Episode 6.22: Phantom

The last phantom is on the hunt for a kryptonian in order to copy there DNA and become just as powerful. That's bad news for Clark. Lana leaves Lex, which supposedly leads to her demise. Martian Manhunter convinces Clark that Lionel is on his side but is unable to convince him not to go up against the phantom and risk creating a bizarre version of himself. And Lois is critically wounded trying to break into Reeves dam, only to have Chloe save her at the expense of her own life, when her meteor power reveals itself.

The opening scene for this episode has to be the darkest teaser we've ever had for the show. It's very intense, like something right out of a horror film. The Exorcist meets David Cronenberg. I'd totally forgotten how full on it is. It definitely made me sit up straight.

Lionel tells Lex the truth about Lana, how he forced her to marry him. You can see how much it hurts Lex. Even now, after everything he has done, I still believe that Lex loves Lana and wanted her love in return. But he's so incapable of letting that love manifest itself in the proper, healthy way, that he just destroys it in his futile attempt to control it. It's the most tragic aspect of his character.

Clark says goodbye to Martha as she heads to Washington. I know that Martha does return, but it's nowhere near as often as we are used to. That's why this sort of feels like the show is saying goodbye to her in a way. But it's very underplayed. I like that Martha tells Clark to think about moving away from the farm. She understands that his ties to his home might in fact be holding him back, which is quite true of many young men in this day and age, I would imagine.

Lana tells Clark she's leaving Lex and he tells her everything about his secret. About bloody time is all I can say! This episode does seem to drop a tonne of truth bombs. Everyone seems to be confessing left and right. There's Clark telling Lana his secret. We've got Lana telling Lex she wants to leave him, as well as telling Clark about what Lionel did. Then we've got Lionel coming clean about being Jor-El's emissary with Martian Manhunter dropping in to tell Clark his reason for being on Earth. It's all very refreshing I must say.

I love that Clark gives Lionel a good thrashing. Again, it's long overdue. I flinch, however, when Lex hits Lana. Not necessarily because I care for Lana so much, but because it's such an act of cowardice from Lex, that's hard to see even him sinking down to.

Clark and Chloe track the phantom who is in the body of a small boy. It's super creepy to see this little kid in what I can only describe as a "possessed" like state. Again, it reminds me of a film like The Exorcist or something like that.

Lois gets stabbed breaking in to Reeves dam. I know she's an "army brat" as she is often fond of telling people. But sometimes I find her ability to take down fully trained military personnel to be a bit of a stretch, so it's nice to see one such fight that she has here end with dire consequences for her. It's far more believable.

Lana is "blown up". The moment has zero impact because I never believed for a second, even when I saw it the first time, that she was inside that car. The moment that does have impact though is Chloe's supposed death. That's mostly down to the absolute first class performance from Alison Mack. But also, given the fact that Chloe is not a character from the comic books, there was always the possibility that the show was going to kill her off. And if this had have been that time, it would have been a perfect send off for the character, just because of how bad it makes you feel that she is "gone".

I don't know why but I found it hilarious when Lex uses his scientist as a shield. It's terrible behaviour from him but it's absolutely first rate comic book villainy.

The climatic battle between Clark and 'Bizarro' is pretty epic. It's not as prolonged as, say, the fight with Titan, but the level of destruction that comes from the two Clark's trading blows is awesome in scale. Awesome stuff!

10/10

 

Episode 6.21: Prototype

Lex begins test runs of Project Ares, which turns out to be a super soldier program, using all the combined powers of meteor freaks and placing them inside a supposedly dead soldier. When Lois witnesses this mind-controlled killing machine in action she becomes a target. Knowing the man in his former life, Lois begins to break through his programming, causing him to malfunction. It buys her enough time for Clark to save the day, but her former friend pays with his life, igniting a fire in Lois to expose Lex.

 

This episode is directed by Mat Beck, who is more commonly known as a visual effects supervisor, both on this show and The X Files. He actually does a very good job.

 

The Ares test run at the beginning of the episode really shows how far Lex has disappeared down the rabbit hole. Scores of men are killed for it and he thinks nothing of it. In fact, he orders more men to be brought in as canon fodder for a second test run, almost giddy with excitement. Add to this the senator and his men that he has killed and he has most certainly lost the plot.

 

I love the scene where the senator threatens Lex at the mansion and Rosenbaum plays it totally chilled. I'm looking at the senator thinking, "Oops, you shouldn't have done that!"

 

Speaking of threats, Clark pulls a right doozie on Lionel. It's one of those very rare instances in which he takes advantage of someone's knowledge of his powers in order to intimidate them. Most people would probably do this all the time if they had Clark's powers. But Clark only picks a time when it is totally warranted. So it makes you want to cheer him on rather than coming across as douchey. Go Clark!

 

Lois has a couple of really funny lines in this episode that made me laugh out loud. Once when she is trying to give a pep talk to Chloe, then again, when she references the time that she caught Clark in the shower.

 

The cloaking visual effect on Wes is really well done. Even by today's standards it's pretty impressive work. Though as if that wasn't enough of a nod to the film, Predator, they go and use the heat vision too.

 

What are the chances that, of all the soldiers Lex could have picked to become the test subject for Ares, it turns out to be one of Lois' childhood friends? I know that you have to make these kind of links in a show like this, so that every character gets to have some kind of personal connection to the overall mythology, but sometimes such links really do feel like an awful stretch. I've learned to just roll with it at this point. But sometimes I have to keep myself from overanalyzing it.

 

It's definitely a team effort in figuring things out this time around. Lois' personal connection leading her to ask Martha for help. Martha getting the soldier's file. Chloe using that file to figure out what, who, and where this man is. Then Clark rushing in to save Lois. The strongest episodes for me tend to be the ones where all the characters are involved in the A plot, with no B plot getting in the way, much as it is here. It's just the connection to Lois in this one that feels a bit clunky.

 

I must say that the final showdown between Clark and Wes is a bit disappointing. And it's starting to really bother me just how many people/phantoms Clark has been willing to kill this season. The phantoms I can kind of understand. But Wes is human. Modified, yes, but a person nonetheless. I feel like Clark should have tried harder to seek another resolution this time around.

 

When Lana dropped the line, "We all have our secrets Clark", I just wanted her to go jump out of a window. I feel like she has used that line so many times now that it just grates me like cheese every time she says it.

 

Lex justifies his actions at one point by saying they are protecting the world. At one time I think he genuinely believed that. Not anymore! Now, it feels like something he has to keep telling himself in order to keep doing what he's doing. It's interesting how the noble ideals we once believed in can become the bedrock for a life of deceit and destruction. It's what makes Lex such a complex and interesting character.

 

9/10

Episode 6.20: Noir

When Jimmy Olsen is knocked unconscious by an unknown assailant, he "wakes up" in a fantasy world, a world shaped by his love of old detective noir thrillers of the 1940's. In this fantasy world he is a reporter trying to get to the bottom of a story that has parallels to real world events that took place before he was assaulted, namely, the shooting of Lana Lang.

The 1940's period detail is incredible in this episode and the black and white cinematography is quite beautiful. Unfortunately, everything during these sequences feels far too drawn out. It really doesn't add much that a simple conversation between Chloe and Jimmy, about the evidence that was found at the crime scene, couldn't have provided. This is a conversation they end up having anyway so take the dream sequences out and it wouldn't really affect the narrative all that much.

One interesting aspect of these sequences though is the exploration of the ways in which the subconcious mind can work things out sometimes in ways that the concious mind has not. It has been said that, "dreams are answers to questions we have not yet learnt to ask". I feel this is conveyed quite nicely through Jimmy in this episode, even if I'm not quite fully engaged with the story that unfolds inside Jimmy's subconcious mind.

