Well the glasses look sure didn’t last very long, now did it?
We’ve done Saw a few times, a Matrix/Avatar hybrid, and now I guess this was the Hangover episode of Smallville. And this was, to be honest, a very unusual episode of Smallville – perhaps the only episode this season that didn’t relate to any of the three major storylines (for that matter, it didn’t revolve around the overall arc of Clark becoming Superman, either). Okay, Clark drunkenly colliding into a wall and falling flat on his face while attempting to do his super speed was hilarious. So were the elaborate special effects for Clark’s super hearing, only to reveal that he was audibly beeping. And I award extra points to the Batman and Wonder Woman references (one a little more clever than the other). But despite the fun, laid back moments, I was close to giving this episode a thumbs down before they picked things up with the emotional interactions at the end. I mean, even the premise was flimsy – was Zatanna attempting to do Clark a favor by spiking his champagne? If so, how so? If she wanted him to have a special night, how would not remembering it accomplish that?
But like I said, in true Smallville fashion, the emotion saved an otherwise ho-hum episode. I enjoyed the differing yet sentimentally similar perspective Clark and Lois had towards Lois’ engagement ring. To Lois, it wasn’t about the physical ring, but rather the person it came from, so it couldn’t be replaced. And to Clark, the ring wasn’t about who it came from – it was a symbol of their love. And likewise, I thought this episode acted as a proper send off to the Chloe character. Those that read my columns regularly know that I’m a fan of seeing untapped pairings, so it was nice taking a trip down memory lane by seeing Clark primarily with Chloe, and Lois primarily with Oliver. Sure, I could have done without Chloe acting like a gun-toting assassin at the casino, but she as otherwise pretty reminiscent of her glory days. Her heart to heart with Clark at the loft in the barn of Kent Farm (appropriate setting) hit all the right notes and had the right tone. They both understood what the other needed to do, and respected their decision.
And likewise, I was surprisingly pleased with her closing scene with Oliver as well. I’ve been pretty critical of their relationship, as I felt it was a little rushed and unbelievable that Chloe would so quickly disregard the fact that Jimmy – her, ya’ know, HUSBAND – was murdered. But this scene worked. Again, I liked the fact that Oliver recognized that she was leaving again without her needing to say it. But I also appreciated the fact that he was willing to leave as well in order to be with her. With the series coming to a close, it also provides a backstory for the Green Arrow appearing in the comic book appropriate Star City. Now let’s grow that goatee, archer.
The Emil/Tess hook up, on the other hand, reeked of Saved By the Bell, where everybody needed to “couple up.” It’s like, Zack and Kelly are together and Screech is crushing on Lisa, so we might as well throw the remaining two together.
And not to harp on the glasses thing, but I do have to wonder if this episode was filmed out of sequence. It just seems curious that they’d center an entire episode on Clark having to disguise himself, only to conclude it in a climatic fashion in which he finally dons the glasses, only for him to completely revert back to his original look the following episode. Unfortunately, based on the previews for next episode, it seems that Clark is appearing glasses free for the time being. Which is a bit disappointing.
