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Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Season 1, Episode 22 (8 May 1994): “The House of Luthor”
by Deborah Joy LeVine, Daniel LeVine, Alan J. Levi

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 22

Title: “The House of Luthor”

Medium: television series episode

Original airdate: 8 May 1994

Publisher: ABC
Written by: Deborah Joy LeVine, Daniel LeVine
Directed by: Alan J. Levi


10 characters in this story:

Character
(Click links for info about character
and his/her religious practice, affiliation, etc.)
Religious
Affiliation
Team(s)
[Notes]
Pub. #
app.
Superman Superman (Clark Kent) hero
CBR Scale: S Methodist / Kryptonian religion
Kryptonians; Super Friends...  DC 13,409
Lois Lane Lois Lane supporting character
CBR Scale: I Catholic
Raleigh College
[Superman's girlfriend, then wife]
DC 3,859
Jimmy Olsen Jimmy Olsen supporting character hero
CBR Scale: I Lutheran
The Legion of Super-Heroes
[Superman's pal]
DC 1,896
Perry White Perry White supporting character clergy/religious leader
CBR Scale: S Baptist; Elvis worship (ordained)
[Superman's (Clark Kent's) boss; Daily Planet editor] DC 1,574
Jonathan Kent Jonathan Kent supporting character
CBR Scale: S Methodist
[Superman's adoptive father] DC 816
Martha Kent Martha Kent supporting character
CBR Scale: S Methodist
[Superman's adoptive mother] DC 827
Lex Luthor Lex Luthor villain scientist
CBR Scale: S Episcopalian (lapsed); Nietzschean atheist
Injustice League; Secret Six...  DC 1,508
Inspector William Henderson Inspector William Henderson supporting character
  [police commissioner; police detective] DC 123
Cat Grant Cat Grant supporting character
CBR Scale: M Catholic (lapsed); promiscuous hedonist
[Daily Planet gossip columnist; co-worker of Clark Kent] DC 140
Ellen Lane Ellen Lane supporting character
CBR Scale: U Catholic
[Lois Lane's mother] DC 23

This is the second of a two-part episode. In the previous episode (titled "Barbarians at the Planet"), Lex Luthor proposed marriage to Lois Lane after the two had been dating for a few weeks. Lex Luthor also secretly engineered the collapse of the Daily Planet, as a way to distance Lois Lane from the life she was accustomed to and the friends she worked with. So successful were Lex Luthor's maneurvers that at the end of the episode, Lois Lane finally said "Yes" to Lex Luthor's marriage proposal.

Timecode: 0 minutes, 49 seconds: After a brief recap showing snippets of scenes from the previous episode, this episode opens with a rather unusual scene. We see the familiar red, blue and yellow garb of Superman flying across the nighttime Metropolis skyline. Except as the shot changes and we can see the front of the costume, it says "LEX" in a yellow and red shield instead of the familiar big red "S." As the camera pans up we see this is indeed Lex Luthor flying across Metropolis, and NOT the Superman we are familiar with: Clark Kent.

BELOW: Lex Luthor's virtual reality fantasy about flying like Superman and seeing his enemies suffer:

Lex Luthor's virtual reality fantasy about flying like Superman and seeing his enemies suffer larger larger larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 22 (8 May 1994). Written by Deborah Joy LeVine, Daniel LeVine. Directed by Alan J. Levi.

Lex Luthor, in his Superman suit, smiles broadly as he flies. He uses his powers to get a glimpse at people from his life and see what they are up to. He first sees Lois Lane getting fitted for a widding dress. After seeing he touches her and the look on his face indicates that his heart soars to see this woman who he is so genuinely in love with.

Lex Luthor then sees Clark Kent sitting in a run down apartment, laboriously typing away, trying to write something, probably the novel he as often considered writing. The table is strewn with crumpled-up discarded papers, showing that Clark is having a terrible time of it. Clark shakes his head in frustration and crumples up the paper he is working on, tossing it on the floor. Lex Luthor laughs.

Lex Luthor then sees Jimmy Olsen sitting on a park bench, shivering in the cold. Jimmy circles "Diswashers Wanted" ad in a newspaper help wanted section. Lex Luthor smiles and shake his head. Lex Luthor then sees Jack wearing an orange jump suit, pacing behind bars in prison.

Lex Luthor flies away from Metropolis and sees the coastal city, apparently Miami in Florida, and then sees a beach home where Perry White naps on the porch.

Lex Luthor then sees a cemetery. The camera zooms in one grave in particular. A simple headstone features the word "SUPERMAN" and underneath that, Superman's familiar S from his costume. At the bottom of the headstone are the letters "R.I.P." (Rest In Peace). This headstone represents one of Lex Luthor's fondest wishes: The destruction of Superman.

The scene changes from Lex Luthor flying through the night sky to his penthouse apartment, where the real Lex Luthor sits in a comfortable chair in front of his chair and a large Buddha statue. Lex Luthor is wearing virtual reality goggles and moving his arms as if he were flying. Everything we just saw was just a virtual reality scene that Lex Luthor was immersed in. Lex Luthor is actually making "swooshing" sounds, having been so immersed in the illusion that he didn't even realize he was making his own flight sound effects. Lex Luthor takes his virtual reality goggles off, enraptured, clearly enjoying life now that everything seems to be going his way. Soon, he believes, Lois Lane will be his wife, his enemies at the Daily Planet will be vanquished, and Superman will be no more.

[Roll opening credits.]