The fact that Jimmy instantly recognizes Clark with glasses does highlight the ridiculousness of the very idea that anyone could be fooled by such a disguise.

The real world scenes are more entertaining for me and feel a lot more meaty. Although, unless I missed something, I don't believe the question of who shot Lana, and why, was definitively answered. We are merely presented with a few possible candidates behind it in Lex, Lionel, and a senator working with Lex.

I like that we see Jimmy's passion for old movies reflected in his ability to quote, word for word, scenes from The Big Sleep. It is an endearing quality in a character that, so far, I've not found all that endearing.

This episode tells us that Lionel's reasons for blackmailing Lana were to protect Clark. Lionel has told us this much already, which has always left open the possibility that he is really one of the good guys. But his methodology of protecting Clark by using the woman he loves, as a pawn to get close to Lex, tells us everything we need to know about the man. He is still manipulative. He is still careless with other people's lives. He still has his own agenda and he is still not to be trusted.

7/10

Episode 6.19: Nemesis

Lex and Clark are trapped inside a vast underground tunnel system that's part of one of Lex's schemes. The woman responsible for trapping them believes that Lex knows what happened to her husband, a former military officer who supposedly died in a helicopter crash.

I don't usually like it when Lana "goes to the dark side" as I'm not often convinced that she really means it. The scene where she threatens Lionel in the hospital, however, is an exception. It's a great scene and I buy Lana's threats because she has every reason at this point to truly hate both Luthors.

This is one of those episodes where Lex gets to see Clark appearing to be just as human as anyone, little realizing that it is the meteor rock, which is all around them, that causes Clark to suffer injury. But it's always fun watching Lex's reactions to these moments as he looks at Clark in total disbelief that anything could have made him bleed. Clark is a total contradiction to Lex. He knows he has powers. But then these moments totally screw with his head, which is awesome!

I love all the stuff between Clark and Lex down in the tunnels but, no matter what Lex says or does at this point, there's just no sign of anything that could bring him redemption. He talks of his genuine love for Lana, but he has absolutely no idea what genuine love truly is, as evidenced by everything he's done to her.

I've never been the biggest fan of Clark and Lana getting together but, when Clark and Lex are met by Lana when they first get free from the tunnels, I genuinely wanted her to give Lex the finger and walk away with Clark.

Lana's final words to Lex, "I don't know what I ever did to deserve you", really do feel spoken in sadness and anger at being so unfortunate. It's another great scene, in which she is essentially telling Lex that she knows everything, without telling him that she knows anything. The whole time Lex looks like a man about to break under the weight of all his own guilt. Once again though, it is not lost on me that Lana, who spent so long getting pissy with Clark for keeping secrets, has now become quite adept at telling lies.

At one time I would have said that Clark was partly responsible for the path Lex has chosen. But sooner or later people have to accept responsibility for the choices they make and, at this point, Lex has made all the wrong choices. It is nice though to see Clark address the possibility that he may have given up on Lex too soon. But, as the final scene shows, Lex just isn't to be trusted. He's very good at playing the wounded animal. But, ultimately, he's always got his own agenda.

10/10

 

Episode 6.18: Progeny

Chloe's mum is being held by Lex in one of his level 33.1 offshoots. She has the power to control people with meteor infected abilities. One of those people just so happens to be her own daughter. When Chloe begins waking up with memory gaps and clues that point to her having done some questionable things, she begins to think that it may be the start of her latent meteor powers rearing their head. But with help from Clark, she soon discovers that it was her mother who was responsible, using Chloe to try and get her out of her entrapment.

Great to see original Wonder Woman herself, Linda Carter, show up here as Chloe's mother. She's wonderful in the role and I really enjoy the scenes between her and Mack as well as her and Rosenbaum.

It's also great to have so many scenes between Chloe and Clark. I love it when the two of them work an investigation together. It's like watching a teenage Mulder and Scully with super powers. They always have great chemistry and I love how Clark looks out for her like a true friend.

Lex is a right git in this one. He's well and truly gone over to the darkside now, with the way he treats Chloe's mum, the bare faced lies he dishes out to Lana on a regular basis, and the threats he unleashes upon Chloe. The way he sneaks up on her while she types up her article is just like season 2 Lionel. The son truly has become the father. Rosenbaum is great as always of course.

I find it somewhat mind boggling that one of the meteor freaks being held in Lex's compound has the power to throw guards across halls and yet only tries to escape when being controlled by Chloe's mum. It's also something of an annoyance that Chloe's dad seems to be completely out of the picture in an episode that really should concern him. It's like he doesn't exist anymore.

This is the episode where Lana finally learns that there never was a baby. I love how the doctor goes from thinking she faked the pregnancy, in order to get a billionaire to marry her, to realizing that she was totally clueless about it. It would be an obvious assumption to make but the actor playing the doctor does just enough with subtle mannerisms to show his change from accuser to sympathiser. Good performance there from such a bit part player.

It's really tragic that Chloe gets her mother back only to lose her again. It reminded me of the film 'Awakenings', where there are people with the power and resources to bring people back to being fully compus mentus, but refuse to do so because it's simply not within their best interests. And that film was based on a true story so knowing that makes everything that Chloe goes through here feel much more grounded.

A touching episode overall with just a few minor logic quibbles.

8/10

 

Episode 6.17: Combat

Clark, still reeling from Lana's marriage to Lex, is obsessively hunting down phantom zone escapees as a way of dealing with his anger. In his search, he finds his way to an underground fighting club for meteor freaks, run by a doctor from Belle Reve named Maddox. But the meteor freaks are no match for Maddox's new champion, a zoner by the name of Titan, who might even be too much for Clark to handle. Meanwhile, Lex and Lana's marriage has already grown cold, and the situation isn't improved when Lana supposedly has a "miscarriage".

I get that Clark is feeling emotionally battered after the events of the previous episode but I feel his going off the rails routine is a bit of a rehash of the way he acted just after his father died. It's like we are treading ground previously taken, which makes Clark really seem like someone who doesn't learn from his past mistakes. It's not that I don't think he should get angry, but I guess I just don't like the way he talks to Martha at the start. Their relationship is better than that.

The online footage of the underground krypto-freak fight that Chloe shows to Clark is quite laughable. You have shots and camera moves that could only be made by a camera operator who was in touching distance of the fighters. As a camera operator myself this is something that always bugs me in TV shows when I see it.

Scenes between Lex and Lana at this point are just really uncomfortable to watch. Yet, and I don't know if this is just because of how good Rosenbaum is as an actor, I still can't help but feel bad for Lex. Maybe it's the knowledge that, despite his own manipulations, even Lex is a victim of his own father's underhanded dealings with Lana. If not for Lionel, the truth would be out and Lex would have to deal with that, instead of dealing with the (perfectly justified, admittedly) cold shoulder from Lana. Though, let's be honest, it's somewhat ironic that Lana, who constantly moaned at Clark for "keeping secrets", now has to live a life built upon them.

The moment when Chloe is startled by Clark knocking her drink over when he super speeds his way in was pretty funny.

At first, I was disappointed in Lois when she asks Chloe to give her a story, then dumbfounded when Chloe leaves her laptop behind knowing full well that Lois is interested in what's on it. But, all credit to Lois, she gets onto the story, not by digging through Chloe's computer, but by using her own knowledge to decipher something Chloe had missed from a photo she threw in the trash.

I love how Lois drops the line about being able to do a "killer stars and stripes routine" when trying to get around Ashley. Any true fan of the show will instantly know what that's in reference to. Can't say I'm fond of Ashley's acting chops, or the lack there of, but it's fun seeing Lois beat her ass.

