Season 4, Episode 22: Commencement

"Commencement"

Episode 22

Air Date: May 18th, 2005

WOW! I forget how much of a series finale Commencement feels like even even til this day and if it had been, I honestly wouldn't have been that upset given what the show would become after this season before having to find it way back to point of it all.  Commencement completely encompasses the meaning of said word as after four years, this episode feels like a huge ending as well as a stunning beginning of something far greater in Clark's journey to superhero legend status.  A LOT happens in this episode yet the remarkable script written by Todd Slakin and Darren Swimmer feels more like a superhero epic than an actual finale of a season.  You definitely tell that the WB wanted this finale to be an event as I remember it airing right along a special sneak peak of Batman Begins and marketed as such by the episode itself being almost the length of your average movie by adding ten minutes to the run time.  For season that was a complete mess in terms of its main story arc, the finale is not only a culmination of stone search but almost a goodbye from the showrunners by wrapping up the first 4 years of the show as well.  Could this have been potential end of the series at the time??? O_O Certainly points to it as maybe the cast and crew didn't get informed of the series being picked up until after that season wrapped production??? O_O If that's the case, then maybe we as fans and viewers at the time should have been more than grateful given how prolific this episode feels, especially during the most glorious cliffhanger I have ever seen from ANY series! WOW! :)

While at the heart of Commencement is Clark and Lex taking major leaps toward their eventual destinies we all love and fear, the writers don't forget it is the end of the high school years as Clark, Chloe and Lana prepare for their graduation. Chloe already had her closer with saying goodbye to the Torch last episode but Clark is preparing to walk his last steps across that stage and I'm glad we got a moment between Lois and Clark (Ha!)  right before the ceremony.  There were some hilarious and classic references to Lois' future, including dreaming about a man with a red cape and Clark mentioning journalism to her even tho she's a terrible speller and would end across the most bumbling reporter! Ewwww I have really adored Lois and Clark's interactions this season and I can't wait to tell you why in my recap review.  As for Lana, she is dealing with the shocking fallout of Genevieve Teague confronting her about the last stone she has.  Love how the Isobel story is so casually and quickly wrapped up by her taking over Lana and killing her with stone; effectively achieving her ultimate goal of vengeance against the Teague lineage but I'm sure she didn't see her sudden exorcism for good coming and thank god that tattoo on Lana's back in gone! Poor Kristin having to wear practically all season! *Groan*

But like I said, this episode is the righteous self-awareness toward the future callings of both Clark and Lex as Clark has a terrifying, prophetic dream about something coming before the episode begins a very 24-style countdown that periodically shows up throughout the episode to show the coming a second meteor shower.  Yes, once again adding to this finale's full circle feel as if the series is concluding with this episode a meteor shower is once again heading to Smallville but this time only Clark can stop it as he returns to Jor-El to find out the truth.  Once again, Clark avoiding his destiny has led to a colossal consequence as him neglecting to search and collect the stones has led to darkest from space coming to Earth with only him able to stop. Not to mention, the meteor shower is carrying more meteor rocks which means gets hit by one of the meteor would kill him. Meanwhile, Lex's dark side has reach a point in his journey to finally start showing itself more conscious as his heartwarming protectiveness of her is only because him finally getting his hands on one of those stones. Seriously, Michael Rosenbaum is incredible as always as well as John Glover who continues to show Lionel returning to terrorizing form when he uses Genevieve's dead body as leverage against Lana to finally give him the other stone not in his possession.  How awesome and shocking was that moment when it turns out Lionel had the last stone on his and somehow is in a bizarre coma. O_O  Equally shocking is Lex's official declaration of becoming the son that Lionel always wanted him to be.  Seriously, chilling, suspenseful stuff that feels like Lex's journey could have ended here.  

Also captivating is Clark and Lana's last scene together with her giving Clark the stone and just knowing that is belongs to him.  There is once again a strong sense of closer here with Clark and Lana just giving into how they've felt about it each other despite the last 4 years of their on again/off again romance.  It's sweet and touching, not to mention of the last times a scene between these two makes me want smile instead heading to the bathroom. But I also love how Chloe is utilized here as while Lois hilariously helps her get back into town, she finds Clark in Lex's mansion passed out from the kryptonite he has and helps him escape while Lex arrives to find her. While Lex snaps on her and uses her to find who may have taken the last stone, we also get a final showdown unexpectedly between the Kents and Jason of all people.  WOW! But not before yet another heartwarming, possibly the best scene of the three yet together as Clark finally accepts his mission to find the stones and risk his life to save the world.  It's a scene straight out of the comics as well as the legendary 1978 classic.  Honestly, it's terrifying to see after that, the Kents being taken hostage by Jason and when it seems like he's about to kill them....the meteor shower finally hits as one of the meteors hits the Kent house! Holy....SH!T!!  Al Gough and Miles Millar always said this was their most expensive episode since the Pilot and it so easy to see why.  I think they have even topped the first meteor shower sequence. My favorite moment without a doubt is Clark coming out a nowhere to save a small boy from getting hit by one of the meteor and heroically reunites him with his father.  

But nothing truly prepares you for the epic conclusion of the episode as we see our characters heading toward a new phase of the series. Clark finally unites the stones and forms a crystal with a very familiar looking shape to it as it transports him....to the Arctic???!! O_O  Oh. My......!!! Chloe and Lex are in the caves right when Clark is transported and seemingly knocked out by the blinding light! Lionel's comatose body seems to be downloading Kryptonian symbols...just as Lois drives back to the edge of town as we witness the disastrous destruction of Smallville after the meteor shower once more.  Meanwhile, Clark in the Arctic as the crystal points toward a location that it wants him to throw it and he does so as that iconic John Williams score plays and the crystal flies toward the camera with that Superman Shield for all of us to see one last time before "To Be Continued".....  There's truly nothing more to say but this was one hell of a finish to an otherwise mixed season that started out just as epic and strong! WOW! :)

Final Kryptonite: A+(+++)