SUPERMAN & LOIS 1.12

 

RECAP - SUPERMAN & LOIS  1.12:  "Through the Valley of Death"

It's a scary time for the Kent clan.  It appears that---to save his family---The Man of Steel had to join forces with Morgan Edge in order to join the Kryptonian's cause to remake Earth into Krypton.  This means being "reprogrammed" into being a servant of Edge and his father.  Lois, in desperation, calls John Henry Irons, who had warned her about the upcoming war, so say that Superman is going to be turned.  Meanwhile, the Cushings are dealing with the fallout of what happened with the townsfolk after Edge had converted them to Kryptonians before Superman put an end to that plan.  Can Kal-El be saved?  Will Mr. Irons be forced to kill him?  Let's see what transpired....

Before Lois manages to call John, we see him spying on a woman who is leaving a building.  This appears to be his sister from this world (mind you---the Irons of this planet died awhile ago), and is contemplating connecting with her....that is, until Lois calls, and let's him know what's going down.  Meanwhile, we see Superman still being tortured at Edge's Fortress, as they try to convert him to their side.  But Kal-El keeps resisting. 

Lois and the boys chat, and she still believes that Clark will find a way through this---he's been in rougher situations. General Lane arrives, and says that they've been unable to find Superman, and wonders if he's at his Fortress up north.  But Lois knows he's not there, but Edge said he had one out in the desert....so Sam calls the DoD, and they expand their search.  He promises he'll do all he can to bring Clark home. 

Kyle Cushing is trying to get back into his routine, by getting ready for work, and Lana and Sarah try to convince him to take a break, and collect themselves after this fallout.  He feels this is the best thing, but as he goes to leave for work, one of his team from the firehouse tells him that they don't want him there.  In the wake for what happened, a lot of people are looking at Kyle as the reason for what happened....so, Kyle's benched. 

Jon pulls Jordan aside, and encourages him to use his super hearing to try and find their dad.  Jordan says he doesn't think he has that kind of range, but Jon believes in him, and urges him to give it a try.  John has arrived back in Smallville, and he, Lois, and Sam talk, and John says that the ONLY option is to kill Superman.  Sam seems kind of open to the idea (he's a soldier, so he's going to explore EVERY option), but Lois flat out refuses, and says he can get through this.  It's up to THEM to figure it out.  John then shows Sam a weapon that he had made on his Earth that used red sun energy, but in his battle with Superman on his world, he didn't get a chance to really use it, as Superman attacked his ship, and his ship jumped space before he could find out if it worked.  John just needs supplies, and he can make it work. 

The Cushings go into town to get tested, but as they try to talk to their friends, Emily and her family shun them, blame Kyle and Lana for everything that happened to them...especially Emily, who feels ashamed for attacking Lois Lane.  As the town looks down upon the family, it's Lois herself that says she doesn't blame them.  She wants to chat with them, and she asks Kyle about when he was taken over...what happened to him, and how did he manage to fight back.  Lois takes notes as Kyle tells him about the blackouts, and thinking about his family.  She thanks him for everything, and she's off to try and save Superman. As she goes to plead her case to John and her father to try and save Clark.  As for the Man of Might...he's continuing to resist the reprogramming, despite Edge and his father telling him to just give in.  At this moment, Jordan continues working on locating his father....and he actually hears him, and he's off to tell his family he knows where he is. 

John Diggle has arrived in Smallville with some tech from ARGUS to help with the situation, and has arrived at the camp the DoD has set up.  He runs into Lois, and she explains what's going on.  When he finds out WHY he brought the tech, he is NOT pleased, and says that Lyla also would NOT have approved of this.  Sam and John try to explain to him that this is the only option to stop Superman.  John says that he's fought alongside Superman, and he would never turn against the Earth.  He explains from experience, and from a life he's long left behind (yeah....RIGHT, John!).  He then talks to Sam privately, and says that himself, Sam, and Lyla are going to have a little chat later on....and hopes that Sam AND John make the right call.  It's at this time that Jordan and Jon show up, telling them they know where Superman is.  As John is ushered out of the room to work on his project, Sam, Lois, and the boys discuss where Clark is, and Jordan says that Edge said that if anyone tries to save him, he'll destroy them.  Sam says to Lois that, like it or not, he has to treat Superman as a global threat, and they have to take extreme measures, and apologizes to his daughter.  She then goes to Irons, in one last ditch effort to get through to him to NOT kill Superman.  She then tells him their secret:  that she's married to Superman, and that he is the father of her kids.  John is surprised that Clark Kent is Superman, but it still doesn't alter his thought process.  He saw what the Superman of his Earth do to that planet.  Said that it took him 7 minutes to destroy Metropolis...and he won't let that happen here. 

