Season 2, Episode 20: Witness

 

"Witness"

Episode 20

Air Date: April 29th, 2003

Well, the sh!t finally hit the fan with Clark and Chloe's friendship and it's about damn time!!! I'm sorry, Chloe is one of the most despicable characters I've ever seen on a show because the writing for her character is one that resembles a borderline sociopath who is friends with people she hates that have feeling for each other yet constantly parades around like they owe her for liking each other when she doesn't want anything to do with Clark! Seriously, this episode literally starts off with Chloe walking in on Clark and Lana being friends....cause last time I checked, they are just friends! Yet Chloe makes a scene about Clark being unreliable (again, what!!!??? -_-) for not giving her his article for the Torch and helping Lana once again! Lana even vouches for Clark but Chloe says it's not about Lana to both of them and makes more accusations how he isn't dependable, his priorities when comes to her and OMG, can a meteor from Krypton land on this blonde self absorbed psycho already???!!! -_-  I am soooo done with her character and once again it's only gonna get worse from here, just wait until the finale!!! But I'm glad Clark finally called out Chloe on multiple occasions during their various arguments about over reacting, bringing up Lana when she said it wasn't about her and looking like his jealous girlfriend everytime he's around her when they are all friends.  Thank you!!! Jesus, some rationality and relief in this mess of a love triangle that continues to be forced down our already soar throats from this horrible overarching teen angst nightmare. O_O  Glad my boy Clark quit the Torch! Glad Chloe called off their friendship because Clark deserves an actual friend!

Funny how later in the episode when the Torch is beyond trashed, she gives Clark a hard time when he's trying to help her despite their issues and she eventually storms off saying "she needs a friend" instead of Clark! .......Honestly, I don't care who destroyed the Torch because it's what she had coming to her.  Karma's a b!tch and of course, Lionel becomes very intrigued by Chloe, using her expertise (apparently anyway!) as a young reporter to begin helping her rebuild the Torch and finds her work interesting enough to give her a column at the Daily Planet.  Clearly, Lionel is just using her and it will come to bite her in the a$$ in the end but seriously, Chloe deserves all of this.  Her feelings toward Clark have gotten to a point where she needs to be taught a lesson for treating her friends so cruelly because of irrational insecurities (than again, insecurities are always irrational but still....) and why is it that she's ALWAYS mad at Clark??? Lana is never held accountable for anything regarding their friendship but when it has something to do with Clark, OMG! The dragon won't stop breathing fire for God sakes! Ewwwww...moving on!!! O_O

Anyway, "mom one of those home improvement boys is on Smallville again!" This time, Zachary Bryan as Eric Marsh, a high school baseball player on the fast track to superstardom thanks to refined kryptonite he and some other thugs are using to inhale to give them superstrength.  At first the idea of a much a wannabe thugs inhaling kryptonite sounded dumb but Eric and his fellow buddies make for a pretty intimidating force for Clark.  It's not a lot we see Clark struggle with these meteor freaks but clearly the fact that the source of their strength is inhaled melted kryptonite makes them more than formidable opponents for our young superhero to be.  Some terrifying encounters occur throughout like beating up Clark until he bleeds and throwing him into that furnace or when Eric and his boys manage to pin down the Kents against the balcony of the barn.  Yikes! Of course, the Luthors play a part in this with Eric and the rest after the refined kryptonite that Lionel seems to be transporting in the middle of the night between Smallville and Metropolis. Lex intrigue not only leads him to release Eric but try to stage a coo of catching him and his friends in the act of stealing...until of course, Clark comes in to stop them and save the day on his own.  I just have to say, this is once again a great showcase of Clark's natural heroism; sending his family away for safety from Eric and his goons while actively going out of his way to stop them despite being outmatched in strength.  Luckily, Papa Kent reminds Clark he has his other powers to rely on which leads to a decent if not very brief showdown where Clark surrounded by them but thinks quick and use his heat vision, superspeed as well as his invulnerability to finally beat them. Awesome! :)

Unfortunately, one storyline that comes to a saddening, even tragic end is Lana's relationship with Henry Small, who's wife is beyond intimidated by her husband's new relationship with his daughter.  It's really heartbreaking making the decision to sacrifice her relationship with her real father but I find it laughable how Jennifer warned Henry that he might easily lose interests in Lana like his other kids and now she's pissed as well as ready to divorce Henry because she's taking priority over her.  Extremely condescending and cruel, especially when she should be happy for her husband reuniting with his daughter and aren't Henry's other kids her siblings too???  I really felt bad for Lana being put into a position of sacrificing her new family when all she's ever wanted is a stable, real family since her parents died. Sigh....poor girl can't catch a break! :(  Shame this the last time we'll ever hear from Henry Small as well...seems like Lana never could get the family she always wanted after.  Meanwhile, Lionel menacingly helps Chloe with the rebuilding the Torch and more potential career opportunities; clearly playing on her current vulnerability but it's only gonna get worse from here. Trust me! All and All, "Witness" is a satisfying hour of reasonable tough new threat that tests Clark's inner hero and his abilities as well as furthering storylines with the Luthor family, which is as captivating to watch as ever. :)

Final Kryptonite: B+