SV 7-19 "Quest" Review

There was a lot and I mean a lot of exposition in this episode. Every character including Lex’s minion had a shot at exposition. After two filler episodes, this was a welcome change although it was really long to recap/review. The episode attempts to tie together the Kawatche caves, Numan, Sageeth, Veritas, the Teagues, Swann, the Queens, Lionel, the Traveler and the Destroyer. The good – Lex is getting closer to Clark’s secret. Chloe saved Clark again! And Clark... was Clark.

An antiquary, Milash, looks at the coordinate map, cryptogram, from "Sleeper" while Lex looks on. "Unbelievable. Immaculate", he says. He’s never seen anything like it. Lex wants to know what it does. Milash apologizes. He says he doesn’t know. Lex replies that he didn’t come to the North American expert in antiquities for more ambiguity. Milash says that he needs more time. He wants to take it to his workshop to take it apart. Lex disagrees. The cryptograph isn’t leaving the room, he says. Lex adds that it holds great sentimental value and it’s priceless. Milash counters that if there is no way to decipher its meaning, the priceless heirloom has no value. Lex says nothing. Milash takes the cryptogram and leaves. Lex orders a minion to have him watched 24/7. The minion leaves. It occurs to me that this is one of the last times we’ll see Lex Luthor in his mansion and it makes me sad. Lex leans on the fireplace looking at the fire.


Suddenly someone comes up behind Lex holding a knife. Lex quickly grabs a fireplace poker and the two spar. Lex is stabbed in the side and falls unconscious. The guy tears Lex’s shirt open and carves a symbol onto Lex’s chest. The guy runs off when he hears Lex’s minion come back. Minion yells for security to call an ambulance.


Smallville Medical Center: Lex lies in a bed. The symbol on his chest is crudely stitched together. Lex wakes up. Minion tells him not to try to get up. He’s taken care of everything. Lex notes that that wasn’t the case earlier in the evening. Minion looks sheepish. Lex asks what the police have. Minion replies that the police know nothing. Minion knew Lex wouldn’t want him cooperating with them. He has a private team tracking Lex’s assailant but they don’t have many leads.

Lex says that it was the manager from the bank in Zurich. He must have been stationed at the bank waiting to someone to open the safety deposit box. Lex figures he’s not the only one interested in its contents. Lex sits up. Minion looks concerned (I miss Gina!). Lex says that the guy tried to kill him. Minion replies that he wanted more than that. Lex grabs a tray off the table and uses it as a mirror to look at his chest. Lex says that it’s the symbols; the guy knows; he’s after the cryptograph.

Talon: Jimmy sneaks in. Chloe is waiting for him on the bed with a book. Jimmy looks guilty. Chloe says she won’t ask where he’s been or why he stood her up. Why the heck not, Chloe? He should have called to say he wouldn’t show up. Man, you put up with a lot from this jerk! Chloe adds as long as he picked up cheesecake to say he’s sorry. Eh, you’re looking at cheesecake, Chloe. Jimmy replies that the hospital cafeteria isn’t known for its desert list. Chloe looks concerned. She asks if he’s okay. Jimmy says that he’s great; he’s making page 2. But Lex isn’t doing so hot. He jumps on the bed (literally). Chloe asks if there was an accident. Jimmy replies not if tripping causes multiple stab wounds. He says that while it sounds sleazy, ambulance chasing pays off. He’s holding his camera. He says he’s got a candid shot of Lex being admitted to the hospital. Chloe says that she’ll pass on the peep show. She says that there are other ways for him to make up being late. I think I’m going to be sick. She kisses his cheek, chin. Jimmy is oblivious to Chloe’s advances (I guess he needs whipped cream to get in the mood). Shouldn't Chloe be more curious? She's been pushing Clark to get the Veritas keys from Lex. Shouldn't she want to know what Lex has been up to? It makes no sense.


Jimmy says that Lex’s security isn’t cooperating with police. He asks if Chloe finds this suspicious. Chloe moves away from Jimmy. Oh, thank goodness; I’m feeling better. She says that given the large number of dead bodies, she thought Lex had eliminated all his enemies. Huh? Chloe wonders why someone would attack him. She makes a motion for Jimmy to hand her the camera. Jimmy says the why isn’t as interesting as the how. Along with a stab wound the attacker chiseled a calling card in Lex’s chest – some freaky symbol. Candid shot?! It looks like you were lying on top of him, Jimmy! Chloe recognizes the symbol.