After the opening credits, we see Clark Kent in his apartment, typing on a laptop computer. Tired of doing that, he calls Perry White, who is retired and living in Florida. Perry is very relaxed, but extremely bored. He hates the way things are for him now. He lives for his work at the newspaper. Perry asks Clark how his novel is coming. Clark admits that it isn't going so well, and explains that he has been spending most of his time trying to figure out what really happened at the Daily Planet. Perry cajoles Clark into asking for his help, and then Perry uses Clark's call as an excuse to leave his retirement home (where Perry's wife Alice is apparently quite content) and return to Metropolis.

Much of this episode focuses on the efforts of Clark Kent, Jimmy Olsen, Perry White and Jack to investigate what happened to the Daily Planet. Eventually they are able to discover evidence of Lex Luthor's careful scheme. Toward the end of the episode, Clark and his friends bring the evidence to the police and then, along with the authorities, they confront Lex Luthor at his scheduled wedding to Lois Lane.

Lois Lane doesn't actively participate in Clark Kent's investigation. She is still mad at Clark for being suspicuous of Lex Luthor, the man she has now decided to marry. But Lois Lane is a smart woman, and she starts to have doubts of her own about Lex Luthor and whether she should actually marry him. Throughout this episode, Lex Luthor really is very charming and sweet. But as much as he tries, he can't totally mask who he really is inside.

One thing that should be reiterated here: Lex Luthor's desire to marry Lois is not part of some plot or scheme. He really, truly is in love with her and he really does intend to spend the rest of his life with her.

But before that happens, a number of notable scenes take place, excerpted below:

Timecode: 6 minutes, 17 seconds: Lex Luthor and Lois Lane are in Lex Luthor's penthouse apartment/office, looking at blue prints for a spacious home they are planning together.

Lex Luthor: You see, this is right, but this is wrong. This is wrong. I want the doors on the master bedroom balcony to be sliders, you see, because French doors make the room look too small.

Lois Lane: Lex, the master bedroom is 3,000 square feet. That's twice as big as my whole apartment.

Lex Luthor: And what about this, what about this exercise area? Should we move that back down to the ground floor?

Lois Lane: No, I think that's right. It'll be great to get up first thing in the morning and see that stair climber staring me in the face saying, "Now, Lois, now."

Lex Luthor: No, darling, that'll be my line.

This is a subtle allusion to their upcoming marital intimacy, something that Lex Luthor is naturally looking forward to and slyly hinting at. Yet, he does in a very suave, rather than crude, way. Lex Luthor kisses Lois Lane gently on the lips.

As Lex Luthor and Lois Lane are now engaged and their wedding is coming up soon, some people might think that they are sleeping together. They are not. Doing so would, of course, be in violation of traditional religious, Biblical, and ethical values, but in the 1990s pre-marital sexual relations were widely engaged in by people from Lois Lane's and Lex Luthor's social and cultural background. Lex had clearly demonstrated that he had no intention of following the ethical or sexual guidelines of any organized religion. Lois had never been overtly portrayed as a devout churchgoer and it was known that she had at least sexual relationship before this time. She probably had others. But since the time Lois Lane met Clark Kent in the first episode of this series, it seems that she has not had any close boyfriends other than Lex Luthor, and she has apparently not had sex with anybody in all this time (the first season of this series).

The fact that Lois Lane and Lex Luthor have never been sexually intimate with each other is something made very clear by Lois Lane's next few lines.

BELOW: Lois Lane and Lex Luthor postpone sexual intimacy until their wedding night:

Lois Lane and Lex Luthor postpone sexual intimacy until their wedding night larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 22 (8 May 1994). Written by Deborah Joy LeVine, Daniel LeVine. Directed by Alan J. Levi.

Lois Lane: Thank you for understanding.

Lex Luthor: What?

Lois Lane: About me wanting to wait until our wedding night. I just want it to be special.

Lex Luthor: It will be.

Lex Luthor's personal assistant Mrs. Cox enters the room to go over some business details with Lex. Specifically, she tells her boss about when the "Series K" field tests will be conducted later today. Lois doesn't know it, but this is a test of the efficacy of the Kryptonite they have obtained (in the previous episode). Mrs. Cox answer the phone and tells Lex Luthor he has a call from Chicago. Lex excuses himself to take the call in the library, leaving Lois alone with Mrs. Cox.

Lois is obviously very suspicuous of Mrs. Cox, and clearly wonders if Lex has been having an inatimate relationship with is beautiful but coldly-behaved personal assistant.

Lois watches as Mrs. Cox sits on Lex Luthor's desk, crossing her legs while wearing a rather short skirt. Timecode: 7 minutes, 50 seconds:

Lois Lane: So, what's Series "K"?

Mrs. Cox: Something we've been working on. The details are confidential.

Lois Lane: Lex and I don't have any secrets.

Mrs. Cox: Really?

[There is an uncomfortable pause between the two women.]

Mrs. Cox is clearly challenging Lois Lane's assertion that there are no secrets between her and Lex. Lois seems to be realizing that there is much going on between Mrs. Cox and her husband-to-be - professionally and perhaps personally as well - that she does not know about.]

BELOW: Mrs. Cox (Lex Luthor's personal assistant) doesn't isn't sorry that her husband died:

Mrs. Cox (Lex Luthor's personal assistant) doesn't isn't sorry that her husband died larger larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 22 (8 May 1994). Written by Deborah Joy LeVine, Daniel LeVine. Directed by Alan J. Levi.

Lois Lane: Mrs. Cox, is there a Mr. Cox?

Mrs. Cox: He died.

Lois Lane: Oh. I'm so sorry. I--

Mrs. Cox: Don't be. I'm not.

The look on Lois Lane's face tells us she is somewhat shocked to hear this. She thinks that Mrs. Cox is a rather frightening or unappealing person.

