Key Takeaways
- Superman & Lois’ Lex Luthor is the most compelling and intimidating version of the character.
- Lex Luthor gets his hands dirty and actively participates in his evil schemes, making him grittier and tougher.
- Lex Luthor’s late arrival in the show adds impact to his character, creating a more intense final showdown for Superman & Lois.
How did it take a show that’s destined to end in just a few weeks to finally come up with the most interesting and intimidating Lex Luthor of all time? Here’s hoping that James Gunn is taking notes of how Superman & Lois has used the character (who is also masterfully played by Michael Cudlitz) and is going to incorporate some of the Arrowverse version of the villain into the DCU.
Superman & Lois is far from the first television show or movie that casts Lex Luthor as the ultimate enemy of the Man of Steel. Until now, it was hard to argue anyone really managed to embody the swarmy, sleazy, and brilliant baddie than Gene Hackman did in the Christopher Reeves versions of the Superman movies. However, Michael Rosenbaum might be a close number two in Smallville as he portrayed a more cool, calm and collected Lex. But Cudlitz’s version is now the most compelling version of the character and all other Luthor’s should aspire to approach this version of the man.
Related
Superman: Legacy Should Include Lex Luthor (But Not As The Main Villain)
James Gunn will be bringing Superman’s nemesis back to the silver screen in 2025, but the film may be better off without Lex as its big bad.
Superman & Lois Lex Luthor Is All About Doing The Dirty Work
In several movies and television shows where Lex has wreaked havoc, he’s portrayed as an evil nerd. Hackman’s version of the character was sort of a goofy inventor and agent of chaos but In Supergirl and in the Snyderverse – the two most recent appearances of Luthor – he was mostly an offputting weirdo and sociopath with endless amounts of money and plenty of cronies to do his dirty work.
|
Cast |
Tyler Hoechlin, Elizabeth Tulloch, Jordan Elsass, Alex Garfin, Erik Valdez Inde Navarrette |
|---|---|
|
Created By |
Greg Berlanti, Todd Helbing |
|
Showrunner |
Todd Helbing |
The Superman & Lois version of Luthor certainly has his cronies doing work too. Including when he partners with Doomsday to kill Kal-El. But he’s far from the kind of guy who stays above the fray. In fact, he tends to wade into the muck and take some real pleasure in causing pain and suffering for his enemies.
This version of Lex is much grittier and tougher.
This version of Lex is much grittier and tougher. He’s only seen walking around in a prison outfit or a tight-fitting t-shirt. He’s not forced to go around with the bald pate but rather decides to shave it off while he’s serving time and with the beard and mustache, it works for him in coming together for a look that is menacing and like a real person in a way that Jessie Eisenberg’s version in the Snyderverse very much was not.
Lex Luthor Better Late Than Never
One reason why Cudlitz’s Luthor has a little more punch is also because he’s a late arriver. While he’d been mentioned in previous seasons, he didn’t appear until the very end of Season 3. His arrival has felt like even more like the big bad precisely because Superman & Lois have dispatched plenty of other villains over the years. They all felt like the warmup act. Now, the main event is taking place. It’s a shame that this will be the only season that the Kents and Lutheor will be facing off as it’s the final season of the Arrowverse’s in general, but the show has definitely saved the best for last.
It’s also safe to say that if Lex had popped up in Season 1 and the Kents had stopped one plot after another, he would be quite a bit less impressive. That this is the first time viewers have seen this adversary take on the family is a big deal. So far, he’s winning. Having killed Superman (even if he’s back now), killed Lois’ father figured out that the Kents are the superfamily, and even poisoned the mind of Jordan against his mother. Because this is Superman & Lois, it’s not hard to realize that sooner or later, Lex is going to get his, he’s going to be defeated. But for now he’s the biggest bad they’ve faced and it’s even more impressive because he’s not slugging it out so much as undercutting the foundation.
One Of The Biggest Bummers Of Superman & Lois Cancelation
While it’s true that one of the reasons Lex Luthor hits so hard in the Arrowverse show is that he was brought in late and hasn’t been around that long, he’s also someone who would be great to be able to bring back a couple of times to give Superman & Lois some real danger. It’s unfortunate that fans of the show are just weeks away from it ending forever.
On the other hand, a show that features Superman should always come to an end with him squaring off against the biggest of the historical bads. And with Lex going up against the entire family, not just the Man of Steel, the final showdown is going to have quite a bit more of a punch. That Michael Cudlitz has created a character that feels more fully fleshed out than other Lex Luthors is going to make things even more emotional. Superman & Lois has the perfect villain who is perfectly cast and written.
More
Superman & Lois Made A Mistake By Ignoring Supergirl
Superman & Lois made a mistake by avoiding the issue of Supergirl completely during season one.