Smallville Medical Center: Chloe walks up to Clark. She apologizes that she couldn’t get there faster but she had to drive. Clark looks exasperated. He asks if Chloe dragged him out of bed because someone hurt Lex. Oh, for...! Have they forgotten Lex has the keys! Chloe explains that they didn’t just hurt Lex. She gives Clark the picture of the carving on Lex’s chest. She asks what it says. Clark says that they are symbols for Traveler and savior. Chloe reasons that there is only one group that appointed themselves the savior of the Traveler. "Veritas", says Clark. Chloe notes that all the Veritas members are dead. Clark wonders who else knows about the Traveler. Chloe says more importantly who knows how to control him. Chloe thinks that maybe Lex was attacked because he had both keys and he used them. She adds that while Clark was away ("Apocalypse"), she tracked Lex and the keys to a safety deposit box in Zurich. She’s only mentioning this to Clark now? Is this on a need-to-know basis? Clark asks if they are too late. Chloe replies that Clark is still steering his own ship which means that whatever was in the box hasn’t taken the wheel... yet. "That’s comforting", quips Clark. Chloe thinks it’s because Lex doesn’t know who the Traveler is. Clark says that there is only one way to find out. He barges into Lex’s room... but the room is empty.

It’s dark and pouring rain outside. A car stops in front of an antiques store. It’s the guy who attacked Lex (let’s call him Attacker). In the window of the store, Milash sits at his table working. Attacker calls someone on his cell. He says that he found him. The person on the other end, who looks like he is in a church, orders Attacker to retrieve the cryptograph.


In the antiques shop, Milash works on the cryptograph while a security guy paces back and forth. Milash says that it can’t be; he should have seen it before. He asks if security guy wants to take a look. The guy says he’ll pass. Milash asks security gal if she wants to take a look. She walks over. Suddenly the door opens. Attacker shoots the security gal. Milash hides under the desk. Security guy finally makes a move. He shoots the Attacker but misses. Attacker doesn’t miss. Milash is crawling on the floor. Attacker points a gun on him. Milash begs him to take it (the cryptograph). A shot is fired. Attacker falls to the floor. Lex stands at the door holding a gun. It’s pouring outside, yet Lex looks dry. Now that’s evil!


Isis Foundation: Clark paces as Chloe types away. There are images of Lex’s chest on all the monitors in the room. Clark repeats savior, traveler. Clark thinks that the person who did this may have kidnapped Lex. Chloe replies that if they did, they did it to save Clark. Clark replies that’s the last thing he needs – someone killing people in his name. Chloe says that it’s probably how God felt about the Crusades. The parallels of Clark and Christianity are making me uncomfortable. Clark wonders why someone would carve Kryptonian symbols in Lex’s chest. Chloe thinks that Lex got himself into this. Clark says that he let him. You’re both right. Clark sees something on the screen. He tells Chloe to go back. Clark says that where the symbols overlap creates a third symbol – sanctuary. Clark explains that there is no Kryptonian word that translates to "church". Sanctuary is the closest match. "Looked at that way savior could be..." starts Clark. "Angel or saint", finishes Chloe. Chloe looks up the Patron Saint of Travelers – it’s Saint Christopher. She says that there is only one St. Christopher’s Cathedral on this continent and it’s in Montreal. There is no such cathedral in Montreal. She asks Clark to hand her his phone. She downloads a map to St. Christopher’s Cathedral.


Milash and Lex are in a car. Milash says that the man was going to kill him. He was after the cryptograph. Lex can’t resist an I-told-you-so. He says that he underestimated its value. Milash says that he’s not surprised considering what he found. Every artist leaves his mark. This piece was designed by a renowned German watchmaker named Dietrich Brower. Lex doesn’t look impressed. Brower catered to European noble families making hundreds of timepieces. One day he went into seclusion. Rumors said that an unknown patron had commissioned a magnificent clock. Only one sketch of the clock existed. It disappeared during the Second World War. The gears from the sketch match the cryptograph gears exactly. The clock was given as a donation from a wealthy philanthropist – Dr. Swann. Swann posthumously donated the clock to a church – St. Christopher’s Cathedral in Montreal.

