The Movie Journal

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 21 "Tempest" May 21, 2002 “Tempest” is Smallville ’s first season’s finale. Some people considered the episode a letdown, but I was rather enthralled. There are some major cliffhangers that riled people up but ain’t that a point of a cliffhanger? The season was a great one overall. The producers had to change the villain-of-the-week storyline for a more substantial story midseason, and color me surprised with how well it worked. All of the characters were fantastic. Tom Welling makes a great Clark Kent. In my mind, Michael Rosenbaum is the season’s MVP. The way he made Lex Luthor to be a good guy with darkness lurking is incredible. Sooner than later, that darkness will find its way to the forefront. The season is also all about its relationships, romantically and otherwise. Clark spent most of the season trying to express his love for Lana. He did manage to find some sweet moments with Chloe much to Pete’s chagrin in this episode. I am doubtfu...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 20 "Obscura" May 14, 2002 “Obscura” is a suspenseful episode that serves well for a climatic buildup to the season one finale of Smallville . Lex is essential to the episode as he ponders the question, “What else came to Earth during the meteor shower?” Someone dear to Clark has superpowers this time around and its no raging homicidal maniac. It is Lana Lang! She has visions and Clark uses these visions to save Chloe from a painful death. I thought that was well thought out. I found some things about Clark’s relationship with Chloe interesting. Wasn’t it established that they knew each other for a long time? Apparently, with them being freshmen in high school, they only knew each other for a year (since they met in the 8 th grade)? Definitely somewhat odd. In this episode, Lana develops superpowers after being hit by an explosion of a gas pipeline. Lana, now a clairvoyant, has visions of Chloe being kidnapped. Clark uses these images to try ...

  Smallville: Episode 1, Episode 18 "Drone" April 30, 2002 Buzzzzzzzzzz. Do you hear that sound? Sounds like the dangerous buzzing of bees! Bees play a main factor in this episode, “Drone.” I thought it was a rather good episode, an improvement on the previous episode. We get to see Clark run for class president, and his slogan is hilariously lame. The villain of the week ties into the class president story and she uses bees to her advantage. Lex continues to shine as his dark secrets threaten to unravel everything. Guest star, Marguerite Moreau, plays Carrie Castle. She is sinister yet beautiful. One could see why Lex or anyone for that matter would be hypnotized by her. In this episode, two of the three candidates for class president are attacked by bees and taken out of running. That leaves one candidate, Sasha Woodman. Sasha, thanks to the use of meteor rocks, has the ability to control bees. Clark believes that she is behind the attacks. Pete nominates Clark to run for...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 17 "Reaper" April 23, 2002 “Reaper” has some great ideas and great moments, but the episode itself is only merely good. The villain of the week, Tyler, has a sad backstory and you can reason with some of his decision-making. His spontaneous combustion power is actually pretty cool. But there is some staleness and similarities to previous villains. That said, there is some great father-son ideas. Clark and Jonathan get into a fight. Plus, Lex gets involved, which is always something. In this episode, Tyler Randall is visiting his sick mom in the hospital. She requests that he use euthanasia to end her life and will do so if he loves her. After being witnessed, he falls six stories to his death. When a green rock is removed from his bracelet, he returns to life…but with a catch. He has a lethal touch and will kill anyone upon touch. He uses this power to help terminally ill people die with dignity. Whitney’s father is slowly dying, and Tyler ha...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 16 "Stray" April 16, 2002 “Stray” is such a heartwarming episode. For the first time, Clark has a sibling…only if for a little while. Still, Clark and the kid, Ryan James have a meaningful connection. They both are struggling with finding their place in the world as adoptive children. Clark has it good with Martha and Jonathan, but poor Ryan has abusive adoptive parents. The two have great chemistry with one another. Enough so where Clark can entrust the boy with his secret. The boy has secret powers himself as he is able to read minds. Everyone that is but Clark’s. Which makes Ryan realizes how different Clark is. In addition to this story, Lex continues to provide excellent work especially now that Lionel is around for the episode. In this episode, Ryan James has evil stepparents who make him use his power of reading minds to commit robberies. Ryan escaped from them and ran straight into Martha Kent’s car. She takes him to the hospital wher...