(S07E12) Finally! They've gotten back to the amnesiac Kara in Detroit. Unfortunately, Lex got to her first.Along with the amnesia from the confrontation in the Fortress with her father, Kara has also lost her powers. As a result, she couldn't punch out a psycho stalker fellow employee in the diner who kidnapped her.
And Lois, being the ever-stalkery reporter herself, found Lex stalking Kara using her own resources. Oh what a tangled web we weave.
Giving my unbiased opinion, I hate "mindscape" episodes. Granted, they allow you to better understand a character's motivations through metaphor but they're so cliche and overused. They're also cheap and relatively easy to make (you can use any set) which is probably why they're used so often. I think I've seen an episode like this in every sci-fi show I've ever watched.
My first thought when Lex was shot in the head by psycho stalker guy (who probably had a name, but I don't recall it) was "Michael Rosenbaum really wants out of that contract." It only goes to prove that in television, it's possible to recover completely from the destruction of your brain. Who needs brains in Hollywood anyway?
Fortunately, they had plot-device Chloe to save the day. I don't know where they're going with this. The production staff is either setting her up to die or making it seem like they're setting her up to die so they can let her live later (like they did with the "death" of Lana two seasons ago).
The episode was shown out of order, which I found confusing at first. Questions such as "if Kara has amnesia, how did she recognize Lex" weren't answered until later.
This was partially obscured by the strange plot-order, but I also found the timing of certain events odd. By my reckoning, Kara and Lois were trapped in that back-alley cage thing for days.
I like how her amnesiac character is named "Linda." This is a nod to Linda Lee (or Linda Danvers), which has historically been Kara's secret identity in the comics.
It's cute how there's a little "good" Lex running around in his head which embodies the good qualities Lex had. This is the Lex that was Clark's friend in the first few seasons of show. Five-to-one the kid dies before the series ends.
Why does Clark still make the effort to keep his powers from Lois? It seems like everyone else knows.
Either Tom Welling is cut like a brick house or he thrusts out his chest every time he's on camera. That boy's chest is huge. Of course, it could be CGI.
One thing anybody watching the episode learns is that the Luthor family is pretty f**ked up. His mother was a bitch too (has she even appeared in an episode before?). Even when he's a good guy, Lionel lies to Lex a lot. He's also performing illegal experiments on his dying son. It's no wonder Lex is turning evil. He didn't even say "I love you" back to his father. He must be evil.
Kristen Kreuk had only a cameo this episode. Not hearing her character whine about every little thing as usual did help the episode quality, in my opinion.
Lex has started putting the moves on Kara. It wouldn't surprise me if they started dating soon.
The biggest problem with this series is that characters who should be changing and growing aren't doing that at all. As far as I'm concerned, Clark should already be wearing the tights and flying.
Between the psycho stalker guy and the father/son relationship issues, I'd say this was a poor choice for a Valentine's Day episode.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-14-2008 @ 10:54PM
Argus said...
You nailed it on the head. Every time a character starts to grow they shift them back to square 1. Only the auxillary characters grow (like Flash and Green Arrow.) Its time for Lois and Chloe and Lana and Clark to all change. Lex and Lionel at least have evolved, but that really doesn't count for all that much since they're not the good guys.
Chloe can become Oracle, screw Gordon.
Lana can die.
Lois can become less one dimensional (which will also happen if Chloe dies.)
Clark can stop being himself. He hasn't changed since grade 10.
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2-14-2008 @ 11:39PM
ac said...
The episode reminded me the this movie called The Cell with Jennifer Lopez.
But as you said any episode with as little Lana as possible is a good episode.
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2-15-2008 @ 2:59AM
xnifex said...
lol my roommate said the exact same thing!
And I liked this ep... especially Lex in all white... it reminds me of the time he touched that old lady and she saw his future with him in a white suit with it raining blood and all....
2-15-2008 @ 10:35AM
kickit said...
def reminded me of that movie The Cell also lol
2-14-2008 @ 11:57PM
Sam said...
This show is dead to me. After season 4 they had everyone on the edge of their seat. I don't remember any drama in history that so blatantly pissed away the goodwill and fanbase they used to by having everything just stop in time.
It's time they drop the no-flights-no-tights crap and start turning Welling into Superrman.
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2-15-2008 @ 12:32AM
mayorjimmy said...