St. Christopher’s Cathedral, Montreal: Clark checks the map on his cell phone. He goes in the church. At the head of the church is a large urn with Kryptonian symbols in it. Clark picks up the top of the urn and looks at the Kryptonian symbols carved underneath. As he places the top back, a man in a robe holding a cane approaches. He tells Clark that it appears he found what he was seeking. He’s been expecting Clark. He says that there are few who can read the inscription and only one has the ability to follow the instructions (well, maybe two. Kara?). The man reveals that he is Edward Teague, last surviving member of Veritas. Teague gets on his knees before Clark. He says he’s waited a lifetime to serve the Traveler. He bows his head. I find this scene disturbing. Teague is bowing before Clark who is standing in front of a crucifix. I realize it continues the imagery started in the Pilot but did SV have to shoot this in a church?

Teague says that Lionel wanted Clark all to himself. He killed the Queens, Swann. Teague went into hiding after he lost his wife and son. Clark says that they died because of him. Teague corrects him. He says that they died for him. Clark says that they didn’t even know him. Good point. Teague says that’s the difference between believers and non-believers. Believers believed that he’d be the next savior. They took an oath under Swann to protect him (Clark). This is really disturbing. Clark asks if attacking Lex was Teague’s way of protecting him. Teague replies that Lex is a non-believer. How can Lex be a believer or non-believer if he didn’t know about the existence of the Traveler much less that he was supposed to be a savior? Teague asserts that Lex can’t be trusted and his intentions are harmful. I don’t understand how Teague can jump to that conclusion.


Clark wants to know what can control him. Teague replies that Swann kept that secret to himself; he scattered clues around the world in the hopes that whatever controls Clark wouldn’t wind up in the wrong hands. This story is extremely convoluted. Teague adds that one of the clues is in the church. He’s afraid Lex knows where. Clark says that’s why Teague tried to kill Lex. But he wants to know why Teague carved his name in Lex’s chest. Teague says that Lionel kept the identity of the Traveler secret. It was the only way for Clark to come find him. Couldn’t he have burned the symbol on a barn? Put an ad in a newspaper?


Teague says that he had to warn Clark about how evil Lex is. Huh? How does he know? Clark says that he knows who Lex is and what he’s done. Teague is confused. He doesn’t understand why Clark didn’t take care of him (Lex) before. Teague angrily reminds Clark that they sacrificed everything; years of their lives; their families for Clark. Teague realizes that Clark doesn’t want to fulfill his destiny. No shit, Sherlock. Teague looks disgusted. He says that Clark doesn’t even want to save himself. Did he watch "Apocalypse" too? Teague opens the top of the cane he’s holding. It has a Kryptonite stone in it. Clark drops to the floor. Teague says that people want to see Clark as their savior but he is naïve. For every beacon of light, there is a pit of darkness. They must fight to keep the darkness from overwhelming them. Lex Luthor cannot be allowed to control Clark no matter what the cost. Clark loses consciousness.

Lex’s jet: Lex pops some pills and takes a sip of alcohol to wash it down. Pills and drinks don’t mix, kids. He tells Milash that they land in three hours. Milash wants to know what Lex has gotten him into. Lex looks really out of it. He replies that it’s better if Milash doesn’t concern himself with it. Milash insists. He says he’s got a right to the truth. He expects that he’ll be killed before he gets off the jet. He asks why he should help Lex. Lex reminds him that he saved his life. Milash thinks that’s because Lex needed him.


Milash says that in antiquities provenance is everything. The history of an object and the reason it was made is its true value. Milash reveals that there was rumor Brower was commissioned to make the clock by a secret society of wealthy patrons. He asks if Lex knows anything about that. Lex says that Lionel was one of them. Lionel was fixated. Everything he did was aimed at finding the truth no matter the cost. Lionel’s obsession made Lex an orphan long before he died. Lex always wondered why. He says that the cryptograph will give him the answer. Milash goes back to work.