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 15 "Nicodemus" March 19, 2002 “Stray” is such a heartwarming episode. For the first time, Clark has a sibling…only if for a little while. Still, Clark and the kid, Ryan James have a meaningful connection. They both are struggling with finding their place in the world as adoptive children. Clark has it good with Martha and Jonathan, but poor Ryan has abusive adoptive parents. The two have great chemistry with one another. Enough so where Clark can entrust the boy with his secret. The boy has secret powers himself as he is able to read minds. Everyone that is but Clark’s. Which makes Ryan realizes how different Clark is. In addition to this story, Lex continues to provide excellent work especially now that Lionel is around for the episode. In this episode, Ryan James has evil stepparents who make him use his power of reading minds to commit robberies. Ryan escaped from them and ran straight into Martha Kent’s car. She takes him to the hospital ...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 14 "Zero" March 12, 2021 “Zero” is a fun and somewhat unique episode. It is a Lex-centered episode where Lex has to confront his deadly past. How this unique? The same event, the shooting of a girl at a nightclub, is told from three different angles. Which angle will the audience believe? Lex, played superbly by Michael Rosenbaum, is the center stage. But I also liked the secondary plotline where Ma and Pa Kent are trying to keep Clark’s secret hush from the prying eyes of Chloe. There are also some cool visuals. The dead animals at Pa Kent’s farm is a striking image. The Smallville Theater is being turned into a coffee shop called the Talon and reopening is nigh. Lex is doing what he can to help Lana reopen. A man from Lex’s past, Jude Royce, comes into the shop to stalk Lex because he accuses him of the murder of a girl at Metropolis’s Club Zero. There is a chance Lex may be responsible for this murder. Chloe, for a school project, delves i...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 13 "Kinetic"  February 26, 2002 “Kinetic” is a good episode, but nothing overly great. The episode puts more focus on Whitney which is good in theory. But his teaming with kryptonite-struck villains made for a somewhat weak subplot as they were not very strong villains. The storyline with Chloe and Lex is really good. Lana also has something to do with Lex for the episode. Some viewers were turned off, but it is important down the line. The main focus is on Whitney which gave us good moments but not too many I am afraid. In this episode, Whitney becomes depressed after losing his football scholarship. Without truly knowing what he is involved with, he joins a group of former high school jocks with tattoos created from kryptonite-laced paint which gives them the power to walk through walls…and commit robberies. Clark has his hands full trying to stop the group. They decide to rob Lex and seriously injure Chloe in the process. Lana discovers th...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 12 "Leech" February 12, 2002 “Leech” has to be my favorite episode yet of this blossoming series. The producers played a switch-a-roo and turned Clark human…only if for an episode. On the flip side, we get to see him play basketball, grow closer to Lana, and work up a sweat/lose energy when building a fence. The episode still excels with its special effects, but it is a nice change of pace to have someone else take on these effects other than Clark. Michael Rosenbaum continues to murder it as Lex. He is still dealing with Victoria Hardwick. She is playing checkers…while Lex is playing chess. The end result? Lex figuratively blowing her to smithereens. He got the last laugh. While the teenage drama is all very interesting and relatable, it is Lex Luthor which elevates the series into a must-watch. In this episode, Clark and a classmate Eric Summer transfer powers when struck by lightning with Summer holding a meteor rock. With Eric having Clar...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 11 "Hug" February 05, 2002 I think in this Smallville episode, “Hug,” all of our characters need a hug or two. Many things happen here. An evil tycoon able to manipulate people just with a mere handshake, Chloe literally pining for Clark (which is a nice pace change because it is always about Lana and Clark), Lex using a submachine gun and shooting bullets at Clark, and Clark coming to the realization that he is bulletproof (despite Pete’s foreshadowing words). The episode would not have work nearly as well without the great visual effects (once again, above average for a 2002 television episode). The episode is well-directed and the one that shows the extent of Clark’s and Lex’s friendship…and its future. In this episode, Bob Rickman is a businessman who is not so friendly. His intention is to build a plant with high levels of pollution in Smallville. But he needs the Kent farm to build the plant the way he wants. He is famous around these p...