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"I believe there's a hero in all of us, gives us strength, makes us noble, even though sometimes we have to give up the thing we want the most."
- Aunt May, Spider-Man 2

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Smallville: The Complete Third Season


The Cast
Clark Kent: Tom Welling
Lana Lang: Kristen Kreuk
Lex Luthor: Michael Rosenbaum
Pete Ross: Sam Jones III
Chole Sullivan: Allison Mack
Lionel Luthor: John Glover
Martha Kent: Annette O'Toole
Jonathan Kent: John Schneider

Reinterpreting the Superman mythology from its roots, Smallville was written and developed by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar (Shanghai Noon, Spiderman 2), based on the DC Comics characters. Gough and Millar serve as executive producers, along with Greg Beeman, Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola and Ken Horton. The series is produced by Tollin/Robbins Productions and Warner Bros. Television. SUPERMAN was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster.

Written By: Kelvin Hui

This is the very first review for television that I have ever written for my website and what better show to make Kel Vintage history than Smallville? The third season is unfortunately done, but luckily for the audience the next one is just around the corner now. Hopefully this will tide you over until then, this is my assessment of the entire third season of the program. I will be analyzing, comparing, and contrasting every single chapter not only to previous episodes but also to other television programs, films, and novels that may have a connection with that particular installment. There will also be interesting tidbits that I will include as it concerns the Superman comic books and mythology since I find these to be one of the great things about the series. At the end of this amazingly long evaluation, there will be an overall rating for the season and what I thought of it as a whole.

Let me simply mention that this is the most difficult and time-consuming review that I have ever written in my entire life. I have always wanted to write about Smallville and then in the middle of February, the idea of writing for the complete third season occurred to me so I set out on this arduous journey. I have read summaries, other appraisals, and notes, looked at galleries of pictures, and watched many scenes of various chapters over again. Sometimes I would even view entire ones just to remind me of the story so that I could write a good examination. I have literally been working on this one piece for days upon days during the summer and I am so happy that it is finally finished. I have tried to be fair in my grading so I hope that people will enjoy my review and learn something new while appreciating all of the hard work that I have put into this, now please read on to see what I wrote!

Episode 3.01
Original Airdate: October 1st, 2003
Rating: out of five

The Good: It’s the first episode of the season, what more do you want?! I love the beginning when Clark is walking down the street in Metropolis, which is indeed a very cool city. I also like evil Clark (not in that way...), it's a nice change to have him on the program sometimes. It is interesting to see what this normally moral person could do if he had no conscience or boundaries. The story was action-packed yet dramatic with intimate scenes between the characters. Clark calling home but not being able to say anything to his mother, attending his friend's 'funeral', and finally, saying no to Lana when she asks him to come back with her. Lex's ordeal was also intriguing. Having him imagine another human being, in this case Louis Leery, was strange and frightening. It was also an intelligent way of leading him to the dark side as this traumatic experience will no doubt affect him for the rest of his life. As he once said, "...the road to darkness is a journey..." and this experience only pushes him further down that path.

The Bad: Personally, I like when Smallville is more fun and not so serious which is quite the opposite of what we have here. I'm not saying drama is bad, in fact it's great sometimes especially when it's with my favourite couple, Clark and Lana but I don't like being depressed by my favourite television show. Also, the music when 'Kal' was in club Atlantis was a little bit much, it was just too loud and obnoxious.

Overall: This was a fine installment although it has no comparison to the second season premiere, Vortex or The Pilot which are two of the best in Smallville history. Still, I was impressed with Tom Welling's acting in this one, his hellish outburst at Chloe scared me and I believe that he's growing as a thespian. Guest stars Emmanuelle Vaugier as Dr. Helen Bryce and Rutger Hauer as Morgan Edge, who is part of the Superman mythology were welcome additions. They advance the plot of the series and its nice to see Smallville stay somewhat faithful to its roots. Speaking of the superhero's legend, I must mention the scene when the Red Kryptonite ring first reacts to the scar, we see Kal-El go into a phone booth and reveal the "S" symbol on his chest. This is of course a reference to the comic books, films, and other mediums of entertainment in which he uses the cubicle to change into his famous costume. One more tidbit is when Clark tells Edge that "I prefer to fly solo," once again this is a nice little nod of acknowledgment to his future. The cliffhanger at the end was neat and it did make me want to watch the next chapter...although I would see it no matter what happened!



Episode 3.02
Original Airdate: October 8th, 2003
Rating: out of five

The Good: Continuing from where we left off in Exile, the two Kents proceed to have an impressive fight with their superpowers. It was good to see that even with the effects of Red Kryptonite, Clark still manages to destroy the ring and not only save his father but himself as well. The first conversation between he and Lana ends in heartbreak as she walks away going through the swinging door into the back room. As it gently swayed back and forth, he sees glimpses of her crying...oh how I love this show! Lex and Clark embracing when they saw each other was nice, it portrayed that they were almost like brothers to one another. That's one of the reasons why I love Smallville, it portrays such great values of family and friendship between its characters. Finally, more mythology is added to the series as Françoise Yip makes her first appearance as Dr. Lia Teng who was in Lionel's limousine. In the comics, she leads Lex Luthor's staff in the creation of the Superman clone named Bizarro.

The Bad: There truly was not much that was negative except for the repeated showings of the Lex and Helen (Emmanuelle Vaugier) scene in the airplane, which became redundant after a while. It was a little bit violent as well, there were some deaths that were not necessary at all but there's always an explosion and at least one person dies in every episode so it shouldn't surprise me!

Overall: Phoenix - In mythology, it is a magical bird that when at the end of its life cycle, it will build a nest as it is dying. Then the creature will set it on fire and will be consumed by the flames. Out of the ashes, a young Phoenix would arise, destined to live as long a life as its predecessor. Symbolic of renewal and rebirth, it refers to both Clark and Lex returning to Smallville to start their lives over again. This was the episode that I was looking for when the premiere aired, which makes sense since it finally concludes the story arc started last season in Calling. I was glad that Clark was back to normal because nothing can beat his innocence and integrity. The final scene between he and Lana (which I watched multiple times) was fantastic, once again it was so heartrending. Yet this is what I was hoping for, having them apart is much better than putting them together because ultimately after a while it would become boring. It makes it tenser to see the two fight their emotions and feelings for each other, it's also fun to see them chase after one another. The ending where Lana says "Clark, you never had to try," before riding into the sunset with Dido's White Flag playing in the background was beautifully done. God bless everyone who works on Smallville, God bless.



Episode 3.03
Original Airdate: October 15th, 2003
Rating: out of five

The Good: Chloe mentions in this episode that Lex has a dramatically increased white blood cell count, a warning sign of leukemia. In the comics, he got cancer from prolonged exposure to the green meteor rocks since he was obsessed with one of the only known weaknesses of Superman, magic being another weak spot. Speaking of the mythology, this is the first and possibly only appearance of Kryptonite bullets, which have been used in other series such as Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. I had initially spoiled myself when I found out that Clark was to be shot with one when I visited the official website, confound it! It was fortunate that it was still cool to see the actual scene occur. I quite liked this sequence, watching Clark be slightly overconfident but then surprised when the bullet went through his hand and into his left shoulder was neat. The special effects and guest star Jesse Metcalfe's portrayal as Van McNulty were good. I've seen him in Passions (please don't laugh) and it was interesting to watch him play such a different character.