I must say that I do find it somewhat strange that Clark is completely on board with killing Zoners. And his attitude can't just be put down to his current anger issues. After all, he dispensed with the Zoner from Wither in just as rash a fashion. Even though he does come to his senses by the end of the episode I feel this element of the story is slightly mishandled.

I kinda feel sorry for Erica Durance having to wear that red pvc costume. She really does look uncomfortable in it. Pretty amusing to see her reaction to punching the "man of steel" however.

The guy who plays Maddox seems to flipflop between acting well and just plain overacting, but he's dispensed with before I have the chance to really make up my mind which one it is. Which brings us to Kane as Titan. First off, the fight between him and Clark is pretty badass, though the way that Kane falls on his own weapon seems like one of those "physical impossibility" type of deals. Secondly, Kane's acting is abysmal, but thankfully little is asked of him beyond being a physical adversary for Clark. I still wish they'd have swapped the parts around that they had for Kane and Dave Bautista in this season. Bautista would have been a lot better as Titan in my opinion.

The look on Lex's face when he tells Lana about losing the baby is just... evil! All sympathy towards him is gone in this moment. Even at the end where we see him crying one has to wonder who he is shedding tears for. Is it the baby that never was? Was he wishing it was real? Or is it for the pain he's caused Lana? Or is it in fact tears in mourning for the loss of his very own soul?

8/10

 

Episode 6.16: Promise

It is the day of Lex and Lana's wedding. Lana uses Chloe to put Clark to the test so that she can learn his secret. Lex fears that Lana won't show up at the church, prompting Lionel to manipulate her into following through on her promise to Lex, which means breaking Clark's heart in the process. Also, Lex ends up killing Lana's doctor after the man tries to blackmail him with threats of revealing the truth about Lana's pregnancy.

When Clark throws the photo in the pre credits sequence it suddenly dawned on me just how painful this would all be for him. The woman he loves marrying the man he's grown to hate and "having his baby". It's obvious really. But, for whatever reason, it's this moment in which I have felt it most. Maybe because it's the day of the wedding, which means the window of opportunity to turn things around has all but disappeared.

It's very relatable to see Clark dealing with the probability that all the reasons he's had for not telling Lana his secret were really just to hide the fact that he was too chicken to set himself up for rejection. However, I feel that it's way too late in the day to be exploring this aspect of his character, for the simple fact that Clark flipping well knows that Lana loves him. Not to sound like a stuck record but, he proposed once already and she said yes, so to have doubts at this point about how she feels is mind numbingly stupid on his part. This would have been more suitable to explore in season one or two, not season six.

I love the look on Clark's face though when Lana tells him to meet him at 5 because she's "not going to marry Lex". He looks like the cat who got the cream. But I can't help but feel that Lana has acted selfishly in some respects in waiting until now. Would she still be acting this way if she hadn't secretly learned Clark's secret? Don't get me wrong, I'm not feeling sorry for Lex at this point given what he's done, but as far as Lana is concerned, she is unaware of the truth concerning their baby, which means that, right now, she is a woman preparing to run off with another man and betray the father of her child. It's almost a callback to the behaviour we saw from her great aunt in the season 2 episode 'Relic'.

The scene between Lex and Lionel at Luthorcorp, where Lionel promises Lex that Lana will be there at the wedding, is a really great scene. Lex shows a rare moment of emotional vulnerability in front of Lionel and I believe, in this moment, Lionel truly loves his son. It's obvious that he's about to go off and plot something, but it will be a devious act that is intended for the right reasons, not to hurt Clark and Lana but to look out for the wellbeing of his son.

When Lex snaps and kills the doctor who tries to blackmail him, I feel it was a mistake to have it looking accidental in the last moment. There should have been no ambiguity here. Given everything Lex is already guilty of this would have been the perfect moment to have him commit the ultimate tresspass with total intent.

Love the callback to Tempest and Vortex with Lana's dream. It's nice to see that such a pivotal moment still plays through her mind after all this time.

It's pretty funny that we haven't seen Aunt Nell in, like, forever and now she finally pops up to offer Lana some "sage" advice that leads her into acting deviously in order to learn the truth. This scene only serves as a way of trying to absolve Lana of having acted the way she does. But it's unnecessary. There's no reason she couldn't have made this decision on her own. But the writers would rather turn Nell into the irresponsible parental figure than allow Lana to be painted in a negative light. As a result they only make her look worse.

There's a moment where Lionel strikes Lex after finding the doctor's body in the crypt. He suggests that Lana has made him weak and it is Lex's grovelling response that shows us that, in the most twisted of ways, Lex really does love Lana. But when he loves something or someone, his fear of losing them gives way to his need to control everything. It's tragic! He creates the whole phantom pregnancy situation, presumably to make Lana feel like she has to marry him. He does this because he loves her so much that he genuinely wants her to be his wife. But the level of doubt in himself is so great that he cannot trust that he is enough to make Lana want to spend her life with him. And so... control the outcome... phantom pregnancy. Like I said, tragic, on so many levels.

It annoys me that Lana can't at least be honest with Clark at the end. It feels like she is unnecessarily putting herself into the role of martyr when, actually, she should come clean with Clark and give him a headsup about Lionel threatening to kill him. If she believes that Lionel truly has a way to kill Clark, then she is putting him more at risk by keeping him in the dark than what she would if she gave him valuable warning.

8/10

 

 

Episode 6.15: Freak

It's great to see Lana and Chloe just hanging out for Lana's bachelorette party. But, once more, it serves to show just how isolated and cut off Lana is currently feeling as she is about to enter into marriage with a man she cannot trust. It's like she is trying to grasp tight hold of anything in her life that still matters before it is gone for good.

I rolled my eyes when it looked like we were getting yet another episode in which some meteor infected wierdo has a stalker level crush on Lana. But once the "blind" kid comes in, setting up the story of the meteor infected becoming abductees, my interest increased immensely, especially once it is revealed that the abductees in question are being returned afterwards. Within the first five minutes of the episode the story circumvents my expectations of where I think it might be heading. That's always a good thing.

It's very easy to write Lex off at this point as evil. But when he tells the doctor, "I've been victimized by these people just as much as you have", it's easy to understand how Lex might come to the place that he has regarding the meteor infected. I've lost count of the amount of meteor freaks that have made attempts on his life or screwed with him or the people in his life. It stands to reason that a man in his position would channel his resources into learning all he can about them. Of course, it doesn't make his behaviour right, only human.

Only in television shows do people take photographs that give them a smoking gun trail of evidence that leads right to the guilty party. That shot that Chloe took with Tobias in the background pointing at Dan could not feel any more perfectly staged if it was on broadway.

I like that Lana challenges Chloe on not tarring all meteor freaks with the same brush. It does raise the question of how many are out there doing good without anyone knowing. Of course, at this point, Lana must assume that Clark too is a meteor freak so it makes sense that she would come to their defense.

I love the reaction on Clark's face when Tobias reveals that Chloe is meteor infected. He has to be asking himself, "Does she even know? And if she does, what is her power and why hasn't she told him?"

The scene between Lex and the doctor, where the doctor has to tell him that his computer has been "misplaced", is a great scene. Both actors deliver stellar performances here. Adrian Hough is really convincing as a man close to the edge of losing everything, feeling the walls closing in on him, and Rosenbaum is in full-on intimidation power mode.

Speaking of great performances, the scene in which Chloe has to remove the implant from her collar is awesome! Mack looks scared witless as the green dots on her computer screen all start turning red. It's a tense sequence that is brilliantly handled because it shows us death is approaching fast without the need to ever see anyone being killed. It's scarier when you don't know what's coming.

