Lois reels in the wake of the revelations about Peia and Mannheim. Clark and Chrissie do their best to keep the investigation going. Natalie meets Matteo’s parents. Jonathan and Jordan come into conflict over a rescue.

For a show that spends so much time exploring the limits of the Big Boy Scout, this episode changes angle a bit and asks ‘How exactly might one derail Lois Lane’s infamous drive for the story?’ Turns out learning there’s a human face to the villain she’s chased for so long has Lois questioning herself. The story has become too personal, and she suddenly finds herself asking whether she can add to the pain of a woman she thought of as a good friend going through the same trauma she herself is suffering.

For their part, Chrissie and Clark do their best to coax Lois back towards the explosive revelation of Mannheim’s personal life and where else it might lead, but this is Lois Lane at her most vulnerable, exhausted by illness and rocked by a secret she never saw coming. As they set off to dig more dirt up, help and advice is brought to Lois from a different angle altogether.

Having had Matteo over for dinner, Natalie makes the trip to Metropolis to meet his parents at their favourite restaurant. John Henry takes her, taking the opportunity to reconnect with someone else while he’s there. Of course, both are blissfully unaware as to who exactly Matteo’s parents are, and the tension is almost unbearable as we watch John slowly get there. Again, we get to see two very different sides of Mannheim – the doting husband and witty, charming father figure, and then the turn on a dime to vicious mobster who is not afraid to do his own dirty work. The issue for him may be that the mask slips in front of his son, and what that might do to their relationship. Regardless of how evil Mannheim may be, it’s clear that family means everything to him, and it’s interesting to note the contrast between him and his enemies here. For Clark and John their families are their strength, whereas for Mannheim, they may be the ‘weakness’ which proves his downfall.

Back in Smallville, Jordan makes a routine save but accidentally causes problems for his brother’s fire crew-training in the process. When Jonathan confronts him about it, harsh words are exchanged, with Jordan voicing fears that Jonathan struggles to keep hidden. Can the Kent boys reconcile? Odds are yes, but deeper damage may have been done as Kyle starts asking some questions.

It’s an episode which showcases some of the best qualities of all its characters, as well as some of the worst of others. Clark shows that above all else, he’s a man with compassion, even for those who stand against him. John Henry shows that as much as he is a loving father and a deeply compassionate human being, he’s still got that ruthless streak born of necessity and adversity which may never leave him. We even see the cracks in Lois’ armour, the good which somehow paradoxically exists alongside the bad in Mannheim, and the human failing of pride and spite which can exist in even the best of brothers.

In a show about the archetypal superhero, in a medium which traditionally focuses on extremes of good and evil, the show gives us nuance on both sides, while still remaining true to its roots. I can’t honestly think of a better tribute to these characters and their legacy.

Verdict: Running out of superlatives for the Superman show? How ironic. 10/10

Greg D. Smith