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