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 10 "Shimmer" January 29, 2002 “Shimmer” is a good episode, not a great episode. It is a typical midseason episode with nothing truly at stake. The friendship continues to show growth between Clark and Lex, and the beginnings of a romance between him and Lana. So, we got some good storylines to cook with. That said, we are back with the villain-of-the-week process. Other than the whole invisibility power, I was not super impressed with the villain. Kind of distracted me from the story. We do have solid special effects as Clark has to use his x-ray vision once more. In this episode, we meet Amy Palmer (played by Azura Skye). Her mother works at Lex’s mansion. Along with her brother Jeff, they live together at the mansion. She also has a crush on Lex and is jealous of Victoria Hardwick. Lex and Victoria are later attacked by this invisible being and Chloe suspects this being is Amy. Lana and Whitney decide to take a break from one another. That ...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 9 "Rogue" January 15, 2002 “Rogue” is an excellent episode of Smallville . The producers admitted that the whole villain-of-the-week storyline is growing a little stale. They decided to come up with original, relevant storylines to explore the Superman mythology. I also liked how someone else was a witness to the extraordinary powers of Clark Kent. Not just Lex Luthor but someone else. A corrupt cop of all people. Michael Rosenbaum continues to deliver an excellent performance as Lex. He has great lines (loved how he uses history to drive towards his ultimate goal) and guest star Kelly Brook is an interesting foil for him and his future plans. The characters continue to be well-developed. Chloe, in particular, is given lots to work with when Lana takes over the one thing she loves to do. Also, I need to credit the special-effects team. The VFX for the bus crash sequence is harrowing and realistic which is saying something for an episode that c...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 8 "Jitters" December 11, 2001 Much better than the last episode, there is much to like about “Jitters.” We finally get to see the good ol’ city of Metropolis. No Daily Planet, but we receive more information about the Luthor Corporation. In addition, the villain of the week really is not a villain in the sense we have seen before. Up to this point, villains on the show have been kryptonite-infused angsty teens with murder as their only solution to their problems. Here, Tony Todd’s character is a person close to the Kent family and you can at least sympathize with his actions and rationale. Also, we get a bloody good storyline between Lex and his father. Lex wants to stay away from his super-villain future, but it seems like that can be difficult at times. Of course, Lionel makes a great villain and John Glover plays him incredibly well. In this episode, Earl Jenkins is a former LutherCorp employee and also used to work at the farm with the Ke...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 7 "Craving" November 27, 2001 “Craving” is a decent Smallville episode. Still, it is one of the first lesser episodes of the season. Despite Amy Adams chewing up scenery as the villain of the week, I did not agree with her character. It was not written well, and it took me out of her scenes. At least we are treated to a very early Amy Adams universe who of course would be more involved with the Superman franchise more than a decade later. What saves this episode are the other storylines. I am really enamored with Lex’s story and how he is getting closer to Clark’s secret little-by-little. The acting remains a strong suit especially with the Welling/Rosenbaum duo. In this episode, Jodi Melville (played by Adams) is an overweight teenager. No one at school likes her with the exception of Pete. She plans to attend Lana’s birthday party as Pete’s date. She decides to undergo a radical diet from the vegetables grown in her father’s garden…with kry...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 9 "Hourglass" November 20, 2001 Oy, was “Hourglass” ever a fine hour of television…and perhaps the best Smallville episode yet? We have a different type of villain, one who is not after Lana or Chloe. We get a little bit of inspiration as we glimpse the future of both Clark and Lex both of whom take different trajectories as we all very well know. Saving Lex in the car crash continues to haunt Clark. Lex is never going to let this mystery go. So, we can see the seeds being planted on how these two men became archenemies. This a very exciting episode that has implications for all involved and the ending is fantastic. In order to be close to Lana, Clark and Pete apply to volunteer at an institute for older people. Clark gets to assist this old, blind lady named Cassandra. She has the power to foretell the future and realizes Clark is not from this world. Meanwhile, Lana works with this former murderer named Harry Bollston. He falls into a lake ...