Originally aired November 6, 2008
Written by Caroline Dries
Directed by Michael Rohl
Clark receives a package containing the Fortress crystal, which sends both him and Lois to the Phantom Zone, where they run into Kara. Kara helps Lois escape from the Phantom Zone; unfortunately, Faora, the wife of Zod, escapes as well, and she possesses Lois.
Tropes present in the episode:
- Alien Abduction: Lois claims this is the only reasonable explanation for how she and Clark got to the Phantom Zone based on the comment listed under Binary Suns. Literally, abduction would imply aliens deliberately kidnapped them, when the crystal taking them to the Phantom Zone was more of a scheme by Lex than a plan by aliens.
- Binary Suns: Lois concludes that she and Clark were abducted by aliens, while noting she has limited astronomy skills and asking "Shouldn't there be one sun?"
- Breaking Speech: When confronted by Clark, Faora gives him one, remarking that his biological parents didn't come looking for him and that they didn't love him like she loves her "son."Faora: [to Clark] Remind me, Kal-El—did Jor-El and Lara come looking for you? Of course not. They didn't love you like I love my son.
- The Bus Came Back: Okay, Kara traveled back in time, was trapped in the Phantom Zone for months, and was still there when Clark got there. But she did return to Earth, so she came back.
- But Now I Must Go: In the final act, Kara leaves Earth to find any survivors of Kandor.
- Demonic Possession: Faora pulls this on Lois after escaping the Phantom Zone.
- Destination Defenestration: Faora sends Clark crashing out a window in Metropolis General.
- Everyone Can See It: Even Faora notices that Clark is romantically interested in Lois.Faora: [to Clark] You have feelings for this creature I inhabit.
- Excessive Evil Eyeshadow: After taking over Lois's body, Faora applies some black eyeliner.
- "I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight: Clark tries this with Lois who's possessed by Faora. It doesn't work.
- In the Hood: Kara's re-introduction in this episode.
- Luke, I Am Your Father: Faora reveals to Davis that she's his birth mother and that Zod is his father.
- Mythology Gag: The blue crystal's portal employs a pair of offset spinning rings like the trap/projector in Superman: The Movie.
- Or Was It a Dream?: After the event, Lois discards the alien abduction theory (see that trope above) and concludes that the only reasonable explanation was that it was a hallucination. This "only reasonable" explanation is farther off the mark than the alien abduction theory.
- Plot Device: Two of them for this episode.
- The Fortress crystal, which is mailed back to Clark by "X" (who,
according to writer/producer Al Septien, is actually Lex) and sends Clark and Lois to the Phantom Zone after Clark touches it. Chloe later uses her Brainiac abilities to use the crystal in tandem with a frequency generator to retrieve Clark along with Kara. - John Jones' Martian crystal, which Kara uses to separate Faora from Lois and send her back to the Phantom Zone.
- The Fortress crystal, which is mailed back to Clark by "X" (who,
- The Power of Blood: Zor-El's escape portal can be activated by the blood of anyone of the El family.
- Sealed Evil in a Can: Faora, who escapes from the Phantom Zone. Kara sends her back, though.
- Sealed Good in a Can: Clark, Lois, and Kara, while they're trapped in the Phantom Zone.
- Strong Family Resemblance: Faora remarks to Davis that he's the spitting image of his father, Zod.
- Supernaturally Young Parent: Faora, in Lois's body.
- Title Drop: Done courtesy of Kara Zor-El.
- Too Much Information: Lois discussing why she's moving in with Clark:Clark: I didn't need to know that.
- Villain of the Week: Faora, wife of Zod and mother of Davis/Doomsday.
