Season 10, Episode 22: Finale, Part 2

"Finale, Part 2"

Episode 22

Air Date: May 13th, 2011

  

Well, it took him a decade but the time has finally come for young Clark Kent to become the legendary Superman, a superhero that over 80 years later since his very first comic debut has become a global icon and the one of the greatest symbols of heroism that is constantly reinforced onto society to this day.  Part 2 continues literally right where Part 1 left off (mostly because the series finale aired as a special two hour event on the CW!) Honestly, Tess really goes through the ringer the finale episode of the series.  Since her introduction at the beginning of Season 8, she's had a very puzzling journey from Lex's replacement to delusional savior of the world to a redeemed ally who plays an instrumental part in Clark's destiny as well as the past characters have.  Lionel returns, more disgusting and creepier than ever with a homeless man beard and looking like he made the deal with the devil.....which technically he did so....:P  I love how the final confrontation between Tess and Lionel is of him once again using her to bring Lex back; this time through various body parts that need a heart to complete the restoration of Lex's body.  We get a badass sequence of Tess fighting off Lionel and his forces which ends up appropriately in the abandoned daughter killing the face of the man that discarded her so harshly as a child.  Tho I got to say, even Lionel didn't deserve what came next as Darkseid appears once more, speaking and offering Lionel immortality in his moment of death. With Lionel only wanting Lex's return to this world, Darkseid quickly rips out Lionel's heart for Lex's resurrection as well as taking over his corpse as a vessel for his final confrontation with Clark.

But before that, speaking of Lex, the highlight of Part 2 and maybe the entirety of the two part finale may be the moment Lex confronts Clark as soon as he arrives at the destruction of the mansion looking for Tess.  Everything about this scene is what fans of the show and Superman could ever want as Lex leads the charge in their last war of words before Clark races off to fulfill his destiny.  Michael Rosenbaum has truly and irrevocably solidified his place in Superman history as the best iteration of Lex Luthor with a final performance reminding us, those are some near impossible shoes to fill.  It doesn't help that 5 years later, we got Jessie Eisenberg so miscasted as the billionaire mastermind in Batman V Superman. -_-   But it's also the flawless writing here from the showrunners Kelly and Brian from Lex describing how Clark says his name to embracing his destiny as Clark's greatest enemy to even pushing Clark to fulfill his destiny to stop Darkseid so the world can be saved so he can begin taking on Superman! Gloriously self aware in such a chilling, determined way.  I t also breaks my heart how Clark's last words to Lex are "I'm sorry I couldn't save you, Lex".  Showing even after ten years, after all the times Clark saved him physically and try to get through to Lex's dark side, he was unfortunately unable to stop him from becoming his most dangerous foe.  Awwww. :_( 

But while the Clark and Lex reunion scene was EVERYTHING you could have asked for, I'm sure many, including myself til this day, were left frustrated as hell by the final scene between Lex and Tess.  It was brutal, chilling moment that needed to happen.  With Lex back, Tess definitely had to die and her sacrifice to protect Clark during he last moment is a heartbreaking end to her character.  But not only that, Tess uses a nerotoxin from Lex's research Sommerholt (nice call back) to erase all of his memories.  It's shocking and makes sense in lining up with the canon we all know, but one wonders if it completely undermines Lex's whole journey from Season 1-7! Do the memories make the man or have Lex's experiences only unraveled that evil was always his destiny...even in his heart despite his memories being gone.  Makes me want to read the Smallville Season 11 comics to find out how they handle this post-memory loss Lex and if he's still the most complex and powerfully moving Lex we've all come to love.  Looks like Luthorcorp will become Lexcorp whether we like it or not tho! ;)

I guess I should mention the final showdown between Clark and Darkseid.....ummm, it's about as eventful as Oliver suiting up as Green Arrow one more time to track down Darkseid's Unholy Trinity and take them out with arrows like it was target practice!  Yes, the powerless yet skilled archer easily defeats the 3 powerful prophets of the Dark Lord who's planet is about to collide with Earth. -_-  Also, there's this certain shine that the arrow heads have that make it seem like they were magical or enchanted somehow.  Would have been nice if Oliver mentioned that maybe someone like Zatanna hexed his arrows to help him take them out but nope.  Just some vague dialogue about having friends in high places and then bullseye.....the minions of Darkseid who were suppose to be Clark and the rest of heroes' toughest threat go poof like they're nothing. LOL But at least Clark's confrontation with Darkseid had more meaning and depth behind it as it was a stunning set up for the moment after TEN YEARS of Clark finally flying!  I love the montage that Jor-El shows Clark when Darkseid throws him through the barn.  Such a nostalgic and tear inducing moment of Clark witnessing all his saves aka trails from the past decade before Jor-El tells him his final trial has come. :)  .....And then Clark just stares down Darkseid and proceeds to fly through him superfast; reducing Lionel's body to dust and crows.  I guess this was more of a metaphorical battle than a physical one with Clark being the light piercing the darkness and destroying Darkseid's vessel so he has no physical link to the world.  But nope, even in the end, the writers really were waaayyy more ambitious than the show's budget could ever handle. :(

Moving on....I loved how the writers were able to fit another classic Lois and Clark scene of them researching and tracking down Tess as the world helplessly watches as Apokolips approaches closer and closer.  Lois even gets to have one last moment in the spotlight as she sneaks on to Air Force One, after knocking out the Planet's political correspondent to inform the President's administration that they can't risk killing millions with a nuke when the meteor is actually a planet.  It's always great to see Lois being strong willed and pushing her convictions to give Clark more time to save the day before the military takes action.  Then of course, the moment we've all been waiting for as Clark arrives at the Fortress with so much joy and strength as Jor-El welcomes him with pride as he ends his journey.  Good to know in the end, Clark and Jor-El finally on permanent good terms, especially as that crystal pillar rises to reveal the Superman suit! :_)  Everything about this moment is grand, epic and stunning! I'm glad Jor-El tells Clark that it's because of his family and friends in Smallville that this day has come as well as suddenly Jonathan is holding the suit and telling Clark "Always hold on to Smallville!"  Just perfect in everyway! Then that John Williams score swelling as Clark takes off and puts on the suit to become Superman as he flies out of the Fortress to save the world! :)

Now, I know A LOT of fans were upset and STILL are by not having a clear shot of Clark in full costume but I don't get anyone who doesn't get immediate chills and beyond inspired by the sequence of Superman saving Air Force One, flying to Lois to show her he fulfilled his destiny before flying across the skies toward Metropolis to stop Apokolips.  AHHHHHH!!! While we don't get to see Clark actually pushing the planet away, seeing it be pushed from the POV of all the citizens of Metropolis still works, especially indicating how this version of Superman is clearly one of the most powerful. Sigh....And with that Chloe concludes her story of Superman to her and Oliver's son clearly as he goes off to sleep while Chloe gets a call from Lois at the Planet and we even see Jimmy's little brother return all grown up and played by Aaron Ashmore.  How touching the writers brought him back for that! :) We even get to hear Perry White being voiced by Micheal McKean while seeing Lex has been inducted into office.  That Clark and Lois moment! They finally made it to the future we saw but still not married yet??? O_o  Then of course, the show ends with how we always imagined as Clark goes off to quick change on top of the Daily Planet as the John Williams score plays over him racing off and ripping his dress shirt to reveal the suit underneath. WOW. WOW......*Needs a moment*......... *Smiles* :)

Final Kryptonite: A+