Warning: Spoilers for Superman & Lois season 2, episode 11
The ending of Superman & Lois season 2, episode 11, titled “Truth and Consequences”, completely changes the Arrowverse series. Clark (Tyler Hoechlin) made a game-changing decision when he chose to tell Lana (Emmanuelle Chriqui) his secret. Her reaction hasn’t been revealed, but the discovery is sure to have massive repercussions in the episodes to come.
The conflict with Ally Allston (Rya Kihlstedt) has had unexpected consequences for the Kent family. Superman’s search for Bizarro Jonathan (Jordan Elsass) took a surprising turn when the latter kidnapped Lana and summoned her Bizarro counterpart. Her encounter with Bizarro Superman threatened Superman’s secret being exposed to a longtime friend, but this possibility was averted when Clark came to her rescue and managed to come up with a working explanation about Bizarro Jonathan. Even so, the situation caused Clark to reflect on his choice to keep his identity a secret. Now, Lana has joined a very small group of Arrowverse characters who knows that Clark and Superman are one and the same.
In contrast to Sarah (Inde Navarrette), who had suspicions about Jordan that date back to season 1, Lana has been oblivious for years about Clark’s powers. Across all the years they’ve known each other, Clark has successfully hidden all aspects of his true nature from Lana. But as a result of the big reveal, Lana is about to learn some starting truths about Clark, including details about his his alien heritage and the fact that her daughter was dating Superman’s half-Kryptonian son. Based on the implications Lana’s discovery has, the Arrowverse has just irreversibly changed Superman & Lois.
Arrowverse’s Superman Just Broke His Biggest Rule
It was established early on in Superman & Lois that the Kents live by a very important rule, which is to ensure that no one finds out that Clark is Superman. Only a select few, such as General Lane, have been made privy to Clark’s true identity. John Henry Irons only knows Clark’s secret because Lois determined at the time that Superman’s safety depended on it. Even Lois’ sister wasn’t brought into Clark’s confidence. Their adherence to this rule is based on this idea that their family can only remain safe if the world doesn’t know who Superman really is. Seeing how Bizarro Superman’s life turned out strengthened Clark’s convictions, but in the end, he still chose to disclose the truth to Lana.
On account of Lana’s family being dragged into his problems, Clark revaluated his long-held rule and decided that exceptions may sometimes be necessary. Clark breaking his biggest rule is huge for the show, especially since it was a decision that he made willingly. As noted above, the Arrowverse's Steel wouldn’t have found out if Clark’s life wasn’t in danger, but in Lana’s case, coming clean about his identity was purely optional. All along, Clark thought that keeping his secret protected people close to him from harm, but now he understands that it can equally put them in danger. Reaching this realization can fundamentally change Clark’s viewpoints and his relationships with others in future seasons. This new attitude can also increase Clark’s willingness to share his secret with family and friends.
Superman’s Decision Erases The Divide Between The Two Main Stories
By having Clark tell Lana everything, Superman & Lois has effective erased the divide between the show’s two main storylines. For the most part, the Arrowverse series has split its attention between the Kents and the Cushings. While the Kents have been busy dealing with the likes of Anderson, Bizarro, and Ally Allston, the Cushings have been facing problems on a much smaller scale, such as Kyle’s cheating scandal and Lana’s efforts to become Smallville’s next mayor. Now that Lana knows the truth, Superman & Lois no longer has to maintain the disconnect between the two families and their respective issues. That may make it easier for Superman & Lois to streamline its stories in the future.
There’s of course always been some degree of overlap, especially with the romance between Jordan and Sarah. Plus, Superman & Lois notably found ways to rope Sarah, Lana, and Kyle into season 1’s Morgan Edge story. However, none of these characters have really had a clear place in season 2’s Bizarro World arc – until now. In bringing Lana into the mix, Superman & Lois has set the stage for the Cushings to be more involved with the main plot going forward. And that goes for more than just the fight against Ally Allston. Lana can now become a part of the conversations that Superman, Lois, Steel, General Lane, and the kids regularly have about Clark’s powers, his enemies, and other important matters. Even if Sarah and Kyle contain to remain in the dark, they too will inevitably be affected by the change this will make to Lana’s life due to their proximity to her.
Lana Knowing Clark’s Secret Sets Up More Superman & Lois Changes
In addition to its massive Lana twist, Superman & Lois season 2, episode 11 set up more big changes to the show. Lana being aware of Clark’s secret will naturally lead into some meaningful discussions in the episodes to come, particularly in regards to whether or not Sarah deserves to know as well. The shock and feeling of betrayal that may come with knowing Clark’s secret will likely pass in time, but it will have a lasting impact on several character dynamics in the show, and not just the ones that Lana shares with Clark and Lois. Regardless of whether or not she pushes for Sarah to be told the truth, this can change how she interacts with both her daughter and her estranged husband. She’s always been open with her family, but the pressure of knowing Clark’s Superman identity will most assuredly challenge that and possibly motivate her to keep secrets of her own.
There’s also the matter of Superman & Lois’ Jordan-Sarah romance. So far, what’s hindered their romance the most is Clark’s secret. In Jordan’s mind at least, they can be together if that obstacle is eliminated. Early in the season, Jordan was desperate to tell her everything but Clark denied him that chance. That being said, her mother finding out the truth lays the groundwork for the characters to revisit the issue and perhaps make a different decision. Jordan’s parents (and Lana) may not want her to know, but Superman & Lois moving in this direction with Jordan greatly boosts the chances of her eventually discovering that Jordan is Superman’s son.
Superman & Lois returns May 31 on The CW.