“Holding The Wrench” is episode eight of season one of Superman and Lois.
Lois is talking to a therapist about how she can lose her temper and she is worried that she will risk hurting someone more than she already has.
On the farm, Lois is talking to the boys about what’s going on whilst Clark is fixing his truck that Jonathan used against John Henry Irons in the previous episode, “Man of Steel”. Clark says that Coach Gaines wants the uniform back. Jonathan looks like he feels like a third wheel. Clark hears something and tells Lois it’s her dad. He needs to get to the DoD to question John Irons. After he’s gone, Lois says she’s going to investigate Irons’ RV and Jonathan wants to come with.
The RV is lined with lead and when they board and Lois speaks, the AI asks her to identify herself. She does. The AI says she’s one of the authorised users. Lois asks what the AI can tell her about John Henry Irons. And an extensive computer setup folds out from under the bed.
Lana is at home working out some details for small businesses that need help. Sarah though her mother was just finding people for leadership roles. Lana says she was. Morgan Edge now has all he needs, so she’s on this project. Kyle says he’s ready to join the leadership programme, not knowing Lana deliberately kept him out of it. Sarah gets a message about a musical review. Kyle thinks she should audition; they can practice together.
At school, Sarah is looking at the application form when Jordan returns with the kit. He tells her she should go for it. Sarah says she gets really bad stage fright. Jordan used to play the piano, doing the whole little kid recital thing, until his anxiety became too much. If she tries out, he’ll come along.
Irons is taken from his cell to an interrogation room where Superman is waiting. Superman read out his CV; Ranger, two tours in Afghanistan, made a name for himself as a mechanical engineer in the private sector. The problem is, their John Henry Irons died six years ago, under mysterious circumstances. How did he get here? Irons has a memory of fleeing in a ship as his Superman tries to get in. He tells Superman he’s a soulless monster who feels nothing for the people who adore him. What happened on Irons’ world is already happening here. The Kryptonians are already here and Superman joining them is the last thing. He won’t say another word until he sees Lois Lane.
Lois and Jonathan are in the RV, talking about alternates. He finds photos of her, married to Irons. Superman tells Irons Lois doesn’t trust him. Irons says Superman is the one she shouldn’t trust; he killed her. Lois was the love of Irons’ life, the mother of his daughter. Until Superman murdered her.
Speaking to the therapist, Lois is saying how words can be terrible. The person she used them on didn’t deserve them.
Lois tells Clark they’ve been in similar situations. He recaps. No, she meant having to clean up the mess caused by an evil version of him. Clark says Irons’ Superman seemed just like Clark. Until he started killing people. Lois reassures him he’s different. Lois suggests coming in. Clark says no; he thinks he might be able to get through to Irons now.
Kyle has dug out sheet music for Sarah. By how he’s telling her to go for it, it sounds like he regrets not going for something similar.
Sam Lane tells Superman that Trask will deal with Irons if they can’t get through to him. He’s going to try. Trask is going to get his things.
Jonathan has gone back into the RV. He discovers details on his alternate half-sister, then a video of Superman killing Lois. Then finds the weapons locker and activates security measures, which lock him inside. The AI says in 20 seconds he will be eliminated. Lois can’t get in and Clark returns just inside to stop Jonathan being shot. Lois checks he’s alright, then completely loses it. She probably goes a little too far; even Clark looks terrified. She tells Clark she’s fine. He takes that as a no. He’d love to be the one she speaks to, but understands if she needs someone else. Which is how Lois ended up talking to a therapist.
Leslie Larr, possibly deliberately, drops to Kyle that Lana kept him out of the programme. Lois does understand Jonathan’s problem dealing with being a normal human in a superpowered family. She, after all, is in the same position. And somehow they need to convince Irons that Superman isn’t his Superman.