The showdown between Lana, Tobias and doctor Bethany is also nicely handled. As Lana looks at the bullet that went into the cabinet you just know that she's thinking, "Damn Clark, you did it again!" She gives a great reaction to Tobias telling her that Clark is not a meteor freak as well. One more piece of the puzzle towards her finding out the truth. I love that they're doing that with Lana over the course of this season. Just drip feeding her each part of the picture that is Clark Kent.

It's pretty funny how Clark has replaced one billionaire friend who used to get things sorted for him with another billionaire friend who does the same. Oliver Queen makes sure Tobias gets his surgery. If this were an episode from season 1-3 that licence plate would have been a Luthorcorp plate.

We get another nice moment between Clark and Lana at the end. However, I do feel that the issue for Clark shouldn't be a fear of whether or not she would accept him if she knew the truth. He already knows that she would because she already did, during Reckoning, when she accepted his marriage proposal. She just has no memory of it because he went back in time and changed things. The real fear for him should be whether or not his telling her the truth will end up getting her killed, again, as it did in Reckoning. But I'm not sure this scene conveys this latter fear. Instead, it seems to be soothing the former, which makes it feel unnecessary to some degree, like we are treading old ground. Regardless, it's still a nice moment just because of Lana's sentiment.

Lex swears to Lana "on the soul of [his] unborn child" that he didn't have anything to do with what happened. This is a moment that is even more horrifying in retrospect. It's terrible to think that Lex is willing to swear the soul of his child away to protect his lies. But to learn the real reason he is able to say such a thing is equally just as terrible.

I really feel for Chloe at the end when she refers to herself as a ticking time bomb. But I love the tenderness that she is met with from Clark as he comforts her. As the two of these characters grow more accepting of their relationship never being anything more than friends, it's almost as though it allows that friendship itself to become something more beautiful. This is something I can identify with in my own life so I love the way it reflects reality. Sometimes relationships are only strengthened once the promise of any sexual intimacy is removed.

A great episode.

10/10

Episode 6.14: Trespass

Lana is stalked by a man who is very adept at hiding. But when she downplays the incident to Lex in order to protect Clark's secret, Lex goes away on a business trip, leaving Lana to face her stalker with nothing but a crap security detail, Mack and Brady, one of whom may be the man they are looking for.

At this point Lana is really caught between a rock and a hard place. She clearly doesn't trust Lex, otherwise she would tell him about the item she is hiding, which in some ways makes her a bit of a hypocrite, but understandably so. Though the argument for allowing such hipocrisy is certainly diminished once she goes snooping around Chloe's laptop. Regardless, she can't just suddenly cut ties with Lex at this point because she believes him to be the father of her child, so I can definitely sympathize.

In the scene between Chloe and Lana, when Lana shows her the phone, you can tell that Kristen Kreuk is really ill. She's really struggling to hide a croaky voice. It has no bearing on the story or the quality of the episode but it is a reminder of just how hard these actors have to work sometimes to bring the show to life, come rain or shine, sickness or health. I wonder if it's no coincidence that we get some lovely looking wintery establishing shots that we've not seen before throughout this episode.

I like how Clark is doing his chores the "normal way", without using his powers, just in case he's being watched. I imagine this would be something he's had to do a few times over the years when people have come sniffing round, but they've never really acknowledged it.

We get to see Lana's necklace again when she does some more rooting through other people's belongings, in this case Clark's bedroom drawers. I can't even remember the last time we saw this now but it's nice to see the look of surprise on Lana's face as she realizes the clear rock is what was once her green kryptonite keepsake.

It's pretty obvious from the get go that the man stalking Lana is one of the security guards. So once we see one of them get his throat slit it's a dead givaway as to whom the culprit is, especially as he is nowhere to be seen while Lana is busy falling down the stairs. They throw the paparazzi reporter in there as a red herring but it's so overplayed that it's instantly dismissible. It would have been better if we'd have found out later that Esposito had been killed after being taken into custody rather than seeing it happen. Again, it just makes the identity of the real villain blatantly obvious, which sucks out the tension.

I do like the little discussion between Clark and Jimmy over the moral implications of supply and demand when it comes to the business of snapping photos of celebrities.

I also think the final showdown is beautifully shot as Lana faces her pursuer on the snow covered roof of the mansion. There's just something incredibly cinematic about snow. It always makes things look better. The scene does owe more than a debt to The Shining however. When Mack bursts through the door with an axe I was half expecting him to say, "Heeeeere's Johnny!"

Lovely moment between Clark and Lana just after he catches her. I love the way they reveal it too, with the pan from the dead security guard to Clark's feet.

Lex goes to see Clark at the end and it's almost like he can feel that Lana is slipping away from him so he is doing everything he can to dig the knife into Clark for as long as he can. The wedding invite he hands to Clark is such a dick move. Rosenbaum plays it beautifully with the perfect amount of venom.

A very good, Lana-centric episode, let down slightly by some obvious plotting. 

8/10

 

 

Episode 6.13: Crimson

When Lois puts on an aphrodeasiac lipstick, laced with red kryptonite, which is designed to make her fall for the first guy she sees, Clark suddenly becomes the object of her affections. When she kisses him the red K gets into his system and he decides to crash Lex and Lana's engagement party to give everyone a piece of his mind.

While moderately amusing, I can't help but roll my eyes when Lois clamps eyes on Clark after taking the love lipstick. It's too much of a nudge nudge, wink wink to the audience. We get it, they are destined to be together some day! Which is why the love potion angle somewhat cheapens what should be a genuine love between the two of them. It also becomes another excuse to get Erica Durance into some sexy clothing. But the bass guitar, soft core porno music, that accompanies that moment just feels icky. However, seeing Clark distract Lois so that he could run away at superspeed absolutely had me in stitches. It was worth the hokey build up just for that moment.

Chloe's reaction to Lois' mixed cd, that she made for Clark, is priceless. And the artwork that Lois made for the front cover is adorable. But it's definitely enough to put Chloe on the scent of a story.

I remember when I first saw the scene with Lex showing Lana the room he has decorated for the "baby". I thought it humanized Lex and I feared the inevitable loss of the child would be a major turning point in his further journey to the darkside. Watching it now, with hindsight, it becomes perhaps the most evil moment we ever see from him.

I like that Jimmy challenges Chloe on how she is with Clark. It's the first time it has felt like he has some agency, rather than being the silly, pushover lapdog we've seen thus far. The scene between him and the woman who sold the lipstick to Lois is a bit cringey though, as they make her out to be some kind of psychic love guru with a sixth sense about Lois and Clark, which is absolutely preposterous given the fact that she barely saw the two of them together. The inane, wide-eyed grin that Jimmy gives her in response to her comment doesn't really make much sense. I get that he has a vested interest in Lois and Clark getting together, but he doesn't know this woman, so it's more likely he'd be wierded out by her comment rather than going along with her bizarre flights of fancy.

Clark's crashing of Lex and Lana's engagement party is brutal. He insults everybody. And I mean EVERYBODY! Not even Martha gets to walk away unscathed. But Clark wounds them with the truth. He literally just pours it out in an unfiltered way. It's the wrong way of course but he certainly highlights a lot of the things I've been thinking myself over the course of the season. I love all the different reactions that are going on in this scene. It's like an acting masterclass. Martha and Chloe are both hurt but they know full well what's going on with Clark because they've seen it before. The disdain on Lana's face is totally justified. And Lex plays the hurt pride card well enough to be convincing, but Clark is playing into his hands here by victimizing him in front of a room full of party guests, most of whom we've never seen before and never will again. Seriously, who are there people!

