Originally aired May 14, 2010
Written by Turi Meyer & Al Septien
Directed by Greg Beeman
When the Kandorians launch devastating attacks all across the world, members of the Justice League and the Justice Society band together to take on the enemy. Clark and Zod have an epic face-off.
Tropes present in the episode:
- Anguished Declaration of Love: Oliver makes one to Chloe as mysterious assailants corner him while he's searching for the Kandorians.
- Applied Phlebotinum: Tess wields Kryptonite knuckles against Zod in the Fortress.
- The Atoner: Tess, having realized that Zod will conquer humanity, decides to try and kill him using Kryptonite knuckles. It doesn't end well for her.
- Battle in the Rain: When Clark and Zod engage in their climactic fight, it starts raining.
- Big Damn Kiss: Clark/The Blur and Lois. Bonus points for the effect it has on her (uttered after he leaves): "Clark."
- Bond One-Liner: Zod delivers one to Tess right before burning half of her body with heat vision.Zod: [to Tess] You touched the sun when you freed me from the Orb. You're about to learn what it feels like to get burned. [fires heat vision at Tess]
- Bullying a Dragon: Tess seems to think the best way to atone for her crimes is to take on Zod in the Fortress, alone, with nothing but Kryptonite knuckles. She then gets half of her body burned by Zod.
- Calling the Old Man Out: Clark goes to the Fortress to confront Jor-El about the possibility of having to leave Earth in order to lead the Kandorians on their new world. Too bad Zod destroyed the Fortress console.Clark: Jor-El! I know that you told me to save Zod, but I won't. Not if it means leaving everyone I promised to protect. Now, my destiny is here on Earth. And if everything that you've trained me for was for another purpose, then it was a waste, because I'm staying.
- Caught Up in the Rapture: Activating the Book of Rao causes this effect on the Kandorians, who are lifted up into the sky in golden beams of light.
- Cliffhanger: The episode, and Season 9, ends with Clark succeeding in sending Zod and the Kandorians away from Earth, but he himself is left falling off a building with Zod's Blue Kryptonite dagger embedded in his side.
- The Coats Are Off: During his fight with Zod, Clark takes off his Badass Longcoat.
- Crucified Hero Shot: The episode, and therefore Season 9, ends with Clark in this pose as he falls off the crow's nest with Zod's Blue Kryptonite dagger in his side.
- Engineered Public Confession: Clark tricks Zod into revealing he killed Faora to his troops.
- Facial Horror: Tess, as a result of Zod using his heat vision on her after she tries to kill him in the Fortress.
- Heel–Face Turn: The entire Kandorian army pulls one after Zod's crimes are exposed.
- Insignia Rip-Off Ritual: After Zod unwittingly reveals that he murdered Faora and their unborn baby, the other Kandorians rip off their armbands.
- Internal Reveal: Lois discovers that Clark is The Blur. And this time, it's not undone with Time Travel or Laser-Guided Amnesia.
- It Has Been an Honor: Carter/Hawkman to Clark after Clark announces he's going to transport himself and the Kandorians off of Earth.
- Kill It with Fire: Zod does this to Tess after she tries to kill him in the Fortress.
- Might Makes Right: Zod invokes this trope during his verbal standoff with Clark in the Fortress.Zod: [to Clark] Have you taken a look around you?! It's always like this! Might makes right! Only the strong survive!
- Monumental Damage: The Kandorians burn Zod's symbol onto the Great Wall of China, the Temple of Athena, a pyramid, and the Washington Monument.
- Plot Device: The Book of Rao which, when activated, transports all earthbound Kryptonians (sans Clark, of course) to another world.
- Power Nullifier: Zod takes out a Blue Kryptonite dagger to keep himself and Clark from being teleported with the other Kandorians.
- Put on a Bus: Allison Mack ends her tenure as a regular cast member. She would make four appearances in the final season, including the Grand Finale.
- Season Finale: The show's ninth and final one.
- Scream Discretion Shot: The camera focuses on Zod as he fires heat vision at an off-screen Tess, whose screams of agony are heard before the cut to commercial.
- Shout-Out: Right before he and Clark engage in their climactic fight, Zod tells him "Better to rule in Hell than serve in Heaven!" That line really draws a comparison between Clark and Zod as messianic and Satanic figures, respectively.