Talon apartment: Chloe calls Clark. She informs him that the Luthor jet just left for Montreal. She suggests that whatever he finds, he finds it fast. Jimmy comes in. He says that Chloe won’t believe what he found. Symbols like the one carved into Lex have been appearing around Smallville for years – in barn walls, as crop circles, in cave walls. Chloe tries to steer Jimmy away from symbols. She tells him that it’s a hoax. Chloe says that people have been playing with the Kawatche cave paintings for years, trying to get on the 6 o’clock news. Jimmy replies that Chloe gets a little competition in the story department and suddenly Chloe goes all Scully on him. Chloe says that she doesn’t believe Smallville is destined to be the next Stonehenge. Jimmy asks even if it turns out that it’s a site of ritualistic killings. Jimmy says that he pulled this pic from research on the cave. It’s an exact match to the carving on Lex’s chest and it’s above a drawing. Jimmy shows her a drawing of a man with an "S" on his chest. Chloe says that it looks like a guy in a doorway. Jimmy says that according to the number one website on human cryptography, it’s actually a human sacrifice (or a Kryptonian sacrifice?). Chloe realizes that it could be Clark. That’s a really ugly drawing.

Clark is strapped to a stone altar. A Kryptonite light glows around him. He asks Teague why he’s doing this. He thought Teague was supposed to protect him. Teague says that Clark let the secret of Veritas fall into the wrong hands. This is the only way to guarantee that Clark won’t come under someone else’s control. Does Lana count? Clark insists that it won’t happen. He can stop it. Teague doesn’t believe him. He says that he’ll bestow on Clark an ancient Kryptonian ritual. Er, how does he know about ancient Kryptonian rituals? Teague unwraps a chalice and a knife. He says that before Clark’s race were scientists they were warriors. This ceremony was a sign of respect for the mightiest of their enemies. Clark yells that Teague doesn’t know anything about Krypton. Teague says that as Swann’s disciple he was taught everything. Clark replies that Swann must have taught Teague that he (Clark) is not a threat. Yes, but if the wrong person controls you, Clark. Teague replies that Swann was an idealist. He said that Clark would rule them with strength but for every passage there was another interpretation that cast Clark as their destroyer. Teague concludes that if Lex takes control of Clark, that’s what will happen.



Teague opens a stone bowl (for lack of a better word) filled with liquid Kryptonite. He says that it’s something Clark’s father could not have foreseen. Jor-El had high hopes (he was an ant?) when he sent Clark to Earth. Teague fills the chalice with the Kryptonite and pours it in grooves in the altar. Teague explains that Jor-El understood the risk of sending a god among men. If Clark turned against humanity, humanity wouldn’t stand a chance. That’s why Jor-El sent the device. The only other option was to destroy Clark but he couldn’t bear the thought of killing his son. Wha? Huh?


Teague takes the knife and stands before Clark. He says that he hopes Clark finds peace in this act of selflessness. He cuts Clark’s t-shirt and proceeds to carve something in Clark’s chest. These Kryptonians were barbaric. Clark looks really uncomfortable until he passes out.

Lex walks into the church. He walks over to the clock and fits the cryptograph into it. The gears spin and align. Music begins to play. We go CSI-like into the clock gears as the music continues to play and Lex looks on. The clock hands automatically move to five to two. Above the clock face a plate rotates into view. Lex takes the black and white artifact in the shape of the House of El. When he turns around, Teague is waiting for him. He tells Lex that he’s too late. Teague says that it’s strange to see Lex without the Warrior Angel figurines. Lex recognizes him. Teague says he’s sorry Lex inherited his father’s obsession. Lex opens his shirt and angrily states that Teague is the one who did this. He tried to kill him. No, Lex. He used you as a bulletin board. Teague replies that the prophecy states the Traveler would have a powerful adversary but he would never have foreseen that it would be little Alexander. Lex realizes that Teague knows who the Traveler is. Lex says that knowing the identity of the Traveler is everything to him. He’s lived his life feeling like he was just an afterthought and he’s sacrificed too much. Teague replies that Lex’s sacrifice has just begun. The world exists only in balance. If there is no Traveler there can be no Destroyer. Lex takes out his gun but Teague hits it away. Lex grabs a sword off the wall. Hey, they’re both left-handed.


Chloe walks into the church. She runs when she spots Clark unconscious and bleeding on the altar. Chloe takes a crucifix(!!) and smashes the top of the altar. The liquid Kryptonite surrounding Clark leaks back into the bowl and Chloe covers the liquid Kryptonite. Clark starts to come to. His chest heals and he breaks free of the straps. Clark starts to ask how Chloe got there. Chloe says Ollie’s jet.


