This week’s Smallville couldn’t help but be a little campier than usual — there’s something about a woman in a white toga saying things like, “What you know of these things is but the wisdom of a child!” that makes one giggle. And I’m sorry, but Smallville‘s version of Cat Grant is an off-putting miscalculation; the character is neither amusingly nosy (which seems to be what’s intended) nor much of an agent for narrative action.
No, this week’s plot centered around the spirit of Isis taking possession of Lois Lane’s body in order to free the soul of her eternal true love, Osiris. This was accomplished a tad clumsily: The minute Lois transforms, she suddenly acquires much heavier eye-liner and begins speaking without using contractions (“The you do not know love!”). This should have been a clue for Clark to hold off on telling this woman that he’s the Blur, but, love-addled dope that he is, it didn’t.
As far as I know (and oh, I’m sure you’ll tell me if I’m wrong), this Isis was somewhat similar to the one in the DC Comics’ “One Year Later” storyline, featuring Black Adam/Teth-Adam, but it’s outside of Smallville‘s purview to start talking about Osiris as a White Lantern — the show has enough characters and mythology to grapple with as it is.
Take Tess, for example. She was featured prominently this week, taking care of little Alexander, a.k.a., the Clone Who Would Be Lex. There was also a lot of back-and-forth between Tess and Oliver, much of it dialogue designed to remind us of earlier plot details, but I was glad to see a few fine Green Arrow moments, such as when he stuffed Cat into an empty sarcophagus to keep her quiet for a few moments, and when he referred to Clark’s rescue of Lois from Isis’ possession as “that eyeball-zap through the amulet thing.” Justin Hartley delivers lines like this with just the right amount of mild dismay.
Indeed, Hartley and Erica Durance continue to smooth over any rough patch Smallville may place them in; Durance even navigated Isis’ stilted dialogue to return brightly, woozily romantically, in Clark’s arms for the night’s big non-reveal. By which I mean, Clark told her what she already knew: “I’m the Blur.”
This is all part of the good, ongoing trend this season: Clark finally knowing, as he put it this evening, “I’ve been afraid of everything I can’t control,” and that the Super-Control-Freak is going to bloom into something super-better.
And maybe I was too rough on Catherine Grant at the top of this review. Cat’s other brief moments of amusement were her deluded pronouncement that Lois is the Blur, her accusation that Lois/Isis/Blur took part in a “satanic s-e-x ritual,” and the moment when she stabbed Lois’ hand with a pen. I actually flinched at that last one.
Bottom line: Despite its fine climatic moment, not an exceptional Smallville, but an interestingly romantic one, with laughs both intentional and unintentional. Agree? Disagree?
Follow: @kentucker
Oh, and while you’re deciding about the episode, won’t you check out the latest edition of the TV Insiders podcast, featuring Dalton Ross, Annie Barrett, Michael Ausiello, Michael Slezak, Missy Schwartz, and me-myself-and-I, all yakking about everything from Project Runway to The Good Wife to The Ultimate Fighter. All that, and more. You can either download the mp3 file here or click below.
Not the best Smallville episode , but we finally got Clark admitting hes the Blur. FINALLY . this season has me very optimistic.. were gonna end on a high note
The actress who plays Cat Grant is SO annoying! I hope she’s not in too much more of the episodes this season. Other than her, this season’s been great!
Agreed. That has been this season’s biggest miscalculation thus far. The final scene though made this episode a keeper. The reaction on Lois’ face going from despair that he won’t tell her, to realizing that he was going to tell her, to the pure joy when he did…followed by her emotional response…was worth all of the clunker episodes over the years. I also liked how Tess was given a sense of worth and accomplishment from Clark & Ollie, and then Alexander. Interesting character development, and a surprising redemption for an otherwise despised character.
Yeah, Cat Grant has never been anti-Superman or anti-heroes. She’s always been more of an entertainment journalist, like the people at E! Probably should have made her someone else. Unless she changes once Superman is revealed to the world.
Not the best episode of Smallville (but I wasn’t expecting another Homecoming this week) however I was surprised.
The episode started slow but got a lot better as it went along and the ending was a shipper’s dream! So I was very happy with how it ended.
Just when we finally got rid of one annoying character, they bring in another (Cat Grant). They might as well have kept Chloe. How I hate filler episodes. Sure it brought Tess into Watch Tower, revealed Clark as the Blur, but that could have been done in a much better story. Sure it was entertaining enough, but I’m ready to see Clark become Superman.
Give over ye cryer! Its clearly not happening til the end so why dont you stop watching til then and let the rest of us enjoy the show!
Yeah, the Isis story was really weak. Isis spent more time giving annoying, ancient love lectures then actually posing some kind of threat. Erica should be given a medal for not making one eye roll through all that talk.
The first 20 minutes of this episode were so bad that it was embarrassing to watch! The dialogue was cheesy and the acting was mediocre at best. However, Cassidy did a good job in her scenes, as did Tom. Oliver seemed “forced” into the episode as usual.
The last scene with Clark revealing his secret was sweet, but it wasn’t enough to save this from being a bad filler episode. I agree, that the “reveal” could have been done much better. More heroic Clark-centric episodes please!
