"Superman & Lois"

The latest incarnation of a very familar territory is enjoyable and manages to mine some new stuff.  For that, I am grateful.  I also like how the show balances the needs of each family member, including Lois, with the superhero theatrics.  There is something touching about returning to Smallville.  It humanizes a story which can be more about symbols than people.  All that being said, there is room for improvement.  The CW (or is it Greg Berlanti?) has become somewhat morose.  "Arrow" was dark, that's fine, it's a dark tale.  "Batwoman" dark?  No problem.  But the darkness has expanded.  "The Flash", which opened as the polar opposite to "Arrow", is downright bleak with a touch of sadness.  And now, in "Superman & Lois", we have a Smallville which is always overcast and grey and a Superman who is partially unshaven and struggles to find the silver lining.  It's just not what Superman is.  Superman should be bright and shiny and wholesome.  Wholesome is kind of the brand, you know?  Smallville looking like Gotham?  Wrong.  The show has enough going on for it that it can hang in there for a good while (and the CW is loathe to cancel shows) but I'm hoping as it moves forward that it finds the funny and finds the dawns because more bleak I can't take.