Momoa's great, but what about Krypton's Lobo?
NOTE: I usually do VERY minimal editing in my videos, but I had a hunch that the content police at SyFy wouldn’t care too much if I used some clips. So while the text below is a quick summary of my script … watch the video for some tasty selects of Krypton’s Lobo!
Jason Momoa has the physicality down, but if you’re a die-hard fan of the intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo, you’ve probably wondered about the 2018 SyFy original series, Krypton. It features an incarnation of the Main Man that’s allegedly excellent. I decided to find out if it's worth the watch, becoming one of the DOZENS of people to actually sit through this two-season show.
The verdict? Unless you hate yourself, steer clear.
The Long Walk to Season 2
The biggest hurdle for any Lobo enthusiast is that the character doesn't even appear in the first season. You have to push through ten episodes of Superman’s grandfather, Seg-El, navigating a narrow, budget-strained version of the planet Krypton 200 years before it explodes.
The show tries for a Game of Thrones level of sprawling political intrigue but executes it on a SyFy channel budget. While there are interesting themes regarding science versus religion and some solid appearances from actors like Cameron Cuffe, future Green Lantern Aaron Pierre, and Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham, the overall experience is often wooden and plodding.
The Arrival of the Main Man
When you finally reach Season 2, you get what you came for: Emmett J. Scanlan’s version of Lobo. He’s a breath of fresh air—delightfully unhinged, ridiculous, and practically oozing with the potential the rest of the show lacks.
However, don't get too comfortable. Here’s the reality of the "Lobo content" in Krypton:
Limited Screentime: Lobo only appears in four episodes of the second season, with a total runtime of less than 25 minutes dedicated to the character.
Diluted Episodes: Even in those three episodes, his storyline on Brainiac’s home planet is constantly interrupted by the same slow-moving political drama back on Krypton.
The Five-Minute Finale: After practically disappearing for the rest of the season, he shows up for exactly one scene in the series finale—a five-minute appearance you might have already seen as a YouTube clip.
The Final Verdict: Stick to the Clips
If you’re a Lobo fan, do not put yourself through the entirety of Krypton. The show functions more like an alternate-universe piece of fan fiction that never quite finds its footing. While Scanlan’s performance is great, he can't save a series that can't get out of its own way.
Save yourself the time and just watch the Lobo clips online. They contain the best of the character without the hours of filler.
Honestly, Lobo would have been a much better fit for the CW’s Arrowverse—specifically Legends of Tomorrow.
#SaveTheLegends.
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