![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
butterflyI love Smallville this year.
They're finally getting to the stories that I'm here for - I started watching because the show is destined for pain. I'm watching for the emotional intensity. And tonight? They delivered that in spades.
I could not have imagined a better episode. My favorite episodes of the show are the ones that move Clark and Lex closer to being who they'll become. Every single episode this season has at least one or two important steps in that process. They introduced the characters in season one, moved the pieces to the right places in season two, and now they're getting to the meat of the show.
Clark's growth has been tremendous. Lex has been heartbreaking. The two of them together - it's more than heartbreaking, it's nigh on epic. Tonight's visual connection between Clark and Lex's electrical shocks was a great illustration of just what they do to each other. Of how they create each other.
And the show itself showed how its grown in its use of the former 'Freaks of the Week'. We saw Lex in this place where Eric, Ian, and Van ended up. And note that each of them is from a different season - all of Clark's troubles coming home to roost.
Clark is growing up - he can't ignore what he's done and the knowledge of who put them away contributed to Lex's fall. Because they knew Clark would save Lex. Clark's human connections made him vulnerable.
Yes, I can see why he decides to live two lives.
And Clark's agony over Lex bleeds through so much of this episode. And his aching decision not to tell Lex his secret tore me up. But I can see why - his fears combined with his parents', and then doubled by Pete's outburst (that was a very good use of Pete, too - I was impressed).
I remember in Shattered, I was shocked at the lengths that Clark went to for Lex - and how easily he did it. He threatened two men, and he didn't flinch from it, like he did when it was for himself in Phoenix. This episode hammered in just how much Clark cares about Lex - about his well-being and about his opinion. And Lex is just as concerned about Clark - he freaks out at him in the asylum, but is willing to fight as long as he can to reach him, later.
The intensity of the Clark/Lex scenes just blew me away, both episodes.
In more detail:
The symbolism of the pills and the primary colored paint and the painting... it needs time to sink in and be thought about.
I love that they reintroduce us to all the primary players in the teaser. Even here, the sense that this episode is about Clark trying to fix a mistake is palpable. And the way Clark is on edge (he's on edge the entire episode, really) shows us that he knows he did the wrong thing, but he can't figure out how to make it right.
"You're the one who put me in here - you're the one who should be in here. They should lock you up - Freak!"
"Hey, Kent - it's me, Eric. Been struck by lightning lately?" (I was so thrilled to see him back. He's always been one of my favorite freaks.)
"Good to see you, Clark. Tell my two favorite ex-girlfriends that I said hello."
All set-up here. Three quick reintroductions that put the pieces in place. And we see Clark, fazed a bit by the encounters, but not letting anything break his focus on Lex. And that lost look in Clark's eyes when he does see Lex...
That first conversation - wow. The physicality of it (Lex grabbing Clark's hand and wrist, Clark covering Lex's hand with his own, Lex pulling Clark closer, the face-clutching) - how uncomfortable Clark is, with Lex in this place, with Lex knowing - the way Lex can't seem to stop staring at Clark... and the way it goes horribly wrong, when Clark just can't and Lex yells at him, and Clark backs away, unable to look away from Lex voluntarily and then just turning and leaving, wanting so much not to see any more because it's too painful.
Lex's so-close almost-escape. God, his hands. And we see how far Lex is willing to go to keep himself and to keep himself free - he'll fight, he'll lie - but he won't make deals with guys who tried to kill his friend. Lex's line gets spotlit in this episode.
And then we see that Clark wants so badly to do the right thing by Lex, and we see both Martha and Jonathon fail him. They fail him by putting his secret above another person's life and happiness and freedom. And Martha redirects Clark's attention to the one thing that she thinks might distract him from Lex - Lana. She does like Lex, but she would, I think, do practically anything to keep her boy safe and hers. She lost him for a while and she doesn't ever want that again.
