Superman investigates Bruno Mannheim further while Lois learns what is wrong with her.
Tropes involved in this episode:
- Adaptational Sympathy: In the comics, Mannheim has no higher motives, while here he — at least superficially — does seem to care about his little corner of Metropolis.
- Amicable Exes: Jordan and Sarah agree to be this. Jon thinks he is this with his ex Eliza, who dumped him in Season 1 but has been texting with him lately, but it turns out she actually wants to get back together.
- Asshole Victim: Former Mayor Dean might've been a huge dick, but people are nevertheless shocked over his death.
- Brown Note: Onomatopoeia's sound-based power is not only horrifying, but also paralyzing.
- Dramatic Irony: Bruno Mannheim complains about how Superman doesn't save people in Mannheim's community, all while Mannheim experiments on, blackmails, and kills people who live and work in that same community. Later, when Superman rushes off to save someone, he snarks about "putting out another fire." Superman actually is trying to save a woman who is attempting suicide due to pressure from Mannheim himself.
- Driven to Suicide: Fearful of what's coming for her after Mannheim's goons see reporters talking to her about getting Henry Miller freed, the judge attempts to take her life. Thankfully, Lois is there to talk her down.
- Expressive Mask: Onomatopoeia's mask changes to reflect her powers. The circular pattern indicates auditory manipulation — making people hear things, debilitating sound, etc. — while the square pattern is a concussive sound, either as wide-area blasts or highly concentrated sound bullets, which is how she killed Mayor Dean and Henry.
- Gender Flip: Onomatopoeia is a woman here.
- Internal Reformist: Judge Reagan's motivation for getting into her job.
- Internal Reveal: Onomatopoeia and Mannheim learn that someone who appears to be the John Henry Irons they killed is alive in Smallville.
- Jerkass: Travis Michaels, the party host, is a massive dickhead, as is his friend whom Jordan knocks into.
- Killed Off for Real: Former Mayor Dean is murdered by Onomatopoeia, his Last Words allowing Lana and John Henry to find a USB drive holding some sort of info... which Onomatopoeia is able to steal.
- Love at First Sight: Matteo, the guy Nat talks to at the party, fell for her during the one day she was at Metropolis High last season.
- Mythology Gag: Lois talking down the judge from jumping is a massive nod towards the iconic scene in All-Star Superman.
- Hobb's Bay, the neighborhood where Mannheim operates from, was originally called the Suicide Slums, where many prominent characters hailed from.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Mannheim accuses Superman of only putting out fires and never changing anything.
- The Reveal: A couple this episode.
- Bruno Mannheim played a role in freeing Henry Miller and possibly getting him superpowers. Superman believes that he was able to manipulate Judge Reagan into letting him go, which is later confirmed.
- Lois has aggressive inflammatory breast cancer.
- Onomatopoeia was the one to kill this Earth's John Henry Irons.
- Shipper on Deck: Both Sarah and Jon try to get Nat and Jordan to hook up with somebody, respectively.
- Silence Is Golden: When Lois reveals she has cancer to Jordan and Jon, the dialogue is slowly muted, leaving only a heartbeat track that also fades, leaving only the soundtrack as the two hug her.
- Shout-Out: A subtle one to The Flash (2014). Superman speeding out of the Gazette leaves papers flying everywhere, which happens all the time in the other show.
- Talking Down the Suicidal: Lois talks Judge Reagan out of jumping off a building, sharing how she too is facing a seemingly uncontrollable force (her cancer) and convincing her that she has the strength to fight. Clark arrives during Lois's speech, ready to swoop in and save Judge Reagan from falling, but ultimately doesn't have to as Lois successfully talks her down.
- The Topic of Cancer: As mentioned above, Lois has cancer, which she reveals when she talks down the judge from jumping.
- Villain with Good Publicity: Bruno Mannheim has not only never been charged with anything due to a lack of evidence, he is also popular within his community.
- Visionary Villain: Mannheim, combined with Self-Made Man. He saw that nobody ever gave a crap about his community and decided to take matters into his own hands.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Lois sympathizes with Judge Reagan, citing her own hardship (getting diagnosed with cancer), and successfully talks her down from committing suicide.
