SV: 8-22 “Doomsday” Review/Recap

 

I understand precisely why this episode required a red script and increased secrecy. The powers-that-be had to keep it under wraps so unsuspecting viewers would tune in. Thank goodness for the Internet though. As Firebunny observed on TWoP, the east coast was able to warn the west coast of this travesty.

This is one of the worst, if not the worst, Smallville finales/episodes/ideas ever. What a mess. I think Editing pieced together random scenes that added up to 42 minutes and called it a day. On the other hand, there was so much wrong that the producers, writers, director, FX team and the sound/music guy can each have a slice of blame pie. A whole season of build up that fizzles into nothing – and I’m not just talking about the Clark/Doomsday fight. Read on, if you dare...

***

The Previously on SV reminds us of the important events in s8. Unsurprisingly, Lois’ only contribution is telling the RBB that she’s only a phone call away. Oy.


Night time in Metropolis: A figure flies and lands on the Daily Planet roof. It’s Rokk. Clark is waiting to greet him. They shake hands. Rokk is glad Clark agreed to meet him. How did Rokk get a message to Clark to meet him? Rokk hopes he’s not too late. He says that any time they go back in time, they risk changing fate. He hopes that after coming back to change the future, he still has a future to go back to. Clark is confused. He thought the future would be safe if they got rid of Brainiac. Rokk says that everything is safe and Brainiac is gone. But so is Clark. Rokk explains that when Clark saved Chloe’s life, he saved Chloe’s connection to Doomsday. When she stopped Clark from sending Davis to the Phantom Zone and made him invulnerable to green Kryptonite, Clark cannot defeat Doomsday. Oh, come on! A jerk from the future comes back to blame the Legion’s negligence on Chloe?! Hey, Rokk – Chloe didn’t ask to be infected by Brainiac; she didn’t accidentally leave a ring lying around for the Persuader to come back in time and screw up the timeline; she was protecting Clark when she doused Davis with the green K; and she stopped Clark from a) ending up in the PZ with Davis or b) beating himself up forever for his decision to condemn Davis (who was fighting the Beast) to an eternity in Hell. Eh, Rokk is dumb as a rock (tm Sue Denim). Clark says he’d never take back his choice to save Chloe. Rokk hands Clark another Legion ring. He tells Clark to send Doomsday to the future where the Legion will be ready to fight him. Clark replies that the Legion didn’t unleash Doomsday, he did. Oh no. Rokk reiterates that there is nothing on Earth that will stop Doomsday from killing Clark. Clark recalls that his father told him he was sent to save mankind. He wonders if that is his true destiny. What? To get killed fighting Doomsday? Think, Clark. Clark asks how much time he has. Rokk replies ominously that Clark dies tomorrow.

 

Edge city: Chloe and Davis are lying atop their truck looking at the sky. Chloe says she can’t see a toga-clad woman in the stars. Davis tells Chloe the story of Persephone: Persephone was taken by Hades to the Underworld and Demeter, her mother, enlisted the gods help to find her daughter. When Hades offered Persephone her freedom, to everyone’s surprise Persephone chose to live underground with the Dark Prince. Davis is amazed that they are going to pull this off. Chloe says as long as they can keep the gods from hunting them.

At Luthor mansion, Tess walks down a hallway with a lackey behind her. She asks if they have a lock on their location. The lackey says that they’ve traced the radiation off Bloome after he attacked Neutron but they have another problem. They arrive at a door being guarded by two security men. Tess walks in to find the safe blown out. The metal case holding the orb is destroyed. Tess realizes that the orb has been stolen. Lackey says that no one could have broken in. Tess yells that the system was down. Lackey clarifies that it was only for a few seconds and security believes the door was blown off from the inside. Tess replies that Lackey has no idea how many lives are at stake. She orders him to find the orb.

 

At the DP, Clark looks thoughtfully at the Legion ring. Note that he is able to handle the ring without activating time travel. He puts it in a fancy box and puts the box in his desk drawer. Er, Clark? Should that be in the tool box in the barn? Or maybe the trap door compartment in the barn? Or the Fortress of Solitude? Why is Clark so dumb?! Sexy but dumb. Clark resumes typing. The RBB’s goodbye letter to Metropolis is on his screen. Lois walks in. She brusquely asks what Clark is doing to find Chloe. Clark replies that no one wants to find Chloe more than he does. "Except maybe me" says Lois, annoyed. She adds that she hasn’t slept in days and is seriously near a caffeine OD (I wish!). Clark replies that he hadn’t noticed and continues to stare at the screen. Lois, of course, doesn’t notice or doesn't care that Clark is upset. Lois asks what Clark is working on and if he wants to share. When she goes to look at his screen, he closes the document. "No", he replies calmly. This upsets Lois further. She actually has the gall to be upset after she shamelessly stole his story in "Plastique"?! She goes for more coffee. The phone on her desk rings. She turns around - Clark is no longer at his desk - and answers the phone.

It’s the RBB. He says that he’s searching for Chloe. He will find her. Lois asks how he knows she’s missing. Clark replies that he’s been keeping an eye on her. Lois babbles on like a tween. She concludes that she doesn’t know how she’ll repay him after this. Clark asks for a favor. He wants her to publish a letter for him. He whooshes over and puts the letter on Lois’ screen. Lois starts to open it but Clark tells her not to. He asks if he can count on Lois to publish the letter if anything happens to him. Lois asks what RBB means by that. Clark replies that sometimes they can’t outrun their destiny. Clark could. He’s got the Legion ring – if he’d just use it, the idiot. Lois replies that she thought he was invincible. Clark replies that he thought so too. Lois wants to meet him. She has to see his face. She wants to see what he can’t show anyone else (well, except for Chloe, Lana, Oliver, Bart, Tess, ... but who’s counting?). Clark replies it’s not a good idea. Lois says that he’ll get through this; he has to. She tells him that there is a phone booth on Fourth and Main. And suggests they meet at midnight. Huh? Isn’t he supposed to be looking for your cousin, Lois? Get a grip! Geez, Lois’ "storyline" is all over the place. First, she can’t deal with superhero life because of her daddy issues. Then she’s reconsidering/mourning her breakup with Oliver ("Toxic"). Then she’s panting after Clark and his suit. Now she’s panting after the RBB and she’s never met him! He could be a 15-year-old kid or a 35-year-old married man with 4 kids. Heck, "he" could be a she! If Lois was going to go gaga on a superhero, why not Green Arrow? At least she knows he’s Oliver Queen, a gorgeous single male billionaire, and knows that he’s a good man (until recently anyway). Not to mention she can paw his expensive suits to her heart’s content. Instead she looks fickle and superficial. It’s truly amazing what passes for "iconic" these days.

 

Kent farm: Clark waits in his loft. Dinah shows up. Clark starts to ask about Bart but Bart whooshes in. Clark asks if Bart has the schematics. Bart whooshes off to lay the schematics on a table. They are the schematics of the LuthorCorp/Queen Industries geothermal facility. Bart asks about the black hole. Clark explains that Rokk said nothing on Earth could destroy the Beast, so the plan is to bury him. The geothermal facility created one mile of tunnel beneath the Earth’s crust. Clark asks if he can manage to get the Beast there, can Bart and Dinah access the detonators in the shaft. Dinah asks if they are really going to bury the Beast alive. Clark replies that there is still a side of Davis worth saving. He hands Bart the box containing the Black K. Bart nonchalantly takes it out; Clark backs away. He tells Bart that it will split the Kryptonian from the human side of Davis. Say what? According to Faora Davis is made up of genetic matter containing their planet’s most powerful life forms ("Bloodline"). There is no human component – just more Kryptonian. I wish the writers would remember their own canon. Oliver shows up. He asks what if the plan fails. Good question for a douche. What if Clark unleashes a monster without a conscience? Clark insists that it’s the only option. Oliver asks about the option of getting rid of the Beast before he "beasts out". Oliver says that Clark won’t admit that there is a darker side to humanity. Clark says that he’s looking at it right now. Touché, Clark. Oliver replies that not everyone is worth saving. They need to take care of Davis. Clark asks if Oliver is talking murder. Bart interjects that there’s some serious tension going on. Dinah asks Oliver what Clark is talking about. Oliver shakes his head. Clark says that Oliver crossed the line. He killed Lex. Clark tells Oliver that he’s not one of them anymore. Oliver turns around Lex-like and walks out.

Daily Planet: Jimmy sneaks into Tess’ office. "I’m in" he tells Oliver over his headset. Oliver asks if Jimmy has the decryption key. Duh. Shouldn’t Oliver have asked before the mission started? Davis tells Jimmy to call when he has Chloe’s location. Jimmy sits at Tess’ desk. There’s a crunch and a yell. Lois comes out from under the desk complaining that Jimmy stepped on her hand. Aww, she misses Grant. Jimmy tells her not to leave her hand on the floor under a desk in a room she’s not supposed to be in. Jimmy asks what Lois is doing. Lois replies that she’s looking for Chloe and Davis. She adds that it’s telling that Tess’ head of security is staked out at Chloe’s apartment. She couldn’t get access to Tess computer because it was encrypted. Jimmy takes out the key and plugs it into the computer. Jimmy figures out that Chloe and Davis are in Edge City. He orders Lois not to take her eyes of them and to let him know if they move. Lois clicks on an open application. It’s a video of a beat up Regan. He tells Tess that Lex tried to break down the orb’s technology. Tess explains to Lois says that the orb is not of this Earth and it’s calling to her. There is life inside it that won’t be released till the Traveler kills the Beast. According to "Arctic", the orb is meant to control the Traveler. Now it contains life that’ll be freed once Clark kills Doomsday? Huh? Regan replies that what they are unleashing could be the end of the world. You mean more than Doomsday? Lois attempts to look concerned.

 

At the DP, Clark receives a voice message from Black Canary telling them they found Davis and Chloe. Clark’s super-hearing kicks in and he hears Chloe say "Wait. No! Don’t!" He zips off changing into his RBB clothes. He walks around a destroyed car. Dinah and Bart are waiting for him. Dinah apologizes and says they couldn’t risk losing him. Green Arrow shoots a Kryptonite laced arrow in Clark’s back. The three traitors stand over Clark. GA says that the arrow won’t kill him – it’ll just get his ego out of the way so they can do what needs to be done. Is GA an expert on the dosage of green K that will/won’t kill Clark? Whatever.

At the DP, Lois exits the elevator. Tess is waiting for her. She snarks that she misses Lois’ maid costume. Lois snarks back to her boss that she’s stopped cleaning up after Tess. Huh? Was Lois moonlighting as a maid in Offscreensville? Even after her raise ("Bloodline")? Tess says that she expected reconnaissance from her reports but the bar has always been lower for Lois. You have no idea, Tess. You missed her tryst with Grant. Lois replies that family loyalty may mean nothing to Tess; if Tess needs to fire her then "pull the trigger". Oh, please, Tess, pull the trigger. It’s been begging to be pulled for a long time now. Tess says she plans to but she wants to know what Lois did with the orb. First, why would Tess think Lois knows about the orb? Second, the vault was blown from the inside. When Lois asks what orb, Tess explains that it’s the alien technology from her vault. If Lois has the orb, why would Tess feel the need to explain what it is? This scene makes absolutely no sense. Lois turns away and Tess kicks her. Lois deduces that Tess wants to take over the world with an alien nation. Shut up, Lois. They fight until Lois somehow manages to get her hand on the Legion ring box and hits Tess with it. The ring falls on the floor. Lois picks it up. *poof* Lois is gone. Was the ring preprogrammed (but nothing happened to Clark when he held it)? Did Lois, in the middle of a fight, wish she could time travel? Regardless, yay Lois is gone! Hopefully the Legion shoots first and asks questions later.

At the geothermal plant, Chloe wakes up to see Davis out on the floor tied with plastic tie wraps (?). With billions of dollars at his disposal and the knowledge that the Beast can kill Clark, Oliver supplies the team with twist ties?! GA, Impulse, and BC stand over Davis. Chloe asks what’s going on. Bart apologizes for sneaking up on her super-fast and tranquilizing her. Chloe asks where Clark is. She looks down at Davis. She realizes that Oliver found a way to kill Davis and Clark wouldn’t go along with it. BC replies that Clark wanted to play devil’s advocate with the actual devil and split the Kryptonian from the human. Chloe remembers the effects of black Kryptonite. Oliver says there was a glitch in Clark’s plan – the whole beast part. Bart adds that Clark couldn’t control Davis’ alter ego. Chloe replies that she can control it. As long as she’s with him, he doesn’t change. She asks that they not do this. Davis says that they have to; it’s not working anymore. Huh? He says this after their conversation on the truck? Chloe tells him to focus on her. Davis says it’s too late as his eyes go red. Oliver grabs Chloe while Bart and Dinah hold onto Davis. Davis breaks the twist ties (eh) and sends both flying. Oliver grabs an arrow – an arrow? really? Is that the best he can do? – he is about to release it when Chloe grabs the black K and shoves it at Davis. Bright light emanates as the Beast and Davis split. Davis looks terrified as he comes face-to-face with the Beast.

 

Jimmy pulls up to where Tess’ map showed Chloe and Davis were. He walks past the destroyed car and spots Clark on the ground. Clark weakly tells him to remove the dart. Jimmy removes the dart as Clark cries out in pain. The dart stops glowing. Jimmy is amused. He moves the dart toward Clark and it starts glowing again. Clark grunts in pain and Jimmy pulls the dart away; staring at Clark in confusion. The cut on Clark face disappears. Clark gets up. Jimmy amazed says that the cut is gone. Clark starts to say something but Jimmy cuts him off. Jimmy says he’s not buying it. Clark is here one second then he isn’t; he took a bullet but was fine the next day; Jimmy struggles to come up with a name for Clark. Super... guy is what he settles on. Clark looks like he’s about to lie then thinks better of it. He admits that he’s the RBB. Jimmy was right about him (Clark) and about Davis. Clark says that Jimmy was the only one to put it all together. Clark apologizes for lying. Jimmy looks elated. Clark asks if Jimmy still has the "wedding gift". Jimmy admits that he couldn’t bring himself to get rid of it. Clark tells Jimmy to give Chloe the gift now and, no matter what happens to him, Jimmy should make sure Chloe and Davis are safe. "Do you trust me?" asks Clark. "Always, CK" replies Jimmy. Clark whooshes off. "That is so cool" says Jimmy in awe.

Clark whooshes into the geothermal plant. He checks on an unconscious Dinah; ignores Oliver and heads for Chloe. Chloe is just gaining consciousness. Clark asks what happened. Chloe replies what Clark wanted – she split the Beast from Davis. Clark asks where Doomsday went. When no one answers, he uses his super-hearing to find him. Clark tells Oliver, Bart, and Dinah that he can get the Beast back but he needs them to detonate the explosive. If Clark gets the Beast in the tunnel, they’ll do the rest replies Oliver. Clark asks if he can trust him (Oliver). Oliver says yes. Huh? Oliver shot Clark with green K; Clark trusts him and that’s the end of their disagreement? They weren’t disagreeing on which restaurant to go to. Bah – another storyline that went nowhere.

Downtown Metropolis: People are screaming as Clark stops in front of a phone booth. He briefly remembers his meeting with Lois. As he turns around, as car comes flying toward him. He catches it effortlessly. Doomsday throws a woman through a pane of glass while holding a little girl. Clark zips off and takes the girl from the Beast depositing her on garbage bags and takes the time to reassure her. Doomsday comes up behind him and punches him repeatedly as the little girl cries. One final punch sends Clark flying; blood gushing from his mouth. Clark crashes through several buildings and looks around dazed. Doomsday lands in front of him. Clark grabs Doomsday around the middle and shoots up in the sky. An explosion occurs where they land. Toby summed it up nicely: "It was so bad and cheesy and the fight looked like Power Rangers".

In another part of town, Jimmy puts Davis’ unconscious body down on the floor. Chloe thanks him and asks where they are. Jimmy replies that it’s his wedding present to her. Huh? Jimmy was begging Oliver for $600; stole money from Chloe; yet he somehow owns a huge loft with stain-glass windows?! Meanwhile, he was living with Chloe and Lois above the Talon – but he owned this? Just how much does a DP photographer/bartender/junkie make anyway? Better yet, why in heck didn’t Jimmy sell this when he was desperate for his next fix? And, come to think of it, how did he clean up so fast? Another interesting plotline that happened in Offscreensville. Jimmy says he would have given it to her after the reception. It needs work but so did they. Chloe looks touched. She walks up to a window and notes that she can see all of Metropolis. Jimmy says that the loft can be seen from anywhere in the city. She could see him watch over her. Huh? Chloe says that Jimmy always seems to come through; always doing the right thing; saying the right words. Huh? What is she talking about? What are the writers thinking?! This is the insecure, womanizing junkie who quit his job at the DP, stole from her, and left her nasty messages. Jimmy says that he knows about Clark. He sees what Chloe sacrificed for Clark; for everyone. Aww. That’s sweet (and true!) but so out-of-nowhere. Chloe says that she was with Davis to protect Clark. Huh? What about trying to save the man (Davis) from the Beast, Chloe? Seeing the last bit of good in someone and trying to save them? What the heck, writers, you incompetent hacks!! Jimmy says that Chloe is as much of a hero as Clark’s ever been with what she’s gone through and what she’s risked. Eh. She’s been more of a hero what with Clark’s obsessive langst; his pity parties; and waiting until the shit hit the fan. Chloe replies that she’s lost so much. All she misses is Jimmy. Hahahahha! She hasn't thought of him since "Stiletto". Jimmy says that she’s found him again. They kiss. There’s a strange metal slicing noise. A pipe sticks out of Jimmy’s chest. He falls to the ground as Davis removes the bloody pipe.

Davis, devastated, asks Chloe if this whole time it was about Clark. He walks toward Chloe as she backs away. He says that Chloe is the only one who ever loved him. Chloe replies that she thought she did but she just wanted to save him. Davis yells that there is nothing left to save. He walks menacingly toward Chloe holding the pipe. Jimmy comes up behind him and pushes him. Davis falls and is skewered on a large fork-like thing. Jimmy falls to the ground. Chloe holds him. Jimmy apologizes and tells Chloe he loves her. He dies. Wow. Just wow. The writers retconned the whole Davis arc; the whole junkie, jealous, desperate Jimmy arc; the only interesting arcs of s8. What a wasted season...

Henry James Olsen's Funeral: Chloe stands with Dinah and Bart. Oliver stands far away on the other side. A single tear goes down his face. Oh brother. How clichéd. Jimmy’s father puts a hand on the coffin. A little boy offers him comfort. The boy and his father walk away. The boy stops and looks back. Chloe notices and walks over. "You must be Jimmy’s little brother" she says. She puts Jimmy’s camera around the boy’s neck and says that Jimmy would have wanted him to have it. "Maybe one day you’ll follow in his footsteps" she adds. So, let me get this straight. Jimmy Olsen wasn’t the iconic Jimmy Olsen – his brother Jimmy is?! I’m reminded of: "Hi, I'm Larry, this is my brother Darryl, and this is my other brother Darryl." At least that was funny. This? Pathetic with no build up. Fail, writers. Chloe is all kinds of awesome though. After the year from hell, she takes the time to console Jimmy’s younger brother.

Clark watches the funeral from afar. Oh no. He’s moping again. I don’t know if I can take another Clark Kent pity party. He watches as everyone leaves. Years from now, young Jimmy Olsen will become Superman's pal because Clark Kent feels guilty that Jimmy's older brother, Jimmy, was killed. Iconic!

