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« Smallville
Episode Recap: Veritas
Her memory restored, Kara is now content living the Green Acres life with Clark, casting aside the enormous assumed responsibilities that come with the ability to walk as a god among men, choosing instead to feed the horses and tend to the farm.
That is, until Brainiac shows up, promising to restore her life to the way it was before awakening on Earth. “Quiet morning. It's cold, still, bleak: almost reminds me of Krypton,” he tells her. Lacking Clark's pathos, she picks up on his obvious bad-guy vibe, and tosses him through the barn and into a water spigot.
Clark soon reveals to her the nature and motivation of the brain interactive construct, although neither can guess what its new goal may be, given that Clark has already destroyed Zod, and that Kara's father, even in his darkest hours, would never have sided with him.
Kara, proving twice in less than ten minutes that she is infinitely smarter than Clark, realizes that neither of them can defeat Brainiac on their own, and they need to level the playing field by having Clark learn to fly. I know there's a no flights/no tights rule in place for the show but...this is awesome.
At the Daily Planet, the wheels are being set in motion for the inevitable teaming up of Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen. Desperate to preserve their jobs at the now Lex-run paper, they decide to investigate the murder of Patricia Swann. Because there's no better way to ingratiate oneself with their NEW boss than digging around one of said boss's arranged assassinations.
Speaking of Lex, he is finally piecing together the mysteries of the Veritas organization through conveniently timed flashbacks to his childhood. It turns out that two of the four members of the group, Queen and Swann, possessed keys to a safe-deposit box in Zurich. A box which contains the secret to controlling “The Traveler.” Well, another secret. Aside from kryptonite. And his compassion for humanity. And his doe-eyed, overly-trusting demeanor.
Hot on the case, Jimmy and Lois ambush Lionel, who pleads innocent to Patricia's death. Quick to believe he is just trying to talk his way out of the situation, evidence that her presumed killer was hired by Lex soon comes to light, but not soon enough for them to convince Clark, Chloe or Lana that Lionel, for once, is not just crying wolf.
Back on the farm, Kara's attempts to teach Clark the art of flight are, predictably, dismal. Bargaining his way out of the lesson, Clark says they're wasting time, and it would be faster if they split up and each went after Brainiac in their own way. I know there's a no flights/no tights rule in place for the show, but I don't see why this storyline would be set up for any other reason than crushing the fans who would really dig seeing Clark finally realize Superman's coolest ability.
Not that Gough & Millar are completely out of touch with those of us who've invested roughly 146 hours of their life watching their show, as a consolation prize for Clark's lack of flight is soon offered up in the form of Lana's apparent death.
Seeking revenge for Kara's defiance, Brainiac pulls a T-1000, turns his finger into a metallic shiv and re-arranges Lana's brain, effectively turning her into a walking zombie.
I know she won't be killed off, and her “dying” words of “Kal-El...Kal-El...you're too late” are more an obvious indication that Clark and or Kara will find a way to save her than anything else, the Moira Sullivan shot of her in the hospital was pure gold.
Kara doesn't realize that killing off Kristin Kreuk's character would be series suicide, and agrees to fly off into the great unknown with Brainiac under the assumption that doing so will save Lana.
Judging by Lionel's warnings, and the preview for next month's episode, though, saving Lana should be the least of Clark's concerns. If his desperate pleadings are to believed (and why shouldn't they? John Glover absolutely killed every scene in this episode) then something big is coming, something so significant that Lionel feels preventing it will redeem him of the innumerable sins he committed before serving as a vessel to Jor-El.
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Mar 28, 2008 8:42 AM
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James:
It was Clark that shoved Braniac into the water, not Kara.
Kara appeared to be listening to Braniac, though she was certainly not absolutely trusting of him. But she didn't appear to know who he was - only that he was clearly Kryptonian - until Clark showed up and knocked him out of the room.
Whatever Braniac's plan is, it clearly has to do with Kara's bracelet, and MAYBE that arc is how Clark adopts the red symbol on its right side - the diamond S - as his own???
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Mar 28, 2008 8:50 AM
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Also:
If this was Episode 15, the one that the producers (I believe in a TV Guide interview) said was supposed to 'change everything as we know it', there was NOTHING that did so, and this episode was a major let down on that account. I've honestly been looking forward to this episode since I read that interview more than a month ago, and I cannot TELL you how let down I was.
It seems that the next new episode - 'Descent' - may be more earth-shattering than this one could have even DREAMED to be. (In the preview, Lex shoves Lionel out what appears to be a high-floor window, maybe even out of Lionel's OWN office window.)
BUT, I will acknowledge that the saving grace of this eppy was the foreshadowing of this season's finale, and the speculations of exactly what this will be.
More evil than Braniac or Zod.... Doomsday, maybe???
