Krypton Season 2 Episode 6 Review: In Zod We Trust

This Krypton review contains spoilers.

Krypton Season 2 Episode 6

This was an emotional one, wasn’t it? Following the murder of Lyta at the hands of Jax, everyone has to work through their emotions, and interestingly, Krypton shows the five stages of grief via different characters.

First up, Seg’s emotional journey in “In Zod We Trust” packs a wallop. He begins the episode in shock, and breaking down after watching his beloved die on the comms channel (which is replaying the murder on a loop). Cameron Cuffe sells this anguish, and I couldn’t help but be reminded of Christopher Reeve’s Superman grieving over Lois in Donner’s Superman. As much as I love the wisecracking Seg, this is necessary for our character. He lost his parents at the beginning of his hero’s journey, and now this loss will push him in another direction. 

But Seg doesn’t become a villain, or act foolishly. He works his way towards acceptance over Lyta’s death (and the revelation that she and Dev became close in his absence). He remains heroic, and although at times he is numb, he chooses to move forward to toppling Zod. The challenge, of course, is that the general is one of the greatest strategic minds ever known. Brainiac is correct that he doesn’t have a chance on his own. 

The use of Brainy inside Seg continues to be compelling (even though the android is a helpful, but terrible, backseat driver). Of course he is a villain, and will most certainly return to his villainous ways – though he might honor his deal somewhat with Seg – but he ain’t wrong, either. He has saved Seg’s Kryptonian butt a few times now, and provides insights that Seg reluctantly accepts. He is a much-needed voice of logic at the moment. 

read more: Every Superman and DC Comics Easter Egg in Krypton Season 2

Still, it is a little scary to think Brainiac is on the cusp of getting everything he wants as soon as he returns to his ship. (And lest we forget, Brainiac will eventually make his way to this altered timeline’s Earth – already conquered by Zod.)

Additionally, I was surprised Seg opened up to Nyssa about his Brainiac sitch so quickly, but I am pleased this wasn’t drawn out. Nyssa is capable of handling this level of crazy, and she has time and again proved herself worthy of tackling challenges. She has two of the best scenes from the episode, in fact, after handily dispatching those two creepy Sagitari, and then standing toe-to-toe against Zod. Finally reunited with Cor, she coolly walks across the room, unlocking the codex for Zod, before having a “leap of faith” on the level of Biffworld Marty McFly in Back to the Future Part II. 

I could watch Wallis Day as Nyssa, well, all day long. She is so damn enjoyable conveying the range of emotions of this powerful, vulnerable, duplicitous, maternal character. I almost wish she would team up with Zod, officially, as a second-in-command the likes of Faora, or Ursa, because she’d make a great villain. 

Speaking of Zod, he is even more dangerous after the loss of his mother. I wouldn’t call him unhinged so much as ruthless, as he tears his way through incompetent officers, and threatening his scientists. Give the general a Force choke move, and he’d be a great Sith Lord. His stage of grief is unchecked anger, and Val, Jax, and all the rebels on Wegthor are right to be concerned. 

The closing moments of him walking towards the cave with his codex-powered BFG — essentially calling “here kitty, kitty” towards Doomsday in the shadows – is wickedly cool. No, it would not appear Zod plans on killing off a lot of Kryptonians with the codex. After all, who needs a genocide when you have a Doomsday?

read more – Krypton Season 2: What’s Next for Brainiac?

Zod’s threat is so palpable in the aftermath of Lyta’s murder that even Val is considering moving towards extremes. I agree with Val’s assessment that Jax is another aspiring tyrant, even though she claims she simply does what has to be done. However, Jax is partially correct as well; Val can’t expect to keep his hands clean in a rebellion against Zod. He also must make tough choices. Although I don’t believe his detonation of the space elevator base station is as simple as it seems. Certainly he cleared all those people out of there. Right?

Also, was it such a good idea to let Jax walk away so easily, simply exiled? When she returns, and she will, what mission will she be on?

As a final note, Dev and Jayna will put to good use this week. Her sadness over he lost daughter (taken first by Zod’s corruption, then by Jax) is palpable. This once stoic, merciless warrior is now a grieving mother. And I respect Dev’s commitment to her. These are people who need one another. Even Dev, a character I am sometimes hot and cold on, was believable in the wake of Lyta’s death. He keeps suggesting he failed Lyta, or that there was a chance to save her, before ultimately accepting that he should have known the Lyta he grew closer to was altered by Zod. 

Despite satisfying action beats in the episode, Nyssa’s being the best, “In Zod We Trust” shines due to excellent emotional performances over the loss of a main character.

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