[Lex Luthor returns to the room and tells Lex Luthor that will be all for now. Mrs. Cox leaves.]

Lois Lane: I don't like that woman.

Lex Luthor: Why? She's the best assistant I've ever--

[Lex Luthor stops talking, seeing that Lois Lane's face is distressed. Lois, he can see, really doesn't like his assistant.]

Lex Luthor: No, but, Lois, if you're unhappy, she is-- [he was going to say "history"]

Lois Lane: No, really, it's fine. Just . . . Nothing . . .

Lex Luthor: Lois? What is it? What's the matter?

Lois Lane: My mother's coming in, the wedding preparations . . .

Lex Luthor: I know, but what else?

Lois Lane: I was wondering how evrybody was. I haven't talked to Perry, or Jimmy, or Cat . . .

Lex Luthor: Or Clark.

Lois Lane: . . . Or Clark, in weeks.

Lex Luthor: All right, so why don't you give them a call.

Lex Luthor speaks to Lois Lane very warmly through all of this. Throughout their time dating and being engaged, he really has seemed like a gem of a human being while he is with her. He exudes a warm, kind personality and seems very affable and down-to-Earth.

Lois Lane: All right. I think I will . . . Have you hear from Jack?

Lex Luthor: [shakes his head in dismay, acting as if he has been trying to help Jack but can't.] I don't understand that boy. Against my advice, he fires one of the best criminal lawyers in the country [a lawyer that Luthor personally arranged] and hires a woman out of law school. I just-- I tried.

Jack's instincts were right. Of course the attorney that Lex Luthor hired was there only to do Luthor's bidding. It was Luthor who framed Jack in the first place, planting evidence that made it seem as though Jack triggered a bomb in the Daily Planet building.

Lois Lane: I'll talk to him.

Lex Luthor: I doubt that it'll do any good . . . Now, have we decided on the 12-car garage or the 15?

Timecode: 23 minutes, 9 seconds: Lex Luthor had Mrs. Cox call Clark Kent to ask Clark to invite Superman to come meet with Lex to talk about Lois. Superman comes to Lex Luthor's building to meet with him - in a wine cellar. Unfortunately for Superman, Lex Luthor traps Superman in a cage made of steel bars infused with Kryptonite.

But before trapping Superman, Lex Luthor asks Superman to use his friendship with Clark to persuade Clark to attend the upcoming wedding. Lex Luthor is worred about Lois Lane's happiness and he knows that she is unhappy because Clark isn't planning to attend. Lex also invites Superman to the wedding as well.

Superman: You live in a fantasy world, Luthor. Neither Clark nor I will ever do anything to support your marriage to Lois.

Lex Luthor: [sighs] I see. Well, then I suppose I have no further use for you.

[Lex Luthor turns a switch that causes the steel-barred cage to be lowered onto Superman.]

Superman: Bars won't hold me.

Lex Luthor: Oh, I think they will.

[Lex Luthor triggers the switch that fully activates the Kryptonite in the bars of the cage. The bars light up with a bright green glow. Superman grasps the bars and reacts with great pain. He falls to the cement floor of the room they are in.]

Lex Luthor: I live in a fantasy world? Perhaps. But my fantasy is about to come true.

BELOW: Lex Luthor says his fantasy is about to come true:

Lex Luthor says his fantasy is about to come true larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 22 (8 May 1994). Written by Deborah Joy LeVine, Daniel LeVine. Directed by Alan J. Levi.

What does Lex Luthor mean by this? Is the "fantasy" he is referring to his upcoming wedding to Lois Lane, or the death of Superman? Perhaps Luthor's "fantasy", which he believes is "about to come true" is the combination of both of these events.

Timecode: 25 minutes, 57 seconds: Perry White, Jimmy Olsen and Jack are in Clark Kent's apartment sitting down to eat a spicy Cajun-style meal that Perry White knows how to prepare by virtue of him being a Southerner. They have been discussing the various pieces of evidence each of them has obtained - evidence which proves that Lex Luthor was behind the sale and subsequent destruction of the Daily Planet. They also have evidence that Luthor had taken out an insurance policy on the newspaper business which was worth twice what it would cost to rebuild. By destroying the newspaper offices and not rebuilding, he collected $75 million dollars.

Jimmy Olsen: You know, this is all wonderful [that they collected evidence], of course, but the problem is, it's still not gonna bring back the Planet.

BELOW: Perry White tells an inspirational parable of Elvis Presley:

Perry White tells an inspirational parable of Elvis Presley larger larger larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 22 (8 May 1994). Written by Deborah Joy LeVine, Daniel LeVine. Directed by Alan J. Levi.

Perry White: Well, you see . . . Elvis' first recording session with Sam Phillips didn't turn out too well. That was June '54. Yeah, but, you see July, he was right back in the studio. Started turning out his first couple of hits.

Jack: Tell me there's a point to this.

Jimmy Olsen: Elvis didn't give up, we won't either.

Jimmy smiles, pleased with himself that he was able to interpret Perry White's parable. Jimmy has known Perry far longer than Jack has, so Jimmy understands how the Chief expresses his religious beliefs through parables based on the live of Elvis.

Jimmy Olsen: [to Jack] You got it?

Jack: Yeah, I got it.

Timecode: 28 minutes, 28 seconds: Lex Luthor and Los Lane are riding in his limousine together after an evening watching a production of Othello.

Lois Lane: Lex, when the Planet was destroyed, you lost a lot of money, didn't you?

Lex Luthor: Hmm. Well, luckily I have broad sholders and deep pockets.

Lois Lane: But, but I mean, it wasn't a total loss. You had insurance?

