Superboy season 2

Superboy
Season 2
Promotional poster
Showrunner	Freddie Goodwin
Starring	Dev Patel Michael Bishop Inde Navarrette Wolé Parks Tayler Buck Dylan Walsh Simon Pegg
No. of episodes	10
Release
Original network	The CW
Original release	June 10, 2022 (2022-06-10) – present (present)
Season chronology

The second season of the American superhero television series Superboy was announced in June 2021 and premiered on The CW on June 10, 2022 with a 2-episode premiere. The series was renewed with a third season on May 26, 2022.

Episodes

Main article: List of Superboy episodes

Silverman season 2 episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	U.S. viewers (millions)
16	1	"The Awakening"	Freddie Goodwin	Freddie Goodwin & Jackson Greene	June 10, 2022 (2022-06-10)	0.99
Moments after Jackson Edge's death and the activation of his robot, the machine adopts the name "Brainiac," revealing that it has developed powers due to its Kryptonite-based energy source. Three months later, Alex Singh and his fiancée, Nova Smiles, have settled into their new life together, while Sam Singh begins investigating Jackson’s death, suspecting that it may have been a result of Mxyzptlk’s lingering illusions. Suddenly, Brainiac emerges in South City and begins a violent attack on the population. Steel confronts Brainiac in an effort to stop the destruction, while Superboy focuses on rescuing civilians from the chaos. Despite Steel’s best efforts, Brainiac easily overpowers him, destroying his suit in the process. Superboy manages to partially destroy Brainiac with his heat vision, forcing the machine to retreat. Later, Steel and Superboy report their findings to the Department of Defense (DOD), where Wells Smith reveals that Brainiac was created by a human and powered by Kryptonite. In the ruins of Jackson’s basement, Brainiac stumbles upon Jackson’s lifeless body and formulates a plan to use it to preserve itself.
17	2	"Corrupted Legacy"	Freddie Goodwin	Jackson Greene & Freddie Goodwin	June 10, 2022 (2022-06-10)	0.92
After being partially destroyed and nearly killed, Brainiac fuses his consciousness with Jackson's corpse, transforming the body into a metallic, monstrous form while continuing to operate under the alias "Brainiac." Meanwhile, Wells reconstructs his Steel suit but warns Alex that it won’t function at full capacity until it's fully repaired. Brainiac launches a devastating attack on the DOD, using his mind control abilities to turn several DOD soldiers into alien-like beings under his control. Sam, in a desperate move, kills the transformed soldiers to prevent further chaos. Superboy confronts Brainiac but is quickly overpowered due to the presence of Kryptonite. Wells seeks help from an expert who understands how to neutralize Kryptonite’s effects but learns that for a being like Brainiac, who thrives on Kryptonite, the effects cannot be mitigated. Despite these setbacks, Alex, Wells, and the others vow to find a way to stop Brainiac.
18	3	"Resurrection"	Brenton Spencer	Marl Brenton	June 17, 2022 (2022-06-17)	0.87
The Daily Planet opens a new office in South City, where Nova becomes a reporter. In the following weeks, she begins investigating Leslie Willis, a former employee turned criminal who gained electrical powers when Superboy first arrived on Earth. Meanwhile, Superboy stops a bank robbery in Japan, while Steel takes down a car chase in South City. As Brainiac grows stronger, he discovers his Kryptonite-based powers, including the ability to fly, and chooses to go into hiding to further strategize. At the DOD, Alex confronts Sam, expressing concern over his father’s decision to kill the mind-controlled soldiers, fearing that Sam made the choice too easily. In South City State Prison, Leslie, now going by the alias "Livewire," becomes aware of Superboy's weakness to Kryptonite and vows to kill him. At the Daily Planet, Nova and Alex discuss the possibility that Leslie was imprisoned for a crime she didn't commit, though Alex firmly believes she deserves to be there. Meanwhile, Brainiac uses his mind control powers to resurrect Max Singh and imprisons him in his base, planning to "empower" him for his own purposes.
19	4	"New Genesis"	Brenton Spencer	Marl Brenton	June 24, 2022 (2022-06-24)	0.79
Following the success of reviving Max, Brainiac begins implanting advanced technology into his brain, enhancing him with new abilities to further empower him. Meanwhile, Nova visits the South City State Prison to question Leslie, who insists that Nova help her escape. However, the guards warn Nova to keep Leslie locked up. During what initially seems like a routine bank robbery, Superboy discovers that the thieves are under Brainiac's control, operating as part of the "Legion of Brainiac" gang. Superboy manages to defeat and apprehend all the members, but they mysteriously disappear in a green mist after being locked up. Nova’s investigation leads her to suspect that Leslie may have been framed by a superpowered individual with telepathy abilities. Wells, in the meantime, meets Natasha, who asks him out on a date, and they spend the evening together. Sam contacts Superboy, demanding he return to the DOD for some critical "training." Elsewhere, Brainiac’s experiments with Max reach a breakthrough, as Max gains superpowers.
20	5	"Reborn"	Freddie Goodwin	Isla Sterling	July 1, 2022 (2022-07-01)	0.80
Sam reveals to Alex that he has discovered Jackson's creation of Brainiac was designed with the primary objective of killing Superboy. Alex suggests hacking into Brainiac’s systems to shut him down, but Sam explains that Brainiac has evolved beyond servers and is now considered a living being. Sam then orders Superboy to investigate Jackson's basement and retrieve the original hard drive that once housed Brainiac’s server. Alex successfully locates the drive and brings it to Sam, only for them to discover that it has been wiped clean, leaving them back at square one in their efforts to stop Brainiac. Meanwhile, Nova is confronted by Judge Rules, who sternly warns her to tread carefully in her pursuit of freeing Leslie, suggesting severe consequences if she makes a mistake. As chaos breaks out in the streets of South City, Superboy arrives to intervene, but freezes in shock when he comes face to face with Max, now seemingly alive and standing before him.
