Season 1, Episode 13: Kinetic

 

"Kinetic"

Episode 13

Air Date: February 26th, 2002 

You know, "Kinetic" isn't as bad as remember it being...but there are 2 huge things holding it back! One, the kryptonite usage on this show is already becoming beyond inconceivable but here you have an episode, where the villains of the episode are using kryptonite tattoos to phase through objects to steal from banks and the wealthiest in Smallville. I swear no show can be as outlandishly ridiculous while telling a serious story than Smallville.  I understand the need of Clark having to struggle against his opponents each episode, hence the necessity of the meteor rocks being set up during the meteor shower that struck in '89 but it's just already showing the writers are seriously reaching and barely managing to make these so called meteor freaks a match for Clark.  I mean the episode starts off really well, setting up the mystery of these three thugs and how much a threat they are, especially when it comes to Lex....BUT....as soon as Whitney becomes the focal point of the story is where things begin to go sour for me aka the second issue. Look, I think it's already easy to see that the only two characters with obvious shortcomings are Pete, who you forget is still there sometimes and Whitney, the football player boyfriend only to be a high school foil for Clark.  The thing is, Whitney is pretty 2 dimensional and the whole plot with his father being sick hasn't really developed him much at all.  I feel bad for Eric Johnson honestly.  He really doesn't have much to work with, even here.  Sure, Whitney losing his scholarship could have been a nice set up for developing him, but the story bits just follow such a standard in cliche route.  Teen boy is down on his luck, gets in over his head and with the wrong group of people, realizing he messed up, only needing to get himself out of it...or rather for Clark to save him.  By episode's end, all Whitney gains from all this is a new tattoo....that's it! Moving on....O_o

I did love the Chloe tragedy that was incorporated into the story, especially when Clark blames himself for her accident when they were attacked.  Once again, Clark taking responsibility for being a hero and not accepting failure is a nice development to always see from him.  Even tho, his self loathing and blaming himself will become an overly annoying trait of his throughout the series.  *Groan* But here, it's always nice to see Clark investigating these threats to the town and we even get an investigative reporter reference from a recovering Chloe.  I also, really enjoyed their scenes together just being platonic toward each other and supportive friends.  The show gets so bogged down by the teen drama A LOT that it's just nice to see Chloe and Clark just being sweet and genuine to each other instead relationship politics spoiling the natural chemistry between Tom Welling and Allison "Sex trafficking" Mack (I'm sorry but I still just CAN. NOT! O_O) In other subplots, we go back to Lana and her desperate need to preserve the spot her parents first met aka the Talon; leading her to try to make Lex, who's buying the property, want to keep the building standing because of it.  I actually like how Lex shoots down her offer only for Clark to inspire her to see it as a challenge to make a more business proposition that might save the building.  Its a nice moment as Lana and Lex shockingly become business partners, but Lana being noticeably in over her head at the thought of helping and running a coffee shop/book store. 

I guess there's nothing more to say besides even tho we see Lex threatened by these wall phasing low lives, it is awesome to see toward the end him threatening them by walking through walls himself.  It's chilling and I really love those little moments of Lex's; clearly showing his dark side rising. Also, apparently, Lex is stealing money from his father's company to fund a project in Smallville...some kind of particle accelerator??? Hmmmm, definitely setting up animosity and vocal matches between father and son for sure. Otherwise, "Kinetic" is pretty weak with only some aspects worth watching and holding onto that keep the overall story going and certain characters interesting NOT name Whitney. lol

Final Kryptonite: C-