Season 4, Episode 2: Gone

"Gone"

Episode 2

Air Date: September 29th, 2004

For such an eventful episode, it's a shame that the conflict at hand is so embarrassingly a knock-off of T2 of all things.  Even the climatic showdown between Clark and Smallville's newest meteor freak happens in a steam mill with sparks and heat pools hot enough to melt metal. -_- Seriously, it really sticks that this is the follow-up to one of the show's most promising debuts for a new season as Clark and Lois team-up for the first time to investigate Chloe's NOT murder.  Despite being the weakest episode to follow a season premiere, the highlights are once again, the hilarious interactions between Clark and Lois.  Erica Durance literally steals every scene she's in and Tom just feels so much more natural, not to mention makes Clark more fun opposite such an alpha female like Lois who speaks her mind without a filter and doesn't respect other people's boundaries like that bathroom scene where Martha catches the two future lovebirds together after Clark's shower! HA! Loving Lois so far! Already the best part of this season at this point! :) Also, the show continues to show the bigger budget given to them with each new season as the helicopter chase when Lois and Clark (I'm gonna be saying that a lot from now on aren't I??? :) go to the remains of Chloe's safe house is well choreographed and action packed.  Not to mention, Lois already shows she's no damsel in distress like our leading lady of Smallville and Clark gets to let lose on some armed men with his super strength as well as heat vision.  Speaking of La Lang, Lana finds out that her tattoo is the same one as one of the symbols on the cave wall; leading her right back to Smallville, of course.

I really liked Lana's reintroduction after her summer in Paris, saving Lois from Trent and the awkward moment where she and Clark see each other again with Lois being so blunt and self aware.  The writing definitely feels so unSmallville like and it was a smart move to use Lois to make yet another moment between Clark and Lana refreshingly, hilariously executed because even they've become self aware at how overly complicated their relationship has been.  HA! We also get a great introduction to Lois' father, General Sam Lane, played by Mr. Darkseid voice himself, Michael Ironside.  He doesn't have much of an appearance this episode but it's good to already see the strained relationship between Lois and her father addressed.  Apparently, the General was working with Lex to cover Chloe's tracks after Lionel set off the explosion in the safe house.  With the military's help, he was able to hide Chloe and her father until Lionel's hearing since her testimony was the only thing that would send him directly to prison. Nice to see things between Clark and Lex aren't just brought back to status quo as Clark is willing to work with Lex to save Chloe but the antagonizing manner he addresses him is not of a friend anymore. Tho, Clark coming to conclusion Lex might be Sageeth by the end of the episode is a bit of a leap.  I mean I know he's angry at Lex for the obsession room I'll call it but to declare him as his enemy is a bit too jarring and feels more like a hard wink reference to their iconic rivalry. Meh!

While it's great to see Chloe again, the main plot with Trent-1000 is beyond embarrassing! Of all the meteor freak villains to create, this has to be one of the silliest ones yet; not to mention terribly insulting viewers with such a cheesy copy/paste of an iconic villain.  Yeah, Lionel was behind it but it doesn't make Trent or his actor has any presence or feel like a threat.  He's just a CGI foe for Clark to battle and defeat.  Even his resolution feels weak with Lois coming out of nowhere with an electric gun and Clark using his heat vision until he explodes.  Ummmmm did they just kill him??? O_o Oh and pieces of him fall in the melting pool! I want punch the writers for James Cameron, that's how wrong this is! O_o So Chloe's back and we a nice reunion between the cousins before Clark has another scene with Lana but it leagues beyond what has come before.  Great job injecting Lois into the conversation and the fact Lana is already picking up on their obvious chemistry is farrrr more genuine and natural type of reference to their future than the Lex/Sageeth proclamation by Clark so.....huh??? O_o Oh and Lana's staying in the ville because of the tattoo and Jason came to conclude the episode like a self aware romantic comedy. Now he's sticking around too cause he ain't letting his girl get away.  Awwwww how nice! Just keep her busy from Clark Jason! *Thumbs up for them*

But it's nice that Lionel is finally going to prison for good as the last scene between father and son before those bars slam shut is chilling.  Their feud isn't over yet and I look forward to what Lionel has in store in terms of more vengeful plans against the people who locked him up.  Besides that, Gone is mediocre meteor freak fadder with moments that show the more lighthearted tone the writers are going for this year as well as rapping up lingering plot threads like Chloe's death....even if Terminator shows up as one dimensional teen. O_O

Final Kryptonite: C-