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Tuesday, 7 July 2020

Episode 4.7: Jinx

An exchange student comes to Smallville High. His name is Mikhail, otherwise known as Mxyzptlk. Mikhail runs an underground gambling business, which is very successful due to his unique ability to get people to do whatever he says, even from a distance. When he makes Clark trip over, causing him to seriously injure another player, it has Jonathan riled enough to want Clark off the team. However, sure of his own abilities, Clark knows that something caused him to trip. He's just got to find out what that something is before the next game. With help from Chloe, who just so happens to be doing an editorial on gambling in the school, they learn who Mikhail really is. But Mikhail wants Clark to throw the game as a way of proving his abilities to Lex, leading to a showdown in which Clark must not only win the game, but save Chloe from Mikhail. Also, Lex has Jason fired for being with Lana, claiming he did it for Clark.

I like this episode, particularly the way they handle the character of Mxyztplk, a character from the comics that could really turn out to be quite silly if they didn't make a few changes. Thankfully, they do, whilst still retaining the essence of the character.

The ending to Jinx has a double case of blu balls however, as we are heavily teased on two separate occasions without being given any answers. The first is when Lex takes Mikhail into a room to show him something. The look on his face is filled with awe and wonder but then we don't get to see what it is they are looking at. The second is the final moment when Clark asks Lex the real reason he got Jason fired and Lex just smiles. Both these moments are filled with intrigue but are highly frustrating as they are left open ended.

I love when Clark goes to see Lex to accuse him and Lex is quite antagonistic towards Clark. He's clearly not bothered any more about showing Clark he doesn't care for the way he treats him. The irony is that, in this case, Clark was correct in his accusations.

At one point in the episode Lex makes a really keen observation when he tells Clark that, if he isn't willing to do whatever it takes to get with Lana, then maybe deep down he knows that she isn't the one. In the case of Clark and Lana this is so true. They rarely seem to have fun together. Even when they were on good terms most of their interactions felt loaded with melancholy. Compare that to the few episodes where Clark has spent time with Lois and it's so different. They have fun together and are honestly able to have cracks at each other without getting butthurt about it. That's a sign that they trust each other.

Another fine moment is when Clark uses his superspeed to save Chloe in the middle of the pass he makes that wins the game. I still cannot help but think that Jonathan is right though. Clark is winning these games for his team because of an unfair advantage. We even get to see how Clark would really play without the aid of his powers during one scene where he holds a small piece of kryptonite whilst practicing his throws. Fact is, without his power, Clark simply wouldn't be the player he is. There's no two ways about it.

Finally, I love the glint in Chloe's eye in her final moments with Clark, which suggests she suspects he was somehow behind her rescue. He was the only one who knew where she was so it makes sense that he would have had something to do with it. I think Chloe suspects from this moment on.

A really fun, if sometimes frustrating, episode. 8/10

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