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Season 2 of  The CW’s hit superhero series, Superman & Lois, premiered with Lois’ father, Sam Lane, missing in action. The general retired after the events of last season. But according to series showrunner Todd Helbing, General Lane will be back soon. And when he returns, he’ll get his grandsons involved in one of his shady situations.

General Lane retired in the ‘Superman & Lois’ Season 1 finale

Dylan Walsh as General Lane in 'Superman & Lois'
Dylan Walsh as General Lane in ‘Superman & Lois’ | Bettina Strauss/The CW

Last season on Superman & Lois, Morgan Edge, aka Tal-Rho (Adam Rayner), turned into the Eradicator and threatened to end humanity. But while helping Clark (Tyler Hoechlin), Lois (Elizabeth Tulloch), and John Henry Irons (Wole Parks) save the day, General Lane (Dylan Walsh) built an arsenal of anti-Kryptonian weapons for the DoD.

And in the finale, after realizing he was creating a rift with his family, General Lane decided to retire and make them his top priority.

 “I’ve been taking care of the world for a long time,” he tells John Henry in the finale.  “I thought maybe it was time to start taking care of my family.

‘Superman & Lois’ showrunner teases General Lane’s return 

Sam Lane didn’t appear in the Superman & Lois Season 2 premiere. But according to showrunner Todd Helbing, the general has been living his best life and will be back for the third episode. 

“With a job like his that he’s had for so long, he just needs a break,” he told TV Line. “He’s out there doing things you wouldn’t normally see General Lane do. The writers had a lot of fun coming up with fun things to do if you’re a retired ex-military person.”

But with a new villain emerging, General Lane will have to come out of his retirement. And when he does, he’ll find a way to get Jonathan (Jordan Elsass) and Jordan (Alex Garfin) involved in something questionable. 

” When we see him, he’s enjoying life and retirement,” Helbing teased. “But he gets folded back into the family and all of their problems. Ultimately, he starts doing some stuff with the boys that maybe he shouldn’t be doing.”

He also explained why Lt. Anderson is giving Superman such a hard time

In the Superman & Lois Season 2 premiere, Clark visits the DoD’s new head honcho, Lt. Anderson (Ian Bohen). When the military man urges him to pledge his loyalty to America alone, Superman unapologetically confirms his allegiance to the world. 

“America benefited from where he landed,” Helbing explained to TV Line.” But if you’re Superman — or on our show, because he’s Clark Kent, and because he had these fantastic parents — he has a responsibility not just to Smallville or to Kansas or to America, but to the world. “

With Lt. Anderson in charge, Clark’s dynamic with the military is different. And Helbing noted that without a personal connection like the one Lane had with Clark, the military would only want to use the superhero for his powers. 

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“Sam Lane had done that job forever, and he obviously has all of the benefit of knowing who Superman really is, that he’s married to his daughter, their history, all of that,” the showrunner said.” He can get away with things and hide things in a way that someone coming in who doesn’t know that secret wouldn’t be able to do.”

“We’re playing all of that in conjunction with the idea that if you have someone like Superman at your disposal,” added Helbing. “And you’re a country; you want that person fighting for you.” 

New episodes of Superman & Lois air Tuesdays on The CW. 

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