Episode Title: Reckoning
Episode Airdate: January 26th, 2006
Episode Recap:
Wow, 100 episodes, huh? Pretty impressive, and it looks like Smallville will actually survive the WB/UPN merger as well. Pretty cool considering most people (myself included) thought that the move to Thursday nights would be the shows death toll, and that this would definitely be the final season.
This monumental episode kicks off with Clark up on his loft nervously grasping a piece of coal, as James Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful” plays in the background. I’ve actually been digging that song lately. Lana arrives shortly afterwards, wearing gloves and a scarf (per Clark’s request). Clark is noticeably nervous, as Lana notes that his heart is racing. Clark tells her that he could tell he’s losing her, and that it’s not her fault. He says “there’s something I should have shown you a long time ago.” Moments later they’re in the secret room of the cave. Lana asks how he found it. He tells her it was left here for him. He adds “What I’m about to show you may make you change the way you feel about me.” He then places the key in the portal, as a golden light envelopes them. He asks “do you trust me?” as he offers his hand. She grabs onto it. We then see them within the portal that leads them to the Fortress of Solitude (which was a really cool effect). Lana seems in a state of shock, and then stares at Clark. He finally says “when you asked me if I believed in life on other planets, you had no idea how ironic that question actually was.” He then proceeds to tell her everything, from Krypton to his abilities. He lifts her up in his arms, and leaps (flies?) to the top of the fortress. She says “this isn’t the first time you’ve done that, is it?” and then asks how many times he’s been there to save her, without her knowing. He tells her he couldn’t let anything happen to her. She asks why today he chose to tell her. He answers that he wanted her to know who he really is. He then shows her a piece of coal, which he squeezes and heats up, turning it into a diamond. He then shows her a ring, and places the diamond on it. He uses his heat vision to fuse them together (that’s a pretty handy ability, right there). He then gets on his knees and asks “will you marry me?”
Wow, quite an opening segment, to say the least. Just, wow.
We return from the commercial break with Jonathan and Martha returning home, with Martha noting that that’s the worst joke she ever heard. What’s the joke? I want to know.. Clark comes out from the barn, nervously, and tells them that he told Lana everything. He then adds, again nervously, “right before I proposed to her, in the fortress.” He tells them that he told her not to answer him now, since there’s a lot to sink in. Martha is supportive and proud, while Jonathan is cautious. He then relents, saying “it’s just hard to look at your son and see a man. A man who doesn’t need his father’s advice any more.” Oh, yeah, that’s a safe thing to say considering somebody is going to die.
Meanwhile, Lois is in her apartment on the phone trying to get poll results. She then climbs onto a stool to get some junk food. She stumbles back and is about to fall, but Lana arrives and catches her. She can tell that Lana is distant and distracted. Lana insists it’s nothing, but Lois can tell it’s about Clark. Lana asks “what would you do if you thought you knew someone really well, but it turns out there’s this whole other side of them?” Lois answers “I guess the question is, does it change the way you feel about him?” Lana ponders, and answers “maybe.” Lois says “I would be honored to end up with somebody like Clark someday.” There’s some of that foreshadowing for ya.
At the Planet, Clark reveals to Chloe that he told Lana his secret. She asks what the real reason for this coming out party is. Chloe calls Clark and Lana Kansas’ version of Ken and Barbie, and then humorously adds “except I heard they broke up, which is kinda weird.” Actually, I read somewhere that Ken is trying to get her back. Seriously. Meanwhile, in the background, a woman receives flowers, a guy gets fired, and Chloe receives a wrong number phone call. Chloe assures Clark that nothing will change, at which point Clark reveals that he proposed to her. Chloe is initially shocked, but tells her that she’s happy for them. She says “there are very few people out there who really know what they want, and are willing to risk everything for it. If anyone deserves to be happy, it’s you.”
The snow is falling, and Lana drives up to the Kent house. Clark, all decked out in a suit for the election party, asks Lana if he looks different to her now. She answers “You look like the same handsome guy I’ve always known.” Clark asks “handsome as in, ‘I want to spend the rest of my life with you’ or handsome as in, ‘I’m going to let you down easy’?” We’ve all been there. Finally she gives him her answer: yes, she will marry him. They’re both glowing, as he gives her a hug and lifts her off her feet as giggling ensues. Touching moment.