The Bad: How does a relatively tiny girl defeat the strong and muscular Van that easily? When did she know how to fight like that!? I never liked the idea of Lana learning to defend herself so quickly in Precipice last season, I mean that is simply unrealistic...oh wait this is Smallville...

Overall: This chapter returned to the Freak of the Week structure while evolving the series as well. Usually there's a person affected by the meteorites and he or she becomes evil for some reason. This time though it was a sadistic individual, who was not infected but still influenced by Tina Greer who was a 'freak' because she killed his father, the Lieutenant in Visage from season two. This was something slightly different than what we're used to which shows growth and continuity in the program, it is definitely a positive sign that we can all take note of. It will be beneficial in the long-term run as well if they can continue plot points and use characters effectively.



Episode 3.04
Original Airdate: October 22nd, 2003
Rating: out of five

The Good: The opening sequence is one of the best (don't pretend you do not know why) that I have ever seen. Having both Clark and Lana take off their clothes was dreamy and steamy. I was surprised and relieved to find out that it was a fantasy, I'm glad that they chose to portray the scene like this as it allows for the characters to still be respectable while letting it occur. Throughout the story, we go back and forth from reality to his mind which was neat because it provided for a few surprises along the way. It had so many laughs and was not as dark or serious as some of the other chapters can be which is a nice balance. Presumably having the music of R.E.M. was intended as an in-joke since in medical terms, it refers to rapid-eye-movement, which occurs when someone is dreaming. Do you get it?! Both Clark and Sarah Conroy (Katharine Isabelle) dream throughout Slumber?! Now that is clever my friends! Also, in the school halls, there are several posters about the "Emerald Knights". In the comics, they refer to the now-defunct Green Lantern Corps.

The Bad: I suppose that there were some lines that were hokey such as when Sarah says "I may have been there Clark, but Lana's the girl of your dreams," although I don't mind much because I think that it's still sweet. Since it was written by Drew Greenberg (Buffy The Vampire Slayer) it is more supernatural than it is scientific as well which was a little bit different than what we're used to.

Overall: There was a lot of controversy surrounding the first scene but I am happy that the writer/director did it in such a way that was still classy and even romantic when the two exceedingly pretty people were in the water. It was interesting with the entire concept because the audience is able to see both Clark's hopes and fears. Like a regular teenage boy, he wants Lana and him to shed their clothes and take a swim together (hey it could have been much worse). He's afraid of Lex finding out about his abilities and not being able to save a person in need of his assistance. I found it incredibly human that he feared to go to bed because then he would be in the dreamworld where he couldn't use his abilities to help Sarah. Lastly, I really liked the ending because I thought that it was very cute and watching Clana interacting with each other as friends was pleasant. Now that I have watched the entire third season, I can safely say that this is by far one of the most fun and enjoyable episodes in Smallville history!



Episode 3.05
Original Airdate: October 29th, 2003
Rating: out of five

The Good: One of the great characters from the Superman mythology comes to town in a back story that doesn't interfere with what we know will happen in the future which is truly what Smallville is all about. It's the early years of Clark Kent's life but as we learn through the many chapters, it also entails other individuals' tales such as Perry White. Making him a washed up, alcoholic tabloid reporter was a smart twist since it explains why he is there and makes sense when we are informed that Lionel Luthor ruined not only his career but his life as well.

The Bad: I am not sure whether it was intended for guest star Michael McKean, who is married to Annette O'Toole in real life, to portray his character as annoying and it might just be me but I found him to be so. I suppose all journalists are a little bit irritating though because you kind of have to be aggressive to get the best scoop...I mean just look at Chloe!

Overall: This was a good episode in terms of taking a character from the mythos without changing or hindering the eventual plot because everything turns out well in the end. At Perry's low point in life, he meets Clark who turns his life around. He then tries to stay sober realizing that he still has a career left and learns that human beings are more important than writing the ultimate article. As a return in favor, he asks Clark to look him up if he's ever in Metropolis - a delightful hint that this will be how Clark gets his job working as a writer on the Daily Planet. It was also very neat that in this version of the legend, the writer gives us nice little details from the comic books such as the fact that the source of his powers are from the sun's energy and Perry's favourite line "And don't call me chief!" which was said unexpectedly by Sheriff Nancy Adams (Camille Mitchell). This also marks the first appearance of Dr. Claire Foster (Lorena Gale, mentioned in the preceding installment), who is Superman's psychiatrist. In conclusion, it was a brilliant new way of introducing a part of the legacy into the current storyline of Smallville.



Episode 3.06
Original Airdate: November 5th, 2003
Rating: out of five

The Good: This is the second chapter in a row that was created in an intelligent way since this episode is another prime example of a narrative that does not disturb the Smallville storyline or Superman mythology. I did like the flashbacks between Jor-El and Louise because they were well done, although realistically it simply seemed like Clark and Lana to me. It was neat to see the both of them with different looks. I might be blind but I originally thought that it wasn't Kristin Kreuk playing the part of great Aunt Louise until I took a closer look...you're right I am visually impaired. It was also a nice touch to have Louise and Jor-El flying in mid-air, ala the Superman movies. I just find it funny that the producers say Clark won't fly on his own but they never said anything about his birth father! Oh, they are a clever bunch aren't they?

The Bad: It was an interesting concept but it became a little bit boring throughout the course of the episode. I also didn't feel anything for the characters of 'Joe' and Louise probably because they weren't given enough screen time to develop for the audience to truly care about them. This is not to say that it was not sad because it was, I believe this is the first time we ever see Tom Welling cry.

Overall: Wow, this marks the 50th episode that has been made by the people behind Smallville, I can't believe that the series has come so far. This was an important one for the Luthor family since it begins the story arc of Lex discovering the fact that his grandparents died in a tenement fire, which turns out to be no accident. Interestingly, in the comics it's Lex who grew up as a poor boy in Suicide Slum, killed his parents, and used the insurance money to finance his empire. In this show, it is Lionel who does all of that, and his son who objects to the whole thing. It was interesting to see both his grandfather, Lachlan who was a criminal (it must run in the family) and Clark's grandparents. He believes that Jonathan was chosen by Jor-El based on Hiram's efforts to help him, which was a smart way to explain why the Kents were the ones who found Clark. Once again it was an intelligent story because it is entirely possible for Jor-El to be on Earth forty-two years ago in 1961 and of course Lana must have relatives in that time. I like the parallels that are drawn between Joe/Louise and Clark/Lana, I suppose that history does repeat itself!



Episode 3.07
Original Airdate: November 12th, 2003
Rating: out of five

The Good: When I found out that Kevin Zegers was going to be on the show, I was excited because I've seen him in some other projects and I like him as an actor. He looked handsome and was as effective as one can be in something that is less than stellar so he was probably one of the best points in this episode. Hey, he could even be the next Magneto if he ever comes out of his coma! I also enjoyed the part where Clark jumps over the railing because it finally shows that he has some athleticism, usually he's quite rigid because of his size…and the fact that he’s The Man of Steel.

