DVD : Lois & Clark - The New Adventures of Superman - The Complete Second Season

In association with Amazon.com

Rating:

- Another fun season from the romantic adventures of Lois and Clark
Warning: Spoilers in review!

Season Two was both very similar to Season One and very different. It was different in that the show underwent some very significant cast changes. It was same in that the romantic chemistry between Lois and Clark continued to be very much at the fore front. In fact, as in Season One, the major concern in the show was the progress of their romance.

Going into Season Two, ABC decided that the show needed more of a family slant. They therefore had the show remove Tracy Scoggins, who had played the ultra sensual Catherine 'Cat' Grant in Season One, from the cast. Her hypersexual mode of behavior and dress was seen as nonconducive to creating the proper family atmosphere. My own feeling is that her character was never successfully integrated into the show and therefore her absence was not a great loss. I was more troubled by the decision to replace Michael Landes as Jimmy Olsen. The reasoning was that Landes and Dean Cain were too similar as physical types. They didn't look exactly alike, but both were tall, lean, and dark-haired. They could plausibly have passed for brothers. Nonetheless, I liked Landes and the place he occupied in the first season. Justin Whalin, who was stockier, had lighter hair, a much fuller face, and seemed to be slightly shorter, replaced him. Under no circumstances could he have been mistaken for Dean Cain's brother. While I didn't feel that Landes's dismissal from the show was justified, Whalin also did a fine job as Olsen, though all in all I think the two did an equally good job in the role. The third major cast change was the departure of John Shea from the show as a full time cast member. Watchers of the show will recall that he died at the end of the Season One finale. He was brought back briefly in Season Two, sans hair, and made a few additional appearances in the show later. But for all practical purposes, Shea was gone. The threatening presence of Lex Luthor was replaced by the crime syndicate Intergang.

But the romance was the thing. The original model for LOIS AND CLARK was always the romantic comedies of classic Hollywood. The show owed more to the interplay between Nick and Nora Charles than to any superhero show. The previous TV show that most accurately captures its spirit was MOONLIGHTING. There is no question that Teri Hatcher and Dean Cain had tremendous onscreen chemistry. They were not merely a devastatingly gorgeous couple; they were a wonderfully fun to watch. The season saw a gradual alteration in their relationship. Season One had ended with Clark first declaring his love for Lois, only to have her reject it, only then to have her return his advances after he had decided that their being together was perhaps not a good idea. In Season Two, however, the heart, as Robert Frost put it, began to cloud the mind, and Clark eventually summoned up the courage to ask Lois out on a date, and Lois summoned up the courage to accept. Their romance saw a few bumps towards the end of the season, but Season Two ended with Clark on bended knee, an engagement ring in his hand, awaiting Lois's response to his proposal. The one truly irritating moment in the season was unquestionably the words "To be continued . . . " that concluded the finale.

As in Season One, the romance between Lois and Clark always too precedent over Superman's crime fighting adventures. Nonetheless, the individual crises were a bit more compelling this year. There were several compelling adventures. My favorite--and the romantic highlight of the year--was the episode "Tempus Fugitive," in which H. G. Wells in his time machine enables a criminal from the future to return in time to a point where he can undo Superman and prevent the future utopia that resulted from the union of Superman and Lois Lane. The criminal, Tempus, played with great gusto by Lane Davies, reveals to Lois just who Superman really is. Much of the episode deals with Lois's intense anger at Clark/Superman for not having been honest with her and asking him how she could ever come to trust him again. Meanwhile they frustrate Tempus in his goal of undoing Utopia and Wells returns them to their own time to the point at which they will not remember what had just happened, telling them that it wasn't yet the right time for Lois to learn about Clark (implying that there would come such a time in the future). The episode was so successful that both Wells and Tempus would make additional appearances on the show, Tempus several times.

So, the second season of the show came to an end, this time with the cliffhanger of what Lois was going to say to Clark. Makes you wish that the next set in the series was being released sooner rather than later, doesn't it?

Rating:

- GRATE
I love this show! I love the guest stars on it too. Jimmy Olson in this season was more of a cutty, then the last one. I had a problam with the red krypanight in the season. They said that the red one is for makeing superman eazy going, but really it make him do whatever he want to do. and where wes cat? I wanna see that (...) again.

