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February 15, 2007: Freak
Chloe being outed as a meteor freak yielded some really interesting drama. I don't know why, but for some reason, I just didn't think Chloe would have such a problem with being one. Sure, she's the creator of the "Wall of Weird," but she's usually a "we'll just deal with things" kind of girl. So the fact that she was so freaked out about getting abducted for being infected was surprising to me. On the other side of things, Lana pretty much admitted that if Clark had been one of these "special" people, she'd have been OK with it. After all, he'd still be the same Clark Kent. Wow. I have to say, I kinda loved both reactions — especially Lana's. That's what I've been waiting for from her. Sure, there's a bit of a jump from "meteor freak" to "alien from another planet," but I just knew the girl could handle it. I liked Lana in this episode. There, I said it.
I know we're in the sixth season and Lana and Chloe have been friends for a while, but it's still weird for me to think of them as best friends. So that two-person bowling-alley bachelorette party was just odd. But at least it set up the big story: a doctor (on orders from Lex) is using a blind meteor freak who has the ability to point out other meteor-infected individuals. After using his handy-dandy freak-radar (freak-dar?), the bad guys abduct said freaks, experiment on them, and then return them home the next day complete with a memory wipe. Ever the observant (and nosy) reporter, Chloe spots the bowling-alley employee using telekinesis to hit on Lana and blind Tobias, who'd just pointed out telekinetic boy to the evil doc.
One of the best things about this episode was Clark. Not only did he finally have a civil conversation with Lana, he also got to show his support for Chloe. (I'll let you know my favorite line of the entire episode later.) That was all well and good, but what trumped all of that was every single time the farm boy used one of his powers. He just about used all the ones the show has introduced: superstrength, superbreath, superspeed, X-ray vision, heat vision and superhearing. Sometimes, he would use them one after the other! There was just so much superpower goodness, it wasn't even funny. I wish every episode had more of that. If he had been able to use those powers in order to give someone a serious smackdown, that would have made everything perfect. As it is, he brought down some wimpy doctor that Lex was keeping on a short leash.
Speaking of Lex, I love it when he is up to no good, 33.1-style. I don't think Lana bought his lies, but that didn't stop him from telling them. That didn't stop him from swearing on the soul of his unborn baby that he had nothing to do with Tobias. How does the man sleep at night? Part of me was wondering how Lana could fall for the lies, but how can you doubt someone who swears on the soul of the child you're carrying? You're gonna have to go on faith once someone makes a heavy statement like that. By the way, kudos to Michael Rosenbaum for directing this episode, he did a good job. It can't be easy to direct this show, and both Rosenbaum and Tom Welling have done credible jobs.
But back to a freaked-out Chloe. She keeps claiming nothing good can come from being a meteor freak — she says they either end up "dead or in Belle Reve." With her mom having pyschological issues, that has to be on her mind. That experimentation scene was a bit disturbing with the contraptions and the ginormous needle. It almost seemed like what happens when any show features an alien abduction. Thankfully, the victims have no recollection of the entire evening. It was nice to see Clark be there for his friend, because as we know, it always seems like Chloe's dealing with his issues. I love that she gets to angst about something that directly affects her for a change. It seems like they'll continue this at some point, especially after seeing Lex watch a video of her evening of experimentation.
As for Lana, I just loved her thinking she needed to cover for Clark with Tobias. Pretty much everyone deduced that he was going to out Clark as a meteor freak. So the fact that Lana went to Tobias and offered to get him out of town and get him the "no strings attached" surgery he needed, all in the name of keeping Clark's secret, that just rocked. I loved that she was trying to do something for him. Last week, she lost the mangled chisel. This week, she gained the crushed bullet. Wonder if she's going to give up now that Tobias has confirmed that Clark is "normal," or if she'll continue to dig for the truth? Here's to her keeping up the excavation.
Other thoughts:
— Clark getting that GPS chip out of Chloe using his heat vision? Ouch.
— I loved Clark mentioning that Oliver Queen was arranging for Tobias' cornea transplant surgery. I had a nostalgic feeling when he mentioned Ollie. I miss him being a part of the action.
— Did Lana see Lex in the tux he'll be wearing for the wedding? I know it's usually bad luck when the groom sees the bride in the wedding gown, but on this show, you can't tempt fate. Nothing good can come from Lana seeing Lex in his tux before the big day.
