[6.0/10] This was a missed opportunity. While it’s a tad cliché, I really like the idea of Metallo coming back without his memory. The episode hints at the idea that he might try to be good, while still being haunted by his memories of what happened before. There’s a lot to work with there.
There’s also a lot to work with when it comes to the idea of a monster interacting with children. (See also: Adam in season 4 of Buffy, though that was a similarly less-than-successful attempt). I like the notion of these two kids being inspired by Superman’s heroics and excited to have a real life “action figure” of their own. There’s also an inherent tension of putting a destructive being like Metallo right next to vulnerable innocents.
But man, the show squanders both premises. Metallo remembers his whole deal remarkably quickly, which not only squelches a solid idea too abruptly, but also turns this into another generic bad guy plot. And he also turns evil so quickly that it’s hard to buy into the relationship those kids have with him, or the idea, voiced by Lois in closing, that they brought out the good in him.
This also relies on a lot of coincidences. Metallo just happens to come back and meet this kids at a time when an eighteen wheeler is about to fall of the side of a cliff. He also shows up just when this volcano is about to blow. I’m willing to suspend disbelief in the name of story but this one stretches things too far.
It’s also just kind of dull. It’s hard to get too excited about Superman fighting Metallo again, since his suit ought to give him the appropriately level of protection, and their fight is oddly inert despite the molten setting. There’s not really much character to it, just the minor spice of the lava flow, which doesn't really hurt either combatant, to make a difference.
It’s still a watchable episode, but it feels like something that could have been better written and realized. There is admittedly something ahunting about Metallo chasing his kryptonite power source and then trying to keep his mind intact at the end, but it’s a minor tonic at the end of something underwhelming.
Obvious parralels to frankenstein's monster.
"If the volcano erupts" - We then know that's a Chekhov's Gun.
Clever move by Superman to divert the lava.
If i was the writer of the episode, i would have had Metallo questioning his identity throughout the whole episode, rather than him doing it for a little bit and then turning back to a villain. Or if i turned him back to a villain i would have had him questioning himself.
I would have liked the trope of Superman flying to Metallo at the end and holding out his hand, and Metallo rejects it to try and get the kyrptonite, or Metallo reaches out his hand but then the lava flow is too much.
Overall though this is still a pretty good epsiode for Metallo, and we get more nuance with his character in the beginning half.
Shout by SoNickBlockedParent2022-02-09T22:27:19Z
Andrew Bloom's comment really sums up my feelings. The episode starts off with so much potential... then quickly throws it all away. Doing a story this poorly is worse than not trying it at all, this one could have used more time in the writing room to sort out the issues before they animated it