Originally aired March 12, 2002
Teleplay by Mark Verheiden
Story by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar
Directed by Michael Katleman
Lex's shady past comes back to haunt him when he is being stalked by Jude Royce, a man who was killed in an altercation at a Metropolis nightclub three years ago. Chloe probes into Clark's adoption as part of a class assignment.
Tropes present in the episode:
- Alliterative Name: Roy Rothman
- Big Brother Instinct: Roy takes this to the extreme after Amanda's suicide.
- Dead Person Impersonation: Roy hired a cook who looked just like Jude as part of his plan to get revenge on Lex.Lex: [referring to the Jude lookalike] Who's that?Roy: Lucky break. Couple weeks after Amanda's funeral, I walk into a greasy spoon in Bludhaven and there he is. I couldn't believe it. Short-order cook flipping burgers. You know how they say everyone in life has a double? I had to look twice. I figure if he can fool me, he can fool you.
- The Dog Was the Mastermind: The Talon's contractor turns out to be Roy Rothman, who wants revenge on Lex for his sister, Amanda, committing suicide.
- Driven to Suicide: Amanda Rothman's fate after the events at Club Zero.Lex: Where's Amanda?Roy: She's dead, Lex. She committed suicide a year ago.Lex: I never knew.Roy: Because you cut her out of your life. She was never the same after Club Zero. Jude's death devastated her; he was the love of her life. You took all that away. She had nothing to live for.
- How We Got Here: The episode begins with Lex held captive by Jude, then starts days before.
- Identical Stranger: Jude has been dead for two years, and the man Lex has been seeing is just a fry cook who happened to look exactly like him and was hired by Roy for his plan.
- The Man Behind the Man: "Jude" turns out to be a lookalike hired by Roy Rothman as part of his revenge scheme against Lex.
- Mundanger: Roy Rothman, the true culprit behind Lex's torment, has no superhuman powers.
- Mythology Gag: Roy mentions he found the Jude lookalike in Bludhaven.
- Never My Fault: When he was caught cheating by Amanda, Jude blames Lex for ruining their relationship since he intentionally brought her to the club.Lex: [to Jude] You brought this on yourself.
- Posthumous Character: Sam Phelan (from "Rogue") appears in a flashback.
- Revenge: Roy's motivation.
- Villain of the Week: Roy Rothman is revealed to be the mastermind behind everything happening to Lex.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Clark gives Chloe one after finding out she uncovered information about his adoption by the Kents.Chloe: Since you continue to play obstructionist, I've had to find information through other means. I found that your adoption was done through Metropolis United Charities, but this is the strange part: They were in business for six months and, from what I can tell, yours is the only adoption they handled.Clark: I can't believe you did this, Chloe.Chloe: You didn't know? I just assumed that your parents would have told you. I mean, weren't you interested?Clark: Why would I be? My biological parents are either dead or didn't want me. You're prying into my private life.Chloe: I was just trying to be thorough.Clark: This is a class project! I spent an hour yesterday with Lana; that's it. That's all I needed. I'm not some mystery for you to solve. (leaves the Torch)
- Woman Scorned: Amanda, who is revealed to have shot and killed Jude during his altercation with Lex at Club Zero. When Lex told Roy the truth, Roy believed it was just another lie.