The Bad: This installment really doesn't have much going for it because not only does it feel like it should be in season one, but also it simply wasn't done very well. There are other chapters such as Slumber, Whisper, and Obsession, that have Freak of the Week structures but they're considerably better than this effort. I believe that it is truly about the implementation of the narrative, sometimes it is not carried out in an appealing way and this is one of those occasions unfortunately.

Overall: I believe that every episode serves a purpose and this one does no matter what anybody says. We are finally able to see Lex and Chloe have some scenes together which led to quite a few more in the future and this was good for the dynamic of the program because it was different. Also, it pushed the "investigation" storyline further as he discovers that Chloe has been delving into his father's past and tries to get her to join forces against him. I try to appreciate all of the hard labour that everyone who works for the series puts in but unfortunately this one just doesn't fly.



Episode 3.08
Original Airdate: November 19th, 2003
Rating: out of five

The Good: It was a very dramatic episode with strong acting, especially from Michael Rosenbaum who was fantastic. He gives one of his best performances thus far in the series, he is calm, strange, frightening, psychotic, angry, and loving all in the same chapter. The memorable sequence where he sings a lullaby to a rolled up blanket thinking that it was his baby brother was startling and the first thing that instills doubt into our minds. Other well done parts include when Clark stops the car where I thought my mind was going to explode just like the automobile. The image of Lex seeing him use his abilities which forces him to leave his friend when he needed him most was electrifying. The heartbreaking scene between Lana and Clark where she says that she has to stay away from him after breaking her leg and finally realizing that being his friend is dangerous was so touching. I loved this part to death, it was incredibly sad and moving. Both of their facial expressions perfectly matched the situation that they were in together.

The Bad: There wasn't really anything that was negative about the story except that it was serious and dark which means that it isn't much fun. It was also a little bit boring at times as most dramas are but this is a minor quibble as it was suspenseful for the most part with Lex being paranoid and tormented.

Overall: A nice little tidbit from the Superman mythology was added as both Clark and Chloe use the word "bizarro". This is a reference to the character from the comic books, a grotesque imitation of the hero created from lifeless matter. Also, Morgan Edge (Patrick Bergin) returns for his second and last appearance in the series. Finally, the plot comes to its climatic point in my opinion and it provides the grounds for an entertaining and well-conceived story. It did a good job of making the audience guess whether or not the young Luthor was truly hallucinating until near the end where it is confirmed that he had been drugged to appear insane. It was quite sad to see a father do that to his own son and even though I believe that Lionel does love Lex, it is not enough to stop him from executing this conspiracy. The ending was great, with Lex and Lionel looking at each other through the glass while Johnny Cash's Hurt played in the background. Shattered was aptly named as it shows the mental and emotional breakdown of the main characters named above, it is unlike anything that has ever been seen on Smallville.



Episode 3.09
Original Airdate: January 14th, 2004
Rating: out of five

The Good: Wow, featuring not one, not two, but three past Freak of the Weeks to all come back in one story where they decide to exact revenge on their common enemy! I liked the opening sequence where we see Clark walk past Ian Randall (Dichotic, Jonathan Taylor Thomas), Eric Summers (Leech, Shawn Ashmore), and Van McNulty (Extinction, Jesse Metcalfe) who all have their own remarks and comments towards our hero. All of these guest stars plus the introduction of Ian Somerhalder as Adam Knight?! I think my mind was going to overload! Note that when Lex is drawing, the work of art bears a strong resemblance to Clark (or possibly an unmasked Warrior Angel), and the paint jars that he is using are red, blue, and yellow which of course are the primary colours prevalent on the adult Superman's costume. There's also a humourous in-joke reference to Wonder Woman of DC Comics as one of the headlines on a newspaper on Ian's cart mentions a "Themyscrian Queen."

The Bad: Ah, so it begins. I was looking forward to discovering if this character truly was a version of Batman and this is the first of his six appearances in the series. Somerhalder became a breath of fresh air as his role developed but my initial reaction to him was negative. He was just rude and arrogant towards Lana in the beginning although he saved himself by the end of the story by being nice to her. Also, Belle Reve (French for "Beautiful Dream" and a maximum security prison in the comics located in Louisiana for super-villains), the asylum where some of the meteor-infected individuals are sentenced to doesn't appear very safe! Some of the things that happened seemed quite unrealistic such as Ian killing Van without any consequences or how Clark was able to break in so easily. This marks the last appearances of Metcalfe and Lorena Gale as Dr. Claire Foster. This is the second "reversal" for the character - in the comic books she's good rather then immoral, and despite what happens here, she is a part of the adult Superman's life.

Overall: Oh Lionel! You are so magnificently evil! Requesting that Lex be given experimental electroshock therapy to erase his memory thus saving himself was ingenious and so selfish of the elder Luthor. Although the procedure eventually worked, it was poetic justice when he realizes that he obliterated the secret that is Clark Kent as well. Having him rewind, then watch the video footage again and again was great acting by John Glover who is such a wonderful villain. The wordless last scene between Clark and Lana was different and well done, he decided to stay away from her because he felt guilty for causing her accident. The looks on their faces express their feelings and there was no need for dialogue, which says a lot about the emotions that the two actors can convey to us. With So Far Away by Staind playing in the background, this is probably one of my favourite endings in the entire season.



Episode 3.10
Original Airdate: January 21st, 2004
Rating: out of five

The Good: Finally, what we have all been waiting to see...Clark Kent wearing glasses! This is the first episode where we see him in his future disguise used to conceal his identity as Superman...worst cover up ever... Let me firstly say that he looked cute with them on and I love when he is nerdy/awkward because it makes him more human. The scene where he attempts to stop a robbery and is blinded as he shoots off a burst of heat vision that is accidentally reflected back into his eyes by a piece of Kryptonite had neat special effects. It was quite cool to see his super-hearing emerge as he soon realizes that his body is compensating for his lack of sight. They did an effective job of portraying how he uses it with the image of his eardrums much like his other capabilities. Another Superman reference was made as Martha yells at the men in her life, "You both think you're Supermen who can do everything alone. Well, you can't. You need to start relying on people." This is true as both Jonathan and his son will always need the assistance of their friends and family in times of distress.

The Bad: There was nothing that cannot be overlooked because they were minor problems such as the fact that Clark seemed to take the loss of his eyes a little bit too well because he wasn't really upset or saddened. Once again, he learns how to control his newfound superpower in less than one day! Just like in Heat last season and X-Ray in the first, he is able to hone his abilities in a short amount of time, which is slightly unrealistic even by Smallville standards. Yes, he of course has difficulty with it at first but he always learns how to control it almost immediately. I would like to see him struggle with one of his gifts for more than several hours although that will probably never happen.

