Seg-El tries to save as many lives as he can, Nyssa saves their son, and Zod swears to protect Krypton at all costs on this week’s Krypton
What an episode! The finale gives us a lot to think about, many questions to ponder, and a lot to look forward to for the next season of Krypton!
We begin with the invasion of Brainiac’s skull ship, a beautiful magnificently terrifying menace in the sky over Kandor. Seg-El (Cameron Cuffe) and Nyssa-Vex (Wallis Day) meet up with Dru-Zod (Colin Salmon) and Lyta-Zod (Georgina Campbell) as they discuss their next move.
After avoiding the subject of why Jayna-Zod (Ann Ogbomo) is not around, Dru explains that he thinks the best hope for Kandor is to bring Val-El (Ian McElhinney), Seg-El’s grandfather, back from the Phantom Zone. Dru knows about the Phantom Zone, and we learn why he came back and not Val. Val returns in a heartfelt moment, one of the few times we see Seg smile. Unfortunately, the smile is short lived as Val tells them there is no hope to defeat Brainiac (Blake Ritson). Lyta doesn’t like that and wants to fight but Seg will not allow her to leave.
Nyssa and Lyta leave the Fortress on their own individual missions into the besieged city of Kandor. Dev-Em (Aaron Pierre) is back, with a prosthetic arm, and Lyta convinces the last of the Sagitari to attack Brainiac’s ship.
Nyssa is on a mission to save her and Seg’s unborn child, Cor-Vex, from the Genesis Chamber. She meets up with Dax-Ur, who tells her the truth. Nyssa is a clone and her memories were implanted into her after the original Nyssa was badly injured in a car crash that killed her mother. This is one of the first of many shocking revelations in this episode!
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Lyta makes a desperate attempt to attack Brainiac’s ship and fails, while Seg attempts to save as many citizens of Kandor through the tunnels under the city. There is a heartbreaking scene that defines the two Houses perfectly. Seg-El desperately tries to convince Dru, his son, that saving Krypton is not worth the sacrifice of the entire universe and Zod believes if he can save Krypton the destruction of the universe is worth it.
Zod confronts Brainiac and seems to convince him of the plan: take Val-El, the one with knowledge of the future and leave Krypton to Zod. Seg desperately tries to convince Val to hide or return to the Phantom Zone, but it’s too late. Seg confronts Brainiac and traps him on the platform, transporting him to the Phantom Zone. However, in a cruel twist of fate, Seg-El is pulled into the Phantom Zone as well and disappears.
Brainiac’s ship retreats and the cape reforms, but something is wrong. The symbol of the House of El disappears and in its place is the symbol of El and Zod. Zod takes control of Krypton making the other city councilor’s kneel before him. Jax and Nyssa find Val in the Fortress of Solitude and Adam Strange (Shaun Sipos) is seen in a domed city on Brainiac’s ship.
Let’s meet our panel to unravel the many questions the finale left us with for this episode!
Alex (@CmndrLex) – House of El supporter, Lena Luthor apologist, and overall consumer of geek media.
Joseph (@KalEl84) – Comics, movies, and TV and Superman superfan!
Josue (@josue_can) – Lifelong fan of Superman. Lover of Movies and Shows. Time Travel enthusiast.
Evarwyn (@Evarwyn) – Owner of Quest Gaming Network, show host of “Elder Scrolls off the Record” and “Quest Gaming: Magic the Gathering” podcasts and life-long Star Wars, X-Files and Superman fan!
Haroon (@CinemaCure) – Founder of Cinema Cure, Batman-Eminem fan, addicted to movies and shows that inspire me.
1. With that ending, do you expect to see Seg-El again in season 2? Why do you think Seg’s entrance into the Phantom Zone “saved the cape?”
Alex (@CmndrLex): It is because of the cape being saved that I am certain Seg-El will return! Well, that and maybe a little bit of influence from the Instagram Live the cast did before the episode. Also, as doom and gloom as Superman-verse has made The Phantom Zone to be, plenty of people have come and gone from there. If anyone can escape, it’s our ever-resourceful Seg-El! If anything I think this experience will only further build the Superman Mythos and the legend of the House of El! I’m ready to see how he does it!
Joseph (@KalEl84): I do think we will see Seg in season 2 because I think the Phantom Zone will play a huge part into season 2. I think his entrance into the Phantom Zone saved the cape because it established Zod’s rule since we saw the cape change a few minutes later.
Josue (@josue_can): I don’t think it was his entrance into the Phantom Zone that really did it, it was the moment they trapped Brainiac into the Zone. Once he did that the timeline changed, which still makes no sense, since by getting rid of Brainiac, Superman’s future should have been changed drastically, like never should have existed drastically. Let’s see. Oh, and we have definitely not seen the last of Seg. Can’t wait to see him escape the Phantom Zone!
Evarwyn (@Evarwyn): I believe we still have plenty of Seg in store for us in season 2, though I have to be honest, I was wondering why Seg’s disappearance into the phantom zone seemed to save the cape as well. Hopefully Season 2 will give us some insight.
