‘Krypton’ Season 1, Episode 5 ‘House of Zod’ Recap: Honor Hanging By A Thread [SPOILERS]

Brainiac has taken the backseat. Right now, it’s all about Krypton’s great houses. In the last episode, House Vex has unmasked themselves and shown their real agenda. In light of Lyta Zod’s (Georgina Campbell) trial, Nyssa Vex has taken the opportunity to try and convince Jayna Zod (Ann Ogbomo) to join their cause. However, Jayna holds on tight to the honor that her house was known for since the dawn of Krypton.

In “House of Zod,” we’re treated to a trip down Jayna’s memory lane. But, that’s not the only thing we’ll get. “Krypton” is continuing to unfurl and the pieces are starting to line up. From Nyssa’s true feelings to a dark moment in House El’s past, “Krypton” is sending us all to a quicksand pit of revelations and surprises.

Mother and Daughter Face Their Burdens

Tonight’s episode of “Krypton” begins with a young Jayna engaging in fierce combat practice with her brother. Their father looks on as his voice can be heard narrating what truly makes a Zod. Jayna’s brother corners her, but he doesn’t deliver the final blow. Their father chastises his sentiment. Then, Jayna strikes her brother from behind and delivers blow after blow without mercy.

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Back to the present, Seg (Cameron Cuffe) is still lurking the outlands. He goes back to the Black Zero compound and retrieves his things. On the way out again, he stumbles upon an unconscious woman who looks to have been tortured. Without hesitation, Seg helps her. Back in Kandor, Adam frustratedly tries to tell Kem that something’s off about Seg’s disappearance. But, Kem only brushes it off in light of Lyta’s trial.

Meanwhile, Dev-Em (Aaron Pierre) visits Lyta in her prison cell. They talk about the first time they met in their childhood. Back then, Lyta caused a bit of mayhem but, Dev took the blame for her. Dev tells Lyta that he was already in love with her then. He opens up about his one-sided love but, before he could talk further, Lyta kisses him.

Seg Meets the Cythonnites

Seg’s co-captive introduces herself as Ryka. Seg asks why she was being tortured. Ryka answers that she’s protecting something but, she doesn’t elaborate further. As they head on to safety in the maze-like tunnels, Seg finds his family emblem carved on a wall. They turn around to see a group of people cornering them. They take Ryka from Seg. But, upon discovering that Seg is an El, they take him with them as well.

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In the lawmakers guild, Daron (Elliot Cowan) and Nyssa (Wallis Day) debate over Nyssa’s decision to upfront ask Jayna to come into the fold. Daron corners Nyssa about her feelings for Seg but, she strongly insists that she did what she did for the good of the cause. However, her father isn’t convinced. If everything goes wrong, the Voice of Rao will want the blood of House Vex.

On the other hand, Seg is introduced to the people and their leader who serve Cythonna, the ice goddess and real mother of Krypton. In a foreign language, the men who captured Seg pushes for killing him because of family lineage. However, their leader sees him be more useful alive.

Jayna Claims Honor for House Zod

Upon Daron’s visit, Kol-Da (Andrea Vasiliou) demands to know why she’s still locked up. Daron assures her that it’s just some procedural delay but, she’ll be out soon. After a tense few seconds, the two share a passionate kiss. (I did not see that coming. Nyssa and Dev are not the only ones harboring hidden romances.)

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As she prepares for Lyta’s trial, Jayna recalls her past. When she was younger, their father tasked her and her brother to go to the Jewel Mountains in the Outlands. At the base of it, they’ll find the respirator that will give them the oxygen they’ll need to return to Kandor. But the siblings only found one. Jayna’s brother struck her down telling her that he’d rather not let her freeze out there. But, Jayna retaliated and won. She took the respirator and left her brother. Back to the present, Nyssa once again tries to convince Jayna to join them. Jayna turns her back and gives no specific answer.