This whole "Lex obsessed with aliens" angle has sucked from the first episode it appeared.
The beauty of Clark Kent's secret identity was always that not only was it simple, it was so simple that Lex was even TOLD about it and he laughed at the idea that someone as powerful as Superman would ever pretend to be a normal person.
Given that, how in the hell do the nimrods that pass for writers of this show plan to end this? Lex already knows almost everything about Clark, so much that finding out his secret would leave no possibility that Clark and Superman could ever exist at the same time.
I can forgive the departure from the comics with little things like origins, and i thank the show from the bottom of my heart for introducing Allison Mack to us all, but a line has to be drawn.
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2-15-2008 @ 12:45AM
Brian said...
I like these reviews you do, as they're not a recap of the whole plot with only occasional comments. You actually analyze the story and only loosly mention plot points. Just lettin ya know.
And yeah, the episode was nice with only a bit of Lana. I think of all the characters, Clark has changed the least. He's still retarded.
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2-15-2008 @ 1:58AM
Mariah said...
As dangerously cheesy as these mindscape eps are, it was kind of heartbreaking to watch Clark leaving Alexander behind. Great kid actor in that part.
BTW, did anyone notice the use of the "Torchwood" sound throughout the episode? Every time it sounded, I looked for Captain Jack Harkness. It's like when "Prison Break" used the "House" - very distracting.
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2-17-2008 @ 4:13AM
Gowan said...
Oh thank goodness someone else noticed it. It distracted my every time! I kept going, "Isn't that the Torchwood hook? What the..?"
2-15-2008 @ 8:59AM
hugeliver said...
Wow. What else can I say. You ALL summed up every single thing I've been feeling.
In the words of Dave Chapelle, "Wrap It Up" Smallville.
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2-15-2008 @ 10:47AM
bella8876 said...
Mariah - I was so worried that I was going crazy! I'm glad someone else noticed the Torchwood music every two minutes. It got to the point where I had a hard time paying attention to the plot of the story.
After thinking about it, it could have been a subtle nod to the show since both are about aliens but once or twice would have been enough.
The biggest problem I had with the episode (and I had a few) was the huge argument between Clark and Chloe about Chloe using her healing abilities on Lex, which he forbid (because it's completely his decision) and then her having to use them anyway. I understand they wanted Clark to go into Lex's mind and meet Alexander and maybe understand why Lex is Lex but then they should have just left out Chloe offering in the first place.
One thing I did love (besides the obvious lack of Lana), was Clark repeating Lex's line to Kara at the end, the look on Lex's face was priceless.
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2-15-2008 @ 11:40AM
Bob said...
It amazes me that no fans of Smallville post here. If you're a fan, you love what they're doing with the show. You've got to look deeper.
I may have to stop coming here to look at these reviews. The guy didn't even know that Lillian Luthor had been in several other episodes. Have someone who's followed the show do these.
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2-15-2008 @ 3:58PM
ac said...
Yeah the reviewer doesn't do the best job but he is doing better. His 1st Smallville review was awful and I called him on it. But I think he needs the DVDs and a little catch up and he'll be fine.
2-15-2008 @ 12:47PM
Rob said...
I'm a fan of the show,.. but seriously...
Worst.
Episode.
Ever.
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2-15-2008 @ 3:11PM
J Rock said...
i liked this episode but something is really bothering me. if someone got lex to a hospital didnt they see the two chicks behind the fence just a few feet away screaming for help. major plot hole. it makes me wonder whether or not they look at the episodes before they put them on the air, to check for stuff like that.
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2-16-2008 @ 11:45PM
Metafox said...
I wonder if the reviewer even watches Smallville with comments like "Has she even appeared in an episode before?" regarding Lex's mother.
She's appeared on numerous occasions.
I'm not interested in the "Hurry up and make Welling Superman already!" comments.
And regarding Superman, this episode had one of the most important lines ever said by this Clark.
Knowing that Lex is evil and will continue to be evil, he told young Lex "I'll always be here for you".
A true Superman trait, seeing the good in the most terrible of villains.
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2-17-2008 @ 4:15AM
Gowan said...
Anyone else worried that now Lionel knows about Chloe's power? I mean, he's MOSTLY been good lately, but he probably has an evil little Leo running around in HIS head, too, you know?
