Smallville Review – “Fracture”

One of the last pre-strike productions hits this week. This review is more spoilery than usual; be warned.

Cast

Tom Welling as Clark Kent
Kristen Kreuk as Lana Lang
Allison Mack as Chloe Sullivan
Erica Durance as Lois Lane
Aaron Ashmore as Jimmy Olson
Laura Vandervoort as Kara
Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor
John Glover as Lionel Luthor

Written by Caroline Dries.
Directed by James Marshall.

Original Airdate

Fracture originally aired on Thursday, February 14, 2008.

Synopsis

Kara and Lois are kidnapped by someone who shoots Lex in the head. While the mortally wounded Lex is dumped in a ditch, found, flown from Detroit to Smallville, operated on, moved to a secret facility, telepathically and technologically invaded by Clark and healed by Chloe, Lois and Kara have enough time to pick a lock with a bobby pin.

High Point

The reintroduction of Kara. The rest of the episode felt like a cheap excuse to turn back the clock on the Clark/Lex relationship.

Low Point

As you might have guessed from the synopsis, Lex’s longievity detracts from the seeming urgency of the wound.

The Review

This doesn’t feel original. They use a previously used device (from late season five) to move the status quo back to what it used to be for everyone but Kara. Last season felt like the entire year moved forward, but this feels like they’re trying to undo that. I give it 3 out of 6.

The effects didn’t work in all cases. The surreal, warping hallway didn’t mesh with the image of Clark very well. The rest was limited, but it worked. In fact, the other effects were so limited that it makes me suspect we’re about to see an effects heavy episode to compensate. We didn’t even see the standard super speeding when it was called for! I give it 4 out of 6.

The story requires more suspension of disbelief than the typical episode of this series (and that really says something.) Timelines aside, I wouldn’t expect a device created for human physiology to work at all on Clark in the first place. Include some of the other numerous little moments, such as Kara’s acceptance of something Lex couldn’t even accept, and the entertaining moments don’t do enough to compensate for many of the weaknesses. I give it 3 out of 6.

The acting was done well enough. The final meeting between the Luthors brought back that great dynamic that really brought those early seasons together. I give it 5 out of 6.

The emotional response should have been stronger. This just felt too much like a reset, cramming things back into the old status quo. Apart from the final scene with Kara, and the one scene that may make it difficult for Clark to face Lana, nothing felt like it moved anything forward. I give it 3 out of 6.

The production was well done, using camera work to keep things jumping without visual effects. I give it 5 out of 6.

Overall, this was just plain mediocre, with good execution of a weak script. I give it 3 out of 6.

In total, Fracture receives 26 out of 42.

2 replies on “Smallville Review – “Fracture””

    • Re: don’t care anymore

      But in other news, this weeks’ Supernatural was incredibly good.

      Thanks for the reminder.

Comments are closed.