Superman & Lois season 3 is underway with Tyler Hoechlin donning a far less padded suit as the Man of Steel. Superman & Lois marks one of Tyler Hoechlin's five Superman iterations, following on from Hoechlin's portrayal of the character in the separate Arrowverse. Hoechlin has worn a number of different versions of Superman's classic red and blue suit in his various incarnations of the character, with the latest on Superman & Lois finally removing a major issue from the first two seasons.
Hoechlin's suit in Superman & Lois seasons 1 and 2 included notable areas of padding, particularly in the upper body. This proved to be a somewhat irksome issue for many viewers in the show's apparent efforts to emphasize Superman's muscular physique. Set photos show this is no longer the case, with Hoechlin donning a much more form-fitting suit that seems to have little, if any, padding (seen below).
Aside from additions like Hoechlin's five o'clock shadow as Clark Kent making his new take on Superman distinct, what made the suit's padding in the first two seasons of Superman & Lois annoying to many viewers was the observation that Hoechlin required no such assistance. Hoechlin's lithe physique made him quite convincing in the role, a more athletic type of Man of Steel to Henry Cavill's burlier DCEU version. Though the suit's padding was far from enough to ruin Superman & Lois, the loss of it and other cosmetic changes to the suit are decided improvements.
How Superman's Costume Is Different In Superman & Lois Season 3
As a character whose powers include immense superhuman strength, Superman's musculature has long been emphasized in comics, animation, and live-action portrayals. The redesigned suit for Superman & Lois season 3 captures this well, showing off all the physical work Hoechlin has put in for the role. Fight scenes like Superman & Lois's Oldboy-inspired hallway brawl now showcase his hard-earned physique much more prominently.
A few other aesthetic changes also make the new Superman & Lois suit an improvement from past seasons. The shade of blue on the body of the suit is a darker Navy blue with a similarly darkened shade of red for the cape, while the S-shield has been given a textured design. All of these elements elevate the suit above any other Hoechlin has previously worn in his Superman performances.
The initial suit worn by Hoechlin in Superman & Lois was generally seen as a superior version to the iterations he wore in the Arrowverse. Still, the unnecessary padding in the first two seasons created a nitpick that Superman & Lois season 3 seems to have finally addressed. That change has granted Tyler Hoechlin a great and modified new Superman suit, allowing him to fully shine in Superman & Lois season 3.