Originally aired March 4, 2011
Written by Turi Meyer & Al Septien
Directed by Al Septien
Clark and Lois are stunned when Tess reveals Alexander's shocking transformation, while Earth-2 Lionel and Tess battle for the Luthor name.
Tropes present in the episode:
- Big Brother Mentor: Clark, to Conner. Clark even tells Conner he prefers the term "brother" after Conner asks him if he's his dad (which he actually is).
- Call-Back: While confronting Conner (who's on Red Kryptonite), Clark tells him "You're coming home with me," the exact same words that Jonathan said to him in the final scene of the Season 3 premiere "Exile."
- Canon Character All Along: "Alexander" is revealed to be the Smallville version of Conner Kent.
- Cliffhanger: The episode ends with Darkseid materializing before Earth-2 Lionel at Lex's grave.
- Does This Remind You of Anything?: Connor's heat vision flares up after he sees Lois for the first time, and Clark has to grab him and turn him away just before the heat blasts burst forth and incinerate Lois.
- Fun with Acronyms: "Conner" is a take on his designation as a Congenital Neuroplastic Replicant.
- G-Rated Drug: Earth-2 Lionel uses Red Kryptonite to bring out Conner's evil side.
- Gaussian Girl: Lois is seen this way from Conner's point of view when he first sees her.
- Hannibal Lecture: Earth-2 Lionel continues his emotional abuse of Tess when he tries to convince her to hand Conner over to him, this time not even trying to sweet-talk her into cooperating and instead just telling her that she's useless compared to her half-brother Lex. To her credit, she still manages to play him, but it's pretty clear that he's shaking her.Earth-2 Lionel: If I'd been your father when Lionel gave you up for adoption, I would've done precisely as he did.Tess: Why? Because you can't control me?Earth-2 Lionel: No. Because you are inferior.
- Here We Go Again!: By the episode's end, Conner is set to begin attending Smallville High.
- Luke, I Am Your Father:Conner: [to Clark] Are you my dad?Clark: I prefer the term "brother."
- Earth-2 Lionel pulls this on Conner when trying to gain his allegiance.
- Male Gaze: As Conner ogles Lois.
- Out-Gambitted: Tess finds evidence that Earth-2 Lionel is a fraud and uses it to get him ousted from LuthorCorp.
