"Homecoming" is the fourth episode in the tenth season of Smallville, and the two hundredth episode overall. It aired on October 15, 2010.

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Summary

In an attempt to cheer up Clark, Lois convinces him to attend their five-year high school reunion. A visit back to the home of the Crows has Clark remembering old times with Lana and Chloe while Lois is furious that no one remembers her five days as a student. Brainiac 5 uses his Legion ring to visit from the future and takes Clark through his past, present, and future. Brainiac 5 shows Clark what really happened the night Jonathan died, Oliver's current pain and Clark's future at the Daily Planet with Lois and his role as Earth's favorite red and blue superhero.

Recap

→ see also Category:Screencaps from episode 10x04

Flashbacks to the past are written in green

Flashforwards to the future are written in red

At his loft, Clark is looking at magazines, featuring Kara as a superhero, Oliver revealing himself to the world, and a Times Magazine that questions if the Blur is a hero. Clark then proceeds to look at the empty book that once held the key, beginning to believe that perhaps Jor-El is right and he is not the chosen savior of humanity after all. After he places the book in his chest box containing his new Blur costume, Lois arrives unannounced at the loft, responding to a three-day-old message Clark left her after she finished her latest assignment at the Daily Planet. Lois notices the magazines and insists that despite everyone turning against the Blur, recently causing him to take a leave of absence from the public, she knows that he would never let the citizens down and insists that she will always stand behind him no matter what. When Clark wonders why, Lois insists that is what someone does when they know they are needed.

Clearly saddened due to his doubts about being a hero, Lois tries to offer Clark some comfort and suggests that the two of them attend their five-year Smallville High class reunion. Clark notes that she was only enrolled there for 23 days, and ended up only attending for five, but Lois insists that is the best she had ever done and does not plan to miss it. She encourages Clark to go despite his fear of something going wrong at this reunion.

At Smallville High, the school guidance counselor is reviewing articles of various meteor-infected metahumans and is furious about their limited opportunities in life due to Clark's involvement. In her anger, she tries to stick a pin in an action figure that bears a striking resemblance to Clark, when suddenly, time stops and Brainiac 5 appears, altering her memory regarding Clark and reassures her he will deal with Clark personally.

The next day, Clark arrives with Lois at Smallville High School in his red truck. After parking the truck, Clark walks up the stairs to the school entrance with Lois, who is overjoyed in seeing her old classmates, to which Clark replies that he has a bad feeling about this. While not paying attention to his surroundings, Clark bumps into a woman who is carrying a pile of books that fall, and as he bends down to retrieve them he flashes back to a memory of Lana, wearing her necklace, as she picks up Clark's book about Friedrich Nietzsche and asks him if he is "man or superman?"

Clark returns the books to their owner, the school's guidance counselor, who is simply overjoyed to see Clark and gives him a hug, saying that they have a special surprise for him later on. As Clark and Lois go into the school, they are unaware of the arrival of former student Greg Arkin.

Lois continues to try and interact with the various former students she had briefly encountered during her five-day attendance to the school, with no one showing an interest in her or even remembering her. Upon arriving at the registration desk, Clark is greeted by Suzanne Capra, who is surprised to see the new improved version of Clark, inquiring what happened to his bumbling nerdy persona from his early years of high school, as she hands him his name tag. Suzanne also notices Lois and assumes that she is his date, unaware of Lois' identity or that she even attended the school. Frustrated and uncomfortable, Lois looks for her name badge on the desk of alumni, when she comes across Lana's name badge. Lois turns to Clark and realizes that he cannot escape the ghost of his past, and comments that maybe it was a mistake to come here. Lois mentions she has not seen Lana since the dance in the barn where they almost kissed, and Clark assures her that Lana will not be attending this reunion.

