‘Superman and Lois’ The Eradicator Review: Smallville is on the Brink of Extinction in a Solid Penultimate Episode

The Eradicator isn’t the best episode of Superman and Lois. However, as a bridge for the series finale, The Eradicator is almost perfect. How this episode ultimately sits will depend on whether the series can stick the landing in the finale.

The Eradicator is a wonderful title for the episode. Morgan Edge takes on the mantle of The Eradicator. He’s now able to turn human beings into Kryptonian vessels with a single touch. The topic of eradication extends to the town of Smallville. Edge using the town as a guinea pig has Smallville in shambles.

The Cushings are planning to move away from Smallville. Chrissy is planning on selling the newspaper. The D.O.D. still has a vice grip over the town. Every scene of the episode depicts a dying town. I’m starting to wonder if Smallville will be leveled in the season finale.

Kyle Cushing’s story in this episode didn’t work. I buy the frustration, but the use of the black firefighter to show what a good guy Kyle is just hollow. The final 15 minutes of the episode are outstanding. They set the course for what should be a momentous finale.

With the non-spoiler details out of the way, let’s dive into superhero theatrics, family drama and more in The Eradicator. There will be minor spoilers. Superman and Lois is airing on The CW and streaming on the CWTV app.

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Morgan Edge aka Tal-Rho is now The Eradicator

The Eradicator begins with Clark, General Sam Lane and John Henry Irons continuing to search for Tal-Rho.

Adam Rayner started the series as Morgan Edge. Eventually, Edge was revealed to be Clark’s half-brother, Tal-Rho. Now, Tal-Rho has transformed into The Eradicator. He’s able to turn anyone into a Kryptonian vessel with a single touch.

Tal-Rho eventually reveals himself in Metropolis. Superman and Steel team up to take down Tal-Rho and Leslie Larr. A crowd begins to build. All of a sudden a few of the onlookers take to the sky. Tal-Rho takes off. Superman begins fighting the newly turned Kryptonians. Steel takes on Larr. Both fights are fantastic. While I like this series’s depiction of Smallville, I’d like the series to explore Metropolis more next season.

Lois is also in Metropolis. She delivers a news report that is eerily reminiscent of the scene in John Henry’s world. Leslie is about to crisp Lois up a bit, until a well-timed flying hammer knocks Leslie out.

The End of Smallville is Nigh

Edge didn’t just turn himself into The Eradicator. He’s also close to eradicating the town of Smallville.

Edge’s escape has caused the D.O.D. to put a stranglehold around the town. The residents of Smallville are continuing to blame Kyle and Lana Cushing for their role in bringing Edge to town. They blame Kyle for endorsing Edge and Lana serving as the team captain on the Eradicator project. In The Eradicator, Lois tells Clark that Lana and Kyle have put their house up for sale.

There’s a great Lana and Clark scene. Clark gently tries to convince Lana to stay. Lana gives Clark her very valid reasons for wanting to leave. He leaves the house sad but respectful of her decision. Tamera Delaney, the firefighter who visited the house in the last episode, tries to talk Kyle out of taking a job in another town. She fails and the scene just falls flat. The fact that this frequently neglectful father and a seemingly conservative small-town firefighter was so gungho to change the culture in allowing a black female firefighter into the firehouse just doesn’t match the character we’ve seen up to this point.

Lois spends most of the episode worried about the town and the burgeoning relationship between Jordan and Sarah. She pays Chrissy a visit and congratulates her on the story she wrote about the D.O.D’s presence in Smallville. Chrissy reveals that someone offered to buy the smalltown paper from her.

The look and feel of Smallville goes a long way in showing a small town on its last leg.

Poor Jordan

Sarah spends the bulk of the episode in denial. She doesn’t believe her parents will actually move. To her credit, there is some logic to her assertion. Who in their right mind would buy a house in a dying town? Everything about Sarah and Jordan is pretty sweet in this episode. However, something tells me it’s not going to last.

Jonathan and Jordan head to a house party. Jonathan and Tegan didn’t leave things on the best of terms. He believed she only showed interest in him due to his knowledge of what’s going on around town. Turns out Jonathan wrote her off too quickly. She apologizes to Jonathan. Tegan moved to Smallville two years ago from Central City. Her father’s in prison. Tegan and Jonathan have some more cute banter on how tiny Smallville is, which is adorable. The sweet moment is cut short by Sarah.

She’s burst into the house in tears. She tells Jonathan that her Dad got a job in another city and the move is actually happening. Before she can divulge more, they watch Lois deliver her report on tv. Sarah is really impressed by Lois.

Sam breaks up the party. On the drive home, Tal-Rho drops out of the sky in front of the vehicle. The car collides with Tal-Rho and is destroyed in the process. Lane is hurt badly, Sarah has a cut on her head, but Jordan and Jonathan are more or less ok. Tal-Rho rips off a car door, removes Jordan from the vehicle and takes off with Jordan before anyone can react.

The Eradicator ends with Tal-Rho transferring his father’s essence into Jordan. Zeta-Rho now inhabits Jordan, which is bad news for everybody heading into the season finale.

The Eradicator Final Thoughts

There are a pair of scenes that allows The Eradicator to soar despite some occasional weak points. The scene featuring Lois delivering her news report in Metropolis while Superman, Steel, Leslie and the Kryptonians are fighting is the most nerve-wracking scene in any superhero show this year. As good as the scene is, it’s actually eclipsed by Tal-Rho kidnapping Jordan.

I can’t wait for the series finale next week.