In a recently released Superman deleted scene, viewers get further proof of why Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane and David Corenswet’s Clark Kent are perfect for each other. We get proof of adoration. Proof of loyalty. Proof of all that’s beautiful in a romance. (James Gunn, why did you delete this? And can you please put it back so we can watch it on the big screen? Thank you.) It’s a brief scene, thirty-five seconds to be exact, but it’s substantial in a profoundly indescribable way as it emphasizes how the two of them continue looking out for one another.
At this point in the movie, viewers have already seen Clark confessing his love to Lois, but Lois’ verbal declaration doesn’t come until their kiss at the end of the movie. We have beats throughout that showcase that she does indeed love him back, but this bedroom kiss in the Superman deleted scene is perhaps even more powerful than words can ever be. Because here, every emotion is raw. She’s in a hurry. She’s about to leave, a few things make sense, and yet, how Brosnahan completely changes her physicality when she walks into his bedroom is monumental in revealing just how deeply Lois cares for Clark.
First things first, the scene’s structure is quite telling. The blue hues in the dark room, paralleling the darkness she finds him sitting in before he turns himself in, are a means to emphasize the hopelessness both characters undoubtedly feel. The loss. The sadness. The pain. Neither of them expected the way matters would unfold as they made out on her kitchen counter, then fought over their differences and the Superman interview. Neither of them imagined how bleak everything would become. Still, none of it changed the way they love each other; in fact, everything in this scene proves that she loves him more than she ever thought possible.
The way Lois gently sits on Clark’s bed and draws her fingers up from his chest and onto his face is no small act. It’s intimate and warm. She feels his heartbeat first, reminding herself that he’s alive. He’s here beside her, even as he’s injured and asleep. He’s okay. He’ll be okay. She needs the reassurance as much as he would need it if the roles were reversed because that’s how deeply the two care for each other.
Then, when she slides her fingers delicately up to his face and promises that she’s going to get him out of this, Brosnahan does something extraordinary palpable with her expression. She layers it with an undeniable conviction that tells us Lois isn’t going to give up on Clark. She could never, even if scenes ago, she denied just how deeply she loves him to Mr. Terrific. It’s this bedroom kiss that proves that Clark, in any sort of danger, is her own form of kryptonite. Yet, it’s also proof that she’ll be his biggest strength. She’ll do everything in her power to fight for him.
He doesn’t ask her to do any of it, and he doesn’t have to. It’s something she wants because that’s what happens when you love someone. You carry the literal weight of them on your shoulders all the way to their parents’ house, and then you promise that you’re going to fight while they rest. You carry each other’s burdens. You carry each other’s secrets and pocket all the moments of happiness. Lois also seals her promise with a kiss on his cheek, not because she’s scared she won’t be able to fight for him, but because she knows she will. This isn’t the last time. It’s a different beginning. She kisses him because he’s her person, he’s her heart, and it’s further proof for her that he’s here, he’s okay. His heart is beating, and she’s on his side.
The softness in Lois and Clark’s romance is something we continue to write about because theirs is unlike anything else we’ve seen in the films. The vulnerability and the warmth they show to each other—the raw, open sincerity—all of it validates that gentleness can be all-consuming, too. Their love for one another is deep, ongoing, and fiery at times, but there’s just as much passion in the quiet beats that remind them (and the audience) of how vital and lasting their love is.
Superman is now streaming on HBO Max. What are your thoughts on Lois’ vulnerability in this Superman deleted scene? Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Warner Bros.