SV: 7-6 “Lara” Review

 

A Superman mythology episode that manages to squeeze in another triangle. It wasn’t a bad episode but it kind of left me wondering what the heck is wrong with these Kryptonians? Oh, and Michael Rosenbaum is awesome!

Krypton 1987: There’s a war going on as evidenced by the fog, the grey crystals, the red tinge to the atmosphere and the sounds of bombs. Two figures walk amongst the devastation. It’s Kara and her father, Zor-El. Kara begs her father not to send her away. He tells her that till the war is over, she’ll be safer on Earth. Kara whines that the journey will take three years (eh, actually, it’ll take 18 years but who’s counting). Zor-El replies that the Council destroyed all the portals so General Zod and his men couldn’t escape. Er,isn’t Zod banished to the Phantom Zone?

Kara asks what if she never sees him again. Zor-El says to trust his wisdom and gives her a crystal. He says that the crystal is her way back to Krypton. As long as she has it, the world she knows and loves will be safe.

Kara asks why Zor-El can’t come with her. What about Kara’s mother? Zor-El replies that he must stay behind to protect Kandor. He adds that the crystal contains the instructions for what Kara needs to do to help Kal-El. Kara whines that she doesn’t want to go. Zor-El says that “A true Kryptonian embraces his destiny no matter what”. They hug and Kara heads for the ship.

Present day. Kara is flying while reminiscing. Suddenly she’s aware of a large commercial aircraft coming towards her. She avoids it just in time.

Daily Planet: Chloe is looking at the Isis Foundation on her monitor. The foundation claims to provide support for the meteor infected. It’s predominantly pink. Hmm, who could be behind this foundation, I wonder?

Clark breezes in. Chloe tells him that the FAA halted all traffic over Washington because a commercial pilot reported an near collision with an object that shot right up in a red/blue blur. The FAA believes it to be a ground to air missile – but it’s Kara. Clark blames himself. Why? I have no idea. He so wracked up in guilt for stuff he isn’t responsible for, it’s depressing.

Chloe tries to convince him that he’s not responsible. Clark insists that he pushed Kara away; that he didn’t trust her. He says he has to find her. Chloe adds before she “uncorks the Kent family secret”. Hee.

Jimmy comes and asks Clark if he’s seen Kara. What the heck, Jimmy? Clark replies that Kara decided to go to Washington DC alone. Jimmy suggests that Kara is just doing the tourist thing. Chloe is unto Jimmy. She asks what he knows. Jimmy admits that Kara wanted to see the video that Lois took of a spaceship and that he was able to make out a partial image of equipment that pointed to the government. When Chloe asks why Jimmy kept this a secret, he replies that Kara asked him to keep it secret and she (Kara) trusts him. Is Jimmy channeling Lana? Hmm maybe that’s why he becomes Superman’s pal.

Clark takes Chloe aside (hey, Jimmy, one more person that doesn’t trust you). He tells her that the crystal is Kara’s last tie to Krypton and she’ll do anything to get it back.

LuthorCorp (I think): Lionel is looking out a window when Clark comes in. They hug (?!). Lionel asks about Clark’s new family member. Clark replies that Kara is from his adopted father’s side of the family. Lionel doesn’t look convinced. Why would Clark lie now? He just hugged Lionel but he doesn’t trust him with Kara’s secret - makes no sense.

Clark asks about an underground government lab that’s located beneath the silo in Granville. When Lionel asks what Clark is doing at a government lab, Clark lies that he was researching a story for a friend. Lionel says that the lab belongs to the DoDS and that Washington has had a wary eye on the heavens for decades. The program is called Star Hawk. He says that they started it after the second meteor shower. He adds that did everything he could to divert attention from Clark. Sadly, Clark doesn’t help matters when he invites "half of Hollywood" to shoot a movie on the farm ("Action").

Lionel says that they were ready to leave Smallville (I thought it was Granville) having found no conclusive evidence of alien threat. Lionel asks if Clark believes that they’ve discovered something in the lab that changed their minds.

Washington DC: Agent Carter looks on as composition tests are performed on Kara’s crystal. They discover that the crystal contains 7% unknown material. Just then a voice over a PA system tells Carter that Mr. Luthor has entered the building. The crystal is lowered out of sight.

Lex accuses Carter of not mentioning that he stole something off the spaceship. Carter replies that it’s classified information for reasons of national security. But if Lex has access to the lab, then he must have clearance, right? Lex replies that it’s only a matter of time before he finds out what Carter is hiding. Lex leaves and the crystal analysis are resumed.

Washington DC nightclub: Kara comes in dressed in a pretty red dress. She focuses her hearing on a guy talking about being stuck in a lab. I hope she followed him from the lab and isn’t randomly listening in on conversations. Although how would she know if he’s actually working on her crystal?