Haroon (@CinemaCure): I think we will see Seg back in Season 2. Seg’s entrance to the phantom zone did not save the cape. Superman will not exist because of that, at-least the Superman we know won’t exist. Note that the Cape’s symbol changed to that of Dru Zod’s blood- Both El and Zod. History has been altered, Seg’s and Lyta’s relationship is no more because there is no Seg. Season 2 is going to be really interesting.
2. Zod was willing to sacrifice everyone - even his own father - to save Krypton and be its leader. Do you think we will see him regret his decision? Will he want to find his father?
Alex: Struggle for power aside, Dru-Zod has ended up exactly where he planned to. From his own words regarding his upbringing, he was raised without a father. The only reason I force him trying to find Seg is if he hears rumors of his survival that may in anyway interfere with his ruling.
Joseph: I don’t think he’ll regret his decision as Zod is selfish and power hungry. I don’t think he’ll find him and I still don’t think Seg is his father.
Josue: I don’t think he ever cared about his father. Though I wonder if he realises if he sends his dad to the Phantom Zone before conception, he might never be born. Perhaps he knows more than he is saying. Perhaps he isn’t Seg’s son. I doubt he will care to rescue Seg.
Evarwyn: General Zod regrets one thing…losing. If Seg comes back and beats Zod to a pulp. Maybe Zod will then begin to have some regrets. Until then, not likely. I’m also not expecting General Zod to suddenly grow a heart and look for Seg.
Haroon: Flashback to General Zod’s words in Man of Steel movie, “I exist only to protect Krypton. That is the sole purpose for which I was born. And every action I take no matter how violent or how cruel, is for the greater good of my people.” His words in Krypton’s season finale: “If he spares Krypton, so be it” and “You can have the universe, as long as I have Krypton.” What I’m trying to say is that Zod will never regret his decision. Jayna was also right in the previous episodes “Dru Zod didn’t come back to save Krypton, he came back to rule it.”
3. Adam Strange is in a domed city. But with Kandor not being taken, what city is he in? Do you hope to see him again in season 2?
Alex: I have NO clue! Honestly, I was THROWN to discover where he was! I was convinced he was dropped back on earth, possibly in his time, and would be fighting his way back. While I am more intrigued by his predicament, I admittedly am not attached to the Adam Strange character. His single-mindedness and disregard for the fates of other Kryptonians didn’t particularly endear him to me and, regarding his presence on the show, I could take it or leave it.
Joseph: I think Adam is in the bottled city of Detroit just due to him wearing a Tigers hat all season. I do think he’ll return in season 2.
Josue: Adam is too important to the show, he must return. They need to rescue him and when he realizes the Cape has a Zod emblem, it will create a whole new mess for next season. And I love it.
Evarwyn: Actually, it looked like a human city that Adam was in. Did you see the cars, the streets and how everyone was dressed? I love Adam Strange…and I’m looking forward to more of him in the next season!
Haroon: I don’t know but I really hope we see more of Adam in season 2.
4. Nyssa saving Cor-Vex is a huge change to her cold behavior at the beginning of the show. How do you think her development over the season will reflect where she will be in season 2?
Alex: Despite my general distrust of her in the beginning of the season, I always felt she DID care for Cor-Vex, and was lonely even in her determination to see her machinations through. I think having made that connection more intimate with Seg over the last two episodes of the season also only solidified her standing. In season 2, I expect her to be the exact foil of Lyta-Zod. Ironically, she is what I expected Lyta to be at the beginning of the season and Lyta is where I expected Nyssa to end up.
Joseph: I think it’ll put Nyssa in a much more vulnerable place in season 2 and that’s not a position she’s used to being in.
Josue: Probably not the popular opinion, but she is my favorite character. She seems very sincere to me. She loves the child and Seg. I hope, (see Superman’s crest) she is Superman’s grandmother.
Evarwyn: I see Nyssa really becoming an ally for Seg and company. I’m really rooting for her, now.
Haroon: I have said this before and I will say it again, Nyssa’s character was extremely well written and it’s so good to see each characters have their own unique arcs in this show.
5. Lyta-Zod seems even more loyal to her son now than ever before. Do you think she would’ve been so loyal to her son at the beginning of the show? What character trait do you like or dislike about Lyta the most?
Alex: I think she would’ve in her heart, but would not have gone as far as she has now had Jayna’s actions to save HER not been what they were. I especially feel that finding out Dru was of both her and Seg only made her more committed to her son, and the final push being seeing Seg and Nyssa working together as they were. I like that Lyta is so passionate, and so headstrong, but I don’t like how quickly she turned her back on not only her mother, who risked everything for her, but also Seg, whom she was so besotted with…
Joseph: I don’t think she’d have been as loyal to him in the beginning because she didn’t yet know all of the prophecies about Krypton’s fate, so she wouldn’t have been as trustworthy. I actually like AND dislike her loyalty. She was willing to almost be executed for Seg but now her loyalty has landed her in a precarious position.
