Season 9, Episode 10: Disciple

"Discipline"

Episode 10

Air Date: January 29th, 2010

Hmmmm, filler huh but won that tries to explore more of Green Arrow's lore by bringing in his greatest foe, Marilyn, the Dark Archer or rather Vordigan as he's named here.  The only real problem here is the story, while having its moments, doesn't truly make for a complete success.  Also, it doesn't help that we just came off yet another Oliver in despair arc from the show and an episode exploring his inner demons again so soon is just not helping....at all. My god, is Oliver becoming so one note in terms of this brooding archer who's past and mistakes keep catching up to him.  But of course, this episode explores a much broader consequence of that with this whole sacred cult of archers aka some kind of Brotherhood where any members must swear off "lovers, allies and disciples" once they leave the fold.  So with Oliver being the busy heroic archer, his old  teacher, Vordigan shows up to rectify of breaking his oath as well as forcing him into a confrontation where he must kill him.  Given Oliver's recent past, especially in killing Lex, this is kind of an excellent showcase of if Oliver has grown and learned from his downward spiral.  Even in the end, after Clark comes in for a miraculous save, he returns wondering if Oliver just killed his master but Oliver makes him realize he didn't and isn't going that route again.  I guess the story as a whole just doesn't feel as complete or climatic as its set-up, making the filler feeling of it come out more.

The stuff with Mia could have been compelling but it doesn't really build on Oliver and hers relationship.  If anything he puts her in more danger by not bringing her into the loop.  I just wish they ended up doing more with Mia as a whole as Oliver's sidechick in training.  There is definitely some interesting stories to be explored with the both of them and the ending where Oliver apologizes as well as starts his training up with her again seems promising.  Elise Gatien can definitely handle the role and there was a potential there for her character to be further explored, especially her very dark, complex personal story in the comics.  Sigh....but we're just going to have to settle from what we got from her here.  Meanwhile, I love how Clark and Chloe are left clashing after seemingly Oliver has gone mad by going after Lois and shooting her with one of his arrows.  I love how Chloe comes clean about her personal rehabilitation plan by setting up Oliver through that literally torturous scheme to embrace his inner hero and him going completely off on her.  Clearly Chloe continues to push the very foundation of trust and sanity by doing this to the people around her not to mention watching everyone and everything from a distance! Clark has every reason to be angry and call out Chloe's relentless out of line behavior that is possibly causing more damage than doing any real good.  Honestly, Chloe's utter transparency and casual justification for her actions is beyond terrifying and she needs to be stop immediately. Clark clearly sees it and is hesitating again but come on dude, this girl though she could save Doomsday and look what happened because of that! -_-

In terms of a sub-plot, the storyline between Clark and the Kandorians continues with Zod confronting Lois after a very uneasy talk between him and Clark at the Kent Farm.  With Clark holding firm and unrelenting on helping Zod and the others get their powers by rather assimilating them into society, Zod goes to Lois in the hospital to clearly leave Clark a message about him being powerful but the ones he loves being still vulnerable.  It's honestly the most exciting part of the episode and I am truly shocked by how solid and strong this city of Kandor arc is being written.  Clark is coming off much more stern and leader-like with this immense responsibility of keeping the Kandorians in line but during that last scene between him and Zod, it's clear he is willing to do more than keep them in line if they go after the people he loves.  Callum Blue is equally profound in Zod's desperation in manipulating Clark since he has no physical powers but knowing full well he's a leader of an army against a literal God on this Earth.  It's a very fascinating hero vs villain dynamic but Zod isn't backing down even after Clark's chilling threat to stay away from Lois.  As he speaks with Faora, we already see the solar tower is being build but the Kandorians needing something called "The Book of Rao" that Jor-El had to power it the way they want.  Hmmmmm, could it be that kryptonian item Chloe saw Jor-El put into a column of the Kent house??? O_o  Hmmmmm.... Disciple is mixed as hell but has enough from the overarching storyline with the Kandorians to be a proper moving piece in the season's progression even if the main story with Oliver and his old teacher is a lukewarm endeavor at best. 

 

Final Kryptonite: C-