Season 7, Episode 2: Kara

"Kara"

Episode 2

Air Date: October 4th, 2007

Clearly showrunners, Al Gough and Miles Miller were seriously grasping at straws to keep Smallville interesting and entertaining the longer the series would stretch out Clark's journey toward becoming Superman.  I mean, how else do you explain the inclusion of Supergirl this early in Clark's development.  Once again, a Kryptonian who can fly and harness most of their abilities right away but considering Clark grew up on Earth and all the other Kryptonians were adults when arriving on Earth, it makes sense.  Honestly, having Kara Zor-El on the show really does shake things up, even if her inclusion like Jimmy's last season, seems a bit too soon.  I think what really helps is the wonderful presentation of Kara's arrival when she literally bumps into Lois and clashes with Clark for the first time.  That unreal SFX sequence of her flying above Earth in search of baby Kal-El is remarkable even 14 years later.  I don't think an Arrowvrse show has even executed a flight sequence as epic as that one.  O_O  As for the actress behind Clark's kryptonian cousin, Laura Vandervoort is...serviceable as Kara.  Clearly she's new to the series and has to find her footing but it kinda makes her scenes of Kara feeling confused and out of her depth more convincing looking back.  Her initial scenes with Clark as he finds out they are related is priceless as well as the utter shock of Krypton being destroyed.  Also the explanation of her coming out of nowhere makes sense with the whole suspended animation angle and how Kara is clearly still a teenager while Clark is in his early 20s already and not an infant anymore.  

Before I move on further, I must mention a major dislike for me in this episode and that is without a doubt the debut of Grant Gabriel, the Daily Planet's new editor-n-chief who for some reason, immediately dismisses Chloe as a legit reporter and wants Lois to write him a story if she wants a job at the Planet instead of the Inquisitor.  Honestly, while the idea of Lois finally being brought in to the Daily Planet is an occasion to finally be celebrated and excited about, the way it's done is rather rushed and half a$$ed.  It makes absolutely no sense why he would LOVE Lois and undermine Chloe just to bring Lois onboard as her rival.  Clearly this is just a step up for a new romance between Lois and Grant but the fact they are using it as the catalyst for Lois' personal arc in her own destiny to become the Lois of the comics is rather insulting.  Even if it's cool seeing her investigate and being given a chance to write for the legendary paper.  Sigh......  Grant just comes off so smug and too young to be such a commanding presence like Michael Cassidy tries to portray.  He seems more like an overzealous rich frat boy trying to play boss than a legit runner of a massive newspaper like the Daily Planet.  But whatever, this begins Lois' career at the Daily Planet....yayyyyy??? -_-

Anyway, we needed more wrap up with Lana and Lex so of course he's not going to prison and is released of all charges while he is trying to track Lana down; knowing full well she isn't dead.....how???  Well, it turns out when Lex confronts Lana in Shanghai (Well that was easy Lana! I know she wanted him to find her but still....-_-) and it's revealed that the Lana that died was a lifeless clone with all her DNA intact.  Yeah, that was that subject that was highlighted last season at Lex's lab in Reeves Dam.  Not surprised considering how obsessed he is with Lana just as much as Clark is. -_- Also, this redemption arc with Lex seems so abrupt and out of nowhere.  I guess losing Lana has made him want to change his ways, especially being saved by Kara on top of that.  But it feels more like regression in his overall development than something that has depth to it.  Anyway, Clark and Kara team-up to find her ship, which if not found in time will self destruct.  I'm just more bothered by Clark's line about Chloe being smarter than them combined! So the writers are not even hiding how dumb they are making Clark look anymore!??! O_o  WOW! But I did enjoy the comedic bits like the elevator scene at the Daily Planet as well as Clark teaching Kara how to use superhearing to track down her ship.  Unfortunately, Kara is only able to stop the blast from the self destruction and not save her ship.  Not to mention, her crystal that her father gave her is missing and is shockingly in the hands of Homeland Security???  Uhhh ohh.......  But I just find it immediately funny how Clark is finally ready to train yet Jor-El sends him back to babysit his cousin because of her father being the villain of the family. lol  At least we got a nice reference to Covenant when Jor-El faked the whole Kara thing before.  Overall, Kara is a solid intro for the future Girl of Steel with some nice action/SFX sequences even if the lesser aspects like frat boy editor dude and Lex begging Lana for forgiveness was eye roll worthy.  Of course Lex is now obsessed with his mysterious savior and wants to track Kara down, why not??? Guy needs help for real! 0_0

Final Kryptonite: B