman costume before the bullet hit. Under Gregory Smith's helm, the cinematography lent the scene much weight.
Valdez believed the scene was indeed well-thought-out; he observed how Smith made Clark's decision unforgettable.
But why did he make this gesture of revealing his secret to everybody at that moment? Flashbacks of strained friendships in The Daily Planet and particularly with Jimmy Olsen disclose how it affected him.
Clark, played by Douglas Smith, had a void in his relationship with Jimmy for three years because he could never be honest with him about who he was. He bore the weight of guilt for lying to his loved ones, and this finally caught up at a point where he could no longer rationalize the deception.
Superman & Lois Season 4 Episode 7 recap: Clark’s choice affects his loved ones
Clark's choice on Superman & Lois had ripples involved not only himself but also reshaped the lives of everyone else around him, especially his family. Lois, his wife, and their twin sons, Jonathan and Jordan, have long known about Clark's other identity, and live under the shadow of his responsibilities as Superman.
The heavy toll of this secret on the family has plunged their relationships into a stalemate and even impacted their standings in the community.
Jonathan called attention to this weight earlier in the series, noting,
“When is the last time [Dad] hung out with one of [his friends] or did anything fun? Having to lie like that, to everyone all the time? He missed out on so much.”
The people of Smallville knew and loved Clark from his childhood, and suspicion around his real identity was already building there.
Key characters like Lana Lang and Chrissy Beppo, who have learned the secret in previous seasons, wrestled with the responsibilities that accompany this knowledge. Now that the word is out, they confront the harsh reality of how the world might respond to his secret.
Superman & Lois Season 4 Episode 7 recap: A departure from DC tradition
On Superman & Lois, Clark is finally opening up to the world about his identity, but, on this new show, the secret identity of Superman is still a mystery to the public.
But that mystery of identity is not just a part of Clark's life, but also an integral part of his humanity. Removing the "disguise" shows Superman & Lois to be a much more isolated Superman, now carrying a special vulnerability not seen on screen before.
The fallout from Clark's revelation will be complicated. Once that secret is out, Lex Luthor will be studying it and harming everyone Clark loves. More importantly, though, is that Clark now needs to learn to deal with being both Superman and "a regular guy," as the episode title describes it aptly.
Superman & Lois Season 4 Episode 7 recap: A new approach to the Superman mythos
The climactic reveal is one example of how Superman & Lois has taken that iconic Superman story and turned it into a family drama that resonates personally.
Unlike the previous versions, it depicts the emotional cost of being a superhero and a human with a family. The choice to reveal Clark's identity before the show's end is creative and depicts how much this version of Superman has matured in placing family above secrecy.
As CBR further suggests, it made the story more tight and character-centric where Clark's choice has its intimacy and personal stakes. Challenges range from Lois's health battles with the growing twins to young adults with their superpowers, giving the show a dash of relatable and grounded storytelling.
Superman & Lois airs Mondays at 8 PM EST on The CW and can be streamed on the CW app.
Only three episodes are left before this is a "super" finale, and Superman & Lois fans should not miss the incredible development that Clark, Lois, and the people of Smallville have yet to face.
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