At the election party, Jonathan helps Martha put on her pearl necklace (get your heads out of your asses, sickos!) Clark and Lana then join them, and Jonathan tells them that he hopes they have as many happy years together as they do. Lois then emerges from her apartment, and reveals that she got the heads up from the newsroom, and that Jonathan Kent has won the election. Moments later, on the television, the news is reported. Lois then grabs Martha and Jonathan and drags them to a photo shoot. Just then, Jonathan gets a phone call he must take. Clark gives Lana a kiss and goes to join his parents. Just then, Lana gets a phone call, from Lex.
Meanwhile, at the mansion, Lex is getting awfully drunk, all by himself. I find it strange that he is (a) already drunk, (b) all alone, and (c) dressed very casually, despite the fact that the news was only reported a few minutes ago. Didn’t this guy have a huge campaign army? Anyway, Lana arrives, which I find very disturbing. I mean, who does it look when the new Senator’s son’s fiancé goes to see the opponent just moments after the results are announced? Lex babbles on drunkenly, as Lana tries to console him. She tells him not to take it so personally. He tells her that he’s been branded with the sins of his father, and that he wanted to, just once, emerge from his shadows. He tells her “just think about how lucky you are that you never had a father to endure.” Ouch. Lana tells him that it’s best if they discuss this when he’s not drunk. An angry Lex tells her he can’t lose her too. She walks over to him, and tells him that he’s not going to lose her. She places her hand on his shoulder, when he recognizes the ring. He says “Well I guess it’s a bigger day than I thought.” He then adds “So, after all the lies he’s told you, you still chose him.” He starts instigating trouble, bringing up all the times he’s lied to her and disappeared on her. She insists it’s not like that now. He says “I know you, you’d never say yes with all the doubts you have.” He then adds “whatever it is he’s been covering up all this time, you know, don’t you?” She insists that Clark isn’t hiding anything. He answers “after everything I’ve done for you, how could you lie to me?” He then throws his glass of brandy into the fire. He grabs her quite violently, and yells “tell me!”
Moments later, Clark receives a phone call from Lana, who is on route back to the party. She tells Clark that Lex knows she’s hiding his secret, and that he’s really angry. She tells him he’s on route 40, right before Logan Bridge. Then, suddenly, Lex arrives, coming after her. He pulls alongside her, and yells for her to pull over so they can talk. Lana looks over at him, not paying attention to the road. Lex yells for her to watch out, just as she gets plowed by a school bus. The car flips over several times, as Clark listens to the whole thing on his phone. Lex jumps out of his car, and yells out to Lana. Just then, Clark uses his super speed and arrives on the scene, looking at Lana. Jonathan Kent jumps out of his car, and grabs a stunned Clark, who is caressing Lana’s dead body. Jonathan pulls Clark away, and hugs him. He tells Clark “there nothing you could have done. Nothing,” as Clark has Lana’s blood all over his hands. That was a truly heart wrenching scene, which I will discuss at further length in the review section.
An emotionally torn Clark is at the Fortress, asking Jor-El how he could take her away from him. Jor-El reminds him that he knew a life would be taken in exchange for his. He tells Jor-El not to make her pay for his mistake. He notes that if he hadn’t told her the truth about him, she’d still be alive. After a long pause, Clark asks to let him fix it. Jor-El notes that they are not gods. Clark insists that this is not her destiny, and he knows that. He tells him that there has to be a way. Jor-El finally says that there is one trial that Clark has not endured yet, but the tide of fate is impossible to stop. Even if he is able to stop one course of events, the universe will still find a balance. Jor-El tells him that there is one crystal, but once Clark makes a choice, there is no stopping it. Clark mumbles “I have to save her” as he grabs onto the crystal.
