Home Featured TV Shows All TV Shows Movie Reviews Book Reviews Articles Frequently Asked Questions About Us

Smallville: Ryan

Lex: "Real life is not a comic book."

Superpowers can't save a friend with a brain tumor.

Except for being a tad maudlin, this was a very good episode. I loved that Clark didn't think twice about the consequences; he just broke down doors and dashed to Ryan's rescue. Lex was like a superhero too, jumping on board with lawsuits and restraining orders and expensive medical help. Unfortunately, there was nothing anyone could do to save Ryan. Life is like that sometimes.

As in the previous episode about Ryan ("Stray"), it featured Ryan's and Lex's interest in the comic book character Warrior Angel, a transparent parallel to Superman. There was some Lex foreshadowing when we learned that Warrior Angel's best friend turned on him because he wanted to take over the world. Maybe Clark should be taking some hints from Warrior Angel comics.

In what was probably a sideways salute to sci-fi/fantasy fandom, The X-Files' infamous Cancer Man guest starred as the corrupt mayor of Smallville who was in Lionel's pocket. And Lex managed to get rid of him, too. Lex was quite the hero in this episode, fighting political corruption as well as trying to help Ryan. Although the political thing was probably intended to get back at Lionel.

In other news, Nell decided to get married and move to Metropolis. Unsurprisingly, Lana did not want to go with her, and started researching child emancipation. (Do you even have to do that when you're as old as Lana?) And now Lana is Chloe's new roommate. That's great. They can sit up all night and talk about Clark.

Bits and pieces:

— The actor who played Ryan was a good bit bigger, and his voice had changed. Very good actor, by the way.

— I know Lex created his company earlier, but this is the first time I remember hearing the term "Lexcorp."

— That 425 miles to Hub City was (I think) the longest run we've seen Clark do, so far. He was even out of breath.

— Ryan was a prisoner of the Summerholt Neurological Institute.

— Interesting mindreading tidbit: Ryan knows that Martha likes her job with Lionel. And Ryan knew that Martha had a secret, one we didn't find out in this episode. Is she pregnant?

— Clark took Ryan flying... in a balloon. And we learned that Clark is afraid of flying. :) Has this been mentioned before?

— Lana told Clark that she knew how he was using his telescope all this time. How uncomfortable. I guess that nips Clark's career as a peeping tom in the bud.

— Pete is stressed out with worry that someone will lock Clark away.

Quotes:

Lana: "How would you feel, Clark, if you were uprooted and sent away where you didn't know anyone?"
One of this week's little Superman digs.

Lex: "You see, Ryan, in life, the road to darkness is a journey, not a light switch."
Wow.

Three and a half stars,

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

1 comment:

  1. Every single superhero in the history of time has to learn that s/he can't save everyone all the time. Unfortunately, this also means that s/he has to experience the death of someone close to him/her.

    This is the first episode that brought a tear to my eye. I thought, overall, it was done very well. Full of story, but also full of foreshadowing (Lex, especially) and subtle nods to the genre.

    ReplyDelete

We love comments! We moderate because of spam and trolls, but don't let that stop you! It’s never too late to comment on an old show, but please don’t spoil future episodes for newbies.