Episode 5.6: Exposed

Lex decides to run for Senator, going up against the current Senator, who just so happens to be Jonathan's best friend. But when a photo turns up of the Senator in a nightclub, with a girl who is now dead, Jonathan instantly assumes that it is all part of some smear campaign from Lex. Coincidentally, Chloe and Lois are investigating the death of the woman after she called them on the night that she died. With Clark also on the case the three of them end up converging on the nightclub and only realize when Lois takes to the stage for an undercover pole dance "routine". When police raid the club, Lois ends up being taken by the killer, a diplomat that the police cannot touch due to his diplomatic immunity. But that doesn't stop Lois from kicking his ass, with a little help from Clark. The Senator drops out of the race, suggesting Jonathan run in his place, and Chloe gets her first bi-line at the Daily Planet.

For a man who is constantly painted as a person of the highest moral integrity, Jonathan certainly comes across as one heck of a sanctimonius douchebag in this episode. The scene where he full on railroads Lex for something he hasn't done, without a shred of proof, highlights just how judgemental he can be with his prejudice against the Luthors. It's definitely his biggest character flaw. An apology would have been quite appropriate too, given that Lex actually goes out of his way to help the Senator, almost as if he's trying to show Jonathan that he wants to win by playing fairly.

I was never really a fan of Dukes of Hazzard but I am old enough to remember that show and so I can really appreciate all the references and injokes about it. They were enough to put a smile on my face at any rate.

While I most definitely appreciate the stunning good looks of Erica Durance as much as the next guy (or gal for that matter), I can't help but feel that this particular season has really upped the ante when it comes to pushing the boundaries of sexuality on the show. For the third episode in a row we've been given some rather raunchy material to feast our eyes upon, with two out of those three featuring a bikini clad Lois. I will admit to being somewhat amused by the difficult situation Chloe puts Lois into, especially once Lois spots Clark in the audience, but I cannot help but think that this stuff wouldn't fly so well in a post #metoo world.

It's still great, as always, to see Lois kicking the crap out of the scumbag who tries to abduct her. And it's always refreshing to have a villain of the week who isn't a meteor freak, though still a freak nonetheless.

One more thing about this season that seems to have been ramped up a bit is the level of violence. The scene where the woman in the red dress is hit by the car is pretty brutal in its depiction and still has the power to shock. But I think you need to make this kind of impact when you are doing a story that deals with human trafficking. It is a very real-world problem when compared to the meteor freak style threats that our heroes usually have to deal with. I think the episode does a good job of showing that it is often people in power that allow such crimes to continue. You need look no further than the recent Jeffrey Epstein case to see just how accurate that is.

This is quite a dark episode but it is perfectly balanced with moments of humour to stop it from becoming too depressing. On the contrary, it ends up being highly entertaining.

9/10