Part 6: Fantastic repartee with Scardino. Same with stammering Clark falls flat. Why the switch? Good old Scardino is still more exciting for Lois, I guess?
It's not that he's more exciting. She's trying to do her investigation ...which leads to danger...which leads to crash and burning Scardino's investigation which leads to a big blow up. Clark doesn't really feel the need to one-up Scardino or fight anymore because he knows where he stands with Lois. It'll all make more sense in the final part.