Overall: This was truly a Clana chapter in the ongoing storyline thus I really enjoyed the interaction that the two go through together. From the opening sequence to the very last moment, it is absolutely wonderful for anyone who loves this couple. It is one of those installments that is good throughout its course but just when you think it'll be simply satisfactory, it is propelled to superiority by the ending. I've experienced this exhilarating feeling many times before in such episodes as (take a deep breath) The Pilot, Metamorphosis, Cool, Shimmer, Nicodemus, Crush, Tempest, Vortex, Heat, Red, Ryan, Visage, Rush, Phoenix, Slumber, Asylum, Obsession and Crisis. All of these caused me to jump out of my seat when I finished watching them, the sensation that I received was simply amazing and I love it when I feel so invigorated. In this particular case, it was when Clark uses his super-hearing and listens to Lana cry while she's driving away down the road, before turning his head in disappointment while Kid Rock's Cold and Empty played in the background. This happened in the final seconds before the screen fades to black and is completely silent with the credits rolling...absolutely incredible! It was fantastically perfect, sweet, and sad because throughout the whole story we see our hero use his new power, consequently it was simply an extremely fitting conclusion. Without a shadow of a doubt, this is one of the best endings that this season has to offer and one of the all-time greatest in the show's history!



Episode 3.11
Original Airdate: January 28th, 2004
Rating: out of five

The Good: This is the first chapter where Adam (Ian Somerhalder) plays a large role and we are able to see more of his past. He causes some tension between himself and Clark, which reminded me a little bit of Batman and Superman having conflicts in other shows like Justice League. We then discover that Mr. Knight is a martial artist and a computer genius! Wow, the writers sure do know how to lead us on don't they? Also, as he walks through the halls of Smallville High he says the classic line "It's a bird..." which has been shouted numerous times by crowds seeing Superman in the sky. A picture of the secondary school's mascot wearing a familiar looking costume (see Drone) can be viewed for a short moment when the computers are returned as well. I did like when they mentioned that Chloe's cousin is Lois Lane (Erica Durance), who apparently has no interest in journalism. Since we know that she will be on the program numerous times in Season Four (reportedly thirteen appearances), it will be interesting to see how she factors into the plot that we were left with at the end of Covenant.

The Bad: Argh! This is a recurring theme for me this past year as I had to download this episode, I believe I missed the original airing and forgot to tape it as well. It's unfortunate that this happened because the one that I chose had some problems such as the video moving much slower than the sound. Even so, I didn't care for the Molly Briggs (Missy Peregrym) thread as I thought that she was not in the story enough and her character wasn't developed very well. It was interesting though that her computer alias was Brainwave as in the comic books he is a longtime villain and opponent of the Justice Society – he can control minds, generate illusions, and fire brain blasts.
Overall: I know that this grade is probably not completely fair but since what I watched is the only thing that I have to base my opinion on, this is the best that I can do. There was much more character development in the place of plot, which makes the results kind of average. Although it was nice to see Clark and Chloe reaffirm that their friendship would be okay, I hate it when there is animosity between these individuals. The interaction between Lana and Adam was enjoyable; the audience needs to see her speaking romantically to another male other than Clark although I will forever love their relationship! Once again, it was nice continuity to have both Dr. Garner (Martin Cummins) and the Summerholt Institute return since they provided the means for a good future installment...



Episode 3.12
Original Airdate: February 4th, 2004
Rating: out of five

The Good: I quite liked the opening scene with the gym class running through the woods with Five for Fighting's 100 Years playing in the background. It was a nice way to introduce Joseph Cross who plays Jordan Cross. (Creative name no?) Oh my goodness, we finally get to see the reappearance of Lana's formerly Kryptonite necklace! It was last spotted in Exodus which was a long time ago so I hope this is a sign that Clark will indeed give it back to her, most likely at the end of the show which would be ideal. My favourite part of the episode was definitely when Clark touches Jordan's shoulder and he has a vision of our superhero’s non-death. ("It's as if you live on forever.") The viewer is treated to breathtaking images of the classic Superman "S" symbol on a flowing red cape, while the camera flies through space. I cannot describe the surprise and astonishment that I received from watching this short but awesome sequence. It is easily one of the best moments that has ever come out of the entire series, it was simply ultra cool.

The Bad: I suppose that guest star Joseph Cross was slightly annoying, especially when he screamed because he sounded very whiny. In all of his other scenes though he was fine, even bordering on good as an actor and he actually looks young enough to be in secondary school unlike our beloved cast. This pertains especially to Tom Welling since he's twenty-seven years old although he still looks very boyish. Also, this is the one chapter that leads us to believe Adam Knight (Ian Somerhalder) is not Batman! NOOOOO! Oh well...I knew it was too good to be true anyhow.

Overall: I believe that the interactions between some of the characters were well done this week including the scene between Clark, Pete, and Chloe. Another example would be Adam and Lex, the dialogue and actions were very smooth and fluent between these two young men. I thought that this chapter reaffirmed the fact that the things Clark does almost constantly in his life are heroic and benevolent. In this particular scenario with the help of Jordan, he saves not one, not two, but three individuals including Lana, the girl of his dreams. He is a true defender of Truth, Justice, and the American Way. It is the person behind the alter ego of Superman who is really one of the world's greatest champions much like other comic book protagonists such as Spider-Man and that my friends is the true message of Smallville.



Episode 3.13
Original Airdate: February 11th, 2004
Rating: out of five

The Good: As I said before, Adam (Ian Somerhalder) became one of the best new characters to be on Smallville this season. His best scene is when a bloody tear escapes his eye, flowing down his cheek while he is speaking to Lana. You could see the fluid collecting in his pupil, turning it red before quickly falling out, it was both disgusting and strangely cool at the same time. Also, I liked when he became angry and threatened her, that was a little bit frightening but more importantly, it was entertaining. The build-up for this individual was incredible and his climatic story, which we will discuss later on was just as wonderful. Lastly, I have to mention when Chloe says "As long as Lana has the Talented Mr. Ripley living above her..." referring to the title character from the film/novel. I can’t believe that they actually made this joke, I was happy to hear it as it was fitting and humourous to the circumstances.

The Bad: Pete's 2 Fast, Adam's 2 Furious! Yes, this is the Pete the Boss Ross episode that many fans were waiting for. Yet maybe the reason why there aren't many stories dedicated to this character is because he doesn't provide the grounds for something that would be engaging. Obviously the plot was heavily borrowed from the film The Fast and the Furious, what with the street racing, attractive girls wishing you good luck at your window, boosters that give your car enhanced speed, and the act of sending police to arrest the bad guy, just to find out it appears that he's not guilty. The races weren't anything special and it never amounts to much fun because of the seriousness that the writers put upon the situation. Also, this is the one that basically confirms the fact Mr. Knight is not the beloved Caped Crusader. Batman may be the darkest superhero of them all but he certainly did not die and come back to life!

Overall: Once again, I thought that this chapter was quite cautionary in the way that it teaches some important lessons, which is one of the redeeming points about it. The first is if you make the wrong decisions in life and associate yourself with a bad crowd then there will most definitely be consequences that you must suffer. The second is about making difficult choices, Clark wouldn't get the money needed to bail Pete out and thus chose another method but it backfired on him badly, costing the life of another human being. If he had stolen the cash then this wouldn't have happened but it was too late and he knew that he made the wrong decision. Velocity reaffirms just how moral and principled Clark truly is, which is an important aspect to his character because he will always have to make choices that no one else must throughout his existence.



