Season 2, Episode 10: Skinwalker(s)

 

"Skinwalker(s)"

Episode 10

Air Date: November 26, 2002

With this episode, we are introduced to a long time set and staple for the show in the Kawatche Caves, where Clark literally falls into and bares witness to the possibly of who he is and where he might come from.  Aka finally the second season's overarching theme of Clark searching for his origins begins here! Gotta say, the story of Naman and the intriguing Native American mythology that comes with it works well with establishing a sort of backstory of Clark's arrival being prophesied apparently hundreds of years ago when a Kryptonian also landed on Earth and briefly made it his home with the Kawatche people before taking off back into space but telling the people Naman would arrive in his place to be the savior of not only the people, but the world.  It's definitely a refreshing take on how to incorporate Earthly legends with the comic book mythology of Superman's homeland, Krypton.  I really enjoyed the introduction of Joseph Willowback and his granddaughter Kyla as they help Clark realize his destiny, in a sort of vague retelling of an old myth that clearly is about him but doesn't tell him enough yet about where he comes from.  It really is nice tho to see the overarching story of the show coming back here as Clark discovers ties to his whereabouts and what his purpose on Earth might truly be.  

It's also nice to see a new romance for Clark in Kyla, who he might be destined to be with.  Tamara Feldman does a fine job of creating enough chemistry with Tom to sell the sudden attraction and lure of their destinies possibly being intertwined as they feel a kindred spirit literally within each other in the ancient legend.  Also, you have the part of the legend that includes Nama having an evil opposite of him, a former friend turned enemy, Sageeth....hmmmm....I wonder who that could be??? O_o ;) Speaking of future evil, Clark brings his cause to save the caves to Lex when Lionel wants to replace the land with a corporate plaza.  Of course, while Lex helps to bail out Joseph when he is blamed for the murder of Lionel's informant, his interest in the caves is purely a continuation of seeking the truth about the meteor shower as well as the ship that landed in Smallville, especially when the shape of the octagonal disc on one of the walls.  Clark of course sees it too and it causes some friction with him and his father as Clark is adamant about finding out his truth.  Also, Martha is feeling in the middle with her loyalty to Lionel in terms of its job and Clark's cause to save the caves as well as supporting Joseph's innocence.  But it's not made easy for anyone, especially when a bizarre wolf in Smallville is going around attacking those who endanger the fate of the caves.  Apparently, the Kryptonian who came to Earth hundreds of years ago brought with him some meteor rocks from his planet and make the Kawatche people have the ability to turn into animals.

The mystery behind who the skinwalker could be is a surprisingly intense mystery as well as the attacks themselves when Martha becomes a potential victim.  The scene where Lionel is attacked is wonderful staged and of course, acted by John Glover but it's a same that Kyla had to die right after Clark find out the identity of the skinwalker. ;) While I didn't like the first allusion of Kyla looking like Lana when Clark first sees her, I enjoyed their friendship here and how she uses her new bond with Henry Small to help his cause as well as help Joseph Willowback.  Also, it's nice to finally know Henry is Lana's illegitimate daughter, promising the potential for more endearing family moments like in this episode.  Also, I loved the legal battle between Lex and Lionel for the ownership of the land and Lionel clearly seeing through Lex's sudden interest in preserving history of the caves for a much more sadistic and profitable venture in it.  It sets Lionel up to be more of a leading villain that this show needs until Lex is ready to go full bad guy on us one day. :) But honestly, the end of the episode is just a shocking punch to the gut as Lana reveals to Clark that she just received word that Whitney is M.I.A. which is sad considering the reasons he went into the army.  But that's not where his story ends, stay tuned for the next episode.  Aside from Chloe's usually annoying habit of being a resentful b!tch toward Lana about Clark or giving him some terribly uncalled for attitude at the Torch, "Skinwalker(s)" is a terrific first dive into exploring Clark's arrival as well as the source of who he is and where he came from. Adding in the Luthors clashing that brings such joy and a smile to my face and the Naman mythology already making this a much more elaborate story of Superman's place on Earth, I was hooked for the most part.  Pretty superb actually! :)

Final Kryptonite: A-