Jimmy gets to play hero as he catches the cure, before it falls on the floor, and sprays Lois with it. But then, in typical Smallville fashion, we get Lois having no memory of what happened. If there is one Smallville trope that annoys me more than any other it's the plague of amnesia that seems to strike each character on multiple occasions.

The final confrontation between Clark, Lex and Lana in the barn is frought with tension, as Lana is put on the spot by Clark. Kreuk's performance throughout this scene is top notch. And finally, she bears witness to one of Clark's powers, as Lex stabs him with a metal implement. Martha's timing with the kryptonite is impeccable, making Lex think that he hurt Clark.

I love the compassion that Martha shows to Clark when she acknowledges that he really did mean what he'd said, whilst being on red K, but recognizes that it comes as a result of bottling things up to protect everyone else around him. It's an admirable trait to keep certain feelings to oneself so as not to risk hurting others. But, eventually, something's got to give, which is why it is important to talk about how you feel in a constructive way. This is clearly a lesson that Clark still needs to learn.

It's easy to understand Jimmy's frustration with Chloe when, after everything that happened, she still defends Clark. If I was him, in this instance, I think I would react the same way. Of course, I understand why Chloe comes to Clark's defense, but she has to look at it from Jimmy's perspective. In this instance, I don't think it would have been a betrayal of Clark to tell Jimmy that, "yeah, he royally screwed up!" But her unwillingness to lie (again, an admirable trait) forces her relationship with Jimmy into becoming the collateral damage of keeping Clark's secret, which is ironic as she has to lie to Jimmy all the time in order to keep it.

Lex's final words to Lana are extremely threatening in a passive aggressive sort of way. He's now talking about her, to her face, as though she were his property. Lana, consequently, has the look of a prisoner on her face.

This is a very good and, actually, quite hard hitting episode. It is let down only slightly by the silly opening set up, which made it seem like it would go somewhere else that was less interesting.

9/10 

 

Episode 6.12: Labyrinth

When Clark is attacked by something in the barn he's knocked unconscious. When he wakes he finds himself in the care of Fairview Psychiatric Hospital. The doctor there tells him that the past 5 years of his life have all been a delusion and that he does not have superpowers. Clark needs to figure out if he's dreaming or if someone is playing mind games with him.

The score in this episode is very unsettling. It's mostly just a low hum but it's very effective at keying us in to Clark's disorientation and possible fractured mind. It does start to really  get under the skin after a while though as it runs through almost the entire episode.

Of course, we know right away that Clark is not crazy, so the episode has an uphill battle when it comes to creating tension through doubt. It succeeds instead by presenting us with the question and mystery of what is actually going on. If Clark's not crazy then what is really happening?

I love how they introduce Martian Manhunter here. We saw him previously in shadows so when we first see him here, and he tells Clark why he believes his story ("I too am not from Earth. I'm from Mars"), he understandably comes off like a crazy person.

Tom Welling's performance is pretty great throughout, particularly the scene with the doctor, where he's looking around the room and seeing all the bits and pieces that he has apparently used to shape his "fantasy world". When he accepts that Chloe is really dead and falls to the floor he truly looks like a broken man.

Never one to be upstaged of course, Rosenbaum gets to chew up the scenery in one particular scene where Clark finds out that Lex is in a wheelchair, thanks to Clark causing the accident on the bridge 5 years ago. It must be hard for an actor to suddenly have to revise their character's entire history and convey it convincingly within just one scene. But Rosenbaum pulls it off with ease.

Clark tells Chloe that she means more to him than she'll ever know. This is because in his dream world she was, typically, the only one who believed in him. She also happened to be a crazy person so it's nice of Clark to shield her from that information as he knows what it would do to her. But does this also mean that, on some level, her future mental health is a genuine fear or concern for Clark? Either way, it's good to see his affection towards her, even if it is the kind of affection that is reserved only for those in the "friend zone".

Clark admitting that he still loves Lana is hardly breaking news but I do enjoy their final moment together.

10/10

Episode 6.11: Justice.

Oliver recruits a team of supers to infiltrate Luthor Corp and destroy Lex's 33.1 experiments for good. The team is made up of Bart Allen, Victor Stone and Arthur Currie. But when Bart, codenamed Impulse, is captured by Lex, Clark gets involved to help mount a rescue mission, little realizing that, along with rescuing Bart, Oliver plans on destroying the multi-million dollar installation where he is being held. Clark must make a choice. Is he on team or is he going to sit this one out? Someone else who has a choice to make is Lois. Will she stay with Oliver, despite his constant disappearances, or choose to part ways?

This episode is an absolute blast. For those too young to remember a pre-Arrowverse world, it's pretty easy to underestimate just how special it was to see a live action TV show bringing all of these characters together for the first time. The moment where the team come walking out of the installation as it explodes behind them is definitely what you call the "money shot". So cool!

Lex delivers one of my favourite comebacks in the show's history when Bart says, "I want a lawyer", to which Lex responds, "And I want a ponytail; disappointment abounds!" Classic Lex!

I love the trap that Lex puts Bart into. It feels just like something we would have seen in the Justice League Unlimited animated series. Elaborate and devious.

Chloe gets to be part of the team in her first outing (unnofficially) as Watchtower, though given everything Clark has done over the years to keep his secret, I find it quite shameful that he so willingly gives up Bart's secret to Chloe. He gets a free pass due to the fact that divulging this information leads to Bart's rescue. But at the time that he tells her he is unaware that Bart has been captured. Come on Clark!

The weakest point of the episode for me is just how needy Lois comes across. I get it though. I understand why she would give Oliver an ultimatum at this point. But I feel like she would have been a bit more "in your face" about it. She's never struck me as the kind of person who would be willing to show weakness or vulnerability. I think it's more the fact that they've not given the character much to do so far in this season beyond chasing Oliver and Green Arrow, without having the intelligence to realize they are both the same man. This doesn't feel like the same person we were introduced to in season 4.

The Lois stuff really only takes place in 2 scenes though and I recognize it's necessary to break up her relationship with Oliver. Beyond that the episode is just a cracking action adventure that brings comic book fans something they've waited a lifetime to see.

10/10

 

Episode 6.10: Hydro

I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed this one as my memory of it was not that great. But it really is both tonnes of fun whilst giving us a few really nice dramatic beats. I love the way Clark and Lana's final conversation plays with no music to underscore it at all. The performances and the dialogue alone are enough, which is the mark of a truly great written scene. There's so much angst between them for things that Clark just cannot say that it practically bursts forth from the screen.

Lake is a fun character, or should I say charicature, that paints a foul picture of tabloid journalism. Though I find it totally unbelievable that the Daily Planet would make her stories front page news. The Inquisitor maybe! Tori Spelling is perfect casting really because, just like tabloid journalists, I've never been able to take her seriously.

It took her long enough to catch on but I was happy to see Lois finally closing in on Oliver being the Green Arrow. It was pretty obvious where that plot was heading but, even so, it was nice to see Clark teaming up with Oliver to throw her off the scent. The really amusing part is hearing Lois unwittingly talk about what a great kisser Clark is. Even more amusing is the priceless reaction on Chloe's face at this piece of news.

Chloe is great throughout this whole episode really. This one belongs to her I think. Not only does she get to take the freak of the week down but she also gets to unload on Clark with all of her frustration at being expected to keep his secret all the time but not afford her other friends the same courtesy. It's a great moment for Chloe that's been a long time coming. Mack's performance is wonderful and so is Tom Welling's response, as he looks at her with a deep sense of understanding and compassion, knowing that he has crossed a line.

Even Jimmy ain't half bad in this episode, getting physical with some thugs to help out Lois, then comparing war wounds later with Chloe.