We are then brought to Clark in the loft again, tightly holding onto the piece of coal, moments before bringing Lana to the fortress. Lana arrives, in her gloves and scarf. A stunned Clark says “you’re here” as he grabs hold of her. She asks Clark where he’s taking her. Clark just looks at Lana, still in disbelief. He says “I just thought we’d spend the day together.” Finally Clark says “I thought we could go for a drive.” Yeah, considering how the last day ended, that’s the first thing I’d be doing with her… Lana says “don’t you think I can know by now when you’re lying?” She’s clearly upset. Clark says “it wasn’t a big deal, really. Trust me.” She says “you know that goes both ways.” He tries to explain himself, but she stops him. She adds “don’t, unless it’s the truth.” She then adds “as much as I love you, I can’t do this anymore.” He says that if anything ever happened to her, and again she tops him, asking “like what? What can be worse than losing the person you love?” The words ring true to him, as he stops himself. He then answers “nothing.” Finally, she says “I need a break.” Clark asks “from me?” and she answers “No, from us.” She then walks away, as a hurt Clark watches on.
At the Daily Planet, Clark confides in Chloe that he had already lived this day once, to which she quips “what did you do, spin the earth backwards on its axis?” Cute reference. Sensing that she is cynical, Clark tells her that the secretary will soon be receiving a flower delivery. Lo and behold, it happens. He then notes that her boss is about to fire somebody, and once again it happens, just as it did earlier in the episode. The phone rings, and Clark tells her it’s a wrong number. Again, it happens on cue. A now convinced Chloe pulls Clark into a private room, where Clark reveals how he told Lana the truth about him, and asked her to marry him. A stunned Chloe asks what she said, to which Clark answers yes. Chloe stumbles over her words, asking how she reacted. Clark then tells her about how it was a mistake and how Lex was chasing her and there was an accident. Chloe tells Clark that this doesn’t mean he has to continue lying to her, he can now warn Lana about Lex. Clark brings up how Lana knew less than a day, and how there would always be somebody after her. Chloe says that she won’t leave Lana’s side, and that she won’t let her get anywhere near that road so that fate doesn’t get a second chance.
We are then at the election party, and in a very nice touch, Clark now has his tie loosened, and is looking a bit more haggard. Jonathan and Martha walk over, where Jonathan asks if everything is alright. Clark says it is, then gives Jonathan a hug and wishes him luck. So I guess they don’t know he’s living this day again. Do you think telling Jonathan he’s going to win would have ruined it for him? Just then, Chloe and an awkward Lana arrive. Moments later, the news reporter announces that Jonathan Kent won the election. Clark recognizes something different: Lois didn’t arrive seconds earlier to reveal the results. Clark rushes up to her apartment, where she sees tha the place is flooding, with Lois lying unconsciously on the floor. Clark lifts up her just before the water reaches an electrical appliance. Wow, this is like Final Destination. Downstairs, the electricity is off, as Chloe looks for Lana.
Meanwhile, Jonathan receives his phone call, and it’s from Lionel. He says “there are a few things I’d like to discuss with you, now that we’ve won.” In my review, I will discuss how wonderfully this episode was edited, with how we only see glimpses of each person’s day, depending on who the focus is on.
At Lex’s mansion, Lex is getting drunk as Lana arrives. Ya’ know, Chloe had ONE job, and she couldn’t even do that. Geez. The scene plays out just as it did last time, except that Lana reveals that she and Clark broke up. Lex smirks. She says that she thought if she was patient enough he’d finally let her in. Lex tells her that he’d hate to say this, but that it’s possible Clark is never going to trust her. She says “I don’t understand, why would you lie to someone you love?” Lex puts down his glass, looks at her and says “I wouldn’t.” He then brushes the hair out of her face, and gives her a kiss. After a moment, she pushes her away. Lex apologizes, and Lana says its okay, but she’s going to go. She then leaves the room. Lex grabs his glass and throw sit into the fire.
Lana is driving away on route 40, when she receives a phone call from Lex. She doesn’t answer it. Moments later, Lex speeds up alongside her.
At the election party, Lois is taken away in an ambulance, as a precaution. Chloe then rushes outside and tells her she can’t find Lana. Again, you had ONE job.
