Season 2, Episode 3: Duplicity

 

"Duplicity"

Episode 3

Air Date: October 8th, 2002

Sometimes I feel like "Duplicity" was Pete's breakout moment in the series as his character so far has had very little significance on the ongoing plot or even the other characters.  I mean outside of Whitney, Pete is the most underutilized and developed of characters with no defining role among Clark's clan of ffamily friends, foes and future rivals! lol  I mean at least Whitney had the football jock thing and his storyline with his dad and as much as I despise Chloe during the majority of the high school years, at least she has a personality, interests and aspirations like becoming a journalist for the Daily Planet.  Pete is suppose to be Clark's best friend but that place is already taken by the VERY far more defined and interesting Lex who has shades of gray always present within his character that give him and Clark's relationship with him so much depth.  What I'm saying is, Pete finding out Clark's secret this episode feels like the writers were like, "we to make Pete's role on the show more substantial and interesting since he's just Clark's childhood buddy who hates the Luthors.  It's finally Sam Jones III's time to shine and they handle the revelation of Pete learning Clark's secret so well.  I really love the direction of Clark noticeably hesitating as Pete drives off before super-speeding right in front of his car and stopping it in its tracks.  The rear view mirror showing Clark in one frame and then gone in the other to only speed right in front of Pete's car to finally tell him had some awesome build to it.  Like I said, Sam does a good job with the material and I enjoyed the multiple emotions Pete went through in Clark telling him the truth: shock, disbelief, fear/wonder, then anger and betrayal.  

But it couldn't come at a worse time as Dr. Hamilton's work with the meteor rocks has seriously driven him beyond insane as Lex terminates their partnership, only for Dr. Hamilton to go on a psychotic one man mission to uncover the truth of Clark's spaceship when he discovers Pete has seen it and knows where it is.  Seriously, Joe Morton gives a chillingly unhinged performance that he practically steals the show with every scene he's in, especially when a blind Lionel returns and becomes interested in his findings of the spaceship.  Just the way he moves around and spasms during his scenes is beyond incredible, hilarious and excellent realized.  I especially loved the moments where he waves his hands in front of a blind Lionel and rubs his sweat onto Pete while going on a rant about finding the owner of the ship.  Speaking of Lionel, it's great to see John Glover back as always and it seems that Lionel will be sticking around to be a major pain in Lex's butt in Smallville.  I just adore their animosity and tumultuous relationship from Lex's skepticism of Lionel's true intentions to stay in Smallville to recover to Lionel clearly being intrigued by the potential mystery, not to mention profit he can gain from staying there. Really Nice!

In other news, Lana is trying desperately to stay away from her aunt and her new boyfriend, trying to find refuge among Chloe and even Clark's barn.  Of course, we get another secret and lies scenes between Clark and Lana as she opens up about breaking up with Whitney while Clark isn't so eager to open up about telling Pete about his alien descent and all.  I'm already bothered by the whole guilt angle the writers are putting on Clark as a character with scenes of other characters either directly or indirectly telling them how wrong keeping secrets is in a relationship to even not being able to trust someone again if they have lied to them once.  Ummmm, Clark's secret isn't just any old normal secret.  The guy is from a distant planet and doesn't even know the whole story of who he is and it's like people are giving him a hard time when they should give him a break when Clark has shown he's more of a hero than some untrustworthy secret keeper but whatever.  It's just this show and it's hypocritical melodrama toward our protagonist is irritating already! O_O

I guess when it's all said and done, "Duplicity" does excel in its title by exploring Clark's secret by finally letting one of his friends in on his superpowered genetics with a sci fi backstory.  Hopefully it makes Pete more likable and explores his character more but a las, I don't remember that being the case.  It's a shame to see Hamilton not sticking around as he made for an even more interesting character as he went insane but of course, a rule you'll come to realize from this show, if you're bad guy and know Clark's secret, most likely you will either die or be put somewhere where the truth will make you look crazy.  Go figure! You think the various meteor freak situations in that town, not to mention the meteor shower would make people find it more plausible for the extraordinary to exist in this universe but meh!  Nice seeing Pete finally show some depth and protect his friend.  Like I said, the best use of him so far and the final scene of Clark showing off his powers to an ecstatic Pete about the potential future now between him and Clark is both touching and hopeful. Which is good because we don't get too much hopeful narratives on this show. lol

Final Kryptonite: B