 

Clark walks into the "wedding gift" apartment. He stares at the blood stain on the floor. Chloe looks over the balcony and sees Clark. "You’re alive!" she exclaims and runs down the stairs into his arms. Clark makes no move toward her. They hug. Chloe asks how he survived the geothermal explosion. Clark replies that he doesn’t know. He got out but couldn’t save anyone else. He adds that he searched everywhere but there is no trace of Lois. Chloe replies that she saw someone put up a missing person poster with her picture and hopes she... hasn’t lost everyone, finishes Clark. Chloe asks why Clark wasn’t at the funeral – she needed him. Clark replies that he is the reason Jimmy is dead. He put humanity on a pedestal (no, the pedestal is reserved for Lana). Oliver was right. Huh? Clark should have killed Davis with no regard for the man who was struggling to be good?! Clark looks around the apartment and urges Chloe to get rid of it. Chloe replies that Jimmy knew her so well; the place is perfect for the Watchtower. Chloe says that Oliver, Bart and Dinah disappeared. She suggests that it’s up to her and Clark to bring them home. Clark is too mired in self-loathing and self-pity to listen. He replies that he doesn’t have a home. He was raised to believe that his Kryptonian part that was dangerous but he was wrong. It’s his human side; the side that gets attached; the side that makes emotional decisions that is his enemy. Davis proved that to him. Eh, Clark’s already had this particular crisis of faith – in "Fade" when he saved Graham only to find out he was a hired assassin. He figured out back then that, like firemen and policemen, he can’t choose who he saves. Where is Martha to kick his ass?!

 

Chloe replies that Clark can’t cut everyone out of his life because of "some psychopath". Bah. Way to retcon Davis’ entire struggle with the Beast (played brilliantly by Witwer) - his life as a paramedic; his desire to die to escape his destiny is reduced to "some psychopath". What a travesty. Chloe says that human emotion is what made Clark the hero he is. Clark insists that it’s what stopped him from becoming the hero he could be. "Clark Kent is dead", he says, "Goodbye, Chloe". He walks out. Shut up, Clark. You are not my hero.

Summary: This episode was crap. An epic fail. "Failsday" (tm RepairmanBob) indeed.

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SV: 8-21 “Injustice” Review/Recap

 

I adore episodes directed by Tom Welling. They are always visually appealing. The scenery, the characters, their movements, and their reactions are perfect. I like when the characters move around while interacting. It’s interesting to see their body language. While there were some close-ups, they didn’t detract from the scenes.

If Chloe and Clark isn’t endgame, TW’s choice in direction in the fireside scene is very odd. It looked so intimate and romantic. Clark was hanging on every word.

Chloe was wildly out-of-character. I guess Clark initially attributed that to her ordeal. I’m glad Clark finally figured it out. AM played Chloe just a little off. She should, however, have played Chloe a little more like Eva at the warehouse because Eva had no reason to keep up pretenses with Plastique and Parasite. I’m confused - Livewire states that they don’t know who the Traveler is, yet Eva tells Clark that he must kill Davis. So is Eva the only meteor freak to know that Clark is the Traveler or is that another plot hole?

Clark was pro-active and very protective of Chloe. I like that Clark. Can we keep him? He’s formulated a plan to both save Davis and get rid of Doomsday. Very heroic, although, according to Faora and Brainiac, Doomsday was created in a lab and Davis is just the camouflage for Doomsday. Can they be split? And, like Lex’s dilemma in "Onyx", if one is killed, does the other die as well? And I wonder whether if Davis, as a Kryptonian, will have Clark’s powers too.

Oliver has completely lost his way. If he’s not Lex Luthor, I don’t see how he can be redeemed. He thinks nothing of killing and believes, like Lex and the Injustice League, that the ends justify the means.

Tess is completely insane. She’s bought into the prophesy hook, line and sinker and is actively orchestrating the confrontation between Clark and Doomsday. I’m glad Clark has dropped the “farmboy” pretense around her.

***

Daily Planet: Tess comes into of her office. She’s talking on her cellphone. She tells the person on the other end that they can’t risk the casualties. The person should wait for the team to move in. She hangs up and throws her cell on her desk. She turns around to find Clark holding a folded newspaper, dressed in a black overcoat, black pants, light blue shirt and striped tie. She snarks that Clark is taking her open door policy liberally. Clark replies sarcastically that after she called him an alien Jesus in his barn they’d dropped the formalities. Hehehe. Tess is not sure that Clark’s sarcasm is adding to his farmboy charm. Oh, it is. Clark hands Tess the newspaper and asks if spreading panic is responsible journalism. Clark thinks it’s reckless to make Davis Bloome front page news. Maybe you could ask Emil that question too, Clark. Tess replies, not too subtly, that reckless is not doing everything in his power to stop him. She tells Clark that it’s okay that he doesn’t want to admit his true identity, but Davis is not a man – he’s a beast. Clark counters that if Davis is this beast, encouraging the police to go after him is dangerous; people will die. Tess calmly replies that when it happens, Clark will know where to find him so he can slay the proverbial dragon. Clark counters that this is not some fairytale. He is not Tess’ white knight. She is risking lives; including Chloe’s. Tess refers to Chloe as an accomplice. Clark insists that she is his hostage and she’s in the most danger. Tess asks why Clark is fighting her help. She wonders if it’s because Clark is scared of finding Davis because he can’t face what he’s destined to do when that moment comes. Tess says that she’s making sure Clark embraces the inevitable. If it’s "inevitable" why does Tess have to do anything?

Clark’s super-hearing kicks in. He hears Chloe calling for him. The effect is similar to when his hearing kicked in in "Bizarro" when Chloe was in the morgue. It’s so cool that Chloe’s voice triggers his super-hearing. Clark zips off, not bothering to hide his quick exit from Tess.

Outside, it’s raining and dark. Chloe is running in a forest. She looks behind her as if something is following her. She is wearing a trench coat. She trips and falls; gets up again and resumes running. Her face is covered in blood; her hair is matted to her head. She stops in the middle of a street and stares at a semi barreling toward her. She yells for Clark. There’s a blur; the semi zooms by harmlessly. Clark is holding Chloe who is kicking hysterically. He puts her down and she tries to run again but he’s holding her arm. He keeps repeating "It’s me". Chloe thrashes around until Clark tells her "It’s Clark" then she hugs him. Clark looks worried. I love this sequence. Chloe’s panic and Clark’s concern and determination are tangible.

Further away, four people – two men and two women - dressed in black leather look on. One of them, Bette from "Plastique", notes that Clark has found her. It’s time for them to make their move.

 

At the Kent house, Clark pours boiling water in a cup. He tells Chloe that she should be at the hospital. He brings the cup to her. Chloe is sitting with a blanket over her staring at the fire in the fireplace. Clark says he understands if she doesn’t want to talk. When he puts the cup beside her, she startles. Clark looks concerned and starts to walk away. Chloe tells him that Davis never left her alone. They found a motel outside Metropolis and Davis wouldn’t let her leave. She was scared. Clark comes back and sits beside her. She says that they hid in the dark until Davis decided it was time to leave. They stopped at a gas station and Chloe found an opening and ran. Clark assures her that she’s safe now. Chloe puts her hands on his and leans in. Clark leans in too. She replies that Davis is still out there and anything that was good in him is gone. No one is safe till Clark destroys the beast. If the situation weren’t so grave, I’d have thought they were about to kiss. That’s one heck of a 180 from last week when Chloe was trying to save Davis, keep Clark from being killed, and stop the destruction of the world. I guess Clark is chalking it up to stress?

At Halstrom’s garage service, three of the meteor freaks that were watching Clark and Chloe look down at their fallen comrade. Plastique and Parasite stand away from Livewire who is crouched beside Neutron’s bloody body, crying. Plastique (Bette) can’t believe that they lost track of "that thing". Parasite brags that if he had their powers he would have had the job done. He adds that their two teammates screwed-up. Tess walks in. She chastises Parasite for pointing fingers. They are to work as a team. If one of them fails, they all fail. Tess asks what’s going on. Plastique says that Livewire and Neutron found the monster and by the time she and Parasite showed up, things had gotten messy. Neutron tried to zap the monster. Tess reminds Livewire that their mission was to find the monster. Livewire very angrily asks Tess if that’s all she can think about. She yells that Neutron’s dead. Parasite tells her to back off. Plastique tells Livewire that Tess was trying to keep them safe. They didn’t wait for backup. Livewire angrily explains that "that thing" caught them tailing them and attacked. They didn’t stand a chance. She adds that she won’t be the "opening act" to the Traveler when Tess won’t tell them who he is. Livewire wants out. Plastique asks if Livewire wants to go back to stealing cars and running from the cops. Tess, she adds, turned their lives around, gave them a place to belong and a chance to do good for the world. Tess unemotionally says that they suffered a loss but they learned that they are only strong when they are together. If they find the beast, they’ll save many lives. Livewire can’t walk away from that. Livewire is not swayed. She is ready to walk. Tess looks at Parasite. He zaps Livewire’s powers away. Tess tells Plastique and Parasite that it’s up to them now. Livewire asks what Tess will do with her now.

 

At Isis, Oliver informs Clark that Cyborg, Impulse, and Canary haven’t found Davis yet. Oliver asks how Chloe is. Clark says that he can’t believe that he put her through something like this after Brainiac. You didn’t put her through anything, Clark. It is nice, however, that you acknowledge that she’s been through hell. Oliver thinks that without Beauty to sooth the Beast they don’t have much time. Clark thinks that Davis may not be as invincible as they thought. Something might work but he can’t do it alone. Oliver says he’s in. Clark replies that they need Lex Luthor’s help. Oliver walks over to the bar. He picks up a water bottle and drinks. I swear, Oliver is acting like Lex! The Loliver Theory* lives! He reminds Clark that Lex is in no shape to help. Clark says that when Lex was murdered he left his Kryptonian research to Tess. She keeps meteor rocks, artifacts, and crystals in a safe. Clark thinks that black Kryptonite may work on Davis. Uh oh. Clark asks Oliver to steal it. Oliver deduces the obvious – if there is meteor rock, it can kill Clark. Oliver says he’ll do it. Clark thanks him; he knew he could count on Oliver. Oliver says it’ll never change. Uh oh. Every time a character makes a sweeping statement, *cough*Jimmyisperfect*cough*, something bad happens *cough*Loliver*cough*. Oliver adds that he understands this is difficult. They are the good guys but sometimes they have to get their hands dirty. "We need to kill Davis Bloome" says a determined Clark. Dun dun dun!!!

 

Clark walks into the brightly lit barn. He walks to a small area rug and lifts it to expose a trap door. Inside is a wooden box containing a crystal (what else?). Chloe asks what Clark is doing with the crystal. Clark tells Chloe not to worry about it. She’s been through enough. Chloe reminds Clark that she survived a gothic romance with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, she can handle anything. A "gothic romance"?! Eww! Clark says that he’s going to save Davis. Chloe is upset. She asks when Clark was going to let her in on this plan. Clark replies when he had completed it. Chloe reminds Clark that Oliver is going after "Kryptonian hemlock". Clark calmly says that he lied. He says that in order to do the right thing lately, there has to be secreths and lieths attached. I shudder because it reminds me of Lana. Clark lied to Oliver because he wasn’t sure Oliver would help if he told him the truth. Chloe demands the truth. Clark explains that his parents used black K to split off his Kryptonian side; he intends to separate Davis from Doomsday and use the crystal to send Doomsday to the Phantom Zone. He puts the box with the crystal back in its hiding place. Chloe wants Clark to bend the rules. Clark says that when he took Davis to the Fortress, Chloe stopped Clark from sending Davis away. She knew Davis was worth saving. Chloe says she was wrong. Clark says that she wasn’t wrong. Chloe asks what will happen if the plan fails. Clark assures her that it won’t. Uh oh. Famous last lines. Sometimes justice is not about making the easy decision, says Clark. Sometimes it’s finding the last bit of good in someone and saving them from themselves. He adds that Chloe taught him that. Well, Chloe and his parents. Clark’s cellphone rings. It’s Dr. Emil. Doomsday has struck again.

 

At Halstrom’s garage service, Emil is extracting evidence from a cracked brick wall. He says that John Jones gave him the heads up when Granville police called. John is stalling the local authorities but they have to move quickly. Looking at what Emil extracted, Clark says that the bones were embedded six inches into concrete – Doomsday did make an appearance. Emil reveals that the dead man and woman were meteor infected and it appears they were hunting Davis. Clark realizes that since Tess made Davis public enemy #1, they have supercharged bounty hunters on the case. Chloe says that they died doing what they believed was right. Emil says that the victims died from two very different causes. Emil shines an infrared light on Livewire’s neck to reveal a mark. Chloe looks stunned. Clark wonders if the beast killed her; there are no marks on the body. Emil replies that Davis didn’t kill her. A temporal lobe implant did. It’s a GPS device that’s a small explosive. He doesn’t know how it was triggered but when it went off, it killed her. Clark realizes that someone was controlling her. Chloe, visibly upset, says that they are monitoring her. Clark asks if she’s okay. Wow. Clark is really in tune with Chloe’s feelings. That’s a switch. Chloe says that it’s more than she can handle. She’s going out for some fresh air. Clark replies that he doesn’t want her outside alone. Chloe assures him that if Doomsday comes back, she’ll holler. Chloe leaves.

 

Emil says that what Chloe’s been through has taken its toll but he believes something else is wrong. Emil thinks that Chloe’s feelings for Davis may be stronger than she is admitting. Emil tells Clark that Chloe came to him to cure Davis. Clark is surprised Chloe didn’t tell him. Emil says that when it comes to affairs of the heart everyone uses "secreths and lieths" to protect the ones they love. Ack! I’m getting more horrible flashbacks to Lana! Stop it, Emil!

Chloe gets into her car. She calls Bette (Plastique). She tells her that they have a serious problem.

At another warehouse, Chloe asks Plastique and Parasite what happened. Parasite cockily says that it ticked him off that Livewire screwed-up the job but all he did was Hoover her powers. Plastique backs Parasite up. Chloe says that she’s aware that it wasn’t them. Livewire had an explosive microchip in her brain. Parasite thinks that they are wasting time. They should be hunting Godzilla before he tears down Metropolis. Chloe thinks that Tess is the one who put the microchip in Livewire’s head. She wonders if they should trust Tess. Parasite counters that Tess kept them out of jail and Belle Reve. She pays for their meals, their room, and their ride. Plastique agrees. Chloe says that she doesn’t want to believe it but after all the tests at Black Creek, who’s to say they are not chipped right now. Parasite doubts Tess would ice one of them in cold blood after taking so long to bring them together. Plastique thinks that someone else pulled the plug on Livewire; not Tess. Parasite and Plastique leave to finish the job.

 

At the DP, Tess listens to her messages. There is one from Plastique telling her they have a serious problem. Oliver comes waltzing in. Tess hangs up her cell. Oliver is holding a wine bottle. He informs Tess that her secretary said she was out. If her assignment was to insult her new business partner, she gets an A+. Oliver hands Tess the bottle and goes to the bar for wine glasses. Tess replies that Oliver flunked getting the hint. Touché, Tess! She tells Oliver that she doesn’t have time for a wine tasting. Oliver comes back with two wine glasses and sits down. He says that it’s all business. Tess notes that the bottle is not a quarterly earnings report. Oliver says that Tess is very perceptive. He thinks it’s a turn on. Tess replies that when it comes to women, there is little that doesn’t turn Oliver on. Smiling, Oliver claims that there’s only one woman with that effect. Tess says that it’s a nice try but she’s still busy. Oliver claims that it’s to celebrate the opening of the geo-thermal power station. Continuity! He thinks that the eco-friendly girl that wanted to grow up to be a marine biologist would be excited that they are reducing their carbon footprint. Tess says that thanks to the men in her life, she grew up. She’s only interested in investor satisfaction and balance sheets. Oliver remembers when the only sheets that separated them were silk sheets. He thought Tess wanted to save the planet. Tess replies that she still wants to save the planet; it’s just some of the people she could do without. Hee. Tess reiterates that she is busy. Oliver gives it one more try. He picks up the bottle and notes that it’s a 1964 from his private collection. He was thinking they take the afternoon off and pop the cork. "Keep your cork... in your pants" replies an unimpressed Tess. "You’re loss" counters Oliver and leaves. Poor Oliver and his unpopped cork.

In the elevator, Oliver scans the bottle for fingerprints. He has a satisfied smirk when he’s able to lift Tess’ print.

 

At Isis, Chloe is looking urgently through pictures. There’s a whoosh and the papers go flying. She looks confused. It’s Clark. He asks why she left without telling him and did not answer her cellphone. He's been searching everywhere for her. Chloe apologizes. Clark says that he has reasons not to trust Oliver but not her. He notes that at first she wanted him to save Davis; now she wants him to kill Davis. He wants to know what is going on. Chloe admits that she’s been lying since she came back. She knew the girl who was killed. Her name was Lesley Willis aka Livewire. She used the Isis computers to hack into Tess’ mainframes and she found Black Creek info that she displays on the monitors. Chloe reveals that Lesley was part of a team assembled by Tess which consisted of other inmates from Black Creek. Clark goes up to one display. He reads "Eva Greer" and realizes that Tess’ assistant is meteor infected. Greer? As in Tina Greer? As in continuity?! Wow. Nice, Smallville. Chloe says that Tess betrayed Eva. Suddenly Chloe appears to be in pain. She puts her hand to her head. As Chloe falls back, Clark catches her. Clark asks what is happening. Chloe struggles for a bit and stops breathing. "Chloe" he says in a panicked voice. There’s a bright light and "Chloe" turns into Eva.

Emil is looking over Eva. Clark is crouched beside him. He realizes that Chloe is still out there with Doomsday. He berates himself for not seeing through Eva’s disguise. Emil nonchalantly explains that Eva was a shape-shifter whose job was to fool Clark. She knew that by posing as Clark’s best friend, she’d catch Clark at his most vulnerable. Emil uses the infrared light to display the mark on Eva’s neck. Clark says that they’ve all be tagged. Clark says that Eva didn’t deserve this. He deduces that the since Eva said the meteor infected were all working for Tess, Tess is killing them. Emil replies calmly that if Tess has a team looking for Doomsday, Chloe could get caught in the crossfire. Clark angrily states that Tess needs to be stopped now. Emil cautions that in his experience with rats, you never corner one. Tess put kill-switches in Eva and the other girl. If Tess’ team is wired and Clark confronts her she can kill them all. Clark remembers that the implants are also GPS devices. He asks if Emil can isolate the frequency. Emil thinks he can. Clark says that Tess people are hunting Doomsday. If he can find them, he can find Chloe. Go, Clark!!

 

Somewhere downtown, Bette is walking around talking on her cell. She tells Eva’s voicemail that the beast is MIA and so is Eva. She asks that Eva call her back. She hangs up. Clark appears behind her. He says that he’s there to help. Bette unimpressed says that the last time Clark helped, he gave her a one way ticket to Belle Reve. Clark replies that while Tess got Bette out of Belle Reve, she is not the friend Bette thinks she is. Tess killed Eva and Livewire. Bette doesn’t believe Clark. Clark shows her the GPS. He adds that Tess put some sort of kill-switch in Bette’s temple and she’s tracking Bette with it. Bette wonders why Tess did this. Tess said they’d be heroes. Clark says they can still be heroes but first they must be safe. He wants Bette to tell him where everyone is and he’ll take them to a doctor that can help them. Bette doesn’t want to do anything till "that bitch" is dead. Bette warns that Tess will find out how explosive her temper is. Clark replies that they need to turn Tess over to the authorities. Bette wants justice and she’ll make sure she gets it. Parasite comes up behind Clark and drains his powers. Parasite is blown away by how much power he siphoned from Clark. Bette stops him from hurting Clark and they zip off.