Meanwhile, Lex drives alongside Lana, asking if they can talk. In the school bus, the driver is distracted by some zany school kids. Lex yells for Lana to watch out, but just before the bus hits her, Clark arrives and pulls on the bus’ rear bumper, preventing it from hitting her. A frightened Lana gets out of her car, as Lex rushes over to her. Clark watches on (behind some bushes) as Lex apologizes to Lana. She tells him to just forget it happened. Just then, Jonathan Kent drives by, and in an eerie, slow motion moment, he and Lana stare at each other briefly.
At Kent farm, Jonathan walks into the barn, where Lionel is waiting for him. He says “I’m here, and alone, as you requested.” Jonathan says “Good, then why don’t you come down here and face me, you son of a bitch.” Jonathan tells Lionel he knows he’s going to pay him back, so he doesn’t owe him anything. Lionel then says he envisions this as a partnership. In a nice touch, Lionel stops Jonathan from saying “the day I die.” Lionel then says he respects a man who would hurl himself into the spotlight when he has such a dangerous secret. He then reveals a photo (which we don’t see) and shows it to Jonathan. Jonathan crumples it up, tosses it on the ground, and says “I won’t let you destroy my family.” He then punches Lionel, and throws him over some equipment. He says “we’ll withstand anything you throw at us, because we have each other. That’s what will always separate the Kents from the Luthors.” Jonathan is about to command Lionel to get off of his property, when suddenly he has a shortness of breath. He is beginning to have a heart attack.
Still having difficulty breathing, Jonathan slowly walks outside the barn, using beams to support his balance. As he leaves, Lionel’s hand reaches over and grabs the crumpled photo. Meanwhile, Martha and Clark arrive home, as Jonathan collapses to the ground. They grab hold of him, and walk him to the fence. He looks at Martha, and smiles. He then grabs hold of Clark, and smiles at him. He then closes his eyes, and falls to the ground. Martha embraces him, as she cries out for him. Ya’ know Clark, you DO have super speed and all, this may be the time to, like, run him to the hospital or something.
The mood is somber at the Kent house, as the widow Kent attempts to put on her pearls, but is unable to do so (in a very touching reference to the beginning of the episode, where Jonathan put them on for her). Clark then walks in, and apologizes to her. Martha smiles slightly, grabs his hands, and walks him to the couch. She tells him that she knows he’s blaming himself, but it’s not his fault. He says he went back to save Lana, and now dad is gone. Martha says “do you think you could have chosen between them even if you had the chance? Clark, a heart beats only so many times in a life. Your father used his more than anybody I know.” Clark is clearly torn. He says “I don’t know how I’m supposed to be the man he wanted me to be, without him here.” She answers “you’re his son. You know what’s right or wrong, and whether your father is here or not, you’re a man he’s proud of. A man he could look up to. And something tells me he won’t be the only one.” Then they place their hands on top of each other’s, as Martha holds the pearls. Clark softly asks “Can I help you with this?” In tears in her eyes, Martha stands up, and allows Clark to put them on for her. They then hug.
Snow is on the ground, as we see several shots of Kent farm. We then arrive at the cemetery, where Clark, Martha, and many others are in attendance. Clark and Martha look on as the casket is lowered into the ground. We then get a close up of Clark’s hand, when somebody grabs onto it. It’s Lana. Lois and Chloe watch on at Clark as they walk away. In the distance, Lex watches on. Moments later, Lionel walks past Martha, and stares at her for a moment. Lana then releases Clark’s hand, and walks away. Shortly thereafter, Martha steps away as well. Clark then kneels down, and takes a handful of dirt. He releases it down into the grave, as Jonathan’s casket reaches the bottom. Clark looks up, seeing Martha watching him. Clark then stands up, and looks down one final time.
Episode Review:
Wow. That was a truly, genuinely intense and heart wrenching episode, which was wonderfully scripted and edited, and included some unexpected twists. Hell, my mom’s only seen a couple episodes, and even she was in tears at the end of the episode.