Episode 3.14
Original Airdate: February 18th, 2004
Rating: out of five

The Good: This, in my humble opinion, is one of the strongest episodes in Smallville history. From the opening frame it was good and it continued to be so throughout its entirety. I thought that it was both realistic and smart to have Clark and Chole's economic class visit Luthorcorp. Then proceeding to build the relationship between Clark and the Alicia (Sarah Carter) was wildly entertaining because it was so delightful (what can I say? I'm a hopeless romantic). The scene where they almost kiss was awfully cute, it reestablished the fact that our hero is a little bit clumsy and awkward. Having Alicia watch him from the front door and then her bedroom window was too sweet. Turning from adoring to creepy was a nice plot twist because it just became more entertaining. Her showing up in Clark's bed is arguably the sexiest scene ever and one of the funniest. It's right up there with Lana in the swimming pool sequence in Nicodemus. It's interesting to note that in both episodes, he is at least trying to deny each girl by doing the right thing. Then the obsession continued with the pictures, redecoration, scratching out of Lana's face in Clark's yearbook, threats, and so forth...ah to be in love.

The Bad: The only problem I had is I thought it was a shame that they turned Alicia into a villain, although it did lead to the great latter part of the episode. Why not let Clark and her have a real relationship? Then there wouldn't be so much romance between he and Lana but it would still add more tension to their interactions. Also, the idea of her following and becoming infatuated with our hero over the course of serveral installments could possibly have worked very well. I hope that Sarah Carter comes back because she's a fine actress and she is attractive, it would be interesting to see her return...

Overall: Just as the previous story, which borrowed heavily from a certain racing film, the act of Alicia being obsessed with Clark seems to be based on the movie Fatal Attraction, where a man is stalked by a murderous woman. This is fine though because like Slumber, it is likely the most fun you'll have watching Smallville thus far in its entire run. Once again, there was an absolutely incredible final scene with Lionel Luthor perpetrating yet another heinous act. The secret is partly revealed about Adam Knight (Ian Somerhalder) and what a shocker, the evil billionaire is simply fixated on Clark...now that's what I call obsession! It was creepy with a capital C and the music was simply awesome, it gave me goose bumps and even made me perspire a little bit. It was spine tingling at the end with Adam screaming "Help me! Help me!" while the lights turned off one by one and he is left all by himself in the darkness. You can add yet another exhilarating feeling to the list, this chapter fed my own desire for the show and that's why I love it.



Episode 3.15
Original Airdate: February 25th, 2004
Rating: out of five

The Good: Starting with Obsession, the last three episodes in the second eight week run of the season finally answers some of the questions that have been puzzling the audience ever since the new story arc began in Asylum. We finally discover that Clark's blood is being used in a serum that can bring individuals back to life. Ah, that explains everything about Adam (Ian Somerhalder) and Vincent (Tahmoh Penikett). Speaking of Mr. Knight, I was glad that he was still alive as it lead to a great upcoming episode and gave his character a better ending. "I always thought of my dad as the man of steel. I was wrong," says Clark realizing that his father is only human. I liked the beginning when he convinces his father to undergo heart surgery before embracing him, happy to know that he will get the help he needs to live on. The conclusion was also well done, Clark outrightly lies to Lana about not knowing what was in the vial, trying to keep both her and his secret safe.

The Bad: Wow, the meteor rocks must be the most useful raw material in Smallville! Here it's used as an explosive, in Velocity it's some sort of booster for fuel systems, and there are countless other examples throughout the series. This is simply a nitpick because it is realistic that Kryptonite would be used extensively in the small town since there is an abundance of it. I just don't want it to be over utilized because that makes it less special and eventually it will become boring. Apparently, not only is Sheriff Adams (Camille Mitchell) annoying but is she completely stupid as well?! Why would she order a sniper to shoot Garrett (James Kirkwhen) when he has a bomb attached to his chest?! Not only could the bullet detonate the bomb, which it did by causing him to press down on the button, but it seems like a supremely unintelligent decision.

Overall: In the end, Jonathan's operation is successful which hopefully means that he will be fine for a long time to come although who knows what will happen with Jor-El working in the background. I did feel bad for Garrett and his brother, Vincent, both of whom died in this chapter although we didn't get to know them very much. Viewers generally relate better to returning characters, rather than those who make only one appearance and are killed off but it was still sad to watch everything unfold. Of course, Clark figures out that Lionel is involved somehow with the experimental treatment although there is nothing that he could really do without endangering or revealing himself. Resurrection was quite standard but since we learn about some of the things that are happening in the plot, this made it more satisfactory and in turn, enjoyable.



Episode 3.16
Original Airdate: March 3rd, 2004
Rating: out of five

The Good: This chapter is captivating from the moment it begins and it never lets go of the grip that it has upon you. It's a little bit different than what we're used to seeing as it is the first episode to date to use foreshadowing, i.e. opening with a sequence that reoccurs later on. It was so good that I watched it twice (Whisper, Hereafter, Obsession, and Legacy being other celebrated installments), which I don't do very often with television so you can only imagine how much I like it. The time paradox concept makes for interesting viewing, even if it's been done before on other series. I liked how everything fell into place so nicely, you could tell some of the things that were going to transpire before the first scene was shown again near the end. There were many aspects that I enjoyed, such as the characters' interactions with one another. For example, Lana and Jonathan had nice dialogue between each other while Clark using his investigative skills with the assistance of the ladies to solve the mystery was neat. The star of Crisis though is most definitely Ian Somerhalder as Adam Knight. His run on the show is unfortunately over but he went out on a good note, he played a large role here and I thought that he did an awesome job of portraying such a desperate young man who meets his untimely demise...again. For instance, how intense was it when he discovered that all of the treatment was gone from Dr. Teng before he proceeded to murder her? The first time that I watched it, I was actually quite frightened by him and that usually doesn't happen too often so it was both surprising and exciting.

The Bad: There truly wasn't anything too negative about the story except for the fact that it wasn't clearly explained that the paradox happened because the telephone lines crashed into some Kryptonite. How could the meteor rocks cause a phone call that took place in the future to be heard by someone in the present? Once again, it was a rather flimsy plot but since it provided the audience with such great entertainment, I can forgive the writers for not creating a more plausible reason for these events to occur.

Overall: This also marks the last appearance of Françoise Yip as Dr. Lia Teng. It is the fourth time the producers have killed off a "future character" - an individual who in the comic books appears in adult Superman's life. The others are Morgan Edge (Shattered), Dr. Claire Foster (Asylum), and Dr. Steven Hamilton who passed away in Duplicity last season. Wow...they better leave some people alive or Clark will have no one to interact with when he grows up! We finally discover that Lionel has a liver disease, which gave him an excellent motive for carrying out all of the radical experiments. I loved the ending where we look down a gun from his point of view, it was really tense and terrifying to see him contemplate suicide. It made him more human because not only was he not collected as he usually is but he was so afraid of dying in this way that he thought of killing himself to avoid the suffering to come. I hope that this plot point is followed up in Season Four because I believe they never said if they perfected the serum to help him survive his terminal illness. As you can see from the grade, this is definitely one of the best episodes to ever have been created by the team behind Smallville!



