Season 1, Episode 9: Rogue

 
"Rogue"
Episode 9
Air Date: January 15th, 2002

Smallville during its very shocking 10 year run was accustomed to always, always, always setting Clark up when it comes to his secret/powers being exposed and our young Man of Steel to be having to figure out his way out of the situation by defeating his episodic blackmailer and returning things to status quo by the end; thus keeping himself safe from the world knowing there are superpowered aliens among them.  "Rogue" was the first of its kind and seriously one of the series' strongest outing from its very stumbling first season.  Detective Sam Phelan is played with just enough over the top menace by Cameron Dye.  He really makes you hate and despise Phelan when he discovers Clark's earth shattering abilities and forces the Kent family to be in a situation that not only tests their ability to get out of it but the toll Clark's secret takes on the Kents themselves.  The scenes of course with all three actors is wonderful, Tom seems so much more natural when acting opposite his superhero drama parents instead of say...having to act opposite Cameron Dye himself.  This episode really required Tom to take Clark to some dark places for the first time and while Tom gives it a go, he's simply too much of an amateur here to really sell a scene like Clark almost killing Phelan for framing his father for murder.  No worries tho, Tom will improve exceptionally as the series goes on, especially when having to act the opposite Clark for various fun episodes!  Something "Red" maybe??? ;)

As for our subplots for the episode we have Lex reuniting with an old rich heiress/flame named Victoria, hailing all the way from England and trying to get Lex to sell his shares of Luthorcorp so her also billionaire father Sir Henry.  It's a pretty entertaining cat and mouse game that exudes to Lex's darker side as he uses his disdain for his father to lure Victoria into wanting to own both of their father's companies by playing on her own resentment for her father.  Nice to see that part of Lex showing itself but rather trying to help others and get back at the selfish....before using his masterful manipulation for more evil causes against a certain superhero.  We also get some tremendous teasing and well as foreshadowing of Lex's past pre-Smallville when he and Phelan get reacquainted they elude to previously knowing each other as Lionel paid Phelan to cover up Lex's previous misdeeds as a playboy brat in Metropolis. Also, makes Clark aware of Lex's so called secrets when manipulating him to during their crime outings.  The mini argument Clark and Lex have is a pretty good scene with the tension between both of them not just regarding Phelan but both of them hiding things from each other.  You'll come to learn secrets and lies is the overall theme of this show outside of Superman beginnings before putting on the cape. To a lesser subplot, Chloe is fired from the Torch thanks to her meteor freak antics with the school and Lana trying to help get it back for her....only to have another teenage blowout between her, Lana and Clark when Principal Quan chooses Lana as the new editor of the Torch.  I'm sorry but I don't miss the teen drama of these seasons, especially Chloe circa Season 1-3.  She comes off like a constantly irritated brat ready to put people down because of her own insecurities aka that scene made me want to reach into the screen and make this original character no longer exist. 

But all things considered, it leads to a scene of Clark and Lana bonding over his dad being framed and how his recent actions make him wonder if his presence as his parents' adoptive son is more problematic than a blessing.  Kristin Kreuk does a pretty good job here and I liked Lana's story with her Aunt Nell that gives Clark to strength to keep going despite his fears and insecurities. Tho, Kruek's Season 1 baby voice is a bit forced.  Glad the production team told her to drop it by next year because I know these late teen/early 20s actors are suppose to be 15 years old (Hell I think Clark is suppose to be 14. yes, 14 during this season when Tom was almost or practically 10 years older than his character. YIKES!!! O_o) but it just takes you out of the show sometimes because of the grating inauthentic way she speaks because of it.  Tho, the next scene tho is masterful between John and Clark in prison.  Once again, Tom seems so much more natural opposite John and Annette as Clark's parents.  It's just a heartbreaking and heartwarming scene seeing both father and son bond by Jonathan reassuring Clark of his upbringing and strong sense of morality when making the wrong decisions.  That's why the Kents are such an instrumental part of the Superman mythos because of them raising Clark to be so noble and stay on a righteous path instead of ending up like some evil superpowered brat aka Brightburn! :P  The conclusion of the episode is well done as Clark manages to outsmart Phelan this time as well as Clark dodging his first bullet!  I love the other shock on his face as he realizes too....so awesome seeing these iconic lore of Superman coming to life for the first time on this show. 

"Rogue" is really strong and suspenseful at times.  Even if the CGI effects are still dodgy (The opening sequence of Clark stopping the bus to save that homeless man! Meh!), the story with Phelan is top notch, not only testing the Kents with some terrific family drama but building on Lex's backstory that will be more fleshed out down the line this season.  Oh and Chloe gets her job back thanks to Lana standing up for her.  But did they have to put the unneeded Clark melodrama between them??? Ewwwww teenagers!!! :P

Final Kryptonite: A