Clark is feeling a little blue about things because people seem so down on heroes lately. There's a big, nationwide vote coming up where people get to decide whether or not to repeal the VRA. What kind of crazy political system is this? Anyway, Martha is out campaigning against the VRA and reminding people that they need their heroes. She's shot by a mystery gunman while making one of her speeches that unfortunately (and unintentionally) call to mind recent tragic events. She was only grazed by the bullet, but Clark is still worried about the risk she's taking. She's adamant about protecting him and even talks to Chloe about watching over Clark. Chloe seems kind of sad about that prospect.
Clark and Oliver investigate the shooting and find bullet fragments made of kryptonite. Clark realizes this means that he was the intended target. The shooter must know his weakness. Lois suddenly finds her anti-VRA stories in the Daily Planet being censored. She confronts Tess, who turns out has nothing to do with it. The responsible party is none other than Lionel Luthor, who has spent the last few months in this universe quietly taking over all his old businesses. This brings up Tess's old father/abandonment issues. You know who else has issues? The Lex clone that escaped Tess's lab a while back. Lionel magically manages to find him and discovers that Alexander was the one who's been trying to kill Clark. Lionel promises Lex that he'll help him take down Clark, but their family reunion is short-lived once Lex realizes that Lionel chose Clark over his own son in both universes. He sets the mansion on fire with Lionel and Martha inside, then heads to Clark's loft to finish him off. Tess manages to talk him out of it. He doesn't have to end up like the original Lex. Clark rushes to the mansion and saves his mother, then, after a moment's hesitation, saves Lionel instead of letting him fry.
At the end, Clark cheers up when Lois and Chloe take over a bunch of websites and post pro-Blur videos from all his fans. The VRA is repealed. Clark, Oliver and the other heroes can come out of hiding. Less cheerful: Lex is sick. Tess holds him and promises to always be there for him, even as she tries to inject him with a syringe of cyanide. He doesn't notice, though, because the needle breaks on contact with his skin. Mysterious! Stay tuned for the full recap.