Smallville 6.21: "Prototype"

Written by Steven S. DeKnight
Directed by Matt Beck

With the season careening towards the finish line in somewhat haphazard fashion, the writers are doing everything possible to salvage the season arc and bring things back on track. This episode is all about bringing those threads together and pointing to the season finale, and for the most part, it works.

Perhaps the most important repair is the connection drawn between Project 33.1 and Project Ares. One flows directly from the other, it seems, and while previous episodes could and should have made the connections in a more fluid manner, this corrects the error well enough. This leads to another mention of the ersatz Justice League. I can understand why their activities had to be off-screen, but it has led to an odd sense of detachment within the story arc.

After several episodes of questionable motivations (or yet another period with none to speak of), Lex reiterates the notion that his amoral project is all about protecting the world from alien threats by any means necessary. It’s always better when the villain is convinced that his goals are right and just, despite the means to that end. Sporadic episodes have given Lex a thin veneer of justification for his actions, but the characterization has still been rather shallow.

Part of the problem is the ridiculous pregnancy plot involving Lana. While one might accept the notion that Lex engineered the pregnancy to trap Lana into marrying him, that’s simply not how the character arcs were handled or portrayed in the fifth season. Most likely, the producers realized that this wasn’t the final season and that the baby plot was too hot to handle. Unfortunately, the resulting contradiction takes something away from Lex. Initially, she and the baby were the personification of his hopes and dreams, something to be protected at all costs. It was a relatively subtle source of motivation.

Instead, as stated before, Lana has become even more of an object to be possessed. This is another important aspect of the episode, because Lex is ready to snap if Lana betrays him openly. He already has suspicions after “Nemesis”, and Lana is a terrible liar. Her desire to protect Clark from Lex has put her in a difficult position, and sooner or later, it will all come crashing down.

The most consistent element, at least in terms of time spent explored it, has been the love triangle. The complementary plot thread involving Oliver Queen and Project 33.1 was not as strong as it could have been, but it was still more consistent than the Brainiac plot arc in the fifth season. Both of them, however, fared better than the Zoner plot thread, which lost momentum at a critical point in the season. Now it returns, which was expected, but it feels like something this important should have gotten a better build this late in the game.

All of these updates are wrapped around a plot point that will probably be important for the finale. Senator Burke is killed by Project Ares, which sets up Martha Kent as the heir apparent. It also puts her in the line of fire. Similarly, Lois’ crusade to find the truth should make her a liability. Add Chloe and her barely-there subplot about meteor-freak abilities to the mix, and the writers have a lot to resolve to bring this season to a respectable close.

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 1/4

Final Rating: 7/10