Recap / Superman: The Animated Series S2 E10 "Double Dose"

Livewire, having escaped from prison, teams up with Parasite to take revenge on Superman. Each supervillain gave the Man of Steel major trouble during their last encounter. How can he defeat the two of them as a team?

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This episode contains examples of:

• Assimilation Backfire: Parasite gains Livewire's weakness to water after taking her powers.
• Batman Gambit: Superman takes a swipe at the electrically-powered Parasite with a broom. Gloatingly, the supervillain zaps it, setting the end on fire. Cue super-smirk as the Man of Steel raises the broom to the smoke detectors and sets off the sprinklers.
• Big "NO!": Parasite, when he realizes he's played right into Superman's hands.
• Bond Villain Stupidity: Parasite might have gotten away if he had not been so insistent on getting Superman.
• Boring, but Practical:
  • When Lois Lane needs to go out in a heavy storm she dresses in an unflattering plain yellow rain poncho. When Clark (having a "Eureka!" Moment) stares at her, she points out that even if it is not particularly attractive or special it will keep her dry.
  • Superman then confronts Livewire and Parasite by laminating himself in a non-conducting rubber. Parasite can't touch his skin, and he's immune to Livewire's electric blasts.
• Can't Kill You, Still Need You: Parasite stops Livewire from killing Superman because he can't keep feeding off his power if he's dead. He also applies this mindset to Livewire herself.
• Combat Pragmatist: Superman's rubber suit; when Parasite calls "no fair!" on this, Superman says "I wasn't aware there were any rules."
• Continuity Nod:
  • Parasite still is watching his cable TV from his last appearance.
  • Draining Superman also causes him to briefly gain back his memories of the Man of Steel's identity as Clark from his first appearance.
  • Parasite seems to be watching the same TV show (a parody of a famous David Letterman episode) that the Joker was watching at the beginning of "Joker's Wild".
• Didn't Think This Through: Livewire's plan is for Parasite to make Superman weaker so she can finish him off, but this just means the guy who keeps trying to feed off her gains enough power to subdue her.
• Does This Remind You of Anything?:
  • At one point, Parasite tries to grab Livewire; she calls him a sleaze and tells him "If I say no, it means no!" and blasts him. Later, he successfully grabs her and tells her, "You said 'no' to me for the last time!". While his motive is to steal her powers, the scene carries a very strong rape subtext, as do his other attempts to grab her.
  • When Superman shows up to battle the pair in his rubber suit, Livewire comments "The boy scout brought protection!"
• The End... Or Is It?: The shock that Parasite received was so severe that he doesn't even remember who he is. Superman wonders if he'll ever get his memories back and be a threat again. He will.
• "Eureka!" Moment:
  • Clark sees Lois don a raincoat, and the idea of a plastic suit occurs to him.
  • The "rain" part of the raincoat is also useful to him. Near the end, a weakened Superman throws a water cooler at a Livewire-powered Parasite, briefly short-circuiting him. He reaches a dead end via janitor's closet and fights with a broom, which Parasite sets on fire. The villain learns too late that this is exactly what Superman was counting on; using the burning broom to trigger a sprinkler system above them to short Parasite out more effectively.
• Eviler than Thou: Livewire repeatedly asserts she's the main villain in this team-up and is quite willing to demonstrate that, but Parasite ultimately betrays and drains her.
• Failed a Spot Check: The guard who was supposed to make sure that no electronics got near Livewire's cell. How could he notice a watch and miss earphones?
• First-Name Basis: Parasite mockingly asks if Superman minds being addressed as "Clark" instead after absorbing his powers once again, remembering their first encounter.
• Forceful Kiss: Livewire kissed Dan Turpin without consent, shocking him into unconsciousness, simply for fun. As you might expect, Superman was not amused. Turpin was discussing her escape at a press conference:
  Turpin: If that short circuit comes within a hundred feet of here, I'll-
  Livewire (from the radio next to him): Pucker up and plant a big wet one directly on her lips.
• Friendship Moment: After all Superman's been through, Turpin offers him a ride back into town. Superman thanks him, but he says he's feeling strong enough to fly on his own.
• The Guards Must Be Crazy: Livewire escapes after a janitor breaks three rules. One, bringing an electronic device near her cell, two, talking to her (which he admits he isn't allowed to do), and the stupidest of all, letting her use said electronic device. Who hired this idiot?
• History Repeats: The last time Parasite drained Superman's powers, he also obtained his weakness to Kryptonite, leading to his defeat. This time, he obtains both Superman's and Livewire's near the end. Since Parasite also has Livewire's weakness to water, Super just needed to trigger the office sprinkles to defeat him once more.
• Kiss of Death: Downplayed. Livewire kissing Dan Turpin put him out for some amount of time, but at the end of the story, he's back as good as ever.
• Mistreatment-Induced Betrayal: After mouthing off at Rudy one too many times, Parasite finally snaps and drains Livewire's powers right as she's about to finish off Superman.
  Parasite: I want [Superman] alive so I can keep feeding off him- and you too. You've said "no" to me for the last time, baby.
• Near-Villain Victory: Without the rubber suit, Superman is quickly drained by Parasite and left barely able to stand. Livewire was poised to finish him, but then Parasite betrayed her.
• Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: Parasite betraying Livewire gives Superman a way out of this. He even restrains her with a bent pipe, which saves a weakened Superman any further trouble after beating him.
• Power Copying: Parasite eventually takes Superman and Livewire's powers.
• The Scream: After the sprinklers go off, the electrically-charged Parasite is left screaming in agony. It briefly cuts to an establishing shot of the building for this effect.
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Superman interrupts Parasite's escape by boat, leading to a battle underwater. Parasite forgoes trying to escape to try to drain Superman here and now, but in the face of too much resistance, he just swims off in all the confusion for the nearest pipe and departs.
• Shout-Out: Livewire has a tendency to reference advertisements.
  • She references the Energizer Bunny when she shocks a cell full of prisoners who cat call her.
  Livewire: I just keep going and going and going...
  • Before electrocuting Superman in the climax she quotes the Rice Krispies "Snap, Crackle and Pop" slogan.
• Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: Livewire is constantly insulting and quick to zap him if he gets out of line, while Parasite is constantly trying to feed off her. Their team-up falls apart the moment Superman is drained.
• Too Dumb to Live: The janitor who lets Livewire listen to his music, especially after entering into a checkpoint where no electronic devices were allowed.
• Villain Team-Up: A major part of the story is Livewire and Parasite teaming up.
• Villainous Crush: Parasite asks Superman how that "pretty little colleague" of his is.
• Why Won't You Die?: Livewire yells this at Superman after he survives her shocking him through a fourth-story wall.

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