When Clark sees Chloe's name badge, he smiles as he heads to the former Smallville Torch room, where he sees the now vacant Wall of Weird bulletin board. This triggers another memory in which Chloe shows Clark the Wall of Weird for the first time and she explains how it started as a scrapbook and evolved into this bulletin. She asks him what he thinks of it. Lois arrives and apologizes for bringing him back to a place that holds so many of his memories, when Zoe and Clayton, the new Torch reporters, come in and recognize Clark and Lois as friends of Chloe.

They assume some kind of conspiracy is involved in Chloe's absence from society, as well as her former career as an up-and-coming reporter at the Daily Planet. The two cub reporters also recognize Lois because of her brief relationship with Oliver Queen aka Green Arrow. They ask Lois what it was like to date a real-life super-hero, to which she replies it was only a 'quick fling' and states that she would date one again, looking towards Clark.

The two young reporters then explain that they have taken up the Wall of Weird legacy and it is now viral, and share their theory that the Blur was originally from Smallville. Lois tries to throw the two off the trail of discovering Clark's secret when Zoe points out that Chloe wrote about all of the strange supernatural incidents that happened before the Blur appeared in Metropolis. Clark tells them that the Blur has gone away and may not be back, and Lois tries to cover for him by expressing how great it is to see that the Blur has inspired a whole new generation of followers. As Clark prepares to go, Clayton tells him that it is a good thing that the Blur is not there, because he would steal all of Clark's thunder, to which Clark is confused.

Clark and Lois are pronounced Homecoming King and Queen, much to Clark's own displeasure as he sits upon his throne, while Lois enjoys the attention and comments how it was a good thing he became the star quarterback in his senior year. Clark then notices Greg Arkin amongst the crowd, staring at him. As Clark is about to move, he notices that time has literally stopped and everyone else around him is frozen. Brainiac 5 appears before Clark, expressing his 'sincere apologies' for interrupting the event. Believing him to be a foe, Clark questions his motives as to why he arrived in Smallville. He explains he is here to see that Clark experiences this defining moment that will change his life as he transports himself and Clark away with the Legion ring. Time unfreezes, and Lois discovers that Clark is missing.

Arriving at their destination in the woods, Clark questions Brainiac 5 on his reappearance and what his hidden agenda is: if he is the evil threat Jor-El warned about or a ghost from his past. He introduces himself as Brainiac 5, a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, who has been reprogrammed as a force for good thanks to Clark and the Legion's intervention. Brainiac 5 explains he has returned to prevent Clark from becoming an even greater evil than what he once was as Brainiac by confronting the darkness within Clark's heart, retracing it back to its place of origin: the death of Jonathan Kent. Clark is present at his father's funeral, full of sorrow and regret, as he picks up the dirt and spreads it across the casket as Martha watches.

As they both look on at the past flashback event, Brainiac 5 explains to Clark that this was the moment he allowed himself to be corrupted by his emotions as he blamed himself for Jonathan's death. Clark mentions he carries the burden because he believes he altered his father's fate when he changed back time. Brainiac 5 assures him he is not to blame and shows him the truth about what happened the night Jonathan died: Jonathan, in full rage, attacks Lionel, causing himself to suffer a heart attack. Clark tries to stop fate, but Brainiac 5 tells him that Jonathan decided his own fate to protect his son, no matter the cost. He then goes on to explain that in life, everyone makes choices that decide their fate and Jonathan decided his.

Brainiac 5 then transports Clark to an office in Metropolis. Clark realizes where they are and Brainiac 5 reassures him that is the present, relating to the current events surrounding Oliver. Oliver sits in his office, observing the various news broadcasts covering his recent unveiling as Green Arrow, which has not had the inspirational effect on the public that he had hoped. Oliver turns off the TV and checks his calls, only to discover that Clark still has not called him. Clark sees that Oliver needs him, and Brainiac 5 reminds him that the darkness is in his past, and as long as he continues to punish himself and everyone around him for past mistakes, he will never move forward with his life.