Three times, other people (Martha, Chloe, and Martha again) bring up Lana to Clark (he never brings her up himself, doesn't appear to be thinking of her until she's mentioned). The only time it successfully works as a distraction is after Lex is out and seems to be... happy.
"You can save the whole world, but you've got to take care of your heart, too." But he's not trying to save the whole world - he's trying to save his best friend. Martha doesn't want to accept just how much the Lex situation is tearing up Clark's heart ("Cool it down for a while...").
You know, the guy who plays Adam is cute, but not cute enough to get to me actually rewatch the Lana scenes.
I hate Lionel. He doesn't have the right to cry for Lex - he's the reason that Lex is there. I really hope they show his (hopefully painful) death on screen. Like, a lot.
Man, Lex's eyes can say so much. And damn that boy can lie. But his honesty comes out when he isn't being smooth. When the words come too easily, too softly, then he's playing someone. When Lex stops pretending to believe Lionel, his voice gets rougher.
Shawn Ashmore is so pretty with glasses.
*sigh*
Right. I'm back.
I love the way they use the 'freaks' and how each of them is untrustworthy. Ian betrays Van, and Eric betrays Ian. Also, three varieties of pretty. I like all three flavors, personally.
And we see that Clark is working non-stop to try to get Lex out a legal way.
"How is Lana?"
"It's been really tough. She could use some moral support."
"I sent her a card."
Lex, he spends night and day obsessing over. Lana? He pauses sadly when people mention and sends a card to.
"If she wanted me to be there, I would be there. Right now, I'm trying to keep my promises for once."
Which is Clark pretty much roundly condemning himself. How do you spell 'ouch'?
Mmm. Topless guys. Did you see that vein when Van picked up the weight?
I love Lex.
"I'm cured."
"And I'm happy for you."
And then comes the conversation with Pete that makes me cringe, because it feels like the deciding factor in Clark not retelling his secret to Lex. First that, then knowing how far Lionel is willing to go? Lex already has so much to deal with, and adding in Clark's secret on top of that? I can see why Clark wouldn't want that. But it hurts, because at this point, I think Lex could have handled it and it would have helped. But with Lionel Luthor (an increasingly obsessed Luthor at that) in the equation, it's hard to know what the right choice is. Clark does trust Lex, but neither his parents nor his friend who knows his secret do.
And so Clark goes to break Lex out. What would he have done, after? He couldn't have shielded Lex at the Kent farm and he wouldn't have dared leave Lex alone, to be hunted. This is why he searched to find a legal way to save Lex - so that he could save Lex's lifestyle along with his life and mind. So that Lex and he would both have places to go to when Lex was out. But in the end, when he can't find another way, he's willing to go against everything his family and friends tell him. For Lex.
As Clark ruined Ian's life, Ian ruins his. Because of three boys that he stopped, he loses his chance for an honest new start with Lex (and he was starting to believe, in that moment before) and, in the end, seems to regain the friend he had. But whether or not Lex remembers (Personally, I'm undecided. It's painful either way, so I can see it going either way.) Clark will never forget. He won't forget that he was moments away from saving Lex and failed him. He won't forget failing Lex twice.
I kinda love that Ian, even after he's beaten Lex up, still calls him "Mr. Luthor".
And Lex, trying so hard to save Clark. Coughing up blood. That intensity of emotion.
I hate Lionel so much.
The connection between Clark and Lex... both tied down and helpless. But Clark is held captive by people he's already beaten, while Lex has yet to beat his opponent. The most heartbreaking part is that Clark's actions trigger the first shock to Lex. They create each other.
Clark wipes away the blood, wipes away normal.
"What's it feel like to be normal again?" This time around, Clark doesn't care. He just wants his powers back now so that he can save Lex (which is just what destroys Lex and the irony is bitter and cruel).
He's too late. He can't save Lex from Lionel. He can't wipe away all the blood - it remains on his cheek, as it remained on his mouth in Shattered, when he failed Lex the first time.
