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.
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
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
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