If you grew up in the 90s, you probably remember the absolute chokehold Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman had on Sunday night television. It wasn't just a superhero show. It was a rom-com with capes. By the time we hit Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Season 4, things got weird.
Really weird.
We’re talking soul mates, time-traveling curses, and a literal guardian angel named Mike. Honestly, looking back at the 1996-1997 television season, it’s a miracle the show stayed on the air as long as it did. Most fans remember the wedding, but the road to get there was paved with some of the most bizarre writing choices in DC history.
The Wedding That Actually Happened (Finally)
Let’s be real. The "Clone Saga" of Season 3 almost killed the show's momentum. Fans were exhausted. They wanted the real Lois and Clark to finally tie the knot without any frog-eating doppelgängers getting in the way.
In the third episode of Season 4, "Swear to God, This Time We're Not Kidding," they finally did it.
It wasn't at a fancy church. It wasn't a media circus. They basically flew off to a private location and had a "guardian angel" perform the ceremony. Why? Because a villain named Myrtle Beech, the "Wedding Destroyer," was trying to blow them up.
Typical Tuesday in Metropolis.
👉 See also: Cuatro estaciones en la Habana: Why this Noir Masterpiece is Still the Best Way to See Cuba
But here’s the kicker: the wedding happened because ABC was feeling the heat. Fans had sent thousands of letters (and even some 90s-era petitions) demanding a resolution to the "will-they-won't-they" dynamic. The writers finally pulled the trigger, but then they immediately realized they didn't know what to do with a married Superman.
The Curse of the Soul Mates
Almost immediately after the honeymoon, the show hit a snag. How do you keep a married couple interesting? Apparently, you bring back H.G. Wells and tell them they can't consummate their marriage.
Yeah. You read that right.
In the episode "Soul Mates," H.G. Wells shows up to warn them that an ancient curse from a guy named Tempus (played by the legendary Lane Davies) would kill Lois if they... well, you know. This led to a series of time-traveling adventures where Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher had to play their own ancestors in medieval England and the Old West.
It was campy. It was over-the-top. It was exactly what 90s TV was all about.
The chemistry between Cain and Hatcher was still electric, even if rumors suggest things weren't always sunshine and rainbows behind the scenes. Dean Cain has mentioned in recent interviews—like on Michael Rosenbaum’s podcast—that he was a "get it done and go home" kind of guy, while Hatcher was more of a perfectionist. That tension actually worked for the characters. It gave Lois that sharp, frantic energy that made her the best investigative reporter in the business.
✨ Don't miss: Cry Havoc: Why Jack Carr Just Changed the Reece-verse Forever
Why Season 4 Felt So Different
If you watch the early episodes of Season 1, the show feels like a noir-inspired newsroom drama. By Season 4, the budget was clearly being stretched, and the tone shifted toward slapstick and "villain of the week" tropes.
We had:
- A scientist who used a "Subliminator" to frame Lois for murder.
- An old man who died and turned out to be a 20-year-old Jimmy Olsen (aging-ray, obviously).
- A toy-making villain who trapped Superman in a literal toy box.
- The return of the mischievous imp Mr. Mxyzptlk (played by Howie Mandel).
The show was leaning into its comic book roots, but it was doing it in a way that felt a bit disconnected from the grounded romance that made the first two seasons so special. The stakes felt lower, even when Superman was literally fighting for the fate of New Krypton in the season premiere.
The Cliffhanger That Never Got Solved
The most frustrating part of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Season 4 is how it ended.
In the final episode, "The Family Hour," Lois and Clark realize they can't have children because of Clark’s Kryptonian biology. It’s a heavy, emotional beat. They go to bed sad, and then—poof—a baby appears in a bassinet in the middle of their living room.
The baby is wrapped in a blanket with the Superman "S" crest.
🔗 Read more: Colin Macrae Below Deck: Why the Fan-Favorite Engineer Finally Walked Away
Then the credits rolled.
And that was it. Cancelled.
The showrunners, including Eugenie Ross-Leming, have since explained that the baby was a Kryptonian royal who needed protection. Season 5 was supposed to feature the couple raising this "super-child" while dodging assassins from space. But ABC pulled the plug due to declining ratings, leaving 15 million viewers wondering where the heck that kid came from for the next thirty years.
How to Revisit the Series Today
If you're planning a rewatch, don't go in expecting the grit of the modern Superman & Lois on the CW. This is a different beast entirely. It’s bright, it’s loud, and it’s deeply earnest.
To get the most out of it, focus on these three things:
- The Dialogue: The banter in the Daily Planet bullpen is still some of the best writing in superhero history. Perry White (Lane Smith) stealing every scene with "Great Caesar's Ghost!" never gets old.
- The Fashion: The vests. The shoulder pads. The high-waisted jeans. It is a time capsule of 1996.
- The Guest Stars: Season 4 is packed with "hey, I know that person" moments, including appearances by Drew Carey, Delta Burke, and even Simon Templeman as the villainous Lord Nor.
Practical Insight: If you want to see how the story actually "ends," look into the fan-written "virtual seasons" that were popular in the late 90s. While not official canon, they were often based on leaked notes from the writers' room. You can also catch the entire series on Max or Tubi if you want to relive the cliffhanger for yourself.
Start by watching the two-part premiere, "Lord of the Flys" and "Battleground Earth," to see the show's biggest attempt at a cinematic scale before it settled back into its quirky Metropolis routine.