Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two

"You have all lost a great hero. You have suffered a horrible loss, but you have every reason not to lose hope. Seven in fact. Across space and time exist 7 heroes, Beings of the purest will, who can ultimately defeat the Anti-Monitor, and help save The Multiverse. They are known as paragons."

- Mar Novu on the multiverse's hope following Oliver's death.

The episode is the second part of the five-part crossover, .

Synopsis
The group uses Ray’s invention to track new recruits to help save the universe. The Monitor sends Iris, Clark and Lois in search of a mysterious Kryptonian, while Kate and Kara head out to find Bruce Wayne. In addition, Mia challenges Sara, Rory discovers a hidden talent, and Lex Luthor returns.

Starring

 * Ruby Rose as Kate Kane (Earth-1) and Kate Kane (Earth-99) (photo)
 * Camrus Johnson as Luke Fox
 * LaMonica Garrett as Mar Novu/The Monitor and Mobius/Anti-Monitor
 * Rachel Skarsten as Beth Kane (photo)

Special guest stars

 * Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen/Green Arrow
 * Caity Lotz as Sara Lance
 * Brandon Routh as Ray Palmer and Clark Kent/Superman
 * Katherine McNamara as Mia Smoak
 * Candice Patton as Iris West-Allen
 * Dominic Purcell as Mick Rory
 * Elizabeth Tulloch as Lois Lane and Lois Lane's Earth-75 doppelgänger
 * Tyler Hoechlin as Clark Kent/Superman and Superman's Earth-75 doppelgänger
 * Melissa Benoist as Kara Danvers/Supergirl
 * Grant Gustin as Barry Allen

Special appearances by

 * Jon Cryer as Lex Luthor
 * Matt Ryan as John Constantine
 * Tom Welling as Clark Kent

Guest starring

 * Audrey Marie Anderson as Lyla Michaels/Harbinger
 * Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne
 * Johnathon Schaech as Hex
 * Erica Durance as Lois Lane

Featuring

 * Wentworth Miller as Leonard (voice)

Co-starring

 * Elias and Benjamin Hogewoning as Baby Jonathan Kent

Plot
On Earth-1 in Central City, Sara pours a drink out for Oliver, while Kate and Kara look on. Sara points out that Oliver died a hero, saving a billion lives in the process. Kara then asks if they aren't going to wait for Barry, but Kate replies that she doesn't think he's ready to say goodbye to his friend just yet. Kara refuses to drink, saying that it feels like giving up, and believes that there's a way to undo the Crisis. Sara suggests that they prevent it from happening to every other universe. Harbinger arrives and says that Diggle is with JJ and doesn't know about Oliver dying just yet. She realizes how messed up that is and tells Sara, that she's just trying to find a way to break it to him.

Then Ray is heard saying to the Monitor that he can't hijack the Waverider, because their crew is still there. The Monitor says how if there's any chance of them all surviving the crisis, they need its technology. Sarah however, mentions that she kinda promised their crew that they wouldn't have to do another crossover. Harbinger replies that they don't need Sara's crew; just Ray's lab, and they have an entire Multiverse of Waveriders at their disposal and teleports away to the Waverider.

On Earth-74, Harbinger appears in a Waverider and knocks over an alcohol bottle. The AI, Leonard, greets her and says that she's trespassing. Mick steps out wielding his Heat Gun and Snart's Cold gun, and explains that he took this Waverider because no one was using it. Harbinger, for her part, thought that The Legends on Earth-74 had all either retired or died. The Leonard A.I. explains that Mick is trying to become a romance writer, and Harbinger invites Mick to come with her for the beer, stories, and the chance to save the Multiverse.

