Remember when it seemed like "secrets and lies" figured into every episode? Possibly more than once per episode? There's been a nice, long break since the phrase reared its ugly head, but it's back in this episode. Things start off with Tess bringing Alexander to the Kent farm (he's been being studied in a lab off-screen) and asking Clark to hang out with him for a while. She tells him that the boy has lost all of his Lex memories. With some hesitation, Tess also tells him that Alexander is only half Lex, because the other half of his DNA comes from Clark. That explains the kid's nascent super powers as well as his affinity for plaid. Lois calls the boy, now known as "Conner," the "lovechild" of Lex and Clark, although Clark prefers to think of himself as Conner's brother. Clark teaches Conner about farm chores and using one's powers responsibly. This includes having to show Conner how to tame his heat vision after it's activated for the first time by the sight of Lois's shapely figure.
Alas, Conner overhears Clark and Lois talking about the Luthor half of him that Clark has decided to keep secret. This sends Conner zipping off in an emo tizzy, right into Lionel Luthor's paternal clutches. Lionel slips a red-K ring onto Conner's finger, telling the gullible young thing that it's his "birthright." This is where the B-plot of the episode intersects: Lois and Tess have been trying to dig up something that will expose Lionel as a fraud, which leads Lois to sneaking around Lionel's office, which leads to Lionel trying to kill her. A smitten Conner not only rescues her, but steals furs and jewels and a car for her. Lionel laughs it off as the "Luthor libido," which is just... ugh. When Lois doesn't return his affections, Conner beats her for what seems like a gratuitously long time. Clark confronts Lionel, all, "I won't let you screw him up like you did my best friend Lex!" and Lionel's like, "It was your secrets and lies that messed him up, jerkface!" Clark eventually rescues Lois and shatters Conner's red-K ring, realizing for the nth time that maybe honesty really is the best policy.
In the end, Tess proves that Lionel's a fake and gets LuthorCorp back. Clark enrolls Conner at Smallville High and gives him the Kent name. Lionel visits Lex's grave and boo-hoos about wanting his son back. That's when Darkseid materializes and fills us with dread as to just how Lex will be returning for the finale. Stay tuned for the full recap!