"My Adventures with Superman": Episodes Six and Seven - Back on solid ground, with the help of primates and pranksters

 

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When episode five ended with a giant ape in frame, I was convinced the writers were bringing in Gorilla Grodd, played marvellously in the old “Justice League” cartoon by Powers Boothe. What we got, however, was obviously quite different. After Jimmy breaks into a fenced off area at night, in search of the legendary bigfoot (of course), he gets abducted by Monsieur Mallah and the Brain. I’ll be honest, of my initial predictions about the show, I wasn’t expecting to see a same sex relationship between a french gorilla and german robot. And I must say, it was the most wonderful and charming sort of surprise. Their dynamic is handled very well, and both Andre Sogliuzzo and Jesse Inocalla deliver fine work as their unique characters. It’s equally endearing and hilarious to see these two bicker like…well…an old married couple, while also being genuine in the right moments. Of the fresh concepts this show presents, these two might actually be the most winning. 

Episode six also continues the now fractured relationship between Lois and Clark, who go looking for Jimmy after his disappearance, and eventually reconcile at its conclusion. Honestly, I didn’t fully buy how fast they made up here, since at the start of the episode Lois is still in “deflection” mode. Watching it again, though, I think there’s something authentic in Lois’ fragility, in her asking Clark if his love was also a lie. We as the audience know that isn’t true, but again, the presentation of Lois’ insecurities makes that statement believable. That admission felt like a real moment, a real fear someone with Lois’ experiences would have, and the same goes for Clark’s awkward yet heartfelt response. Throughout their side quest, Lois ultimately sees Clark’s true protective instincts, and I suppose feels safe enough to start over. Again, I’m not 100% sold on this turn around, but I’m at least glad they made it.

More than anything, this episode feels like it’s recapturing the tone and humour of the show’s first few outings. Its narrative progression is woven through a quirky little escapade, with a healthy dose of humorous dialogue. There’s a hilarious conversation when Clark finds out Jimmy knew about his Superman identity the whole time, only to blow up when Lois reveals Clark told her first. It’s just a funny bit of bickering from our main crew, and the icing on the cake is Clark’s precisely timed screaming. And I almost forgot - the trio helps create a wormhole, because Mallah and the Brain already had a blackhole just floating in a room somewhere - which is apparently just a normal occurrence for these guys. Episode six isn’t a brilliant jump in quality, per say, but it’s still an entertaining improvement over its predecessor. Our love birds are back together, which doesn’t feel logically earned, but does feel dramatically satisfying (Side note: How does Lois’ coat fit Clark, exactly?) Also, aside from offering a fun diversion, it further progresses the cast’s journey and alludes to future conflicts - quite overtly with its ending. In any case, though, our gang has new layers to their dynamics, and just in time for a trickster god causing mischief.

That of course leads us to episode seven, and the appearance of Mr. Mxyzptlk; a reality warping imp with an unpronounceable name, and who’s design here sort of resembles a Dragon Ball character (Whis, perhaps?) Anyways, old Mxy recruits Clark on a mission to “save Lois” - which is actually code for robbing a museum, and getting his all powerful hat back. Elsewhere, Lois and Jimmy are recruited by the League of Lois’, a group of Lois Lanes from multiple universes, with the intent of stopping Mxyzptlk and his exploits. This episode again follows a similar structure to episode six, where our group goes off on a little side mission and meets a group of lively characters. Before that happens, however, we do get a funny pair of scenes where Clark and Lois both obsess over their next arranged outing. The former wants to construct a perfect date, the latter wishes to surprise Clark with clues to his past. Both go full detective mode with their plans, right down to posted notes and detailed city layouts. It’s rather endearing, and for the moment, I’m happy the worst is behind them in their relationship. 

For the purposes of the show’s set up and style, Mxyzptlk is a fun adversary. I like the flamboyant vocal performance of David Errigo Jr, and I like his unabashedly shameless way of manipulating Clark. We also get a fair amount of DC fan service following their heist. This includes a brief sequence where Mxy transforms Clark into several versions of Superman, from multiple eras of animation. The museum also contains many relics in DC lore, such as a green lantern power battery and the helmet of Dr. Fate. Slightly less enjoyable, I would argue, is the League of Lois’. It’s a nitpick, but with only four members of the league interacting with our trio, it feels like too much potential relegated to not enough screen time. It’s stated that the league is composed of every Lois in the multiverse, and with all the versions being referenced, you could almost make an entire series about their adventures. Like I said, though, that’s a small gripe born from wanting more, not true disappointment. What I was surprised by is how they’re written as equally antagonistic, even harming Clark and betraying our main Lois when she tries to intervene. How could they hurt Superman, you might ask? Well they also introduce kryptonite to the show’s canon…so that’s certainly something.

Both of these episodes are a return to form for the series, pivoting back to the humour and charm prior to episode five. They are entertaining, first and foremost, and also establish the looming threats our team will face via their cliffhangers. These include the return of Dr. Ivo and General Lane, and Mxy educating Lois on her latest trinket; A device that shows her several universes with a malicious, destructive Superman. This reveal works especially well because of the generally lighthearted depiction of these characters. If this was the Snyder movies or Injustice, it would be less surprising, but contrasted with a medium evoking the Reeves films leaves a more unsettling effect. It’s the sort of uncertainty both Lois and Clark are now trying to avoid, and is definitely going to create more tension in the future. Also, the show’s ability to balance this dread with its mostly breezy tone, and make it feel natural, shouldn’t be hand waved. Simply put, I enjoyed this pair of episodes, and the season is back on course to its rather strong finale.