The final season of The CW’s Superman & Lois is only three episodes old, but it’s already been a bloodbath. We’ve already seen Superman (Tyler Hoechlin) die by getting his heart ripped out by Doomsday. Then to make extra sure he was dead, Lex Luthor (Michael Cudlitz) stamped on Superman’s heart in front of his son, Jordan (Alex Garfin). And now — spoilers past this point — this week’s episode killed off Sam Lane (Dylan Walsh).
Granted, he goes out heroically, on his own terms. In the episode, Lex has sent Doomsday to procure a serum made from Superman’s blood — potentially to make another Doomsday or worse. Instead, after getting shot by a mole in the DOD (Department of Defense), Sam injects himself with the serum. While Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch) and Jonathan Kent (Michael Bishop) watch helplessly, Sam walks up to Doomsday and tells Lex that he refuses to surrender to him. So Doomsday snaps Sam’s neck, killing the second of Lois’s loved ones in three episodes. She screams in horror, and Doomsday leaves.
But as soon as he does, John Henry Irons (Wolé Parks) picks up Sam’s body and flies him to the Fortress of Solitude. There, Sam’s juiced-up heart is transplanted into Superman’s body… As a hologram version of Sam explains to Lois (also the second hologram of a dead loved one she’s seen in two episodes), they were looking for a suitable donor for Superman, to give him a new heart. With Sam mortally injured, and Doomsday on his way, he made a decision: he will be the donor, sacrificing his own life for the happiness of his daughter, and the life of his son-in-law.
And wonder of wonders, the episode does end with Superman coming back to life… Though likely, as with the Death of Superman storyline this is loosely based on, giving him a human heart will probably lead to a weaker, more human Superman.
But yeah, Sam Lane is dead. And while the episode began with the seeming funeral of Clark Kent, it was actually the funeral of Sam Lane, complete with Jordan and Jonathan wearing versions of Sam’s iconic Hawaiian shirts.
So, Is Dylan Walsh Leaving Superman & Lois? Is That It For Sam Lane?
Technically, everyone is leaving Superman & Lois because this is the last season. But Dylan Walsh was one of the actors relegated to guest star status due to budget cuts. The team behind the show promised to give those who were returning significant arcs. And it seems like that Sam Lane popping up to die and save Superman’s life in the process is pretty significant.
It’s entirely possible we could see Walsh return in some form before the season ends, either in a flashback or more holograms. But likely this was his final full episode as Sam Lane.
Where To Watch Superman & Lois:
Superman & Lois Season 4 Premiere Dates And Episode Guide:
The final season of Superman & Lois premieres with two episodes on The CW on Monday, October 17, 2024 at 8 pm ET / PT. Episodes then stream the next day on The CW website and app. After the premiere, it will air once a week for 10 episodes total in Season 4, with exact air dates TBA.
Here’s the full list of episodes in Superman & Lois Season 4, with premiere dates:
- Monday, October 7, 2024: Superman & Lois, Season 4, Episode 1: “The End & The Beginning”
- Monday, October 7, 2024: Superman & Lois, Season 4, Episode 2: “A World Without”
- Monday, October 14, 2024: Superman & Lois, Season 4, Episode 3: “Always My Hero”
- TBA: Superman & Lois, Season 4, Episode 4
- TBA: Superman & Lois, Season 4, Episode 5
- TBA: Superman & Lois, Season 4, Episode 6
- TBA: Superman & Lois, Season 4, Episode 7
- TBA: Superman & Lois, Season 4, Episode 8
- TBA: Superman & Lois, Season 4, Episode 9
- TBA: Superman & Lois, Season 4, Episode 10 *SERIES FINALE*
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