At Luthor mansion, a guard patrols the corridor. Talking in a walkie-talkie, he says everything is secure and turns a corner. Green Arrow is hidden on the ceiling (like Spiderman?!). Neat trick although it defies gravity. GA drops down and neutralizes the guard with a taser. "Sweet dreams" he snarks. He walks over to Tess’ bedroom, finds the safe and uses Tess’ saved fingerprint to open the safe. As he grabs the black Kryptonite, he hears a door open. Tess is walking in the corridor with a guard. She says that Plastique and Parasite fell off the grid 20 minutes ago. She orders the guard to get her the moment he’s able to contact them.

Tess walks into her room and starts to undress until she spots Oliver in her bed. Tess sarcastically notes that Oliver knows no boundaries. Oliver says that he’s willing to try another flyby. When Tess wonders how Oliver got past security, he replies that they must’ve been sleeping on the job. Tess orders Oliver to leave. When he gets up, Tess turns away him and asks where his pants are. Oliver reminisces about a weekend with her. She tells him that he can streak down memory lane by himself. Hehehe. Oliver is sure they still have chemistry. Oliver presses his luck. He says he’ll fly her to places she never knew existed. Tess is unimpressed. There’s a sudden explosion and Oliver is knocked unconscious (very Lex-like, don’t you think?). Parasite and Plastique walk into Tess’ room. Tess tries to activate the kill-switches but Parasite has disabled them using Livewire’s power. Parasite knocks Tess out.

Clark walks downtown. He’s on the phone with Emil. He asks if Emil was able to warn Tess. Emil replies that he tried but all the lines were down. Clark says that he needs to get to Smallville now. Emil asks if Clark is there yet. Clark gives Emil his location. Emil tells him to turn north and walk 30 feet. Eh, Clark is very familiar with 30 feet. It’s part of his signature move. Emil says that it’s not faster than a speeding bullet but it’ll get Clark there quick enough. Clark looks at a black sports car. The Batmobile? KITT? I wanted the Impala! Ahem.

Tess wakes up tied to a chair in the mansion’s main room. Parasite stands in front of her. He shocks her using Livewire’s power. Looking crazed, he asks if Tess is in pain. "Think of how Eva and Livewire felt after you popped their brains", he adds. Tess insists that they betrayed them. Bette replies that Tess betrayed them. Tess wants to know what they want. Bette asks for access to the files from Black Creek. They will reach out to everyone who suffered under Tess’ injustice and form their own league. Parasite says they are free agents now and with all that power, no one will mess with them. Bette, holding a sword, asks for the password to the files. Parasite walks over to Tess’ laptop. Tess says she’s not about to let the world get taken over by a bunch of freaks. Bette holds the sword to Tess’ heart.

Clark walks in. He tells Bette to get away from her. Bette knocks Tess out. There’s a whoosh and Parasite is beside Clark. He’s impressed Clark came with no "fire power". Clark tries to reason with Bette. Parasite grabs Clark by the throat and pushes him against a wall. Bette says that her name is Plastique and she won’t let Tess get away with murder. "We’d rather be the bad guys" she concludes. Ooh, the Injustice League is born! Suddenly, she is hit with an arrow and knocked out.

 

GA comes swooping down. He lands beside Plastique turns and pulls out Lex’s green K ring. The ring glows and Parasite let’s go of Clark. He falls to the floor in pain. GA grabs him, puts him over his head and slams him down. Wearing the ring, he punches Parasite over and over. Whoa! That’s a lot of rage there, Oliver. He grabs the 8-ball from the pool table and is about to hit Parasite again when Clark yells for him to stop and let him go. GA throws the ball on the table and walks away. Clark grabs Parasite. Parasite begs for the pain to stop. Clark tells him that he can stop it if he gives Clark his powers back. Parasite transfers the powers back to Clark. Clark turns around to see GA carrying Tess out of the room.

LuthorCorp: Oliver hides the black K in a drawer of his desk. He turns his chair so it’s facing the wall behind him. Clark walks into his office. Without turning around, Oliver says that Clark will be happy that their misguided teens are locked in a "secret rehabilitation facility where escape is not an option and Tess won’t be able to get their hands on them again". Whoa. Lex much? Sounds like Level 33.1. *shiver*

 

Clark wants to know where the Kryptonite ring is. Oliver says that it’s in a safe place. Clark is lucky Oliver had it; it saved Clark’s life. Clark says that the ring can kill him. He wants to know why Oliver would make something like that. Oliver replies that he didn’t make it. He took it after he killed Lex. Clark realizes that Oliver set the bomb. Oliver thinks that Lex would have betrayed Clark and the ring proves it. Clark angrily asks why Oliver was wearing it. "In case I don’t agree with the next murder you plan?" Clark adds. Oliver opens the drawer and retrieves the black K. He hands it to Clark. He says that Clark doesn’t have the guts take out that murdering bastard. He mops up Clark’s messes and Clark gets all self-righteous on him. He says that he did what he had to do and deep down Clark knows it. Clark will do the same thing to Davis Bloome. Oliver hopes that the guilt doesn’t weigh Clark down like it weighs him. Clark replies that he’ll take it from here. Oliver says that they are still on the same side. Clark disagrees. Oliver realizes that Clark isn’t going to use the black K to kill Davis. Clark says that he’s going to separate Davis from the beast and send Doomsday to the Phantom Zone alone. He adds that he felt he had to tell Oliver what he wanted to hear so he’d get the black K. Oliver wonders how many lives Clark is willing to sacrifice if his plan fails. He suggests Clark put his ego aside; he has a responsibility. Clark says his responsibility is to do what’s right. They stand for something and they set an example for others to follow and if they don’t, they are no better than the people they fight. Oliver says that he’s not Clark’s enemy. "Then who are you?" counters Clark. "Lex Luthor", I tell my TV.

Clark puts the box containing the black K in his toolbox. He walks over to the trap door and opens it. The PZ crystal is gone. Standing in the loft, Tess asks if Clark is looking for the crystal. Clark realizes that Eva told Tess about it. Tess says that Eva was able to fill in some of the Kal-El puzzle. Clark asks if Tess had one of her Black Creek inmates steal the crystal before she murdered them. Tess claims that she had nothing to do with their deaths. Black Creek was Lex Luthor’s. The chips were implanted there. If they malfunctioned, she can’t be blamed. Clark is sure that Tess has covered her tracks. He wants to know where the crystal is. Tess had it destroyed so Clark would have no choice but to kill the beast. Sending Doomsday to some worldly prison is not enough. Tess can’t believe that no one has ever escaped from the PZ. She's got a point, Clark. Clark replies that it isn’t Tess’ battle. Tess is glad Clark is admitting that it’s his battle. She says that she’s doing it all for Clark. Clark thinks Tess is delusional. She put together a small army to make a fictional prophesy come true. Looking seriously crazy, Tess says that the mark of a true hero is someone who is willing to give up their morality to keep the world safe. Clark counters that no one chooses who lives and dies. Clark adds that Tess is no different from Lex. Tess says that the difference is that Lex turned his back on Clark but she still believes. Tess thinks that if the world were more like Clark, the world would be a better place. But Clark can’t avoid his fate. Clark says that Lex taught him that the word "fate" is used by those who’ve lost sight of who they are. When Clark asks why Tess is determined to see Davis Bloome die, Tess replies that an entire civilization depends on it.

At the mansion, the orb calls to Tess. It floats out of its case and asks if Kal-El is ready to fulfill the prophesy. Tess says that the crystal has been destroyed. The orb grows to encompass Tess. "Then you shall be the savior of Kandor", it declares. Huh? Didn’t Kara go in search of Kandor in "Bloodline"? *is confused*

*The Loliver Theory is my personal speculation that Lex Luthor did not die in "Requiem". Instead, he is deceiving everyone as Oliver Queen!

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SV: 8-20 "Beast" Review/Recap

 

 

After the stinker that was "Stiletto", Smallville is back! And... surprise, surprise... Lois is not chewing up screen time with inane "wacky hijinks" and gratuitous T&A.

Every time I think Smallville can’t top itself, it does. "Beast" was amazing – even more so than "Eternal". I can't believe I typed that. The ending scene between Chloe and Clark is a culmination of 8 years of relationship that goes "beyond friendship". Wow.

Jimmy: Jimmy is a jerk, plain and simple. He’ll do anything to feed his drug habit including lie and steal. Oliver talks about Jimmy showing courage in confronting Davis. I think it was more false bravado spurred on by drugs and suicidal tendencies. Bah.

Oliver: I don’t know what’s up with Oliver. I do know that I can’t stand him. He’s a murdering, self-righteous, judgmental ass. He doesn’t have a clear picture of the Doomsday situation but he insists that Clark must kill Davis and proceeds to egg Clark on to do it. It’s his solution to every problem *coughLexcough*. Oliver caught Jimmy in a lie and saw him steal money but he hires Jimmy anyway? It doesn’t make sense. Unless this is the conclusion to the Addict-Jimmy arc; Oliver believed in him so he’s cured! Addictions don’t work that way, writers.

Chloe: Chloe is stuck between a rock and a hard place. She’s the only one who can calm the beast in Davis. She sacrifices her life and becomes a fugitive, to protect Clark and the world. She truly is the heroine of the story.

Clark: Clark was, dare I say it, human in this episode. He showed remorse, insecurity, anger, determination, and love. Who knew Clark had feelings? I think Clark is finally realizing just how much Chloe means to him. This is Tom Welling’s best episode to date!

Davis: It’s official. I adore Sam Witwer. SW can really ramp up the charm (the dream sequence). And he can be really scary and menacing (with Oliver, Jimmy, and Clark). What an amazing actor! Davis’ total devotion to Chloe is both sweet and terrifying. I shudder to think what could happen if he realizes that Chloe’s sole motivation is to protect Clark. In the scene with Oliver and Jimmy, SW played Davis as both funny and menacing. The calm explanation and apology to Oliver before grabbing him by the neck was perfect/hilarious.

***

Chloe is getting ready for bed. She’s wearing a vintage silk nightgown and her hair is coiffed in curls. Her cellphone rings. It’s Davis. Chloe asks if he’s okay. Davis apologizes for waking Chloe up; he says he had another one. Chloe looks up at the ceiling. "It’s just a dream" she assures him. He’s safe with her. Davis asks for Chloe to go down to see him. Chloe agrees.

 

She puts her on a robe and walks down. When she opens the basement door, she finds a trail of rose petals going down the stairs. Davis is waiting for her in a room filled with lighted candles. Chloe says that it’s not a typical response to a bad dream; most people get a nightlight. Davis smiles. He says he wanted to surprise her. Whoa. Sam Witwer is oozing charm!

 

Chloe replies that it’s beautiful but she never saw a box of candles in the basement. She reminds Davis that he can’t leave the basement. Davis knows what she’s doing for him and he wanted to thank her. Chloe says that she just wants to be able to trust him. Davis promises never to do it again. He gives her a rose. Eeeeeee! Davis says that Chloe helped him when no one else would. Chloe replies that friends help each other. "Friends help you move. They take you to the airport" says Davis. Hee. Like maybe... Clark and Lois? Davis doesn’t believe that’s all it is. Davis says that they met in a flurry of smoking ash, burnt out cars, and people freaking out but for a moment, everything disappeared except them. This reminds me of the mayhem on Dark Thursday and the kiss that made everything disappear for Clark and Chloe("Vessel"). Davis says that those feelings haven’t changed. "Without you the man I want to be doesn’t exist", he adds. He wants Chloe to stay with him. Chloe is tempted. So am I. They kiss passionately... for a long while.

 

Chloe looks over Davis’ shoulder. She sees blood on the floor. She asks Davis if it’s blood. "What did you think was going to happen?" he asks. Chloe takes a candle and follows the trail of blood. She sees Clark’s bloodied, mangled torn apart body. Eww! Chloe sits up in bed. "No!" she yells.

 

Talon: Next morning, Chloe is making herself a latte. Her phone rings. She spills some latte. It’s Davis. Chloe puts the phone on ignore. Clark comes in holding a newspaper behind her. He asks if she’s okay; she can make latte blindfolded. Chloe replies that she didn’t get enough sleep. Clark shows Chloe the paper. Tess named Davis a serial killer. The front page reads "Manhunt for Cornfield Killer Begins". Chloe dismisses the article. It can’t hurt Davis now that he’s dead, she says. Clark thinks Davis is still alive. They found one of Bruno Mannheim’s thugs in a dumpster torn apart in the same manner Doomsday disposed of his victims. You have Lois’ antics to thank for that. Chloe figures that the body was there for weeks. Clark counters that the murder happened after Davis died. Chloe ain’t buying it. She thinks it’s a copycat killer. Clark says that Davis has come back from the dead before. "Not from meteor rock" she says. Chloe tells Clark to just let Davis go.

At the Ace of Spades, Oliver is talking to two LuthorCorp executives. He says that LuthorCorp is going green and he wants to make sure that the shareholders don’t think they’re wasting money on bracelets. One guy suggests sending cameras into the geo-thermal energy facility. Oliver likes it. "Nothing screams photo-op like a 10 miles hole in the ground" he says with a smile. Jimmy comes up behind Oliver. He looks ragged. He interrupts Oliver’s meeting. Jimmy asks for $600 for his car. Oliver asks how much the Ace of Clubs is paying Jimmy. Jimmy says that he was let go. You have Lois' antics to thank for that, too. Oliver thinks it’s not Jimmy’s car that needs a fix. Jimmy is upset that Oliver doubts him. Oliver says that he knows of a place where Jimmy can go; it’s very discrete. Oliver offers to pay for the treatment. Jimmy snarkily asks if Oliver will drive him there too. He starts to walk away angry. Oliver says that the road Jimmy is on is lonely. If Jimmy needs a friend, he’s there but he’s not funding Jimmy’s addiction. Jimmy is upset Oliver doesn’t trust him. Why does this addicted idiot think Oliver owes him anything? Did he look in the mirror lately? He looks strung out. Shut up, Jimmy.

 

Outside, in a parked car, Chloe talks to Dr. Emil Hamilton. He’s stunned that Chloe’s been taking care of Davis Bloome in her basement. He asks her who else knows. Chloe replies no one including Oliver. She adds that Oliver can’t be trusted. When Emil reminds her that Oliver created their organization, Chloe reveals that Oliver killed Lex Luthor. The stakes are too high to involve someone who can’t think clearly. She adds that Emil is the only person she could go to for a cure for Davis. Emil is glad that Chloe came to him but he’s not sure what he can do with a few cells. He holds a plastic bag containing an empty water bottle. He thinks having the subject would be more helpful. Chloe says that it’s not going to happen. Emil agrees to run preliminary tests on the saliva but he wonders if Chloe should take this on alone. Chloe replies that she’ll be fine and asks that Emil call her when he gets some results. She gets out of the car and Emil drives off.

Chloe is surprised to see Davis is behind her. Davis wants to know who Chloe was talking to. Davis helps Davis to the side of a building. Chloe says that he’s just a friend. Davis admits that nothing helps. He’s tried looking at photographs of Chloe and holding strands of her hair, but nothing works; the beast inside starts to claw its way out when he’s not with her.

Talon basement: Chloe shows Davis the Daily Planet front page. She says that she didn’t show him this because she didn’t want to upset him but the police are hunting for him. Davis realizes that because he involved Chloe, she is in the police’s crosshairs too. Chloe replies only if they find Davis. Davis asks what happens when the police find Chloe. Chloe says that they’ll leave. They’ll load up the car and never look back. Davis says that he can’t ask Chloe to run away with him. Chloe replies that it’s a good thing he’s not the one asking. Davis looks torn. He says that Chloe won’t be able to say goodbye to anyone; not even Clark. "Can you do that? Can you honestly tell me that I’m the most important person in your life?" Davis asks. This is eerily close to a question Jimmy asked Chloe in "Crimson" (thanks, babydee!) about Clark (Jimmy: "Can you honestly tell me that if you had the choice you wouldn't rather be with [Clark]?"). Chloe is quiet for a bit then she tells Davis that she’d do anything for him. Davis looks surprised. He replies that it’s their chance to start over. Chloe says that she needs to close a few accounts and dead-end a few paper trails but they can be on the road by sundown. "I don’t where I’d be without you" Davis admits echoing words Clark has said to Chloe many times.

At LuthorCorp, Oliver is looking over some schematics. Clark walks in. He says that he checked where Davis was buried and Davis is not there anymore. Oliver says that he buried the body himself. He wonders why anyone would move the body. Clark doesn’t think anyone moved the body; he says it looks like something clawed its way out. Oliver, stunned, says that that thing is still alive. Clark replies that it went after Chloe before; he thinks it’ll go after Chloe again. Oliver asks if Clark warned Chloe. Clark replies that Chloe thinks he’s paranoid. He asks Oliver to take Chloe some place safe. Clark will head to the Fortress to see if he can send Doomsday to a place he can’t hurt anyone again. As Clark is leaving, Oliver says that Clark doesn’t need to pack his parka; he knows how Clark can conquer the beast. "Kick its ass, Clark. Get this thing out of our lives once and for all", says Oliver. Is it wrong to wish someone would kick Oliver's ass? When Clark asks if Oliver wants him to kill Doomsday, Oliver replies that he needs Clark to kill him. Clark argues that it’s not right to take a life. Oliver counters that Clark would be saving thousands (billions, actually). Clark says that Doomsday is his problem. He wants Oliver to take care of Chloe. What in heck makes Oliver thinks that Clark can kill Doomsday?! He must have heard, if not seen, how Doomsday handled Clark in "Bride". He now knows Doomsday came back from the dead. Is Oliver just bloodthirsty? Shut up, Oliver! You don’t have the big picture and your brand of justice is nothing like Clark’s.

Isis: Chloe teleconferences with Emil. She asks him to take another look at Davis’ samples because she’s down to her last card and she doesn’t want to play it. There has to be a cure, she says. Emil reveals that Davis’ nuclei are in a constant state of mutation. Emil tried to destroy a cell but somehow it got stronger. Chloe suggests bringing Davis to his lab. "Frankly, I don’t want him anywhere near me" replies Emil honestly. Heh. Chloe replies that Davis isn’t always a monster and something is keeping him from transforming. Emil posits that sometimes dramatic changes to the body are caused by intense emotions – love, hate, obsession. "Which is why my presence stops him from morphing" realizes Chloe. Emil says that the creature puts them all in danger. They need to warn people. Doesn’t he read the Planet? Bah. Chloe replies that Emil doesn’t want to do that. If he betrays her, he betrays Davis; and he doesn’t want to be on Davis’ bad side. Emil says that it’s all on Chloe. She’s the only cure. Emil signs out. So much for scientific curiosity; helping to quell a monster; or wanting to save lives. I guess Emil is off to pack his bags and his family and get the hell out of Dodge. Oliver really knows how to pick them.

 

Clark whooshes in. He asks if Chloe is talking to someone. Chloe lies that she was talking to one of her patients. Clark asks if Chloe’s heard from Oliver. Chloe says that not since he asked her to hack into transmissions from Tehran. Chloe says she should get back to that and starts typing. Clark says that Davis is alive. Chloe stops typing. Chloe says nonchalantly that when Davis resurfaces they’ll hear about it. Clark wants to find him and bring him to the Fortress before that happens. Clark adds that the Fortress console has a weak signal and he has the crystal Brainiac used to release Zod. Chloe wonders how this will help. Clark explains that it’ll open a portal to the Phantom Zone. Chloe doesn’t think it’s a good idea. Clark reminds her that Davis has killed 50 people and put Jimmy in the hospital. Eh, putting Jimmy in the hospital isn’t so bad. Chloe asks what happens if, when Clark opens the portal, it sucks Clark in. Clark replies that Chloe once told him that if there’s no choice she hoped he’d put the good of the world first. Chloe counters that losing Clark is not good for the world. Clark says that it’s a risk he has to take. Chloe lies that she can help. She’s heard of a string of murders in Alaska. Clark is ready for action. Before he leaves Chloe wishes him luck. He gives her a small smile and whooshes off. Aww.