Brainiac 5 returns Clark to the class reunion to witness an example of the past repeating itself in his present relationship with Lois. Lois is left abandoned by Clark while the couples begin to share a slow dance. Feeling out of place, Lois retreats to the refreshments table in search of alcohol, which she hopes is in the punch drink. She meets Maddie, the punch girl, who is impressed and surprised that Lois has ended up with Clark, and admits she had a crush on him once. Maddie talks about Clark's previous romantic relationships with Lana and Chloe, and Lois admits that she and Clark are not currently dating, and Maddie asks if Clark really likes Lois. Lois appears to be upset and uneasy. Brainiac 5 asks Clark if he really does care about Lois. Clark tells him that he originally chose to distance himself to protect Lois, but Brainiac 5 mentions how Lois does not look very protected. Clark then sees Greg approaching Lois, who tells her he has a message for Clark.

Worried about her safety, Clark grabs the Legion ring from Brainiac 5's finger, attempting to intervene and confront Greg. Despite Brainiac's warnings, Clark accidentally triggers the ring, trapping Brainiac 5 in the present and transporting himself to the future.

SUPERMAN SAVES THE DAY! Clark looks around as he bumps into Lois, who is as shocked to see him as he is her. Lois quickly pushes Clark into the nearby phone booth with herself inside and hands him a pair of spare Daily Planet. Inside their office, Lois reveals to a very startled and confused Clark her complete knowledge about his Smiling, Clark then discovers someone waiting for him: his future self, who remarks that Lois is quite a handful. Inside the elevator, Clark looks upon his future self's disguised appearance, which now is that of a nerdy, glasses-wearing, uptight, mild-mannered reporter to conceal his identity as Superman. Future Clark explains how he knew that on this very day, an abandoned nuclear reactor was going to explode just outside Metropolis that could potentially destroy the city, and that he would be required to clean up while Lois would be in a helicopter that experienced problems and would fall off the rooftop of the Daily Planet. He had waited in the elevator so that he would purposely encounter his younger self and enlist his help in saving Lois, while he went to set up a containment field around the nuclear reactor. As the reactor explodes, Future Clark dashes out at superspeed from the elevator and Clark witnesses from the window a colorful Clark finds himself in the basement of the Daily Planet , bewildered by what just occurred, and he begins to search for some answers. Unbeknownst to him, he passes by a newsstand full of papers whose headline article readsClark looks around as he bumps into Lois, who is as shocked to see him as he is her. Lois quickly pushes Clark into the nearby phone booth with herself inside and hands him a pair of spare glasses she has to help conceal his identity from the other employees. She reminds him that it was his idea to create this type of disguise as a means to protect his alter-ego's identity and his current wardrobe appearance is not helping things. As Lois starts to go, Clark asks her about the reunion, but she says that they will need to talk about it later because they are both in a hurry. Lois leaves the booth and has a brief discussion with Perry White over her cell phone just as Clark exits the booth. One of the reporters that saw him earlier mentions to his fellow colleague that Clark bears a striking resemblance to someone very familiar to them, but realizes it is not possible when they notice Clark wearing glasses. Clark goes to his desk, but discovers that it has not belonged to him for at least seven years according to Jeff Hage , who has now taken up residence at the desk. Clark catches a quick glance at the newspaper on the desk, and notices that the date is October 15, 2017. Lois appears and inquires what Clark is doing. She directs Clark up to their own private office on the eighth floor of the. Inside their office, Lois reveals to a very startled and confused Clark her complete knowledge about his Kryptonian heritage , his weakness to various colors of kryptonite , and their anniversary, which is the day Clark finally confided his secret to Lois. Clark is in complete shock. He realizes that he needs the Legion ring, and asks her where it might be. She reminds him that she once had a bad experience with it, and then leaves for an interview she has scheduled with the mayor of Metropolis. Clark goes after her and tries to explain that he needs to get back to his own time line using the Legion ring. She suggests that he might want to check out his collection of souvenirs he has stored away at the farm, and pushes him into the elevator, lightly smacking his backside.Smiling, Clark then discovers someone waiting for him: his future self, who remarks that Lois is quite a handful. Inside the elevator, Clark looks upon his future self's disguised appearance, which now is that of a nerdy, glasses-wearing, uptight, mild-mannered reporter to conceal his identity as Superman. Future Clark explains how he knew that on this very day, an abandoned nuclear reactor was going to explode just outside Metropolis that could potentially destroy the city, and that he would be required to clean up while Lois would be in a helicopter that experienced problems and would fall off the rooftop of the Daily Planet. He had waited in the elevator so that he would purposely encounter his younger self and enlist his help in saving Lois, while he went to set up a containment field around the nuclear reactor. As the reactor explodes, Future Clark dashes out at superspeed from the elevator and Clark witnesses from the window a colorful red -and-blue streak flying in the sky, heading directly to the reactor, and containing it with a super spin. Meanwhile, Clark picks up on Lois's distress transmission from the helicopter radio and responds by heading to the roof and guiding the helicopter back to the landing pad on the roof. Lois sees Clark is not wearing his normal traditional uniform and decides to knock the pilot out in order to protect his secret.

