Episode 2.4: Red

What a great episode! Plenty of action, lots of comedy, and a fair amount of emotional stuff too. When Clark goes against the wishes of his father, and blows a load of money on a class ring, the red Kryptonite rock that has been substituted for a ruby causes him to go off the rails. The trouble that ensues is tremendously entertaining.

The emotional impact of Clark's odd behaviour on those around him is quite monumental. He unleashes dormant feelings of animosity towards his parents for not being able to afford more of the everyday comforts that other kids his age have. They know that it is just the red Kryptonite talking but they also have to acknowledge that these feelings are rooted somewhere deep within Clark's consciousness. This is an aspect of Clark's character that has not been explored before and it's easy to sympathise with Mr and Mrs Kent when these feelings surface.

Clark also treats Lana with a total lack of respect by taking her on a date and then going off with someone else. I really love Lana's reaction to Clark's apology at the end. It is far more realistic that she doesn't let him off the hook and it is one of the few times that she doesn't come off as a wimp who spends her days pining for Clark. She shows a stronger side to her character and it would be nice to see more of this.

Another reason why this episode is so good is that it shows the fears of those who know Clark's secret. His parents have always loved him and have never been under any doubt as to the kind of choices he would make. But the effects of the red Kryptonite force them to acknowledge that if Clark really wanted to harm others, instead of doing good, then there's very little that they would actually be able to do about it.

But that is the point. Clark is the man he is because of the upbringing he has had. Like he says, those dark feelings may be inside of him, but it's the love of his parents that keeps them at bay.

One of the best episodes of Smallville. 10/10