However flat that movie falls in terms of plot, Routh is a solid Superman and a downright terrific Clark Kent. Watching this episode actually makes me sad we never got a Returns sequel. The moment that iconic John Williams music keys in as Routh's Clark sees Elizabeth Tulloch's Lois, this scene becomes pure superhero magic. That twist brings an extra weight and gravitas to Earth-96, as we see Routh balancing both the innate charm and decency of that Superman with the tragedy of a hero who's outlived nearly everyone he loved.
Or perhaps "meet" isn't the right word, as this episode strongly suggests this Kingdom Come-inspired world is actually the future of the Superman Returns universe. Part 2 is also where we meet Brandon Routh's Superman. If it was, wouldn't he have figured out the truth? Lex is so arrogant he can only assume the same isn't true on his own world. You also have to love his reaction to learning Clark Kent is this world's Superman. But here, faced with a version of Superman who's so content and peaceful he willingly gave up his godlike power, Lex can only realize how unfulfilling this multiversal murder spree really is. He's even done exactly that on several worlds already. He finally has the power to destroy his most hated enemy. Their brief showdown perfectly embodies Lex's uneasy status quo since being resurrected by the Monitor. What the Smallville scene does need is a more arrogant, vindictive version of Lex of the sort Cryer plays so well. Rosenbaum apparently wasn't happy with the lowball offer The CW made to take part in the crossover, but the fact is, there isn't really a need for that character in this story. Plus, this scene actually plays better with Jon Cryer's Lex filling in for Rosenbaum.
He's long wanted to move on from that phase of his career, and this scene allows him to do so in a poignant way. It speaks perfectly to the complicated and often unhappy relationship Welling has had with the series. But despite all that, this extended Smallville scene really works. Any hope of seeing Welling, Brandon Routh, and Tyler Hoechlin all wearing the red and blue tights together is now dashed. Then there's the absence of Michael Rosenbaum's Lex Luthor, who's only mentioned in passing (he's the president, natch). The reveal that Welling's Clark Kent is de-powered and enjoying a quiet retirement on the family farm definitely subverts expectations. I can see some fans being disappointed in how Tom Welling and Erica Durance's return to the Smallville universe is handled here. But given the quality of these first two episodes, there's plenty of reason to be optimistic. By the end of this episode we only just meet the Anti-Monitor, suggesting Part 3 will have a lot of ground to cover in order to set up the dramatic cliffhanger until the Crisis crossover resumes in January.
There is a slight concern that Crisis is moving too slowly for its own good. Having laid out the basics of the Crisis conflict in Part 1, the crossover now sets about exploring the emotional fallout of huge developments like the destruction of Earth-38 and the death of Oliver Queen, as well as gathering new players for the bigger fight to come. Part 2 is somewhat less plot-driven than its predecessor. That trend continues in Crisis Part 2, an episode that doubles down on the emotional character drama and manages to deliver some of the best live-action Superman moments in a very long time. It established the incredibly high stakes of this conflict, even while anchoring this cosmic catastrophe around the trials and tribulations of our favorite Arrowverse icons. The first chapter of Crisis on Infinite Earths set a strong example for the rest of the crossover to follow.
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