When Clark goes to see if she is all right, Lois begins to reprimanded him for being careless by preforming a heroic act in public without his costume. Clark is amazed that Lois works so hard to protect his secret, and Lois passionately kisses Clark, telling him she would do anything for him. She thanks him for saving her and reminds him about their planned dinner reservations later that night, before leaving for her meeting with the mayor. Brainiac 5 arrives and tells Clark that he interfered with the ring, but regardless, he had intended for Clark to see this future, so he would stop fearing what was to come and instead look forward to it. The idea of being a hero and having Lois as his partner through it all strengthens Clark's resolve to embrace his destiny. Before returning to the present day, Brainiac 5 says to Clark that "the next time you decide to defy me, don't strand me back in the dark age", hinting Brainiac 5 remained stuck in the present age from 2010 to 2017.

Brainiac 5 then takes him back to the moment earlier with Lois and Greg, where Greg tells Lois how Clark helped so many of them and to give Clark his thanks. He observes how special Lois is, with Clark agreeing. Realizing what Brainiac 5 was teaching him, Clark thanks him. Before Brainiac 5 takes his leave to return to his future in the 31st century, he advises Clark to remember that a hero is made in the moment, not from questioning the past, or fearing what is to come. After Brainiac 5 leaves, Clark, now properly back in the present, walks towards Lois and begins to dance with her, only for the reunion to end abruptly. Both are disappointed, but Lois brushes it off as no big deal, though Clark knows how much it had meant to her.

Clark, now clad in his Blur attire, goes to Jonathan Kent's grave, where he admits that he has been unable to let go of the past, and of his father. Saying that he will always keep Smallville in his heart, Clark states it is time for him to move on. And taking Jonathan's old watch, Clark buries it under the grass of Jonathan's grave and says a final "good-bye" to his father, promising to be the man his father brought him up to be.

Meanwhile, at LuthorCorp, Oliver prepares an interview with the local TV-media to discuss the fact that he is Green Arrow. Oliver is initially uncomfortable with the reporter's obvious distaste of a billionaire-costumed vigilante, whom she believes does it for amusement. Clark, however, enters the room, offering Oliver his silent support. Strengthened by Clark's presence, Oliver admits that he recently lost Chloe. The reporter is taken-aback by this honest answer, but again attempts to smear what he is trying to stand for with a derisive comment.

Oliver pushes on, stating he is not doing it for attention or because he thinks he is special, but because it is what he just does. He states he is doing something to help protect his people, his city, and his country, and that he is not doing it alone, ending with "You're damn right I'm a hero!"

At Smallville High, meanwhile, Zoe and Clayton are shocked to receive an unexpected text message from "CS", which reads "Glad to see you're carrying on my Torch." The pair are thrilled and yet confused by the message.

