Warning: Spoilers for Superman & Lois season 2, episode 3.
Jonathan’s big decision in Superman & Lois season 2 has potentially huge implications for his character, even though it’s not guaranteed that he’ll get what he wants. Ever since season 1, it was theorized that Jonathan (Jordan Elsass) would eventually try to get powers of his own by using X-Kryptonite. Now, it seems that the show may indeed be heading in that direction.
Unlike Jordan (Alex Garfin), Jonathan apparently didn’t inherit any of their father’s abilities. This created a struggle for Jonathan in season 1, but it appeared that with some support from Lois (Bitsie Tulloch), he would eventually learn to cope with having a normal existence. Things changed for Jonathan in Superman & Lois season 2 when he figured out that his rival on the football team is using X-Kryptonite, a drug that gives humans the powers of Superman. But instead of exposing Timmy or telling Clark (Tyler Hoechlin) about it, Jonathan went directly to his new girlfriend and asked to buy some for himself.
Superman & Lois season 2, episode 3, titled “The Thing in the Mines” implied that Jonathan is on the cusp of developing powers. However, that may not necessarily what the show has in store for him. X-Kryptonite may have given Timmy super strength, but the same may not be the case for Jonathan. So far, X-Kryptonite has only been shown to work on humans. Regardless of his lack of abilities, Jonathan is biologically half-human and half-Kryptonian, which is why he may be affected differently. In fact, it’s entirely possible that he won’t receive any benefits at all. There’s no evidence yet that X-Kryptonite works on Kryptonians.
As opposed to secretly juicing X-Kryptonite and having enhanced strength for a multi-episode arc, it may be that Jonathan will instead remain without powers. For the character, such a realization could prove devastating and lead to more developments later on down the line. X-Kryptonite failing to work on him because of his Kryptonian bloodline could further his frustrations and make him take even more desperate measures in the future. It may also force Jonathan to finally come to terms with the idea that he’ll never be like his father, or even Jordan.
Regardless of what effect the drug will have on him, Jonathan’s decision is sure to have massive, negative repercussions in the episodes to come. It goes without saying that Clark and Lois will be enraged when they find out what he’s up to (whether it works or not). What follows could create a divide within their family that may be difficult to overcome. Getting to this point could take time, but it may be that Superman & Lois is slowly building up to Jonathan becoming an apprentice or successor to Steel (Wolé Parks). Hints of a bond forming between the two has led to speculation that he might one day don Steel’s armor. Jonathan may not be fated to ever have any real powers, but the possibility of him becoming a superhero is still on the table.
Superman & Lois releases new episodes on Tuesdays on The CW.