Season 4, Episode 1: Crusade

"Crusade"

Episode 1

Air Date: September 22nd, 2004

Well, how does one exactly follow up a massive ender to one of the show's finest seasons, if not the best run of the show???  Well with one of, if not often herald as the show's best premiere of ANY season! "Crusade" had so much to wrap up after last season's apocalyptic cliffhangers and not to mention, having to set up the new season's own story arcs to be told. No matter how the season would turn out over all, "Crusade" feels like Al and Miles setting up the most epic season yet with one of its most exhilarating openers as they decide to bend their  "No Flights, No Tights" rule so we can see our future Superman take flight on the series for the first time ever.  Seriously, even 17 years later (WOW, seriously??? O_O), that flight sequence of Clark taking off and soaring across the world is beyond brilliant and visually stunning.  Jesus, it even makes the flight sequences of such recent CW superhero shows like "Supergirl" seems amatuerish compared to how commanding Clark's first flight is, especially when he flies toward Lex's jet and snags a powerful relic that apparently he must begin collecting.  Of course, like I said, this is rule bending moment for an episode since it's the reprogrammed Clark aka Kal-El behind his temporary new power before Martha is able to find help from an unexpected source.  But before I get into that iconic guest appearance, this spectacle of a premiere is also the debut of another essential Superman mythology character in non other than Lois Lane herself.  Hard to believe the writers would bring in Lois so early in Clark's journey but considering Lex has been his best friend for 3 years already, we're just so happy to see such a prolific comic character finally making her arrival on the show.  Not to mention, Erica Durance is brilliant in the role! Like Tom and especially Michael have become synonymous as the definitive Clark and Lex of their generation, Erica simply embodies everything about Lois Lane.

Clearly here she more immature and overzealous than the woman she will ultimately become, but you can already see hints of her future self shinning through as she arrives in Smallville to investigates Chloe's murder....but ends up running into a naked, amnesic Clark.  My god, the scenes between Tom and Erica are already priceless with Tom's vacant personality against Erica's frantic, transparent attitude that just meshes so well.  What amazing chemistry so far! :)  Even her scenes with other cast alum feel so natural and show other bits of Lois' signature personality when she confronts Mrs. Kent about Clark at the farm or her investigative reporter snark as she visits Lionel in his jail cell to subtle antagonize the man that might not have directly killed Chloe, but is responsible for putting her in said situation that led to her death.  Yes, apparently, Lionel wasn't behind Chloe's explosive end as the writers heavily hint at someone else pulling the strings to destroy Chloe's safe house as soon as her and her dad arrived there.  Also, it appears Lionel may or may not have poisoned during another one of their stellar father/son confrontations at his cell.  I find it a remarkable bit of continuity that the poison should have killed Lex, but clearly his abnormal abundance of white blood cell count we learned about last season in "Extinction" is the cause of him surviving such an attempt on his life even if he needs to continue relentless treatment at the moment of the poison will liquefy his organs....YIKES!!! O_O

But it's not just Lionel's attempt on Lex's life that he confronts his convict father for as he is continuing one of his Luthorcorp funded projects aka a treasure hunt type expedition for 3 relics scattered across the world that when put together unravel of library of knowledge that is beyond the world has ever seen! A terrific set up for the new story arc this season for sure.  Also, going back to our special guest star, considering it yet another Lois Lane actress gracing our screens in Margott Kidder! She comes to help Martha after being sent to Smallville by Dr. Swan and while Martha does point out the unusual nature of Swan entrusting someone else with Clark's heritage, their scenes is just gorgeous with wonderful references to Kidder and Reeves' past as the former Man of Steel and Daily Planet's most prestigious reporter.  She gives us on insight on the symbol that was burnt into the Kent farm (which means "Crusade) and introduces another form of kryptonite that is black, which apparently can split a single being into two counterparts as we see Martha uses it to separate Clark from his Kryptonian dominating personality that Jor-El forced him into.  It also some how wakes up Jonathan from his severely comatose state.  One wonders why Jor-El would let things get this far and what the consequences are for the Kents once again saving their son instead of letting him be with Jor-El but I guess that's something to also look forward to down the line this season.

I guess I should talk about Lana's reintroduction in Paris and her newest love interest in Jason Teague, who is also in the main credits as added cast member. All I can do tho is see Dean Winchester after all his years of playing said character (15. SEASONS! O_O Jesus!) but Jensen Ackles gives a great performance actually, not to mention has a breath of fresh air chemistry with Kristin.  Funny how Clark and Lana come more to life instantly opposite characters like Lois and Jason instead of the dead pan melodramatic hazing that has become their scenes together after 3 years. O_o  You can definitely tell that even tho I'm sure Tom and Kristin loved working...initially, they were beyond brain dead when it came to the Clark/Lana overarching romance.  So tedious and uninspiring that this season will actually give us a major break from it thankfully! O_O  I don't think I can take anymore of Lana's crying over Clark not trusting her or Clark going after her again only to back out for some last minute convenient reason.  More over the top teen soap opera non-sense than even Dawson's Creek or other teen dramas at the time! Seriously! -_-  Also, Lana gets a strange tattoo underneath her back (So clearly they gave Kristin Kreuk a tramp stamp for a season! WOW!) after visiting the tomb of Countess Margaret Isobel Thoreuax for a class project...setting up her infamous story arc this season that comes straight out of nowhere!!! More on that when I have to speak on...that. -_- But overall, Crusade is one of the show's most plot driven and personality fueled premieres that no wonder fans regard it as possibly the best opener the show ever did.  The new characters sparkle and shine; giving new life to the series after such a dark year with wonderful performances throughout by our regular cast of the past 3 seasons.  The cliffhanger is also a great quota as after a touching scene with Lois at Chloe's grave, not to mention the first of Clark and Lois' hilarious banter scenes, Clark quickly discovers that Chloe is still alive! Gasp! How??? Find out...:)

Final Kryptonite: A+(+)