The wounds heal too quickly, but the blood remains. Lex is blood and friendship and toolate to Clark now and forever. Lex will always be the wound that doesn't heal.
In the final Lex scene - Lex mirrors what he did in the beginning in the way he touches Clark.
And Clark not telling Lex reminded me a bit of I Will Remember You ("Don't you want to wake the girl?" "Not for the world.") - that same sense of wanting to protect and shield. The smile that Lex gets when hugging Clark also mirrors his smile from the beginning when he sees Clark. He means his words, I think, whether or not he remembers.
And Clark's indecision is so apparent in him, that I can definitely see why Lex reassured him. Clark's part in the hug is the reverse of his hug with Jonathon in Rosetta - he starts out conflicted and then gives in to the longing for comfort.
The last Kent family scene is very powerful -Martha's sympathetic, Jonathon is cautious, but Clark? Clark is lost and hurt and angry.
"Someone's gotta make Lionel pay for his crime."
"Someday, somebody's gonna make Lionel pay for his crime, but that day is not today, Clark."
At this, Clark looks down and lets out a breath, his hard focus broken - knowing that that's true.
"I know this is difficult for you, but you have to realize that there are people out there who are more powerful than you."
And something hard glitters in Clark's eyes again for a moment and he presses his lips together, then he blinks and nods, turning reluctantly accepting eyes to his father. And to me, that something in his eyes seems to say - "Yes, Lionel is more powerful... for now."
For the second time this episode, Martha goes to Clark and tries to comfort him past his Lex pain with a push towards Lana.
Oh, and Lionel? The phrase you are looking for is "hoist with your own petard". Enjoy knowing that you destroyed your best chance at finding Clark's secret.
When Clark sees Lana, his gaze immediately goes to her leg - his reaction is interesting when compared to hers - she smiles instinctively at the sight of him before she controls her expression, which just illuminates the fact that he doesn't. When Clark looks at Lana, all he can see is the pain that he's caused her.
With Lex, there is still pain, but there is also joy.
They're finally getting to the stories that I'm here for - I started watching because the show is destined for pain. I'm watching for the emotional intensity. And tonight? They delivered that in spades.
I could not have imagined a better episode. My favorite episodes of the show are the ones that move Clark and Lex closer to being who they'll become. Every single episode this season has at least one or two important steps in that process. They introduced the characters in season one, moved the pieces to the right places in season two, and now they're getting to the meat of the show.
Clark's growth has been tremendous. Lex has been heartbreaking. The two of them together - it's more than heartbreaking, it's nigh on epic. Tonight's visual connection between Clark and Lex's electrical shocks was a great illustration of just what they do to each other. Of how they create each other.
And the show itself showed how its grown in its use of the former 'Freaks of the Week'. We saw Lex in this place where Eric, Ian, and Van ended up. And note that each of them is from a different season - all of Clark's troubles coming home to roost.
Clark is growing up - he can't ignore what he's done and the knowledge of who put them away contributed to Lex's fall. Because they knew Clark would save Lex. Clark's human connections made him vulnerable.
Yes, I can see why he decides to live two lives.
And Clark's agony over Lex bleeds through so much of this episode. And his aching decision not to tell Lex his secret tore me up. But I can see why - his fears combined with his parents', and then doubled by Pete's outburst (that was a very good use of Pete, too - I was impressed).
I remember in Shattered, I was shocked at the lengths that Clark went to for Lex - and how easily he did it. He threatened two men, and he didn't flinch from it, like he did when it was for himself in Phoenix. This episode hammered in just how much Clark cares about Lex - about his well-being and about his opinion. And Lex is just as concerned about Clark - he freaks out at him in the asylum, but is willing to fight as long as he can to reach him, later.
The intensity of the Clark/Lex scenes just blew me away, both episodes.
In more detail:
The symbolism of the pills and the primary colored paint and the painting... it needs time to sink in and be thought about.
