“A Better Yesterday” is episode five of season two of Krypton.
In the previous episode, “Danger Close”, all the rebels’ ground forces that were moving on the space elevator died because their oxygenators, the ones they stole from Zod’s forces, were tainted. Jax is looking at the dead. Lyta reports to General Zod that over 50% of the rebel ground forces are dead. She will report further after the solar flare. Zod expects there to be no resistance to speak of by then. After the call is terminated, Zod realises there is someone behind him. Seg. With a gun.
Seg knocks down Zod; he assumes Zod’s guards expected a different Seg to show up. One a bit more conditioned. Zod should probably have seen this coming. Zod asks how; no-one in the history of Krypton has withstood somatic reconditioning. How did he beat the odds? Brainiac, who only Seg can see, tells Seg he wouldn’t answer that if he were Seg. And, in a manner of speaking, he is. But Seg should tell him something.
Adam, Kem and Araame were taken prisoner. Adam asks if Lyta remembers him. The one who wanted Seg to kill their son and let Brainiac take Kandor? She does. Not remembering Adam might have been better. As a gesture of good faith, they can return to base and propose a meeting to end the war to Val and Jax. Lyta means Araame can return, not Kem and Adam.
Jax and Val are arguing; Jax tells Val he knows better than anyone else the dangers of the Codex falling into the wrong hands. Yes; he just never thought those wrong hands would be hers. That weapon was their backup plan, Jax tells him. And Val needs protecting. Their entire ground support is dead, suffocated. The oxygenators were tainted. Zod knew they were coming. Val; asks how that is possible. Guess.
Nyssa is stopped by Sagitari. She learns about the death of the ground forces. She didn’t know. Lyta congratulates her on choosing the right side for once. Araame returns to the rebels and tells Jax what Lyta said.
Dev and Jayna enter the bar dressed as Sagitari. Jayna wanted to see if they could still pass for that. She wants the others to come to Kandor and help assassinate Zod and restore peace. What’s the point; another tyrant will take Zod’s place. Jayna tells them Zod is different. He’s a conqueror and will not stop until everyone kneels before him. No matter where they are.
Seg wants Zod to contact Lyta so that he can tell Lyta the truth, that Zod reconditioned her. Zod thinks that’s a mistake; it could cause further deaths. Wait until the situation on Wegthor is settled, then they can discuss this as a family. Seg tells him they are not a family. However, Zod can’t contact Lyta. Not won’t; can’t. Not until the solar flare is over.
Val tells Jax they need to go see Lyta. He’s sure she’ll choose Seg over Zod, if she knew Seg was alive. Lyta might even expose Zod’s somatic reconditioning to the people; she has to know. However, Val doesn’t know that Lyta has been subjected to it herself. Val believes there’s good in Lyta; Seg can help bring it out. That’s probably right.
Adam and Kem are squabbling and see Lyta and Nyssa outside. Nyssa is unhappy about being used to kill the rebels. Lyta essentially wonders what did she expect. Then Lyta is told that Val and Jax are ready to meet.
Zod is telling Seg he will change as many people as needed to achieve his vision. Seg doesn’t think much of a vision when you have to change people for it. But Zod didn’t have to change much with Lyta. Only remove her guilt over shooting her mother. Take away her pain. Seg says the reason Lyta felt guilty for shooting her mother is because you aren’t supposed to shoot your mother.
Jax is willing to go to more extreme lengths in order to get Zod to comply. To become like him, according to Val. Seg discovers that having Brainiac, even a part of him, in your head has an unusual effect.