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Mar 28, 2008 8:54 AM
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This is completely off the topic of Smallville, so I'll apologize in advance to fans who dig the show but aren't into comic books.
There's this new book out titled "Kick-Ass," published by Marvel and created by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. that just printed its first issue.
It's a bit like Alan Moore's Watchmen, except more grounded in reality and current events. It's a great concept with a brilliant first issue and if you've ever been a fan of comic books, you'd be doing yourself a favor by picking it up.
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Mar 28, 2008 8:59 AM
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ajc_jeff, I was torn about whether Clark was the one who shoved Brainiac. It didn't really make sense that he would have shown up out of nowhere, but I know he was standing next to Kara when Brainiac warned that if they'd done it his way, no one would have been hurt.
To me, it seemed like Clark raced to the scene because he heard the commotion, but I could be (and considering I thought it was Lionel who killed Patricia, probably am,) wrong. Besides, it seemed like once Clark started describing Brainiac, Kara already knew what it was, so even though she might not have recognized him in his current form, she was able to realize he was a threat.
And while I agree the advance description was over-hyped, I still loved the episode and there is no way Doomsday is showing up in Smallville.
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Mar 28, 2008 9:13 AM
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Doomsday? what about darkside? maybe thats going to far off into the comic world, it might make it a little comicish.
In any case, i liked the episode but i wished theyd move it along a bit faster. The flying attempts were WEAK, they could have tried harder, comon! atleast have him try and fall on his butt!
I still think Lex (MR) is one of the best on this show, and I hope whenever the end of the show comes, or whenever his contract is up, they create an episode where him and clark work together ONE more time and then seperate...i think it would be a great way to end the show (which i think maybe near, waht do you all think?)
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Mar 28, 2008 9:14 AM
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James:
No doubt it was a good episode. But I was anticipating an earth-shattering moment after reading that interview, and there was nothing truly earth-shattering here.
Now, as far as setting up some earth-shattering moments, it was great.
And it was also one of the best episodes of late, maybe even the entire season so far. Just not as mind-blowing as I was thinking after reading that interview.
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Mar 28, 2008 9:26 AM
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ajc, I believe this goes back to the writer's strike more than anything else. When the strike hit, no one was sure when it was going to end so the 15th episode ("Veritas") was going to serve as a season finale, and as I'm sure you know, they like cliff hangers in those specific shows.
With the strike ending in enough time, the episode could have been tweaked a bit from what they had originally said because it wasn't going to end the series.
On to the episode. I know how much some people hate Lana, but I am not one of those people. The scene with Clark closing her eyes and then Chloe coming in and tearing up was gut-wrenching just because of how much Lana means to Clark. I think that scene will serve Clark more because he knows that if he doesn't do more, more of the ones he loves will most likely get hurt. Along those same lines, I know Lana won't die so I'm not afraid they won't bring her back.
I too was alittle miffed by my local tv guide telling me that after a "confrontation" with Brainiac, a few of Clark's loved ones would end up dead and in a coma. Where was the death? Oh well, overall, a great episode and a huge surprise with the unexpected trailer for the new wpisode in three weeks! Can't wait, it looks WONDERFUL!
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Mar 28, 2008 9:47 AM
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Lionel was pretty much the only reason to watch this episode. Honestly, I thought he was about to have a heart attack at any minute.
Other than that....what did this episode accomplish?
Okay, so Lana's virtually brain dead. Most days, that would be a plus, but somehow this seems anticlimactic. Plus now, Clark's going to be obssesed with finding a way to bring her back; it's going to be all about saving Lana for him again.
If she had been in a car accident...okay, he'd turn back time, but if something normal had happened that ended her up in a coma or something; then he might move on and discreetly look for a cure. Brainiac being involved, he's going to be obsessed with findig a cure now. And of course, he probably will (I'm assuming)
The episode certainly didn't live up to his description. Yeah, yeah, "No flights/no tights"; I thought that was stupid from the start and still do. Also, let's not forget that Clark has flown more than once, if only for a few seconds and then fell the instant he woke up and realized he was floating. Naturally there's no mention of that, 'cause they don't want to point out the fact that Clark has flown and not just as Kal-el.
But really, the description said Kara would attempt to teach Clark to fly; an attempt that lasted less 5 minutes. He didn't even try! I was looking forward to see Clark jump out the loft window and fall flat! That was ripe for comedic sequence.
First he jumps out the barn, no go. Kara sugguests maybe trying lower to the ground. He tries on ground levels, maybe immitating some of the various ways Superman's been known to take off in his day. One shot could even look like George Reeves taking off in the Superman series from way back; running towards the camera and leaping over it. Only the camera pans to find Clark on the other side, face down on the ground.