Oliver walks into the Talon. He hears a noise coming from the apartment and investigates. He catches Jimmy stealing money from Chloe. Jimmy stammers that it’s a loan. Suddenly Oliver is knocked unconscious. Jimmy looks terrified. It’s Davis. Davis knocks Jimmy unconscious too. Woohoo!

 

Oliver and Jimmy awaken tied up in the Talon basement. Couldn’t happen to two nicer guys. Where’s Emil? Oliver asks if Jimmy is okay. Jimmy replies that he’s great... aside from being snatched by a crazed serial killer. Hee. Oliver asks if Jimmy saw who did this. "Not to sound like a broken record, it’s Davis Bloome" Jimmy replies exasperated. Oliver wonders what Davis has done to Chloe. Davis quietly walks over and says that he’d never hurt Chloe. She saved him. Jimmy doesn’t believe him. Davis calmly advises Jimmy that he really doesn’t want to upset him. Oliver interjects that he’s seen Davis’ horns; he gives new meaning to the term bridezilla. It dawns on Jimmy that Davis is the beast. Davis’ phone rings. It’s Chloe. She says that she’s on her way back. Davis tells her to hurry; he can feel himself changing. Oliver yells for Chloe to stay away. Davis shoots Oliver a how-rude look. Ha! Chloe asks if there are guys with Davis. Davis says that some guys broke into Chloe’s apartment. Chloe asks why Davis left the basement. Davis replies that he thought Chloe was in danger. Chloe calmly tells Davis to let them go. Davis replies that he will as soon as they’re out of Smallville. He hangs up.

 

Jimmy asks why Davis is doing it. He heard that an unhappy childhood is pretty popular. Good going there, Jimmy. Poke the monster. Davis replies that Jimmy wouldn’t understand. "Of course not because you brooding types are so complicated", Jimmy replies sarcastically. Oliver cautions Jimmy to chill out. Jimmy gets up, angry. He screams that that monster destroyed his life and brainwashed Chloe and it is trying to ruin Chloe’s too. Davis replies that Jimmy has no idea what Chloe wants; they have to be together. Oliver tells Davis to hold on a little longer; Chloe is on her way. Davis calmly explains that he has to because the only way to control himself is if he kills one of them. Those three are great together. Jimmy is trying to rile Davis. Oliver is trying to calm Davis. And Davis is calmly alternating between brooding, apologizing, and being terrifying. Jimmy taunts Davis into killing him. Oliver tells Jimmy to stop. Jimmy wants to know what Davis is. He asks if Davis really believes that Chloe can ever love him. Jimmy starts to say that Chloe will find out the truth eventually but Davis jumps at him. Jimmy looks terrified. Davis holds Jimmy’s head; his thumbs on Jimmy’s eyes. Oliver yells to Davis that Chloe will never forgive him for that. I would. He agrees with Oliver. He knocks Jimmy out, turns to Oliver and calmly informs Oliver that it has to be him. "Sometimes the mouse does get the girl. I’m sorry" says Davis before he grabs Oliver by the throat. Go, Davis, go! Ahem.

Upstairs in the Talon, Clark whooshes in. He yells for Chloe. Using his super-hearing, he hears Oliver gasping for breath. He whooshes through the door of the basement. He grabs Davis and slams him against the water heater and demands to know where Chloe is. Davis asks what Clark is going to do to him. They struggle in super-speed then disappear up the stairs. Oliver has a smug look on his face.

Chloe arrives at the Talon to find paramedics wheeling Jimmy out. Chloe approaches Dr. Emil Hamilton. Chloe asks if Davis was holding Jimmy in the basement. Emil replies that they are lucky to be alive. Chloe apologizes to Jimmy. "Whatever you do, Chloe, stay away from that monster" Jimmy cautions before being wheeled away. Oliver comes up behind Chloe. He says that he thought about calling the police; instead he decided to give her a chance to explain herself before he lets them haul her to prison for harboring a serial killer. Shut up, Oliver. This "serial killer" came back from the dead after you buried him yourself. This "serial killer" transforms into a monster that’s able to throw Clark like he’s a ragdoll. Chloe replies that she never should have left Davis alone. This is all her fault. Oh no! Clark’s self-blame-itis has rubbed off on her! Oliver asks when Chloe became one of the bad guys. Just cause Chloe is not on your side, you murdering, judgmental douche, doesn’t mean she’s a bad guy. Chloe tries to explain that she calms the beast inside Davis. He needed her. Davis asks if the needs of the Cornfield Killer outweigh the needs of the rest of the world. Chloe says it’s complicated and tries to walk around Oliver. Oliver doesn’t let her. He counters that "it’s complicated" is exactly what Chloe’s "psychopathic boyfriend" told him. Chloe explains that either she keep Davis with her or let innocent people die. Oliver says that if that were the case, Chloe would have handled things differently. Chloe says that it looks odd from the outside but she had everything under control. Oliver angrily says that speaking as Davis’ next victim; Chloe’s plan was seriously flawed. "How did you think this was going to end, Chloe?" asks Davis, echoing the words Davis said in Chloe’s nightmare. Chloe says she find Davis and fix this. Oliver says that they’ll let Clark handle it from here. Chloe asks where Clark is. Oliver says that he took Davis. He’s finally going to finish this. Oliver walks away.


Fortress of Solitude: Clark zips Davis into the Fortress and throws him on the ground. Davis says that he doesn’t care if this place trapped him before; if Clark wants a throw down with him good luck. Hehehe! Clark says that the Fortress can help Davis. It’s all that’s left of their planet. Davis looks around. He wonders how a piece of Krypton got there. Clark replies that his father created it using Kryptonian technology. It will send Davis to a world where he doesn’t have to hide who he is. "A world without Chloe?" asks Davis. Davis eyes go red. "You better have a Plan B because I’m not losing her" he says menacingly. Clark replies that if Davis truly cared he’d let her go. Davis says that Chloe chose to protect him. It was Chloe’s idea to leave Smallville forever. Clark says that Chloe would have done that for anyone; she believes in second chances. She doesn’t have feelings for Davis. Davis asks if it’s because of who he is. He reminds Clark that he even tried to kill himself but the darkness doesn’t come out when Chloe is around. "She makes me human" ends Davis. You understand what it’s like to want to be human, don’t you, Clark? Clark wordlessly takes a black crystal from the console. He asks what happens when that changes. Davis replies that it won’t. Chloe is his chance to be happy. Why his own Kryptonian brother can’t let him have that, he asks. Clark says that he was wrong. They are not brothers. Clark is about to insert the crystal but Davis throws Clark 30 feet. Clark gets up. "I don’t want to hurt you, Davis" he says. Davis assures him that he can’t. Clark punches Davis; sending him flying. Clark picks up the crystal and inserts it into the console. The console glows pink (?!) and the portal to the Phantom Zone opens. Davis gets up. His eyes are red. "If I go, I’m taking you with me" he says. They struggle. Suddenly Davis stops. He falls to his knees.

 

Clark turns around. Chloe stands behind him holding the key. Clark asks what Chloe is doing. Chloe removes the crystal from the console. The portal closes. Clark tells Chloe to trust him. Chloe says that the only reason Clark won’t kill Davis is because he doesn’t want blood on his hands. She can’t believe Clark was willing to force Davis into a life of hell for all eternity. She adds that she knows Clark better than anyone and she can’t let him do this. He would never forgive himself for giving up on Davis. Clark ponders Chloe’s words. Davis walks over to Chloe’s side. Chloe puts the key in the console. She and Davis disappear.

LuthorCorp: Oliver is at his desk working. Jimmy barges in. He wants to know if Oliver found the beast. Oliver answers that he doesn’t have anything yet. Oliver adds that he’s not sure the beast Jimmy should be fighting is out there. He thinks it’s within Jimmy. Jimmy angrily says that he’s not interested in being the poster boy for rehab. Oliver puts his hands up in surrender. Oliver hands Jimmy a $600 check. Jimmy rejects Oliver’s "handout". He’d prefer to steal from his ex thankyouverymuch. Idiot. Oliver clarifies that it’s not a handout, it’s Jimmy’s first paycheck. Jimmy sarcastically asks if it’s got twelve steps attached to it. Oliver replies that only if Jimmy doesn’t take the elevator to his office. Oliver has an opening on his staff and Jimmy would be perfect for it. At Jimmy’s puzzled expression, Oliver explains that he ran a background check and he feels that Jimmy takes good action shots and is pretty good in action too. Jimmy tells Oliver that he’s no hero. Oliver says that Jimmy figured out Davis was a serial killer and took on the beast by himself. To be exact, Jimmy accidentally stumbled upon Davis killing someone. And his goading of Davis was kind of suicidal. Oliver thinks Jimmy has good instincts. They get sharper with the drugs, I guess. Jimmy accepts the job offer.

 

Isis: Clark is typing away at the console. Clark looks hopeful when someone comes in behind him. It’s only Oliver. Clark resumes typing. Oliver thinks that Clark is wasting his time looking for Chloe. He adds that it’s what Clark does best. Clark looks really determined and angered by Oliver’s words. He is clenching and unclenching his jaw. Oliver says that if anyone can make herself invisible, it’s Chloe. Clark thinks Davis has done something to her. Chloe would never lie to him if she weren’t trapped. Oliver thinks that Chloe can’t resist tall, dark, and Doomsday. Oliver adds that Davis isn’t a monster around Chloe. He’s got real feelings for her. Clark says that whatever Davis’ feelings, Chloe would never care for him. Aw, Clark. You’re jealous. Oliver reminds Clark that Chloe sent him on a wild goose chase to Alaska while hiding the psycho killer in the basement. You don’t always choose who you fall for. "The Chloe you’re talking about does not exist" insists Clark. She’d never choose Davis over her friends. And you, right Clark? Oliver replies that people change and Clark should too. Clark should have killed "that thing" when he had the chance. Before leaving, Oliver says that he knows Clark wants to save everybody, but he’s going to have to make the tough decisions. It’s what heroes do. Shut up, Oliver. Your definition of hero includes murder in cold blood and doing whatever it takes. Sounds more villain than superhero to me.

Clark looks at a picture of Chloe and him. His cellphone rings. It’s Chloe. Davis is in the store behind her buying stuff from a vending machine.

 

 

Chloe says she called to let Clark know that she is okay. Clark demands to know where she is. Chloe replies that she and Davis are gone. She begs Clark not to try to find them. Clark says that Chloe isn’t safe with Davis. Chloe replies that everyone may think she’s crazy but she knows what she’s doing. She adds that if she’d told Clark any sooner, he’d find a way to stop her. Clark nods at Chloe’s words. Chloe reassures Clark that everything she’s ever done, right or wrong, has been for him. Clark wants Chloe to admit that she has feelings for Davis and that’s why she’s protecting him. Chloe frowns. "Clark, I’m protecting you". Clark looks relieved. Chloe says that condemning Davis to a life as that monster is worse than killing him. Clark asks what about Chloe’s life. He vows to spend every second looking for her. He’ll find a way to save her. Chloe replies that Clark is not there to save one person; he’s there to save all of them. "And you think sacrificing yourself will help me do that?" Clark asks. "Chloe, you’re wrong... You’re wrong, Chloe". Chloe replies that she must have thrown a million green rocks away and she’s never really saved him. Now she can. Clark begs her not to do this. Chloe tearfully tells Clark that if there is one thing she’s learned from him is that choosing the greater good is never a sacrifice. She hangs up the phone. Clark yells Chloe’s name; looks at his phone in frustration; then smashes a pink filing cabinet. Oh my. Clark has never shown so much emotion. He’s unsure, relieved, determined, frustrated, and desperate. I believe Clark has just realized how much Chloe means to him. Well played, Mr. Welling. Bravo!

Davis comes out of the store and Chloe quickly wipes her tears away. Davis hands her a heart lollipop. He says they have to get moving if they have to get to the border by morning. "Let’s disappear" says Chloe.

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SV: 8-19 “Stiletto” Review/Recap

Eh, another Lois-Lame-wacky-hijinks-while-the-real-plot-happens-around-her-filler episode. Just what we need four episodes from the season finale.

Lois fabricates a story about herself to restart her flagging career at the DP and to show RBB that she can be trusted for an interview. Pathetic. She then runs around in a squeaky pleather outfit and 5-inch stilettos talking to herself. She conveniently forgets about Jimmy’s part in the divorce from her cousin and seeks to have him reinstated at the DP (although he quit) by helping her with her fake story. Worded differently – she uses Jimmy’s sad state to further her agenda. Her antics get Chloe, Jimmy, and Clark almost killed and succeeds in killing a thug. Lois somehow jumps through a skylight, down 30 feet to save the day. I don’t know how she didn’t break a nail, a leg or her neck with that fall. In other news, Bruce Wayne spent countless hours and millions of dollars training but Lois, Lois does it in a few days. Heh. She tops even Lana for the Out-of-Nowhere-Abilities Award.

Chloe is distancing herself from Clark while trying to deal with Davis/Doomsday. She makes careless mistakes with Justice computer data. She, sadly, sees first-hand what Doomsday is capable of. Chloe is just, just holding it together.

Clark was quite likable in this episode. I adored his impromptu shy "I have you" to Chloe after she mentioned soulmate Lana. He saw through Chloe’s façade; saw that she was struggling; and was there to listen. Now that’s what a best friend does. Very sweet. He was there for Lois and Jimmy too.

Jimmy is spiraling down at an alarming rate. He still has the presence of mind to protect his friends though. He’s become a much more interesting character in the last few episodes.

***

It’s the annual Edward R. Murrow press society banquet. The admissions person explains to a dark haired woman that if she’s not a member of the press society she won’t be on the list. The woman says to check again. It’s Lois. She claims she’s written a hundred stories (yeah, right) for the Daily Planet and is sure the admissions person has heard of it. The admissions person says she’s heard of "it" but not of Lois. Lois says there is some sort of mistake; she didn’t squeeze into 5-inch boots for her health. When the admissions person refuses to let Lois in, Lois calls her a gargoyle and tells her to tell Edward R. Murrow to kiss this cub reporter’s sweet little... "Lois" interrupts Chloe. Why does Lois think she’s entitled to everything? Oh yes, because everything just falls into her lap.

Lois complains that it’s the place for journalist achievement and she isn’t even a plus one. Chloe assures her that she’s a good reporter. Lois says that her last article was so long ago she practically wrote it with a feather pen. She had the same problem at the Inquisitor. She solved it by stealing a story from Chloe. Lois says she needs a news story... like a rendezvous with a superhero. Chloe thought Lois gave up after her open letter to the RBB failed to get her anything. Lois replies that she doesn’t blame him. "If you want an interview with a rock star, you don’t start with Springsteen", she reasons. Chloe thinks Lois has a crush on the RBB. What happened to her inst-love of Clark? Lois says that she respects the RBB’s heroism but even GA was shy about publicity. Chloe replies that they wear costumes because they don’t want publicity.

Chloe walks ahead – she’s parked illegally. Lois stops because her shoes are "silent killers". Suddenly, in the distance a man’s voice says to give the keys to him. Chloe yells "No! Lois!" Lois runs toward Chloe in time to see the thug knock Chloe out. Lois attacks the thug. A second thug comes up to her from behind. She struggles and kicks him. The first thug, meanwhile, grabs Chloe’s bag and takes off in her car. Lois kicks the second thug and plants her heel on his chest. He looks up at her and asks if she’s a superhero. Lois replies "You bet I am. Call me Stiletto".


Metropolis General Hospital: Chloe is talking on her cell. She assures Davis that she’ll be home in 20 minutes. A doctor walks up as Chloe hangs up. She tells Chloe that she should stick around for observation because she took a hard hit to the head. Chloe replies that she’s fine and starts to walk away. Clark comes up behind her. He asks if that’s what it takes for her to call him back. He asks if she’s okay. Chloe apologizes for being the invisible best friend. Clark wonders where she’s been. Chloe explains Watchtower. Chloe adds that she’s glad Clark is there. Her laptop was in the backseat when her car was hijacked. She sheepishly admits that she’s been using it to update her Watchtower databases from home. Clark says that the files contain details of nearly every operation. Chloe says that she never should have taken it home. Clark asks if it’s encrypted. Chloe replies that it’s hack-able. Come on! Chloe would never have sensitive information not properly encrypted and on her laptop of all places. On the other hand, Chloe is under tremendous stress. I could see her taking risks to stay near pr at the Talon to keep Davis from dooming out. This should be sending up major red flags to Clark. Instead, he asks if Chloe got a look at the mugger. She replies no but there was another witness – Stiletto. Clark thinks Stiletto must be a knife expert. Eh, Clark, too deep. Think fashionable 5-inch boots *sigh*.

Daily Planet: Lois is outraged that her Stiletto story will be placed on page 10. The editor, unimpressed, replies that the next time Lois calls him out of a press society banquet she should at least have a picture. She had a similar conversation with Grant last year. When Lois replies that Stiletto is camera shy, the editor suggests Lois capture Stiletto in action. When Lois complains, the editor asks if he misjudged her power of persuasion.

Lois walks to her desk as Clark comes down the stairs. He asks about the attack and Stiletto. Lois smugly replies that Clark can read about Stiletto tomorrow with the rest of the world. Clark grimaces and picks up an article from the desk. He’s surprised that Stiletto gave Lois so many quotes. Clark asks for Lois to put her in contact with Stiletto. Lois suggests he get his own hero. She adds that it’s not every day that a superhero gives her their phone number. Clark is surprised. Lois takes back the article and sits down. Clark explains that the thugs took Chloe’s laptop which contains information on Isis. He says he needs to talk to Stiletto. Lois suggests Clark go to the police station to talk to the thug that Stiletto caught. I guess Stiletto (Lois) doesn’t know anything otherwise I really hope she would have offered to talk to Stiletto.

At the Ace of Clubs, a bartender fixes two margaritas. It’s Jimmy. A man, Mr. Mannheim, asks for a drink. As Jimmy prepares it, someone tells Ugly (Mannheim) that the boss wants to see him. Mannheim gulps his drink and starts to head out. Jimmy puts a hand on Mannheim’s shoulder to stop him. Mannheim doesn’t look pleased. Jimmy quickly removes his hand, apologizes and asks if he can get an advance on the day’s pay. Mannheim says he’ll talk to Ricky but it’s the last time. He leaves.

In a back room at the Ace of Clubs, guys are churning out counterfeit money. The boss is sitting at a desk. When Mannheim walks in, he gets up holding Chloe’s bag. He sarcastically says that he was hoping AJ had been arrested for stealing a Dolce and Cabana. Mannheim replies that someone clocked them. Boss counters that he’s trying to pull them out from the streets. They’ve finally cracked the metallic tin with the green rocks from Smallville; they can make all the money in the world and Mannheim is snatching purses. Mannheim says that it’s not about the prize but about reminding people that they own the town not some caped circus freaks. Boss thinks that Mannheim’s gash and AJ’s black eye tell a different story. Mannheim angrily asks how Boss can let the vigilantes take their streets. Boss is fed up. He angrily orders that they are done with street crime. They are a business now. Mannheim calmly takes a gun out and shoots the boss (not Springsteen!). "Maybe it’s time for Bruno Mannheim to climb the corporate ladder", he says. He tells the goons that they’ll say goodnight to the wannabe heroes; starting with Stiletto. Dun, dun... eh, who cares.

