Adventures of Superman

I'm always afraid to watch something I really loved as a kid, for the obvious reason that a lot of times, they just don't hold up. No such worries when the episode is 'Around The World With Superman'. If anything, it comes off even better.



Best touch : Ann is able to tell, even on the show, that Clark and Superman sound the same, something I suspect viewers of all ages have noticed and wondered why no one caught on. It doesn't hurt that Ann's motivation for the contest is completely unselfish. Another nice touch is that while Superman, as expected, helps Ann get her sight back, it's done by way of aiding modern science, not pulling out some Kryptonian miracle or wacky invention. The cherry is not the promised tour itself, which of course is impossible to convey on a show, but the fact that Ann returns to find that Superman's efforts have restored her family, shattered by the accident that blinded her. Why did he do it? Because he could--usually a reason for why bad people do things--but in this case, a job for Superman. Try keeping a dry eye through this one.

The Daily Planet was sponsoring a contest for children. The children had to write a letter about why the world is beautiful. The winner would fly around the world with Superman. The show starts with Superman flying into Perry White's office to read the winning letter. Elaine Carson won the contest with her letter stating that "The trees are as green in Arabia as they are outside my window and the people are as beautiful as love".



After Superman reads the letter, he leaves and the scene changes to where Lois and Clark walk into an apartment building to tell Elaine that she won the contest. When they reached the door, a woman walks out and claims she is Elaine Carson and she is very busy. Lois and Clark walk in the room and they see a girl sitting on the couch. Her name is Ann Carson and she is the one who wrote the letter. Ann is excited to find out that she had won the contest and she wants her mother to take a trip around the world, because her mother works very hard.



Ann is blind and she does not believe in Superman. Clark tries to explain to her that the contest is for children and not for adults. Clark then tells her that Superman wants to take her. Even if she can not see, Superman would describe everything to her. Ann does not believe that and she is insistent that her mother take the trip. Then Ann explains what had happened to her and her family; her father was driving a car, they got into an accident, Ann lost her vision, and her father left her and her mother. Elaine comes back into the apartment and tells everyone to leave them alone.



Clark went to see Dr. Anderson, who operated on Ann's eyes. He informs Clark that he knows there is something lodged in the optic nerve but he can not find where it is. A little humor is placed in this serious episode and that is when the doctor tells Clark that he used the finest X-Ray in the world, unless Clark knows of one better. Clark smiles at the doctor and comments that he might.



Clark went back to the apartment to see Ann and to convince her he is Superman. He asked Ann to whisper something very softly while he went into another room to hear her. A tear has to come from your eye when she said "I want my daddy back home again". Clark came out of the other room and repeats what Ann said. She is shocked and that is when she starts to believe in Superman.



Lois came back to the building to wait for Elaine. Elaine explained to Lois that she blamed her husband for the accident, blamed him for Ann's blindness and that she was just cruel to him. He could not take it anymore so he left. Now it is too late for them to talk to each other without involving lawyers. Lois told Elaine that at first she wanted to help for the sake of the contest, now she wanted to help for the sake of people.



Elaine and Lois walked up to the apartment while Clark changed into his costume. Superman told them that there is a piece of glass lodged in the eyes and he will assist Dr. Anderson with the operation to retrieve Ann's sight. After the operation, Superman flew Ann around the world, showing her all the famous points of interest. When they got back there was a surprise waiting for Ann, her father.



Ann saw her mother and father together, and she ran into his arms. Her father held her, and turned and kissed his wife Elaine. Ann's wish came true, she got her daddy back.



This episode did not have criminals, violent gun play, or even fights. What this episode did have was Superman and Lois helping a family get back together. This episode should tug at your heart when Ann, in her own unselfish way, wanted her mother to go on a trip around the world, because she works very hard and was always upset, and secondly, when she whispered she wanted her father back home. Lastly, when you see all three back as a family, it gives you a wonderful feeling.



This one is a definite classic for season two. One question I have though: If Ann was blind, how did she write the letter in the first place?