Lex Luthor: Oh, sure. Several policies. But unfortunately, not enough to warrant reconstruction. Why the sudden concern?

BELOW: Lex Luthor admits he bought Daily Planet so he could woo Lois and says it was fate that they be together:

Lex Luthor admits he bought Daily Planet so he could woo Lois and says it was fate that they be together larger larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 22 (8 May 1994). Written by Deborah Joy LeVine, Daniel LeVine. Directed by Alan J. Levi.

Lois Lane: Well, I can't help but think that you bought the Planet in the first place because of me.

Lex Luthor: I did. Embarrassed to admit it, but I bought the Planet out of some lovesick attempt to bring us closer, to bring my life in tune with yours. But, ironically, it wasn't necessary. Here we are together. We were meant to be together. It was fate. We don't even have to change the monograms on our towels.

In referring to monograms on their towels, Lex Luthor is joking about the fact that they share the same initials: L.L. This causes Lois Lane to smile and chuckle silently. Lex Luthor has reassured Lois and calmed her doubts. This seems like a nice, tender moment between the couple.

Timecode: 31 minutes, 44 seconds: Lex Luthor returns to the wine cellar where he has imprisoned Superman in a Kryptonite cage. Lex Luthor is wearing a tuxedo with a corsage on the lapel. He is dressed for his upcoming wedding.

Lex Luthor: And how are we feeling today? [Sees Superman groaning and writhing on the floor in the cage.] Ohh . . . Still feeling a little green around the gills, are we? I, on the other hand, am feeling wonderful. "She's beautiful, and therefore to be woo'd. She is woman, therefore to be won." It's Henry the Fifth. Oh, I know, it must be tough. Lying there, seeing me all decked out like this. On my way to Lois Lane, while you lie there helplessly and suffer. And tonight . . . Tonight, tonight . . . won't be just any night. I love Lois, I do. I really do, but she's just a little too independent. Don't you think? Well, I'll take care of that.

Superman: Clark Kent knows where I am.

Lex Luthor: Well, yes, I'll have to kill him, too. But that reminds me, which one? [Holds up two cummerbunds, one red, one white.] The red or the white? The red for passion and the white for purity.

[Superman doesn't actually say anything, as he is just moaning and struggling and writhing in pain, but Lex Luthor pretends that Superman answered his question.]

Lex Luthor: Well, I agree. Definitely the red.

[Lex Luthor puts his white cummerbund on the neck of the prone Superman.]

Superman: Luthor!

Lex Luthor: Oh, how strange. How strange to hear you say my name, and know that it may be for the last time . . . But am I making a mistake? Will the pain of losing the challenge that you represent be worse than the pain of constantly losing to you? [Shakes his head no.] Nah.

BELOW: Lex Luthor ponders whether he will miss challenge that Superman represents:

Lex Luthor ponders whether he will miss challenge that Superman represents larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 22 (8 May 1994). Written by Deborah Joy LeVine, Daniel LeVine. Directed by Alan J. Levi.

Lex Luthor seems quite certain that it is preferable to NOT have Superman as a constant thorn in his side. And yet, as he takes his leave of Superman, he drops the key to the Kryptonite cage on the top of a sealed wine barrel about ten feet away from the cage. He also leaves Superman with the white cummerbund. It isn't difficult to figure out that Superman could use the cummerbund to get the key and release himself from the cage. Lex Luthor doesn't seem to be consciously aware of this. But he is a brilliant man. Certainly his subconscious, at least, is aware that he is giving Superman the means to escape his trap. Is Lex Luthor subconsciously undermining his own death trap for Superman?

Lex Luthor: I'll be back when it's over. Then you and I will have a nice little heart-to-heart.

As Lex Luthor exits through the door to the wine cellar he once again sings "Tonight, tonight . . ." apparently from a song from the musical Guys and Dolls. Lex Luthor's jubilant singing about what will happen "tonight" shows that he is very much looking forward to consumating his marriage to Lois Lane.

After Lex Luthor is gone, Superman's eyes zero in the metal key with its metal large key ring loop sitting invitingly on the top of the wine barrel. All of us who saw that classic episode of Brady Bunch or any number of classic TV serials in which the hero(s) escape from a cell by ensnaring a nearby key know exactly what is coming.

Timecode: 33 minutes, 54 seconds: Scene: a dressing room where Lois Lane is fully dressed in a beautiful wedding gown. She is weeping uncontrollably, trying (but failing) to force a smile to her face. A knock is heard at the door.

Woman's voice: Ten minutes, Mrs. Luthor.

Lois Lane: [looking in the mirror] Mrs. Lex Luthor. Lois Lane Luthor. Lois Luthor Lane. Lois Lane . . . Kent. Lois Lane.

BELOW: Lois Lane cries as she prepares to marry Lex Luthor:

Lois Lane cries as she prepares to marry Lex Luthor

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 22 (8 May 1994). Written by Deborah Joy LeVine, Daniel LeVine. Directed by Alan J. Levi.

[Lois Lane's mother sees her crying and walks up to her, trying to comfort her by wrapping her arm around her.]

Lois Lane: Mom, what am I gonna do?

Lois Lane's mother: Oh, honey, if you're not sure . . .

Lois Lane: It's too late.

Lois Lane's mother: No, it's not. You do what your heart tells you to do.

Timecode: 35 minutes, 15 seconds: Cut to a scene showing the sitting, formally dressed crowd of family and friends who have come to attend the wedding of Lois Lane and Lex Luthor. This is the first glimpse we get of the location where the wedding is set to take place. It appears to in a ball room or elegantly decorated conference room, and not a regular chapel. Eventually it becomes clear that this is a large, spacious room inside the Lexcorp building, a few floors below where Lex Luthor's penthouse apartment/office is located.