Lex is actually the one with the least to do in this episode, though the moment when he vindictively tells Clark that Lana is pregnant is certainly a memorable one. Even so, it makes a change that Rosenbaum isn't the highlight of the show for once.

9/10

 

Episode 6.9: Subterreanean

There's so many really great aspects to this episode that, in the end, are undone by some seriously lazy writing. When Javier tells Clark to stop the car, after finding out his friend is dead, the one place they just happen to stop right outside is the one place Javier has been trying to get away from. And then he's stupid enough to go running straight back onto the farmer's land.

Clark takes out the farmer but then what?! The next time we see him, Lex has him, but surely Clark would have handed the guy over to the sheriff? Are we to assume that the police handed him over to Lex? Or did Clark just leave him there to be found by Lex's men? It's a very untidy ending. I do love that final shot though, of Lex walking through Level 33.1, with all the imates stretching out their arms to try and grab him.

Another great Lex moment is when Clark goes to the mansion once more to throw a typically wild accusation at him and Lex retorts with, "what is it this time Clark, did I swat a fly with too much force?" That one made me laugh. It's not precisely clear what Lex was guilty of. From what I can gather, he knew of the farmer's abilities and was paying him to work the land, but he was unaware of the migrant workers and the murders that were being committed.

Lana has the realization that Lex's money doesn't just offer comfort but power. I struggle to believe that this is something she has only just considered. If so she is either very naive or very stupid. And while her statement made me roll my eyes I did enjoy the little twist in her thinking that circumvented Lex's expectations. To her, power means helping those who need it, so she has Lex put his resources towards helping all the migrant workers that were on the farm. It's a nice touch that shows us where her heart is at and how she looks at her responsibilities to the world differently than Lex. But Clark fails to see this because he's so blinded by his distrust of his former friend. As a result he disrespects Lana. Her reaction is quite justified.

The freak of the week in this one is a nice idea and I like that the writers are not afraid to tackle the issue of migrant workers. They get to put a human face to those who are considered "lawbreakers", whilst still commenting on the value of doing things properly, according to the law. Unfortunately, the freak in question is really poorly developed. It's not exactly clear how he moves under the ground in the way that he does. I could buy it if he was naked, so that his body was somehow propelling him through the earth, but the scene where he burrows under ground with his shoes and his dungeries on just looks ridiculous!

Last episode I mentioned that, for some reason, I found Jimmy annoying. That hasn't really changed here. I feel like they just make him a little too silly. I think his childlike enthusiasm is meant to be endearing or charming, but I just find it to be a little over the top.

A bit more time and effort spent on ironing out some of the narrative kinks in this one could have made it quite special. As it stands, it's a fairly disappointing episode, that has a few nice flourishes.

5/10

 

Episode 6.8: Static

We get two villains this episode. One is a meteor freak who can travel to different plains of existence through static airwaves. He traps Lex in another realm, holding him hostage in order to make Lana help him uncover the truth about Level 33.1. The other villain is a phantom zone escapee who eats the bones of his victims and he's racking up quite the bodycount. Chloe and Jimmy help Lana with the meteor freak, who is ultimately killed by Lex, while Clark goes after the zoner. However, Clark isn't fairing so well with the bone munching psychopath and is helped by a strange, shadowy figure, with a taste for oreos and the ability to fly.

I rolled my eyes at the beginning when Lex says, "I know you are having difficulty knowing if you can trust me but, I give you my word, you can!" Err, if she doesn't trust you mate, then surely your "word" isn't going to be worth squat! It's precisely the kind of thing that someone who cannot be trusted would say.

I feel like Dave Bautista is wasted in this episode. The fight between him and Clark could have been epic but it ends up being over no sooner than it started. I know Bautista wasn't a huge name outside of the wrestling ring when he made this episode but, even so, why bother getting someone with his level of physicality if you are not going to use it.

That whole plotline with Clark and Bautista's zoner is really just the B-plot. It's primarily there to set up the arrival of John Jonzz, aka Martian Manhunter, which is pretty cool. But it does also give us the memorable brutality of seeing Bautista's character rip a man's spine out. Gnarly!

Clark's final scene with Chloe is highly frustrating. His fobbing her off seems really disrespectful given how loyal she's consistenly proven herself to be and there is really no reason for him not to tell her everything he saw. Her speech to him about how even heroes need help gives him too much credit for wanting to be the lone hero, when really, she should be chewing him out for trying to brush her off.

I find Jimmy rather annoying in this episode and I'm not sure why. I can't tell if it's the performance or the way he is written. He feels a bit too needy and he's not a good fit for Chloe at all. Also, him suddenly becoming a tech wizz at the end and working out how to get Lex back feels like a bit of a stretch for a photographer.

I love the stuff with the static meteor freak, Lex and Level 33.1 though. I like how Lionel makes a play to become a full partner with Lex on it. The way he blocks Chloe out of the computer files is classic Lionel. However, I am reminded that only two episodes ago, Chloe and Lionel shared a thanksgiving dinner at the Kent home. Seeing the way he is with her here only serves to remind me of just how ridiculous that dinner scene was. But I digress.

It's interesting watching these episodes in retrospect, knowing what happens with Lana's "pregnancy". Just take a look at the reaction on Lex's face when he hears the news. First time I saw it he looked like he was surprised and taken off guard. Now when I see it I can almost hear him in his head saying, "great, it worked!" Great acting there from Rosenbaum.

8/10

 

Episode 6.7: Rage

This episode has a lot of great ideas to explore but I'm not sure it covers them in the best possible way. Characters just do things that seem... well... out of character. For example, it's a great idea to explore Oliver's desire to be as indestructible as Clark, given the line of work he's in as Green Arrow. But even with him being on the drugs, he just leaves Lois after ploughing her through a table. There's no way to read that as him being anything but douchey! When Lois does eventually find out that he is Green Arrow she should be pissed!

While I'm on that subject, man alive, how dumb have they made Lois recently? Considering she is the future star reporter for the Daily Planet she is showing absolutely no evidence for why that might ever be the case. Ollie may as well be walking around with a neon sign that reads, "I am Green Arrow", because all obvious clues point to him. But Lois is just embarrassingly oblivious to what is right in front of her.

I really don't know how to feel about Lionel and Martha. On the one hand there was a spark between them, as far back as season 2, when she worked for Luthor senior. On the other, I can never bring myself to believe that she would ever act on that spark, no matter how much she might think he has changed. It's too much of a betrayal of Jonathan's memory even just to have her openly admit there is something between them.

The thanksgiving meal at the end just feels proper wierd. Oliver hates Lex. So most likely he wouldn't be too fond of Lionel either. Lionel once tried to kill Chloe and has on multiple occasions deceived Clark. And yet, here they all sit, laughing together like they're in a Hallmark Christmas special. It's just far too wierd!

The distrust between Lex and Lana increases and they do a great job of showing Lana as someone now realizing that she may have trapped herself in a relationship she can't get out of. The scene where they eat dinner together, separated by the super long table, feels like it is laboring this point by laying it on a bit thick. So much so that I actually laughed when I saw it. But the scene in which Clark tries to get Lana to open up to him is really well played, with Kreuk's body language subtly conveying the walls closing in around Lana, isolating her from the world outside the walls of the Luthor mansion.

I also love the scene where Jimmy tries to snag an interview with Lex. Rosenbaum is truly great here. I love the way he dismisses Jimmy in such a blatant way. Lex is full-on villain these days, having people killed or maybe even doing it himself, as is the case of Doctor... We don't see him kill her but it is certainly implied. Either way he is responsible for her death.