Rating:

- My two cents...
First of all, I myself fell in love with this show about three years ago watching it in reruns over one summer. I could not possibly be more excited that it is finally coming out on DVD.

That being said, it does have its flaws. I would be the first to admit that Dean Cain (though I love him and his character dearly) is not the most fantastic actor in the world. His lines and expressions occasionally seem forced, and he has this sort of stock gesture he makes with his hand that feels fake -- but despite all that, one can't help falling in love with his Clark. Once you get to know the character, you can ignore these minor details. And besides, of all of the various actors I know of who have ever played Superman, Dean Cain is the only one who (in my opinion) actually fits in both sides of the character. He makes sense as Superman, and he makes equal sense as Clark.

Also, granted, there is a note of cheesiness to the series -- but it's an intentional sort of cheesiness, really. The show pokes fun at itself and the genre from whence it springs simply by playing into the cliches and pointing out the general weirdness of the Superman universe. Yet, despite the cheesiness of the plotlines, the characters and their relationships are treated with sincerity.

Teri Hatcher's performance is impeccable, and she and Cain balance each other out perfectly. The mild feminist undertones (mainly with respect to Lois's character) and the emphasis on the fact that Clark is the real character and Superman is the alter ego (which, to me, is one of the most interesting aspects of all Superman lore -- Clark's dilemma) combine to make this the only Superman series I genuinely like (much less love...). In general, the show contains a wonderful assortment of humor and heart, and I would reccommend it to any and all that I see.

(P.S. Though I have to say, the third season is easily my favorite...)

Rating:

- Lois and Clark is a great show.
The second season of Lois and Clark is probably the best of all four seasons. I miss this show veru much.

Rating:

- Extra, Extra---Lane and Kent Investigate Intergang.
Building off of great Season 1 ratings, Lois and Clark continued retelling Superman's saga through Clark Kent's historically-underappreciated perspective. 44 episodes of the 1994-1995 season balance a perfect mix of romance, intrigue, and adventure to `home deliver' the best 'news copy' around.

"Madame Ex" is an excellent example of such quality. Lois was engaged to marry Lex Luthor (John Shea) at one point, but she learns that he simultaneously had tried to marry another woman. Arianna Carlin (Emma Sams) comes back in a fiendish plot to take out Superman and makes an evil copy of Lois. Because Carlin forgot to actually take out Lois first, the real Lois investigates her double with Clark and saves the day. In this version of the epic, Lois is a `superhero' in her own right.

This episode is also important because it marks the first appearance of Justin Whalin as Jimmy Olsen. Whalin replaced Michael Landes from the previous season because he looks more boyish and supposedly did not resemble series star Dean Cain.

Farrah Forke begins her special guest-staring role as District Attorney Mayson Drake in the episode "Church of Metropolis". This immaculately-coiffed and dressed law enforcement official repeatedly attempts to investigate Intergang---and get her personal hooks into Clark. Because Lois is aware of her own growing feelings toward Clark, she becomes jealous of this relationship. Drake is a recurring character throughout most of this season, inadvertently providing comic relief with her pretense to know everything about everything. Drake dies in "Lucky Leon".

Another (and intentional) form of comic relief was "A Bolt From The Blue". Superman's powers temporarily extend to William Wallace Webster Walldecker (Leslie Jordan) when they are both struck by lightning during a suicide rescue attempt. Realizing that he now has 'superpowers', the man and his wife Wandamae (played by Cindy Williams, who is of course best known for 'Laverne and Shirley') charge people for `Resplendent Man' services-infuriating Clark who always did `Superman' out of kindness. On top of this, the evil Dr. Gretchen Kelly (Denise Crosby) figures that Superman's powers can be duplicated for criminal gain and subsequently attempts to capture Lois for
'bait'. She knows that Lois is the most valuable thing to Superman and he does anything to save her-including risk himself. Dr. Kelly would make another appearance, resurrecting Lex Luthor in "The Phoenix".