Later when the Waverider arrives on Earth-1, the Monitor says that they've suffered a horrible loss. However, there are seven heroes of the purest will. Clark and Kara try to comfort Jonathan, but the baby doesn't settle down until Mick takes him. The Monitor says that the seven heroes are Paragons, and he only learned of them by consulting the Book of Destiny. When Kate asked The Monitor where he got these names and pseudonyms, he answers that he enlisted the help of Felicity Smoak. Who earned the wisdom from a second book. He summons the aforementioned Book and explains that he went into the time-stream and retrieved the book. As Mia arrives, Kara asks if the Book can bring back the destroyed Earths. The Monitor warns that it would cause madness, and Mia asks if the Book can bring Oliver back. Mar Novu says that it's impossible and that he grows weaker as the Anti-Monitor grows stronger. The Monitor tells them that Kara is the Paragon of Hope. Sara is the Paragon of Destiny, and one of the others is a Kryptonian who is the Paragon of Truth. Clark and Lois offer to find him, and the Monitor says that the fourth Paragon is of Courage and is known only as the "Bat of the Future". The Tome of the Guardians revealed Kara and Sara's names to him and the descriptions for the other two. They also all collectively find out that Bruce Wayne is the Dark Knight, with Kate asking if they could all keep that to themselves. Kate then asks the others who wanted to meet Batman.

Bruce Wayne exists in the future on Earth-99, where he has dedicated himself body and soul to fighting crime. Later, Kara looks at a display of Earth-38 being destroyed, and Lex comes in with the Monitor. Lex is amused at the destruction of his homeworld, and the Monitor tells Kara that even Lex has an important part to play in this crisis. So he resurrected him after he'd been killed. As Kate comes in, the Monitor explains that he had the power to bring Lex back before the Crisis began. Kara refuses to work with Lex as an ally, and Kate meets Lex and introduces herself as new & unfriendly.

Kate goes after Kara and they bond over their mutual losses. After a moment, Kate takes out an extrapolator and invites Kara to come with her and save the universe.

Harbinger staggers through Waverider, a voice telling her to find the Book and to destroy it. She goes into the study and finds Lex taking the Book. He teleports away with it, and the Monitor comes in. Harbinger warns him that Lex took the Book, and the Monitor says that they all have a part to play.

The Monitor brings Iris to reunite with Barry. Barry suggests that they can use the Lazarus Pit to bring Oliver back, and insists that his friend can't be dead. Iris says that the Monitor gave her a mission to find the Kryptonian Paragon, and they kiss as Iris says that she will take whatever time she has with Barry.

Mia tells Sara that they're going to use the Lazarus Pit to bring Oliver back. Sara warns her that exposure to the Pit strips the person of their humanity. Mia says Nyssa told her everything she needs to know about the Pits and about Sara for that matter; making it clear she doesn't trust Sara.

On Earth-99, Kate and Kara arrive at an old manor and knock at the door. An alternate version of Luke answers the door, and Kate explains that she's Bruce's cousin. Luke slams the door in their faces, and Kate knocks at the door but gets no answer. Kara kicks in the door and the two women go inside. Luke trains a gun on them and tells them to leave, but Bruce walks down in an exoskeleton suit and tells Luke not to be rude to their guests. Bruce and Kate recognize each other, and Bruce takes Kate to his study while Luke takes Kara to the library.

When Kate says that the Bruce she knew wore a different kind of suit, he replies by saying that it's a product of a lifetime of injuries. He then tells his cousin that she has aged well for a dead girl. This older Bruce tells Kate that on Earth-99, her counterpart died five years earlier. Bruce also mentions Clayface being a puddle of mud, and that last he checked, Jane Doe was locked up in Arkham Asylum.

On Earth-75 in Metropolis, Iris radios Clark and Lois and tells them that Lex is alive and killing off the various Supermen across the multiverse. They see a newscast about this Earth's Superman being dead, and that Lex Luthor killed the Man of Steel, only to disappear into thin air.

On Waverider, Barry, Mia, and Sara get Constantine to help them cast a spell to create a map of the multiverse. He realizes that many Earths are gone and more are vanishing and finds one Earth with a functioning Pit. Barry and Mia head out, and Sara makes Constantine promise to bring back Oliver's soul. Constantine reluctantly says that he'll do it... if he can.

