Superman & Lois recently presented Jimmy Olsen as Clark Kent's best buddy. With a reduced budget and an impending end to the show, Superman & Lois successfully managed to bring one of the most important supporting characters to live-action television in the form of Jimmy Olsen.
Despite assuming a significant role in comics such as My Adventures with Superman, the character of Jimmy Olsen had to be either consigned to the background or reworked to the point of no recognition. The seventh episode of Superman & Lois effectively worked the character of Jimmy Olsen into the narrative, emphasizing his role as revealed by Clark Kent.
Douglas Smith performed the role of Jimmy Smith in Superman & Lois. The show presents him as an affable and innocent character who once had a falling out with Clark Kent. However, as time healed the differences, Jimmy and Clark once again reconnected, and Jimmy proved to be one of Clark's most supportive friends and admirers.
Here's everything that we know about Jimmy Olsen from Superman & Lois.
Jimmy Olsen's storyline on Superman & Lois explored
The fourth season of Superman & Lois finally gave the character of Jimmy Olsen the importance he rightfully deserved. The previous iterations of the character did not befit the larger narrative. For instance, in Smallville, Jimmy was killed off before the series ended.
In Supergirl, Jimmy Olsen was turned into a vigilante. On the other hand, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice had Jimmy appear for a single scene as a bizarre CIA agent who got killed. None of these adaptations did justice to the character as one of Clark's best friends.
Jimmy Olsen is a photographer who works for the Daily Planet. His work involves maintaining a close relationship with Lois and Clark and clicking the best photographs of Clark Kent or Kal-El in the Superman suit.
It is also revealed that Clark and Jimmy had fallen out sometime in the past. This transpired from Jimmy's quest to discover Superman's real identity. In flashbacks, the audience is informed that Clark and Lois kept their dating a secret from Jimmy, who never found out about it.
Jimmy tried to deduce that Clark was Superman since he would miss their baseball game whenever Superman rescued someone. Clark senses this and avoids a game, with Superman not showing up anywhere. Jimmy then wonders why Clark doesn't want to be friends with him and eventually distances himself.
The importance of Jimmy Olsen in Superman & Lois
Despite their relationship souring in the past, neither Jimmy nor Clark entirely gave up on each other. When Clark feels the weight of his secret identity coming down on him, he gives an interview to Janet, Jimmy's sister. Clark eventually reveals his true identity as Superman on live television, thus finding relief.
The show subsequently does a fantastic job of presenting a most human Kal-El. Jimmy eventually forgives Clark and reconnects with him, standing tall beside his friend. Although Jimmy has only appeared in a single episode till now, his importance can't be stressed enough.