Season 5, Episode 2: Mortal

"Mortal"

Episode 2

Air Date: October 6th, 2005

I have to say that this feels like the calm before the gloomy and grimness I remember from Season 5 and once again I'm all for it considering the very hopeful optimism that the show is presenting itself with.  Also, can I just say those new credits are amazing!!! Probably by favorite credits of the series at this stage of series and really emphasizes that we are in a new era of the show right out of high school.  The exploration of Clark's newfound humanity is actually really well handled, once again being more lighthearted and carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders all the time.  Dare I say, it's even wonderful seeing him and Lana so in love and enjoying being a couple after all the teen angst doom that drowned the first 4 years of the show.  They both feel more grounded, open....honest....yeah this isn't gonna last long is it!? -_-  But it's also nice that the writers are addressing some more adult issues for our young character moving off to college like having sex for the first time.  I actually really loved that scene and the way both Tom and Kristin performed it.  Tho certain lines are harsh and uncalled for like Clark just casually dismissing his feelings for Alicia by sayin' to Lana, "You're the only one I ever really loved."  Sigh....Al and Miles really can't help but make Lana's number one priority in terms of romance and infatuation! Ewwwww! But it is the perfect new step for the two now that they are college aged teens going into young adulthood so I'm not too upset cause like I said, the love story between these two will get far worse beyond unwatchable proportions! -_-

Also, I love how they have Chloe handling Clark's sudden normalization by having her supportive yet discouraged by Clark leaving his alien roots as well as potential world saving calling behind. Of course it doesn't help during a harsh scene when Lex confronts her in the caves again about the day of the second meteor shower when she ended waaaayyy up north in the Arctic. The writers seriously have positioned Lex as more of a villain at this point in the series as the way he chastises Chloe for lying and covering up what happened, not to mention shaming her loneliness as Clark and Lana begin their relationship again....Jesus! O_O  I'm glad they didn't have Chloe back down and stood her ground.  Her time clashing with the Luthors has definitely toughened her up and help her grow as a character which is more than welcome and exciting.  Also, it seems Chloe will be replacing Pete's role in Season 2 and 3 as Clark's side kick during missions/investigations but with more of an essential role by unleashing her hacking and computer knowledge skills that have seemed to improve immensely since her days of using the Torch to gain info on certain meteor freak phenomenon.  I'm sure it's because they wanted to give Chloe a much bigger role now that she knows Clark's secret but it really surprises how they start writing her as a tech genius when she's been more of an investigative reporter (Not that that will be forgotten by any means!) Honestly, the interaction between Clark and Chloe is already looking to be a refreshing new dynamic for the two moving forward in the show, especially that hilarious moment of when Chloe finds out Clark told Pete his secret and saw his spaceship! LOL The writers were definitely having too much fun with Chloe now in the know.

As for our meteor freak threat this week, Tommy Lee and his minions of twins were actually pretty cool villains.  Mostly because their powers, especially visually were so cool with Tommy being able to drain and throw energy balls while the twins can combine power to create impenetrable force fields.  Also their motives behind attacking Clark is solid given his continued reputation at Belle Reeve and revealing that Level 3 is continuing their highly dangerous experiments which turned them into meteor freaks in the first place.  But the best part is how Clark is pushed into the hero role without his powers and yet manages to save the day with his brains and not his superpowered brawn....well until he punches Tommy out! Ha! It shows that Clark can be just as brave and awesome without his powers, reminding me once again of Season 1's Leech as that superhero nature in him is too strong for him to ignore.  I also loved Sheriff Nancy's involvement this episode.  Usually she comes off as a mean, stuffy and overconfident b!tch but she has some great lines/scenes here where she reminds a fellow deputy that "Just another day in Smallville" by the damn forcefield at the Kent farm and being proud of Clark's managing to save the day single-handedly by recommending him to go into law enforcement. Nice! LOL

But truly the most unforeseen event of the episode is learning that Lex was directly responsible for the meteor freaks after Clark; leading to Clark confronting an outed Lex by repeatedly punching him.  It's a long overdo rift in their friendship as Lex just lies and knows the truth but rather play denial and victim before punching Clark himself...to realize he isn't the prolific multi-powered hero he was hoping he was.....WOW! I mean it was clear Lex was involved from the beginning but orchestrating all of it just to test Clark and endanger his loved ones is pure evil mastermind behavior....that dark path Lex's is on is getting darker and isn't look so gray anymore.  But even more unexpected in the last scene of Clark and Lana finally consummating their relationship by having their official first time together....good thing it's so brief and they finally got to this point in their relationship since it's been long overdo.  Mortal is quite superb in plot movement and exploring Clark's mortality but showing his conviction and inner hero continuing to shine through just as Lex finally reveals he is becoming far more foe than friend these days! Nice! :) 

Final Kryptonite: A-