On Earth-167 in Smallville, Iris, Clark, and Lois find that Earth's Clark chopping wood. Iris asks the other two if they think it's him, and Earth-38 Lois says it's either him or the buff guy from the paper towel rolls. Earth-38 Clark is not impressed and says that he can do that with one bare hand.

Lois tells Clark Kent of Earth-167 about how their Earth's version of Lex Luthor is going to try and kill him. The trio disappeared, and Lex steps out with the Book and greets his "old friend". Clark says that Lex isn't the Lex he knows, and Lex explains that he sent the others back to Waverider. He insists that Clark will always be his greatest enemy on any Earth, and he knows that this Clark Kent is Superman. He finds it ironic, as Earth-38's version of Clark Kent is not the Man of Steel. Lex takes out a piece of Kryptonite, and Clark tosses it away and says that kryptonite hasn't affected him since he gave up his powers.

Lex is astonished that Clark would give up being a god. He steps on a child's toy, and Clark says that it's worth more than any superpowers. Lois Lane (Earth-167) calls to Clark, and Lex throws a punch at Clark. Clark easily blocks it, and Lex says that Clark took all the fun out of him and he should enjoy his mediocrity. Lex teleports away, and Lois comes out. Clark tells her what's going on, and Lois assumes that he's making a joke. They go in to see their daughters.

Bruce laughs at the thought that he's the Paragon of Courage, and says that Kate is a few years too late. He shows her a newspaper article about a "reign of terror", and explains that he's lost track of all the people he's killed. Bruce admits that he had a code, but the first time he took a life, it was easy to take another and another. He says that Kate will see, and his Kate put on the cape thinking she'd succeed where he failed, but all she did was get herself killed. Kate insists that she's not Bruce's Kate, and tells Bruce that he's needed and she's giving him the chance to be a hero again to the whole damn universe.

Ray works in his lab on a Paragon detector while Mick comforts Jonathan and reads his romance novel to the baby. It calms the baby down despite the fact it's not kid-friendly.

On Earth-96, Iris, Lois, and Clark arrive at the Daily Planet where they've tracked Lex. They bump into that world's Clark Kent, who looks like Ray Palmer. Clark Kent (Earth-96) and Clark-38 admire each other's glasses, and Clark says that they're there about Lex Luthor.

Back on Earth-99 Kara is with that Earth's counterpart of Luke who asks her who she knows Kate. She tells him that she's still getting to know her. All while using her x-ray vision to do some subtle investigating. She then asks “what are those?” and he replies by saying they are mementos of Batman's greatest victories. One of them was a Joker card with blood on them. Kara then sees a pair of broken glasses, and Earth-99 Luke says that those belonged to this Earth's Superman. He also mentions that this Earth's Bruce killed Clark, who also put him in that exoskeleton he's in.

Meanwhile, on Earth-96, Clark-96 is the editor-in-chief, and he assures the others that he can handle Lex. The trio warns that the Book allows Lex do anything. Lois notices dozens of plaques on the wall. He confesses that Lois Lane (Earth-96), Jimmy Olsen (Earth-96) and Perry White (Earth-96) all died because the Joker felt that The Daily Planet wasn't covering him enough, so he gassed the place and killed the people inside. Thus, this Clark lost everyone in one fell swoop.

During that moment, the trio realizes this Earth's Clark is a Paragon, and Iris asks Clark-96 to come back with them. Clark-96 puts on his costume, and so does Clark Kent (Earth-38). The two of them promise to stop Lex, but then Lex comes in and puts the two Supermen against one another. Superman-96 punches Superman from Earth-38 and says that he doesn't care about saving the universe. He tells them that he serves Lex Luthor and throws the other Superman out the window. The two Supermen battle across the city and Superman tells Superman-96 that he has to get Lex out of his head. Superman-96 flies at Iris and Lois, but Superman knocks him away while Lois knocks Lex out. The two women pry the Book open and picture the Clark-96 that they met.

