Lois’ final chemo session is just the beginning of her struggles as she tries to persuade Peia to come clean about her and Bruno’s crimes. The Kent boys blow off their Dad to go to a party which ends in serious trouble for all concerned. Kyle grabs the wrong end of a stick but keeps going.

After what was an uncharacteristically weak episode last time out, this week’s instalment of Superman & Lois is somewhat of a return to form. Here the show once again digs into what even superpowers can’t protect you from, and why Jonathan might be way more powerful than anyone – himself included – realises.

Having completed her Chemo, Lois is ready to go for the next big step in her pursuit of Mannheim getting Peia to confess. Locked in the DOD and unable to see her son or husband, Lois hopes that her former friend might be ready to set the record straight. Even as she worries still about the way in which a woman she has suffered and bonded with as a cancer sufferer and mother is being treated. Peia, for her part, isn’t quite ready to give up all the goods just yet, and the scenes between them are fascinating. Looking at how even these two polar opposite women can find common ground through a shared experience, they reinforce that mantra from the previous episode of Superman seeing the good even in the worst of his enemies. That Lois can do the same just underlines why they work as a couple.

Meanwhile, Clark tries to take the opportunity of some free time to spend a nice evening with the boys, who being teenagers would rather spend time at an illicit kegger party instead. This makes for some awkwardness on multiple fronts. Clark feels somewhat upset when the boys blow him off (though they don’t tell him why obviously), Jordan feels very awkward at the party when he sees Sarah talking to George Junior, and Sarah for her part is starting to tire of feeling weird around her former boyfriend.

Then things get really awkward when the police arrive and Jordan is forced to make a choice which exposes him to further risk of being revealed. His confession to Clark goes well enough until his father realises he’s been drinking, which then leads to an assumption that Jonathan – who was driving – must have been doing the same. Seeing Superman go down the wrong path here, reacting as a father who feels hurt and upset, reinforces again the limits even his powers can’t transcend, and it’s truly something to see Jonathan, clear-eyed, honest and straightforward, able to stop the Man of Steel in his tracks with a quiet word.

And Kyle is still pursuing his theory of a super powered person being in town. Having been politely rebuffed by Chrissie (who of course knows the truth), he tries to get Lana and Sarah to listen when confronted with what he sees as further proof. As they both know the truth too, that goes equally poorly, ending up with Kyle confronting Clark, having got his pair of twos in order and still managing to make five. The Kents secrets can’t hold for much longer, surely?

Back at the DOD, a visit from Matteo leaves Peia feeling much better in more ways than one, and suddenly trouble is brewing all over again. Will Superman be able to fully take on Mannheim knowing all that he now knows, and what exactly is the villain planning with the body of Superman’s Bizarro World alter ego?

As for Lana, a meeting with the governor offers hopes of further political traction for her as Mayor and possibly even higher in her career. But first she’s got to manage the fallout of her broken marriage, her wayward daughter and so much more besides. Can she really have it all, or has she finally bitten off more than she could chew?

Verdict: As usual, cramming in many, many subplots and dealing with them all deftly. Still not back to its 10/10 best, but coming damned close. 9/10

Greg D. Smith