Kara goes up to him and pulls him aside. She asks if he works for Domestic Security. The guy is a tad drunk. He asks if it’s that obvious. Kara says that government agents are sexy. When he replies that he’s not an agent, Kara asks if he’s just a pencil pusher. Lab guy brags that he heads up a team of lab technicians outside the city.

 

She asks “secret agent man” if they’ve ever found anything in these spaceships. He admits that they found a crystal and they are studying it at the lab. Secretagentman? Is that a shout out? Laura Vandervoort is very pretty in this scene (see pic).

Kara whooshes off. She enters the government lab; uses lab guy’s id to get in and breaks the glass holding the crystal. An alarm sounds. The crystal is not there. Doesn’t she have x-ray vision?

Isis Foundation: Chloe enters and meets… Lana (she’s in black; she’s evil now). Chloe tells Lana that she found the foundation’s web site and came seeking an interview. She asks if Lana works there. Lana answers that she is the foundation. Chloe asks when Lana became a champion for the meteor infected. Lana replies that Lex’s 33.1 ruined lives – not just the victims but their families and friends as well. Huh? Wasn’t Lana for 33.1 in "Static"?

Chloe says she’s proud of Lana. I'm disgusted. Lana whispers that she doesn’t want anyone to know until she’s built the foundation into something real. Chloe points out that they have a website; they’re already out there. Lana asks Chloe not to tell Clark because Clark would try to talk her out of it – saying it’s too dangerous. Chloe says that she senses that Lana is holding something back. Lana replies that it’s just Chloe’s imagination. Chloe agrees not to tell Clark. Stupid Chloe.

Back at the nightclub, Kara confronts lab guy. She grabs him and demands to know the location of the crystal. Lab guy says he wants his wallet back. Clark shows up and tells her to let lab guy go and to give him (lab guy) back his wallet.

Clark drags Kara away. He asks if she’s looking for the crystal. Didn’t he already determine that Kara is looking for the crystal? Clark says that Kara almost took out an airplane and killed it's passengers. Hmm, didn’t Clark believe he killed Knox in "Cure"? Why was that okay? Kara says Clark doesn’t trust her. She says that he believes everyone but her. Kara insists that her father was never a traitor; he was a good man.

 

Kara tells Clark that he acts like such a hero but in reality he only thinks of himself (and Lana). She says they may be cousins but she doesn’t have to like him. She tells Clark to stay out of her life. She starts to leave, Clark holds her arm; she sends him flying (no, not the good flying) and flies off. Clark is left staring at the sky (see pic).

Daily Planet: Jimmy walks in to find Kara typing at his computer. She says that she hopes that he doesn’t mind if she uses his computer. Jimmy says no then jokes unless she’s hacking into national security networks. As it happens, Kara is hacking into a security network. She types in an id number. Huh? Getting into a national network with a username and an id? No password?

Jimmy is worried. He points out that the government can track his IP address and arrest him. Kara replies that she routed it through a Torpark filter and then rerouted it through a half-dozen servers. She comes across a list and zeroes in on the company Lx Dynamics (why?). Jimmy says that they are a LuthorCorp defense contractor. Kara pulls a Clark and deduces that Lex is behind the crystal’s disappearance. Kara pulls another Clark and whooshes off while Jimmy is not looking.

In Lana’s Chamber of Lex Luthor: Lana’s monitors suddenly display static.

Luthor mansion: Kara barges in only to be caught by Carter who disables her with kryptonite handcuffs. Kara should be on the floor in agony but she’s just breathing hard. Carter tells her that when he saw how the meteor rocks disabled Kara’s ship, he figured it might do the same thing to the passenger. Lucky guess.

Lex comes in. Carter tells him to stand down. Lex mentions his security cameras and his guards (really, Lex?). Carter says that he disabled both. Carter accuses Lex of working with Kara to steal the crystal. When Lex starts to move toward Carter, Carter shoots him with a dart.

Lana’s Chamber of Lex Luthor: Lana types furiously. The feed comes back on showing Kara in Lex’s study. Is the feed time delayed? Lana calls Clark. Isn’t she amazing?

Lex’s study: Clark shows up asking about Kara. Lex says that Kara was arrested by the DDS. Clark replies that he wishes he could trust Lex. Lex swears it’s the truth and adds that Kara was taken to a lab in Virginia. He asks why they would arrest Kara. Clark looks uneasy.

Virginia Lab: Kara is strapped to a machine. Carter asks how she was able to smash into an impenetrable vault. He says that the machine will reveal the truth. It is technology developed by Somerholt that forces people to relive their memories (“Memoria”!). He says it was unstable but now he can control the process by injecting the meteor rock solution directly into her vein. Last time Clark was injected with a meteor rock solution, he died (see: “Void”). This should kill her; not help her relive old memories!