— For those who watch Smallville and Supernatural, Dr. Bethany was the evil doctor/shtriga in the Season 1 episode called "Something Wicked."
— Chloe and Clark scenes always manage to give us some good dialogue. Here's my favorite for this episode: "Face it, I'm a walking time bomb." "Then consider me your own personal bomb squad." Awesome. Just awesome.
— Al Gough is back answering more of your questions here. It's kind of spoilery, so beware....
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Feb 16, 2007 1:47 AM
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Holy Crap!
Loved Loved Loved this Ep!
This ep had several "Holy Crap" moments.
Lana deduces that Clark has been saving the day on an almost daily basis!
Holy Crap!
Lana thinks it's because Clark is a meteor freak!
Holy Crap!
Lana finds out he's not!
Holy Crap!
Lana tells Clark that even if he was, he'd still be Clark!
Holy Crap!
Chloe is pegged as being meteor infected!
Holy Crap!
Clark has to use his heat vision to burn a hole in her skin to remove a device!
Holy Crap!
Just an amazing episode. Michael did a great job directing, there were many non typical shots throughout the ep.
Chloe was fantastic. The part where she tells Clark they're "both adults" and to X-Ray her, and then demands he use his heat vision to get out the GPS device.
Holy Crap!
I'm hoping that Chloe having meteor infestation but no powers does not mean that it does to her what it does to Lex in the comics and the Justice League cartoon.  I won't spoil it here.
However, if they did do that, maybe that is why Clark becomes a journalist.
Maybe Lana is involved even if she doesn't know it, and that's how Clark finally gets over Lana.
I also loved how he got to use all of his powers, and the laptop theft was awesome. It was around the friggin corner and down the hall. Holy Crap!
This was one of the all time best episodes, and I hope there's more like this than last week's episode!
Holy Crap!
~ÐL
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Feb 16, 2007 2:09 AM
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This ep was awesome! I felt so sorry for Chloe when she was talking about all meteor-freaks being dead or in the mental ward. Especially with her fears they've shown in the past of her ending up in the mental ward like her mom.
Loved that Ollie is gone but not forgotten. (Unlike Pete.) I spotted him over on CSI: NY the other night. Wearing a towel and a smile. Nice.
I don't think Lana will give up, no way. She knows there's something about Clark, she just knows now that it's not the obvious answer.
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Feb 16, 2007 2:13 AM
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After last week's Lana-fest of a show and the disappointment it brought to this viewer, I have to agree, Tina. She definitely brought a lot to the table this ep, and she didn't end up in jeopardy one time. Ok, she did get in some firearm action, but she wasn't specifically the target, nobody wanting to kidnap her to get at Lex, stuff like that. And Clark didn't once gaze at her with those puppy dog baby blues of his. I think if he finally gets it into his thick super-noggin that she's moved on, then maybe I can enjoy her character a little more than has been the case the last couple of seasons.
Anyone else notice the shield the detective who wanted to interview Ms. Lang was wearing? Very interesting shape, me thinks.
Lots and lots of Chloe, which always makes me want to come back for more each week. Now if the writers can only get me to feel the same about Lois, who was thankfully MIA tonight, then all will be right in this version of the Super-Universe.
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Feb 16, 2007 3:18 AM
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This was a huge improvement over last week. I loved this episode and I kept looking at Dr. Bethany like I KNOW HIM but I couldn't place him. Those Vancouver actors go anywhere.
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Feb 16, 2007 4:01 AM
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I loved this episode too. But I'm confused about why Chloe is so freaked out. Didn't Flash and Aquaman get their powers from meteors too? I kept thinking Clark would mention them to her since she met them a few episodes back. That could be cool for her to get a power and Clark help her control it and use it for good.
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Feb 16, 2007 7:31 AM
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I completely understand what Chloe is so freaked out. Everyone she's known that has been "infected" by meteorites has ended up dead or insane. That really doesn't leave her many options. I wonder what her "super power" is going to end up being.
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Feb 16, 2007 8:26 AM
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I agree. This was a very good episode.
IMHO, when Lex said that about his unborn child, he said it because there is no child. He is having "his" Dr. say all this just to marry Lana to get at Clark.