Episode 3.17
Original Airdate: April 14th, 2004
Rating: out of five

The Good: Finally, Christopher Reeve makes his return to Smallville as Dr. Virgil Swann! This is also the first appearance of the Kiwatche caves since we last saw them in Exodus. It is nice continuity to have both of them back as they no doubt have played important roles in Clark's life in the past and will continue to do so in the future. I quite liked the opening sequence where Jonathan hears a terrible screeching noise before falling off of the barn's rooftop. His son must save him and not only do we get to watch the super-speed effect but he jumps over a fence as well while using his ability, which is something that we've never seen before. Then after he catches his father he asks him "Dad, what are you doing? Trying to fly?" This is a nice little joke towards Clark's own power of flight that he will eventually be gifted with. Speaking of the mythology, the writing on the key when it activates is Kryptonian and the colours for the three different sides are red, yellow, and blue, these are of course in reference to the costume that Superman will wear.

The Bad: It is one of those stories that will be explained in later chapters (it better be) but it is too confusing and doesn't make much sense at this very moment. At the ending, every single person who sees it will say "Huh?" because I know I did! Thus, it wasn't a satisfying conclusion; I mean how did the octagonal key make its way to Dr. Swann's office when it looked like it went into the stone wall? The interaction between he and Lionel was utterly mysterious as well and they must have come to some sort of arrangement between each other although we are not told what it is. These factors really take away some points from Legacy, as it was not enjoyable to view since it was perplexing.

Overall: Rosetta made history as Mr. Reeve made his first appearance as a special guest star on Smallville and this episode is also momentous; I have the utmost respect for this great man who personified Clark Kent/Superman throughout all of the films for so many years. He was good in this one, although it wasn't the most entertaining or simple one to understand. It's almost certain that he will return at least one more time which I am definitely looking forward to, hopefully we will indeed receive some answers. I did enjoy the Clana interaction throughout the entirety of the installment; it's the first time that we've seen them kiss willingly by themselves since the second season finale. Ultimately though, it ends in heartbreak once again as she pushes him away because of the fact that she doesn't want to be hurt any more. This was a smart move as it allowed for more angst between these two characters and other possible love interests. I am sure you know that I'm talking about the Lex and Lana relationship which really moved into a more romantic territory as she goes to him for guidance and he gives her some wise advice. They have always had this underlying chemistry and attraction as we have seen many times before, but in these last several chapters it seemed to me that the producers were really going in this direction. This is another factor that begins the ongoing animosity between Clark and Lex, which became more apparent as well in this last story arc. As a final point, there were many father and son scenes between the Kent family, once again proving that this aspect of the series is just as important as any other feature that can be considered which is one of the reasons why this program is so great.



Episode 3.18
Original Airdate: April 21st, 2004
Rating: out of five

The Good: It definitely had its moments, which helped it become average at the very least. Firstly, let me simply mention that the ability to get everyone and anyone to admit their deepest, darkest secrets to you as long as you ask the right questions is indeed a very useful power. Of course, this 'gift' is given to Chloe since she is so inquisitive, it wouldn't have made much sense for any other individual to have it. It is like a dream come true for her and she takes full advantage of her situation. It was different that they enabled a main player on the program to use it, usually it's a Krypto-Villain who causes some trouble for our beloved cast so I suppose that this was a nice change although I like guest stars! It was interesting to see how each person reacted to these circumstances although it must be difficult to act as if you had no control over what you say. The audience did get to have a little bit of fun as Pete kissed and admitted his feelings for Chloe, which he has had from the beginning of Season One!

The Bad: This is the second Chloe episode of the season and incidentally it is not any better than Delete, which was also one of the least impressive chapters to be created this year. I am sorry to say that this character can be incredibly annoying sometimes. I just thought that they went too far with it, the director must have known that the audience would find it eventually trying... As I said before, being a journalist you must be naturally curious to a certain extent because if you were not then you would never truly be a proficient reporter. Allison Mack is a good actress, I have always thought so and she made me feel irritated with her performance, which proves that fact quite well. It's simply the person that she plays as she becomes so irresponsible with her little smirk and swagger. Point in example, Chloe successfully ruins two human being's lives just by making them tell the truth without even thinking about the consequences for those individuals. She then embarrassed two people to no ends including the comment towards homosexuality between the football players...eww...that was slightly gay. Lastly, I can't believe that she outrightly asks Clark what his big secret is! What kind of friend does that to one of their closest comrades? He obviously does not want her to know because I don't think he trusts her and she is aware of this fact but she still questions him! Then she apologizes and he accepts without even thinking twice about the fact that it's probably just as dangerous to have her as a friend as it is to be around the Luthors.

Overall: It was an important story in terms of the plot, it provided some startling revelations from the main characters and told the audience what was happening inside of their minds. Lana is going to Paris?! Wow! I really did not see this one coming! It was surprising to say the least but it makes sense since she said in Legacy that she might be missing out on some opportunities in life. I just didn't think that she would go to such an extreme, it seems that many people want to leave Smallville for one reason or another. How about the scene where she says that she doesn't trust Chloe!? Ouch, that's got to hurt! Lex revealing that all he ever wanted was for his father to love him was endearing and sweet, it makes his life even sadder than it already is. The writers finally confirm for us that Lionel did indeed have his parents killed by Morgan Edge for the insurance money so that he could start his company. He is the epitome of evil and it was typical to see him erase the evidence that she had on him even though she said that he wouldn't be able to. As you can see from this overlong review, I won't be watching this one again any time soon but it was still significant for the narrative of the show and that's all that matters.



Episode 3.19
Original Airdate: April 28th, 2004
Rating: out of five

The Good: What can I say? The beginning was so captivating with a flashback to a young Lex at the tender age of twelve standing on the edge of a ledge screaming horribly before returning to the present time where we see the older version doing the exact same thing. Also, it was good to see that the writers finally followed up on the storyline left off in Delete between he and Dr. Garner (Martin Cummins). I thought they might have forgotten about it since we hadn't heard or seen anything about this plot thread for so long. Speaking of that episode, Clark mentions both Molly and Ryan as some of the individuals who have been ill-treated by the bad doctor as a warning to his friend. Wayne Dalglish who plays the young Lex was great at portraying what a tortured soul this character already was as a boy. How sad was it to see him have to celebrate his birthday all by himself? The sequence where Lionel discovers that his youngest son Julian is dead was terrible and I could feel for the entire family because of this tragedy. An interesting tidbit is that during this flashback, Superman's colours of red, blue, and yellow alternately flash on Lex's face. It was even worse that it was his own mother who actually murdered her son and the fact that he took the blame to protect her was moving. Lillian says to him, "Hush, don't wake the baby. He's sleeping," after she killed his younger brother. Lex said similar things when he sang to the rolled up blanket in this installment and in Shattered. We finally find out where the animosity between the Luthors originated from and it is the basis for their troubled relationship, it is no wonder that they have a deep hate for each other.
The Bad: I cannot find anything truly wrong except that it was a little bit boring at times I suppose but really with over forty minutes of material to show, which story doesn't have its dull parts? Oh and maybe it's simply me but I believe that Cummins cannot act very well at all, he's so wooden in all of his scenes, it's as if he can't show any emotion when saying his lines. Thank goodness he won't be on the program again since his character went into a coma...

