TNMC

The plot is pretty straightforward. Martha comes down with a mysterious illness which Clark suspects is Kryptonian. Remember that deal he and Jor-El made earlier in the season? The one that gave Clark new life in exchange for the life of someone close to him? Yeah, Clark thinks this is Jor-El’s way of collecting on that debt. Brainiac does everything he can to convince Clark that Jor-El is not only responsible for Martha’s sickness, but the destruction of Krypton as well. Before long, Clark’s willing to destroy the Fortress of Solitude to save his mother’s life.

If only that were the answer. The truth is much more sinister. Brainiac wants to free Zod. Zod, as anyone familiar with the comics or the films can tell you, is a horrible Kryptonian tyrant once played by Terence Stamp (the voice of Jor-El). Brainiac needs the Fortress to liberate his master, but can’t do it himself. Only Clark can affect the Fortress. With that in mind, Brainiac’s been setting Clark up all season for just this episode. All of the references to dictators and threats to mankind. Getting Clark to trust him. Making Martha sick and blaming Jor-El. It was all just to get Clark to a point where he’d be willing to destroy the Fortress. And Clark practically jumps at the chance to do it, too.  Clark's not very bright, but he was pretty well played here.  He may be leaping to conclusions, but given what he's been through with Jor-El in the past I can see why he'd do it.  Notice that when he begs Jor-El to spare Martha's life, Jor-El denies harming Clark's mother.  He then says that "her" fate is more or less sealed.  At this point, I'm pretty sure he's talking about the actual life he's going to take in trade, and not Martha.  Can you say Chloe?  No, that's not a spoiler.  Just a guess.

It works out, in its own way. There’s a pretty nice fight between Clark and Brainiac, as we learn that Brainiac is immune to Green Kryptonite. The effects were decent, for a WB program, but it could have lasted longer. In the end, I wasn’t sure if Brainiac was destroyed or absorbed by the Fortress. I think we were supposed to assume the Fortress assisted, what with the crystals stabbing Brainiac through the chest. I’m not really sure where they’re going with this, but I doubt we’ve seen the last of Brainiac. They really need to rethink the way they apply Clark’s strength, too. The tossing people is really tired, and I’d like to see him do some actual damage to someone, especially an artificial construct like Brainiac. Bring him back so Clark can put his fist through the guy’s head or something.

We don’t actually see Zod except for a tiny face off in the distance. It looked a little like Stamp’s Zod, to be honest, but it was really hard to see. I’d like to see Zod make an appearance, if for no other reason than the geek factor of it. I enjoyed the first two films as a kid, as I’ve pointed out, and I’d like to see what this show would do with a character like Zod. It’ll be terrible, I’m sure, Oh, so terrible. I’ll probably want to shot myself. Still, I might as well look. I’m scarred enough as it is.