Smallville Review – “Freak”

Ladies and gentlemen, not one but two meteor freaks get introduced this week.

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 Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer.

Directed by Michael Rosenbaum.

Original Airdate


Freak
originally aired on Thursday,

February 15, 2007.

Synopsis

A meteor freak with the power to identify other meteor

freaks seems to be connected with a series of abductions.

High Point

While it’s great to see Lana’s no longer treated as an

idiot, the intensity of the “how precise is it?” scene easily tops it.

Low Point

The similarity to “Heroes.” It wouldn’t surprise me at

all if the main similarity in the ideas started with Jeph Loeb before he

changed shows, but the difference in quality of the shows is highlighted when

a similar idea is handled so much better “over there.”

The Review

The low point reveals a lot about the

originality score. The mid-episode twist was definitely unexpected,

though. I find this a little hard to judge in some ways, as the final score

is somewhat dependant on the as-yet-unrevealed thought processes of one

character. (SPOILER: Was Lana convinced, as in any of

several dozen Silver Age stories, or did she realize Clark is something else

entirely?) I’ll split the difference and give it 4 out of 6.

The effects were very well done. The blind

effect was clear in its depiction, and still convincingly kept the blind guy

blind. The final sequence also looked great. I give it 5 out of 6.

The story introduced new ideas, moved the general

plot forward, and did it in a way that didn’t have the massive leaps of faith

a few of the other recent plots have needed. I give it 5 out of 6.

The acting was convincing. I don’t know if the

actor was actually blind, or if he used opaque contacts in all of his scenes,

but he really convinced me he was blind. The regular crew, including Mack and

Welling in the “precision” scene, also did good work. I give it 5 out of 6.

The emotional response was pretty

good. The twist was a surprise, and one that closed what seemed to be a

logical hole that they obviously identified and avoided. I give it 5 out of

6.

The production was the biggest surprise. If

I hadn’t read the credits, I wouldn’t have known this was Michael Rosenbaum’s directorial debut. I give it 5 out of 6.

Overall, this is another good episode, exceeding my usual mid-season expectations for the show. I give it 5 out of 6.

In total,
Freak
receives 34

out of 42.

6 replies on “Smallville Review – “Freak””

  1. Chloeville
    My guess is that Chloe’s power is the ability to hack. She has always been able to get into supposedly secure sites and computers.

    Also, her fear that she will turn rogue is unfounded – the blind guy, the bowling guy, and the "Flash" are examples of those who did not.

    The interChloe device would have to have been a radio, not a gps, which only receives. Also^2, if the bowler (Kim?) was killed by a car, then the "freaks" were not being killed internally, but externally, so she didn’t have to worry.

    Anyway, WHAT did they do to her and the others? Just taking samples seems not enough.

    I’m still disappointed that the "Justice League" a few episodes ago did not actually fight Lex’s army, but just blew up the building.

    Nothing so far seems to be leading to Clark’s flying.

    Martha Kent for president!!!

    • Re: Chloeville

      My guess is that Chloe’s power is the ability to hack. She has always been able to get into supposedly secure sites and computers.

      Also, her fear that she will turn rogue is unfounded – the blind guy, the bowling guy, and the "Flash" are examples of those who did not.

      The interChloe device would have to have been a radio, not a gps, which only receives. Also^2, if the bowler (Kim?) was killed by a car, then the "freaks" were not being killed internally, but externally, so she didn’t have to worry.

      Anyway, WHAT did they do to her and the others? Just taking samples seems not enough.

      I’m still disappointed that the "Justice League" a few episodes ago did not actually fight Lex’s army, but just blew up the building.

      Nothing so far seems to be leading to Clark’s flying.

      Martha Kent for president!!!

      I think I’m the only one who thinks Chloe doesn’t have any kind of power. When Tobias "saw" her, I assumed he was just seeing Clark. But I wasn’t paying attention to the entire show so maybe I missed something, but I don’t think Chloe has any ability.

      Also, if I recall, Bart (Flash) wasn’t a meteor freak.

    • Re: Chloeville

      Anyway, WHAT did they do to her and the others? Just taking samples seems not enough.

      Well, tracking device, DNA samples, and then can observe the freak in it’s natural element. Just like they do to any interresting critter on nature shows.

      And I’m in the "freakishly good at breaking and entering" camp.
      Also, I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: Chloe won’t survive the show. Now I’m thinking Lex kills her sooner or later.

      • Re: Chloeville
        ….And next week, we learn that Lana Lang has the kryptonite-induced power to survive multiple blows to the head.

        • Re: Chloeville

          ….And next week, we learn that Lana Lang has the kryptonite-induced power to survive multiple blows to the head.

          FTW!

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