Meanwhile, Lois sews a pleather outfit to go with her 5-inch stiletto boots. She puts a mask on her face and looks in the mirror. Bruce, take note, it’s that easy. Kevlar is for sissies.

Jimmy walks in a dark alley holding his camera. He calls out for Lois. Stiletto lands behind him. Jimmy asks what she’s doing. "Picking up your rebound" says Lois taking off her mask. She picks up a small fan and turns it on. Jimmy is squicked out but gives Lois the once over. He replies that he flattered but his just broke up with Chloe. Don’t you mean divorced? Lois clarifies that she meant rebound his career. Is she so oblivious that she’s unaware that he quit? Jimmy says he’s not there to be saved; Lois mentioned $100. Lois gets up on some crates and strikes a pose. "Metropolis’ newest superhero! Meet Stiletto" she says dramatically. Jimmy snaps pictures. Jimmy doesn’t believe Lois is serious. Lois says that she’s obviously not serious about cleaning up the streets; but she quoted Stiletto in one of her articles and her editor said she needs a photo to get a page 1. Jimmy sarcastically replies that he must have missed the giant asterisk to Lois Lane’s Rules of Reporting saying "or just make it up". Touché, Jimmy! Lois replies that unlike Jimmy she hasn’t had an up close and personal with the RBB yet. Jimmy says that the RBB isn’t talking to anyone; what makes Lois different. Lois explains that once the RBB sees how Lois handles the Stiletto stories, he might be tempted to contact her. "Good luck with that" replies a skeptical Jimmy. Lois says to e-mail the photos to her editor; she off to talk to a real hero. She smiles. This is Lois Lane?! Unethical, desperate journalist working for a Luthor-tainted Planet. Okay then.


Isis: Clark comes in dressed in Luthor-like black jacket. Nice. He tells Chloe that Stiletto may be their only hope in getting her laptop back. According to Met PD, Stiletto’s take-down posted bail before they got him behind bars. Chloe replies that she hasn’t been able to find any more leads on Stiletto’s whereabouts but she does a search on "Blur-etto". Hahaha. Chloe says you’ve made it when you have your own fansite. "No one understands a hero’s life of solitude better than a fellow cape", reads Clark, "These two lonely hearts belong together". Clark wonders who thinks this stuff up. Hehehe. Chloe asks if they are off the mark. Clark replies that he’s not looking for romance. Chloe points out that Clark thought he found his super-powered soulmate in Lana and he hasn’t talked about her since she left. Clark looks away, embarrassed. "That’s because I have you" he says. Whoa. Chloe mentions soulmate and Clark replies that he’s got her. On a meta level, Chloe shows Clark the Bluretto sites (i.e. Clois sites) and Clark replies that he has Chloe. Clark is falling for Chloe! That’s so cool. Chloe says that knows she’s not been available and Oliver and his friends are MIA; Clark needs someone on speed dial that knows about leading a double life. Clark says that he and his double life are fine. He’d rather concentrate on finding Chloe’s laptop.

Daily Planet: Clark listens to the police scanner while reading the Metropolis PD website. Across from him, Lois pretends to work. Exasperated, she asks if it’s past his bedtime. Clark lies that he’s finishing up work while he’s motivated. He looks down at his red hero school pack back. That’s so wrong. Lois looks down at her hero bag. This is positively silly. Clark says that Lois can go. If the RBB calls, he’ll be sure to patch him through. Lois replies that between the two of them the editor is counting only her coffee cups. Clark asks if it’s because she’s a big shot and he’s only a copy boy. Lois, annoyed, says that it’s because Clark is doing much better than anyone expected. Whoa. Something comes in on the police scanner. Clark gets up and says he’s got to feed Shelby. Lois gets up and says she’s going to hit the gym.

Jimmy walks into the Ace of Clubs and heads for Mannheim’s table. Holding up his camera, he says that he knows he’s late but he got caught up in a project. Mannheim takes the camera and notes that it’s a nice tele-macro zoom. He remembers that Jimmy used to be a journalist and asks what Jimmy is doing working at a bar. Mannheim looks through Jimmy’s images. Looking at a picture of Chloe and Jimmy on their wedding, he jokes that Blondie looks better when she’s smiling. Jimmy wants his camera back. Mannheim continues to scan the images until he comes to the pics of Stiletto. Mannheim asks if Jimmy knows her. Jimmy denies it. Mannheim wants to know where she is. His goon, AJ, roughs Jimmy up. Jimmy is bleeding from a cut on his cheek. When Jimmy says he doesn’t know where Stiletto is, Mannheim grabs his head and asks what’s wrong with Jimmy. It’s like Jimmy wants Mannheim to kill him. When Jimmy doesn’t answer, Mannheim knocks him out. Mannheim tells AJ to let Ricky hack into the stolen laptop and, in the meantime, he wants AJ to go to the source. Uh oh.

While the jewelry store alarm is sounding, Lois looks through the broken glass window inside the store. Her suit squeaks as she walks away. "Wonderful. Very stealth, Lois" she says. Batman doesn’t have that problem. She adds that next time she’ll call herself Nike. She comes across the thief knocked out and tied up. She’s surprised that a guy that blurs from place to place beat her there?! Clark not dressed in red and blue, sneaks up behind her. In a deep (sexy) voice, he asks if Lois is the Stiletto. Lois smiles. She starts to say "It’s an honor..." until she sees Clark. Clark recognizes her right away. Batman doesn’t have that problem either. Lois talking in a fake English accent says that she should get back to her cave. Clark replies that she could have a bag over her head and he’d still recognize her. Eh, Jimmy recognized her too. Clark asks what she’s doing. Lois asks what he’s doing – he’s supposed to be feeding Shelby. "Isn’t there any woman in your life you haven’t stood up" Lois says. Shelby is a male, Lois! Heh, she’s still smarting over the coffee date that she pretended she was too busy for.

Clark lies that he came to make sure she was okay but she’s not if she’s impersonating the Stiletto. Lois yells that it’s "Stiletto" not "the Stiletto" and she is Stiletto. Clark, incredulous, asks if she made up a fake hero so she could write her story. Lois says that Stiletto could open major doors for her. Stiletto could help her land a one-on-one with RBB. Clark explains that RBB avoids reporters for a reason. He asks what Lois would say that no one else has said. Lois says that she’d listen. "What if he’s not looking for a best friend" asks Clark. What if he already has a best friend, I ask. Lois says that every Fred needs a Barney. "Unless it’s based on a lie" counters Clark. He adds that eventually Lois will find herself in a situation she can’t stiletto out of. Lois thinks Stiletto kicked ass the night before. She adds that Clark should have seen the guy she sent downtown. Clark replies that an attorney named Monahan got him out. Chris Monahan represents Ron Molano, the biggest crime boss in Metropolis, reveals Lois. Lois says she’s in the market for a sidekick as long as Clark doesn’t slow her down. Clark says that he’ll track down Molano himself and tells Lois to make sure her Stiletto story doesn’t get published.


At the Talon, Chloe comes down the stairs holding a glass of water. AJ comes up behind her and grabs her from behind. The glass breaks on the floor. AJ says that Chloe’s transmission slips in third. He wants to know what Chloe knows about Stiletto. Chloe says that she doesn’t know who he’s talking about, elbows him, and runs away. AJ catches her. He takes out a knife and warns Chloe that she doesn’t want to lie to him. Chloe says that she doesn’t know who Stiletto is. AJ puts the knife to Chloe’s throat. AJ says that he’d like to leave Stiletto a message. He starts to cut Chloe’s neck. A huge shadow comes over Chloe and AJ. AJ is dragged away screaming. Chloe looks horrified.

Later, at the Talon apartment Chloe is looking at the cut on her neck. When Lois shows up behind her, Chloe hastily puts a scarf around her neck. Lois says that the Stiletto story broke a proverbial heel. Chloe replies that it’s Friday night and there’s bound to be a tequila shooter out there with Lois’ name on it. Chloe opens the door to let Lois out. Lois says that Jimmy is not answering his phone. Chloe asks why Lois is looking for him. Lois says cryptically that she needed his help photographing something now she needs his help destroying the evidence. When Chloe looks confused, Lois opens her coat. "Surprise" she says revealing her Stiletto costume. Chloe realizes that Lois did this to get a story. Lois says that she doesn’t need another diatribe and asks if Chloe’s ever been over her head. Chloe looks like she’s about to say something but changes her mind and tells Lois to look for Jimmy at the Ace of Clubs. Before leaving, Lois thanks Chloe for understanding.


Clark enters the Ace of Clubs. He listens and hears someone say that they unlocked a mess of files. He goes into superspeed but stops suddenly when he comes near the green K money. Mannheim punches him and he falls to the ground. He spots Jimmy lying unconscious.

Lois arrives at the Ace of Clubs and sees Jimmy’s camera on the floor. She runs up to the roof of the building and looks through a skylight to see Jimmy unconscious on the floor and Mannheim beating Clark. She takes out her cell phone but the battery is kaput. At the Ace of Clubs, Mannheim takes Clark’s press badge and realizes that the DP reporters think they have a story. Lois, meanwhile, takes off the coat she’s wearing and crashes through the skylight just as Mannheim is about to shoot Clark. She kicks AJ before she lands. She goes to see how Jimmy is doing. Mannheim points a gun at her but Clark jumps in front of Lois as the gun goes off. Clark is shot in the side. The same side he was shot in "Hidden". Lois yells "Clark". Mannheim comes up behind her but Jimmy fights him until Lois knocks Mannheim out with a bottle. Lois goes to check on Clark. Crying she tells Jimmy to call 911. Clark says that Lois needs to get him out of there. Jimmy and Lois help Clark out of the Ace of Clubs.

Outside, Chloe drags two squishy bags to a dumpster. She manages to put them in there then looks at her hands. They’re bloody. She slowly sinks to the ground crying.

At DP the next day, Clark reads an article titled "Mob Men Behind Bars". Lois brings Clark breakfast. She tells him that she made copies for him. Clark says that Lois didn’t have to do this and feigns pain. He notes that Lois got her cover story after all. Lois downplays it while eating Clark’s breakfast. Clark is surprised. He notes that she held a champagne toast the last time she was above the fold. Lois says that she admits that sometimes her ambition gets the best of her. Clark replies that the mob guys would still be on the street if she hadn’t come to his rescue. Lois starts to say something. Clark says that she’s welcome. Lois apologizes for putting Clark in danger. It’s not like Clark saves lives for a living. Clark replies that there is only one Red-Blue Blur. Lois says that after running around in stilettos she was reminded why she’s not cut out for the life of solitude. Clark jokes that he didn’t realize there was room for introspection under that suit. "Look who got grazed by a funny bullet" replies Lois taking another toast from Clark.

In an alley, Jimmy comes up to two guys near a car. Jimmy hands a guy some counterfeit bills and takes a package from the guy.


At the Talon apartment, Chloe takes out a casserole as Clark walks in. She thanks Clark as she takes her laptop from him. Clark hopes that he got to it before Mannheim looked at the files. Chloe replies that she’s done travelling with all her files. Looking at the casserole, Clark asks if she’s expecting anyone. Chloe lies that her response to stress is to bake indigestible amounts of food. Clark is surprised. He says that after all the near apocalypses they’ve been through he’s never seen anything more than a chocolate chip cookie come out of the oven. He asks if Chloe’s okay. Oh, how I’ve missed caring, concerned, selfless Clark. Chloe says that Clark almost died for her computer. Clark puts up his t-shirt to show Chloe that he’s fine. Yes you are. But I didn’t get a good view – even in slow-mo. Can you do it again, Clark? Ahem.


Clark says that it’s not about a computer; he knows Chloe better than that. Chloe says that with her divorce, Brainiac, and Watchtower duties; she forgets that she has to be all smiles all the time. Clark says that no one expects Chloe to bounce back from everything she’s been through. "I just want you to know that I’m here for you if you need me" he says sincerely. Aww. I like that Clark. Can we keep him? Chloe tearfully says that right now she needs space not a super-save. Clark nods and leaves.

Outside, Lois walks holding a red-blue note. The note says "We should talk. 1421 Third Street ~10 PM". As she’s about to walk away a phone rings in a phone booth. Lois answers it. It’s the RBB. Lois wants proof. There’s a whoosh. RBB tells her to look down. The DP paper with her letter to the RBB is at Lois’ feet. RBB says that he got her letter. He calls her Miss Lane. Lois says he can call her Lois and suggests he find another simpler name. Clark replies that there’s a better name out there and if anyone can find it, it’s Lois. Lois rambles on and Clark, amused, notes that she’s nervous. "Can you read my mind?" asks Lois echoing a line in Superman: The Movie. Although really, Lois is blabbering so it’s kind of obvious she’s nervous. Lois blathers on some more but ends with she could work on her subtlety. Clark replies that there is nothing wrong with taking her job seriously. Lois admits that there is when you don’t know who you’d be without it. RBB says that Lois knows herself better than she thinks. He adds that Lois is a great reporter who doesn’t need a hero or a gimmick to make a headline. Really?! This is the reporter who wanted Edward R. Murrow, who died over 40 years ago, to kiss her ass? Lois says that she doesn’t want the RBB story. She wants to know what the RBB needs. She says that if RBB wants to talk, she’s only a phone call away. Clark says that he’ll keep it in mind and when he wants to go public; she’ll be the first to know (like in "Infamous", Clark?).

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SV: 8-18 “Eternal” Review/Recap

 

This episode was excellent (minus the retconning of Lex as Segeeth). It was hard to summarize because the dialogue was good, every scene advanced the plot, and all the actors brought their A-game.

I really felt for Davis in this episode. He doesn’t want to kill and he’s willing to commit suicide to stop it. His realization in Tess’ study that he has a way out was heartbreaking. Davis/Sam Witwer can be very charming like in the apartment preparing supper for Chloe. He can also be extremely menacing like with Tess at the mansion or about to doom-out in the cage at the lab. Mr. Witwer, you are very talented.

Chloe was caught between a rock and a hard place in "Eternal". She can’t and won’t kill but, when Clark and the world are at stake, she’ll do whatever it takes. She’s a true hero. Her decision at the end to stay with Davis to prevent the beast from emerging was a heroic one.

Clark can be really dumb and "Eternal" sadly showcased that perfectly. He gets all pissy in Chloe’s apartment when he sees Davis. Just last episode, he admitted that he didn’t believe Jimmy’s claim of Davis being a serial killer. Now, he’s doing an I-told-you-so and What-were-you-thinking to Chloe. What a sanctimonious ass. Jonathan Kent taught him well. And how dumb is it to tell the thing that was bred to kill him and the world that he’s to blame for everything. He swallowed Tess’ interpretation of Lionel’s journal hook, line and sinker. Idiot. I’m glad that in the Talon at the end he didn’t argue with Chloe when she made it clear that given the same set of circumstances she’d do the same thing again. Chloe is right; Clark doesn’t make the tough decisions. He lets things get so out of hand that he’s just ends up reacting.

Tess is sounding like Edward Teague and Lionel. She completely and totally worships Clark with a twist. She’s going to do what needs to be done to have Clark become the savior she believes he’s destined to be. Now that’s scary devotion.

***

Luthor mansion: Tess sits in front of the fireplace reading a book with the Veritas symbol on the cover. She appears fascinated.

Flashback 1989: The meteor shower hits Smallville. Martha and Jonathan are in their pickup during the shower. Jonathan loses control of the truck.

Lionel is walking the in razed corn field yelling for Lex. He finds him under some cornstalks lying on his side wearing his Excelsior jacket. He looks scared and he’s lost his hair.

Martha and Jonathan come to in their turned over truck to find a young child smiling at them.

In the crater formed by a spaceship is a black pod. It breaks open and white goo oozes out. It slowly takes the form of a young boy.

Present day: Tess realizes that Lionel was too blind to see the truth. "There was another" she says.

Daily Planet: Tess is at her desk talking on the phone. Her aide lets Clark in the office. When Tess hangs up, Clark hands Tess an article. He thinks he’s ready for the front page. Clark’s found a stack of missing person cases that no one is talking about. There are similarities between them. Clark believes that the city is under attack and no one appears to care. Tess knowingly replies that it makes you wish the RBB wasn’t sitting on the job. Clark ignores her hint. He thinks the same criminal is responsible for all the attacks and he wants the DP to be the first to break the story. He wants to warn the people of Metropolis. Tess looks over the article. She says she can’t print it because Clark doesn’t have any facts. Well he learned from the best *coughloiscough*. Clark accuses Tess of not caring. Isn’t she your boss, Clark? Clark accuses Tess of sweeping the story under the rug. Oh for Pete’s sake! Tess is unimpressed by Clark’s "conspiracy theory". She says that Clark won’t find a web of lies behind her façade – that’s his department.

 

Talon apartment: Davis is crying?! Chloe notes that he’s a man that’s not afraid to cry. Davis replies that he’s a man who’s not afraid to cut onions. Lol! Chloe tells Davis that he didn’t have to cook her dinner although she did manage to override the settings on his cellphone, retrieve his addresses, and change his applications so he doesn’t accidentally erase all his info again. Davis calls Chloe "the overachieving teacher’s pet know-it-all". Hee. Chloe is impressed that Davis can cook. She starts to set the table. Davis says that mac and cheese was always on the menu in the foster homes he grew up at. Oh my, Davis (Sam Witwer) can be soooooo charming.

Davis changes the conversation. He asks if Chloe has heard from Jimmy. Chloe replies that Jimmy’s last tirade of e-mails included every single unflattering word in the dictionary. Huh? Why is Jimmy spamming Chloe’s in-box? Leave her alone, you jerk! Davis is surprised Jimmy isn’t dying to get back together with Chloe. Chloe clarifies that Jimmy’s last e-mail specifically says to not call him or drop by and, if Chloe sends him an e-mail, he won’t open it. What a douche. Chloe thought she and Jimmy were best friends but it’s obvious there was stuff brewing under the surface. Eh, and over the surface. Jimmy’s made his jealously and his wandering eye quite obvious. Chloe wonders how one can be so close to someone and not know who they are. Davis is cutting a tomato when he nicks his finger. Chloe rushes over with a cloth. When she wipes his finger, there is no cut.

 

 

Clark barges in. He looks over at Davis and Chloe and looks put out! "Davis", he says. "Clark", Davis replies. Hee. Davis keeps his gaze to the floor. Clark says he was working on a story and Chloe might be able to help. Davis says that he’s got to go. Chloe asks about dinner. Davis says they’ll do it tomorrow. He thanks her for fixing his cell and leaves. Clark looks miffed. As Davis reaches the bottom of the staircase, he feels himself changing. Uh oh.

Out in a field, a man in a hoodie drags a shovel to his car. He puts it in the trunk and gets in the car. He takes a crucifix from the rearview mirror, kisses it and asks for forgiveness. It’s Davis. His cellphone rings. As he answers he looks in his car beams to see Tess holding her cellphone to her ear. She asks what the prayer for dismembering a body is. She puts her hand up and presses a button. Davis’ car explodes in a fiery ball. Tess looks knowingly at the burning car.

