For those of you waiting for reviews to decide whether or not you’re going to watch it: this one’s not too bad.
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
Written by Caroline Dries
Directed by Whitney Ransick
Original Airdate
“Sleeper” first aired on Thursday, April 24, 2008.
Synopsis
The government seems to have noticed Chloe’s computer activities, and have decided that she’s a likely candidate for terrorism. They recruit Jimmy to spy on her. Meanwhile, Clark and Chloe have figured out where Brainiac and Kara went. Next week: the 150th episode.
High Point
The unmasking in the teaser.
Low Point
As much as I liked the teaser, when you immediately learn that it’s a portion of the later episode, it feels like a cheap trick to create more tension than the episode could on its own. This isn’t quite as guilty of that as other episodes have been, but there’s still some degree of it.
The Review
The only original element of the episode was the actual consequences to their actions. It’s about time somebody noticed everything they’ve been up to. I give it 4 out of 6.
The effects were really light this week. I don’t even think Welling was in any of the effects shots. This could be a sign of an expensive episode coming next week. Still, the few they had were well done, probably because they were all physical effects (with the exception of a taser or two.) I give it 5 out of 6.
The story was told well. For once, the “revealing teaser” trick didn’t involve some sort of mind control or shapeshifter, so we were looking at what we were actually looking at. I give it 4 out of 6.
The acting was good from the regular cast, but a bit weak from the (typically attractive) guest star. I give it 4 out of 6.
The emotional response wasn’t too bad. They were dwelling on the Lana thing again, which just reminds me of how long that story thread has been anchoring progress. I give it 4 out of 6.
The production was the typical high. They know how to put together an hour of television. I give it 5 out of 6.
Overall, it was a bit of a lull compared to last week, but it’s not too bad. I give it 5 out of 6.
In total, Sleeper receives 31 out of 42.
Low point is right on
The Low Point really killed the episode for me. I actually thought "damn it, they’re going to do an ‘x hours earlier’ on me" during the opening credits.
Their interpretation of time travel bothers me a little. The rest of next week’s episode better be enough to make up for it!
Is this show done??
How many of you have quit watching Smallville.
I really think I’m done with this show. I was somewhat interested in seeing the end, but now that I know the end is over a year away, I just am not interested in watching much anymore….
Traveller thoughts
Baseless speculation but has anyone considered the possibility that the traveller isn’t Clark. I can’t recall everything we’ve heard about the traveller but wouldn’t Kara, or even Brainiac, be just as good a candidate? Brainiac is actually a better candidate since he’s a machine and someone could get the root password.
Also on the topic of the Brainiac related revelation at the end of the episode. Am I the only one who suddenly had a thought of Clark making a giant and heroic leap… over a lake full of sharks.
In the words of Han Solo, I have a bad feeling about this.