Ryka recovers and treats Seg’s wounds. Seg hears arguing and Ryka explains that the others were trying to decide what to do with him. She elaborates that he’s an El who has the power to destroy everything. How does she know this? Because the House of El has done it before. It is actually a duty passed on from generation to generation to protect that part of the Outlands from Els. Seeing that she won’t explain further, Seg threatens Ryka with a raid from the non-existent members of House El if he doesn’t get out of the compound.

Jayna Makes a Mother’s Sacrifice

Lyta awaits her execution as Jayna deals with her inner turmoil. She goes back to the time when she arrived back home after leaving her brother out on the ice. Her father rewards her with the family necklace with the Zod emblem. And, he blesses her with a firm place in the House of Zod.

Before Lyta kneels in front of her executioner, she faces her mother and gives her one final sign of respect from a Zod. This seals Jayna’s final decision as she gives a subtle nod to Nyssa. Nyssa in turn triumphantly and silently conveys it to her father. Daron Vex steps up in front of the whole council and renounces Lyta’s execution.

Afterward, Lyta takes a moment with her mother. Upon realizing that it was Jayna, not Nyssa who saved her life, Lyta embraces her mother. Jayna tells Lyta that she has always been her greatest love which brings a small smile to Lyta’s face. But Jayna renounces it and says that Lyta is now her greatest shame.

Meanwhile, a small group of Sagitarii visits Kol-Da. She demands to see the Chief Magistrate. But, her cries and protests are cut off when one of the Sagitarii bring out a small blade.

Seg Catches His Last Chance

Jayna once again beats her brother in present time in combat practice. But, when she turns off the program, the figure of her brother reverts to its original robot body. Like her, Daron has made sacrifices of his own. Upon finding Kol-Da’s lifeless body, Daron angrily orders a full investigation. He tells Nyssa his hopes of the act fooling the Voice of Rao as well. Nyssa rounds back to his feelings for Kol-Da. And Daron doesn’t deny them. He admits that he cared for her very much but, Nyssa left him no choice.

Back in the snowstorm of the outlands, Seg’s respirator runs out of oxygen. Seg uses its remaining battery to power up his communication device and successfully reaches Adam. Seg tells Adam where he is. And, in the case that he doesn’t make it, Seg asks Adam for one last favor.

In the military guild, Lyta confronts Nyssa about the deal she’s made with Jayna. But, they are interrupted by Adam’s arrival. Adam hands over Seg’s message to Lyta. In the message, Seg tells Lyta how much he loves her seemingly for the last time. As the message ends, Seg falls and doesn’t get back up from the ice. Lyta drags Adam to the Sagitarii locker room and takes another woman to go with them to the Outlands. Adam is somewhat distracted by one of the Sagitarii men who gives him a smile and a good show of his behind. Dev offers to replace Adam, but Lyta rejects his help.

Lyta Meets Family?

Someone finds Seg but, it’s not Lyta. It’s Black Zero’s commander. What Lyta does find are Seg’s broken respirator and trackable skimmer marks. Black Zero takes Seg back to the same old chair they put him in.

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The commander reveals that Ryka holds the key to stop Brainiac. As he tries to pry Ryka’s location out of Seg, Lyta’s team arrives and starts shooting. The guard falls, but the commander manages to escape. Lyta gives Seg a quick kiss but, she leaves to scour the area. Adam greets his friend and sets him loose.

As Lyta checks out the compound, the Black Zero commander ambushes her. They get into a nasty brawl, and Lyta almost loses. However, Lyta’s Zod necklace distracts the commander. She manages to tackle him to the ground. But, Lyta is cut short from giving no mercy when he laughs. She pauses, and he shows her his own Zod necklace. Astounded, Lyta asks who gave it to him. The commander answers with two simple words. “You did.” Then, he introduces himself as her son.

“Krypton” continues next Wednesday, April 25th, with “Civil Wars” at 10/9c on SyFy.