Season 1 of this show is often overlooked and unappreciated due in largely to the people remembering how bad the show became by seasons 3 and 4. The show changed creative teams later on and with a new team came a new more child friendly direction that was a dumbed down affair with outrageous soap opera plots and campy villian of the week stories. Season 1 is very different and I'd even go as far to say that it's still the best live action adaptation of Superman.
Based largely on John Byrne's revamp of the Superman comics in the 80's the focus of action is shifted from Superman to Clark Kent's relationship with Lois Lane. Gone is the bumbling persona from the Chris Reeve films. Clark here is the true personality with Superman his secondary disguise used in his never ending battle for truth and justice.
It also features one of the best all round casts of the popular characters in the Superman mythos. Lane Smith breathed new life into Perry White as a tough southern man with a slight obsession with Elvis. John Shea also reinvented Lex Luthor as a younger successful, good looking threat that could rival Clark for Lois's affection's. Rounding off the support cast were Michael Landes who did a great job updating Jimmy Olsen and Tracy Scoggins who played an aggressive womaniser Cat Grant from the Superman comics that pursues Clark Kent. As for the two leads Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher were sensational. The chemistry and banter between the two is great and breathes life to the wonderful writing of season 1.
The love triangle between Clark/Lois/Superman is also fun to watch. Lois who has been unlucky in love in the past falls for the perfect celebrity guise of Superman while he yearns for her to accept him as he is in his normal persona of Clark Kent. Little does she know that the Superman she longs to be with is the work partner she spends most of her days investigating and reporting with.
The only criticism one could have is that the effects for a Superman show are not great but that criticism becomes very minor considering how rich all the other aspects such as the acting and writing of the show are.