 

At the Talon Chloe sits at her laptop. She can’t believe that there have been over a dozen missing persons in the last month. "You think it’d be newsworthy", says Clark. Chloe snarkily asks since when does newsworthy have anything to do with what’s on the front page. Finally, someone acknowledges that the DP is a tabloid under LuthorCorp/Tess. Clark stares at Chloe’s back. Chloe hopes that Clark has the safety cocked on his heat-vision. Clark’s confused. Chloe clarifies that Clark’s been staring at the back of her head so hard, she’s afraid her hair will go up in flames. Clark replies that he didn’t realize that Chloe and Davis were spending so much time together. Oh, don’t get all pissy, Clark. Chloe rolls her eyes. Clark angrily starts to say that if Chloe doesn’t want to talk about it. Chloe says that she loves to trudge through stagnant water. Clark takes the opportunity to say that he thinks Chloe is moving on kind of fast. He doesn’t get what Chloe sees in Davis. I do. Chloe, miffed, explains that it was just dinner. And Davis is kind, supportive, and a strong shoulder for her to lean on that she can really use right now. Clark says he has a bad feeling about Davis. Chloe asks what’s with the meet-me-out-in-the-back-for-a-duel mentality. Clark replies that Davis disappears and can’t explain where he went; he’s full of secrets and there isn’t a record of his childhood. Clark’s been busy. Chloe notes that it sounds familiar. Clark says that he doesn’t collect morbid crime scene photos in his locker. Why does Davis do that, I wonder. He adds that he’s not the first EMT at every gruesome murder. Chloe is distracted by something on her laptop. She says that a vehicle was found on fire outside of Smallville. It’s Davis’...

A bandaged Davis wakes up. Someone opens the blinds and the sun hits his one non-bandaged eye. It’s Tess. She apologizes for Davis’ state. She didn’t think he’d end up like this. She admits that she was trying to kill him. So, she’s apologizing for not being able to kill Davis? Tess says it’s harder than she thought. She removes the bandage from Davis’ face. Davis is scarred and in obvious pain. He tries to ask why he’s there. Tess replies that Davis is safe with her. If the world knew Davis was a serial killer, they would be after him with torches. Davis weakly denies any knowledge of Tess’ claim. Tess says that it’s not Davis’ fault that he was born with a killer instinct. She even admires his selection of victims. Davis admits that he can’t control himself. Tess says that even suicide wouldn’t work for a guy who can’t die. Davis denies he’s who Tess thinks he is. Tess replies that Davis isn’t who he thinks he is. Tess says that she looked into Davis’ background. She hit a dead end until she discovered the Veritas book. Stole the Veritas book, she clarifies. The book was Lionel Luthor’s. It tells the story of a boy who fell to Earth the day a meteor shower destroyed a small Kansas town. She opens the book...

1989: The boy from the pod, young Davis, looks at the spaceship then back at his pod. He hides when he hears Martha and Jonathan discuss the boy that found them (Clark). He watches as Martha and Jonathan find the spaceship. Martha is holding Clark who’s wrapped in a blue blanket. Ah, the good old days when Smallville was fresh and fun. As they walk away, the boy comes out of hiding. Suddenly there are men chasing him. He runs through the field and they follow. The boy is caught and locked in a cage.

A young Lex, wearing a cap, is chasing after his bird, Feathers. He hears a sound coming from a locked room. He peeks in the keyhole. A voice inside the room asks who he is. Lex unlocks the door to find Davis. Davis asks if Lex is cold. When Lex shakes his head, Davis removes the cap from Lex’s head. Looking down at the Warrior Angel comic book Lex is holding, Davis asks Lex if he is Warrior Angel. Lex replies that he wants to be. Davis takes out a Warrior Angel action figure from his pocket. Lex introduces himself. Davis says that he doesn’t know who he is. He adds that a man brought him there a few days ago and put needles in his arm. Lex notes that Davis doesn’t look sick. He asks if Davis wants to play; his dad won’t find out. He is at a farm. As they leave, Lex closes the door. On a table is Feathers – he’s dead (Jim).

Present day: Tess tells Davis that the day of the meteor shower; Lionel had men look for Davis because he thought Davis was a prophesied messiah, the Traveler, a visitor from another planet sent to save humankind. But Lionel didn’t realize that there were two boys that fell to Earth; the Traveler and Davis.

 

Out in a field, a man loads Davis’ charred car on a truck. Clark and Chloe pull up in Clark’s truck. Chloe approaches the man. She asks if the police found a victim. The man replies that the car was abandoned – there was no sign of a driver. Chloe thanks the man and walks back to Clark who is staring out into the field. Clark thinks it’s strange that Davis stopped there. It’s the field where his ship landed. Chloe thinks it’s a pretty big coincidence. Clark x-rays the field and sees the buried skeletons.

Back at Luthor mansion, Davis wakes up. He’s healed completely. He gets out of bed and walks around the mansion. He comes upon the door to the study and opens it...

 

1989: Young Lex and young Davis duel with play swords. Davis spots a box on Lionel’s desk. Lex explains that it’s made from the armor of St. George. He slayed dragons with his sword called Ascalon. Lex points his sword at Davis. "I am St. George and you are the dragon. You’ve been sent to destroy the world but only I can protect it from a beast like you. Fight or die", he tells him. They continue their sword fight until Lex pretends to kill Davis. Davis falls to the ground. Lex says he’s slayed the beast and he shall claim his treasure. He takes the box and opens it. A piece of green Kryptonite glows. Davis screams in agony.

 

Present day: Davis realizes that there is a way. Tess appears behind him. Davis asks if Tess thinks she can keep him there. Tess admits that nothing can restrain Davis. She wonders what does one do when they find Judas in their midst. Who would Christ have been if Judas had not betrayed him? Maybe Jesus would be remembered at a teacher. Davis is confused. Tess explains that without Judas, Jesus would never have risen from the dead to come back and face his greatest challenge – saving humankind. Tess says that there’s a savior among them and Davis is the betrayer. Huh? Judas betrayed Jesus and sold him out for 30 pieces of silver, he didn’t kill him. Given that, Tess is the betrayer and Davis plays the role of Pontius Pilate. Tess believes that the Traveler cannot become the world’s savior without triumphing over the world’s destroyer. Davis angrily grabs Tess shoulders. He wants to know what Tess is talking about. Tess reveals that there is a reason why Davis and Clark don’t get along. They were destined to kill each other. Davis’ eyes suddenly turn red. He slaps Tess and sends her sliding into the wall. She lies unconscious.

At the DP, Clark wants to know why Chloe didn’t mention that Davis blacks out regularly. Chloe replies that she thought it was low blood sugar. Clark angrily says that Davis told her he was hiding something dark inside. It should have set off alarms. Shut up, Clark! The last time you suspected Davis, Pocket Protector took the blame for all the killings. You’ve just stopped your wacky hijinks with Lois and discovered there are more unaccounted deaths. Give Chloe a break. She’s had to deal with Brainiac, Jimmy, and a monster this year. Geez. What an ass! Chloe says that she thought Davis meant moody or bipolar. She didn’t think that Davis meant serial killer. Clark angrily reminds Chloe of the times she was angry that Clark doubted Davis. Chloe says that she couldn’t believe it was this bad. Clark, not giving an inch, says it’s not that bad it’s worse. Chloe can’t believe that Davis is the serial killer... that Jimmy warned us about finishes Clark. Clark calms down a bit. He says that he looked into the missing persons. They are not Metropolis’ finest – assault charges, breaking-and-entering, abuse. Chloe asks if Davis is on a vigilante mission. Clark thinks that someone took Davis because Davis wouldn’t abandon his car near a field full of evidence. Chloe says that when she was looking into Davis’ past, his records had already been checked out... by Tess.

Tess is in a hospital bed at Met Gen. She slams her glass of water down. A minion says that they tried to stop Davis; they opened fire. Tess orders him to find Davis. The minion leaves. Clark walks in. He says that he’s aware that Tess looked into Davis Bloome. He asks if Davis is the reason she’s in the hospital. Tess replies that there isn’t a short version of the story. Clark thinks he’s missed something. Tess says that he’s been at the center the whole time. She explains about finding Lionel’s journal and Lionel’s quest to find the Traveler the day of the meteor shower. Lionel wanted to possess the Traveler. Tess thinks that both Lex and Lionel got the moral of the story wrong. According to the Kawatche Indians, the boy is part of a two headed creature – good and evil. The Luthors were so busy feuding about who was worthy to be Clark’s adversary that they couldn’t see that there was another boy who came to Earth with Clark – Davis Bloome. Oh come on! Tess is completely misinterpreting the legend. According to the Kawatche legend, Numan and Segeeth were friends who became enemies. Davis and Clark were never friends. There is no way Davis is Segeeth. Plus, why do the writers insist that every one of Clark’s opponents have to fit within this legend anyway? Geez, Davis is Doomsday! Isn’t that enough?

Clark continues to deny everything. Tess adds that Lionel found Davis on the day of the meteor shower but his tests seemed normal. After five days, he threw Davis on the street when he got a call from Martha Kent. Clark smiles; he thinks Tess is reaching. Oh, Clark. Give it up already. You’re lousy at lying and Tess has Lionel’s journal. Tess says that in Lionel’s own words "I have the wrong boy". She asks Clark why Lionel would arrange an adoption for a boy who seemed to come out of nowhere. Clark was the reason Davis was abandoned. Oh no! Not more for Clark to feel guilty about. Kryptonite and guilt render Clark helpless.

Isis: Chloe looks at photos of the victims on her computer. A door opens and closes behind her. It’s Davis. Chloe gets up quickly knocking the chair to the floor and starts to back away from Davis. She tells him that Jimmy was right. Davis tries to explain that the guy he killed was a three-time-offender drunk driver. Chloe asks how Davis is going to justify killing the others. She makes a run for it and Davis follows. Chloe pushes things behind her to slow Davis down but he catches her. Chloe yells that Davis lied to her. Davis replies that he didn’t want to drag Chloe into this. Chloe asks why Davis came to see her. Davis admits that he’s in love with Chloe. Oh, great. Finally a handsome, charming, sweet guy is in love with Chloe and he’s Doomsday. Davis wants to know if Chloe cares about him. Chloe replies that she thought she did. Davis asks Chloe to help him... die.

Clark walks into Isis. He calls for Chloe but gets no answer. He sees the mess on the floor. He goes to Chloe’s computer which displays a schematic of Dr. Grohl’s Prometheus lab. "Chloe", says a determined Clark and whooshes off.

 

Prometheus lab: Davis is standing in a cage. Above him is a vat of liquid Kryptonite. Outside, Chloe is standing in front of a console. She is crying. "It’s time", says Davis. Chloe says that she can’t. Davis replies that he’s finally found a way out. He begs Chloe not to take it away from him. He orders her to pull the lever. Chloe tentatively puts her hand on the lever. "I can’t kill you, Davis", she cries. A whoosh and Clark is holding Chloe by the shoulders. He asks what she’s doing. Davis replies that it’s his life and he can take it if he chooses. Clark tells him not to be a martyr. No, that title is reserved for Lana. Chloe says that it’s not what Davis is doing. Davis replies that he’s not doing it for Clark. He wants it to end; he can no longer live with himself. Clark goes into self-blame mode again. It’s really tiring to see this over and over. Clark says that everything that happened to Davis is because of Clark. Oh for... good going Clark. Give the killing machine a reason to despise you. Clark says that it’s because Davis didn’t have a home. Clark wonders what his life would have been like if the Luthors had found him instead of the Kents. Davis replies that Clark didn’t – he was destined to have the better life. "No matter how hard we try to fight it, we will always return to our true nature", Davis says with finality. Davis orders Chloe to pull the lever. Clark turns to Chloe. He tells her not to pull the lever. She has to give it another chance; it’s not set in stone. Davis tells Clark that deep down he knows he should let him (Davis) die. Clark asks if there is something in Davis’ life that is worth giving it one more try. Davis looks at Chloe. Clark turns to Chloe. Davis says that it’s not where his heart is but what he’s done and what he’s going to do. "I was sent here to destroy you, Clark" he adds. Davis falls to the ground. He can feel himself changing. Clark bangs on the glass – er, Clark, is that a good idea? Davis’ eyes go red. "There aren’t enough prayers in this world to give me redemption", he yells in a deep terrifying voice. Clark has the decency to look scared. Chloe runs back to the console and pulls the lever. Clark feels the effects of the K until Chloe pulls him back. Davis slowly falls to the ground. As he does so, he flashes back to 1989...

Young Davis is let out of a limousine and handed a bag. Davis asks what he’s doing here. A man in a suit answers that he was told to drop Davis off here. Davis asks who’s going to meet him. The man doesn’t answer. He gets in the limo and closes the door. Davis looks sad. Then his eyes turn red. The man glances at Davis and his eyes go wide. A large fist breaks through the window of the limo...

 

 

Present day: Davis sits crumpled in the corner of the cage. Chloe runs up to him. She puts her hand on the cage and Davis slowly brings his hand up to hers while Clark looks on. Davis dies.

Clark walks into the Talon apartment. Chloe is on the couch gazing at the picture of Numan and Sageeth from the cave walls. The fire is lit in the fireplace. Clark asks how she’s holding up. Chloe answers that she’s had better days. She asks about Davis. Clark replies that Oliver is taking care of the details. Clark thinks they need to talk about what happened. Chloe says that she wouldn’t change what she did. Clark thinks that there’s always another way. Chloe insists that Davis could have killed Clark. She won’t risk the safety of the world for Clark’s code of ethics that stops Clark from acting when things threaten him (and that Clark waffles on when it suits him). Clark picks up the Numan/Sageeth picture. He notes that Jor-El said Davis was the ultimate destroyer. It didn’t turn out to be much of a fight. Clark puts the picture in the fireplace. He says that as a kid he had a nightmare that his ship landed in a field and no one found him. Chloe says that the nightmare was Davis’ life. Clark thought that it was a burden to be destined to save people but he can’t image living a life knowing you’re doomed.

Clark is standing in the barn thinking. Tess comes up behind him. Clark says that he’s busy. Tess says that she’d understand if Clark was saving a busload of children but cleaning the feeding bin. Clark says he’s sorry Tess bought into the Luthor obsession about him. Tess says she hasn’t bought into it so much as a belief. Clark tells his boss that if she chooses to believe the journal of a madman, she’s got a few holes in her personal life. Tess replies that people seek idols because they have holes in their lives; it doesn’t mean it’s not real. Clark says that what Tess has made him out to be is not real; he’ll never be that man. Tess says that Clark won’t fulfill his destiny until he meets his greatest challenge. I thought that was losing Lana forever *sniff*. Clark insists that Tess doesn’t know anything about him. Tess replies that if that’s how Clark lied to Lex, she can see why it pushed him over the edge. Clark says that Lex was heading over the edge before he met him (Clark). Oh brother. So Clark feels responsible for Doomsday but not for Lex Luthor? Just great. Tess replies that betrayal is harder the more you love someone. Clark asks if Tess is threatening him. Tess is not that naïve. Clark insists that he’s not some problem to be solved. Tess says cryptically that it’s too early. She’ll wait for Clark to come to her. Clark replies that it’ll be a long wait and he walks off. Tess replies "I’ll be shorter than you think, Kal-El". Dun dun dun!!!

At Luthor mansion, Tess takes out a metal briefcase and opens it. It contains the round artifact used to control the Traveler.

 

 

Chloe walks into the Talon with a bag of groceries. She hears a noise, puts down the bag, and goes to investigate. It’s coming from the basement. She cautiously walks down the stairs and comes upon a makeshift living area. "Don’t be afraid", says a voice. It’s Davis looking fine. Chloe is surprised Davis is alive. The meteor rocks didn’t kill him, it made him stronger. Uh oh. Chloe asks if Davis is invulnerable. Davis replies that he’s immortal. Double uh oh. Chloe realizes that Davis will go after Clark again. She starts to walk toward the stairs. Davis says that he won’t go after Clark if he’s with her. "What?!", says a stunned Chloe. Davis explains that there’s something about being around Chloe that calms the murderer inside him. Chloe counters that Davis has admitted it’s his true nature. Davis thinks there is something out there that is stronger than his need to kill. "Will you stay with me?" he asks. Chloe slowly walks up the stairs and bolts the door... Whoa.

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SV: 8-17 "Hex" Review/Recap

Last week was amazing; this week we get another filler episode. Chloe is hands-down my favorite character... except when she’s played by Erica Durance. ED just doesn’t have the subtle facial expressions or the acting skill to bring Chloe to life. Most of the time, ED played Chloe as Lois saying Chloe-dialogue. Not convincing.

"Hex" was an interesting episode meta-wise. It sort of, very vaguely touched upon the Chlois Theory. Well, actually, no it didn’t because the Chlois Theory is about Chloe Sullivan always having been iconic Lois Lane in disguise. "Hex" gave us Chloe looking like SV’s Lois.

What’s interesting, however, is "Hex" very clearly states that Lois is now living Chloe’s dream life. This is reinforced by executive producer Brian Peterson in an interview. Furthermore, the episode makes a point of saying that Chloe still wishes she had that life – but not literally as Lois Lane (no kidding). Now the end of the episode has Chloe deciding to become Watchtower. My question is why take an episode to show Chloe longing for that life? And why have Chloe admit it in front of Clark?

Tom Welling has excellent comedic timing. His Clark-Kent-nerdy-reporter reminded me of Christopher Reeve.

 

Chloe stands on a balcony looking out over the city. She fingers her wedding band. A box is placed beside her. The card reads "From Clark". "Clark, you shouldn’t have" she says with a smile. When she turns around, however, it’s Oliver who is standing beside her. Talk about disappointment. Oliver explains that Clark is off with Bart on a crisis in Keystone. He urges Chloe to open Clark’s gift. Clark’s gift is a copy of Tales of the Weird and Unexplained. Aw, that’s sweet. Chloe remarks that she hasn’t seen this in ages. Oliver asks if she’s okay. Chloe replies that birthdays make her reflective. Oliver encourages her to go back inside to the party.

 

Chloe spots Lois laughing with a couple. Chloe says that that was supposed to be her life. One day she was on the fast track to being an intrepid reporter, she blinked and she was an under qualified shrink for meteor infected kids who’ll probably end up as psycho-killers while Lois and Clark have matching press badges. Lex and Brainiac had a big hand in the sudden turn. Chloe adds that she had about 2.3 seconds of happily-ever-after before her marriage imploded. And Doomsday had a hand in that. Oliver is not sympathetic. Chloe’s had the year from hell but he can’t be spared a couple of encouraging words on her birthday. Jerk. Murdering, blackmailing jerk. Oliver thinks Chloe might be jealous. Chloe says that she’s not; she just misses the bullpen. Lois comes bounding up with a b-day cupcake with one candle. "One year closer to the sweet release of death" says clueless Lois with a smile. Hopefully Lois’ death. She says that she has to leave because there’s a revolt in Mexico and the DP is flying her first class to cover it. She puts a crown on Chloe’s head and leaves. Well, couldn’t Lois wait for Chloe to blow out the cupcake?

A woman in a magician’s outfit complete with fishnet stockings looks over at Chloe and Oliver. Oliver’s cell rings and he's off. Duty calls. Chloe is left standing alone with her cupcake. Oliver is stopped by the woman, Zatanna, but he quickly directs her to Chloe and leaves. Zatanna tells Chloe to make a wish. Chloe looks over at Lois talking up a storm on her cell. Zatanna’s eyes glow light blue. Chloe blows out the candle.

Later Chloe plops in her bed still wearing her dress and crown. Next morning she puts her feet in her bunny slippers (hee!); they don’t fit. She glances in the mirror. "I’m Lois" she says shocked as wacky music plays. ED attempts a Chloe expression.

Chloe is dressing herself in front of the mirror as she talks to Lois. Her clothes are really tight. She asks if Lois is okay. Lois says she’s fine and asks about Chloe. Chloe replies she’s fine and hangs up.

At the DP, as Chloe descends the stairs a lackey brings her coffee and her dry cleaning. The lackey is not bothered that "Lois" doesn’t remember his name, he’s just happy to serve. They don’t make lackeys like that anymore. Chloe looks at Lois desk which strewn with back stage passes and a pic of Lois with the Dalai Lama. Lol! That’s hilarious. I wonder if lackey works in the image department. Chloe searches the name "Zatanna, Metropolis". She finds an ad: Zatanna, Mistress of Magic.

