Originally aired October 9, 2009
Written by Jordan Hawley
Directed by Michael Rohl
When a mysterious virus turns most of Metropolis' citizens into violent zombies, Clark, Chloe, and Emil race to find a cure, and they learn that Clark's blood may hold the key to saving everyone.
Tropes present in the episode:
- And Then John Was a Zombie: Lois is bitten by a zombie and later turns into one herself.
- Batman Gambit: Dr. Coates, who turns out to be one of Zod's soldiers, is revealed to have unleashed the virus so The Blur (Clark) would be forced to provide a sample of his blood to be used to manufacture a cure. Zod isn't too happy about the risk he took, though.
- The Butler Did It: Dr. Coates is revealed to be the one who unleashed the zombie virus.
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Faux Symbolism: Oliver refers to Clark several times as a "new Jesus." - Find the Cure!: Chloe and Emil work to develop a cure for the zombie virus.
- How We Got Here: The episode opens with Clark waking up alone inside Watchtower and venturing outside to find the city streets empty before heading to the Daily Planet, where he finds a zombified Lois. The first act then begins hours earlier.
- Off with His Head!: How Zod rewards Coates for his actions.
- Our Zombies Are Different: Infectees are a combination of Plague Zombie (they transform due to exposure to a virus) and Technically-Living Zombie (they're living humans rather than reanimated corpses).
- Redemption in the Rain: How the infectees are cured. Chloe and Emil mix the cure with a rainstorm above Metropolis.
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: Infected people have these.
- Unfazed Everyman: Emil. After Clark super-speeds him over to the hospital, he retains his cool exterior.
- Villain of the Week: Dr. Coates, who turns out to be one of Zod's soldiers.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Clark calls Oliver out for failing to keep a careful eye on an infected Lois.Clark: You only had to do one thing—keep her awake. But Lois almost died! You've spiraled down so far, you couldn't even protect her. Is there any part of the person I used to know still there?Oliver: Maybe not.
- Zombie Apocalypse: Metropolis falls prey to this due to the zombie plague.
