Season 2, Episode 8: Ryan

 

"Ryan"

Episode 8

Air Date: November 12th, 2002

This one is gonna be incredibly painful....for all the right reasons!!! I forget, around the earlier days of this show, there are some truly touching, even heartbreaking episodes that just fill you up with so many emotions. I can't think of no better example of this then "Ryan", one of the most emotionally rewarding and tragic early episodes of the series. Last season's "Stray" was clearly a favorite among the writers as well as the character of Ryan as they continue his story....and unfortunately conclude it in the most saddening of ways. :( I can honestly say Ryan Kelley is such a gift and it's a shame he didn't go on to a much larger career after guest starring on this series.  The way he conveys Ryan's emotions throughout from fear, joy, to then back to terror and grief, it's just so compelling and beyond his years for such a young actor at the time.  The whole Summerholt introduction is nice for future and more intense plot developments, but here, Dr. Garner and his machinations of keeping Ryan are quickly swiped under the rug before the halfway point of the episode in favor of a more emotional charged second half where everyone finds out the truth of Ryan's sudden nosebleeds and Clark literally feeling powerless to save the younger brother he never knew he wanted.  I gotta also commend young Kelley for bringing out the best out of the cast, especially our usually subpar leading man.  I'm sorry Tom, seriously, he will get MUCH better overtime! :_( 

But this storyline, not to mention the genuine chemistry between Ryan and Clark comes off so natural that Tom just seems more invested in his performances than normal.  Not to mention, him playing Clark's desperation to save Ryan by literally racing across the state to get in touch with a doctor that maybe the only one who can save Ryan's life.  Not only was is one of the great early visual sequences of the show in terms of the effects, but I'm glad that the writers used this episode to also emphasize the important lesson that Clark needs to learn for his journey to legendary superhero arrival: that he simply can't save everyone.  There are numerous scenes with Jonathan, even Lex telling Clark there's nothing he can do and it is out of his hands but just spend time with Ryan and not take his severely weaken mortality all on his own when he has done the best he can for Ryan.  It's really a shame, not to mention a huge kick in the gut when it is revealed that the doctor could only keep Ryan alive for a few more days instead of completely relieving him of the tumor.  Ewwwwww, the last moments between Clark and Ryan some of the most tragic tearjerkers of the series as Ryan is more grateful for Clark being his hero than him managing to save him this time.  Not only does Clark face his fear of flying (I LOVE the irony of that! lol :) but Ryan gives him some of the most inspiring advice to continue to change people's lives like Clark did for him and he knows he will gone on to change soooo many of those lives. WOW! :_(  It really is one of the hardest things to watch on a superhero show, no matter what the context, whether before he puts on the cape or not; seeing someone having to die because there is nothing the hero can do sometimes to save a life is just so depressing and despairing.  But I love that it at least gives us hope that Clark will continue to grow and learn from Ryan's untimely death. :(

As for our resident girl next door, Nell and Dean seem to be moving so fast in their relationship that Lana might be going to Metropolis with them permanently.  Luckily, thanks to Ryan's gift, Clark is able to intercede and tell her some good advice from a friend to help her figure out other options to stay in Smallville.  Thanks to Chloe, that's going to happen as she will move in with her and her dad until she graduates from Smallville High.  It's nice to know that Lana will be sticking around to get to know her maybe father and of course, Clark all over her.  Gotta love the line where Lana acknowledges that Clark was spying on her with his telescope but won't need it anymore so he should give it to Ryan.  Jesus, even Lana is self aware by how creepy Clark's attraction to her can be. Yikes! Yet she still laughs and smiles it away like it's funny.....huh! O_o Also, Ryan's ability helps give not only Clark some unfortunate insight on how Pete is not handling Clark's secret so well, but the audience is given some sudden foreshadowing of Martha having a secret she isn't telling Jonathan or Clark yet.  Wow! O_O Also there is a small plot with Lex budding heads with the corrupted Mayor of Smallville and foreshadowing Lex's own sinister future in politics.  But overall, "Ryan" is a heartbreaking story set around one of the show's most beloved guest characters as it shows the fate of those that Clark wants to save are not always in his hands and he must accept when his powers can't always make it right.  No matter how hard we try, what's meant to be will be.  Really gut wrenching but truly how life works even if you'll end up being the world's greatest hero or not. :_(

Final Kryptonite: A+