Clark comes up behind her. He wonders why she’s not in Mexico. Clark, noticing her too tight clothes, asks if the DP has a limit on the dress code. Chloe starts to explain but Clark asks if it can wait till her "post-lunch pre-dinner after coffee snack break". Clark is actually enjoying making fun of Lois. Clark can’t imagine that Lois has anything more to say after calling him 6 times the night before. Wow. Stalker much? Upon hearing he had time for 6 phone calls, Chloe asks why he didn’t call Chloe on her b-day. Clark thinks that Lois is upset because he took Jimmy’s side. He adds that he doesn’t believe Jimmy’s stuff about Davis but "It’s kind of tough when the person you’re trying to build your life with doesn’t believe in you". Clark is talking about himself, as usual. Chloe considers what Clark said. Clark asks if she’s okay. Chloe replies that she’s not. Just then there’s a report of a police standoff. Clark wonders why Lois is not gung ho to go. Chloe picks up Lois’ dry cleaning and says "Start your engines, Smallville". Clark, satisfied, leaves.

At LuthorCorp, Oliver is working in Lex’s office?! What the heck? Not only did Oliver murder Lex but he’s taken over his office?! Talk about cold. Oliver reads an article in the DP on the search for Lex’s killer. Zatanna appears behind him. She introduces herself. Oliver asks if with a name like Zatanna, she lost a bet. He asks why she’s stalking him. Zatanna says she needs Oliver’s help and money is no object since her father left her an estate in Shadow Crest. Upon hearing Shadow Crest, Oliver asks if she’s John Zatara’s, the maestro of magic, is her father. Oliver says he knows what it’s like to lose family. Zatanna explains that she lost more than her father. She lost a legacy recorded in a book that’s been passed down through generations. Lex acquired the book at auction after her father died. Oliver cockily asks if Zatanna can’t just use magic to get the book. Zatanna explains that her father only taught her parlor tricks. Oliver replies that while Queen Industries may have absorbed LuthorCorp holdings, but Lex’s private collection is off limits. Zatanna offers to grant Oliver one wish – big or small. The offer expires at midnight. Oliver looks down at the article on Lex’s disappearance. When he looks up, Zatanna has disappeared.

Clark and Chloe are walking toward the police standoff. Clark notes that Lois hasn’t insulted him once today. Ah yes. The famed "banter" that’s actually put-downs and insults. Chloe says that she rolled out of bed on the right side. Well, that sounds like Lois – Lois is always mixing up her idioms. As they walk, Chloe loses her balance and Clark catches her. Clark asks why Lois is giving him a look. Chloe replies that he never looks at her that way. What way? Clark always looks confused. Of course, if she means with puppy-dog eyes, Chloe is wrong. Clark has looked at her that way many times. Of course, Chloe wouldn’t see that as she’s got serious self-esteem issues when it comes to men. Clark looks even more confused.

A man stands on a balcony screaming in a foreign language while throwing pillows(?). That doesn’t look like much of a standoff. A cop approaches Chloe and hands her money. "This squares us up before Friday’s poker game" he says. He says he’s working on his bluff. Chloe asks what’s going on with their "Sophoclean town crier". The cop stops a beat and explains that the man’s been babbling in Latin all day. "Woman, magic, cursed on, book brings death" Chloe translates. Clark asks when she learned Latin. "Zatanna, Zatanna" yells the man. Chloe grabs Clark. She says that it’s the same witchy woman that did this to her and she knows where Zatanna is performing tonight. She suggests that Clark superspeed to the antiques shop to dust off any leads. Clark is surprised at Lois’ use of "superspeed". He notes that they didn’t bring a car. Chloe reveals that she’s Chloe. Clark squints at her. "Stood-up-at-the-formal Chloe! Planted-one-on-you-because-of-Zod Chloe! Krypton-Fortress-Brainiac-Jor-El Chloe!" Chloe blurts out quickly. "Chloe!" says Clark finally catching a clue. Chloe says that some magician showed up at her B-day party and hexed her but Clark would know that if he hadn’t skipped it to answer voice mails from Lois. Touché, Chloe! "Not that I’m dwelling" adds Chloe. Poor Clark. Too much information to process at once.

 

They arrive at the place Zatanna is performing. Clark wonders how he didn’t pick on Chloe’s transformation sooner. Clark starts to explain about what he said about Jimmy. Shut up, Clark. Chloe says it’s okay. Clark’s an equal opportunity good guy. Eh, not so much. Chloe says that the book was a nice callback. Clark says that he was hoping it’d bring her back to a time when things were... weird and unexplained finishes Chloe. Chloe wonders if Clark misses it. Clark says that weird is so normal it’s not weird anymore. There are days when he wishes he could forget about saving the world and just be a normal reporter. He breaks the door open with a smirk.

Inside, Zatanna looks at a pic of her dad. "It won’t be much longer" she tells him. Clark asks much longer for what. Zatanna doesn’t recognize Lois. Chloe reminds her of the enchanted cupcake. Clark says that Zatanna has to reverse the curse she put on Chloe. I love the use of the word "curse". It is a curse. Who wants to be Boobstein? Zatanna says it was a gift and, in that moment, that’s what Chloe wanted. Chloe admits to being a little jealous of Lois living her dream life with Clark at the Planet. Clark looks surprised/confused. Zatanna says that once Chloe doesn’t want it anymore, she’ll switch back. "Fine. I don’t wantt titt" says Erica. Nothing happens. Clark asks Zatanna if the man from the antique shop wanted to rant like a lunatic. Zatanna suggests that maybe he wanted an understanding of dead languages. She wanted an antique of her father’s. It was a fair trade. Eh, not so much. Zatanna says that everyone has something they wish they could change... even Clark. Zatanna wonders what Clark’s wish would be. Her eyes flash light blue. Chloe rushes over to Clark. Zatanna’s disappeared. She asks if Clark is okay. Clark says he’s fine. Chloe thinks something has to be different. Clark just looks at her. Uh oh.

As they’re leaving, Chloe realizes that she shouldn’t have brought Clark along since magic affects Clark. She asks again if Clark is okay. "Yes, Lois" he replies. Uh oh. "What did you just call me?" asks Chloe. A distance away a woman fights with a mugger. Chloe looks at Clark whose noticed the commotion. She asks if Clark is going to do anything. Clark puffs up his chest and says Lois is right. He heroically whips out his cell phone and calls 911. Lol! TW played that to perfection.

Back at the DP, Clark tells "Lois" that’s he’s not that gullible. Ha. Chloe insists that she is Chloe. Clark says that at first he had trouble telling them apart. Lois is the tall one. Lol! Chloe reminds Clark that he called her "Chloe" before Zatanna "bibbity bobbity booed" him. She adds that before they met Zatanna Clark was saying how he sometimes wished he could forget about the saving-the-world thing. "If something seems too weird to be true, it usually is" says Clark. Chloe looks confused. So am I. "It’s rule #4 of Lois Lane’s Rules of Reporting" he clarifies. Hmmm. What exactly constitutes weird I wonder. Meteor freaks? A supersuit? Aliens? Lois will one day get an interview with Superman?! Not with that attitude. Chloe insists that Clark made a wish to lose one of his double lives. Clark asks what double life is he’s supposed to have. Chloe looks like she has an idea. She grabs Clark’s arm.

 

DP roof: Clark is worried because they’re not allowed up there. Chloe tells Clark that he’s a hero. Clark jokes that he’s a regular Green Arrow. He adds that he just reports the news. Chloe reminds him that he’s a superhuman being from another planet. Technically he’s not human so he’s a superbeing from another planet. Clark asks that she not tell HR. He heads for the door. Chloe rushes to the door, locks it and closes it. Clark is horrified that she just locked them out. Chloe orders Clark to "open the damn door". Clark says they need a key. He reaches for the handle and tears it off the door. Chloe asks if Clark believes her. Clark believes that the handle needs better maintenance; it’s rusted. Ha! Chloe tells Clark to really listen. Clark hears all the sounds from around Metropolis. Clark is stunned that the acoustics are incredible. As he pauses to marvel, Chloe takes a metal pipe and tries to hit Clark. She misses. Clark is upset. It could have really hurt. Try again, Chloe. He can’t dodge it forever. Chloe insists that Clark has superspeed, superspeed, superhearing, and x-ray vision. Clark says that he needs to find a way off the roof unless his powers include flight. No, Clark, you’re still a weenie on that one.

Two security guards walk around a LuthorCorp warehouse. They hear a noise. They draw their guns and approach an arrow. It releases a gas and they drop to the floor. Green Arrow lands nearby. He apologizes to them and promises a nice Christmas bonus. He walks over to a box and pries it open. In it is an old book. Outside he stands over a flaming garbage can. Zatanna appears behind him. She thanks him for finding her book in style. GA pretends not to know her. Zatanna isn’t buying it. Oliver drops the pretence. Zatanna asks for the book. Oliver says that the book contains "dark stuff". Zatanna says that she can grant everyone their wish – everyone but her. She begs Oliver to give it to her. It’s the only way to bring her father back. Oliver throws the book toward the fire but the book flies to Zatanna. He draws his bow but Zatanna casts a spell that chains Oliver to a nearby post. Oliver says that she just can’t bring someone back from the dead. No but you can murder them, right Oliver? Zatanna apologizes and leaves.

At Met Gen, Clark and Chloe walk into Uri’s hospital room. He is strapped down. Clark asks if he speaks English. Uri asks who they are. Chloe introduces herself as "Lois Lane". She apologizes and explains that they thought he was under some kind of spell. Clark denies believing that. Uri realizes that Chloe knows. Chloe says that they know Zatanna gave him a wish in exchange for information on a book. Uri says that he should have never given Zatanna info on the book. She’s too blinded to see the danger she’s in. Clark asks what sort of danger. Uri explains that Zatanna must be stopped from resurrecting her father. The incantation to bring a life back requires the taking of a life in return. "A life for a life. A soul for a soul" says Uri ominously. Dun dun dun!

On the DP roof, Zatanna starts the incantation to bring her father back.

Back on the street, Clark notes that Uri sounded like he believed what he said. Chloe insists that it’s because it’s the truth. They look up to see "lightning" around the DP globe. Clark thinks they’re too late. Chloe tries to convince Clark that there are no buts with him. No exception to the rule. She wills him to superleap up and stop Zatanna. Clark is unsure. "If you won’t believe in yourself then let me believe in you" says Chloe. "Use the power you feel. The world needs you." Clark looks up determined. Behind him is a bright light. He turns around and is surprised to find Chloe. Woohoo! "Chloe! That’s..." he starts. "... impossible?" finishes Chloe. Chloe tells Clark he can do this – "Up up and away!" Clark takes off his coat and jumps.

On the DP roof, Zatanna is standing in front of a bright oval light. Clark tells her to stop. He asks if she’s willing to give her life for her father’s. Zatanna says that it’s what he did for her. She owes him this. She heads toward the light. Clark asks if her father would want her to give up the life he gave her to bring him back. Zatanna angrily asks what Clark knows about losing a father. Ooh. Clark’s favorite topic – himself. Clark says that when he lost Jon, he thought his life would never be the same but he had to let him go. Just then Chloe opens the door and walks into the light. Zatanna says that it should have been her. Clark says that they get to choose the life they’ve been given. He’s finally the man his father wanted him to be. Eh, not so much. Zatanna reverses the spell and Chloe falls to the ground. Clark runs to check on her.

 

Talon apartment: Chloe puts on her bunny slippers. They fit perfectly. She smiles at the mirror. Clark barges in. He hold a peace offering for missing her birthday. Chloe says that it’s a casualty of being a hero. Not everyone would have punched through Zatanna’s spell to save the day. Clark replies that he couldn’t have done it without Chloe (not Lois!). He thanks her for reminding him who he really is. Chloe wonders if Clark remembers everything. Clark says yes. It felt as though a weight had been lifted. Chloe says it must have been hard to harness up again. Clark says that it felt empty. This is who he is. Chloe replies that Clark is not the only one to see the world through irony-colored glasses. Clark asks why Chloe waited so long to tell him what was going on. Chloe says that her life has been less that desirable. Now that’s an understatement! Chloe admits that there’s an appeal to the "dynamic duo's" weekly adventures. Clark assures her that she hasn’t missed much. Things haven’t been smooth between him and Lois. Have they ever? What with the cutting "banter". Chloe realizes that Clark won’t tell Lois his secret but Lois Lane is a part of his life. She mentions the "constant puppy-dog eyes" he gives Lois. Clark looks confused. "Just because you were burned once doesn’t mean that you can’t give it a second chance" adds Chloe. Clark asks if they are still talking about him or about Chloe and Jimmy. "Touché" replies Chloe. She’s talking about neither of them living in the past: "You can never be who you want to be if you’re looking over your shoulder at what could have been". They clink their coffee cups to that.

Oliver enters his office to find Zatanna waiting for him. She apologizes. Oliver says he deciphered what she said – "Bound by steel". He had plenty of time to figure it out when she left him to die or be discovered as the GA. Zatanna says that she wants to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Oliver suggests she not do it again. Zatanna starts to leave. Oliver says that what matters is that she made the tough choice and he respects that. Zatanna says that there are people that have more nasty magics than she does. She hands Oliver her card and tells him to call if he runs into magic again. Sounds like an opening for an s9 episode. Oliver eyes the card. He asks how he should use the card to summon her. Zatanna replies that it has her phone number. She winks and is gone.

At the DP, Lois is squeaking her chair much like Clark did in "Odyssey". Geez, grow up already. Lois asks how long it took for Clark to realize it wasn’t her. Clark replies that he should have picked up on it because Chloe is not as bossy and she let him drive. Lois wants to see the framed Rules of Journalism. Clark, defeated, hands them to her. Lois is impressed by Clark’s sentimentality. Clark clarifies that it’s a memento from his first day on the job and a constant reminder that there’s only one Lois Lane. He looks really, really resigned. Poor Clark. Lois stands and takes her purse. A guy in first class asked her out and she accepted. Clark says that he’s just going to hang at the Planet. He asks if Lois wants him to call her if anything comes through the wire. Lois asks if it’s to stand her up again. Clark starts to say something and Lois interrupts. She suggests tabling this whole thing and going back to basics. Clark thinks it’s a good rule. Lois suggests adding it to the list and leaves.

Oliver walks into Isis. He asks if Chloe is ready. "Ready as you are" is the reply. Oliver warns that it means leaving Chloe’s old life as a reporter behind forever. Chloe says that after spending a day at the DP she realized that that’s someone else’s life. Oliver observes that everyone has more clarity after a dose of the Zatanna dust. Chloe opens a box containing an earpiece and a remote. She hands the earpiece to Oliver. Chloe answers that Oliver already knows what he wants to be. Oliver asks if it’s what she really wants. She replies that this is where she belongs. She uses the remote to open the doors to the computer room. One by one the monitors come online each displaying a superhero – AC, BC, Cyborg, and Impulse. "Arrow online" Oliver says. Chloe puts her earpiece on. "Watchtower is officially online" she says.

Eh. I really hope Chloe has only temporarily abandoned her dreams of working at the DP (like she temporarily tried and dropped Isis). It’s who she is since she was 8 years old...

"Mom! Mom! Mom, mom, I want you to be the first to read it: "Long Live the Loch Ness Monster”. Mr. Hedgis said it was my best story yet; even better than the one about the alien abduction." 8-year-old Chloe to her mom in "Progeny"

"I'm so proud of you... my little cub reporter." -- Moira to 8 year-old Chloe in "Progeny"

"You’re headed for Metropolis. You are destined to be a big shot reporter at the Daily Planet. Do you really picture Clark Kent being able to keep up with you?" -- Lois to Chloe in "Spirit"

"Okay, so it's actually the basement, but it's the Daily Planet: the paper of record for kings, presidents, and prime ministers...not to mention future superheroes. The way I look at it, I had no place to go but up, up, and away." -- Chloe in "Thirst"

"Clark, I'm a writer. If I was going to kill myself, I would leave one hell of a suicide note." -- Chloe in "Tomb"

"Whoa. She has a lot of information about superhumans." – Garth going through Chloe’s Torch/Level 3/Level 33.3/Isis articles in "Legion"

"I read your articles, Chloe Sullivan." -- Faora in "Bloodline"

"Okay, just for a second, maybe I was a little jealous of Lois living my dream life with Clark at the Planet. But I didn't literally want her life. Not like this." -- Chloe in "Hex"

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SV: 8-16 "Turbulence" Review/Recap

 

This is easily one of the best episodes of the season. Every scene flowed seamlessly into the next. The characters problems and reactions were real and compelling. All the actors brought their A game (Thank goodness there was no Lois/Durance to muck the episode up).

Aaron Ashmore is a very talented actor when he’s given good material to work with. He played Jimmy’s anger, addiction, and dismay very realistically. Jimmy was wimpy when he first appeared in SV (see his reaction in "Wither"). Now he’s ready to take on Davis and the beast! I was literally at the edge of my seat when Jimmy handcuffed a slowly dooming-out Davis. Jimmy has become a much more interesting character after "Turbulence".

Chloe goes from concerned to confused to determined over Jimmy’s actions and obvious addiction. She’s heartbroken at the end when one more thing in her life goes to hell. Allison Mack always delivers.

Sam Witwer is hands-down the best of the best. Davis is cold and calculating. He goes from maliciously killing the drunk driver to calmly and deliberately covering his tracks using Jimmy’s addiction to his advantage. I love SW!

Tess’ attempt to get Clark to open up to her then, when that didn’t work, her underhanded trick to get him to expose his secret was interesting if not foolhardy. What would give her the idea that Clark could fly? What if her setup had failed? She had no backup plan to get out of the damaged jet. Cassidy Freeman plays a mean villain.

Clark, Clark, Clark. What a nincompoop. If he’s going to continue to lie he needs to improve his lying-skills. I was surprised he’d attempt to get Tess drunk to get her to spill about Lex’s journal. He couldn’t even pretend to be slightly affected by the champagne? It was, however, very sweet to see Clark so proud of his RBBing that he’d slow down for the traffic cams. Dangerous but sweet. Tom Welling continues to impress.

In a church, a priest slides open the panel of a confessional. The silhouette of a man says he’s sinned. He’s hurt many people; people he cares about. The man explains that something takes over without warning. It’s Davis. "It’s a beast, inside of me, fighting to get out" Davis continues. The priest replies that we all have our inner demons. What about our outer demons? Davis says that he drives at night looking to redeem himself. Pimps, thieves, drug-dealers, there’s a lot of sin. Flashback: Davis stops a fight by turning on his siren. One man runs off while the other, a kid, tries to grab hold of a vial. Davis gets out of the rig and steps on the vial. He yells at the kid to go home. The drug-dealer runs to a fence. Davis is behind him. His eyes are red. He grabs the drug dealer and breaks his neck. His eyes return to normal. "It keeps the beast from coming out. It makes me feel... human" narrates Davis to the priest. The priest encourages Davis to overcome evil with good.

Kent house: Clark comes down the stairs dress for work. He looks dashing in his suit and tie. He grabs his red backpack from high school?! What? Doesn’t he have anything more grown-up? Now he looks ridiculous in his suit and tie holding his backpack. Chloe comes in and heads straight for the coffee. She’s impressed with Clark’s work as the RBB. Clark reminds Chloe that she’s the one who suggested making his presence known. Chloe asks if he had to have his presence caught by every traffic cam. Clark brags that slowing down for the cameras is not easy. Ooh, I like this Clark Kent. He’s smiling, proud, and sweet. Wonder how long it’ll be before SuperMope, the self-blaming hero shows up.

