Krypton ‘Transformation’ Plot Summary:
Lyta-Zod and Seg-El take on a few different undercover missions to save General Zod, Jayna-Zod, and Nyssa-Vex after the failed coup attempt to overthrow Rao from the very leader of the coup, Daron-Vex, whom is now being forced to execute the members of the coup that he recruited. Back in the Kryptonian Fortress of Solitude, Adam Strange is debating a potential departure from the planet to return home to Earth, while Val-El tries to convince him to stay.
This episode is the first time we see the villain, Brainiac, throughout the duration of the episode – well, sort of, anyway. We know he has taken over the body of Rao and claims to finally bring peace and leadership to Kandor. Unfortunately, while he has a few great menacing moments, his villainous plan throughout the episode feels underwhelming for such an iconic villain. Something could always change that in upcoming episodes, but here it feels like a little bit of a letdown – especially after the great tease at the end of the previous episode.
As for our heroes, they are continually forced into situations that challenge their own morals and ethics. The trio of lead characters, Seg-El, Lyta-Zod, and Nyssa-Vex, carry the episode with strong material and believability. The show clearly has a vested interest in making not just them, but nearly all of Krypton’s characters to be multi-dimensional and relatable. This is especially the case in this episode with our trio of heroes, but also with role characters, such as Daron-Vex and Adam Strange. In addition, it is great to see Val-El again in this episode since he is always a joy to see on-screen and elevates the show.
While the writers of the show do a wonderful job making us sympathize and care for the majority of the lead characters and challenging them in interesting ways for a show without a big budget, ‘Transformation’ falls a little short on the overall execution of the episode compared to the excellent episodes prior. Certain moments are executed extremely well (especially the ending), but other moments of characterization, although still meaningful and featuring high-quality acting, border on the line of cliché and happen too rapidly.
That, in turn, slows down the pacing of the episode and it drags on a little too long. It is not terrible by any means and still works since it adds more depth to the characters and is very personal to them (I personally still enjoyed seeing them), but it is just not done quite to the level of excellence this show normally accomplishes.
The intensity of the episode is another conflicting aspect. There are moments of strong intensity from characters – mainly Nyssa-Vex and Seg-El – that resonate beautifully. That should be no surprise since they have been excellent in nearly every episode so far. There are a few other intense moments, however, that feel forced and come off as slightly jarring. Other than that, there is no real sense of energy or urgency.
Sure, there are some intriguing moments of sexual tension in addition to moments of action, but outside of that the slower pacing feels counterintuitive to what should be happening with Brainiac controlling Rao and the armed forces. The episode feels like a big deep breath for viewers to relax and gather themselves emotionally before a big climactic finish, which can be a positive or negative feature depending upon how you view it.
Although there is not much for humor in the episode, the few times humor does make an appearance, it works quite well. Many fans will locate the line of dialogue that is a nod to Thor: Ragnarok, but my favorite involves a comment Seg-El says to Lyta-Zod. Seg’s humor has been under-the-radar to me throughout the season so far. The more I reflect, the more I appreciate it since it only helps with his characterization when contrasted with the immense task at hand that he is facing.
Overall, ‘Transformation’ has some incredible aspects and moments to it, such as amazing performances and fascinating reveals. Unfortunately, it cannot quite reach the same level of quality that other episodes have exhibited due to too much narrative convenience, which negatively impacts the villain and pacing. Having said that, it is still a good episode and I am intrigued to see where the creatives behind Krypton take us next week.
-Daryn Kirscht
‘Transformation’ Rating: 7.5 / 10
