Season 10, Episode 7: Ambush

"Ambush"

Episode 7

Air Date: November 5th, 2010

WOW!!! It's obvious the heart at the center of the final season will be Clark and Lois overcoming the hardships that come with their relationship now that she knows his secret.  Not to mention having to deal with her 4 star General of a father and crazy, up to no good sister! Yes, Ambush is about family at the heart of it and Lois being tested by how much wants to appease both the heroes in her life: Her father and now Clark/The Blur. It's great having Michael Ironside back as General Lane as he really does bring some genuine tension as well exposing some new issues for Clark and Lois to work in their relationship.  The relationship between Superman and the General has never been a nice one in the comics as there is always animosity and tension between them.  I love how the writers Don Whitehead and Holly Henderson of episode really explore that clashing between the two powerful men in Lois' life as well as forcing her to finally stand up to her father by Clark reminding her of who she is and no one just get in the way of how she truly feels.  Awwwww, Tom and Erica as just magnetic as ever, especially pre-all hell breaking loose before her family arrives and her and Clark can literally NOT keep their hands off each other. But Ironside's return as General Lane isn't just for progressing Clark and Lois' relationship but also the season's main arc with the world questioning and turning on superheroes.  Apparently, he is the military advisor of the Vigilante Registration Act as he is pushing for superheroes to register as public servants for their country instead of being masked crime fighters hiding in the shadows despite protecting people.

It also helps that we get more Rick Flagg/Suicide Squad development as the leader of the renegade bunch of superhumans decide to target Sam Lane because of said Registration Act.  I really love this development/story as it plays like an awesome opposition to the bigger storyline with Darkseid and his ultimate plan of riding the world of superheroes by making people hate and fear them.  The Suicide Squad are clearly the counterattack against the world's growing uneasiness of the superhero population increasing by establishing through dangerous acts of patriotism and extreme anarchy to make sure that superheros are protected.   I really enjoy Rick Flagg, played with a charming menace by Ted Whittall, who is the leader of the resistance against the country trying to force heroes out of the shadows.  I like how he manipulates Lucy and gets her get the General away from Clark so he can't save him.  Speaking of Lucy, it seems she was underused here to the point of just being a plot device for Flagg's plan.  While it was nice to see her and Lois finally making peace as sisters in the end, her whole trying to cause rift in Clark and Lois' relationship by kissing Clark was sort of dumb....but then that was the point??? But it was great to get some intense moments between Clark and Sam, building on their future relationship with his father in law.  Speaking of that, Clark needed to ask him an important question...hmmmm I wonder what it could be??? ;)

Not to be forgotten, Oliver continues to have serious animosity toward Tess in Chloe's absence and it's starting to get old....FAST!!! O_o  I get you miss the girl but constantly giving Tess the cold shoulder especially when she manages to uncover the Suicide Squad tagging the team.  It allows Clark to be able to save Lois during an awesome rescue sequence that leaves the Talon destroyed for good (Yeah, it really IS the last season ! :_( as well as Clark and Oliver able to track down Flagg during another action sequence where they confront him about his rash tactics to keep superheroes protected. Luckily by episode's end, Oliver finally comes around and the two make peace despite their rough, antagonized history.  But once again, at the heart of Ambush is a profoundly touching tale of Lois finally making a major breakthrough by standing up to her father and what she believes in when it comes to her love for Clark and manages to continue the war between anti-vigilantism and superhero prominence in style as the episode ends with a very Watchmen-esqe finally shot of the Suicide Squad continuing to make their presence know that heroes are off limits.  Nice! :)

Final Kryptonite: A-