Josue: She has lost her way in my opinion, and has become my least favorite character in the show - though she started as my favorite, sad - I don’t recognize if she is loyal anymore, blinded by desperation, or just doesn’t know what she wants. I really hope they can define her character and intentions next season.
Evarwyn: Right now I’m not liking Lyta at all. She shot her mother, took General Zod’s side, and launched a totally ineffective attack on Brainiac that killed her fighting force and, only out of sheer luck did it have any sort of positive effect for Kandor. Lyta has a LOT of growing to do in season 2.
Haroon: Nah, she wouldn’t have that much trust towards Dru (her son) at the beginning of the season. I don’t like the fact that Lyta chose to interrupt the Kandorian battle and shoot her own mother who saved her from execution early this season. Lyta inspiring the Sagitari to fight against Brainiac was a great moment.
6. Dax-Ur dropped some major information about Nyssa in the finale. Her mentor, Val-El, is the only survivor of House of El now. What do you think Nyssa-Vex and/or Dax-Ur’s thoughts are on Zod’s control of Krypton at end of the episode?
Alex: OH, MAN! NYSSA’S FACE, THOUGH! MY HEART!!! I think her place in this new world order became cemented over the last three episodes, and having only Val left will only serve to make her more resolved to wrest control from Zod’s grip! I am PSYCHED to see what’s coming next for my dear Nyssa-Vex.
Joseph: That’s hard to say at this point. I think she’ll eventually try and overthrow Zod with Val-El’s help.
Josue: I look forward to seeing her relationship with Val-El, he is after all her childs great-grandfather. I believe they will work together to rescue Seg. I believe she will embrace the El name and hopefully marry Seg. Am I wistfully thinking.
Evarwyn: I think Dax has always been wary of General Zod taking over Kandor, and her arrival at the Fortress at the end of the episode with Nyssa only seemed to reinforce her position against Zod, for next year.
Haroon: I think Dax Ur and Nyssa will rebel against Dru Zod’s rule in the 2nd season. Val will join them as well as he lost his grandson Seg.
7. Do you think the presence of Cor-Vex will play a role in season 2? Will having two sons of the House of El in the show be important to the survival of Superman in the future?
Alex: I HOPE we see Cor-Vex in season two. I’m actually starting to wonder if perhaps Cor-Vex is in fact Jor-El and he goes through a name change once the El’s bring down the Zod’s once more! I’ve actually become super (ha!) invested in idea of Dru-Zod and Jor-El being brothers and the Zod vs Superman saga taking on a Hamlet-style backstory, so yes, I do think it will be extremely important in regarding to Superman’s survival and future.
Joseph: I do think Cor-Vex will play some type of role in season 2. I’ll put it this way, Val-El will be important to the survival of Superman.
Josue: That would be awesome. Though, I wonder if he will be born before Seg is rescued or after? I think there will be a lot of conflict between General Zod, Val-El and Nyssa next season. And I wish we didn’t have to wait so long!
Evarwyn: It’s really hard to tell. The Fortress is a real place of wonders, and I think the show can easily write in any type of technology they need in order to advance the story in an unpredictable path…even create a means where Cor-Vex is born and grows quickly to take on…DOOMSDAY.
Haroon: As of now, Superman won’t exist in the future of this alternate timeline. Seg and Lyta’s relationship ended pretty quick and that questions the birth of Jor El aka Superman’s father. I can’t wait for all of my questions to be answered next season but dammit, I have to wait a whole freaking year, SMH!
Dru-Zod, Seg-El’s son, wants to give Val-El to Brainiac in exchange for not taking Kandor with him — save Krypton by sacrificing one life. Will Seg concede to Zod’s plan?
The finale of Krypton endswith such a great cliffhanger it is hard to believe we only just learned that we will be getting a second season. It is heartbreaking to watch the father and son interaction of Seg and Zod. The relationship breaks apart even more as Zod shows his true ideals, to sacrifice all to save Krypton. Seg-El can’t stand idly by and let innocents get killed. This causes them to clash many times in the episode, to devastating results.
Nyssa-Vex is determined to save her son, Cor-Vex. She also learns about an important part of her past from Dax-Ur: she is a clone. Will this affect what she does in the future? Will Cor-Vex be saved and born to live in season 2? Will clones play a role in the story of season 2?
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Val-El is rescued by Dru-Zod from the Phantom Zone only to then be very pessimistic about Krypton’s outlook. He has no solution to defeat Brainiac and believes that the only way to keep himself from Brainiac is death. However, we can hope that he will take Seg’s last words, “Believe in a better tomorrow,” to heart.
Adam Strange is still stranded in a bottled city on Brainiac’s ship, a ship now it seems to be without Brainiac. Doomsday has been left in Kandor. What will happen when he escapes? Why does the symbol on the cape change to Zod-El’s? What does that mean for Superman in the future and Adam’s own mission? We’ve been left with all of these questions and we hope they’ll be answered in season 2!