The CW’s newest superhero show “Superman and Lois” debuted on Feb. 23, in what is easily the most distinctive looking production of the Arrowverse shows.

“Superman and Lois” follows long-established DC comics characters Clark Kent and Lois Lane in the decades after where most cinematic depictions end. The show begins with a prologue of information delivered via montage that follows what fans mostly already knew and expected, doing the heavy lifting in setting up which version of the characters the show follows: Clark Kent is Superman, he and Lois Lane are married, and they have two boys that they struggle to raise as best they can while still also being a symbol of hope to the world and reporters respectively, and the family’s move from Metropolis to Smallville.

The show’s canon deviates slightly from what was set up in other Arrowverse shows during crossover episodes, but the retcon of where Lois and Clark became engaged is not a large enough problem to make the rest of the pilot unenjoyable, as the episode was extremely watchable.

The production of “Superman and Lois” appears to be a much higher caliber than what is used in the older Arrowverse shows. This raises the question of how it will look during the crossover episodes the CW schedules each year, but the show’s stylization so far only helps build its originality for now.

In terms of what is on the screen to enjoy, the show balances its action scenes well with the family drama that takes up the majority of the pilot’s runtime, as well as setting up the antagonist for the series all while making pointed references to contemporary problems. The show realistically makes commentary on small towns and billionaires buying newspapers in dialogue. It was thrillingly un-stilted and sounded natural from two characters who try to help people with their skillset from their alien superpowers and investigative journalism.

Within the pilot, the show demonstrates the benefits of showcasing characters whose dynamics and personalities are well known. The story does not have to slow itself down in order to explain what Krypton is, or who Superman is by acknowledging that the audience is extremely familiar with these concepts as they have been shaped over decades past. The show has the ability to play with humor referencing all of the Superman canons that are available to them—such as a classic phone booth joke.

“Superman and Lois” plays on the screen like the strong beginning of an exciting show. The show vocalizes where some of the most iconic comic book characters stand on modern issues, all while saving the world and maintaining important family connections.