Superboy season 1
| Superboy | |
|---|---|
| Season 1 | |
 Promotional poster | |
| Showrunner | Freddie Goodwin |
| Starring |
|
| No. of episodes | 15 |
| Release | |
| Original network | The CW |
| Original release | March 15 – August 16, 2021 |
The first season of the American television series Superboy premiered on The CW. The series is based on the DC Comics characters Superman created by Jerry Siegel. The season was produced by Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television.
The series stars Dev Patel as the titular character Alex Singh / Superboy, a costumed superhero. Also returning are main cast members Michael Bishop, Inde Navarrette, Wolé Parks, Tayler Buck, Dylan Walsh, and Emmanuelle Chriqui. Superboy was ordered in early 2019.
The season premiered on March 15, 2021 and concluded on August 16, 2021. The series was renewed for a second season in June 2021.
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Pilot" | Freddie Goodwin | Freddie Goodwin | March 15, 2021 | T28.14101 | 1.67 |
| Alex Singh, a staff member under the General Supportive Program at South City High School, faces the abrupt shutdown of the program by new principal Jackson Edge. Although Alex's brother, Max, offers to help rebuild it, Alex chooses to move on. During a chance encounter with Wells Smith, a childhood friend, Alex accidentally reveals that he is Superboy, the mysterious vigilante who has been protecting the school from danger and bullying. Principal Edge, unaware of Superboy's identity, vows to take control of the situation and ensure the school’s safety. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense (DOD) collaborates with Superboy to address a growing threat involving secretive agents studying his blood to create enhanced individuals. In a confrontation with an exo-suited adversary seeking revenge for his father's death, which he blames on Superboy, Alex is overpowered and defeated. Concerned for his well-being, Alex's girlfriend, Nova Smart, expresses her worries about the risks he faces. In a twist, the exo-suited individual is revealed to be operating under the alias "Mr. Luthor." | |||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Game of Fools" | Freddie Goodwin | Jackson Greene & Freddie Goodwin | March 22, 2021 | T28.14102 | 1.43 |
| Alex unveils his new suit to Nova and begins planning to uncover the identity of the mysterious suited individual known as "Luthor." Meanwhile, Luthor starts investigating South City High School, eventually discovering Alex's true identity and linking him to the Superboy persona. Alex, working alongside Wells, initially considers forming a team but soon decides to abandon the idea. The DOD intensifies its efforts to track down Luthor, deploying soldiers to find him. However, when they finally confront Luthor, he kills them all and escapes just before Superboy arrives. Alex's father, General Sam Singh, orders him to exercise more caution and insists that they work together rather than at odds, a request Alex reluctantly agrees to. Nova, still unaware of the DOD's involvement and Alex's connection to his father, begins to suspect he is secretly working for a mysterious organization. Alex eventually regains her trust by revealing his father's role in the situation. A week later, Luthor reappears and confronts Alex, demanding that he go with him. | |||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Miss Thy Father" | Brenton Spencer | Marl Brenton | March 29, 2021 | T28.14103 | 1.43 |
| Alex chooses to follow Luthor, who reveals that he knows Alex's identity as Superboy. This revelation leads to a confrontation, with Alex attacking Luthor. During the fight, Luthor's true identity is revealed to be Tony Stark from an alternate reality. Stark blames Alex for the death of his father, Howard Stark, and vows to end him. Superboy manages to escape and reports the incident to the DOD, uncovering the truth behind Luthor's identity. However, Superboy is soon attacked by a powerful individual calling himself "Mister Mxyzptlk." During the battle, Superboy discovers that Tony Stark was never real, and the entire scenario was an illusion created by Mxyzptlk. Mxyzptlk attacks Superboy, leaving him unconscious. Alex's father, Sam, finds him and has him transported to the DOD for recovery. It is then revealed that "Luthor" was Mxyzptlk in disguise, and his true form is finally unveiled. Flashbacks to 2002 show that Alex was sent to Earth after his home planet was destroyed and was discovered by Sam and his mother, Cat. Over the next fifteen years, Alex learned about his powers and his role as a protector of Earth. | |||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Shattered Illusions" | Brenton Spencer | Jackson Greene | April 5, 2021 | T28.14104 | 1.44 |
| A few weeks after his battle with Mister Mxyzptlk, Sam confronts Alex, urging him to express his feelings and confess his fears, worried that Mxyzptlk might still have some control over his mind. Feeling accused and misunderstood, Alex runs off. Later, Nova finds him and pleads with him to work more closely with his father to ensure his safety on the battlefield. Alex confides in Nova, admitting that ever since his encounter with Mxyzptlk, he's been struggling to distinguish between reality and illusion. Meanwhile, Max, spends time with his girlfriend Jessica, attending a football game for a sense of normalcy. Back at the DOD, Sam informs Alex that they might be able to defeat Mxyzptlk by outsmarting him. Nova, in a separate conversation with Wells, learns that he has built a new steel suit and has taken on the alias "Steel." Sam later apologizes to Alex for doubting him, but Alex begins to hear unsettling voices from his family and friends, all ominously telling him, "he's doomed." | |||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Familiar Faces" | Mark Jackson | Freddie Goodwin | April 19, 2021 | T28.14105 | N/A |
Cast and characters
Main
- Dev Patel as Alex Singh / Superboy
- Michael Bishop as Max Singh
- Inde Navarrette as Nova Smart
- Wolé Parks as Jackson Edge
- Tayler Buck as to be decided
- Dylan Walsh as Sam Singh
- Simon Pegg as Mister Mxyzptlk
Guest
Production
Development
Writing
The first season was confirmed to be focusing entirely on giving Alex Singh his backstory, giving him specifically Superman's background.