When Tess was introduced at the beginning of the season, I was pretty critical of her seemingly one dimensional character. I have to admit, though, she’s really grown on me. Her relationship with Oliver has played a big part in that, but I also appreciate how they’ve made her a distinct character. She’s playing an active role in motivating Clark into fulfilling his destiny. Yet she’s not doing it because she’s heroic or good natured, like Oliver and Chloe, and she’s seemingly not doing it because of her visions of grandeur, like Lionel. She just seems invested in seeing him grow into the hero he’s supposed to be. I actually enjoy the fact that they’re not harping on her motives or how this would benefit her. In the grand scheme of things, does it necessarily matter? It’s also been fun watching her coy interactions with Clark. She clearly knows about his abilities, and no matter how much he insists he’s a normal human being, she’s just not buying it. Case in point, I liked the way Tess was completely unfazed with how Clark used his super speed to exit the mansion.
I also couldn’t help but laugh at her interactions with Oliver. Both of their sexually explicit conversations were so that Oliver could, ahem, get something from her, and in order to do that he had to lay out some double entendres that certainly lacked subtlety. And while he was passing this behavior along as just part of the job, you knew he just ate it up – and you could tell that he’d jump at the chance of another rendezvous with her.
On the topic of Oliver, I’ve pretty thoroughly enjoyed his dark turn. Like I noted last week, I’m not all that familiar with the Green Arrow as a comic book hero, but this version of the hooded archer most definitely has a sharp edge. He murdered Lex, wanted to kill Lionel, and is practically forcing Clark to take Davis’ life. And to his credit, he makes some pretty convincing arguments. Arguably, more than anybody else Oliver was the one who opened Clark’s eyes and realized that there’s a world to save outside of Smallville. Might he also be the one who knocks him from his ivory tower and teaches him that sometimes you need to get your hands dirty for the greater good?
Obviously, Clark is in a pretty tough position, and he must feel awfully lonely. The people who typically look up to him – and, to an extent, even worship him – are judging and second guessing his decisions left and right. Oliver thinks he’s a coward for refusing to kill Davis, and Chloe thinks he’s a monster for condemning him to the Phantom Zone. He’s even got outsiders riding him now, with Tess and her team of meteor freaks – most of whom he’s saved – criticizing him for not killing Davis as well. And what was up with Clark’s black clothing? They’re usually very deliberate about when they don’t have Clark wear his typical Red/Blue/Yellow clothing. Yet he didn’t do anything particularly dark, nor did he do anything morally questionable. He was his usual righteous self. It was very strange.
I’m not sure what to make of the final scene with Tess, but Smallville has always come through with their finales. So count me as excited! Who dies, you ask? My guess is Chloe and Davis. And I think I may go out on a HUGE limb here and predict that Lex returns. And I don’t mean burnt to a crisp, hidden behind a mask Lex. I mean Michael Rosenbaum. I’m not basing that on anything I’ve read, so please don’t send me any e-mails that may contain spoilers!
Matt Basilo has been writing for Inside Pulse since April 2005, providing his insight into popular television shows such as Lost, Heroes, Prison Break, and Smallville. You can visit his blog at A Case of the Blog.
