Superman steps into the 90's with this updated version of the Classic TV show.
As the title suggests, Lois and Clark focuses more on the relationship between the two main characters rather than Superman himself, although the Man Of Steel does feature heavily in the show.
The series is great because it has some genuinely entertaining stories and while it won't win any prizes for gritty realism it is a fantastic way to just chill out and enjoy some fine quality engaging entertainment.
The cast is largely Superb. Teri Hatcher, while no great shakes as an actress is the best Lois Lane that has ever graced the screen. Her predecessor Margot Kidder of the 80's feature films was all mouth and always had to be rescued, but Hatcher's Lois Lane has the mouth but has the toughness to back it up and is all wrapped up in a pseudo narcissistic ego shell with a soft centre. Special mention must go to Lane Smith as Perry White. His performance as the grizzled editor of the daily planet is a joy to watch being both very emotional and hilariously funny. The decision to make White an Elvis obsessive was risky but a stroke of genius as his King stories are one of the shows highlights. John Shea does a fine job of Lex Luthor. Yes he's not bald but it's a minor oversight as Shea gives a fine bad guy performance. The only issue seems to be that the writers seem to make Luther driven more by profit than power which to me cheapens the character a touch but the performance more than makes up for it.
Although the supporting cast is fantastic, the main star Dean Cain is a mixed bag. His performance as Clark Kent really can't be faulted. Here, Cain plays a much more confident Clark Kent then anyone before, but in this he is engaging, humorous and at times very touching with the chemistry between him and Hatcher being very good indeed. This is unfortunately where the good things stop because as Superman, Cain seems hugely uncomfortable. Cain certainly has the looks but as Superman he looks like he has just stepped out the shower with is wet-look hair and he stands with a hunch and folds his arms with a stiffness that just isn't in character for the man of steel as if he is almost embarrassed to be wearing the famous blue suit. It's pretty obvious that most of the effort from Cain is put into Clark Kent as he doesn't even change his voice for his transformation into the blue one. This is either shallow acting from Cain or a masterful performance to stop the focus being on Superman and more on his alter ego.
Of course the series isn't without it's faults. Some of the plots in the later series were ridiculous and great characters like Tracy Scoggins Cat were dropped after the first season. The series also suffers from awful special effect. The pilot episode had some really great flying effects which is probably the most importing aspect of anything Superman related but the following episodes took a major downfall in that department with most of the flying scenes more akin to the 50's Superman TV show than the 90's. The costume department seems to have not made up their mind with the famous suit going through some pretty horrible changes like a plunging neckline, over-sized 'S' on Cains belly rather than his chest and a cape that is attached to the outside of the suit (A lot of wasted effort as it was perfect in the pilot!)
Don't let any of these flaws put you off though. This is a great series that was as much a part of the 90's as anything else and rightly so.
As the title suggests, Lois and Clark focuses more on the relationship between the two main characters rather than Superman himself, although the Man Of Steel does feature heavily in the show.
The series is great because it has some genuinely entertaining stories and while it won't win any prizes for gritty realism it is a fantastic way to just chill out and enjoy some fine quality engaging entertainment.
The cast is largely Superb. Teri Hatcher, while no great shakes as an actress is the best Lois Lane that has ever graced the screen. Her predecessor Margot Kidder of the 80's feature films was all mouth and always had to be rescued, but Hatcher's Lois Lane has the mouth but has the toughness to back it up and is all wrapped up in a pseudo narcissistic ego shell with a soft centre. Special mention must go to Lane Smith as Perry White. His performance as the grizzled editor of the daily planet is a joy to watch being both very emotional and hilariously funny. The decision to make White an Elvis obsessive was risky but a stroke of genius as his King stories are one of the shows highlights. John Shea does a fine job of Lex Luthor. Yes he's not bald but it's a minor oversight as Shea gives a fine bad guy performance. The only issue seems to be that the writers seem to make Luther driven more by profit than power which to me cheapens the character a touch but the performance more than makes up for it.
Although the supporting cast is fantastic, the main star Dean Cain is a mixed bag. His performance as Clark Kent really can't be faulted. Here, Cain plays a much more confident Clark Kent then anyone before, but in this he is engaging, humorous and at times very touching with the chemistry between him and Hatcher being very good indeed. This is unfortunately where the good things stop because as Superman, Cain seems hugely uncomfortable. Cain certainly has the looks but as Superman he looks like he has just stepped out the shower with is wet-look hair and he stands with a hunch and folds his arms with a stiffness that just isn't in character for the man of steel as if he is almost embarrassed to be wearing the famous blue suit. It's pretty obvious that most of the effort from Cain is put into Clark Kent as he doesn't even change his voice for his transformation into the blue one. This is either shallow acting from Cain or a masterful performance to stop the focus being on Superman and more on his alter ego.
Of course the series isn't without it's faults. Some of the plots in the later series were ridiculous and great characters like Tracy Scoggins Cat were dropped after the first season. The series also suffers from awful special effect. The pilot episode had some really great flying effects which is probably the most importing aspect of anything Superman related but the following episodes took a major downfall in that department with most of the flying scenes more akin to the 50's Superman TV show than the 90's. The costume department seems to have not made up their mind with the famous suit going through some pretty horrible changes like a plunging neckline, over-sized 'S' on Cains belly rather than his chest and a cape that is attached to the outside of the suit (A lot of wasted effort as it was perfect in the pilot!)
Don't let any of these flaws put you off though. This is a great series that was as much a part of the 90's as anything else and rightly so.