6/10

 

Episode 6.6: Fallout

Clark goes up against a phantom named Baron, who inhabits the body of a streetside basket ball player. He's helped by Raya who also managed to escape the phantom zone. She helps Clark to decide on a new direction with his life and to embrace his destiny. Lana is sneaking out of the mansion after midnight to meet with the scientist who worked for Lex. Meanwhile, Jimmy tries to get dirt on Lex

We see way too much basketball in the opening scene. Just feels like an excuse to make Bow Wow look cool. It's a pretty well directed sequence though. Glen Winter clearly likes to move the camera a lot. But it's effective in making things look more cinematic.

The phantom asks the other basketballer where Kal El is but, when Chloe tells Clark about his arrival, she reveals that the phantom is heading straight for Clark. If he somehow has the power to sense where Clark was then why did he need to ask the dude at the start? And if he cannot sense where Clark is then how the heck would he be able to find out, given that he's looking for a being named Kal El, not Clark Kent? I know we see him in the archives at the Daily Planet, which is how he is able to pinpoint just who and where Clark is, but we are already told from Chloe before this that the direction he is heading in will send him directly towards Smallville. Are we to assume this was mere coincidence, along with the crazy odds of Chloe being the one he asks for directions to archives? It's all a bit sloppy.

Jimmy comes off as a total numbskull when he suggests to Chloe that they might be on their way to a Pulitzer with his dodgy-ass photos of a man in the rain getting out of Lex's limo. He acts hurt when Chloe tells him he's got nothing but, come on dude, any 1st year journalism student could have told you that! This does lead, however, to an excellent scene between Jimmy and Lex. Jimmy tries to ambush Lex with his photos. Then Lex just quietly tears him up and dismisses him. Rosenbaum is great here, giving a subtle, more understated performance that is effectively menacing.

Lana really flatters herself when she says to Lex, "Is it the games you don't like or the fact that someone is playing them on your level?" Sorry Lana, it's going to take a lot more than some midnight handoffs before you reach the same level of deviousness as Lex. It's quite cringey to see her position herself in this way.

I like the insight that Raya is able to give Clark about Jor-El and how she points out that pain is part of life. It's what helps us to grow and makes us stronger. I also like how Clark is starting to accept that maybe going against his kryptonian father's wishes has not been the best course of action and that perhaps Jor-El really does only want what's best for him and humanity. But, because Jor-El is more of a "bigger picture" kind of guy, his instructions have rarely synched up with Clark's much more subjective, and therefore, narrow view of the world he lives in. It's almost like an analogy for how humans need to trust God, who can see all things, rather than lean purely on our own understanding. But that's only if you wish to read such an analogy into it.

I hate that they kill Raya off so soon. They should have at least had her over a few episodes. Better yet, they could have just made the character be Kara instead, introducing Supergirl in this season rather than later in season 7. Smallville has a habit of introducing important characters that are dispensed with far too quickly and, quite frankly, Raya seemed like a dry run for Kara to begin with. The actress who plays her would have been a better choice as well if you ask me.

When Clark visits Bow Wow in the hospital I feel like we should have seen that there were some kind of physical consequences to having been possessed by a phantom. Especially one that went around sucking up radiation. I know it would be a bit of a downer but if having Clark's powers for one night was enough to put a strain on Jonathan's heart, then surely six weeks should take it's toll.

The distrust between Lana and Lex is really settling in by the end. It's such an unhealthy relationship at this point as you can see throughout the entire episode, with every conversation they have, there is very little honesty from either one of them.

At the end Clark says that Raya was the only person who could ever really understand how alone he felt because of how different he is. Woah woah woah, hit the breaks there Clark! I think you're forgetting a girl by the name of Alicia there my friend! Season 4 wasn't that long ago. Blimey!

Fallout is a solid episode that has some good direction from behind the camera. But it could have been improved with a few dialogue changes here and there.

8/10

 

Episode 6.5: Reunion

Lex goes to his high school reunion. But when Oliver shows up with a couple of his old school mates it brings up a lot of animosity between them and Lex. During their time there as children, they were involved in an incident that resulted in the tragic death of a young boy named Duncan. But when Oliver's friends die in bizarre freak accidents and Lana is injured during a strange incident at the mansion, Oliver and Lex begin to suspect each other, until they learn that Duncan is not dead at all. In a vegetative state and undergoing an experimental treatment derived from the meteor rocks, courtesy of Lionel Luthor, Duncun has been using astral projection in order to seek vengeance upon those who destroyed his life. Meanwhile, Chloe  begins to investigate sightings of strange visitors that appeared just after Clark came out of the phantom zone.

I really love 'Reunion', but then, that can be said of most Lex-centric episodes. This is the story of a great tragedy caused by the actions of both Oliver and Lex. The only difference is that Oliver has acknowledged the part he played in that tragedy and seeks to make amends for it. Lex, on the other hand, tries to bury it under blame but struggles to hide the sense of self-loathing he feels for what he did. The scene where Oliver apologizes to Lex at the end, only to have it thrown back in his face, really says it all. It goes without saying that Rosenbaum is top notch throughout.

Also giving a remarkably good performance is the actor they get to play the younger Lex during the flashbacks. There are some subtle mannerisms he has that make me believe this is indeed a younger version of Rosenbaum's Lex. Whether that's a conscious choice by the actor or just damn good casting is anyone's guess but, either way, it works.

As I was watching it this time around I couldn't help but think that I had seen the story that plays out in the flashbacks once before. Then I realized I had. It was basically recycled in the 'best picture' Oscar winner, 'Moonlight', which pretty much steals some major plot beats from this episode. In that film however, it makes the issues about sexuality, where as here we are dealing with issues of class, as Lex's friend Duncan is being bullied by Oliver for coming from a poor home. Lex cannot stand up against such bullying due to his longing to fit in.

I love how we see Oliver working on different kinds of arrows. This is of course a nod to the comics. His line about the boxing glove arrow, which was an actual thing in the pages of the comic books, really made me chuckle. But the EMP arrow is just a really cool idea.

Some great scenes between Lionel and Lex, as always, which highlight both Lionel's desire to protect the future of his son as well as protecting his own public image. The disdain that Lex has for his father is always fun to watch. Lex will always overlook any good that Lionel does, for the sake of calling out his more less than altruistic reasons for doing things, reminding us each time that Lionel simply shouldn't be trusted.

When Lana is hurt Clark rushes to the hospital to see her. He blames Lex but Lex reminds him of how many trips she made to the hospital when she was with Clark. I love that he calls that out. It's good to know that someone at least noticed just how often Lana ended up in the hospital. You'd think some law enforcement agency would have investigated that by now.

Chloe's reaction to seeing Oliver for the first time is also quite priceless, especially when we see the response from Clark.

One of my favourite episodes of the season.

10/10

 

Episode 6.4: Arrow

As much as I love the character of Oliver Queen, and get that he is supposed to be one of the greatest archers in the world, I am totally not buying that he can shoot a bullet out of the air once fired from a gun. That's far too much of a stretch, even for Smallville.

It's fun seeing Lois really getting bitten by the journalism bug. Her obsession with tracking down the Green Arrow, or the Green Arrow "Bandit" as she calls him, mirrors the similar obsession she will later develop for a certain kryptonian. How she reacts to Green Arrow is a great reflection of the ways in which his methods differ to Clark's. He is of the mind that "the ends justify the means", which is something Clark refuses to believe in, so it's telling that Lois wants to capture Green Arrow. It's a completely different reaction she will later have for "The Blur", who she will look at as a hero. This speaks volumes to the level of hope that Clark instills into others.

I like the episode's overall exploration of heroism. Clark and Oliver are essentially fighting for the same thing, only Oliver has committed himself fully to the cause. He's a great character to have in Clark's life because he becomes a catalyst to make Clark think about his true calling and what he has to offer the world. We see this in their final conversation during the closing moments of the episode.