I love that they reintroduce us to all the primary players in the teaser. Even here, the sense that this episode is about Clark trying to fix a mistake is palpable. And the way Clark is on edge (he's on edge the entire episode, really) shows us that he knows he did the wrong thing, but he can't figure out how to make it right.
"You're the one who put me in here - you're the one who should be in here. They should lock you up - Freak!"
"Hey, Kent - it's me, Eric. Been struck by lightning lately?" (I was so thrilled to see him back. He's always been one of my favorite freaks.)
"Good to see you, Clark. Tell my two favorite ex-girlfriends that I said hello."
All set-up here. Three quick reintroductions that put the pieces in place. And we see Clark, fazed a bit by the encounters, but not letting anything break his focus on Lex. And that lost look in Clark's eyes when he does see Lex...
That first conversation - wow. The physicality of it (Lex grabbing Clark's hand and wrist, Clark covering Lex's hand with his own, Lex pulling Clark closer, the face-clutching) - how uncomfortable Clark is, with Lex in this place, with Lex knowing - the way Lex can't seem to stop staring at Clark... and the way it goes horribly wrong, when Clark just can't and Lex yells at him, and Clark backs away, unable to look away from Lex voluntarily and then just turning and leaving, wanting so much not to see any more because it's too painful.
Lex's so-close almost-escape. God, his hands. And we see how far Lex is willing to go to keep himself and to keep himself free - he'll fight, he'll lie - but he won't make deals with guys who tried to kill his friend. Lex's line gets spotlit in this episode.
And then we see that Clark wants so badly to do the right thing by Lex, and we see both Martha and Jonathon fail him. They fail him by putting his secret above another person's life and happiness and freedom. And Martha redirects Clark's attention to the one thing that she thinks might distract him from Lex - Lana. She does like Lex, but she would, I think, do practically anything to keep her boy safe and hers. She lost him for a while and she doesn't ever want that again.
Three times, other people (Martha, Chloe, and Martha again) bring up Lana to Clark (he never brings her up himself, doesn't appear to be thinking of her until she's mentioned). The only time it successfully works as a distraction is after Lex is out and seems to be... happy.
"You can save the whole world, but you've got to take care of your heart, too." But he's not trying to save the whole world - he's trying to save his best friend. Martha doesn't want to accept just how much the Lex situation is tearing up Clark's heart ("Cool it down for a while...").
You know, the guy who plays Adam is cute, but not cute enough to get to me actually rewatch the Lana scenes.
I hate Lionel. He doesn't have the right to cry for Lex - he's the reason that Lex is there. I really hope they show his (hopefully painful) death on screen. Like, a lot.
Man, Lex's eyes can say so much. And damn that boy can lie. But his honesty comes out when he isn't being smooth. When the words come too easily, too softly, then he's playing someone. When Lex stops pretending to believe Lionel, his voice gets rougher.
Shawn Ashmore is so pretty with glasses.
*sigh*
Right. I'm back.
I love the way they use the 'freaks' and how each of them is untrustworthy. Ian betrays Van, and Eric betrays Ian. Also, three varieties of pretty. I like all three flavors, personally.
And we see that Clark is working non-stop to try to get Lex out a legal way.
"How is Lana?"
"It's been really tough. She could use some moral support."
"I sent her a card."
Lex, he spends night and day obsessing over. Lana? He pauses sadly when people mention and sends a card to.
"If she wanted me to be there, I would be there. Right now, I'm trying to keep my promises for once."
Which is Clark pretty much roundly condemning himself. How do you spell 'ouch'?
Mmm. Topless guys. Did you see that vein when Van picked up the weight?
I love Lex.
"I'm cured."
"And I'm happy for you."