Didn’t think it was that bad, I mean I’ve seen worse, remember the freak of the week stuff early on, I can list you a bunch of episodes that were much more embarrassing then this. I thought all the actors did well, just wasn’t too fond of the Oliver in this episode I agree with you he seemed forced into the episode but its okay. But the last scene with the reveal was amazing, I thought the reveal was top notch, classic Kent and Lane action and I’m very happy to see Clark have a smile on his face, he deserved that kind of reaction, it was like a celebration instead of it being a total downer. Good stuff!
Finally ! I loved the ending. I am going to miss Smallville.
Wasn’t one of the greatest episodes, but it will do. Actually, anything with Tom Welling in it, I’m fine with it. He and Durance are terrific together, and I love every scene they’re in.
Agreed, that Tom Welling is worth watching onscreen, no matter the episode…or the show…
Yeah Welling and Durance were great, they’ve been doing a great job!
It was definitely a filler episode but The “non-reveal” was BEAUTIFUL!!!!
Thanks for writing about Smallville Ken! It wasn’t the best episode but it was fun, and I agree that Durance and Hartley are both fantastic!
I remember Tracy Scoggins playing a sexed up Cat Grant on Lois & Clark. Talk about different.
So glad Clark finally told her he was The Blur! After all we now have less than 20 episodes to enjoy the both of them knowing the secret together!
omg thank for the reminder is all most over im so going to cry
It was a happy surprise when Clark revealed he was the Blur. Let’s hope no brainwashing or body abduction wipes it out in the future.
Yeah, that’s why I don’t understand why thy made this character Cat Grant. Last season they had Emilie Ullerup from Sanctuary play Cat Grant, tv reporter. Then they bring in this terrible actress with a horrible voice and she isn’t even really Cat Grant (she assumed the name to hide from her ex.) She even noted that she isn’t related to the “woman on tv.” So WHY name her Cat Grant?
“This was accomplished a tad clumsily”. On Smallville? SAY IT AIN’T SO!
The trailer of the next episode, one person looks very similar or has a mask of the Scarecrow of the Nola Universe….?
DC has long had it’s own ‘scarecrow’ character.
I’ve watched since the first episode, and bought the dvd’s, through the good, the bad, and some ugly slow moving seasons, I have one wish that could have done. Write every season as if was the last season. I have thoroughly enjoyed the writing of this season. They have given a lot of “Yes,they finally did it” moments.I mixed emotions for the rest the season.I can see a lot more “Yes” moments, but they’ll quickly come to an end.
I agree!
loved the way Tess laughed at (the annoying) Cat when she revealed that Lois was the Blur.
Tess was great in this episode. I loved her last scene with Alexander.
Erica Durance is really doing well this season. Took her a while, but she’s grown into a take on the character that is recognizable, but uniquely hers.
Welling is doing an okay job with the supposed new confidence, looking appropriately stalwart.
This was a filler episode, but a couple of things struck me. 1)Oliver, if everyone knows who you are now, why bother wearing sunglasses at night? Unless they have fancy communications or targeting abilities, get rid of them. You’re not Corey Hart. 2) Why isn’t Clark wearing the new Blur when doing Blur stuff? It’s like he never put it on.
The Isis stuff does make me wonder though…if we can’t have Bruce Wayne, can we have Captain Marvel? I mean, come on…except for the two parter Absolute Justice, all Smallville episodes have one word titles….and doesn’t “Shazam!” fit that perfectly?
You did notice that Isis was holding the sword of Teth-Adam tonight, right? If Black Adam was brought into the series Captain Marvel can’t be far behind.
Yeah, I caught that, and it gave me hope. I’m thinking it might be more likely to be Black Adam himself, rather than Billy Batson, especially since (I seem to remember this) they’ve done the child turns into adult super hero thing last year during the episode at the comic convention.
I caught that too, very nice easter egg to throw in there.
Leithen, as far as the sunglasses thing, if I remember correctly, I think they have some tech in them, ala the Terminator, that he uses. Besides, its cooler, and this show is all about the visual gloss.
Correct. They aren’t really sunglasses, just a non-domino mask way of hiding their eyes. They’re night vision too.
The episode was a little cheesy, although the ending sure made up for it. I wish the reveal had happened in the midst of a more interesting storyline and not at the end. I also wanted Lois to tell him she was the one who saved and brought him back when he was dying. Can’t wait for more episodes.
first, i have to confess, i’m no fan of Diamond. late thepminss, damaged books, surly delivery personnel seemed to be the norm every Wednesday at my local comics shop for new comic day . on more than a few occasions i was an audible witness to severe arguments that i thought would escalate to punches thrown i just wish there were something resembling competition for em, that’s all, but the Geppi clan has a de facto monopoly from what i can see.on the other hand, while i think Tony’s critique has some merit, i suppose it’s a sign of the times that an aspiring creator/publisher has to pan to his/her target market, we all know the cardinal rule here: sex sells, gratuitous sex sells exceptionally well!
I enjoy this show for what it is – a fun, superhero show, nothing more – but does anyone else think that the music in every episode is just SOOOOO cheesy and cartoonish?
Like from a bad movie.
I think the music’s appropriately superheroic and uplifting while maintaining an iconic sensibility. It’s perfect for Superman.
Agreed Brian, the score was perfect. Whoever does the music work for Smallville should be commended I think he does a great job!