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2-17-2008 @ 9:23AM
EarlGrayHot said...
While I agree that Fracture's plot seemed somewhat contived in order to get Clark inside Lex Luthor's head (Clark has superspeed and x-ray vision-she ought to be able to run through the area of Detroit and find Kara since he could find out from Lionel where Lex had been found, after all, instead of mindtripping into Lex's subconscious) there were some really good moments. And I also agree that the less Lana the better; Clark should have wised up years ago to the kind of nasty, duplicitous girl Lana is and dumped her ass thus saving us all from the disgusting Clana sex not to mention the squicky Lexana sex which we were forced to endure in Fracture.
In this ep, after Lana was the clearest plot device ever whenn she again transforms into superhacker when we've seen previously she is nothing of the sort. We also see her kiss Clark ON THE CHEEK fro good bye or goodluck or some stupid thing and he withdraws from her, not returning it and obviously no enthralled with her attetnions as he once would have been. THat is only of the good. Surely the nauseating Clana is ending soon for good because it has held Clark back and that has been ridiculous.
But that's where I have to start disgreeing with both the reviewer and others who think there was nothing of value here. For starters, Clark and Chloe's "argument over using her abilities top save Lex came from Clark's genuine concern for Chloe's wellbeing and he did, in the end, agree that it was her decision to make. We also saw a very touching scene at the end with Clark telling Chloe he'd spent eighteen hours waitng by her side hoping she'd come to like last time and thinking what he'd say at her funeral if she didn't. Eighteen hours by her side. That's close friendship and in fact, as Clark noted, what Chloe did went beyond friendship. Anyone who thinks these two aren't closer emotionally than any other two people on this show (again making Clark an idot for ever wanting Lana, I admit) isn't really watching what's been happening on screen. The writers are making this crystal clear for anyone who didn't get the message already.
As for Not-at-all-like-Lois, she's never been anything more than a poor imitation of Chloe with no skill, talent or ethics considering she can't type, write, get published, and got into the Daily Planet because the editor had the hots for her and so got lots of favored assignments from him. Not-Lois is a one dimensional character not because of Chloe being in her way, as the reviewer claims, a ridiculous assertion, but because she's not the real Lois Lane. If she were then she would be the standard all others have to meet in order to be real journalists, as classic Lois Lane always is; but saying Chloe stands in her way and prevents her from being a real 3-D character and journalist merely confirms what is obvious on the show. Chloe is and Not-Lois isn't the real Lois Lane. The real Lois Lane would be doing it all on her own and not getting handouts from those around her in everything she does from getting into college to working at the Daily Planet. The real Lois Lane is not an uneducated skank who lied up her stories to make them sell and sleeps her way into the Daily Planet. And she is certainly not, as we learned last wek, a girl who admits she is too selfish (her own words) to share a hero with the world as the real Lois Lane must do is she is to be Superman's partner in all things. So don't imagine Not-Lois is going to become anything more than the boring and untalented girl played strictly comedy relief and plot device ans she was also in Fracture. Fracture did give us another look at Dumb-as-rocks Not-Lois when she tells Lex, WHO HAS A TRACKING DEVICE on Kara that she's going off oin her own to find her. Not-Lois could hardly be more stupid but that's her MO.
This reviewer has obviously not been watching Smallville or he would know that Lillian Luthor has been in other episodes before. But then that's obvious or he wouldn't think Not-Lois would be the real deal if only Chloe weren't keeping her from being Lois Lane. That is just laughable.
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2-20-2008 @ 7:24AM
Adam said...
I'm a fan of the show too, but this episode SUCKED. Five minutes in I was already shaking my head at how stupid this was. Please tell me this was written by some hacks while the real writers were on strike. I can only pray no real writer was given money to come up with this.
So to figure out where Lois and Kara are they need to save Lex. Easy enough, Chloe can do that. But Clark thinks that's too dangerous. Instead they'll use some crazy experimental mindscape device that has already killed most of the people who have tried it. Yeah, that's less dangerous.
No wonder Rosenbaum wants out of this show.
I have watched Smallville since the beginning, but for the last couple of years I've been ready for it to come to a peak and end. I want to see a nice run of Lex and Clark just beating the crap out of each other and then maybe the last episode can end with Clark walking into the Daily Planet.
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