And then comes the conversation with Pete that makes me cringe, because it feels like the deciding factor in Clark not retelling his secret to Lex. First that, then knowing how far Lionel is willing to go? Lex already has so much to deal with, and adding in Clark's secret on top of that? I can see why Clark wouldn't want that. But it hurts, because at this point, I think Lex could have handled it and it would have helped. But with Lionel Luthor (an increasingly obsessed Luthor at that) in the equation, it's hard to know what the right choice is. Clark does trust Lex, but neither his parents nor his friend who knows his secret do.
And so Clark goes to break Lex out. What would he have done, after? He couldn't have shielded Lex at the Kent farm and he wouldn't have dared leave Lex alone, to be hunted. This is why he searched to find a legal way to save Lex - so that he could save Lex's lifestyle along with his life and mind. So that Lex and he would both have places to go to when Lex was out. But in the end, when he can't find another way, he's willing to go against everything his family and friends tell him. For Lex.
As Clark ruined Ian's life, Ian ruins his. Because of three boys that he stopped, he loses his chance for an honest new start with Lex (and he was starting to believe, in that moment before) and, in the end, seems to regain the friend he had. But whether or not Lex remembers (Personally, I'm undecided. It's painful either way, so I can see it going either way.) Clark will never forget. He won't forget that he was moments away from saving Lex and failed him. He won't forget failing Lex twice.
I kinda love that Ian, even after he's beaten Lex up, still calls him "Mr. Luthor".
And Lex, trying so hard to save Clark. Coughing up blood. That intensity of emotion.
I hate Lionel so much.
The connection between Clark and Lex... both tied down and helpless. But Clark is held captive by people he's already beaten, while Lex has yet to beat his opponent. The most heartbreaking part is that Clark's actions trigger the first shock to Lex. They create each other.
Clark wipes away the blood, wipes away normal.
"What's it feel like to be normal again?" This time around, Clark doesn't care. He just wants his powers back now so that he can save Lex (which is just what destroys Lex and the irony is bitter and cruel).
He's too late. He can't save Lex from Lionel. He can't wipe away all the blood - it remains on his cheek, as it remained on his mouth in Shattered, when he failed Lex the first time.
The wounds heal too quickly, but the blood remains. Lex is blood and friendship and toolate to Clark now and forever. Lex will always be the wound that doesn't heal.
In the final Lex scene - Lex mirrors what he did in the beginning in the way he touches Clark.
And Clark not telling Lex reminded me a bit of I Will Remember You ("Don't you want to wake the girl?" "Not for the world.") - that same sense of wanting to protect and shield. The smile that Lex gets when hugging Clark also mirrors his smile from the beginning when he sees Clark. He means his words, I think, whether or not he remembers.
And Clark's indecision is so apparent in him, that I can definitely see why Lex reassured him. Clark's part in the hug is the reverse of his hug with Jonathon in Rosetta - he starts out conflicted and then gives in to the longing for comfort.
The last Kent family scene is very powerful -Martha's sympathetic, Jonathon is cautious, but Clark? Clark is lost and hurt and angry.
"Someone's gotta make Lionel pay for his crime."
"Someday, somebody's gonna make Lionel pay for his crime, but that day is not today, Clark."
At this, Clark looks down and lets out a breath, his hard focus broken - knowing that that's true.
"I know this is difficult for you, but you have to realize that there are people out there who are more powerful than you."
And something hard glitters in Clark's eyes again for a moment and he presses his lips together, then he blinks and nods, turning reluctantly accepting eyes to his father. And to me, that something in his eyes seems to say - "Yes, Lionel is more powerful... for now."
For the second time this episode, Martha goes to Clark and tries to comfort him past his Lex pain with a push towards Lana.
Oh, and Lionel? The phrase you are looking for is "hoist with your own petard". Enjoy knowing that you destroyed your best chance at finding Clark's secret.
When Clark sees Lana, his gaze immediately goes to her leg - his reaction is interesting when compared to hers - she smiles instinctively at the sight of him before she controls her expression, which just illuminates the fact that he doesn't. When Clark looks at Lana, all he can see is the pain that he's caused her.
With Lex, there is still pain, but there is also joy.