Clark might have other-worldly powers, but he is not immune to diabolical plots as `Season Greedings" (written by series star Dean Cain himself) demonstrated. Sherman Hemlsely and Isabel Sanford reunite from their "The Jeffersons" days to play a diabolical toymaker couple attempting world control by turning everybody into children. They really do a fabulous job of acting like vengeful people who don't have a molecule of the holiday spirit inside of them. I also liked the performance Cain gives as the 'childish' Clark just because it was so cute to see the one-time professional linebacker running around with a tantrum. Curiously/thankfully Clark did not use any of his superpowers during his tantrum though.

"The Eyes Have It" is a more serious episode because it poses the question what would happen if a scientist had something strong enough to make Superman go blind-even temporarily. While people are convinced Clark Kent escaped to the mountains with Mayson Drake, he is really (as Superman) recuperating with Lois's help. Since Clark does not usually get sick or hurt, he immediately understands how serious his situation is and also realizes his 'recovery period' marks somewhat of a relationship turning point with Lois. Lois does not know who he really is, but (unlike many other Metropolis residents) honestly does not expect Superman to be flawless and invulnerable. Instead, she helps him when he needs it (and presumably had no where else to go).

Superman encountered another personal nightmare during "Whine, Whine, Whine". A musician (Jason Carter) decides to sue Superman for allegedly injuring him during a rescue. Calvin Dregg believes the 'man of steel' broke his arm and wants to take Superman to court for recovery of damages- financial and emotional. Clark is very physically strong, but also prides himself on not hurting innocent people with those powers; both the initial claim and ensuing copy caters become a veritable PR nightmare. Because Superman lacks 'contact information', going to court for this and the other claims also consequently threatens Clark Kent's secret. Here again, Superman heavily depends on Lois for emotional support and counsel; she exposes the initial 'injury claim' itself as only being a scam artist's hoax. Both Adam West and Frank Gorshin (who worked together on the far campier 60's 'Batman' series) put in special guest appearances during the episode.

Uncovering Superman's real identity is a repeating threat up to the end of this season. First, Diana Stride, (Raquel Welch) an assassin for Intergang who poses as the host of the tabloid TV show "Top Copy" wants to tell the world Clark Kent's secret in "Top Copy". Contrasting with Lois and Clark, Stride is a tabloid journalist who specializes in the sensationalistic junk which the Daily Planet does not even consider publishing on back pages. Because several tabloid news shows were then-on television, the episode is also a real-life reference to the problems which tabloid series ultimately create for journalism the profession. Initially-popular tabloid TV shows subsequently diminish the credibility of all journalists because the public then expects the later to also report news in a sensationalistic manner and at all costs; ironically becoming upset when all their news sounds the same.

Lois finds out Clark's secret in "Tempus Fugitive". They have to travel back in time to 1966 Smallville with H.G. Wells (Terry Kiser) to prevent Tempus Fugit (Lane Davies) from killing the baby Superman. For if there is no Superman, Fugit and other criminals of the world can stay above the law. Understandably, Lois is jarred by this news---her co-worker from 'no-whereseville' is THE Superman, but it does explain Clark's frequent disappearances (which increasingly had gotten on her nerves). Unfortunately, that knowledge gets quickly erased and Lois once again becomes exasperated with Clark's behavior in subsequent episodes. We would not receive permanent resolution of their tension until later seasons.

It's Clark's turn to become jealous when Lois gets involved with Agent Dan Scardino (Jim Pirri). Scardino is sent to probe Drake's death and subsequently arouses Clark's own resentment. Even a mild-mannered reporter from Kansas becomes caught in the battle for a woman's affections when he realizes that Lois Lane is in fact "Ms. Right for him". Clark also concludes that he must act on the desire to be with Lois. He proposes to Lois during the genuinely cliff-hanging season finale "And The Answer Is..."

Extras in this package include "Lois and Clark: Secrets of Season 2", "Marketing Metropolis: The Fans of Lois and Clark", and a commentary on the "Seasons Greedings" episode by Dean Cain himself. I'm appreciative that the people involved with this series have an understanding of just how much it still means to fans and are not above continuing to work with it. Kudos to Dean Cain himself for giving fans the `inside scoop' on this beloved series.

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