Originally aired April 15, 2011
Teleplay by Brian Peterson & Kelly Souders
Story by Genevieve Sparling
Directed by Jeannot Szwarc
Clark Luthor returns from Earth-2 and sends Clark Kent back to Earth-2, where Clark Kent runs into an angry and bitter Jonathan Kent. Back on Earth-1, Clark Luthor approaches Tess with a shocking proposition.
Tropes present in the episode:
- Alternate Universe: Earth-2, again.
- Antagonistic Offspring: Clark Luthor wants to kill Earth-2 Lionel, and he blackmails Tess to help him do it.
- Antagonist Title: The episode's title is the last name of Earth-2 Jonathan, who initially plays an antagonistic role on Earth-2.
- Anti-Villain: Earth-2 Jonathan isn't evil; he's just very bitter and hostile.
- Big Damn Heroes: Clark Kent returns to Earth-1 just in time to save Tess from falling to death, courtesy of Clark Luthor.
- Believing Their Own Lies:Tess: I don't feel out of control.Clark Luthor: That's because you have a habit of lying to yourself.
- Blackmail: Clark Luthor threatens to kill Tess if she doesn't help him find Earth-2 Lionel so he can kill him.Tess: Let me get this straight—you're offering me a life with you, but if I don't help you, you'll kill me?Clark Luthor: That's certainly not my preference.
- Call-Back: When trying to convince Earth-2 Jonathan of his actual identity, Clark Kent repeats the line "The only one who controls your destiny is you," Earth-1 Jonathan's words from "Hourglass."
- Destination Defenestration: Downplayed. After Tess re-routes Earth-2 Lionel's tracker to save him from being murdered by Clark Luthor, Clark Luthor grabs her by the neck and smashes her against the office window, causing it to shatter. He then holds her outside before dropping her, only for Clark Kent to come and save her.
- Due to the Dead: Earth-2 Jonathan averts this by crashing Earth-2 Oliver Queen's funeral, angrily ranting about how Earth-2 Oliver ruined the lives of Smallville's residents and then spitting on Earth-2 Oliver's casket as he's being escorted out.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Clark Luthor recognizes how much of a "monster" Earth-2 Lionel is and is angry with Tess for hiding Earth-2 Lionel from him.Clark Luthor: I knew a Luthor would die tonight. And when you reprogrammed the tracker, I couldn't find Lionel...so that leaves you. [grabs Tess by the neck and smashes her against the window, shattering it] You chose him over me, Tess.Tess: He's my father!Clark Luthor: He's our father. And no one knows what a monster he is more than me. And I thought you understood that.
- Fanservice: Tess in that purple number with the plunging neckline.
- Go-Go Enslavement: Clark Luthor buys Tess a very revealing dress for a date at the Ace of Clubs.
- Heel–Face Turn: Clark Luthor has a change of heart thanks to Clark Kent's influence.
- Imposter Forgot One Detail: Clark Luthor keeps rubbing his pinky finger, alerting Tess to the fact that he isn't Clark Kent.
- Kryptonite Is Everywhere: On Earth-2, thanks to Earth-2 Oliver, everyone is aware of Clark Luthor/Ultraman's weakness to Kryptonite and thus carry around Kryptonite.
- Navel-Deep Neckline: The dress that Clark Luthor gets for Tess for their date has a very plunging neckline.
- Neck Lift: Clark Luthor does this to Tess after she re-routes Lionel's tracker, misleading him. Fortunately, Clark Kent arrives to save her.
- No, Mister Bond, I Expect You To Dine: Clark Luthor invites Tess to a date at the Ace of Clubs and threatens to kill her if she doesn't help him kill Earth-2 Lionel.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Clark Luthor dismissively pushes Clark Kent's telescope into a box; this lets Lois know he isn't her Clark.
- Save the Villain: Tess re-routes Earth-2 Lionel's tracker to save him from being killed by Clark Luthor.
- Spiteful Spit: Earth-2 Jonathan crashes Earth-2 Oliver's funeral and angrily spits on the casket as he's being escorted away.
- Villain Ball: Clark Luthor admits to doing this by displaying his superpowers in public on Earth-2.Clark Luthor: You've had a lot of second chances here, Tess, and I'm only asking for the same. People know about the meteor rock where I'm from, and they all know how to kill me; the whole world knows how to kill me there. But here I can have a fresh start. I can enjoy all the things that this world has to offer without the attention, because that was my mistake in the other world.
- Villain of the Week: Clark Luthor
- What the Hell, Hero?: Lois calls Emil out for him and Tess stealing the mirror box that Clark thought he destroyed. She does concede though when Emil says Clark might feel different once it saves his life.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: While Tess decides to protect Lionel from Clark Luthor, Emil notes that she was clearly tempted by the offer, which worries him.Emil: That's not the Tess I know.Tess: Maybe I'm not the person you think I am.Emil: Maybe you are. Maybe you just don't believe it yet.