Overall: Memoria - This title can stand for two different explanations, firstly it is derived from the Latin term "memoria in aeterna." These words are translated to mean "in everlasting remembrance" - this is most likely a reference to Clark's earliest recollection of his biological parents especially his mother and Lex who will never forget his own guardians. Secondly, it also comes from "memoria technica," which is defined as a technical memory; a contrivance for aiding the memory. As the audience saw in this chapter, Dr. Garner 'helped' both young men to see some of their hidden reminiscences in his innovative tank (Clark wears red underwear, but for now he's keeping it on the inside), giving them more answers to their past. I loved the scene where Jor-El and Lara place their infant son inside the spaceship, that was pure mythology and it was nicely done with the special effects including the Kryptonian letters. It is worthy of note that the father is seen wearing red, the mother is wearing blue, and baby Kal-El is wrapped in a yellow blanket - once again, these are the colours that comprise Superman's costume. This event led to the ending between Clark and his mother, which was so beautifully done with Evanescence’s My Immortal playing in the background. We discover that the very first word he ever said was Lara, which is so sweet, and such a nice revelation that is told to us by Martha. Lastly, I have wanted to mention for a very long time that the Superman creators seem to like to use the letter "L" for their female characters - Lara, Lillian Luthor, Lois Lane, and Lana Lang are several examples! Written by Al Gough/Miles Millar and directed by the latter, this is without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most fascinating, serious, emotional, and revealing (in more ways than one) episodes to be created this entire season.



Episode 3.20
Original Airdate: May 5th, 2004
Rating: out of five

The Good: This episode marks even more continuity from a previous chapter, namely Skinwalkers, as it opens with the Kiwatche caves where Lionel is speaking to Joseph Willowbrook (Gordon Tootoosis) and Jeremiah Holdsclaw (Nathaniel Arcand). I liked that it continued from a preceding installment and the fact there was a mention of Kyla (so beautiful) by Martha was a nice touch. Did anyone else think that the storyline between these two male characters resembles that of Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and his apprentice Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones? Both my sister and I thought so especially after he said that his teacher was holding him back because he was afraid he would become more powerful than him! I knew that the elder Luthor wasn't going to be sacrificed near the end of this one but it was actually still quite tense to watch. I really liked when both Lex and Lionel reached for the mystic Starblade making it crumble into ashes, it adds more doubt into our hero's mind of who is his true enemy although we all know...

The Bad: I thought that they could have done so much more with the action sequences. You have two young men with similar superpowers yet there was barely any fighting between the two. They had some very interesting possibilities but it went to waste unfortunately. It may simply be me but I get a little bit confused when they mention the prophecies on the cave walls because while they're cool, they conflict with what Jor-El states which is already puzzling. I hate when things become complicated to the point where you have trouble understanding what is happening in the plot of the show.

Overall: Talisman was the directorial debut of Jonathan Kent himself, Mr. John Schneider and for his first effort on Smallville; it's actually quite good. This chapter was full of Superman mythology and not only the blatant plot thread that the audience is given. There are many references to Clark's future clothing and accessory choices. When his parents find him on the stairs bleeding, his father rips open his button shirt to reveal a blue undershirt, just as he will wear his costume under his reporter wardrobe when he's an adult. He once again has a red blanket over his shoulders, resembling the cape that he will have on when he fights crime. Also, Jeremiah has glasses on in his "mild-mannered" identity until he is given the special abilities; he then gets rid of them because they are not necessary anymore. There were several phrases used as well that are synonymous with the lore of the superhero. For example, Willowbrook lets "Naman" know that "...your secret is safe with me." Furthermore, Jonathan tells Clark that he could be "Earth's Greatest Hero," one of Superman's well-known titles, or that he could be its "most mild-mannered citizen," a reference to his identification as a journalist. Finally, the ending was interesting with Lex's twisted yet somewhat logical interpretation of the legend. Looking at it from his point of view, it makes sense that he would think Ziget is the real hero of the story because as we all know, when he is fighting Superman he will believe that he is righteous for doing so. It was a fine episode that wasn't particularly good or bad, hopefully we will get to learn more about Clark's past and future from the Kiwatche caves.



Episode 3.21
Original Airdate: May 12th, 2004
Rating: out of five

The Good: Wow! There is even more continuity in the program as Emily Dinsmore (Amber Rothwell) makes her return to Smallville after more than a year since her original appearance as a young child. I thought that the casting was well done, this actress has a similar creepy yet innocent look with her ghostly eyes and childish attitude that Jodelle Micah Ferland had when she played the first incarnation of the little girl. Over this period of time, she has developed the power of corporal intangibility, which reminded me of Katherine "Kitty" Pryde also known as Shadowcat from X-Men: Evolution since she can also phase through walls. The scene between Clana in the loft, which was decorated with lights, was so beautiful with the sunset shining in through the large window. Kristen Kreuk is one of the most gorgeous young women in this entire world, she looked absolutely stunning here, especially her eyes. I believe that we all knew he wasn't going to tell her his secret; it's not the right time just yet. This must frustrate many people but it's an integral part of their relationship that causes all of the tension and heartache, thus making the program so good.

The Bad: Was the incriminating "evidence" against Lionel really solid at all? It's a sheet of paper with the transcript of his and Chloe's previous conversation in Truth. Yes, it has his confession on it but how do they know it's genuine and is that all the FBI needs to convict him? It could easily be fake and how does the phone company know that it was him speaking if he deleted the actual voice recording? Quite frankly this verification is meaningless as far as possibly bringing him to trial. Not only would she have to explain why he was admitting everything to her but he could easily say he was joking to explain it. As shown in the next episode, there seems to be no other evidence tying him to the murders of his parents, Lachlan and Eliza. Also, when Lana asks Clark if he thinks Emily will return after she has escaped from Belle Reve he states "No, I think Lionel Luthor will make sure of that." How exactly would he be able to stop her? Except for the future Superman who has super-speed amongst other abilities, who else can prevent her from coming back? I believe that she will possibly be the first Freak of the Week to appear three times on the series.

Overall: This was not much of a build-up to the season finale of the third year since it simply continued the storyline much like in Season One so I wouldn't say that I'm disappointed since it did have some significant events. No! Not Pete! This chapter marks the last appearance of Samuel L. Jones as a cast member as he makes the important decision to move to Wichita with his mother because of the burden of our hero's secret. I'm sad to see him go since he was such a good friend to Clark although I'm glad they didn't simply kill him off...hopefully he will return soon and give a couple of more memorable performances for the audience. I wanted to mention that after Lex saves him from certain death, the young Luthor says "I'm sure when the time comes, you'll do the same for me." This is a reference to the comic books where he becomes the President of the United States with Pete Ross as his running mate. Of course, another important part was the fact that he finally received the proof to have Lionel arrested for his crime. The ending between the two was done with sophistication as they were speaking about the tale of Jesus and Judas, which they related to their own situation while operatic music played in the background. This is one of the things that sets Smallville apart from other shows, it's classy, smart, and mature like Gilmore Girls (okay...not so much but you get the idea), these aspects help the program achieve its greatness.