At the Kent Farm, Lois is called to the barn by Clark, who has set up a disco ball and music, hoping to make up for missing the dance at the reunion. Lois tries to brush it off casually, but Clark asks her to dance with him. Their initial attempt results in Clark stepping on Lois' feet. Their next attempt goes much smoother, as Lois steps onto Clark's feet and the two begin to dance slowly. Clark says, "I love you," to which Lois returns his love. As Lois tries to bring up the fact that she knows his secret, Clark asks her to just let them enjoy the moment and that anything else can wait until tomorrow. Smiling, Lois presses herself closer to Clark and continues to dance, while Clark closes his eyes, and enjoys the moment. Due to this, neither of them is seemingly aware that Clark is floating several inches off the ground in mid-air.

Cast

Starring

Special Guest Star

Guest Starring

Co-Starring

Featured Music

"Baby I Need You" - Kim Taylor

"Everything" - Lifehouse

Title

The title is a term that refers to the tradition of welcoming back former residents and alumni of an educational institution.

The term "homecoming" is also a colloquial word used to describe family or friends returning to a childhood home or home town.

In this episode, Lois convinces Clark to attend their five year Smallville High School reunion. At the reunion, Clark is crowned the Homecoming king and Lois is the Queen.

The title could also refer to Clark revisiting his memories from the past.

Notes

In Other Media

Trivia

[1]

Continuity

Spoilers

Harmony later appears in Finale, Part 1.

Homage To Previous Seasons

Allusions

This episode is very similar to the timeless tale, A Christmas Carol, with Clark watching scenes from his past, present, and future. Lois references it when she says "Humbug" at one point.

Locations

Quotes

Brainiac 5: It's time to move on from the past. Leave Clark Kent to me.

Lois: Come on. Did you forget? Tomorrow's our Smallville High reunion. Clark: Did you say our reunion? Lois: Yes. Clark: You were enrolled there for like... Lois: Twenty three days. Clark: You showed up for five. Lois: That's a record in my book. Smallville is the closest thing to a past that this military brat has, and I am not gonna miss it. We don't have to be dating to show up at a reunion together. Clark: There's a lot of memories there for me. Lois: Come on, Clark. It would mean a lot to me, seeing all those familiar faces, like I had a place to fit in. And you, I mean, you put the Smallville in Smallville, Smallville.

Lois: (to Clark) Now, this is the homecoming I'm talking about. Thank God you squeaked out a state championship in your senior year.

Clark: I don't know if you're a ghost from my past or the darkness Jor-El that warned me about, but this will come to an end, just like I did the last time. Brainiac 5: I hope so for your sake. Clark: My sake? You sent the person I love away. You tried to destroy Chloe, you tried to destroy the world. Brainiac 5: And you saved me from all of that, Kal-El. I have come back to do the same for you. (shows wearing Legion ring) Clark: The Legion. You're from the future. What'd you do to them? Brainiac 5: I joined them. In the 31st century, I'm known as Brainiac 5. The ring, time travel - all my creations. I brought the league into a new realm of heroism. Clark: I helped them destroy you. Brainiac 5: No. They helped you cure me. The problem is Kal-El, you and I aren't very different. We were both created in one way or another by Jor-El, both intended to save civilizations, to bring peace to a brutal world. But neither was immune to corruption to darkness. Clark: What does that mean? All of sudden everyone's telling me that I have darkness within me. I don't understand what it is or how I'm suppose to change it. You destroyed cities. I may not make the right decisions, but at least I'm trying to save people. Brainiac 5: Then let me show you, Kal-El. We can't always see it in ourselves, my corruption started with a nanobyte - smaller than the eye can see. But that's all it took.

Future Lois: Wait a minute. Oh, no. Kryptonite again? Clark: Look, I... Future Lois: (looks into Clark's eyes) Blue? Red? Not green? Please tell me it's not the black. Because that was a disaster. Clark: Look, I just... I need the Legion ring. Lois, do you know where it is? Future Lois: Is that a joke, Clark? Touch it once, shame on you. Touch it twice it, shame on me. And actually, I could really use it right now, because we need to be on the opposite sides of town in ten minutes.