Superman seems to have succumbed to the reprogramming...as he's turned into General Zod.  And they look ready to initiate their plan to take over the planet.  And before Irons goes into battle with Superman, Jon goes up to him, and tells him that he saw the history of John Henry Irons, and expresses sympathy for his loss, and that he sees him as a good dad.  But he also let's Irons know that the man he's about to kill is also a good man.  John says he wishes there could be another way, and Jon reminds him that there's ALWAYS another way.  

The Cushings arrive home, only to see that their house has been broken into and vandalized, with a message spray painted on the house saying "LEAVE SMALLVILLE".  Kyle is wondering about whether or not to leave, but Lana says they've fought for a lot, and they're together as a family, and that's important.  So, they're going to stick together and get through this as a family, and we get a nice montage of Kyle, Lana, and Sarah cleaning the house and re-bonding.  

Irons eventually meets up with Superman, and they end up doing a little bit of fighting.  But as they fight, John can see Superman continue to resist the programming, and Lois and Sam are able to witness things from a cam in John's suit. They take the fight into space, and then battle back down to Earth.  John blasts Superman with his hammer a couple of times.  Superman continues to fight, but feels like he's losing his grip, and orders John to finish him off.  But John tells him to fight...think about what he loves the most.  Eventually, Superman breaks the programming, and is back to himself.  Edge and his father realize that he has failed, and his father bids him off, and Edge must continue the plan on his own.  But Superman and John are now after him, and Edge takes the Eradicator Machine and goes off into space to try and still salvage the plan, but John shoots his rocket meant for Superman at Edge, and blasts him, stopping Edge's threat.  Edge falls back to Earth, and Superman knocks him out.   Superman thanks John for his help.

A little later, Lois and the boys await for Clark to return.  He finally arrives home, and embraces his family, and thanks the boys for helping him out.  John arrives, and Superman again thanks him.  Jon also thanks Irons for not killing his dad, and John says they need some serious family time.  So, he takes off.  Over at the Cushings, we see that Sophie has returned home, and they are finally bonding as a family in full again. 

Sam comments to Lois and Clark that Leslie Larr is still in the wind, but they have eyes looking for her.  We then see Edge in his Kryptonite laden prison, still understanding of his plan.  

Family once again seemed to be the core theme of this week's installment,  as it took  the family to try and convince John Henry Irons to NOT kill Superman, and believe in him to fight the programming of Edge.  I thought it was VERY interesting that...of all the Kryptonians Clark was being reprogrammed as....it was General Zod.  An old enemy.  But the combined effort of the Kents managed to win the day.  It shows the power of family, and what not giving up when the chips are down can do.  The same can ALSO be said for the Cushings.  That family is ostracized right now as the events played out as of late.  But this also allowed Kyle to have his wake up call, and realize what he has is worth fighting for.  With Sarah seeing her father in a new light, and Lana being the rock as always, we got to see this family clean the slate, and have a chance to start anew.  And I feel we're far from done as far as them helping out in stopping any threats, and being the ones to get the town back on track.  And another family aspect is the fact that Sam and Lois have put aside their differences for the time being, and Sam loosening up a bit, and being more of a father...not just a soldier.  Still awaiting an appearance of Lucy Lane, however.  Think we can get a Jenna Dewan appearance on the show next season?  

John holding back and actually HELPING Superman fight the programming was rather expected...but STILL shows character growth.  He knows his world is gone, but that doesn't mean he can't make a new life here.  And him looking upon his sister is a direction we can see going.  Have to see how that plays out.  

Another John Diggle appearance, as he's making the rounds of the Arrowverse, and him going out for either personal or ARGUS reasons.  I love how he just KNOWS everyone now, and they know him (one of the benefits of The Spectre rebooting the universe).  But his comment about leaving "that life" behind him was laughable...considering EVERYTHING we saw when we was helping Barry in Central City with his Godspeed problem.  But there is NO WAY he's permanently OUT of the hero business---in fact---if we're lucky, HIS journey is JUST beginning.  I just wish the creators behind the Arrowverse would pull the damn trigger already. 

This was a solid episode, and this show is probably THE best Arrowverse show right now.  It's been solid from the beginning, and has stayed consistent throughout.  Only a few episodes left, and looking forward to see what surprises we get.  How about YOU guys?  What did YOU like about this week's installment?  Subscribe and drop me your thoughts below....

Until next time....Up, up, and away!