Lois and Clark continues to incorporate Superman mythology creatively--not parodying but paying homage to. In Neverending Battle, Luthor puts Superman to a series of tests that establish he his faster than a speeding bullet and stronger than a locomotive. But this episode goes beyond that. It also establishes the limits of Superman. He cannot be everywhere at once. It is debatable whether an episode with Clark doubting if he should be Superman would have been better now after he has only been Superman for two episodes or later in the series, but for better or worse, the producers put it here. Clark's limitations weren't physical but mental. He was concerned for the people he could not help.
Paralleling Clark's struggle in this episode is Jimmy. Jimmy wants to be a journalist, but Perry seems to view him as the kid to fetch donuts and fix his foot massager. His limitation isn't intellectual--he can do the job of a journalist--but mental. It is Clark who encourages him to stand up to Perry. This series isn't content with Perry as a stereotypical editor who yells a lot. We peer into his character and find that he is an Elvis fan.
The Lois and Clark interaction in this episode is what was disappointing. Lois' sister Lucy makes another appearance and again seems useless other than delivering a line about Lois crying over stealing a story from Clark. Lois' cutthroat chase after the Superman story seems in character for her, but Clark's rather vindictive practical joke on her seems out of character for this mild-mannered reporter. Is that it's okay to play mean-spirited practical jokes on people to get back at them a message Superman really wants to portray to children? It doesn't seem to fit with Jesus' command to turn to the other cheek either.
Neverending Battle returns to the formula that made the pilot so great. There is a mystery for Clark to solve. Who is testing Superman? Super strength can't help you solve a mystery. The theme of Clark yearning to be average is revisited. Clark insists to Lois that "except for the flying and the uniform, he could be any ordinary guy." If it wasn't for Clark's out-of-character vindictiveness, this episode would have rated much higher than its 4 out of 10. One question that bugged me the whole episode, "Why does the Daily Planet restroom look like a supply closet?"
-Matthew Miller
Find this review and more at tv.swingthesickle.commoreless
EDIT
Episode Summary
Is Superman faster than a speeding bullet? Is he more powerful than a locomotive? Can he leap tall buildings in a single bound? Lex Luthor wants to know, so he manufactures his own major disasters to determine the extent of Superman's abilities. Meanwhile, Clark learns exactly how far Lois will go to get a story.moreless
Watch Online
-
K Callan
Martha Kent
-
Michael Landes
Jimmy Olsen (season 1)
-
Dean Cain
Clark Kent/Superman
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
See All-
Trivia
ADD TRIVIA- Goof The hang of Superman's cape is completely different in various scenes. In some, the cape ends in a long, rectangular section several inches down his chest. In others, it ends in a point, laid back over his shoulders, higher up on his neckline. Edit
- Nitpick: For someone trying to maintain a secret identity, Clark certainly is careless in this episode! He changes clothes in The Daily Planet, and he completely fixes up his apartment in the few minutes between his landlord's two visits! Edit
- Clark seems to have quite a bit of difficulty changing into his suit in the beginning, so apparently he hasn't started wearing it under his regular clothes yet, and he hasn't yet perfected the "spin and change" that he later does so easily. Edit
-
Notes
ADD NOTES- Guest star Larry Linville is perhaps most famous for playing the role of Frank Burns on the TV series M*A*S*H. Edit
- Although actor Tony Jay appears here with Monique and Jules among Luthor's minions, his character is not yet as strongly developed as Luthor's right hand man; Asabi is still functioning as Luthor's majordomo. Edit
- This marks the final episode in which Elizabeth Barondes plays Lucy Lane. Roxana Zal takes over the role for the second season episode "Metallo". Edit
-
Quotes
ADD QUOTES- Lois: I stole it. I have never stolen a story before in my life. How could I do that? It's him. It's Superman. I mean, ever since he held me in his arms, there's something between us, Lucy. I know it. There's this connection. Lucy: You should be ashamed of yourself. Lois: I am ashamed of myself. I'm ashamed of myself. Lucy: And you'll never do it again? Lois: I won't. Never again. Lucy: And you'll apologize to Clark Kent? Lois: Not in this millennium. Edit
- Monique: Let me hire a couple of shooters and I'll turn Superman into a large wet spot. Testing won't be necessary. Lex: Have you ever read Sun Tzu's The Art of War? Monique: I'm waiting for the Reader's Digest version. Lex: Sun Tzu was a general od ancient imperial China, and he teaches us, paraphrasing, of course, 'Knowledge precedes victory, ignorance precedes defeat.' Monique: Really? Well, an Uzi precedes a bloody mess, even in China. Edit
- Cat: 'We' sounds good to me. We, isn't that French for 'yes'? Clark: Ahem, not in Smallville. Edit
-
Allusions
ADD ALLUSIONS- Lex's falcon is named Faust. Dr Faustus is a well known fictional character who sells his soul to the Devil in order to get the woman he wants. Edit
- Lex Luthor: Have you read The Art Of War? Written by Sun Tzu, The Art of War is one of the oldest and most famous studies of strategy and has had a huge influence on military planning, business tactics, and beyond. Edit
- Lex Luthor: We know Superman can jump high but is he, say, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound? Is he more powerful than a locomotive? Starting with the Max Fleisher cartoons Superman is described as being "Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Edit
Show Forums
Add a Topic
See All
Last Activity
Replies
-
Lois and Clark : Season 5 and 6 ???
07/10/1115
-
Best Lois Lane
04/03/1127
-
Pic game! Which ep is it from
12/06/101850
-
L&C and just plain talking
10/17/10637
-
L&C Hangman
10/12/103930
-
The Family Hour
S 4 : Ep 22
Aired 6/14/97
-
Toy Story
S 4 : Ep 21
Aired 6/7/97
-
I've Got You Under My Skin
S 4 : Ep 20
Aired 5/31/97
-
Voice From The Past (3)
S 4 : Ep 19
Aired 4/26/97
Related Shows
Season 1 Episodes
See AllEp 20
The House of Luthor (2)
Ep 19
Barbarians at the Planet (1)
Ep 18
Fly Hard
Ep 17
Vatman
Ep 16
The Rival
Ep 15
Foundling
Ep 14
The Ides of Metropolis
Ep 13
Illusions of Grandeur
Ep 12
Witness
Ep 11
All Shook Up
Ep 10
Honeymoon in Metropolis
Ep 9
Pheromone, My Lovely
Ep 8
The Man of Steel Bars
Ep 7
The Green, Green Glow of Home
Ep 6
Smart Kids
Ep 5
I've Got a Crush on You
Ep 4
Requiem for a Superhero
Ep 3
I'm Looking Through You
Ep 2
Neverending Battle
Ep 2
Pilot (2)
Ep 1
Strange Visitor (From Anot...
Pilot (1)
-
gabfan31 EDITOR
User Score: 1486
-
ntonks_tvtome TRUSTED
User Score: 345
-
bobpage87
User Score: 337
-
GaryLieu
User Score: 144
-
boechsner
User Score: 137
-
Ensimismada
User Score: 120
-
Olieooni
User Score: 96
-
kellyls3158
User Score: 92
-
JaneE2001
User Score: 72
-
chance2002iu
User Score: 52
-
scorpionqueen86
User Score: 30
More
Less