We see Lex Luthor, wearing his tuxedo, enter the room through a side door. Lois Lane's mother is sitting on the front row. Lex Luthor walks to the front of the room. He nods his head to the organist. The wedding march music begins. The camera cuts to the back of the room.

BELOW: Wedding ceremony of Lois Lane and Lex Luthor begins:

Wedding ceremony of Lois Lane and Lex Luthor begins larger larger larger larger larger larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 22 (8 May 1994). Written by Deborah Joy LeVine, Daniel LeVine. Directed by Alan J. Levi.

The EXIT signs and the style of the doors and decor all make it look like this is a large conference room inside a very nice hotel or office building. The chairs are folding chairs set up just for this occasion. There are no actual pews. There is no religious decor.

Two men swing open doors at the back of the room. Lois Lane enters. She walks on a white cloth which has been placed on the floor, forming a "white carpet" walkway from the back of the room to the front where Lex is standing.

As Lois Lane slowly walks to the front of the room, we see black-and-white flashbacks showing various scenes from the preceding television season. These flashbacks show interaction between Clark Kent and Lois Lane. These scenes represent development in the friendship and nascent romantic relationship between Lois and Clark. The look on Lois Lane's face as she walks to the wedding music lets us know she is actually thinking about Clark Kent. These scenes from the wedding ceremony and flashbacks are interspersed with scenes showing Superman using the cummerbund and his own super breath to get the key from off the wine barrel so that he can escape. From where Superman is imprisoned in the wine cellar, he can actually hear the wedding march music from the conference room many floors above.

A look of surprise passes over Lois Lane's face when she recognizes the clergyman who is to officiate at the wedding. It is the Archbishop of the local Catholic diocese. Lex Luthor himself has no real religious feeling or loyalty to any organized religion, but Lois Lane is Catholic. Thus, Lex Luthor has arranged for the local Catholic archbishop to perform the wedding ceremony for them. Lex Luthor doesn't really have any strong preferences about the denomination of their wedding ceremony. He arranged this Catholic-officiated wedding ceremony in deference to his wife's feelings and religious affiliation. Note how Lois Lane instantly recognizes the Archbishop. If Lois Lane had been Jewish, Lex would have brought in a rabbi; if Lois was Methodist, Lex would have brought in her local pastor or the highest-ranking available Methodist leader; if Lois was Muslim, Lex would have brought in an imam, etc.

BELOW: Lois Lane is surprised to see that Lex Luthor has arranged for the local Catholic Archbishop to perform their wedding ceremony:

Lois Lane is surprised to see that Lex Luthor has arranged for the local Catholic Archbishop to perform their wedding ceremony larger larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 22 (8 May 1994). Written by Deborah Joy LeVine, Daniel LeVine. Directed by Alan J. Levi.

Lois Lane: The Archbishop?!

Lex Luthor: Yes, I'm sorry, the Pope had a prior engagement.

Of course, this line is meant as a joke for the viewers to enjoy. But within the context of the story, Lex Luthor is entirely serious.

Thus far, this TV series has never made it clear how devout or how lapsed Lois Lane is in her religious observance. This detail was left intentionally vague in the comics and is similarly vague here. Based on what we know about Lois Lane as she is portrayed in this TV series (and as she is portrayed in comics), if we had to make a guess we would say that Lois Lane is not a regular churchgoer. She would probably not think of herself as a "devout" Catholic. But Lois is at least Catholic enough that she instantly recognizes the Archbishop, and she is at least Catholic enough for Lex Luthor to arrange a "Catholic wedding" for her.

Perhaps the creators of this episode (writers Deborah Joy LeVine and Daniel Levine, along with director Alan J. Levi) are all Jewish or some form of non-Christian, and gave little thought to denominational distinctions and simply regard all of Christianity as somehow led by the pope. But it seems unlikely that they are so uninformed about American and world religious culture that they are actually unaware of differences between Catholicism and other denominations. The creators of this TV series have many times demonstrated a relatively high awareness of American and world religious diversity. We believe the choice of a Catholic Archbishop as officiator of this wedding ceremony was not an accident or simply a default choice. Our best guess is that the principle creators of the Lois & Clark TV series (who are the writers of this episode) have taken their cues from contemporaneous writers of the Superman comics, and that they thus regard Lois Lane as a Catholic character while Clark Kent is a Protestant character.

If we apply in-textual analysis to this scene, we must concede that Lex Luthor is far too intelligent to not know the difference between Catholicism and other denominations and religions. Lex has an extremely detailed, in depth knowledge of all aspects of Lois Lane's life. As demonstrated earlier in this episode, Lex Luthor has placed listening devices in the vehicles she uses and probably in her home and place of work. The choice of clergyman picked by Lex Luthor to perform the wedding ceremony was picked intentionally to make Lois Lane feel as comfortable and happy as possible. Thus, Lex Luthor picked a religious leader who is both known to Lois Lane and who also best represents her own religious identity.

Note how at end of the conference room where the ceremony is to take place, Lex Luthor has even arranged for some portable items such as a candle stand and a temporary altar to be set up to make that end of the room look a little bit like the inside of a Catholic chapel or cathedral. This faux-Catholic decor is never focused on by the camera, but it can be seen in the background in the shots when Lex Luthor flees from the Inspector Henderson.

This scene may represent the most concrete confirmation available in this TV series that Lois Lane is, in fact, Catholic.

