Season 5, Episode 11: Lockdown

"Lockdown"

Episode 11

Air Date: January 19th, 2006

Oh boy......when the show starts making its lead look like a sacrificial loser, is when jumping the shark might start being what's about to attack our screens! O_O  There's no wonder that Season 5 is a period of the show that begins a very bleak and uncharacteristic lackluster depiction of this interpretation of the Man of Steel.  The thing is Clark is making all the dumb decisions, repeating the same behavior that has caused him more relationship problems with Lana yet he always dances around the truth and pushes this girl away; leading to incessant decisions about lies and secrecy!!! It's the 5th season and we should be BEYOND this whole high school sweetheart storyline between Clark and Lana but Al and Miles' genuine obsession with her and Clark's being obsessed with her starts here honestly.  I mean at least the high school years made sense since that's when Clark and Lana are suppose to have their romance but now it's starting to becoming all Clark is about.  His relationship with the girl next door instead of his personal journey toward becoming Superman.  I love it how everyone points out Clark's hesitation to tell Lana the truth is not only stupid and making things worse, but maybe a clear indication that Lana isn't the one...especially when Lois not so subtly drives up to the Kent Farm after Clark delivers the hilariously ironic "I can't imagine ever loving someone else."  Oh you can tell writer Steven S. DeKnight was having fun with that tongue in cheek moment.  I sure did, it just sucks that neither of them see it yet.  *GROAN*

Meanwhile, the rest of the episode is surprisingly entertaining....if not once again a direct rip-off....this time of Jodie Foster's "Panic Room".  So Lex had one built after the meteor shower huh???  How convenient for him!!! :P  But in all seriousness, I really did enjoy the two rogue deputies as Kevin Daniels does some exceptional work as Greg Flynn, one of the officers who were left for dead after the two disciples of Zod attacked them.  I'm actually glad we got some follow up on that and seeing the consequences of not only that attack, but what Lex neglecting to save them and focusing more on the spaceship has caused.  Even when Lana is forced into all this, I actually really enjoyed their scenes together.  Honestly, it's Clark's fault that she has been pushed in Lex's direction; giving the perfect opportunity to come to her emotional rescue and be what Clark isn't being to her now: open, honest, vulnerable, etc.  You know your hero is looking bad when Lex is looking like more of the nice guy! I am not surprised Lana would drift towards him and Lex is clearly manipulating her with their connection to the meteor shower(s) but you can't blame him when Clark is making it so easy for him to come in and be what she wants.  Sigh.....  Also, I don't know but their exchange about Clark's nice hair is so cute and heartwarming! Awwwwww... :(

Of course what makes this episode more suspenseful than a clear theft of an idea already done better on screen is when Sheriff Adams goes to the Luthor mansion to investigate and shockingly gets killed by Deputy Harris.  Jesus, I know at first Sheriff Adams seemed like such a b!tch of replacement for Sheriff Ethan, but Camille Mitchell has played the HELL out of that for about 3 years at that point and it's a shame to see her go.  She actually had a nice little arc to her from being so against Clark and always having animosity toward him to seeing how truly heroic he is and wanting him to be an officer on her unit. But man was her last line a perfect one for her, "Well ain't that a mother..."  Awwwww R.I.P. :( 2003-2006 Anyway, of course the story ends with Lana in jeopardy and Clark having to come in for the last save which seems to be all that he's been doing lately instead of being an integral part of the main story arc this season but whatever.  The save was cool I suppose even if Clark is left with his face hanging because Lana is more impressed by Lex risking his life for her than her boyfriend finding her.....oh Clark....the BDA has begun hasn't it!? -_-

The episode sub-plot with Jonathan finding out about Martha and Lois accepting money from Lionel plays out about how you'd expect it.  Jonathan is angry, prideful; leaving Lois feeling like crap but Martha admitting it was her idea and trying to talk some sense into her husband.  But Jonathan is right! Given their experience with Lionel, Martha should know Lionel would want something in return and how that could endanger Jonathan as well as their entire family but I suppose her argument about politics being gray has a point that justify the incredible gambling she's doing with someone like Lionel after all that he has done.  *Shrug*  But even after all that, the episode finds a way to make its point about Clark's dimwitted reservations about keeping his secret from Lana anymore and the consequences that have transpired since then.  Next up is episode 100 and it is regarded as one of the best of the series...but how well does it hold up 15 years later??? We'll see....:)

Final Kryptonite: B-