Smallville: Action

Clark: "I was supposed to stand for something greater. It was my job to save the world."
Chloe: "He didn't think 'organic farmer' was a close second?"

Lionel is now trying to protect Clark... from Lana. Go back in your mind to season one and try that sentence on for size.

For a moment there, when Clark dove off the building after Lana, I actually thought we were going to see him fly. Instead, he sort of fell slowly, with Lana in his arms. It was very romantic. It also paralleled the opening scene with Clark saving Rachel from the exploding car. Rachel Davenport was essentially playing Lana to Clark's Warrior Angel; Rachel even resembled Lana.

This felt a lot like foreshadowing, although again, it might be wishful thinking on my part. Will Lana have to die for Clark to finally move on, leave the farm, and achieve his destiny? Speaking of which, what premarital goings on are going on at the Kent farm? Clark and Lana are playing house, but we haven't even seen them kissing. In this episode, she made suggestive comments about burning off calories and not wanting to wake him. Come on. Are they sleeping together? I need it spelled out for me.

And what can possibly be going on in Lana's head? Does she actually have an honest-to-goodness evil plan? What she did to Lionel was really out there; that scene where he got out of the trap on his hand made me shudder and look away. (Lionel is definitely the chew-off-his-own-paw type.) He gets seriously injured more than any other character on this show, and that's saying a lot with all of them constantly in and out of Smallville Medical Center. And it's interesting that, again, Lionel is the only one who knows the truth about Lana. He's become an all-knowing, touchstone sort of character. Plus, he has cool hair. I missed Lionel, can you tell?

The Luthors sort of bonded again, and Lex actually rescued Lionel. Their relationship has more ups and downs than an elevator in a skyscraper. Lex was still trying to be good... but in the end, there he was, still lusting after Clark's secret and trying to pump Ben the psycho PA about what he saw. I really loved that the incarcerated, lunatic Ben protected Clark the way he did. It was a great plot point, it made perfect sense, and it wrapped up the episode beautifully.

Bits and pieces:

— Lionel chained to a bed was like Misery. Lionel was the victim in Smallville's version of Saw, too.

— I was somewhat disappointed that they didn't catch Clark rescuing Rachel on camera, as they hinted in the previews. Although it's always hard to write your way out of that one.

— Lois was back. And symmetrically, she was looking for Lionel, who was also back. No Kara or Jimmy, though. But I really didn't miss them.

— Devilicus looked like Darth Maul. Warrior Angel looked like a pudgy Lex.

— Yet another flaming car. I haven't been counting my "hits" this season, but it's good to know some things don't change.

— Rachel's penthouse looked a bit like Green Arrow's. What a coincidence.

— Grant is hot for Lois. Not a surprise.

— Clark has the big red cape now. Can boots and tights be far behind?

Quotes:

Lois: "Orphanages? Hospitals? Nobody goes to bed Satan and wakes up Oprah."

Lex: "In the comic book world, when you're destined to save mankind, you're destined to be alone." But no. There's future Lois, isn't there?

Lana: "I heard what happened. Are you okay?"
Lionel: "It's hardly reassuring to read your own obituary. But you should know that, I suppose."

A solid three out of four stars,

Billie
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Billie Doux had a love-hate relationship with Smallville, which is why some of her reviews are briefer than they should be.

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