21	6	"Power Play"	Jackson Greene	Erin Willer & Isla Sterling	July 22, 2022 (2022-07-22)	0.78
Superboy tries to fly Max to the DOD, but a fierce battle ensues between the two. "Max" reveals that he no longer identifies by that name and claims he owes his life to Brainiac, warning Superboy that any attempt to save him will result in his death. During the fight, "Max" begins to drain Superboy's energy, leaving him weakened before fleeing the scene, narrowly avoiding finishing him off. Upon returning to the DOD, Alex reveals to Sam and Wells that Max is somehow alive, leaving both of them stunned and scrambling for answers. In flashbacks, Leslie is struck by lightning, killing her instantly. At the morgue, a mysterious hooded figure injects her with an unknown serum, reviving her moments later. As Leslie regains consciousness, she discovers her newfound electrical powers and is left questioning how she survived. Over time, she learns to control her powers, using them to rob banks and amass wealth. A few weeks later, however, she is confronted and caught by Superboy, who manages to depower her and have her arrested, ending her brief reign of crime.
22	7	"Fractured Alliance"	Rabia Nicholson	Isla Sterling & Myla Salazar	July 29, 2022 (2022-07-29)	0.90
Max adopts the alias "Brainiac 5," vowing to work alongside Brainiac while gaining additional Kryptonite-based powers due to their connection. Meanwhile, Alex, Wells, and Nova strategize their attack to stop Brainiac and rescue Max, though tensions run high as they grapple with the stakes of their mission. In prison, Leslie attempts to revise her sentence, successfully convincing many of her innocence; however, the judge insists she must provide substantial physical evidence to secure her release. At the DOD, Sam discovers that killing Brainiac is the only way to free Jackson’s body, though Wells uncovers a grim truth: Jackson cannot be restored, as his death occurred before Brainiac's takeover. Frustrated by the lack of progress, Sam demands the DOD escalate their actions, even if it means lethal force against Brainiac and his allies.
23	8	"Hidden Agendas"	Mira Silverleaf	Myla Salazar	August 5, 2022 (2022-08-05)	0.86
Brainiac begins seizing control of power grids across South City, prompting Sam to demand the DOD eliminate him before he gains full dominion over the city's network. Superboy and Steel join forces to combat the surge in criminal activity but are ambushed by Brainiac. In a fierce battle, the duo ultimately destroy Brainiac’s mind, effectively killing him. Meanwhile, Nova meets with Leslie, who bitterly admits that her release remains impossible without concrete evidence, leaving her increasingly frustrated. Alex uncovers a covert DOD operation aimed at neutralizing a potential rogue Superboy. When confronted, Sam defends the plan, warning Alex to either comply or step down from his role. Alex reluctantly apologizes but negotiates a compromise, securing a promise to be informed of future decisions. In prison, Leslie is attacked by another inmate, who had bribed a guard, and kills her assailant in self-defense. Enraged, Leslie holds the DOD accountable for failing to support her efforts to secure freedom.
24	9	"Unleashed"	Brenton Spencer	Marl Brenton	August 12, 2022 (2022-08-12)	0.94
Two weeks after surviving an attack in prison, Leslie adopts her alias, Livewire, and stages a violent escape, killing every guard in the facility. On the outside, she vows revenge against Nova for betraying her trust. When Superboy confronts Livewire, he is swiftly overpowered and left defeated. At their base, Alex informs Nova of Leslie’s escape and growing threat, prompting Nova to alert local authorities. Livewire, however, takes the offensive by broadcasting a city-wide message, exposing Nova as a "liar" and declaring her intention to destroy everyone close to her, starting with Superboy. Steel attempts to stop Livewire but is easily defeated, leaving his suit critically damaged and offline. Meanwhile, Sam confronts Nova, urging her to exercise more caution when investigating the innocence of suspected criminals. In a flashback from 32 days earlier, it is revealed that Brainiac had secretly enhanced Leslie’s powers, anticipating his own defeat and ensuring his influence would live on through her.
25	10	"Illusion of Control"	Brenton Spencer	Freddie Goodwin	August 19, 2022 (2022-08-19)	0.91
Leslie launches an attack on the SCPD building, targeting the captain in a bid for revenge. Superboy intervenes, attempting to de-escalate without resorting to violence, but Leslie escapes. Nova struggles with guilt over Leslie’s escape, believing she bears responsibility, though Alex reassures her that Leslie broke out using force, absolving Nova of blame. At the Daily Planet, Nova secures her job after proving Leslie’s escape was not her doing. Meanwhile, Leslie seizes control of a satellite dish downtown, attempting to expand her influence over the city. Superboy and Steel team up to destroy the dish, with Superboy ultimately depowering Leslie and ensuring her transfer to a DOD prison built specifically for superpowered individuals. Later, Nova, Alex, and Wells celebrate their victory, but Sam interrupts to reveal he is considering stepping down from the DOD. Alex unveils a new suit, while Wells begins upgrading his own. Unbeknownst to them, a mysterious pod hurtles toward Earth from space.

