Superman & Lois Broke A Massive Superhero Trend That Needed To Die

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Alex Garfin's Jordan Kent with red eyes and Tyler Hoechlin's Superman in Superman & Lois Custom image by Felipe Rangel

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Superman & Lois season 4, episode 6.After years of emotional stories, Superman & Lois season 4 ends the beloved DC series, and the show is doing right by its core characters, which includes breaking a superhero adaptation trend. There have been several live-action versions of Superman. Despite the fierce competition, Tyler Hoechlin's Man of Steel is one of the very best, and Superman & Lois season 4's cast is all-around filled with talent. Sadly, many of the actors that made the show the hit that it became have had to appear sporadically in Superman & Lois season 4.

The reason for that is the Superman series has had to deal with budget constraints in its final season, which also explains why season 4 will have only 10 episodes. Still, the Superman & Lois team clearly tried its best to service the show's fan-favorite characters and give them the best possible finales to their stories. While the Kent family's arc will have its resolution in the series finale, a key Superman & Lois character has just had their ending revealed in episode 6, and it breaks a negative trend of superhero movies and series.

Superman & Lois' Handling Of Sarah's Story Avoided Plenty Of Tired Superhero Romance Tropes

Sarah Is No Damsel In Distress In The DC Series

Sarah Cushing "Cortez" is one of the core characters of Superman & Lois. Sarah shares a deep connection to the Kent family, being the daughter of Lana Lang — Clark Kent's former flame — and the romantic interest of Jordan Kent. It is true that a lot of Sarah's stories in the DC series have involved her relationship status with Jordan, but the character has done so much more than that. Sarah came into the show with her own share of issues, and throughout the series, Sarah's relationship with her family slowly became better.

Superman & Lois Season 4 Cast Member

Character

Tyler Hoechlin

Clark Kent/Superman

Elizabeth Tulloch

Lois Lane

Alex Garfin

Jordan Kent

Michael Bishop

Jonathan Kent

Dylan Walsh

Sam Lane

Michael Cudlitz

Lex Luthor

Emmanuelle Chriqui

Lana Lang

Inde Navarrette

Sarah Cortez

In the past, after having felt trapped in her life, Sarah attempted suicide. That experience has stayed with the character, and Superman & Lois showed how much she grew by having Sarah ask for and accept her parents' help when things got too heavy for her again. Despite being the romantic interest of a superhero, Sarah's main story in Superman & Lois is about her struggles, what she wants in life and her family. This allows the character to escape tired superhero romance tropes where the woman is always the damsel in distress for the hero to save.

Superman & Lois Season 4 Let Sarah Have Her Own Story

The Ending Of Inde Navarrette's Character Has Been Revealed

Jordan Kent and Sarah Cortez in Superman & Lois

While Sarah Cortez is Jordan Kent's ex-girlfriend, and Superman's son has tried to get back with her multiple times, the character's story in Superman & Lois season 4 is moving in a different direction. Keeping in line with what has happened to the character ever since breaking up with Jordan, Superman & Lois season 4, episode 6 has revealed what appears to be the endgame for Sarah in the DC series. Wanting to have more control over her life, live new experiences, and hit the reset button after enduring trauma, Sarah wants to study abroad.

Lana Lang was initially against the idea, but after nearly being killed by one of Lex Luthor's henchmen and Sarah dying alongside her, she decides that her daughter is better off living her dream away from danger. Superman & Lois' latest episode makes it seem like Sarah Cortez will get the chance to reboot her life the way she wanted, which is the perfect conclusion to the character's story. The most important point is that it is a decision completely focused on Sarah herself, cementing that she is her own character that does not exist to serve a superhero's story.

Even If Superman & Lois Gives Sarah A Romance Story By The Finale, The Show Has Avoided The Perils Of Superhero Romance Interests

Sarah Corez's Main Season 4 Story Is All About Herself

Sarah Cushing/Cortez in Superman & Lois

As this is the final season, Sarah's story in Superman & Lois could very well have ended with her big decision in episode 6. However, Steel actor Wolé Parks revealed to Screen Rant that "Everyone's in episode 10." As such, Sarah should be back for at least the final episode of the DC series. That allows Superman & Lois season 4 to circle back to Sarah and Jordan's romance, either closing the door on it for good or revealing that the two might have a future in this universe's future, only audiences would not get to see it.

Jordan could end up becoming a part of that future, but he would not be the reason Sarah is doing what she chose to.

While there is still time for Superman & Lois to reignite the spark between Jordan and Sarah, even if that were to happen, Inde Navarrette's character would still have broken the tired trope of superhero romances either way. After all, Sarah Cortez's main story in Superman & Lois season 4 focuses on her finding a way to move forward from the trauma of her past and build a new future for herself. Jordan could end up becoming a part of that future, but he would not be the reason Sarah is doing what she chose to.

Tyler Hoechlin's Superman and Michael Cudlitz's Lex Luthor in his warsuit in Superman & Lois

Related

Superman & Lois Set Up The Wildest Way To Cut Off Superman's Powers & I Can't Believe It's Never Been Done Before

Clark Kent's powers have been a recurring topic in Superman & Lois season 4, and the DC series has presented a creative way for him to be powerless.

By giving her a story that hinges only on herself, Superman & Lois season 4 avoids the pitfalls of superhero romance. Sarah and Jordan could possibly end up together or be teased to reunite in the future without that being all the character is about in the show's final year. That is the best possible outcome for Sarah, and her choice of studying abroad serves as the ideal ending to the character's journey of overcoming her trauma, which Superman & Lois developed carefully throughout four seasons.

Superman and Lois Poster Showing Clark and Lois Back to Back and their sons

Superman & Lois, the seventh Arrowverse spinoff series, will take the titular characters from Metropolis to Smallville. The CW series is set in the aftermath of the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover, which saw the multiverse collapse and the merging of worlds into what is now Earth Prime. Superman & Lois sees Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch) and Clark Kent (Tyler Hoechlin) dealing with all the pressures of their jobs, along with being parents to two teenage sons. Lois and Clark are no strangers to the Arrowverse, with Hoechlin's Superman having been introduced all the way back in Supergirl season 2. Meanwhile, Tulloch's Lois made her debut in the 2018 "Elseworlds" crossover. The duo is joined by a growing cast of characters that includes a new iteration of Lana Lang.

Release Date February 23, 2021

Showrunner todd helbing

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