Recap - 'Smallville': 'Luthor'

As the episode begins, Tess is presented with a relic that belonged to Lionel Luthor, since she is now his sole heir. Clark calls her with a lead and asks to meet up at Cadmus Labs. Tess departs, taking the relic - a mirror box - with her. Arriving at Cadmus, Tess is informed by Clark that one body is still unaccounted for, leaving a Lex on the loose. When Tess suggests that the clone deserves a second chance, Clark insists that Luthor blood is poison. Discovering a lead-lined room, Clark is convinced that the clone is hiding in the lab. Bursting into the room, he finds a book containing a written message from Alexander to Tess. Furious at Tess for her deception, Clark spots the Kryptonian relic in her bag. Tess attempts to confess the truth, but Clark accidentally activates the relic and is transported out of the room.

Waking up in bed with two women, Clark discovers that he is inside the Luthor mansion. He is confronted by an apparently resurrected Lionel Luthor, who refers to Clark as his son. Lionel tells Clark that his 'Ultraman' persona has proven a success, but warns him that his ego is causing problems. As the pair engage in a sword-fight, Clark discovers that his powers are gone. Lionel quickly disarms Clark, explaining that he is keen to set him back on the right path. He recalls the day that he found the infant Clark in a corn field, thankful that he was not discovered by someone else.

Concerned, Clark travels to the Kent farm, which is up for sale. Tess is waiting in the barn and kisses Clark, assuring him that Lionel will never discover them. In this world, Tess is aware that she is Lionel's daughter - a fact which shocks Clark. When Clark protests that he is not who Tess thinks he is, she suggests that he has swapped places with his doppelganger in this universe. Tess warns Clark that his "kinder, gentler" world is about to get an "explosive awakening".

Sometime later, Clark is hit by a car as he walks the streets of the alternate Metropolis. The driver is Lois, who makes it quite clear to Clark that they are not on friendly terms. Oliver - Lois's fiancée in this world - arrives and criticises Clark, telling him that he has wasted every opportunity he had to make the world a better place. Hearing a security alarm, Clark confronts a small-time crook, who is clearly terrified. When Clark asks why the thief is so frightened, he explains that no one who has seen the face of Ultraman has lived to tell about it. A shocked Clark realises that, in this world, Lionel has turned him into a murderer.

In the regular universe, Clark Luthor visits Tess at the Daily Planet. Believing her to be the Tess from his world, Clark explains that there is hardly an trace of Lionel in this universe. When Tess explains that Lex killed Lionel on this side, Clark suggests that they must destroy the mirror box to avoid being sent home. Tess plays along and volunteers to retrieve the box, but is clearly shaken by this turn of events.

Tess summons Lois to the Watchtower, eager to protect her from the evil Clark. However, alternate Clark has followed Tess and smashes his way into the secret base. When Lois approaches him, the doppelganger tosses her across the room. Alt-Clark tells Tess that since Lionel controls the parallel world, he will seize this world as his own. He threatens to kill her if she does not hand over the mirror box.

In the alternate world, Alt-Tess searches through the books in Lionel's office, discovering a sketch of the mirror box. Lionel catches her in the act and accuses his daughter of trying to turn Clark against him. Lionel summons his guards and, as they drag Tess of the office, she warns her father that Clark will eventually stab him in the back. Later, Clark arrives at the Fortress, seeking Jor-El's counsel. However, in the parallel world, Lionel controls the Fortress and is waiting for Clark. Lionel explains that Tess was attempting to locate the mirror box, which is forbidden since LuthorCorp has dedicated itself to destroy relics from Krypton. When Clark claims that he recruited Tess to find the box in order to destroy it, Lionel explains that the relic is currently held by Oliver Queen.

At a business event, Lois comforts Ollie when he becomes upset by the negative publicity surrounding his recent business decisions. As the pair move in to kiss, Clark snatches Lois away at super-speed. Seconds later, he calls Ollie and explains that Lois will be returned in exchange for the mirror box. On a nearby rooftop, Clark apologises to Lois for kidnapping her. As he departs, he tells Lois that he cannot live in a world where she doesn't love him.

Clark meets with Oliver, who reveals that his "eyes in the sky" have already informed him that Lois is safe. Using a device built into his headquarters, Ollie exposes Clark to a high level of meteor rock radiation. With Clark rendered helpless, Ollie explains to that, in this world, he has become the "enemy of Smallville" - evicting farmers from their land in order to mine meteor rock. As Ollie prepares to shoot Clark, Lionel appears and knocks the millionaire out with a crowbar. Clark believes that Lionel has come to save him, but the villain now believes that his adopted son plans to kill him and escape to another world using the mirror box. Revealing that he was in possession of the relic the whole time, Lionel mercilessly beats Clark.

In the nick of time, Ollie switches off the meteor rock device, restoring Clark to health. Clark knocks Lionel across the room and retrieves the mirror box. He explains to Ollie that, once he departs, Clark Luthor will arrive in his place. Clark convinces Ollie that they work as partners in the other universe and the millionaire agrees to reactivate the meteor rock device when the villainous Clark returns. As Lionel runs toward him, Clark activates the mirror box and is transported back to his world. He returns to find the Watchtower a wreck and Tess, Ollie and Lois pointing weapons at him. Clark convinces Lois that he is now the man she loves and the crisis is averted.

Sometime later, Clark visits Tess at Luthor Mansion. He apologises for his earlier behaviour and explains that he has learnt an important lesson - it is not Lionel's blood that corrupts, but the man himself. When Tess admits that she hid Alexander because he was the closest thing to family that she had, Clark reassures her that when the young Lex resurfaces, they will face him together.

As the episode concludes, it is revealed that the alternate Lionel was caught up in the power of the mirror box and has been transported to the regular universe. He tells an inquisitive newspaper vendor that he is visiting from "out of town" and remarks, "I wouldn't want to miss how it all turns out."

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