Superman & Lois just explained why the Arrowverse’s Man of Steel takes so many measures to protect his secret identity. Since the beginning of his superhero career, Kal-El has maintained a dual life as the Big Blue Boy Scout and Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent. This is a traditional element of his story that’s present in almost every adaptation of the character, whether it be the movies, TV shows, or comics.
Since the Arrowverse didn’t introduce its take on Superman until he was already the protector of Metropolis, a good bit about his backstory hadn’t really been shown on screen. Much of what is known about his early years comes from sporadic flashbacks, exposition, and the brief overview of his past in the Superman & Lois series premiere. The Arrowverse took steps to fill in the remaining gaps in Superman & Lois season 1, episode 11, titled “A Brief Reminiscence In-Between Cataclysmic Events”, which offered a much-needed origin story for Clark Kent (Tyler Hoechlin) that explored the creation of the Fortress of Solitude, how he met Lois (Bitsie Tulloch), and more.
The episode also saw Clark balancing his dual identities, plus it provided a reason for why he feels it necessary to have an alter ego. After his wedding, Clark told Lois that all this time, it’s been about her (even though she wasn’t always a part of his life). According to Clark, he somehow knew that this would happen one day and that he would eventually have a family he would need to protect. That’s apparently why he has been so careful to keep people from finding out that “Clark Kent” is really Superman in disguise.
Lois specifically being at the center of it is a fitting explanation – particularly for the Arrowverse incarnation of Superman since his romance with Lois Lane is so vital to his character. This is mostly in line with what’s said or implied in most versions of his story. Typically, Superman – being the most powerful being on the planet – is less concerned with his own safety and more worried about his enemies using his loved ones against him. Clark has always understood that his identity being public knowledge would make it next to impossible for him to enjoy a quiet life with Lois, whether it be in Metropolis or Smallville.
Unfortunately, the big twist in episode 11 threatens to undo everything that Clark has done to keep his secret and his family safe from harm. Thanks to a Kryptonian memory probe, Morgan Edge (Adam Rayner) now knows everything. The fear of Edge telling the world the truth about who he really is forced Clark into a corner, and made it possible for Edge to turn him into the evil Superman that John Henry Irons (Wolé Banks) warned them about. Hopefully, they’ll be able to revert him back to normal, but that won’t end their problems. As long as Edge lives, the danger of Clark’s secret being exposed remains in Superman & Lois.