First off, they opened up the episode with a massive bang. Clark telling Lana his secret was a moment they’ve built up to for a long time, and despite his constant reluctance, I liked how it basically came down to telling her, or losing her for Clark. I also liked that he not only told her, but he basically opened up to her completely by showing her the fortress, telling her where he’s from, and displaying his abilities. Basically, Clark’s willingness to be completely truthful and honest with her made the way everything played out (both times) that much more heart breaking.
Part of me thinks the marriage proposal was a bit much, but I also understand that it was necessary for two things: 1) make Clark so over the top happy that losing her would be that much more devastating, as would her breaking up with him the second time around, and 2) make Lex go so over the top angry that it would ultimately lead to Lana’s death. For that sake, it’s forgivable.
I talked a number of times about how excellently I thought the episode was edited, and this is why. First off, so many things happened during the day the first time around that either seemed strangely emphasized, or noticeable, but inconsequential. For example, I definitely thought something was up when Clark and Chloe were at the Daily Planet, and all of these events in the background kept disrupting them (the secretary screaming for joy when she got the flowers, the reporter making a scene when he got fired, the wrong number). The second time around, it was made clear: They were ways for Clark to prove to Chloe that he had already lived the day. Also, when Lois was reaching for the junk food on the unsteady stool, and she lost her balance before Lana caught her, it seemed a bit random. However, the second time around I understood why. Without Clark telling Lana his secret and proposing to her, Lana didn’t go to Lois’ place to help her set up. In turn, nobody caught Lois, and instead she fell, which was why she was unconscious when Clark came up to her apartment. It was also very clever how Clark realized that something was wrong when Lois didn’t come down and reveal the results moments before the news report was made.
Additionally, again as I noted earlier, I liked how we only got small glimpses into what was happening with each person depending on which character the day was focused on. The first time around, we notice Jonathan gets a phone call moments after the results are announced, although we don’t really think anything of it. After Lana’s car accident, we see Jonathan arrive in his pick up truck. Where was he going? Why wasn’t Martha with him? The second time around, we find out that the phone call was from Lionel, and that he was driving to meet him at the barn. As a side note, I also want to commend the scene in which Jonathan drives past Lana and Lex, and he and Lana share a slow motioned stare. It was, in essence, showing us that in order for Lana to live, Jonathan must die. What made it all the more poignant was that this was moments after Lana was supposed to die, and moments before Jonathan would.
Another very touching editing tool was when they showed Jonathan putting Martha’s pearl necklace around her neck, and then at the end of the episode (after his death) having her struggle to do it herself. I was glad that they didn’t beat us over the head with this, by having Martha say something like “your father used to always do this for me.” It was unnecessary, we already got the point. There, a nice subdued reference was very moving, and it was wonderfully acted as well.
Regarding the twist, I thought it was fantastically done. I was initially very disappointed that Lana died, not because I like her (I do), but because of the reasons I had stated ever since they revealed somebody close to Clark would die. Basically, I feel like the show needs to start drifting from her character, and towards Lois. The fact of the matter is that I think that the show has outgrown the Lana/Clark relationship. Initially the series showed us what Superman was like as a teenager. This season and the end of last season has done an exceptional job of showing us how he becomes Superman, and now I think it’s necessary to take that to the next level by having him grow beyond his love for Lana. It seems as if the show will go on another season, but I think this should be the last one for Kristin Kreuk (who, again, I love).
While I was disappointed that Lana died, I think the show has now given us a great reason as to why Clark can’t reveal his secret to her (which has been a criticism from me and other fans for a while now). I also loved how Clark really struggled with not telling her after he had the second chance, but once Lana said “what could be worse than losing the person you love?” he understood that he couldn’t tell her, and relented. I really, really enjoyed the Clark/Lana aspect of this episode, but I do hope that the show starts drifting away from it.
I’m not sure if this is intentional or not, but I find it interesting that the two people who love Lana the most (Clark and Lex) both experience her dying as a direct result of their relationship with her. Clark mentioned Lana’s destiny to Jor-El, and perhaps this means that her destiny is to not be with either of them (which, I suppose, we already knew).