Then Kara says to the effect of, "Maybe if tried really high up" and we see them atop the Daily Planet or some skyscraper in Metropolis; and they could readdress Clark's previous fear of hights. Kara reminds him he'll be fine and then pushes him off; he keeps trying to fly, maybe flapping his arms, but just can't get past his mental block and Kara swoops in at the last minute, to prevent him from going into the concrete (not that he'd be hurt, just that, someone would have to fix the hole he'd leave, otherwise.)
Could have been good.
As for the big bad, it certainly wouldn't be Doomsday. Not yet. Darkside, maybe. That's the first one I thought of, but he seems too far out of character for the fans who basically watch this as "Dawson's Creek Superpowers" that don't like to be reminded the scifi aspect.
Guess we'll have to wait and see...
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Mar 28, 2008 9:50 AM
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It sure looks like it's the end of the line for this Lionel train next week. Too bad as I like the actor and the character. But if that happens, when will Clark step up and start being the true hero he's supposed to be? How many people must die or be maimed in some way to protect his secret? The Swanns, Lana, Lionel, Papa Kent...?
I know they have a No Flight/No Tights rule, but at this point, it's ridiculous where EVERY Kryptonian can fly but Clark. I mean, really.
Boy, they really crow barred that pairing of Jimmy and Lois, didn't they. At least they had to sort of sneak into Lionel's office. I still can't believe that Lex and Lionel can have people just pop into their office or house unannounced and without the knowledge of their security forces. Lionel and Lex should have at least 2 body guards with them at all time who wait outside their office or house and not allow anyone to pass without being screened. It's borderline stupidity at this point.
It was clearly Clark who showed up and threw Brainiac across the farm. Kara didn't know who he was and was listening to what he had to say when Clark showed up and tossed him out since he alone knew Brainiac was a threat.
So, these are the "pre-crisis" Kryptonians who can travel through space at flight speed without oxygen. Ok, so then Clark should be much more powerful and should have been flying a long time ago.
I wonder what the bigger threat could be, other than Darkseid. Nothing else is as formidable to Clark as he is, other than Doomsday, and I don't see him showing up. In the hierarchy of Superman villains, it probably goes Darkseid, Brainiac, Lex, Bizarro, and then Doomsday. While Doomsday and Bizarro are physically more powerful, they're both dumb (although in this series Bizarro is actually smarter than Clark and should be ahead of Lex, but I'm listing them historically.) So, I'll be interested to see what happens between next episode and the final episode.
I'm not sure where they can go next year without having Clark become Superman throughout the season. Going to the Fortress. Being trained. Everything. All of that should occur next year, with the final episode showing Tom Welling donning the outfit for his first time. I still wonder how Clark can be Superman with Lex and anyone who's ever met him knowing EXACTLY who he is.
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Mar 28, 2008 9:51 AM
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Am I to understand that THIS nonsense that we saw last night, would have been the 'season finale', if the writer's strike was still going on?
Unbelievable.
I saw a show that ended with Clark sniveling over Lana...which is no different from any other episode. The only decent parts were the scenes with Lois and Jimmy( I have to say those roles were cast perfectly).
Chloe did nothing as usual.
But the biggest travesty of all is this 'Veritas' storyline, which in effect is the writers way of making it seem as if this shadowy organization knew that Clark was coming to Earth the whole time??? Oh criminy...that whole story just comes across as an afterthought and an unnecessary distraction from the zillion of other things the characters on this show could be focusing on.
Watching this show is quite maddening, really. You have to go through 3 bad ones just to finally see 1 good one. Hopefully the next 'good one' will be when the show returns from its hiatus.
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Mar 28, 2008 10:20 AM
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James: Title is wrong. Kara didn't teach Clark anything.
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Mar 28, 2008 11:11 AM
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I'm still pissed they killed off Gina Holden's character so quick. Swann's daughter was interesting. Why not at least have brought back Oliver Queen for her episode?
Since Lionel Luthor would obviously have been everyone's first choice for killing Patricia Swann, why wouldn't Lex have set it up to make Lionel look like the culprit? Isn't Lex supposed to be smart?
If they are killing off John Glover's character, that would be bad.
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Mar 28, 2008 11:13 AM
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Am I the only one that was shocked that Clark DIDN'T ask Chloe to try to "cure" Lana? There was not enough Chloe this episode. I hope Lana stays a vegtable off screen for a while and Chloe starts getting the storylines and air time she deserves.
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Mar 28, 2008 12:43 PM
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Yeah the episode was subpar at best. And I did think they were going to at least show Clark trying to fly & then just falling. But no didn't.Also, I am going to assume that Chloe healing Lex a few episodes ago is the reason he is able to remember all these lost memories all of a sudden.
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Mar 28, 2008 1:33 PM
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