The "wedding" should be great.
Next week is a repeat. Damn it!
Does anyone know when the wedding ep is?
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Feb 16, 2007 8:26 AM
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I just looked on IMDB for the next episode. It says that the next one is March 15th! Is that right? A month before the next new one? That's crazy talk!
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Feb 16, 2007 8:36 AM
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epguides shows only three more shows for the season: Feb.15 & 22 and (gulp) April 18.
Enjoyed Lana's thought processes as she works through her hypotheses about why Clark's around whenever somebody's getting saved.
Finally, a really trivial nit-pick: The name of the "sanitarium," Belle Reve. If it's meant to be French, beautiful dream, shouldn't the adjective be the masculine "beau" to agree with the masculine noun? Bet nobody else cares.
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Feb 16, 2007 8:41 AM
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I didn't read everyone's comment so maybe this is mentioned. I had a few thoughts:
1) Maybe Chloe isn't a meteor freak. I wondered if it is because Clark is soo powerful that when Tobias looked at him it was like solar flare and bounced a reflection on to Chloe? You know how Clark is basically indestructible so that whenever any thing happens like a fire or a bullet, he has a kind of personal shield that seems to extend a few inches from his body so that his clothes don't get damaged. I wonder if it was like that?
2) Is the reason Tobias couldn't see Clark as a meteor freak because he isn't in that sense? I mean he is from Krypton but not infected by the meteor rocks, ya know?
3) I am betting if Tobias had looked at Lana he would see that baby was meteor infected.
The best scene for me was when Chloe was so desperate to get whatever it was out of her she begged Clark to burn it out and ran over and got the knife. That whole scene gave me chills. Awesome. The depth of the friendship that she was totally trusting him to do it. He looked soo scared, but he bucked down and did it anyway.
One more thing if Chloe is meteor infected what is her ability?
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Feb 16, 2007 8:50 AM
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Bummer we are on break for that long - say it isnt so. As for the wedding, the invitation that Lex gave to Clark actually said theie wedding was on Februray 24 (yes - I paused it and read it all), but since they celebrated Valentines Day 2 weeks ago, I thought it would have been this week or next week. I guess we will have to wait and see.
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Feb 16, 2007 8:55 AM
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rlsbridges, Flash and Aquaman are not meteor freaks. Flash got his abilities from a lightning strike, I am not sure where but i know it wasn't in Kansas. When Clark asked him, Flash snorted and told him where. As for Aquaman, remember a lot of the Justice Leagues are just mutants like the X-men and I think Aquaman is from Cali.
And yes, kele21220 March 15 is the next new episodes for both Smallville and Supernatural. I agree that is just insane  .
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Feb 16, 2007 9:01 AM
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I loved this episode! All the Chlark and Chloe scenes were amazing! I agree with you Tina, the "then consider me your own personal bomb squad" was the best line and best moment of the episode(Chlark rocks!) That scene when Clark got the GPS out of Chloe was really intense but it was so great to see Clark take a risk to save Chloe's life.
Also, was this Aaron Ashmore's last episode? I thought that him and Chloe would have broken up last night so he could make his exit. I don't think he's in the wedding episode coming up. So does that mean Clark is going to wedding with Chloe? Chloe was right though, Clark going to the wedding would be the final step in FINALLY moving on from Lana.
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Feb 16, 2007 9:40 AM
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I really really liked this episode. Tina, you're right, the multiple-power-use was awesome. It made it feel like he's really, you know, SUPERMAN.
I think Chloe really is infected. My guess on her abilities? Crazy-mad hacking skills. Seriously. There isn't a computer she can't hack.
As for the next episodes, while the wedding is supposed to be Feb. 24, the chronology of this season got all screwy. The next ep IS March 15, but there are 6-7 more episodes (total of 22 or so, as per normal). The next episode is the Lexana wedding.
Loved the Ollie shout-out. That made me happy.
And I'm pleasantly surprised that they're giving up on the "Lana is too thick to figure it out" angle. Especially with Chloe actually telling Lana about Tobias's powers and everything. Who knows, I may end up not hating Lana after all.
Oh, and I don't think there's a baby either. It's a Luthor set-up, start to finish.
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Feb 16, 2007 10:13 AM
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