Another indication of the fact that Lois Lane is Catholic but Lex Luthor is not Catholic is the fact that their wedding does not take place inside a Catholic church. Typically, all devout and many nominal Catholics want their wedding to take place inside a Catholic church. But only Catholics are allowed to be married in Catholic churches. Thus, if a non-Catholic marries a Catholic, the ceremony must take place somewhere other than a Catholic church. A Catholic clergyman (such as the Archbishop) can still perform the ceremony, but he will perform it elsewhere.

Had Lex Luthor ever been baptized into the Catholic church, even as a Catholic, this would not be an issue, and his wedding to Lois could have taken place inside a Catholic church, which likely would have been Lois Lane's preference. So this location - not in a church but inside a conference room in the Lexcorp office building - is further indicative of the Catholic religious affiliation of Lois Lane and non-Catholic religious affiilation of Lex Luthor.

It is likely that in this TV series Lex Luthor is regarded by writers as lapsed/nominal Episcopalian. The earlier TV series Superboy and the later TV series Smallville both portrayed the younger Lex Luthor as an Episcopalian.

Lex Luthor: You look beautiful.

Archbishop: Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God and in the precense of these witnesses to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony.

BELOW: Catholic Archbishop performs performs wedding ceremony for Lex Luthor and Lois Lane:

Catholic Archbishop performs performs wedding ceremony for Lex Luthor and Lois Lane larger larger larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 22 (8 May 1994). Written by Deborah Joy LeVine, Daniel LeVine. Directed by Alan J. Levi.

Lois turns her head so she can look at the front row of people. Her mother is there. But she is saddened to see that none of her closest friends (Jimmy Olsen, Perry White, Jack, Clark Kent, Cat Grant) are there.

[The camera cuts to the scene of Superman struggling to get the key to let himself out of a Kryptonite cage. We continue to hear the words of the Archbishop performing the wedding ceremony.]

Archbishop: If anyone knows why this wedding should not take place let them speak now or forever hold their peace. Do you, Lex, take this woman to be your wedded bride from this day forward, for richer, for poorer until death do you part?

Lex Luthor: I do.

BELOW: Catholic Archbishop performs performs wedding ceremony for Lex Luthor and Lois Lane:

Catholic Archbishop performs performs wedding ceremony for Lex Luthor and Lois Lane larger larger larger larger larger larger larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 22 (8 May 1994). Written by Deborah Joy LeVine, Daniel LeVine. Directed by Alan J. Levi.

Lois Lane: And do you, Lois, take this man to be your wedded husband from this day forward, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do you part?

Lois Lane: I--

[Lois Lane can not complete the sentence "I do." There is an uncomfortable silence. The Archbishop looks at Lex Luthor.]

Lois Lane: I--

[Lex Luthor's eyes open wide as he looks at his bride-to-be.]

Lex Luthor: Lois?

Lois frowns. Her eyes begin welling up slightly with tears.

Lois Lane: I can't.

[At the back of the room, the doors open. Perry White enters, followed by Jimmy Olsen, Jack and a number of police officers.]

BELOW: Perry White and police put a halt to wedding of Lois Lane and Lex Luthor:

Perry White and police put a halt to wedding of Lois Lane and Lex Luthor larger larger larger larger larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 22 (8 May 1994). Written by Deborah Joy LeVine, Daniel LeVine. Directed by Alan J. Levi.

Perry White: Lois!

Lois Lane: Lex, they came!

[Lois is suddenly very happy, having seen her friends. She kisses Lex Luthor on the lips.]

Perry White: Stop the wedding. You can't marry this man.

Lois Lane: What, is there an echo in here? I just said that.

Lex Luthor: What's the meaning of this?

Perry White: The meaning of this, Luthor, you're through. We have all the evidence against you we need.

Lois Lane: Evidence? Evidence for what?

BELOW: Lex Luthor fights police to escape arrest. Note faux-Catholic decor in background.

Lex Luthor fights police to escape arrest. Note faux-Catholic decor in background. larger larger larger larger larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 22 (8 May 1994). Written by Deborah Joy LeVine, Daniel LeVine. Directed by Alan J. Levi.

Inspector Henderson: This is a warrant for your arrest for arson and crimes too numerous to mention.

"Inspector Henderson," a detective with the Metropolis police department, is played by actor Richard Belzer, reprising his role from an earlier episode.

Lex Luthor: You're out of your minds, both of you.

Inspector Henderson: You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to an attorney. If you can't afford an attorney, one will be supplied--

Lex Luthor: Will you shut up! I can afford a thousand attorneys. I'll have your badge. I'll have your head for this. [Pointing to an assistant.] Get me the Governor on the phone. Get me the President! Get him on the phone!

[Plain clothes police detectives (or perhaps Federal authorities) enter the room, escorting a handcuffed Mrs. Cox between them. Seeing her, Lex Luthor realizes that Mrs. Cox has betrayed him, telling authorities about his illegal activities.]

Lex Luthor: Et tu, Mrs. Cox?

[Mrs. Cox only laughs.]

Lex Luthor: Lois, I'm sorry. [Kisses her hand.] We'll take a rain check. Something's come up.

Inspector Henderson: Let's go, pal.

Lex Luthor: You let go of me!

[With a sudden rage and surge of strength, Lex Luthor strikes out at Inspector Henderson, knocking the police detective to the floor. Lex Luthor fights past uniformed two police officers who try to stop him from escaping. Lex Luthor exits through the side door.

Inspector Henderson: [scrambling to his feet] Don't worry, we'll get him. The building's sealed off.

[As Lois Lane sees the chaos occuring at her wedding, she cries openly.]

