Remember last week when I said the episode was going to be a filler before being saved by the final few minutes? Well, I think it’s safe to say that this episode does solidly fall into the “filler” category. It wasn’t a throwaway by any means, as it featured Clark giving Lois the full spiel on his alien heritage, as well as the consummation of their relationship, but Clark and Lois vs. a village full of Amish people dressed up like the bad guy from The Strangers? Yeah, I’d say that this ranks as inconsequential in the long run.
As such, this probably won’t be a very long review. Then again, I’ve promised that in the past and ended up with a two page report. So who knows?
Honestly, there’s just not a whole lot to say about Clark and Lois’ Harvest Festival adventure. It was a different spin on the stories we’ve seen throughout the first few years of Smallville, where a community is impacted by Clark’s arrival due to some Kryptonite. In this case, it was blue Kryptonite, and the result was beneficial. However, the townspeople interpreted it as an act of God, and their blind worship led them astray. One thing I did have a problem with, though: Did I see it wrong, or did Clark shoot one of the villagers in the back? I understand it was a dire, life threatening situation….but man, that was vicious.
To me, the focal point of the episode – or, at the very least, the portion of the episode that will have long running consequence – was the evolution of Alexander into Lex. Earlier this season I noted that nobody could possibly handle this degradation as well as the supremely talented Michael Rosenbaum. I stand by that opinion, yet I must admit that the young actor portraying Alexander did a rather admirable job. I really did sense that this young man was the evil, manipulative Lex Luthor in a child’s body. It was actually rather sad watching this innocent boy slowly devolve into the monstrous mastermind we met seasons ago – and both he and Tess were powerless to stop it. His cold and calculated appraisal of Tess – that she attaches herself to powerful men in order to feel worthwhile – was delivered with surprising force. Ditto for his declaration that his name isn’t Alexander, it’s Lex.
Although, I have to say, Tess slapping young Alexander did seem a tad forced. Nonetheless, the final scene of a shaved headed “Lex” standing in his bedroom, with that typical smirk, was pretty great. It actually makes me a little disappointed that this final season is not focusing on the REAL Lex and Clark.
