“A Brief Reminiscence In-Between Cataclysmic Events” is episode eleven of season one of Superman and Lois.
After using his power on the Eradicator in the previous episode, “O Mother, Where Art Thou?”, Superman flew to the Fortress, but collapsed as he got there. He wasn’t the only one to arrive.
This episode opens with a teenage Clark arriving at the site of where the Fortress would be with the Sunstone. It goes out and he throws it to the ground. Which causes it to glow, sink and build the Fortress. The crystal is inside and Clark takes it, putting it in the column, which causes Jor-El to manifest.
Jor-El explains who he is, that the Fortress is a place for Clark to learn away from the eyes of the world. Who he is and why he was sent, explaining Krypton, his name, Kal-El and the effect of Earth’s sun. Jor-El will teach Clark to use his powers.
An adult Clark says he’s ready. Jor-El says in body and spirit, yes. But there’s something else to learn that Jor-El cannot teach him. Why Clark wishes to help humans. Reconnect to the world and open his heart. Find out why he wishes to be their champion.
Clark arrives back home and tells his mother what he discovered. But there’s someone he needs to see. This being Lana, but she’s now engaged to Kyle. Returning to the farm, his mother has something she wants to show him. After Clark left, she had a dream of him flying. Not as a boy, but as he is now. She made him a costume. Though it still needs something on the chest.
Clark is in Metropolis when he hears someone calling for help. He stops a boy from being crushed by a car, which has been seen before. Afterwards, a woman tells Clark, changed back again, what happened. She says someone at the Planet needs to hear about this.
At the Daily Planet, Clark is trying to get a job. Perry is reluctant, but Clark manages to convince him. Perry introduces Clark to other reporters and teams him up with Lois; again, that last bit has been seen before. Other reporters are talking about the mystery man. Except Lois; she complains that since he showed up, he’s been dominating the conversation. So many problems aren’t rescue operations; they’re systemic. Lois shows Clark details of arson attacks on minority businesses where Nazi symbolism was left behind. Done by a psycho in a metal mask and a trench coat. Clark says he didn’t know about this. That’s Lois’s point. She’s been covering it for months but the miracle man has drowned everything out.
Clark asks how he can help. They research and narrow the attacker’s identity down to a bunch of people. Clark says Lois is really good at this. She says he’s been a big help; she can talk to Perry about him having a beat of his own. Clark would rather be with there. For the story or the company? Clark feels that’s a trick question.
The next day, Lois isn’t in. Clark is told a contact at the library called her about a guy who works in a hardware store. Clark sees the business card and then hears Lois telling someone he can’t do this. She’s confronting an armoured man with a flamethrower who believes he’s the hero. He tries to incinerate Lois but not-yet-Superman intercepts and blows out the flames. The man throws grenades; Clark intercepts them both. And Lois uses a stun gun on the attacker. Clark sees a flickering humanoid shape, which seems odd. He talks to Lois, who wants to know his name. He’s sure she can come up with something. She does. Superman.
It looks like this is just a recap of major events in Clark’s life; meeting Lois, falling in love, having children. And then things start to get a bit odder.