Lana is truly showing signs of having been around Lex too long. They say that when two people stay together they grow more alike. Two become one, that kind of thing! Well Lana is definitely becoming more ruthless and devious. Lex appears, to her at any rate, to be a lot more open with his secrets and I think this makes her become more involved in his plans and more invested in his methods. But it's all a lie on Lex's part. He shows her only what he wants to show her. And the information he allows her to be privvy to in this episode is all part of some test to see if she will betray him. She doesn't. But how much of that is down to her love for him, and how much of it is down to her investment in the alien tech he has access to, remains to be seen.

We learn that Lionel was in on the testing of Lana, which leads to a comment from Lex that suggests Lionel may not be a changed man after all. So there's a lot of different emotional conflicts that are set up in this episode without being resolved. Lois zeroing in on Green Arrow. Clark and Oliver disagreeing on the methods they should use. Lionel possibly being up to something truly devious. And Lex manipulating Lana, who seemingly has no clue. As a result 'Arrow' feels a bit like the middle part of a greater story, in which there are multiple threads left hanging. That certainly doesn't make it any less entertaining. But it does build a lot of intrigue for what is to come.

9/10

 

Episode 6.3: Wither

A phantom zone escapee has designs on turning earth into her new garden of Eden. Can Clark stop this cosmic Poison Ivy before she kills Jimmy Olson? Also, Lex and Lana grow closer, while Lois meets Oliver Queen.

Jimmy really doesn't seem like Chloe's type, when you look at the kind of guys she's gone for in the past, not least of which Clark Kent. He's a bit too wet behind the ears. Their opening scene is mildly amusing but the two of them together just feels slightly off to me. Still, it sets up the main mystery of the episode, leading to the discovery of a body in a tree that looks absolutely brutal and gnarly, with the thick branches penetrating the upper torso. Grim!

The story Lex tells of how he found out about his mother's death is very sad indeed. But it's also very believable in the paparazzi world that we live in. Though I love how, when Lana says, "But they are right about the revolving door of women you've had in your life", Lex answers by telling her that, "I never asked any of them to move in with me". Err, I think you might be forgetting someone by the name of Helen Bryce there Lexie boy. Not to mention Victoria Hardwick and Desiree Atkins.

As first meetings go Lois' introduction to Oliver Queen is a classic. I love how Oliver doesn't bother to knock on the door again to let her know she's in error. He just lets it breathe and trots off, knowing that at some point Lois will have to come and speak to him with her tail tucked between her legs. It seems to be a habit of hers that she can never just be introduced to someone like a normal person.

Another laugh out loud moment for me is when Clark speeds off into the forest, leaving Chloe to walk. Her reaction itself is priceless enough but it's just the way Clark doesn't even think to take her with him. He's not always so bright.

Gloria from park services. All I can say is, if my local park rangers looked like that when I was a kid, I definitely would have taken more of an interest in nature preservation.

I love the scene in Lex's greenhouse. Some great lines from Rosenbaum. The verbal sparring that goes on now between the two men is just as entertaining as the moments of brotherly kinship that once existed between them.

The CGI on Gloria's attacking vines is bloody terrible. It doesn't even look passable for a season one episode. The practical effects of the vines on the body at the hospital are pretty good though. There's some nice production design going on there.

I can't see Oliver with no shirt on now without laughing, just because I know how riduculous it's going to get from here on out, with the number of times he ends up topless throughout the series. There's definitely a drinking game in there somewhere.

Wither features another cringey cameo from a 00's emo band who have to mime to one of their own songs. They've done this a few times on Smallville and I kinda wish they'd stop. Bands always look so uncomfortable when they are not in a real live setting, but instead have to try and manufacture the vibe they would normally have when playing live.

Could Oliver be any more obvious about his alter ego with his choice of fancy dress outfit. This will be one of many clues that will go on to make Lois look somewhat stupid a few episodes from now as she fails to see what's staring her right in the face.

Clark kills Gloria! Suck on that all you Man of Steel haters!

How dumb are the paramedics? They let Chloe in the back of the ambulance alone with Jimmy, despite the fact that moments before this, she was ranting like a crazy lady saying that they needed to defibrilate his ass. Lucky for Jimmy I guess.

There's a real sense of lonliness with Clark at the end that is actually quite sad. While we see the three women in his life, besides Martha, all drawing close to these different men, he just sits there bouncing his ball. He's never seemed so alone.

8/10

 

Episode 6.2: Sneeze

Continuing the tradition of giving Clark one new power each season, here he discovers that his lung capicity allows him to blow doors down or extinguish raging fires. The scene in which Chloe talks him into blowing a steel door off its hinges is a highlight and it's nice to see her being so instrumental in helping him to discover one of his powers, a role usually reserved for Martha and Jonathan.

We get to see some really nice moments of Clark demonstrating his sense of humour here too. The bit where he pretends he's going to sneeze to freak Chloe out is golden. It does feel like too much of a stretch, however, when he clears the sky of rain clouds. There's no excuse to see gloomy days in Smallville ever again from this point on.

I kind of rolled my eyes as Lex apologized to Lana for the danger she ended up getting into. Like, how many times is he going to have to say sorry to her, given the number of times his life style brings them into harm's way. Besides, she had an opportunity to call the police, despite what Lex had said. She didn't have to walk into that situation alone.

I love how proud Lois is of getting her first bi-line in the National Inquisitor. Again, Clark cracking wise with his comment about artistic integrity is really funny, and does highlight his drysense of humour. I do also love Lois' little jibe at Clark, earlier in the episode, when she mocks him for having the sniffles. The banter between them is always great.

The scene in which Lana scolds Clark for not being honest and only wanting to save Lex to protect his self-interests is quite a sting because there is real truth in what she is saying. After all, Lionel had to coax him into getting involved by pointing out that his secret might come out if Lex is tortured by his kidnappers.

Justin Hartley is a great addition as Oliver Queen. While he can't hope to compete with what Stephen Amell would later bring to the role in a physical sense, for the CW's Arrowverse, I always preferred Hartley's performance as the character when it just comes to charisma. I love the little target practice game he plays with the atlas atop the Daily Planet in the closing moments.

9/10

Episode 6.1: Zod

When Zod talks to Lana about the feelings he knows Lex had for her, I couldn't help but laugh when he delivered the line, "They left an unpleasant taste when I consumed his essence". That line is almost as homo-erotic as Arthur Currie's "wet and ready bro" line in Aqua.

Martha and Lois being right outside the fortress needs way more explaining. Did Jor-El bring them there after Fine was destroyed or was Fine on his way there with them as part of some other plan? If it was the latter then that means Fine was killed at the most convenient time possible for them, otherwise they would have been stranded in the middle of lord knows where. It's too convenient for my liking.

We get introduced, sort of, to Jimmy Olson. It's cool that they bring the character in but the timing could not be worse. When Clark tries to speak to Chloe about THAT kiss, it's played as though Clark actually felt something, which means Jimmy has entered the picture just in time to let Clark know how it felt to be Chloe for the past five years. That's assuming of course that Clark does feel anything for her besides friendship. It would be an interesting dynamic shift though.

I loved the super fight between Clark and Zod and introducing the phantoms onto the earth is a nice addition that will allow the writers to sidestep meteor freaks every once in a while.

The moment where Lana is stabbed through the hand is a pretty badass moment. Kreuk's reaction to that is really well played and definitely makes me wince at the pain Lana must be feeling.

Can't say I like the look of Rosenbaum in the long black trenchcoat. It just looks too emo and I've never been a fan of the way the costume department always dress characters in black to signify villainy. It's way too on the nose.

A solid and action packed start to the season.

8/10