Season 9, Episode 9: Pandora

"Pandora"

Episode 9

Air Date: November 20th, 2009

After another first half of building up our main storyline with the Kandorians, we get a mid-season pay off with Pandora that shows us exactly what happened to Lois during those 3 weeks and why that freaky Kryptonian chick, Alia went back after Clark to tell him he destroyed their world.  Picking up not too far from where we left off, Clark confronts Oliver about Lois now missing from the hospital after being emitted but we soon find out it was Tess who was behind Lois' unseen abduction.  Along with Stewart, she uses that Summerholt technology we've seen before on the show to see into Lois' mind where exactly she went as she gets more than she bargained for by seeing into her mind herself.  I have to say the flashbacks (or rather flashforwards??? O_O) were exceptionally done with some terrific, inventive direction as we witness Lois' journey to a post-apocalyptic Earth where the Zod and Kandorians rule all gods among humans as their solar tower powers them by draining the sun of its yellow radiation and renders it into a large red sun.  It's truly a constant haunting image throughout as well as moments like seeing Clark's black Blur shirt hanging from a pole like "The Death of Superman" or one incredible shot of Zod dragging a defeated Clark through the streets of Metropolis.  Director Morgan Beggs really should have gotten some type of recognition for his work here.  Not only for giving the series a cinematic feel here but some imaginative new visuals never seen before.  Seriously!

But the episode also does a fine job of bouncing from Lois' memories of a dark future and the present with Clark and Chloe working on tracking Lois down.  I'm not surprised tho when Clark believes that Chloe kidnapped Lois for a second and takes a moment to shout at her.  Considering how Chloe has been doing the complete irrational and insane things that completely leaving the city without privacy, kidnapping her own cousin doesn't seem so out of character for her at this point. -_-  Also, it was great to see Clark also get a moment to look into Lois' mind to see the future....especially after pushing Tess aside like that! HA! He's been manhandling her all season but she deserves it! :P  Not to mention, he shooting Stewart practically at point blank range??? Jesus lady! O_O  But the future scenes also had some great set designs that propel the story forward visually like the Kent Farm looking really cool as a holding prison for humans or the Luthor mansion being Zod's base of operations.  Even more effective is Chloe being the leader of the resistance against Zod with Oliver as her fellow fighter with kryptonite arrows.  It was an awesome moment when they broke in and started firing; especially when Tess ended up being a casualty.  It was kind of awesome to see Chloe become this cold, unfeeling leader that would kill at all cost and seemed so cut off from humanity which she is trying to save from Zod's control.  

It just continues to show how dark Chloe has become as of late and it almost seems like a glimpse of who she'll become if Clark doesn't make the right decisions regarding Zod in the present.  Of course, one can't talk about this episode without talking about Clark and Lois.....doing the dirty deed in the future.  The build up, the music, the dialogue between them.....so intense, beautiful and romantic! I can just watch that shot of them kissing in front of that red sun over and over! No I'm not a pervert! :P  The conclusion of the story also ends with an epic series of events that leaves more of the characters dead, especially Alia coming out of the way to slice through Chloe.   Can't say I minded at all!???  After the way this girl has been acting, that death scene was oddly satisfying!  Then you have Oliver being swarmed by Kandorians flying his way while Zod superkicks Clark to his death.  Even after there seems to be hope when the yellow sun returns, Zod manages to still kill Clark with a kryptonite dagger.  But of course, this is all in the past (uhhh ummm future??? O_0) as the episode ends with a surprising resolution to their future issue. Clark plans to confront Zod and befriend him instead of fighting him to change the outcome.  It's a very risky move but given how he is also trying to be there for his people and NOT start a war that could end up like the future he just saw I get it.  But man, that Kneel Before Kal-El greeting from Zod when Clark shows up in front of them. CHILLS!!! O_O  Pandora is an excellent coda on the first half of such an suspense and satisfying season so far. Things are seemingly heading in a very interesting direction, especially Clark and Lois finally deciding to take their relationship to the next level. May the romance begin! What a season so far! :)

Final Kryptonite: A