The two Superman slam into the office and Lois tells Superman-96 that he's not the Superman that his Lois loved. Superman blocks Superman-96's heat vision, and Lois tells Superman-96 to remember who he is. Superman-96 breaks Lex's spell and helps his counterpart up.

Meanwhile, on Earth-18 in North Dakota, Constantine takes Barry, Sara, and Mia to the mine beneath an Old West ghost town. Barry and Constantine go to get Oliver's body, and Mia insists that she wants to resurrect Oliver. They find the Lazarus Pit that is being hoarded by the Jonah Hex of this Earth. Jonah fights back and Sara finally takes his knife and cuts his face until he yields. They put his body in the pit, but it's not working apparently. Shortly after Barry parrots that sentiment, Oliver pops out of the pit very rabbid like Sara did a while back. He's ready to attack John, but Barry saves him just in time. Mia calls to him saying Dad, but Oliver is still out of it and looks to be ready to attack his own daughter before Sara tranquilizes him. She says to Mia that she tranquilized his body, but this isn't Oliver yet, they still need to get his soul back.

Then on Earth-99, Bruce and Kate go to the Batcave, and Bruce figures that it's for the best if everyone dies. He insists that there's no hope for the world. Supergirl comes in and says that Bruce killed the Superman of this Earth. Bruce tells Kate that Superman gave the authorities too much power, and his parents taught him that life only makes sense if they make it. He punches Supergirl with a Kryptonite gauntlet, knocking her across the floor.

Bruce is surprised that Kate trusts a Kryptonian, and says that it can all end for all he cares because the world isn't worth saving. Kate tells him that he'll have to kill her then, and he attacks her. She accidentally throws him into a generator and he collapses after being electrocuted. She wants to go to him and save him, but Kara stops her saying it will kill her too. As he lays dying, Bruce tells Kate that there is no hope.

Ray and Clark-96 chat with each other while an imprisoned Lex sulks. Mick gives Jonathan Kent back to Lois, who introduces him to Clark-96. The Monitor congratulates them on finding the Paragon of Truth and how Lex led them to him. Kara and Kate get back on the Waverider and proceed to explain to the others that the Bruce Wayne from Earth-99 tried to kill Kara and now he's dead. So they are all doomed. Kara also initially mistakes Earth-96 Clark with Ray and says he's looking quite jacked. But then her own cousin says to her that this isn't Ray, but her cousin; sort of.

The Monitor says that Ray's work is finished. Ray turns on the detector and locates one Paragon on Waverider. The Monitor says that it's the Paragon of Courage: Kate, the Bat of the Future.

On Earth-18, Constantine has put Oliver's body in a pentagram and is reciting a spell, but it doesn't work. He says that something is wrong. John mentions that with all the antimatter in the system, he's lost his magic. Barry then points out the obvious; that if they can't get Oliver's soul back, he will be a monster forever.

In the cargo bay, Kara brings Kate some liquor telling her she looked like she needed a drinking buddy. Kate wonders how she, of all people, can be a Paragon. Kara points out that Kate has saved all of them, and says that how hard Kate tries is what makes her a hero. She assures her friend that she has heart and bravery, and Kate wonders if she'll end up like Bruce. Kara assures her that she'll make her own destiny, and gives Kate a photo from Bruce's library of Kate Kane (Earth-99) and Beth Kane (Earth-99). Kate says she wishes that she had met her Beth like this, Kara then tells her that maybe she still can. After Kara has told Kate she plans to use the Book of Destiny to bring back Earth-38, Kate tells her that is really dangerous according to The Monitor. She says that she knows, but what good is being the Paragon of Hope if she doesn't have any. As Kara walks away, Kate holds onto the Kryptonite she took from the older Bruce from Earth-99 they visited earlier.

Harbinger continues to hear the voice in her head and begs it to stop. A figure steps out of the shadows addresses Lyla by name and says that his strength grows stronger as Earths' die. He says that he is the Anti-Monitor, and tells Harbinger that there is work to be done.

