SUPERMAN & LOIS 2.3

RECAP - SUPERMAN & LOIS  2.3:  "The Thing in the Mines" 

Things have gotten BIZARRE in Smallville, and in this latest installment of The Man of Steel and his intrepid reporter wife, they are dealing with the sudden memory attacks that Clark is getting, and they're having a severe effect on him.  He's not in total control of himself, and he's becoming a liability when he's out flying around as Superman.  On top of that mess, we have Lois not only trying to find out just what it is that's causing the earthquakes in Smallville, but also having to fend off cult leader Alison Alston, who's podcast has tried to eviscerate the story Lois did a few years back, that took Alison down.  And it's also bringing up painful memories, because her sister Lucy was deeply involved in the cult.  This is where her father, Sam, needs to step in and help....but he's also worried about the national security risk Clark runs the more out of control he gets.  John Henry Irons is there to help as well, as Natalie is trying to adjust to live in the small little town. Natalie seems to have befriended Sarah Cushing quite well, and got Sarah to open up about what she did at summer camp to Jordan, who did not take it well.  Jon is wondering how his teammate Ryan got so freaking huge, and thinks he's doping, sharing his theory with Candice.  And the geologist, Dr. Faulkner, is pleased at this powerful being beneath the mines, and informs her mysterious boss about it.

Superman is just having ALL sorts of issues lately.  Ever since that thing in the tunnels has been making a racket, and the earthquakes have been happening, it's been causing The Man of Steel a tremendous amount of grief and stress.  This week, he was out to see what was in the tunnels, and he had another mental attack, and crash landed to the ground.  Lois and John Henry Irons have been monitoring the situation at the mines, and have correlated the earthquakes with everyone of Clark's mental attacks.  Sam Lane arrives, and says he's gotten clearance for them to explore the mines, but feels that if things continue to get worse, that Clark bring in Lt. Anderson on the case.  Clark feels that the team that Anderson has put together isn't capable of handling this situation.  Sam feels it's a national security issue, and Lois is quick to point out that it's a family issue.  

Things don't get better for Clark, as he's at practice with Jon, who's been doing his own digging into his teammate, Tim, for what he appears to be doping up.  He's made Candice aware of the situation, but she feels Jon shouldn't pursue it.  When Tim admits that it was Candice that's been selling him the drugs to bulk up, they get into a fight.  Clark drags Jon off, and gets irate with him, and then has another attack, where his heat vision goes off.  Jon races Clark home, and they know they need to figure this out immediately.  Clark feels useless.  To make ANOTHER matter worse, because Sarah admitted to Jordan HER secret about kissing a girl at camp, he feels that he needs to be honest with her, and wants to tell her about his powers.  Clark is vehemently against it, and tells him about the risks, but Jordan throws it back in his dad's face about his mom, and storms off.  Lois does what she can to try and settle Clark down, but he doesn't like how he's feeling.  They realize that whatever is in those mines is reacting angrily, and it's NOT Clark's emotions.  

John Henry heads down to the mines with Dr. Faulkner to see what's making things shake, and before he can get much further, she clocks him cold.  She also sets off some devices to draw this creature out.  With things quaking again, and John Henry unable to respond, it means that Superman heads to the mines to find out just what's coming out.  The creature, in some suit is out there beating up the military on site, and Superman engages it, but it soon taken down by another attack, and is getting pounded for his troubles.  Lois and Sam, who'd been monitoring John in the mines, realizes he's been immobilized, and wake him up.  He calls upon his Steel suit, and it arrives in time for him to suit up, but despite his assistance, he gets pounded by the creature as well, being smashed away.  The suit damaged, he's of no more help.  Superman manages to get part of the hood away from the creature, and it looks like a pale version of himself.  Both he and the creature suffer mental attacks, and the creature flies off....leaving Superman to try and find out where it went.  Back at home, they realize that this creature seems to be some bizarre version of a Kryptonian...himself, perhaps.  Sam still insists that Anderson be brought in on this, but Clark says he and John will handle it.  It's also at this point he does apologize to the boys, and does help Jordan with his problem with Sarah...giving him Martha's necklace that she had when she started dating his grandfather Jonathan.  Jordan gives it to Sarah, and they kiss and make up.  Clark tells him that if they still love each other after a year, then they'll discuss the option of telling her his secret. 

As for Lois---she's got family troubles to deal with aside from just Clark and the boys.  With Alison Alston's podcast seemingly debunking Lois' story, she needs her dad to get in touch with Lucy, but Sam is reluctant to take a side, and that bothers Lois to no end.  It can cost her career if he doesn't help, and he's just been scared to drive Lucy away, but not realizing he's doing that to Lois.  Eventually, he does read Lois' article, and he remembers the mess Lucy was, and he agrees with Lois, so he did contact Lucy.  Unfortunately for Lois, as she's supposed to meet Lucy to talk, Alison shows up instead, saying that Lucy couldn't make it.  

Jon wasn't happy initially when he found out that Candice was selling drugs to Tim to make him stronger, as he's been trying to rehab and get back on the field.  Candice apparently is doing it in order to keep a roof over her and her dad's head (whatever trouble they had in Central City, it appears to have followed them to Smallville).  But instead of breaking things off with her....he actually wants her to sell him some.  Jon wants to NOT ride the bench again this year...even if it means taking a shortcut in the process. 

Lana's foray into becoming the next Mayor of Smallville hit a roadblock this week, as she took the professional approach with the people in town, and it didn't go over so well.  She was unable to answer some questions, and the town STILL isn't that trusting of the Cushings, and it was a blow to Lana's ego.  Kyle tries to prop her up, and tell her it's just a setback, but she's feeling extremely deflated.  Sarah, however, comes to her rescue, and says that the problem is...she's not letting the town know the REAL Lana Lang Cushing...so she shoots a video of Lana at home, being a mom and wife, and talking about herself.  It seems to have a positive reaction, as she gets responses online.  

John Henry's battlesuit took a massive beating, and Natalie isn't thrilled about him going back out to fight these battles, but he feels he owes it to Superman to help.  Natalie says that if that's the case, they're going to seriously need to upgrade the suit.  

And finally...the creature that had beat up Superman and caused all the trouble?  It made it's way North....to the remains of the Fortress of Solitude---apparently seeking answers.  Bizarro is here.  

This episode brought on the drama, and moved the storyline about what was in the mines to the forefront very quickly.  And...surprise, surprise....it WASN'T Doomsday as we had speculated....it's Bizarro.  Wasn't expecting THAT curve, but it will be interesting to see how this plays out.  And we'll see how Bizarro got created, and HOPING we find out just WHO Dr. Faulkner has been talking to as her benefactor.  But she's bad news, and I'm hoping that John will help expose her...with Lois' help.  As for he and Natalie---it'll be interesting to see what upgrades they make to the suit in order to get him ready for the next fight.  For Jordan and Sarah, it seems like things are back on track, and Sarah coming to her mom's rescue to try and get her mayoral campaign back on track seems to have gotten on the right foot.  But for Jon....he's going down a path that's going to have BAD consequences down the road---and all because he cares more for his football career than his health.  

And finally....Lois.  While her and her dad made some headway this episode, the fact that Alison Alston showed up instead of Lucy is a bad sign.  Either Alison has gotten her hooks into Lucy yet again, or Lucy is willingly working with Alison to debunk Lois' story out of spite.  Either way, it seems that Lois is going to have to work overtime to try and get through to Lucy, and patch some things up.  Overall, not a bad episode, and while they're juggling some different storylines, they're still managing to keep things tied together as well.  

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