Kara flashes back to the Kent farm. Lara, Clark’s mom, is in the loft. What is it with Kryptonians and lofts? Kara followed Lara to Earth via the last remaining portal. Kara says that she had to leave Kandor. The war is getting worse. Lara asks if Zor-El knows where she is. Kara says no.

Kara asks what Lara is doing on Earth. Lara says that she wants to see where her son will grow up. She can’t let the destiny of her child be dictated by the fate of Krypton. Kara asks if Lara is worried about her son growing up with humans. Lara answers that Jor-El came to Earth years ago (“Relic”) and chose the Kents for their capacity to love.

Present: Carter realizes that Kara was on Earth before the first meteor shower. Kara denies it. Carter increases the meteor rock concentration.

Kent farm 1986: Kara and Lara walk into the Kent home. Kara asks if Lara has named her son yet. When Lara answers no, Kara suggests the name Kal-El - it means "star child". Kara finds a Polaroid camera and snaps Lara’s picture. They hide the picture in Martha’s portrait. Zor-El breaks through the Kent's front door; he's mad.

Clark comes in but he is weakened by the kryptonite. He tells Carter that Kara has been exposed too long; she’ll die. When Carter approaches, Clark hits him and knocks him out. When Clark touches one of the electrodes on Kara, he flashes back to the Kent farm in 1986.

Kent farm 1986: Zor-El orders Kara to leave them (him and Lara). Zor-El says that he’s happy Lara is on Earth; with the end so near there is no reason to return to Krypton. He suggests that he, Lara, and Kara stay on Earth to rule Earth with strength as a family. Lara refuses. Zor-El goes to kiss her. She says that Jor-El is her husband and they’re having a child. What is it with Kryptonians and lusting after another man’s wife? Jor-El (“Relic”), Clark (latter part of s6), and now Zor-El.

Zor-El says that Jor-El’s blood runs too cold to have a son. Lara replies that Zor-El tried to kill Jor-El, what does that make him? Zor-El says that Lara loves Kara and he will love Lara’s son as his own. She says he’s delusional. Zor-El says that they’ll be together one day through his science. Lara gasps that he cloned her. Why is this sounding like Lex, Lana and Clark all of a sudden? It wasn’t that great a plot do it again.

Zor-El says that Lara’s DNA is stored safely in a crystal. When he tries to kiss Lara, Kara interrupts. Zor-El uses the S-shield crystal to remove Kara’s memories of that day.

Present day: Clark breaks out of the spell and tries to get Kara to wake up. She flatlines. He’s still being affected by the kryptonite. Agent Carter sneaks up behind Clark but Lionel shoots him. Lionel moves the kryptonite away from Clark. Clark hits Kara with everything he’s got (shouldn’t she be in China now?) and Kara revives(?). They hug.

 

Kent farm: Clark and Kara open Martha’s portrait to find the Polaroid of Lara. Clark thinks Lara is beautiful. Kara is disillusioned with her father. Clark says that while her father did some misguided things, he still loved her. He adds that they are not defined by their parents; they shape their own destiny. Kara apologizes for what she said to Clark (see pic).

Luthor mansion: Lex is having a drink when Lionel walks in. Lionel says that he heard from his contacts at the DDS that Lex is interested in Kara Kent. Lex is amused (see topmost pic). He replies that Kara is just a waitress at the Talon. Lionel asks when will Lex stop his fixation with Clark Kent. Lex asks if that’s Lionel’s fatherly advice for the day. Lionel says that he’s taking an interest in his son’s wellbeing. Lex asks which son is that. He adds that Lionel spends as much time protecting Clark as pushing him (Lex) away. This breaks my heart.

 

Lionel replies that he wishes he could say he’s proud of Lex. I hate Lionel right now. Lionel mentions Lex’s treatment of Lana. Lex tells him that what he did, he learnt from his father. He was just being a Luthor. Touché, Lex! Lex looks like he’s about to cry (see pic). Shut up, Lionel!

Lionel talks about crossing a line. Excuse me? Pot meet kettle. Lionel says that he can fool many people but Lex can’t fool him. This sounds like a death knell for Lionel!

Daily Planet: Kara makes a lunch date with Jimmy. She kisses him. Jimmy gets his coat and bumps into Chloe. Chloe says there is no reason they can’t remain friends and asks Jimmy for lunch; Jimmy declines looking at Kara.

Kent farm: Clark brings Lana into the barn to show her something. It’s Kara’s crystal. He took it from Lex. Wasn't Clark feeling guilty about not trusting Kara?