Smallville 5.20: "Fade"
Written by Turi Meyer and Al Septien
Directed by Terrence O’Hara
I’ve said before that one of the elements missing since “Reckoning” was an exploration of Clark’s dark side. As seen on shows like “Angel”, specifically the second season, it was demonstrated that a character can slip into dark territory without the artificial means of a spell or device. Angel slipped in his morality without losing his soul; so could Clark, the white knight, be tempted by immorality without touching red kryptonite.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t really happened. Clark has been tempted here and there, but never pushed into taking a step he might regret in a lasting way. And that’s unfortunate, because it falls into one of the pitfalls of the Superman character as a whole. No character is fun without flaws to be exploited.
This episode could have much better if Clark had been tempted to let Graham take a few shots without stepping in the way. Or short of that, if Clark had accepted a couple of those gifts that Graham offered. Anything other than the same old holier-than-thou attitude that Clark has had since day one.
Granted, Clark plays the angry-ex very well, and as usual, he manages to completely overlook Chloe’s feelings on the subject. I was ready to slap the boy in this episode, because she’s put up with way too much of his crap over the years. And for all that Clark is angry with Lana and Lex for getting together so quickly, he really has no right to decide anymore. It’s within that jealousy that Clark’s dark side could have slipped out.
Because Erica is the only one of the young women on the cast willing to get all but naked on a regular basis, one course she’s the one in the shower and the one being chased by Graham. Though Clark and Lois have seen each other in the buff enough times to generate some level of interest, it’s still nice to see them at odds. I really don’t like her, but she does make a convenient target (and one the audience would love to see taken down a few pegs).
I actually like Lex and Lana together. Wouldn’t it be fun if Lana really fell under his influence and went a little bad? Enough to start helping Lex put the pieces together? Anyway, as usual, Lex is playing all sides to his own advantage. He seems to be helping Fine with this supervirus, but at the same time, he’s tracking Fine and trying to find out Fine’s true purpose.
This will no doubt tie into the season finale, but I’m more than a little concerned. So far, the season hasn’t been coming together very well, especially post-“Reckoning”. In fact, this season’s arc is making the fourth season arc look substantial in comparison. The final two episodes could change my mind, but as things stand, if the series might end soon, there’s very little indication of a strong conclusion.
Writing: 1/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 1/4
Final Rating: 6/10
Directed by Terrence O’Hara
I’ve said before that one of the elements missing since “Reckoning” was an exploration of Clark’s dark side. As seen on shows like “Angel”, specifically the second season, it was demonstrated that a character can slip into dark territory without the artificial means of a spell or device. Angel slipped in his morality without losing his soul; so could Clark, the white knight, be tempted by immorality without touching red kryptonite.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t really happened. Clark has been tempted here and there, but never pushed into taking a step he might regret in a lasting way. And that’s unfortunate, because it falls into one of the pitfalls of the Superman character as a whole. No character is fun without flaws to be exploited.
This episode could have much better if Clark had been tempted to let Graham take a few shots without stepping in the way. Or short of that, if Clark had accepted a couple of those gifts that Graham offered. Anything other than the same old holier-than-thou attitude that Clark has had since day one.
Granted, Clark plays the angry-ex very well, and as usual, he manages to completely overlook Chloe’s feelings on the subject. I was ready to slap the boy in this episode, because she’s put up with way too much of his crap over the years. And for all that Clark is angry with Lana and Lex for getting together so quickly, he really has no right to decide anymore. It’s within that jealousy that Clark’s dark side could have slipped out.
Because Erica is the only one of the young women on the cast willing to get all but naked on a regular basis, one course she’s the one in the shower and the one being chased by Graham. Though Clark and Lois have seen each other in the buff enough times to generate some level of interest, it’s still nice to see them at odds. I really don’t like her, but she does make a convenient target (and one the audience would love to see taken down a few pegs).
I actually like Lex and Lana together. Wouldn’t it be fun if Lana really fell under his influence and went a little bad? Enough to start helping Lex put the pieces together? Anyway, as usual, Lex is playing all sides to his own advantage. He seems to be helping Fine with this supervirus, but at the same time, he’s tracking Fine and trying to find out Fine’s true purpose.
This will no doubt tie into the season finale, but I’m more than a little concerned. So far, the season hasn’t been coming together very well, especially post-“Reckoning”. In fact, this season’s arc is making the fourth season arc look substantial in comparison. The final two episodes could change my mind, but as things stand, if the series might end soon, there’s very little indication of a strong conclusion.
Writing: 1/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 1/4
Final Rating: 6/10
posted by John Keegan | 18:22
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