“Anti-Hero” is episode seven of season two of Superman and Lois.
In the previous episode, “Tried and True”, Anderson had Superman arrested for treason or, more probably, out of pure pettiness. Superman comes around in the same room as Tal-Rho, who is snarking at him. Anderson arrives and Superman says he needs to let him out. Anderson says he doesn’t; he’s been given full command authority and Superman’s arrest has been sanctioned by General Hardcastle. Though it seems likely Anderson did not tell her the truth. Anderson wants the alternate. Superman says that once Anderson destroys the pendant, he will bring the alternate in to stand trial. Anderson doesn’t want a trial and doesn’t trust Superman to keep his word. Superman tells Anderson to look up Ally Allston. She’s a greater threat and she knows more than anyone whatever brought the suspect to this world. Ally is dangerous and needs to be stopped. Anderson leaves and Tal-Rho asks about this new monster.
Sam is telling Lois who is perfectly willing to charge in by herself. Sam tells her let him make some calls; he’s going to see Hardcastle. Jonathan and Jordan enter and are told there is no news. Lois tells them they’re going to be on their own, and whatever is going on between them, she suggests they figure it out.
Lana and Sarah are boxing up Kyle’s things. Lana is sorry this is happening to her daughters; Sarah tells her mother it’s not her fault. Lana responds in kind. Lana, afterwards, sees an advert in the paper about Mayor Dean hosting an evening talking about family values.
Jordan finds Sarah at school and they are talking when they see police cars arrive. Candice finds Jonathan at the lockers; she has some more XK for him. Jonathan says he’s done. Then the principal arrives with the police and sniffer dogs and tells everyone to step away from their lockers. Candice is freaking out about how they’ll lose everything if she’s caught and Jonathan takes the XK from her. He’s saying there’s no way he’ll be checked when a dog starts barking at hi,
Lois is at the Gazette when Lana arrives. She agrees with Lana that Dean talking about family values is daft, but the advert was paid for. Lois would run ads for free for Lana every single day, but that would violate every campaign finance law. Lana asks what should she do; Dean has his office and the town gossip, but what does she have? The truth. Don’t underestimate it. Then Lois gets a phone call.
Tal is being sarcastic and Superman declares that the real punishment is listening to him. Anderson arrives and says it’s the last chance. Where’s the suspect. He hasn’t looked into Ally or spoken to Hardcastle. And if Superman won’t tell him the location of the thing that killed his team, maybe Tal will. Tal asks what he’ll get for his cooperation. The pain will stop, as a Kryptonite collar is fastened around his neck.
Sarah arrives home and Lana immediately asks her what she knows about the drug from the mines that Jonathan was taking. Nothing. And yes, she promises not to smoke space drugs; she’s not that stupid. Kyle tries to ring Sarah. She thinks she can’t talk to Jordan because he’s never had to go through anything difficult with his dad. Not knowing Clark is Superman and currently locked up. Lana thinks it might be good for Sarah to vent at a friend. Is there anyone else she feels comfortable talking with?
Lois is going off on one to Jonathan. He says he isn’t selling XK. And it’s not a real drug; the sheriff isn’t pressing charges. Lois says he might get expelled. Jonathan won’t say why he had so much because he doesn’t want to get anyone in trouble. Jordan arrives and Lois isn’t that pleased to discover that he knew that Jonathan was taking drugs. Jonathan says Jordan caught him and he hasn’t used since. He took it so he could match Timmy.
Anderson is willing to continue until Tal is dead. Superman gives him a location. After Anderson leaves, Tal says in Kryptonian that was the location of Superman’s Fortress. Superman says it buys them time.
Lois arrives at Lana’s; she’s sorry, given what Lana is going through, but she really needs to talk to someone. Clark doesn’t know yet. They talk about parents and Lana says after Sarah’s suicide attempt, she realised that the best thing she could do was listen. Even if she didn’t like the answer. Let Sarah know Lana was there for her. Sometimes that’s your only job as a mother, to be there for your kid. Lois thinks Dean made a mistake. Accusing a great mom of being a bad one is terrible politics.
Anderson seems to be getting increasingly unbalanced. He’s not acting rationally when it comes to Superman, and the chances of him doing something really stupid are increasing.