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As its title implies, “Olsen’s Eleven” is a great heist episode for My Adventures with Superman Season 2 while delivering some great character moments.
Directed by Diana Huh, with a story from Paul Chang, M. Willis, Angela Entzminger, and Cynthia Furey, as well as a teleplay by Chang, the episode once again puts the spotlight on Jimmy (voiced by Ishmel Sahid) and Lois (voiced by Alice Lee). At the same time, it answers how they got to space in the last episode‘s cliffhanger. Viewers also get to see the return of some familiar faces.
Love is Not for Cowards
While this episode is heavy on action and heist shenanigans, My Adventures with Superman is always at its best when focusing on relationships, which “Olsen’s Eleven” delivers in spades. One unexpected relationship is from returning characters, Livewire (voiced by Zehra Fazal) and Heatwave (voiced by Laila Berzins). Surprisingly they are the emotional core of this episode. In an action sequence where they fight off enemies, use their powers, and monologue in the most anime and best way possible, they deliver on the thesis, “Love is not for cowards”.
This thesis ties in nicely with Lois’s entire arc in the season thus far. She has been so afraid of losing Clark Kent that she pushed him away and is only now realizing how to conquer that fear. We also see this reflected in Jimmy, who is willing to risk everything for his platonic love for Clark, as well as his new burgeoning romantic feelings for Kara Zor-El.
It is also furthered by the presence of Monsieur Mallah (voiced by André Sogliuzzo) and The Brain (voiced by Jesse Inocalla). Like the last season, they are a great comedic duo, and every second they are on screen is an absolute blast. More importantly, they are a couple who were afraid to show their love. Over time, however, they learned to be open and proud in a world that doesn’t accept them.
Vulnerable Cousins
While Clark is not present in “Olsen’s Eleven”, “Love is not for cowards” also applies to his journey in this season. He has been too afraid to talk directly with Lois about his issues, driving him to a low point. Partially as a result of that, he is captured by Brainiac. This thesis is also seen in Kara, who has been reluctant to let her true enthusiasm and feelings out except in small bursts.
Additional Thoughts on My Adventures with Superman Season 2 Episode 7
As always, the performances in the show are top-tier. In particular, Alice Lee has been superb, especially when it comes to the more emotional moments. The moment where she breaks down over ending her relationship with Clark is so real and grounded in actual fears. She is two-for-two on vulnerable moments that have nearly brought me to tears while watching.
The episode does a nice job building up the Earth-based antagonists of Task Force X. Lex Luthor’s (voiced by Max Mittelman) machinations with Amanda Waller (voiced by Debra Wilson) are starting to come to fruition. Their technology really puts the crew through their paces in this episode and will likely prove challenging, even for Superman. With that said Luthor and Waller could use some more screen time to flesh them out as characters. Although, for now, they are interesting enough and serve their purpose well.
Another great thing about My Adventures with Superman is its recurring characters. They consistently bring back characters, such as Livewire, which makes the world feel more alive. Seeing how these side characters grow alongside the main trio just makes the show more well-rounded. All in all, “Olsen’s Eleven” is a satisfying follow-up to last week’s cliffhanger and a great episode in its own right that leaves you wanting more.
Score: 4/5
My Adventures with Superman Season 2 airs on Sundays at midnight via Adult Swim and the next day on Max!
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This article was edited by John Tangalin.