Lex and Teague continue to sword fight. Just as Lex is about to skewer Teague with the sword, Clark goes into superClark mode. He hits the sword out of Lex’s hand. It flies into the clock, destroying it. Lex and Teague fall to the floor. As Lex looks at the destroyed clock, Teague spots Clark. Clark speeds away. Lex asks how Teague did that. Teague answers that he didn’t. That's it? Lex and Teague suddenly decided the fight is over? Lex picks up the black and white artifact from the floor.

Lex’s Jet: Lex asks if Milash is safely on US soil. Minion says that he put him on the first commercial flight to Metropolis. He hands Lex a drink. Minion asks if they’ll need Milash in Scotland. "Not if you did your homework", replies Lex. Minion asks what’s so compelling about a small island off the west coast of Scotland. Lex says that the clock played a melody from an old Scottish folksong - The Birks of Saint Kilda. He says that when he was learning to play the piano, Lionel made him play it over and over. Lex adds that Birks means Birches. Minion says that the island is now a bird sanctuary. He says that according to literature there was a small town built up around a castle until a rich American bought the castle and hauled it back to the US. He shows Lex a picture of the castle. Guess which castle it is.

Lex reveals that Lionel brought the castle to Smallville stone by stone but never found what he was looking for. Lex orders minion to tell the pilot that they’re going home.

Chloe walks into the Talon apartment. Jimmy has the table set up with candles (eh, another Lana trait). Chloe says that she was only gone 24 hours. She’ll stay away for a week next time. Jimmy says that he’s celebrating himself (yep, like Lana). He says that he sold his first article. I thought he was a photographer. Jimmy says that he kept digging into the symbols in the Kawatche caves. It turns out Lex is interested in the symbols too. Chloe looks panic stricken. She asks what the article is about. Jimmy says that the stories on the cave walls are about Good versus Evil; Numan, the savior of the people, and Sageeth, the bringer of darkness. Chloe says the story is familiar. Clark wrote a paper about it in high school. Jimmy says that in the beginning Numan and Sageeth have their own symbol. He shows Chloe a picture depicting a combination of the two. Jimmy says that according to a professor at Met U who specializes in hieroglyphs the symbol of Good versus Evil is common. It embodies the push and pull; yin and yang. "The hero/anti-hero conflict", adds Chloe. Jimmy reveals that Lex is jazzed because that image represents a resolution of the conflict. He says that in the Kawatche legend the hero’s journey ends in a final battle. Duh. Chloe asks who is supposed to win according to the professor. Jimmy doesn’t know.

Kent loft: Chloe holds the picture of Numan and Sageeth. She tells Clark that the writing is literally on the wall. Clark scoffs. He asks if she buys into the whole Numan/Sageeth mythology. Chloe says that after she saw Clark strapped down like in one of the drawings in the cave... yes. Clark counters that it wasn’t a myth that tried to kill him, it was a man. A man that’s still on the loose, Chloe notes. Clark says that when Teague was performing the ritual; on some twisted level he thought he was doing the right thing; protecting everyone from Clark. Clark says that as long as there’s something that can control him, he’s a threat. Teague reminded him how dangerous his abilities are. Argh!! More guilt. Clark adds that in the wrong hands, they can destroy everything. Chloe says that that’s why he can’t let Lex walk away. She says that Lex won’t hesitate to destroy Clark if he gets the chance. Clark asks if Chloe wants him to kill Lex. When Chloe doesn’t answer, Clark says that if he does that, he’ll be turning into him (Lex). Chloe warns Clark that whether he likes it or not, one day he’s going to have to play god. Now that's scary.


Workers are all over the mansion looking for another part of Veritas. Lex walks to the piano and plays a few notes from the melody he heard at the church. Lex recites a poem(?) or lyrics. He asks minion if the castle was on the west coast of Saint Kilda. Minion says yes. Lex asks if it was facing west. Minion replies that the castle faced south. Lex orients himself in the mansion. He continues the poem/lyrics. He suddenly orders everyone to leave immediately. He takes out the artifact and looks at the fireplace. He notes the symbol on the artifact is on the top of the fireplace. He breaks the symbol on the fireplace and takes out a bag containing a purple Kryptonian crystal globe. The artifact fits in the globe. The globe floats from Lex’s hand and emits a light in the shape of the Earth. Latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates are highlighted on the globe.