Originally aired September 24, 2010
Written by Holly Henderson and Don Whitehead
Directed by Kevin Fair
In the aftermath of Clark's fight with Zod, a face from Clark's past returns with an important message. Chloe risks everything to rescue a captured Oliver. Tess awakens in a strange lab where she makes a startling discovery.
Tropes present in the episode:
- Back from the Dead: Tess is resurrected after dying from her wounds in the previous episode.
- Bald of Evil: LX-3
- Bookends: The pilot episode featured Clark being strung up like a scarecrow; this episode has Lois in the same predicament thanks to LX-3.
- Disappointed in You: Jor-El's response after Clark rails against him yet again.Jor-El: I regret as a father...my faith in you blinded me to the truth. You will never be Earth's savior.
- Foreshadowing: Tess was healed in part by skin grafts from the Lex clones. A task which is much easier to guarantee success for when the two people in question are blood relatives.
- I Have Your Wife: LX-3 kidnaps Lois and attempts to kill her to break Clark's spirit.
- Jerkass Has a Point: Though he was a total asshole about it, Jor-El did have a point about Clark having darkness in his heart and about "something dark" coming.
- Kill It with Fire: LX-3 sets fire to Cadmus Labs to kill the rest of the other Lex clones (sans Alexander/LX-15), and later tries to immolate a captured Lois.
- The Last Dance: LX-3 knows he doesn't have long to live, so how does he decide to spend his final days alive? By kidnapping Lois and planting a bomb atop the Daily Planet so he can force Clark to make a Sadistic Choice. He ultimately fails as Clark manages to save both Lois and innocent people.
- Looks Like Orlok: LX-3
- Made of Iron: Clark somehow survives a pretty steep fall despite having a Blue Kryptonite dagger embedded in his side.
- Parental Hypocrisy: In the Season 5 finale "Vessel," Jor-El ORDERED Clark to kill Lex so Zod couldn't use him as a vessel and fulfill his plans to turn Earth into a new Krypton. This time, however, he yells at Clark for nearly killing LX-3 (who left Lois to be burned to death and planted a bomb that would have ultimately killed lots of people). What the hell, Jor-El?
- Poor Communication Kills
- Pride: Both LX-3 and Jor-El claim this is Clark's Fatal Flaw.
- Rage Against the Mentor: When Jor-El calls him out on almost killing LX-3, Clark isn't pleased, to say the least.Clark: [to Jor-El] You may not see me as a hero, but the rest of the world does! And I decide my fate!
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: LX-3 gives one to Clark when they cross paths.LX-3: You remember this place, don't you? Not far from where we first met.Clark: The bridge. Yeah, Lex would have died if I hadn't pulled him out of that car.LX-3: And you never let me forget it. The truth is, by the time you dragged me to shore, something new had crept into your heart: Pride. The most damning of the seven deadly sins. [chuckles] Now you wear that pride on your chest, right here in that self-righteous symbol. But just beneath it lies the darkness in your heart. Just like me, you are your own worst enemy.Clark: I'm nothing like you.LX-3: [chuckles] We're more like brothers than you think. That's why you could never stop me. Because deep down inside, you know you brought death and destruction! The only reason anyone ever calls you a hero is because you clean up the disasters you unleash.
- Sadistic Choice: LX-3 gives Clark the choice of saving either Lois or innocent bystanders. Clark, of course, saves both.LX-3: I'm just sorry that this mutated body of mine won't last long enough to see the world turn on you.Clark: What did you do?LX-3: There's an explosion rocking the roof of the Daily Planet. You can stop that beacon from plummeting into the rush-hour traffic, or you can save the woman you love.Clark: Lois. Where is she?LX-3: [scoffs] Even you aren't fast enough to save both. Today, the world will finally lose faith in its heretic hero! And it will destroy you.
- Secret Secret-Keeper: Lois becomes one to Clark in this episode, but he remains unaware of it until "Isis."
- So Proud of You: Jonathan says this to Clark.Jonathan: I never stopped watching out for you, Clark.Clark: Then you must be disappointed. I haven't grown into the man you raised me to be.Jonathan: No, you haven't. You are so much more than that, and I'm so proud of you, Clark.
- Spirit Advisor: Jonathan Kent returns from beyond the grave to give Clark encouragement.
- Vagueness Is Coming: While Clark's in the afterlife, Jor-El contacts him and tells him a new threat is coming. Once Clark is revived after Lois removes the Blue Kryptonite dagger, Clark assumes the threat is Lex (having seen him in the afterlife) and moves to stop LX-3's scheme. But when he returns to the Fortress, Jor-El yells at him for almost killing LX-3 and having darkness in his heart, doesn't elaborate what the coming "dark force" is, and instead tells Clark he'll never be the hero he's meant to be.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Jor-El to Clark after Clark presumptuously declares that he's the hero Jor-El wanted him to be after he manages to save both Lois and innocent bystanders from LX-3's scheme.Jor-El: [to Clark] Pride, vanity... You almost took a man's life, and you dare tell me you're following the path I set out for you?
- You Are Number 6: Lex's clones, including LX-15 and LX-3.
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You Look Familiar: Mackenzie Gray (LX-3) previously played Dr. Alastair Krieg in Season 5's "Cyborg."
