Episode 1.11: Hug

This episode is an awful lot of fun. Rick Peters is suitably smarmy as industrialist Bob Rickman, the man with a handshake that can seal any deal, even if it was a deal you did not wish to make. There is a great moment where he tries to use his powers of persuasion on Clark. But he doesn't quite get the reaction he was hoping for. Suffice to say it does not work and all he gets for his trouble is a sore hand.

There are plenty of other stand-out moments throughout: Chloe, whilst under the influence of another 'persuader' Kyle Tippet, makes a pass at Clark; Lex unleashes a flurry of bullets at Clark with a machine gun; Jonathan's confusion at his own decision to sell the farm...

The only problem with this episode is the ending when Lex is 'under the influence'. Tippet states that the power of persuasion he and Rickman have is so strong that anyone they have under their spell will only be free once they have completed the task they've been given or if they suffer some kind of shock to break them from the spell. So why does Lex suddenly go all out to kill Clark when it is Tippet he has been sent to kill? Surely he'd have put a bullet in Tippet while he had the chance. This is a minor quibble that does not detract too much from a highly entertaining episode.

9/10