CHANGES – Lois, Clark, and Natalie notice a difference in John Henry’s behavior and fear something might be very wrong. Meanwhile, Kyle encounters an awkward moment with Lana while stopping by the house to pick Sarah up for school. Lastly, Jonathan and Jordan brace themselves when they realize a talking to from their parents is headed their way.
That summary severely undersold the quality of the episode. It didn’t even mention what the episode was really about – Ally Allston, the true villain of the season and far more insiduously frightening than Bizarro or even Tal-Rho. Chrissy almost got sucked into the Bizarro dimension. Only Superman’s last minute intervention saved her, Ally, and one other rando. Does Anderson’s sudden but inevitable betrayal mean that he’ll become the Bizarro in the other dimension?
This episode was so well-written that I didn’t even mind the Cushings’ interlude. Indeed, I rather enjoyed their couple’s therapy in the guise of practicing for a campaign debate.
Other good stuff: Jordan coming to Jonathan’s rescue. Jonathan is still in the shithouse with Clark. Also, I’m glad they’re finally addressing Natalie’s trauma and her own dimensional displacement.
IT’S ELECTION DAY - Lois thanks Lana for sticking up for Jonathan when one of the football players mother’s starts dogging him for getting football season cancelled. Meanwhile, Jordan’s unexpected departure on the mayoral election day leaves Sarah rattled. Lastly, Natalie and Sarah wonder if they notice a spark between John Henry and Lana.
Wow, I suspected that Sergeant Wu would be playing a bigger role in the plot, but I never expected her to be Allston’s stooge.
So the world has to endure a month without Superman saving their asses. I’m glad John Henry and even Jordan has stepped up in his absence. Doesn’t Clark have a super-powered cousin somewhere? I wonder what she’s doing these days?
Jordan’s training is already paying off. I don’t think he could have saved Kyle and later taken on those X-K goons if he had muddling through on his own. His super speed looked especially good. Maybe Barry Allen should go train with Sam Lane.
I think, definitively, she is NOT available in this continuity. Maybe she doesn’t even exist, but definitely not available.
I also think adrenaline is spur to Jordan, as well as him just growing/maturing so that’s helping, but General Lane is giving him discipline and focus.
I had a brief “AHA! Jon is getting powers!” but of course he isn’t, but that weird headache was still significant.
Guess next episode will be on Bizarro world, which could be interesting. But we have to wait until April 26th??? I am definitely getting too used to binge-watching series…
Yeah, an intermittent schedule has been the downfall of WAY too many series. Three week and four week gaps just kill viewership. Then again, with DVR’s, it may not be quite so detrimental as it used to be.
In-universe, they have to endure a world without Superman for a month. We have to as well.
But do we get a supersuit wearing guy and a superpowered teen to help us out while we wait, like those lucky folk do, in-universe?
I think Naomi isn’t going on break; there’s your superteen. (I only half-watch it myself.) As for the supersuit guy, maybe that movie with Shaq?
I know it’s that I’m old, but the teenagers’ “profound statements” in their parental discussions just all fall flat to me.
Especially when one of them disguises himself with a hoodie. Not even pulling something up over the lower half of his face. A hoodie. And expects it to fool someone who lives with him.
Consider it the modern equivalent of Clark putting on a pair of glasses, and losing the spitcurl 
Because I read this piece recently:
Superman/Clark does this a little in this show - Jordan does not. I’m amazed his hoodie didn’t say “Smallville High” on it.
ELAT YRANOITUAC A - Superman races through the portal after Ally Allston (guest star Rya Kihlstedt), but when he arrives on the other side, he discovers everything on this parallel earth is… bizarre. Navigating his way through deceivingly familiar faces and landscapes, Superman goes on one wild ride in his fight to stop Ally from merging.
Very nice episode, with redemption for Anderson, a warm brotherly relationship between Bizarro-Kal and Bizarro-Tal, and so many people with damp hair
P.S. I liked the cubicalness of pool and planet
I greatly enjoyed this episode. Everyone seemed to be having fun playing their Bizarro selves.
Fun fact: Alex Garfin (Jordan) invented the Superman hand symbol.
Wow. Totally not where I thought this episode would go. Such an interesting concept. And they must have blown their budget on the purchase of black leather.
And Emo-boy Jordan was weird. I wonder how long it took to straighten his hair.
Maybe it was a wig?
Unresolved questions:
That was apparently his real hair.
Did I hear a reference to President Seinfeld on Bizarro world?