Season 5, Episode 1: Arrival

"Arrival"

Episode 1

Air Date: September 29th, 2005

 

I swear this show knew how to air the most epic, compelling premieres as well as heart stopping finales of ANY TV series.  Arrival honestly tops even Crusade for me as this not only feels like a new season opening but like Jor-El powerfully says to Clark within the confines of the newly constructed Fortress of Solitude, "A new journey has begun".  Yes, after a terrific recap of last season's ferociously apocalyptic finale, we find ourselves right back where we left off with the joined crystal being thrown and then falling into the snow of the Arctic and rises from it a crystal palace with VFX that still holds surprisingly so well compared to today's TV CGI, WOW! O_O Visually this is one of the most stunning premieres so far not just the ascension sequence of the Fortress but also Clark going inside and entering it to witness a piece of his homeworld he has never seen before.  There definitely is a cinematic direction this episode that is so hopeful and touching; clearly wanting to recapture the same moment from the classic 1978 film of the legendary superhero.  Also, love how after Jor-El warns him of dark force from Krypton arriving on Earth, he begins training him briefly in a stunning sequence that has scenes from the original Superman film of Krypton being destroyed.  Too bad Chloe was sent with Clark to the Arctic but luckily she enters the Fortress as Clark is pulled out of his training to help his friend who is being frozen to death! Jesus, Jor-El cruel much!? 

I think the best part of Chloe getting transported with Clark to the Arctic is him finally finding out that she knows her secret when he brings her to a hospital for her to get help.  The moment between them was overdue and was so worth the wait.  Allison Mack is really coming alive as this version of Chloe.  Just so magnetic in how selfish and inspired she is by Clark, even after he tells the alien side of his secret. Back in Smallville, we get more incredible sequences of budget confidence as that ship that landed during the meteor shower opens to reveal two Kryptonians who confront Lana before destroying a squad of deputies and a helicopter on the scene.  Seriously, tremendous stunt and effects work! Luckily our injured Lana gets away while Aethyr, the female kryptonian and Nam-Ek, the male, begin their quest to find Kal-El....as well as sporting a trap stamp on her lower back like Lana last season.  Is it like a Kryptonian thing for woman to have tattoos there??? O_o  I have to say it's really awesome to have some serious powerhouse villains for once and the revelation of them being the Disciples of Zod is too exciting for words. After Lex manages to survive an encounter with the two alien gods, he finds Lana in an intense scene of her running...or rather limping for her life after what she just been through.  Seriously, that girl has survived like what?  Three natural disasters...I'd be traumatized honestly instead in shock! O_o

We also find that Lionel has some how turned into some vessel of Kryptonian knowledge in a shocking scene where Lana discovers him in Lex's mansion scratching the symbol of Zod on the floor with his creepy white eyes.  Surprisingly, he tells Lana how to defeat them while Lois was able to find Mr. Kent and help him bring a barely breathing Martha to the hospital.  I have to say that transition from a heartwarming moment between Lois and the Kents to complete destruction and panic as the Kryptonians arrive is a heart stopper for sure.  Not to mention, they keep throwing people around and choking them to death like Lex in the caves when he wakes up. Lana manages to lure them to the mansion while Clark returns to Smallville to deal with the threat Jor-El warned him that has arrived.  I have to say I love how the writers are beginning to transition Clark and Lex's relationship from friends to enemies so subtly yet chillingly.  That scene between in the destroyed Kent house was so hard to watch with Lex manipulating Clark and Clark knowing full well he can't trust Lex because of the animosity that is building between them. Yikes! Anyway, Clark manages to find the two Kryptonians and while we don't get an epic fight sequence, we do get an awesome reference to the Phantom Zone when they try to send Clark there but he manages to send them through instead.  Oh that mirror twirling in the air as their reflections cry out in pain and anger before shattering through a window in the mansion....love that shot!

Unfortunately, the premiere isn't without some questionable discussions in terms of story like how they wrap up the Teagues like they were nothing important ( I swear they hated that storyline more than we did! lol) and Jor-El putting Clark on a time limit to return to the Fortress but having his powers stripped because he didn't is kind of cold and upsetting. Sure Clark is all happy about it since he can now live a normal life and of course, goes straight to Lana to build on what happened between them in the finale to start dating again! Oh MY GOD!!!! -_-  But Clark did make the decision to not leave in time and tend to his precious hurt Lana.  Oh so she stopped him from moving forward in his destiny...hahahahaha......-_-!!!! Arrival regardless is a triumphant return for the series after such a climactic finale with such amazing action, special effects, a building on the Superman mythos with Kryptonians villains, the introduction of the Fortress and the heavy hinting of Zod's own arrival onto the series this season as a major baddie! And the cherry on top of it all??? After Lex has taken the spaceship and put it in a Luthorcorp warehouse, black oozes leaks from it to form a mysterious man who looks like James Masters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer! :P  A LOT to look forward to already! :)

Final Kryptonite: A+(++)