“Tried and True” is episode six of season two of Superman and Lois.
Superman’s alternate walks through a possibly-abandoned version of the farmhouse, stepping out under a red sun, wearing most of the suit he was originally seen in. He inhales what looks like Kryptonite gas, then has memories of fighting soldiers and a superpowered Lana, then taking the alternate Ally Allston’s pendant from her. With his helmet on, he launches himself into the sky, and through the rocks into the mines.
In the previous episode, “Girl… You’ll Be a Woman, Soon”, the alternate was captured, and he’s recounting this to Superman and Lara. He was stuck in the mines for days, weakened by the X-Kryptonite, and now he’s stuck again, thanks to Superman. Superman recounts all the bad things the alternate has done; the alternate has a justification for each. Until Lara tells them to stop arguing. She asks about the pendant. The alternate explains it’s an artefact as old as time, born when their worlds split. When paired with its counterpart, it will elevate the possessor to godhood.
The alternate is not as revered on his world as Superman, and all that matters is the pendant is destroyed. But he doesn’t have enough strength on this world; the yellow sun weakens him. Lara wonders if Superman could do it. The alternate says to kill Ally. Superman won’t do that. Then find the pendant and see it destroyed; it’s the only way to make sure Ally can’t merge with her alternate self and gaining enough power to send them all to oblivion.
At the farm, Clark tells Lois this. She says it’s consistent with Ally’s teachings; she and Chrissy are going to do a deeper dive into what Chrissy saw when she crossed over. Clark needs to get the pendant back from Anderson and destroy it.
Anderson is currently being chewed out by a General Hardcastle. She’s not impressed. In over 20 years, Sam Lane never had a single problem with Superman. In the six months Anderson has been in charge, the relationship has deteriorated, X-K has made it out into the public and an unidentified Kryptonian has killed two of their assets. Anderson will represent the Threat Reduction Agency at the funerals for the fallen SOA members. Then return here and by any means necessary find the other Kryptonian or be stripped of his duties.
Jordan wants to talk to Jonathan about the latter apparently having powers. Maybe they can train together. Jonathan drops an X-K cylinder, which he says is Candice’s, which is true, and she has asthma, which isn’t so much. Then gets a call from Coach. He tells the others he’s starting tonight. Admittedly, because Timmy is sick. Lois suggests Clark contact Lana.
Lana is at home and she wants Sarah to write thank yous for her presents. Sarah planned to thank everyone in person last night. But, well, Kyle was revealed to have been having an affair. Sophie asks her mother if Kyle will ever come home. Lana doesn’t know. But she does know he loves his girls very much and will always be around.
Lois is at home when Sam arrives. She tells him he just missed Clark and the boys. That was intentional. He wanted the three of them to talk. Lucy is with him. The sisters start arguing until Sam tells them to stop talking about Ally Allston. It breaks his heart to see them at each other’s throats. He wants his family back.
Superman is at the funeral, and speaks to the mother of the girl. She’s pleased to see him; Anderson, not so much. Eventually slapping him and accusing him of getting her daughter killed. Afterwards, Anderson tells Superman it’s up to them to stop the alternate. That’s what Superman wants to talk about. In private.
Jordan is at school with Jonathan; he wants them to tell someone about Jonathan’s powers. Jonathan wants to wait. Afterwards, Jordan speaks to Sarah, who says she had the world’s worst quincenaera. Jordan says it wasn’t so bad. That gets him a look. Sarah is more worried about her mother. And Kyle turns up at home to talk to her. She’s the only one he’s ever loved. But Lana can’t do this right now.
At the farm, Lucy and Lois are getting on better. Sam excuses himself to take care of business; Lucy tells him that worked better as an excuse before he retired.
Anderson is not pleased with Superman and still doesn’t want to hand over the pendant. Superman promises to help, but then hears an avalanche and flies off. Anderson asks his sergeant to find out where he went.
Lucy still won’t believe anything bad about Ally, which will cause problems. Anderson is concerned that Superman is never going to trust him, and decides to do something to fix that. That something, however, isn’t behave in a way deserving of trust. The opposite, in fact.