Episode 3.22
Original Airdate: May 19th, 2004
Rating: out of five

The Good: A young woman claiming to be "Kara" from Krypton arrives in Smallville for her one and only appearance. In Superman comics, television, and motion pictures, she is one version of Supergirl. When Lana is talking to Clark at the Kent farm and notices her, he identifies her as his cousin. Then she asks where she's from and he answers "Far away...California," I just thought that this was funny. In pre-Crisis (before 1986) DC comic book continuity, she is indeed the superhero's relative and she did live in that state. Her Kryptonian name is Kara and her father, Zor-El is Jor-El's younger brother. Adrianne Palicki certainly looks like the character and she was beautiful, it's a shame that the audience will never see her again. I absolutely loved Lana's departure at the airport; everything was so fantastic in this entire scene. I'm not that much of a Lexana fan but I really liked the interaction between these two characters, their dialogue with each other was so wonderful. It was awesome when they showed Clark holding a white rose in disappointment while seeing the two hug, that was incredibly heartbreaking for him since he did not even get to say goodbye to her! Then Lana thinks she catches a glimpse of him so she runs to the other side of the road only to find that he's gone, she picks up the flower that was dropped and looks desperately for him but to no avail. With Mindy Smith's fitting One Moment More playing in the background, it was very enjoyable to watch. Lastly, Clark finally discovers the room where Lex keeps all of the information he has on him. When he goes to the Luthor Mansion to investigate, you can distinctly see the "S" logo that he will eventually wear on his chest on a whiteboard, this is the family tree he drew at the Talon in Rosetta. Of course, there is the car crash from The Pilot playing on a computer screen, Kryptonite, and surprisingly you can see one of the adrenaline parasites from Rush in a glass jar.

The Bad: Personally, I thought that it would have been interesting to have Kara be a regular cast member on the series for the next couple of seasons. She doesn't know anything and is somewhat misguided so her 'cousin' could have taught her to be a moral person. Also, he would have had someone his own age to talk to and share his secrets with while not endangering himself. Yet the writers simply make her a Krypto-Villain, albeit a more important and memorable one since she was Smallville's version of Supergirl. Once again, I am confused with the plot thread involving Jor-El, what does he mean Kal-El will be reborn? Is he doing this so that Clark will listen to him and conquer the world, as he wants him to? The producers seem to have made his father a villain although he was never one in the past...hopefully things will be explained in the later episodes.

Overall: The cliffhanger montage was pure excellence, with the piece from the Mozart Requiem playing, it was so well done. It is obviously a homage to the Godfather films, much like those movies this sequence was impactful and shocking. The following things occur: Lionel gets his hair shaved off, Martha runs outside to see a Kryptonian symbol burned into the fields, the Sullivans go into protective custody but their new house blows up with them in it, Lex chokes after drinking a poisoned glass of Scotch, Jonathan appears to be dead in the caves, and finally Jor-El says "Kal-El, my son. Now you shall be reborn." At the end when Clark is floating away naked he is in a five-sided "S/shield" light similar to the one he will wear on his costume in the future. The curled up young man makes the S-shaped design complete. It gives me goosebumps and chills every time I watch the scene, I loved when Lionel simply says "Thank You," this is one of the best lines in the show's history. This very last episode of Season Three thankfully delivered a satisfying and entertaining story, I believe that it's better than the last year's Exodus, but not greater than the first finale, Tempest. It reaffirmed the fact for me that without a shadow of a doubt, this is still the best program on television today.



Overall Season Rating: out of five

Firstly I must say that because I was so busy with school this past year, it really did affect my viewing ability for watching Smallville. I missed several episodes especially towards the end because I plain forgot to tape them (I know, shame on me) when I couldn't see the original airing. I do not know if it took the pleasure away from viewing some of them but I don't think it did, I still enjoyed the last three chapters even though I didn't watch them until the middle of July. Yet, now that I have seen the entire third season in full and even written thoroughly about its many installments, I believe that it was filled with entertaining storylines which continued the plot while also taking its characters further in their individual journeys of life. Speaking of the cast, let me simply say that everyone did a fantastic job this year, this show has one of the best group of actors/actresses on television today. I thought that the first story arc, episodes 3.01 to 3.08, were quite good as a whole. For example, Phoenix and Slumber were great fun while Shattered was darker but still compelling. The second one, chapters 3.09 to 3.16, was even better as it brought in recurring characters such as Adam Knight who was of course played by Ian Somerhalder. I loved this individual as I thought that he did a fantastic job in all of his appearances including Hereafter, Obsession, and Crisis, he is one of the best guest stars to be on the series thus far. Unfortunately, it is the remaining installments that had some trouble evoking emotion from me personally. They made some mistakes like Legacy and Truth for example but thank goodness for Covenant since it ended off the season in a spectacular way. When all is said and done though, I have never watched so many episodes over and over again, some of them were very enjoyable indeed.

I was not the only one to notice the difficulties that the program seemed to be having as both other fans and even the creators of the series saw these hindrances. For instance, this is an excerpt from an article (click to read all, but beware of major spoilers) printed by USA Today on August 26th. It speaks about the refocusing of Smallville to ensure its success in the fourth season: The teen-Superman saga has had its ups and downs, but in its third season last year, a big chunk of Kryptonite seemed to sap the show's energy. Though Smallville was never a "yuk fest," executive producer Al Gough saw problems in January, and so did viewers. Ratings fell 25%, in part from the show's move to Wednesday, and the Clark-Lana relationship had "gotten stale," he says. A considerable comedown for a show that rocketed to success in 2001 and for a time eclipsed 7th Heaven as WB's most-watched series. "We probably went a little darker than we wanted to go and got a little too mythology-heavy," he says. "They were hanging out too much in secret labs, and that's not any fun. Why the hell would teenagers want to watch this show anymore?" This fall, they may have another reason: Gough promises a return to the show's roots as a teen drama that explores the final year of high school for young Clark Kent (Tom Welling).


(Back to school: Tom Welling as Clark Kent and Erica Durance as Lois Lane.)

In response to the comments made above, I don't think that the relationship of Clana is overused at all, sometimes it's simply not portrayed in an effective manner but that does not mean it is negative. Although, I do agree with the fact that this season was slightly too dark and depressing, they should definitely try to have a bit more fun in the upcoming chapters. Finally, he says that they used too much mythology, but then why would you bring in Lois Lane who is a fixture of Superman lore? Obviously, they are making important changes to the program since they previously said they only wanted her on for several episodes, but now she will appear in thirteen. Additionally, I have read some other pieces that said this has been the worst year of Smallville thus far and while it may be true, when it's compared to the previous two, which truly were quite awesome, is that really surprising? Now that the series is going into its fourth season, it's hardly new anymore so it doesn't have the excitement factor it had when it originally began. The test of time is something that all good shows have to overcome if it is to remain as successful and popular as it was during its peak.

I have no doubt that Smallville will be able to do this because it has all of the tools needed including a talented cast, great writers, visionary directors, and executive producers who are passionate about telling the story of a young Clark Kent. I have tried my best to stay away from spoilers so I don't know too much about future installments, except for the fact that two new people will join the other players, their names are Jensen Ackles as Jason Teague and of course the pretty Erica Durance as Lois Lane. There are some events that I would like to see happen in Season Four and if they do then that would be great: Firstly, with a bit of luck the two aforementioned individuals will add more to the show, a plot thread of romance between her and Clark would be nice, there should always be a healthy dose of Clana for those who love this couple, and finally I simply wish that they continue to tell compelling stories of all the characters. I am definitely looking forward to the premiere entitled Crusade, it will air on September 22nd and we can all hope that it may be the best year of Smallville to be created yet!