BELOW: Lois Lane cries to her mother about her ruined wedding:

Lois Lane cries to her mother about her ruined wedding larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 22 (8 May 1994). Written by Deborah Joy LeVine, Daniel LeVine. Directed by Alan J. Levi.

Lois Lane's mother: Oh, honey, I know things haven't worked out the way you planned, but--

Lois Lane: Why? Because this is the way every girl dreams her wedding's gonna be?

[Cut to the wine cellar.]

Rather than trying to make a clean escape, Lex Luthor remains in the Lexcorp building! He has come to finish off Superman. As Lex enters the wine cellar, he grabs a sharp that was hanging on the wall by the entrance. He intends to use this axe to murder the Kryptonite-weakened Superman. But when Lex looks down at the Kryptonite cage, he sees it is empty. The door is open. The white cummerbund is the only thing left in the cage.

A look of rage and panic comes over Lex Luthor's face. Lex screams as he smashes the axe into a wine barrel. He rushes out of the wine cellar. The camera pans to a corner of the room where a still-recovering Superman crouches, hiding from Lex Luthor while trying to regain his Kryptonite-sapped strength.

[Cut to the exterior of the Lexcorp building. Perry White escorts Lois Lane from the building. Police cars are all around. Police sirens are heard as other police cars continue to arrive, bringing officers to help look for the refugee Lex Luthor.]

BELOW: Leaving the LexCorp building after the ruined wedding, Perry White comforts Lois Lane:

Leaving the LexCorp building after the ruined wedding, Perry White comforts Lois Lane larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 22 (8 May 1994). Written by Deborah Joy LeVine, Daniel LeVine. Directed by Alan J. Levi.

Lois Lane: I've always been such a good judge of character.

Perry White: Don't blame yourself. He fooled all of us.

Jack: Not me.

Jimmy Olsen: I never trusted him.

[As Lois Lane and he friends walk away from the building, notice the "LEX CORP" logo in gold lettering above the entrance.]

Lois Lane: Where's Clark?

Clark Kent: Right here.

Clark Kent shows his face for the first time in a long while. Of course, we know that he was not with Perry and Jimmy and Jack because, as Superman, he was being held captive by Lex Luthor. Lois Lane is happy to see Clark Kent. She rushes to him and puts her arms around her neck. She is still carrying the wedding bouquet.

Lex Luthor makes his way to his penthouse office. He clicks some buttons on his desk. He starts to grab some papers, his daily planner or address book . . . But before he can do much of anything, police officers and Inspector Henderson enter the room, telling him to give up. Lex Luthor rushes to the balcony and stands on the ledge, high above the Metropolis street below.

BELOW: To escape police, Lex Luthor jumps from his skyscraper balcony. Clark Kent (Superman) does NOT save Lex.

To escape police, Lex Luthor jumps from his skyscraper balcony. Clark Kent (Superman) does NOT save Lex. larger larger larger larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 22 (8 May 1994). Written by Deborah Joy LeVine, Daniel LeVine. Directed by Alan J. Levi.

Lex Luthor: Lex Luthor will not live in a cage!

Down on the street below, we see Lois Lane standing close to Clark Kent, arm in arm. They look up at Lex Luthor's balcony. A crowd is gathering, looking at the action above them.

Inspector Henderson: Luthor, no!

Lex Luthor: Did you know this is the tallest building in Metropolis? Did you? Top of the world.

Lex Luthor lunges off the ledge, hurtling toward the pavement below. The crowd below scream "No" and "Oh, no!" Lex Luthor falls many, many stories toward the pavement. As he falls, he spreads his arms as if he is flying. He makes flying noises with his mouth. He may be reliving the "Superman" virtual reality scenario he immersed himself in at the beginning of the previous episode (the first episode of this two-parter).

Clark Kent: I-- I can't.

Clark Kent knows he has the power to save the life of the falling Lex Luthor. But he does not! Lois Lane's arm is around him. He knows that he has no way to save Lex Luthor without revealing to her and everybody in the crowd that he is Superman. There just isn't time to make up an excuse, get away, change into Superman, and then save Luthor whose fall will only last a few seconds before he hits the pavement.

Lois Lane can't bear to watch Lex Luthor hit the pavement. She burries her head in Clark Kent's chest rather than watch her fiance die.

Lois Lane: Oh!

What are we to make of Clark Kent's decision? Did he do the right thing when he allowed Lex Luthor to die? Should Clark Kent have upturned his own life, and probably let his enemies know who he is, potentially endangering his friends and family, all so he can save the life of a villainous murderer who only moments earlier tried to kill him (in his Superman guise)? Many of us would not have chosen to save Lex Luthor. But we aren't Superman. Do we not expect Superman to be better, to somehow save even the lives of his enemies?

Lex Luthor's impact with the pavement is not shown on camera, but it is clear that this is what happened. Newspaper headlines (from the Metropolis Star) in the days that follow tell the story:

"LUTHOR PLUNGES TO DEATH"
"Luthor's Corpse Stolen From Morgue: Police Fear Body Snatchers"
"LUTHOR RESPONSIBLE FOR DAILY PLANET'S DEMISE"
"FALL OF THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR"

BELOW: Newspaper headlines following suicide death of Lex Luthor:

Newspaper headlines following suicide death of Lex Luthor larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 22 (8 May 1994). Written by Deborah Joy LeVine, Daniel LeVine. Directed by Alan J. Levi.

Finally, a very odd newspaper front page is shown, this one is NOT from the respected Metropolis Star but is, instead, from a disreputable supermarket tabloid "rag" called the National Whisper (a parody of the National Enquirer). This newspaper front page shows a clearly edited and manipulated photo of two surfers on a beach, one of whose head has been replaced by a photo of Lex Luthor, and the other whose head has been replaced with a photo of Elvis Presley. The headline reads: "LUTHOR & ELVIS ALIVE! Open Surf Shop in Rio."

