Superman and Lois Review: The Inverse Method is the most balanced episode of season 2

The sophomore season of Superman and Lois has shined in certain moments. The Inverse Method doesn’t quite reach the heights of the last episode, The Thing in the Mines, but succeeds in giving storylines to multiple characters for the 1st time this season.

The balanced storytelling was a trademark of the 1st season and it’s nice to finally give the whole ensemble room to shine again. Not all of these storylines are flawless, but they do a solid job of setting up arcs for multiple characters that could last through the rest of the season.

Lois is still focused on taking down the cult that brainwashed Lucy. Chrissy is helping in the investigation, but how Lois’s secret continues to harm their partnership. Clark and John Henry Iron are trying to figure out Bizarro. Jordan stops a shoplifter and gets caught on camera. Sam is able to help his grandson out. Jordan looks well on his way to beginning his hero journey.

Jonathan’s drug habit is a problematic story. However, the way the drug works to alter a person’s senses is an interesting story that could pay dividends as the season continues.

The focus on the Kents does leave Natalie on the outside looking in. Taylor Buck shines no matter how much screen time Natalie is given, but it would be great for her to have a story of her own. If the ending of The Inverse Method is any indication, that should happen pretty soon.

Lana’s run for mayor enters the dirty political arena. Kyle and Lana are worried about how Sarah’s suicide attempt could set Sarah back if it’s brought out during the mayoral race. Sarah’s response is outstanding and may actually be my favorite part of the episode.

The final addition to a stuffed episode was the reintroduction of Jenna Dewan as Lucy Lane. Dewan is great at portraying a very different, damaged, and somewhat delusional but not broken Lucy than the one on CW’s Supergirl.

With the overview out of the way, let’s dive deeper into the elements that stood out in The Inverse Method. There may be some minor spoilers. Superman and Lois is available to stream on The CW.

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Lois vs The Inverse Method

The end of the last episode saw Lois heading out to meet her sister Lucy at an agreed-upon location. When Lois arrives, she doesn’t find her sister there instead she comes face to face with Ally Allston the leader of the cult called The Inverse Method. In just a few scenes as Ally, Rya Kihlstedt already comes across as more of an intellectual threat to Lois than Morgan Edge ever did in the 1st season.

The meeting between the two doesn’t go well. In their own ways, they each make it clear they’re going after each other.

The other element to this story is Lucy’s involvement. Lucy appears on a podcast the next day refuting most of the details in Lois’s story on the cult. The Lucy-Lois scenes take place in the present and past. In the past, Lucy explains why she needs to move in with Ally. In the present, Lois finds a way to use Ally’s seminar as a diversion to speak with her sister. Lucy uses the meeting to record and play the message during the seminar.

Chrissy Beppo is undercover at the seminar. Although, it doesn’t take long for Ally to uncover her identity. Chrissy hears the conversation between the Lane sisters. Lois left certain details out of the story that would have made her sister look worse in Lois’s eyes and from an outsider’s perspective. Lois threw the blame on Ally, which ricocheted onto Lucy.

When the seminar is over, Chrissy is more hurt at Lois’s betrayal than she is pissed. Not so much that she kept details out of the story, but that Lois continues to keep secrets. Near the end of the episode, Chrissy calls and asks to meet with Ally to end the episode.

Lois has a compulsive need to control her world. In The Inverse Method, it’s clear when it comes to her family and past, she can be easily rattled. In Lucy and presumably Ally, these are character that knows everything about Lois, so it will be interesting to see where Lois is at by the end of this storyline.

Smells like Teen Spirts and Politics

Jordan and Sarah are shopping at a local convenience store. He notices a shoplifter and prevents the theft. Unfortunately, he’s caught on camera. He makes a call to his grandfather. Luckily, Sam is able to remove the footage. He tells Jordan to be careful. By the end of the episode, Sam decides to help Jordan be a better hero. The Inverse Method is a great start of what should be a Smallville-type of trajectory for Jordan as a hero or villain.

Jonathan takes the drug that he got at the end of the last episode. The drug considerably improves his senses and reflexes. The drug seems to affect each person differently. Again I don’t like the decision to give Jonathan a drug issue. However, the approach with the drug itself is inspired, so here’s hoping the storyline pays off.

Sarah also gets a moment to shine as well. Her parents spend most of the episode worried about Sarah’s suicide attempt coming up during the mayor campaign. They aren’t worried about what it will do for the campaign, more so how it could impact Sarah’s well-being.

Kyle and Lana explain the situation to Sarah. Her response is full of strength. Sarah says if Mayor Dean wants to bring the issue up, then let him. She’ll gladly explain the situation and tell the idiot what she thinks of him. Inde Navarrette crushes this scene.

Bizarro

Clark spends most of the episode with John Henry. They both take a moment to appreciate the calm of the Kent farm. The short-lived peace is broken by Bizarro. He crashes into the front yard of the farm.

Clark immediately fights him. John Henry is able to use the badly damaged hammer to separate Superman and his inverse doppelganger. During the scuffle, John Henry was able to find a way to track Bizarro.

Before Clark heads off for another confrontation, John Henry tells Clark his suit is badly damaged and he can’t offer Superman backup. He also tells Clark that he needs backup and should give the intel to Lt. Mitch Anderson.

Superman gives the tracker to Lt. Anderson. Instead of alerting Superman, he sends out the three super-powered warriors at his disposal. Bizarro kills two of the warriors with ease. Superman arrives just in time to save Tag. Without Superman’s knowledge, John Henry decides to help in his compromised suit. He channels the power of the suit to his hammer. The hammer knocks Bizarro down and causes Superman to have a migraine. Bizarro recovers and with one punch knocks John Henry unconscious.

Superman is able to knock back Bizarro enough to carry John Henry to a hospital. Natalie is pissed at Clark for not protecting her father. The episode ends with Natalie at her father’s bedside.

The fight scenes were all great in The Inverse Method. I also liked the foreshadowing about the suit. Bizarro is pretty much just an empty vessel at this point.

The Inverse Method Final Thoughts

The Inverse Method does a great job of allowing the very talented ensemble to shine. I don’t love Jonathan’s storyline, but there’s a possibility for something great down the road. Bizarro isn’t offering much from a character perspective. On the bright side, the action sequences were great.

The cult storyline is really interesting. I’m curious to see where this takes Lois and whether Chrissy’s meeting with Ally is subterfuge or real.

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