Anybody who says that Chloe is more expendable than Lana must be watching a different show than me, because I thought her performance as a character since finding out Clark’s secret has been exceptional and highly valuable. She’s been an incredible friend to Clark (and, again, a very valuable asset), and I feel like her character has grown more than any other. She’s now a committed and loyal friend, and putting her friendship with Clark above her journalistic curiosity and true feelings for him. She truly did seem happy for Clark when he told her that he proposed to Lana, and she seemed very genuine when she insisted that he should still be honest with Lana despite what happened to her the first time around. While I believe that this season should be the last for Lana, I’d really like for Chloe to stick around for a while longer.
I thought that Jonathan’s death scene was written and acted perfectly. I thought that Jonathan looking at Martha and smiling, then grabbing Clark, pulling him close to him, and smiling at him was a very beautiful moment. I loved how Jonathan wasn’t scared, he wasn’t angry, and he wasn’t sad. He was truly happy to have lived such a great life with people he loves. On top of that, I really liked how he didn’t speak a word. He didn’t utter “I love you” one last time, or give Clark some sage advice. He just looked at his family one final time, smiled at them, and died in their arms. It was a genuinely subdued, beautiful, and real moment. I also love that he died standing up for his beliefs and fighting for his family’s protection.
The funeral scene was excellent as well. The snow on the ground acted as a great contrast to everybody’s black clothing, which in turn acted as a nice contrast to everybody’s pale skin, which in turn acted as a nice contrast to everybody’s darkened hair (lotsa contrast, as you can see). The lighting, imagery, and music was all spot-on for this scene. I thought that Lana arriving and silently taking Clark’s hand was a very nice moment, and Lionel walking past and looking at Martha was downright creepy. I’ve been pretty critical of seeing “nice Lex” this season, but I actually really liked that he came to the funeral, and thought it was perfect that he stood in the back, almost hidden. At this point in time, I believe that, deep down, Lex truly does care about Clark, and that, again deep down, he really did want Jonathan’s acceptance. Even last week, Lex almost seemed regretful when he groggily told Lana about his dream, noting that he and Clark were still friends. Even in his fantasy, Jonathan was referring to Lex as the finest man he has ever known. I believe that nice Lex made an appropriate appearance at the conclusion of this episode.
Along with that, I’ve also been very critical of the Lex/Lana love fest, but even in this episode I didn’t find it entirely offensive. Instead, I thought that their scene together acted as a nice example of how much Lex has changed the past couple seasons. In season one and even season two, Lex bent over backwards trying to get Clark and Lana together. He would offer Clark expensive tickets and access to his limo in order to woo Lana. Now, in one reality he’s trying to talk Lana out of marrying her, and in the second reality he’s validating her decision to break things off with her. In a way, I also like how Clark has always been the light in Lex’s life of darkness. Now, Lana’s that light, not Clark. It’s an interesting transfer. All of that said, I really hope we don’t see Lex and Lana get together now that she and Clark are evidently finished.
Finally, I find it quite significant that we never saw the photo that Lionel had access to. The obvious belief is that it’s about Clark, but I’m not so sure about that. I feel like its too obvious, and, again, if it was that, why wouldn’t we be shown the photo? I think it’s also worth noting that only two people saw the photo: Jonathan and Lionel. Now that Jonathan’s dead, nobody else knows that Lionel has some damaging secret in his possession. I’m sure this will come into play later in the season.
Before I end things, I’d like to make it a point to commend John Schneider on the fantastic job he did as Jonathan Kent. Jonathan is a deceptively complex character, somebody who effectively instilled important values to Clark, but also sometimes made matters worse because of his strong set of beliefs. There were many times that Jonathan was too proud and stubborn, and in turn complicated issues with his family. It really made you wonder if doing the right thing is always the right thing to do. The show has also made it a point to show us that Jonathan plays a very significant role in turning Clark into the person who plays Superman. Quite frankly, those are some big shoes to fill, and I feel that John Schneider did a fantastic job of filling them. His character, and his portrayal of the character, will definitely be missed.