Brainiac 5: I'm only here for you. I wanted to slow things down. Make sure you can soak in this special moment. Clark: And what's so special about this moment? Brainiac 5: This is the moment that your life changes forever.

Future Clark: (to Clark, describing his Lois) She's a handful, isn't she? You're right on time. Clark: You knew I'd be here. Future Clark: Time travel. Think it through. Clark: Because you were me when you went through this and I'm... Future Clark: Well done, my man. Clark: How did I become so uptight? (looks his future self up and down) And nerdy? Future Clark: (irritated) There's no time to chat about how, when, and why! We've been through weirder things and I need you on the roof! Clark: When did I start taking orders? Future Clark: There's a nuclear reactor that's about to blow on the other side of town. Now, I can't be in two places at once. Clark: If you knew it was going to happen, then why didn't you stop it? Future Clark: Because then you wouldn't have experienced all this. And you would never have become me. Clark: (under his breath) That's too bad. Future Clark: Roof. Now. (superspeeds away) Clark: (inspired) That's what I become.

Brainiac 5: (to Clark) You and I aren't very different. We were created in one way or another by Jor-El. Both intended to save civilizations. To bring peace to a brutal world. But neither of us was immune to corruption. To darkness.

Oliver: (to tv interviewer) I've lost someone. She meant everything to me. TV Interviewer: So for that you want what, a merit badge and special rights? Oliver: No, no... you're right. I'm not special. This isn't about who I am. It's about what I do. And I don't think I am the first rich boy who felt that way. It was John F Kennedy who once said ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. TV Interviewer: So now you're comparing yourself to a fallen hero of this country? Oliver: Well, why not? He saw the hero in all of us. I'm not dwelling on revenge for past atrocities, or looking ahead to what I can personally gain from a few tax breaks, drilling oil wells in the ocean, putting up razor-wired fences to keep out immigrants who only want what our grandparents wanted. And this world of armchair bloggers who created a generation of critics instead of leaders, I'm actually doing something. Right here, right now. For the city. For my country. And I'm not doing it alone. You're damn right I'm the hero.

Jeff: Kent, what are you doing? Clark: This is my desk. Jeff: Not for years, unless someone's been seriously demoted.

Future Lois Seriously. I know we agreed to keep our professional lives to ourselves but what kind of secret story got you to dress up day? Here hold this...and honey, I know you don't like them but you're the one who decided you wanted to wear them and lucky for you, I have a spare. Clark No I-- Future Lois I know they're not fashion forward but if it ain't broken honey don't fix it. Future Lois Seriously, Clark, I thought we agreed on a Daily Planet dress code?

Clark: I'm from another time. Lois: No kidding. Clark, you're from another planet. That's not exactly a news flash.

Brainiac 5: Not every man is destined to find a woman like Lois. Clark: She's definitely one of a kind. I know why you sent me here now. Brainiac 5: I had intended to be here with you, but you interfered with the ring. Clark: You wanted me to see how things would be with Lois and the...flying. Brainiac 5: I wanted you to see that your darkness lies not only dwelling in your past, but in fearing the future. Clark: I've always hoped my life would be like this. With Lois and with all of it. I guess lately I've stopped believing that it could actually happen. Brainiac 5: Well, that's up to you, isn't it? You don't need to worry about the future, Kal-El. You can see that it's just fine as long as you shed the weight of the past. Just next time you decide to defy me, don't strand me back in the Dark Ages.

Greg Arkin: I kind of got caught up in my web of obsession. He set me straight. It's not every place that has a hometown hero like Clark Kent. Lois: That's the kind of guy he is. Greg Arkin: Just tell him. Tell him, thank you.

Clark: I guess you're right. I've been so buried by the mistakes of my past and so worried about the responsibilities of the future, I lost sight of the present. Brainiac 5: A hero is made in the moment, not from questioning the past or fearing what's to come. Just remember that, Kal-El.

Clark: (to Lois, while dancing in the barn) I love you. Lois: I love you too.

References







