Season 9, Episode 1: Savior

"Savior"

Episode 1

Air Date: September 25th, 2009

Now THAT'S how you come back from one of the worst finales of your series by opening even harder than last year with a premiere that feels just as much as an apology for Doomsday's shortcomings as it is a stunning revival of excitement for the series moving into its 9th year! Hard to believe Smallville had anymore story left in it going into almost 10 years of storytelling at that point, but Savior immediately follows up on where we left off last season with a premiere that really blows you away emotionally just as it does in terms of the season's already impressive narrative established here.  Seems Chloe being left all alone in the Watchtower has left her impatient and ready to pull the trigger literally when trying to track down Lois' whereabouts as Dr. Emil Hamilton stops by for a visit. The two go back and forth about the state of their team, especially with Clark going completely solo to remove himself from humanity to be a more focused hero....which we soon see not to long after when a train running from Smallville to Metropolis is it by two energy impacts.  The first is Lois, looking different and hot as hell I might add, sporting the Legion ring while the other is some creepy eyed ninja woman who goes straight for Lois for fight despite the passengers being complete terrified at well the hell is going on.  But soon the train veers off the tracks and is about to crash off a bridge until Clark comes out of nowhere to catch it.  Omg!!! That look he gives Lois says it all! WOW! :)

As Lois recovers and gets off the train, she soon looks at the House of El Shield being burnt into a nearby building as the camera zooms up it to show Clark sporting the S-Shield on his chest (FINALLY!) as he looks down and watching over Metropolis.  What a teaser!  I like the first proto-suit Clark wears here.  Yeah it's very matrix but it fits the mood of this season and where Clark is in his journey.  He's working in the shadows; staying away from humanity and wears his family crest proudly in all black attire to show that darker persona he is on.  And on top of that, we finally get to see Clark training in the Fortress with Jor-El but clearly being distracted now that Lois is back! Who can blame him really??? I love how heroic, determined yet stubborn Clark is here.  I adds more to his character development as Jor-El teaches him he can't avoid his human feelings no matter how hard he tries and if he is too be successful he must cope with them.  Clark is dismisses Jor-El and actually talks about his flight problem.  I love how this is finally addressed but built upon naturally with Jor-El telling Clark there's nothing wrong with him, it's just he still sees himself as human unlike Kara for example.  We even get a follow-up training sequence with Clark attempting to fly....but it goes as well as you'd expect.  Turns out his emotions are still too strong for him to think straight and when Clark demands how he overcomes it, Jor-El pretty much tells him he knows aka saying goodbye to Lois! NOOOOOOOO!!! :( 

Meanwhile.....ummm the Luthor mansion has been kinda taken over by a bunch of Kryptonian soldiers, including Zod of course.  But it turns out this Zod is a much younger version before he became the notorious General that led to Krypton's destruction.  Yes, he's Major Zod here and his fellow Kryptonians are beyond upset that they are on Earth and powerless for some reason.  When his fellow cadets question him, he tells them to kneel but unlike his future self, that doesn't work and Basquat knocks him out.  The other cadet is actually a young Faora, pre-Zod's wife and Doomsday's mother, Nice! As Lois tries to investigate the train crash, especially since she never got to meet the Blur when they were suppose to meet, she runs into John Corbin, played by Brian Austin Green of all people but does really well in the role surprisingly.  Turns out he's completely anti-vigilante, especially against the Blur who these days is a lot less Red and Blue as well as leaving his S-Shield all over Metropolis.  I love this scene and both Erica and Brian play off each other real well. We get some follow-up with Clark and Chloe despite how they left things by remaining focused on Lois' mysterious disappearance as Chloe found the Legion Ring she left behind and Clark must track down the creepy eyed Kryptonian girl after her. 

Hey let's catch up to Oliver shall we....who's stuck in a fight club remake apparently! O_O  Luckily, Lois has tracked him down for help but Oliver is in no mood after getting his ass kicked.  But before Lois can go in-depth about her situation, creepy Kryptonian girl arrives, but thankfully Clark has too as he takes to the farm for some confrontation! Apparently, she has Clark's father's watch, we is from one year in the future! Oh and she tells him she needs to stop him before he destroys their world??!! No time to think that over as we get a decent fight between Clark and kryo-ninja girl! Yeah, they are already trying to make up for that fight huh?? ;)  Clark even looks like he's gained some decent fighting skill because of his training with Jor-El so awesome sauce! Unfortunately, she ends up killing herself but thanks Clark beforehand.  Back at the mansion, after an intense meeting between Major Zod and beaten Tess, the Kryptonian army brings them out to interrogate them together.  Of course Tess makes it seem like it was all Zod's fault, leading to a pretty epic monologue deliver by Callum Blue as Major Zod.  He is seriously one of best actors to grace Smallville and any reservations of the writers bringing Zod back are immediately buried after such a chilling performance.  Oh and Kryto creepy girl is one of the soldiers who kneel before Zod after his speech!??? GASP! Awesome twist there! :)

The episode ends with Clark telling Chloe of his encounter and the two finally getting into it about Jimmy's death when she wants Clark to go back in time and save him.  I love how Clark once again stands his ground and doesn't want to tempt fate, even though Chloe is actually incredibly selfish and naive.  It's not her and Clark's fault, it's ONLY hers and clearly she can't accept all the blame by guilty Clark into doing it.  And he's not human for that Chloe??!? Jesus, no wonder he leaves humanity behind, look at one of the humans he has to protect! :P So Corben will be taking Clark's desk while he's gone and Lois has to try and get her job back.  But we also get another phone call between her and the Blur, building on their relationship but unfortunately, Lois has a terribly freakish nightmare with shocking imagery from Chloe's death, to Zod's symbol, to .....her and Clark having sex!??? *Dies a thousand sacred deaths*  Yeah, it's all apocalyptic and scary but man, Clois getting it on is worth it!  Such an excellently epic premiere that sets up so much to look forward too and even that's a understatement.  I love Clark's immense progression of his Kryptonian side, Lois' return beginning an overwhelming strong story with so much potential, Major Zod already looking like a formidabble villain even without his powers (yet!;) and great new character introductions like John Corben.  Also, the show definitely got a budget increase by the CW this season as the show looks gorgeously cinematic with some very professional and polished direction like during the mansion scenes that look like some hellish purgatory than its usual Victorian self.  This show is too good as bringing fans back with amazing material just as much as it can seriously disappoint them. lol :)

Final Kryptonite: A+(+)