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.