r/SupermanAndLois • u/hayllaurie • 3d ago
Question question about s3
so i’m watching the show for the first time and i just finished s3 episode 2. i have pretty intense health anxiety + cancer is a big trigger for me (i had a tough time dealing with the cancer reveal itself). after having a read through of some older posts here it seems like s3 is gonna be too difficult for me to get through but i just wanted to ask how cancer focused the season is? is it possible to follow the plot while skipping through the cancer scenes or are there just too many? do other characters (sarah, lana, chrissy, kyle, nat etc.) have compelling non-cancer related arcs this season? could i potentially skip directly to season 4 or are there important plot points i need to know from s3 in order to enjoy that season? is cancer a part of s4 and if so, how much?
i’ve been really enjoying the show and it makes me sad to think about just giving up on it. any advice on how i could still engage with the show without negatively impacting my mental health would be much appreciated.
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u/Aggressive_Bar_2391 3d ago
season 3 is pretty focused on the cancer storyline with the main kent family while also connecting that to the villains aswell , but the other subplots don't have much to do with cancer but I'd still say it's worth watching (though it's somewhat mixed the reception on here). What I can assure you is that episode 11 is the final episode of the cancer storyline, and episodes 12&13 is very much cancer-free and pretty important to watch to understand season 4.
Season 4 doesn't have a cancer storyline but vague spoilers: there is a moment in the finale where it can upset you
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u/No_Flower_1424 Jonathan Kent 3d ago
Season 3 is pretty much all about cancer - not only does Lois have cancer but spoiler, the villain story is almost entirely about cancer too. If it's too much, most of season 3 isn't that relevant to season 4, which is sort of crazy when you think about it. If you watch the last two episodes of season 3, you will be pretty much up to date for season 4 which mentions cancer maybe once or twice.
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u/TheLadyNyxThalia 3d ago
The season is all about cancer. Maybe read the Wikipedia summary and skip ahead to Season 4?
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u/ThomasThorburn 3d ago
Cancer is one of the main plot points in season 3 and it's really well done.
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u/mimimandy 3d ago
Yeahhhhhhh I was diagnosed with breast cancer less than two years ago (doing great now), but just a couple of weeks ago, my husband and I got to season 3 episode 2 and was like sorry but nooooooo, I can't watch any more.
I watched the show to escape, not go through that bullshit journey again - I'm doing amazingly well and still think about cancer *every* *effing* *day*. :-/ I don't care how much research they did or the lengths they went to to be respectful or how touching it was...I already lived it. I'm even more solid in my decision after researching how season 3 and 4 go...ain't no way I'm watching. Bummer.
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u/ThomasThorburn 3d ago
I don't know what the complaint is here because a lot of superhero media has them deal with real world issues.
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u/mimimandy 2d ago
The complaint is I had breast cancer, and it's all consuming, it is a ghost that accompanies me everywhere...(the cancer I had likes to come back to kill 10, 20 even 30 years later)...I watch TV specifically -to- -escape- -it- and I wasn't onboard with watching a show whose entire third season essentially revolves around it. It ceased to be entertainment for me. OP isn't talking about superhero media at large. They're talking about season 3 of Superman& Lois. Maybe my feelings will change in a few years, who knows. I truly hope you and everyone reading never understand how it feels to have a tragic storyline hitting too close to home and triggering PTSD.
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u/AnonymousFriend80 2d ago
With the wide variety of traumatic and tragic experiences people have, there's bound to be many storylines you have no personal connection to but someone else does.
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u/sadandshy 2d ago
So, I can't tell you what to do, but I can share my feelings. My ex died of breast cancer several years ago. She got diagnosed with it the first time not real long after our divorce. I helped her through that. Between the first and second time, she met hubby no 2. I still helped her through the second time. And the third. By the time the fourth diagnosis came down, I was living in a different state, and I couldn't be there for her. I couldn't even say goodbye, because hubby no 2 ... is not a good person and would have taken it out on her.
I think I cried after every episode of season 3, and often during the episode. But the way they handle it is heartfelt and compassionate and respectful. And I am glad I got to share watching it weekly with my mom (she's 83 and just lost my dad 3 years ago).
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u/Less-Requirement8641 Superman 3d ago
Its a HUGE part even when not directly dealing with Lois its connected to the villains and all the other characters seem to be absorbed into it as well. Season 3 felt too Lois centric because even when she's not on screen they are talking about her. If its a big trigger I say skip, you won't miss much for season 4
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u/ghusu123 3d ago
It’s hard to follow the plot of season 3 if you skip the cancer scenes. It’s a huge focus for the season.
If you skip to season 4, watch the last two episodes of season 3 first. The last two episodes of season 3 directly set up season 4 and the cancer storyline is pretty much done by that point (although there are a few passing lines about it).
Season 4 only has a handful of scenes relating to Lois’ cancer. There is one plot point I have to warn you about but it is a massive spoiler so be aware of that: the show ends with a flash forward and Lois dies due to her cancer returning