Trivia

 * This episode marks the first time that a main cast member was not present for the episode. The cast members not present were, , , , and . This leaves only two cast members to appear in every episode: and.
 * As only Luke's Earth-99 counterpart appears, this makes Kate Kane the only character to appear in every episode of the series.
 * This marks the first ever time that Oliver appears but has no lines.
 * This episode had the least amount of main cast members with only three.
 * At some point in the episode, when the two Supermen were fighting, Lois Lane said to Superman from Earth-96: Kal-El, remember who you are. Which is a reference to the same line spoken by Wonder Woman in the Justice League movie.
 * Much like the previous episode, several Earth designations reference important years tied to them.
 * Earth-75's Superman was killed in a way that visually referenced in the Death of Superman. Its designation is a reference to the Death of Superman storyline, namely the 75th issue, in which Doomsday kills Superman.
 * Earth-96 is inspired partially by the Kingdom Come storyline. Its designation is a reference to 1996, the year in which the original Kingdom Come story was published.
 * Earth-99 has a much older and harsher Bruce Wayne. Its designation is a reference to 1999, the year in which Batman Beyond premiered, which also had an older Bruce Wayne portrayed by Kevin Conroy, was first released.
 * Earth-167 is meant to represent the Smallville universe. Its designation is a reference to one of that show's producers; Al Gough, who was born in 1967.
 * The scenes on Earth-96 contain multiple references to the Christopher Reeve and Brandon Routh Superman film series (as Brandon Routh is reprising his role as that specific Superman, rather than once again playing the general role of Superman).
 * John Williams' main theme for the series can be heard.
 * Clark says that he has previously battled himself. This references Superman III, where Superman turned insane and then split into a separate Clark Kent and Superman, before fighting himself.
 * Clark compares Jonathan Kent to his son, Jason, This references Superman Returns, in which him and Lois had a son of the same name.
 * The scene in the Batcave on Earth-99 has Bruce describe Kryptonite to Kara as "A little souvenir from the old home town". Similar to how Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor described it to a weakened Superman in Superman: The Movie.
 * Kara calls Lex a "poisonous snake." That's a direct quote from the end of Superman II, after Lex Luthor betrays Superman and Lois to the three Phantom Zone villains.
 * Constantine's second ever appearance was in Crisis on Infinite Earths #4.
 * Harbinger appears to have been infected by Shadow Demons and is thus vulnerable to the Anti-Monitor's influence. This happened in the very first chapter of the comics version of Crisis on Infinite Earths.
 * After informing Kara and Kate that the Kate of Earth-99 died five years ago, Bruce mentions two supervillains who could be capable of taking her form. The first is Clayface, who is essentially dead, as Bruce describes him as "a puddle of mud." The other is Jane Doe, a serial killer adept at assuming the identities of her targets.
 * On Earth-1, Jonathan Cartwright/Mouse is the gender-bent version of the latter character.
 * The Monitor saying that the “Bat of the Future” would seem to further the connection, as Batman Beyond had the Market-Based Title of Batman of the Future in some regions.
 * Earth-167 Clark catches Earth-38 Lex Luthor's punch and socks him in the face in a reversal of what happened the last time a depowered Clark fought his Lex on Smallville.
 * Kate tells Earth-99 Bruce (after finding out he killed that Earth's Clark Kent) that the Bruce she knows has a code, a reference to Batman's one rule, he doesn't kill.
 * Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch play the briefly glimpsed Earth-75 Superman and Lois as well as their main Earth-38 selves.
 * The bloody Clark Kent glasses are a reference to John Lennon's. The dried blood on them makes them resemble the glasses Lennon was wearing when he was murdered. The fact that the glasses are bloody implies that this wasn't a fair fight (compared to Dark Knight Returns or even Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) but rather that Bruce ambushed Clark Kent when he wasn't expecting it and killed him.