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 5 "Cool" November 13, 2001 Clark Kent is too cool for school in this episode of Smallville . Just kidding, but he does try to appear cool in the eyes of Lana Lang. But for the sake of idealism and trying to help others, things do not work out the way they should for Mr. Kent. “Cool” is a solid episode with a memorable villain (ice and cold is the name of the game this time around) and solid special effects. Most importantly, this episode is all about character development and relationships between characters. Clark and Lana’s relationship progressed in a very interesting manner. Also, Lex Luthor tries to better his relationship with the Kents. He wants Clark as a friend, but Jonathan and Martha are suspicious of his actions and intents, especially Jonathan. Sean Kelvin (ha, love that temperature reference?) is an arrogant football player suffers through an accident in a frozen lake…which had kryptonite at the bottom. He survives because of it...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 4 "X-Ray" Nov 06, 2001 Well, “X-Ray,” was lots of fun to watch. It had an interesting villain, a shape-shifter, who delivers headaches to Lex Luthor and Lana Lang because of her actions. The villain-of-the-week plot was good, but nothing that compares to what else happens. First, we get hints of evil Lex. Lex blackmails a news reporter so he can have the media under his wing. Most importantly, as the title of the episode suggests, Clark delivers a new superpower in which anyone familiar with Superman lore would know…x-ray vision. It was funny trying to watch Clark struggle to harness his new power. We got a strong episode with great performances and an engaging story that is worth every second. In this episode, we meet Tina Greer. Tina is a teenage girl who has the power to transform into any person she wishes. Pretending to be Lex Luthor, she robs the Smallville Bank. She also accidentally kills her mother, Rose. She becomes obsessed with La...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 3 "Hothead" October 30, 2001 “Hothead” continues a thrilling beginning to Smallville . This week’s villain is the high school’s football coach who is given the power of kryptonite but also has a quick fuse of a temper which creates all sorts of issues. Characters are developed further…especially those of Chloe Sullivan and Lex Luthor. At least to start, the younger Luthor is not pure evil as he shows some empathy towards his employees. There is also the father versus son dynamic at play here. Clark wants to play football…but he is hardly human so you cannot blame Jonathan for wanting his son to take it easy and not reveal who he really is to the world. There are thrilling moments scattered throughout. The principal’s car being blown up with flames comes to mind. Walt Arnold, played by Dan Lauria, is Smallville’s arrogant football coach coming up on two hundred victories. During a sauna bath, he is exposed to kryptonite and now is given the powe...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 2 "Metamorphosis" October 23, 2001 I thoroughly enjoyed Smallville’s second episode. I feel like these small-time villains will be hit-or-miss as the series continues. Our main villain here is more…buggy…but is an interesting, if not entirely unoriginal villain. The episode does a good job continuing its important character development and the effects of Kryptonite has on Clark and the people in Smallville. Guilt is prevalent here because Clark believes he is at fault for the death of Lana’s parents since he brought the meteors with him. Clark has some interesting discussions with Lana and Chloe. Even Lex has some good lines connecting with Lana. In this episode, “Metamorphosis,” teenager Greg Arkin (Chad Donella) lives all alone with his mother. As a hobby, he collects insects. After an argument with his mother, he gets into a car accident and the bugs he is with goes into the metamorphosis process thus turning Greg into an insect. He kills ...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 1 'Pilot" October 16, 2001  The beginnings of Superman! As soon as “saaaaaaavvvvvveeee meeeeeee” was bellowed during the opening credits as the theme song, I was instantly hooked. For a show that came out in 2001 with lots of fanfare, I was very impressed with how well the first season held up. It has been known the series would often go over budget, but we are telling the story of future Superman after all. The visual effects are top-notch and the meteor shower where young Kal-El comes to Earth seemed very real. Instead of being a serious superhero drama, the show is about teenage angst and small-town drama. It is like a coming-of-age film/series but with more special effects and a superhero background. At least for the first season, the show will combine these elements along with a villain-of-the week story. Just bring me everything you got, Smallville! In this pilot episode, we learn the origins of Clark Kent aka Kal-El. It is 1989, and Sma...