Smallville Review – “Fade”

This season’s twentieth episode has hit the air.
Rumour is that there will be twenty four episodes this
season instead of the usual twenty two.

Cast

Tom
Welling
as
Clark Kent

Kristen Kreuk as
Lana Lang

Michael
Rosenbaum
as Lex Luthor

John
Glover

as Lionel Luthor

Annette
O’Toole
as Martha Kent

Erica Durance as
Lois Lane

Allison Mack as
Chloe Sullivan.

Written by Al Septien and Turi Meyer.

Directed by Terrence O’Hara.

Original Airdate


Fade
originally aired on Thursday,
April 27, 2006.

Synopsis

Clark saves the life of an assassin, who wants to pay
Clark back
somehow.

High Point

Not only are Clark and Lana not back together, they’re
getting
actively pushed apart! It looks like we’re finally on
the way toward
the accepted status quo.

Low Point

Does nobody notice that the guy who knocks a man away
from a speeding
van is moving faster than the van itself? I can
accept that the saved
individual is protected from Clark’s speed as a side
effect of Clark’s
powers, but this is a busy street in Metropolis and he
appears out of
nowhere!

The Review

How original is it to compress the entire
Lex/Clark
relationship into one hour? It was nice to see the
thing play out,
but it’s not exactly anything new. The fresh material
came with Lois
and her lamentations on her love life. I give it 3
out of 6.

The effects were nicely done, diving into the
busy street,
and fading into the background. I give it 5 out of 6.

The story was well told, with some interest
despite its
similarity to the long-term plotline. This is helped
in part by their
acknowledgement of the similarities. It’s also nice
to see the
relationships go someplace new, rather than just
repeat what’s already
been done. I give it 5 out of 6.

The acting was well done, even from those
I’ve traditionally
not been impressed with. The guest star played the
suave scumbag
quite convincingly. I give it 5 out of 6.

The emotional response was strong in spite of
the lack of
originality. This is still an interesting story, and
there are enough
character dynamics to play off of to change the way
the series runs.
The similarities between Lex and Graham were
interestingly drawn. I
give it 5 out of 6.

The production was the typical high for the
series. They’ve
got a look and feel pinned down, and they use it well.
I give it 5
out of 6.

Overall, it’s a good episode, and one of the
more interesting
ones from this season. I give it 5 out of 6.

In total,
Fade
receives
33
out of 42.

12 replies on “Smallville Review – “Fade””

  1. To add to the low point
    Am I mistaken about the laws of physics, or was the traffic rescue scene technically impossible? Clark’s powers allow him to run and jump at supersonic speeds, but descending from the said jump at the same speed would require him to fly downwards instead of waiting for gravity to kick in. And that’s something he doesn’t know how to do yet.

    It was nice to look at though.

    • Re: To add to the low point

      Am I mistaken about the laws of physics, or was the traffic rescue scene technically impossible? Clark’s powers allow him to run and jump at supersonic speeds, but descending from the said jump at the same speed would require him to fly downwards instead of waiting for gravity to kick in. And that’s something he doesn’t know how to do yet.

      Clark doesn’t know how to consciously do that, but he’s used his flying abilities a number of times without realizing it.

      • Re: To add to the low point

        Am I mistaken about the laws of physics, or was the traffic rescue scene technically impossible? Clark’s powers allow him to run and jump at supersonic speeds, but descending from the said jump at the same speed would require him to fly downwards instead of waiting for gravity to kick in. And that’s something he doesn’t know how to do yet.

        Clark doesn’t know how to consciously do that, but he’s used his flying abilities a number of times without realizing it.

        And he flat out flew when possessed at the beginning of the "do you have the stones, Lex?" year.

  2. Comments already?
    On the west coast, Smallville was preempted by the Clippers’ game. It is on tonight (Friday).

  3. Mr. Grumpy redux
    More of the nonsense when Clark, moving at supersonic speed, does not cause a ripple of wind. The only time Clark’s running fast causes any wind is when he visits Chloe, when his coming to a stop causes all her carefully arranged papers to blow around.

    Also, if you objectively examine the Clark-Lex-Lana relationship, Lex and Lana are the reasonable one and Clark is the unreasonable one, pushing Lex away whenever Lex tries to renew their friendship and not revealing his powers to Lana, causing their relationship to end. This is, of course, required by where things have to go, but does not fit the way things have been presented.

    • Re: Mr. Grumpy redux

      More of the nonsense when Clark, moving at supersonic speed, does not cause a ripple of wind. The only time Clark’s running fast causes any wind is when he visits Chloe, when his coming to a stop causes all her carefully arranged papers to blow around.

      He’s usually carefull not to be noticed, but he doesn’t have to make the extra effort around Chloe.

      As for the "tell her already you dolt!" sentiment, I agree. Though, since he DID tell, and she died and he had to go back in time and his dad died… I figure, he’s got good cause to keep his yap shut.

      • Re: Mr. Grumpy redux

        As for the "tell her already you dolt!" sentiment, I agree. Though, since he DID tell, and she died and he had to go back in time and his dad died… I figure, he’s got good cause to keep his yap shut.

        He should totally tell her again.

        Seriously though, I find it ironic that Lana had issues with Clark’s secrets and now she’s dating the only person on the show with as many reasons to keep parts of his life under wraps as Clark (and attempting to keep it secret while doing so).

        Kristin Kreuk isn’t even playing a character anymore – she’s an antagonizing plot device.

    • Re: Clark Gets Even

      He gets to see a nekkid Lois :)

      This was an episode rich in Lois T&A.

      Sexy sit ups, sexy dress, AND a shower scene! Yummy.

      • Re: Clark Gets Even

        He gets to see a nekkid Lois :)

        This was an episode rich in Lois T&A.

        Sexy sit ups, sexy dress, AND a shower scene! Yummy.

        That’s Exactly What We Said Here.

  4. Regrumpification
    Also, Clark and Chloe did more of their stupidity of talking about Clark’s powers and weakness where lots of people can see and hear them. In this episode, it bit him.

    Also^2, the votw (villian of the week) buried Clark with the meteor rock instead of using his usual method of strangulation. How convenient that Clark’s phone was sticking up from the dirt and on!

    Also^3, this is at least the second time that Lex has killed a villian that knew Clark’s secret.

    • Re: Regrumpification

      Also, Clark and Chloe did more of their stupidity of talking about Clark’s powers and weakness where lots of people can see and hear them. In this episode, it bit him.

      Also^2, the votw (villian of the week) buried Clark with the meteor rock instead of using his usual method of strangulation. How convenient that Clark’s phone was sticking up from the dirt and on!

      Also^3, this is at least the second time that Lex has killed a villian that knew Clark’s secret.

      1 and 2, quite definatly. Although perhaps now that the villain told him he overheard him talk about his weakness, Clark will be less phenomenally stupid.

      3, well, "getting shot by Lex" is the new "getting hit on the head"!

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