Season 9, Episode 22: Salvation

"Salvation"

Episode 22

Air Date: May 14th, 2010

Man........Salvation is an episode that has A LOT to do, not to mention make up for last season's extremely disappointing finale that left be more cold and confused than satisfied and fulfilled.  But here comes Salvation, an episode that complete embodies it's name from beginning to end! Whether it's the incredibly iconic dream Clark has as the beginning of the episode where we see 2013 Metropolis being saved by some red and blue guy flying around in tights to stunning final battle between Clark and Zod, the showrunners clearly knew there was no time for any hiccups or missteps for this finale.  This is one of the show's greatest finales and honestly, one of the most inspired, well written episodes of the entire series. Unlike last season's finale that treated Clark that one everyone needed to betray to handle Doomsday and leaving him to clean up THEIR mess (Chloe! *coughs* -_-), Salvation is completely and utterly Clark's story first and foremost as it should be.  The epic clairvoyant dream he has of his future is not only what drives him throughout the episode to embrace his destiny more than ever before but the special present Martha left for Clark before going back to Washington. Hmmmmm, seems to be some kind of important costume with the S-Shield in red surrounded by blue and yellow......wonder what that could mean!??? ;)  I never have loved Clark more than I loved him in this episode, not backing down when Chloe brings up sacrificing himself to send the Kandorians away when he's seen the significant highs he can reach (see what I did there!).  But it's an obvious dilemma that Clark really doesn't want to decide over and tries his best to convince himself to stay as much as possible.

I really enjoyed the Fortress of Solitude sequence between Clark and Zod as both man are ready to achieve their destinies, one of legendary heroism while the other the ultimate God among humans by ruling Earth.  I love how Clark is empathetic toward Zod with the ordeal with his father but doesn't back down from a possible huge battle between him and the world's superheroes against the Kandorian army.  Speaking of said heroes, we get some great cameos with Hawkman, Stargirl, Martian Manhunter, Black Canary and Cyborg all being summoned via Watchtower's computers to discuss their tactics against the Kandorians who have already started attacking the world.  Seriously, the sequence of the Kandorians destroying the Great Wall of China and leaving Zod's symbol all over the world was A LOT better handled in terms of effects than I thought.  They even hold up well to today's superhero shows.  But the point of the superhero facetime meeting if for Clark to step up as leader of the superhero community that he helped build over the course of the show and setting them straight on a war that will cause too much destruction on both sides.  It's a classic Superman moment and I love how the heroes follow Clark's lead by being so inspired and motivated to work together to keep the world safe. With Clark making the decision to use the Book of Rao, all that's left is saying goodbye to Lois.

And my goodness, this was the best finale for Lois/Lois centered story/Lois Lane performance!!! Erica Durance kicked some emotional a$$ in her scenes by not only showing her complete vulnerability when Clark spills his heart out to her about when he returned to the Daily Planet, but when Zod decides to fool her as the Blur and make her turn on Clark.  She uses her past experiences with the Blur as well as her natural ingenuity as a reporter to put the pieces together herself; realizing from Zod's touch to Clark's words of "watching over her" who the true Blur was.  And how bada$$ is that sequence of Lois putting it all together before Zod sends her flying as Clark superspeeds up to him and punches him harder than Chloe should be! And at the same time, he manages to catch Lois and make sure she's ok.  Awwwwww! But then the sequence in the ally where Lois apologizes to the Blur before Clark takes her in his arms for one last kiss before he leaves.  AHHHHHHH! It's about time Lois knows and I love how she figures it out.  I mean, she knows her man's kiss! ;)  I guess I have to talk about Chloe and Oliver huh??? Their story was regulated more toward their relationship reaching the point of their declarations of love for each other.  Oh great! Sigh....I don't mind as much anymore cause Chloe won't be here that much after this episode anyway! But the cliffhanger with Oliver definitely feels chilling and sets up the coming storylines for the final season next. :_(

Another interesting set up is Tess' sudden redemption thanks to the Red Queen leading to her attacking Zod with kryptonite brass knuckles (Seriously soooo many badass moments this episode!).  But at a cost as Zod ends up killing her but she's able to help give Clark the last information he needs to stop the Kandorians to activate the Book of Rao.  But unfortunately, she dies a truly brutal looking death by scumming to her severe injuries.  But there appears to be an old woman waiting outside her room who quickly enter after her death after finishing her knitting.  Hmmmmmm, who could this Granny be? Goodness......:P Last but not least, Zod has been a masterful villain all season and his final hour to takeover wasn't disappointing.  Even after Clark so cleverly tricked the Kandorians into hearing his emotional confession of killing Faora and his child, he takes out some blue kryptonite as the Kandorians ascend and Clark has no choice but to stop him.  Sure, this fight is very Matrix Revolutions with slow-mo shots and epic pouring rain but it's STILL a marvelous brawl between the two Kryptonian titans that leaves Clark falling to his death by stabbing himself with the blue kryptonite only so Zod could ascend as well.  Man that last shot is sooooo religiously chilling! Nothing more to say but Salvation is a triumphant end to one of the show's strongest and most consistent seasons compared to the last couple of them.  The set up for the 10th and final season is breathtaking with show feeling more determined than ever to get Clark closer to putting on Mama's made suit and take to the skies to finally become superhero that we know and love so much.  A series classic. Period!

Final Kryptonite: A+(+++)