Originally aired September 29, 2005
Written by Todd Slavkin & Darren Swimmer
Directed by James Marshall
In the Fortress of Solitude, Clark must decide between staying to train with Jor-El or saving Chloe. Back in Smallville, two Kryptonians wreak havoc on the town in their search for Kal-El.
Tropes present in the episode:
- Aloof Dark-Haired Girl: Aethyr sports long, dark hair and doesn't show much emotion.
- Bald of Evil: Nam-Ek, one of Zod's disciples, doesn't have a stand of hair on his head.
- Brought Down to Normal: Clark by the end of the episode, as a result of not making it back to the Fortress before sundown.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Nam-Ek and Aethyr vs. the Smallville police.
- Emotionless Girl: Aethyr, for much of the episode. She smiles slightly when she and Nam-Ek finally encounter Clark/Kal-El, and is seen screaming in fear after she and Nam-Ek end up trapped in the Phantom Zone.
- Event Title: The episode's title refers to Clark arriving to the Fortress of Solitude, and to Nam-Ek, Aethyr, and Brainiac arriving on Earth inside the black ship.
- Evolving Credits: This episode debuts the style of opening credits used until the final season.
- Good-Looking Privates: Nam-Ek and Aethyr, both of whom are two of Zod's soldiers.
- Hoist by Their Own Petard: Aethyr tries to trap Clark in the Phantom Zone using a Kryptonian bracelet, but Clark manages to turn the tables and send both her and Nam-Ek there instead.
- Killed Off for Real: Jason is confirmed to have been killed by the meteor that hit the Kents' farmhouse in the previous episode.
- Mythology Gag: The Phantom Zone projector that Aethyr and Nam-Ek use produces spinning rings (albeit sideways) like the trap on Krypton during the beginning of Superman. Later, as they were stuck in the Zone, the flat-paned "album cover" shows them in the Zone, just like Zod, Ursa and Non in the movie.
- Neck Lift:
- Nam-Ek does this to Lex down in the Kawatche Caves.
- Later, Aethyr executes this on Jonathan and then Lois.
- Pillar of Light: In the Fortress, Clark is enveloped in one displaying Kryptonian symbols and images of Krypton as Jor-El begins training him.
- Promotion to Opening Titles: Erica Durance as Lois Lane.
- Prophet Eyes: Lionel sports these when Lana finds him carving Zod's symbol on the floor of Lex's study.
- Scary Black Man: Nam-Ek, who's tall, emotionless, has green eyes, and is super-powered.
- Sealed Evil in a Can: The black Kryptonian spaceship turns out to be housing Nam-Ek and Aethyr as well as Brainiac, who adopts a human form in the final scene.
- Stripperific: Aethyr wears very little after emerging from the black ship. She dons a military jumpsuit soon after.
- Tattooed Crook: Aethyr has the House of Zod crest tattooed on her lower back.
- Trash the Set: The Kent farmhouse is left in shambles after the meteor hits in the previous episode.
- Villain Ball: Aethyr uses her bracelet to open up a portal to the Phantom Zone, and she and Nam-Ek hit Clark with blasts of heat vision to send him hurtling towards the portal, but then she and Nam-Ek turn away WITHOUT making sure Clark goes all the way into the portal. This, of course, allows Clark to escape and send them to the Phantom Zone instead.
- Villain of the Week: Nam-Ek and Aethyr, the Disciples of Zod.
- Villainous Cheekbones: Aethyr, courtesy of Alana de la Garza's pretty facial features.
- We Can Rule Together: Nam-Ek and Aethyr ask Clark/Kal-El to join them in conquering Earth. Clark, naturally, refuses.Clark: What do you want?Nam-Ek: We want you to join us, Kal-El. And help us make this land our utopia.Clark: I saw what you did at the hospital. It's not utopia; it's murder.Aethyr: The few must be sacrificed for the sake of the many.Clark: Then sacrifice me. Because I'm not gonna let you kill anyone else.