 

 

Chloe says that she wants to make sure that Clark’s rush to give people hope doesn’t unmask Clark Kent. Chloe asks if Clark is going to do a costume switch in the middle of the bullpen. Clark zips off and comes back as SuperClark. He zips off again and comes back as Clark Kent, DP reporter with a backpack. *sigh* His tie is askew and his SuperClark t-shirt is visible. Chloe notes that Clark has a wardrobe malfunction. Heh. She adds that after Lex’s death all his personal files were transferred to LuthorCorp. She wonders what will happen when Tess gets her hands on those. Clark skirts the issue by telling Chloe not to worry and concentrate on Jimmy. Clark adds that he should have been able to protect Jimmy. Oops, there he is – SuperMope. Chloe assures Clark that it’s not his fault and adds that Jimmy’s future looks bright.

At Met Gen, Jimmy pushes the self-medication button a few times. He doesn’t look so good. Chloe walks in. She tells him that the machine will only give a set dosage. It doesn’t matter how many times he presses the button. Jimmy says that he’s in pain. Chloe suggests that maybe what Jimmy is feeling is not all physical. Maybe he should talk to a psychologist. Jimmy doesn’t think he needs a shrink. He asks if "the thing" is gone. Chloe assures him that it has. Jimmy is not so sure. He finds it hard to believe he showed up to destroy their wedding. Chloe says it’s one of the pitfalls of having the wedding in the meteor freak capital of the world. Jimmy thinks that if the King Kong of meteor freaks can take Chloe from him then they’ll be together forever. Uh oh. They hug but they both look unsure.

Later as Jimmy is sleeping, he flashes back to the events of his wedding. He sees Chloe with Clark; the beast slashing him then carrying Chloe away while she begs Jimmy to help her. Is he sure she wasn’t calling for Clark instead? The beast calls "Chloeee". Jimmy wakes up. He’s sweating. He pushes the self-medication button. When nothing happens he hits the machine. He calls for the nurse. Why doesn’t he use the call button? When no one comes, he removes the IV and walks out of his room colliding with a man. The man asks for help then runs off. Jimmy notes the smell of booze on the guy. He follows him to the elevator. In the elevator, the man is suddenly assaulted. A plastic bag is put on his head and he’s thrown into the wall. When his neck is broken, he falls to the ground. Jimmy stares in horror. As the elevator doors close, Jimmy sees the face of the murderer. It’s Davis. Dun dun dun!

At the DP, Clark puts his backpack on the desk and checks his monitor. There’s a police standoff at Main and 5th. Clark reaches for his backpack. Tess holds the packback and asks if Clark is ready for PE. Hehehe. Clark lies that he just came back from the gym. Tess walks away with the backpack. She suggests something a little more Louis Vitton as opposed to High School Musical. Lol! A villain with a sense of humor. Clark grabs his backpack. Tess promises to take him shopping when they get back. Clark wants to know where they are going. Tess replies that she’s announcing the new Mercer Media Group in LA and she needs a friendly reporter to lob softballs. Ah the DP – symbol of truth and ethical journalism except not so much. Clark is surprised Tess wants him. Tess tells him not to underestimate his talent – the sky is the limit. Ooh, a Superman anvil *snore*. Clark walks into the elevator with Tess. It’s the first time I notice that CF is quite tall or she's wearing very high heals.

 

At the hospital, Jimmy is pacing in his room. He’s recovered well for someone who’s been in bed for 5 weeks. Chloe comes in. She says she came right after the police called. Jimmy explains that he caught Davis murdering a man the night before. Davis knocks on the door and walks in. Jimmy shoves Chloe behind him. He asks what Davis is doing here. Davis replies that thanks to Jimmy, he was cuffed, thrown in a squad car and spent 6 hours being interrogated. Jimmy is surprised they let Davis out on bail. I’m surprised that Davis didn’t doom-out at the police station. Davis replies that the police just let him go. Jimmy angrily says that he saw Davis murder someone. Davis calmly explains that Jimmy did see him but he was looking for a patient that was brought into the ER. It was a drunk driver involved in a fatal accident. The hospital had to call the cops because the guy ran. They spent the night searching for him. Davis says that he came across Jimmy and Jimmy was really out of it. Jimmy is positive of what he saw. Davis says that last night Jimmy’s morphine pump was faulty and it gave a double dose every time Jimmy hit the trigger. Chloe notes that she was with Jimmy and the machine wouldn’t allow extra doses. Davis insists that it malfunctioned and asks if Jimmy did something to it. Jimmy is taken aback. He says that there is nothing wrong with the pump. Davis suggests they talk to the doctors or nurses. Jimmy looks over at Chloe. She looks very unsure. Davis says he’ll get out of Jimmy’s way and leaves. Chloe follows.

 

 

Chloe tells Davis that she feels terrible. Davis says that he knows what painkillers can do to a person’s mind. Chloe replies that Davis doesn’t deserve to be cast as the madman in Jimmy’s psycho thriller. Davis understands why Jimmy would feel that way. After all, he did kiss his (Jimmy’s) bride. Chloe says that Jimmy doesn’t know. She didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. Davis says that he hopes they can get past Jimmy’s dislike of him. He (Davis) accepts that Jimmy got the girl. If he wasn’t a psycho-killer he’d be really endearing. Davis says that if Jimmy needs anything, he here. Chloe looks sad. Davis asks her what’s wrong. Chloe says that she can’t help but think that if Jimmy had never met her, this wouldn’t have happened to him. Aw, she looks ready to cry. Where in heck is that BFF of hers?! Davis hugs her. Jimmy spies on them. He looks crazed.

Oliver’s jet: Clark says that it’s nice of Ollie to lend Tess his jet. His home! He’s homeless! Tess says that LuthorCorp and Queen Industries are one big happy family now. The pilot welcomes them. He says that he’ll have to reroute because a storm is coming into LA. He leaves. Clark notes that Tess has been racking up frequent flyer miles. Tess explains that there are a lot of foreign titans to charm when starting a global endeavor. She adds that she had to stop in Geneva to see a plastic surgeon. At Clark’s look, she says that Lex low jacked her with biotech hardware. Clark says that he heard from Lana what Lex did to Tess. He apologizes. Why is he apologizing for Lex? Tess asks about what Lex put Clark through. He pretended to be Clark’s friend. Clark believes that there was a time when he and Lex were friends. Nice of you to admit it, Clark. Tess doesn’t think it was friendship. Clark was Lex’s obsession. Clark makes a face. Woah. I think it’s the first time Tom Welling makes a face (besides smiling, frowning). I like it. It makes Clark more real. Clark asks if Lex talked about him. Tess reveals that Lex kept a journal. Clark asks what it said. Tess replies that she’s sworn to secrecy. Clark smiles slightly. He suddenly asks if Tess is thirsty. Clark claims he is and goes searching for a "bottle of the good stuff". Hee. Is Clark Kent going to try to get Tess drunk?! How very Supermanly of him.

At Met Gen, Jimmy, wearing an EMT jacket, walks out of the emergency door. He sneaks into Davis’ rig. He spots the nun’s cross hanging from the rearview mirror then looks through the glove compartment. Finding nothing, he climbs in the back. He looks around and spots a container. In the container is a heavy black zippered bag. Jimmy is so startled to find the body of the drunk driver in the bag that he hits a glass bottle behind him and cuts his hand. Just then, Davis opens the back door. Seeing Jimmy, he climbs in and shuts the door. Jimmy says that Davis hid the body until he could dispose of it. Davis feigns innocence until he notices that Jimmy found the body. Davis tries to justify his actions. He tells Jimmy that the drunk driver ran a red light and killed a mother and her little girl. Jimmy asks if Davis murdered the man. Davis replies that he didn’t and pounces on Jimmy with a syringe. Jimmy looks terrified for a moment then loses unconsciousness.

 

Later, Jimmy is lying in his bed. He awakens and sits up. Suddenly Chloe is screaming for Jimmy. Jimmy stumbles out of bed and into the hallway. Other patients are sleeping in their beds. He turns around and bumps into a terrified Chloe. "It’s after me again!" she says. Jimmy says that he’ll save her. Chloe tells him to go back to his room; it’ll hurt him. She runs down the hall. Jimmy follows her. He spots her heading into a room and closing the door. He runs over. Chloe, through the glass, orders him to go back to his room. The beast appears behind Chloe and throws the bed through the glass toward Jimmy. Chloe screams as the beast drags her away. Blood spatters the window in front of Jimmy. Someone puts a hand on Jimmy’s arm. It’s Davis. Jimmy shrugs it off and bangs on the glass calling Chloe’s name. Davis looks in the empty room. A nurse asks Jimmy what he took. Davis stands back as two orderlies wrestle Jimmy to the ground. Davis shines a light in Jimmy’s eyes. He orders the nurse to get a shot of Haldol-Ativan. Jimmy insists that he needs to save Chloe. Chloe walks over to Jimmy. She looks worried. Jimmy just stares at her. Davis says they’ll take care of him. What an excellent scene. Aaron Ashmore is an amazing actor when he’s given something to work with. Wow.

 

Oliver’s jet: Tess thinks that Ollie won’t appreciate them drinking his champagne. Clark replies that it’s a long flight and he doubts Ollie would mind. Clark brings up Lex’s journal but Tess only wants to talk about Clark. She notes that they’ve had two bottles of champagne but Clark appears completely unaffected. Clark says that he’s got a strong metabolism. He hands Tess another glass. Tess says that she’s got a strong metabolism too. She adds that her dad could finish a fifth before the lunch whistle blew at the mill. Clark is sympathetic. Tess admits that pulled blue sheets over her head and it made her feel like she was under the ocean. She’d pretend to be the Little Mermaid. Her dad would come in. He shattered her eardrum and broke her arm three times. Clark says that he’s glad her story has a happy ending. "Look at you now" he says. Tess says that she’s good at covering her tracks like Clark is. Well, Clark isn’t that good at covering his tracks. Tess wonders why Lex would have an entire room devoted to Clark (the Chamber Of Clark Kent!). She’s seen the photographs – the crushed Porsche, the mushroomed bullets. Clark says he can’t explain Lex’s delusions. Bah, Clark. Stop claiming that Lex is delusional when he’s 100% right. Tess replies that Lex wasn’t delusional. She says that everyone has deep dark secrets. She just shared hers with Clark, she asks that Clark tell her his. Clark seems to mull it over then lies that there is nothing to tell. "What you see is what you get". Tess walks to the intercom and asks the pilot about the weather in LA. The pilot replies that it’s all clear.

 

Suddenly there’s an explosion. The plane starts to lose altitude. The oxygen masks drop from the ceiling. Clark makes his way to the cockpit. There’s a huge hole and the pilot is gone. Tess meanwhile goes to the back and checks a compartment containing two parachutes. She heads back toward Clark who informs her of the damage in the cockpit. Tess claims that she can’t find the parachutes. Tess drops to the floor. She tells Clark to do something. Clark reaches for an oxygen mask and puts it on her. Of course, he doesn’t pretend to need a parachute. He crimps the tube to Tess’ oxygen mask. Tess loses consciousness. Isn’t that a tad risky? Oh well, Tess is a bad guy so it doesn’t matter if she suffers brain damage /sarcasm. Clark punches out the door. He picks Tess up and jumps off the plane. The plane bursts into flame.

In a dark alley, a guy uses a crow bar to break into an office. Davis watches from the shadows. He starts to walk toward the thief when he accidentally kicks a bottle. Hearing the noise, the thief makes a run for it. Davis is suddenly hit from behind by Jimmy. Er, how does that work exactly? Davis’ skin is impervious to knives but a conk on the head makes him woozy? Jimmy handcuffs Davis a fence. He tells Davis that he wasn’t hallucinating. He puts up the hand with cut. He says that he got the cut in Davis’ truck. "You murdered that man" he whispers. Davis warns Jimmy to get away from him. Jimmy says that Chloe is on her way and he wants Davis to confess to the murder. Davis says that Jimmy isn’t himself. Jimmy replies that that’s what Davis wants everyone to believe. At first Jimmy thought it was to cover up the murder (isn’t that enough?) but then he saw Davis holding Chloe outside his room. "You want me out of the way so you can have her all to yourself, don’t you" adds Jimmy. Davis is slowly losing control. His eyes are red. He yells for Jimmy to leave now. Davis breaks one of the handcuffs. Uh oh. This can’t be good. Jimmy picks up the metal pipe but, before he can hit Davis, he is tasered and drops to the ground. It’s Chloe.

 

Chloe checks on Jimmy then approaches Davis. Davis yells for her to go. She puts her hand on Davis shoulder and assures him that Jimmy can’t hurt him. Davis has now partially turned into the beast but at the touch of Chloe’s hand, he reverts back. He looks at his hand in wonder then turns toward Chloe. "You saved me" he tells her. That’s unexpected. Why does Chloe’s touch stop the beast? Does Chloe bring the best out of all Kryptonians?

Luthor mansion: Clark opens the double doors like he owns the place (or like Lex still lives there). He’s wearing his Kal-clothes: black t-shirt, jeans, and a black leather jacket. Yum. Tess, dressed in a robe, watches him from the library balcony. "The prince who came to my rescue" she says. Clark notes that she’s fine. She replies that she knew she was fine when she woke up in a Phoenix emergency room with Clark standing by her side. Clark asks if Tess figured out what brought down Oliver’s jet (his home!). It could be someone trying to kill her. Tess, walking down the stairs, says they’re still investigating the explosion. Clark asks about the pilot. Tess says they haven’t found his body and she feels terrible. Why is he dead and they’re still alive. She drops a DP paper on Lex’s desk. "Red-Blue Blur to the Rescue" reads the front page headline. Clark, distracted by the paper, says that the lucky part was finding the parachute. Tess asks where Clark found the parachute. Clark lies that he found it in the cabin locker. Tess asks if there was only one. Clark says yes. Tess hopes that the experience has brought them closer. Tess reveals that she’s never told anyone her secret. Clark promises to keep her secret. Tess says that Lex was right. There isn’t a bad bone in Clark’s body. Only lying ones. She says that when she’s around Clark she feels safe. Ugh. A Lana speech *shudders*. Clark replies that he’s glad she’s okay. As he heads out the door, Tess says that while she may run his company and live in his house, she is not Lex. She can be trusted. More Lana talk *shudders*.

 

Kent home: Clark and Chloe walk in. "You think she knows your secret?" asks Chloe. Clark doesn’t think Tess knows. Chloe points out that he saved Tess by flying out of a flying jet. Clark clarifies that he didn’t fly, he jumped and Tess was unconscious (after he crimped her supply of oxygen). Chloe thinks it’s too close for comfort. She suggests he quit the Planet and put the RBB back in the closet. Clark says he’s not changing his lifestyle because Tess might know his secret. Chloe reminds him that Tess is dangerous and tried to kill Lana. Good times! Clark counters that Tess only wanted to destroy the power suit to stop Lex. Oh, Clark, you fell for Tess’ woe-is-me-I-feel-safe-with-you speech. Chloe says that Clark’s ability for seeing the good in people is what makes him special but it also gets him into trouble. Clark looks skeptical. Chloe glances at the clock and says she needs to go. Clark asks about Jimmy and Chloe responds with "From now on it’ll be one long happily ever after". Uh Oh.

At Met Gen, a nurse hands Chloe some "highly addictive" pills for Jimmy. Jimmy grabs the pills from Chloe and walks past her. Chloe tells him that he’s not alone in this. Jimmy replies that he can take care of himself. He walks out and Chloe follows. She tells him that she only stopped him from doing something he’d regret. Jimmy angrily says that Davis came after him and he was protecting himself. Huh? That’s not entirely accurate. Jimmy says that Chloe believes everyone else but him. Chloe glances around. She suggests they continue their discussion at home. Jimmy says that they have no home. Chloe thinks it’s the drugs talking. Jimmy says his mind is clear. For years he put up with Chloe putting Clark over him. Now it’s Davis. Jimmy says Chloe never trusted him. Chloe replies that she trusts him with her life. Jimmy angrily and loudly asks why Chloe ever married him. A security guard tells Jimmy to calm down. Chloe tells him they’re leaving. Chloe wants to work through their problems but Jimmy says he done. "Marrying you was the biggest mistake of my life" says Jimmy. Harsh. He can be very hurtful. It reminds me of Lana’s "I don’t know why I ever loved you" to Clark. Jimmy leaves Chloe crying at the hospital. All I can think is "Thank goodness this black hole relationship is over".

At the DP, Tess’ aide tells Jimmy that he can’t let him in Ms. Mercer’s office. He threatens to call security. Jimmy throws his press badge on the floor. "I quit" he says. He tells the aide if Tess wants to move more papers to put this at the top of her ToDo List. He places a folder on Tess’ desk and writes "Meet Davis Bloome" in black felt on the cover.

Ending montage: It’s a dark and stormy night... Clark changes into the RBB at the DP. Tess hands the pilot a suitcase full of cash. "Enjoy your new life, Captain" she tells him. Jimmy is driving his car. He eyes the pills. He opens them and takes four. Chloe cries at the window of the Talon apartment. Outside, Davis stands in the pouring rain looking up at the apartment.

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SV: 8-12, 8-13, 8-14 “Bulletproof”, “Power”, and “Requiem” Review/Recap

The storyline from "Bulletproof" to "Requiem" is so contrived, convoluted and nonsensical, a combined review/recap of fewer than 500 words is more than it deserves.

Lex’s scientists work on prototype nanite suit that will keep Lex alive. The suit will also give Lex super-speed and super-strength. Lana schemes to get her hands on the suit probably secretly pleased that Lex will die without it. She convinces Dr. Grohl (the same doctor whose family she threatened and blackmailed in s6) to help her. Lana has the procedure and voila insta-super-Lana. She needs no time to adjust to her new abilities, she is just that good.

[Mini Rant] For the past 8 years Clark has been on a hero’s journey. A journey that includes: coping with newly emerging abilities; lying to the people he loves; trying to accept that he’s different; moping for being different; hiding his abilities for fear of being experimented on; painfully learning that he can’t save everyone; moping for being different; and starting to consider that he might need a dual identity. Furthermore, in s8 it’s revealed that the meteor freaks are being shunned by society and are joining support groups to learn to cope with their abilities and their pariah statuses.

Lana Lang willingly becomes the ultimate meteor freak and embraces superhero work without batting an eyelash. And it might be fine if during the last 7 years she’d shown one iota of desire to want to be a superhero (like Clark has) but she hasn’t. She’s been a self-absorbed, lying, scheming, whiny bitch who couldn’t live without a guy on her arm. Suddenly *Bam* she wants to be a superhero. Give me a break. [/Mini Rant]

Clark accepts the new improved Lana and doesn’t give Lex a second thought either. Lana doesn’t realize (or Grohl neglects to mention) that Lex had the suit built to absorb green Kryptonite. In a clever twist, Lex dupes her into absorbing so much K that she becomes Kryptonite Lana. Clark cannot get near her without wanting to hurl. Hehehe. Lana has no choice but to leave to fight crime somewhere else (as what... the BlackBlur?). Whatever. Good riddance.

Meanwhile, Queen Industries and LuthorCorp merge when Tess gets mad at Lex. A bomb goes off in the first Queen-Luthor board meeting, killing all the board members except Oliver (and Tess who wasn’t there). It’s the Toyman. Oliver schemes to kill Lex – the son of the man who killed his parents! What the fudge?!

Chloe hands Clark a Lex-o-tracker. Clark and KryptoLana arrive at Lex’s dastardly hideout (a van) just as it explodes. From all appearances it looks like the Toyman killed Lex but it was... Oliver. Then Oliver keeps Lex’s Kryptonite ring as a souvenir. With any luck, Lex actually took over Oliver’s body (a la Dawn Stiles in "Spirit"), faked his death and is now in a position to toy with Clark as Oliver Queen.

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