Production

Writing

Development on the season began in May 2021, despite the series not being renewed at the time. The second season was ordered in August 2021. Showrunner Freddie Goodwin stated that the second season would improve the storytelling mishaps that were made during the first season and that the second season would also consist of 15 episodes. He said the team looked at improving the story in multiple areas, and said that the budget for the season is 15% bigger than the first season. In the season, Goodwin confirmed that Alex Singh / Superboy would become more of a hero of hope, similar to his Superman counterpart from the DC Comics. Season two is about Alex trying to accept the death of his brother Max, whilst saving South City from imminent danger, which isn't just Brainiac, and instead a second villain will be introduced, through Nova's character arc of the season.

"Season two was immensely difficult to make since it had to be done in a way that both honored the ending of the first season and our vision for the future. Brainiac is our season's 'big villian', and with that comes some big challenges that never affected Alex in ways before."

— Goodwin's discussion on the development on the second season.

Writing the scripts occured throughout 2021 and early 2022, alongside filming that began in November 2021. According to Goodwin, the first episode was so big it forced the team to make it into two-distinct episodes. Originally, the episode was intended to be around one and half hours in duration, which was forced to be changed due to executves from The CW asking them to make it 40 minutes long instead. The team attempted to rewrite the script to shorten it without ruining the intended story the team wanted to tell with the premiere episode. After a few weeks of constant focus on the episode, the team ultimately decided to make the season begin with a two episode premiere, with the premiere episode script being turned into two distinct episodes. Throughout the season, the team focused on improving how they wrote the powers the characters used to make the situation of them being used is realistic.

Goodwin worked with Dev Patel, who portrays Alex Singh, and had him come up with ideas to use during the second season. According to Patel, the season was developed with the objective of fleshing out the characters in the show, and giving each character a respectable amount of storylines.

Season eight is about Clark moving forward to his destiny in a way that the show has never attempted before. Swimmer further explained that Clark is acting more with his superpowers, whereas previously he would "react" to the situation; "he's going to seek out trouble". Clark joined the Daily Planet to help his cause, using the Planet as a means to get information about where there is trouble. Clark's heroic actions put him in Jimmy's sights, who starts connecting things to Clark; this helped fuel Clark's decision to develop a "secret identity". Another reason for Clark's decision to develop a secret identity will be the stark contrast between saving people in the secluded streets of Smallville, and saving people in the crowded streets of Metropolis. While working at the Daily Planet, Clark was paired up with Lois on various assignments. Lois Lane actress Erica Durance explained the episodes focused more on her character than they have been in the past, and that Lois and Clark are both rivals and supportive partners to each other. Durance also revealed that Lois begins to realize her true romantic feelings for Clark, but that she does not want him to know the truth because she does not know what she wants to do with those feelings. Season eight explored these romantic notions between the two characters. Jeph Loeb added at the time that season eight explores more of the DC Comics mythology, and introduces new characters, as well as expanding on already existing ones in Smallville continuity. Peterson also revealed that there was a chance that the show would break the "No flights, no tights" rule, at least in regard to the flying part of the rule.

With Justin Hartley added as a series regular, Smallville explored more of his backstory, including why he chose to become Green Arrow, how he accomplished it, and how he became good at archery. This season also explored more of the friendship between Oliver Queen and Clark. Oliver would be broken down emotionally—questioning whether he made the right choice to sacrifice all for the sake of being Green Arrow—and that causes him to "butt heads" with Clark, who is beginning to embrace his destiny. Allison Mack's character, Chloe Sullivan, has more romantic interests in this season. Not only would the character still have Jimmy Olsen, but there is still the question of her romantic interest in Clark, as well as a new interest in the character of Davis Bloome. Mack's character would also be picking up the Isis Foundation, a counseling center for people infected by kryptonite, that Lana founded before she left Smallville. Mack explained that Chloe was forging her own destiny in this season, and letting Clark learn to deal with problems on his own—previous seasons saw Clark relying heavily on Chloe to help solve the crime.

Reception

Critical response

According to reviewers, the second season of Superboy is considered a "major improvement" in some areas of its writing and visuals, though the flow was stated to be a bit of a mess in multiple episodes of the season.