In the next scene, Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Perry White, Jimmy Olsen, and Jack gather again at the boarded-up entrance of the Daily Planet building.

Jimmy Olsen: I wish they'd just get it over with and tear this place down.

Perry White: Yep, too many memories.

Lois Lane: Most of them good.

Perry White: Well, you know, there's a lesson to be learned in all of this.

Jack: Why am I not surprised?

Perry White: Well, we should appreciate what we got when we got it . . . I know I've said this before, but I just hate that Luthor got his way in this one thing.

Suddenly, wealthy Metropolis media owner Franklin W. Stern appears on the scene. (Stern is played by actor James Earl Jones.) In an earlier scene, Perry White visited Stern to ask him to invest in rebuilding the Daily Planet. Stern politely said not, but wished Perry luck. As Perry left Stern's office, Perry said he would have loved to see the look on Lex Luthor's face if they'd been able to rebuild the Daily Planet. Stern hates Lex Luthor, and he thought that maybe he would help rebuild the newspaper, just to stick it to Luthor.

Franklin W. Stern: He didn't. Look!

[Stern motions to a truck which is arriving on the scene.]

Jack: What is that?

[Workman take the tarp off the object on the back of the truck. It is a brand new (or refurbished?) Daily Planet globe, meant to go on top of the building as part of the rebuilding/repair of the edifice. Everybody present claps.]

Perry White: Great shades of Elvis!

BELOW: Upon seeing new Daily Planet globe, Perry White exclaims: Great Shades of Elvis!

Upon seeing new Daily Planet globe, Perry White exclaims: Great Shades of Elvis! larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 22 (8 May 1994). Written by Deborah Joy LeVine, Daniel LeVine. Directed by Alan J. Levi.

Franklin W. Stern: [To Perry] We'll start on the building next week, but first I thought we'd announce to the world that we're back in business. I, uh, reconsidered your proposal. And I agree with you, Mr. White. Metropolis does need the Daily Planet. Besides, one more nail in Lex Luthor's coffin will suit me fine. I do have some ideas about modernization.

Perry White: Modernization?

Franklin W. Stern: Yes, improvements, expansion. Wanna see the plans?

Perry White: Uh, Mr. Stern, just a doggone minute here. I, ah . . . Stern! What do you mean by, uh, modernization?

[Perry White walks after Stern. Clark Kent laughs at Perry's behavior.]

These lines are meant to be humorous, as Perry White recapitulates lines and attitude he exhibited earlier (in the first episode of this two-parter) when Lex Luthor took over the Planet.

[Lois and Clark have been left relatively alone here in the front of the Daily Planet building.]

Clark Kent: I've never seen anything so beautiful in my entire life.

Lois might think that Clark is speaking about the Daily Planet being beautiful, but based on the way this scene is shot and the way actor Dan Cain ("Clark Kent) delivers this line, it is clear that Clark is really speaking about Lois.

BELOW: The things most precious to Clark Kent: The Daily Planet, his friends there, and Lois Lane.

The things most precious to Clark Kent: The Daily Planet, his friends there, and Lois Lane. larger larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 22 (8 May 1994). Written by Deborah Joy LeVine, Daniel LeVine. Directed by Alan J. Levi.

Lois Lane: You never gave up on the Planet, on your friends, on me.

Clark Kent: I couldn't. You just named probably everything in this world that's precious to me.

Lois Lane: [sigh] I don't think I have ever . . . will ever meet anyone quite like you.

Clark Kent: Lois--

Lois Lane: Clark. No, let me go first.

Clark Kent: No, no, no, not this time. Lois, I'm sorry, about a lot of things. I wanted to bring Luthor down, but I never wanted to hurt you. I shouldn't have said anything . . . about the way I felt toward you. It put you in an incredibly awkward position.

Lois Lane: No, Clark, I really--

Clark Kent: No, the truth of the matter is, Lois, it wasn't true. I'm not in love with you.

Lois Lane: You're not?

Clark Kent: I would've said anything to stop you from marrying Luthor.

[As Clark says these words, which we as viewers know are not true, the camera shows Clark's hand behind his back. He is crossing his fingers. In a simplistic way, this lets him "off the hook" for telling a lie to Lois.]

Lois Lane: Oh. Well, if that's how you feel.

Clark Kent: I want the same thing you want. For us to be friends. Partners. Forever.

Lois Lane: Forever.

Clark Kent: What did you wanna say?

Lois Lane: Oh, nothing. Yeah, what you said, I'm, just that, sort of.

Lois Lane had wanted to tell Clark that she loves him. She now realizes that she does, and she thought he truly loved her too. But now he has told her he does not. After hearing Clark's words, she decided not to tell him how she feels about her. So now it seems that Lois loves Clark, but he doesn't know she does, and Clark loves Lois, but she doesn't know he does.

[With his super hearing, Clark hears the cries for help of a woman in distress, far out of earshot of Lois.]

Clark Kent: Can you excuse me for a second? We can continue this later. I have to go.

[Clark leaves.]

Lois Lane: [Talking as if to Clark, although she knows he has already gone.] Sure. Why not? Run off and go. Run off and disappear like you always do when we're having a discussion. Well, I guess everything's back to normal.

[Lois Lane hears a sound in the sky. She looks up and sees Superman flying over Metropolis, racing to save somebody.]

Lois Lane: I'm not done with you either, big fella.

[The scene ends. Roll closing credits. The episode is over, as is the first season of the Lois & Clark TV series.]