TV REVIEWS: FTN Reviews Krypton Season 2 Episode 8: Mercy

Well…that explains a lot, doesn’t it? Objectively, “Mercy” was one of the riskiest episodes in the history of Krypton. Because they pulled a major sleight of hand all the while bringing in a key part of Superman history that’s been used in many other mediums. Including being in the Supergirl series a few seasons back. But the difference here is that “Mercy” didn’t feel gratuitous. In fact, it actually felt right at home here.

So yeah…Lyta’s alive! And she’s been that way the whole time! The person we saw killed? It was a clone, a reconditioned clone. Which again proves a lot in regards to Zod’s mindset. He couldn’t kill his mother because of the obvious timeline issues that would cause, but he couldn’t let her get in the way of his plans for Krypton. Thus, he brought a Black Mercy plant with him from the future (which he explains why) just in case and uses it on her. Keeping her in a “perfect future” for her. One with Seg, her mother’s blessing, and more.

Again, this was risky, but it really worked here. Especially since the opening scene made you think that it would be Seg with the Black Mercy plant and not her. So the reveal of her being quite alive was shocking.

What also helped the situation was that the Black Mercy plant was the key to controlling Doomsday. Doomsday has been noted many times in lore to not be able to be affected or killed by things it’s experienced. So, naturally, the Black Mercy plant is a workaround. A very clever one.

Having Lyta escape on her own was also a great moment, as was just about every reunion that happened through it. Her and Jayna’s was my favorite. Because Jayna was destroyed when Lyta was “killed”, and then to have her back in her arms? That’s something you can’t describe. But I also appreciate the writers having Dev not buy it immediately.

And yeah, her reunion with Seg was everything that was promised and more. Though you have to feel bad for Nyssa, because they had really bonded over their son, and she likely believed that eventually Seg would love her like he loved Lyta. Sorry Nyssa.

Yes, I’m talking almost exclusively about the Lyta storyline, and that’s because if you think about it, everything else was superfluous. Not in the bad way, it’s just that it really all tied up nicely into the Lyta storyline. Seg and Nyssa bonding in the cell, joking about that Saggitari, trying to reason with Zod, and their moments in the fortress were nice, and I’m glad they’re continuing to grow them despite certain circumstances. But now that Lyta is back, everything changes.

And that final scene, with Lyta happily looking at her daughter being happy with the man she loves, and that line, “But let’s give them this”? That was poetry.

“Mercy” was a risk that most definitely paid off. A highlight of Season 2, and a gamechanger on numerous levels. Two episodes left this season, I’m curious how it’s all going to work out.