Smallville Season 5 Episode 21-Oracle

Clark comes home to dark home and lo and behold it is a surprise birthday party! Lois has made Clark a cake. Clark opens presents, and Lois gives Clark a journal embossed with his initials. Clark notices an envelope with his father's handwriting on it. There's a card with two tickets to a baseball game in Milwaukee. Later on, at the graveyard, Clark is talking to his father's grave and leaves the tickets on his grave. Clark then sees his father and Jonathan tells him that Clark needs to stop Lionel Luthor and that to save this world, he needs to kill Lionel. Jonathan then disappears into the mist. At the Kent Farm, Clark talks over the meeting with Jonathan with Martha, and she tries to dissuade Clark that it wasn't his father.  Clark tells his mother about the near death experience and how he saw Jonathan then. Martha starts to believe Clark.

At The Talon, Lana picks up some coffee and runs into Lois. Lois guesses that she is picking up coffee for Lex and asks if Lana is his new assistant. She says that she isn't, but that they are together but he isn't her boyfriend.

Chloe and Clark talk about Clark seeing Jonathan at the graveyard. Chloe goes along with it and they try to figure out why he should kill Lionel. Clark reveals to Chloe that someone tried to blackmail Martha and why.

At the Luthor mansion, Lionel and Lex Luthor talk about how Lex has been working with Professor Fine. Lionel reveals that he knows that Lex has been smuggling chemicals and viruses into the US, also that there are multiple Fine's around the world. Lionel warns Lex to stop. Lex leaves and after which Lionel again has a strange reaction and reaches for pen and paper and this time we see him draw some kryptonian symbols and his eyes are whited over just as before.

Clark and Chloe break into Lionel's office at LuthorCorp and discover that Lionel has an appointment with The Inquisitor and The Pentagon regarding The Weapon. Chloe surmises that maybe Clark is The Weapon.

At the Mansion, Lana stops by after a three hour conversation with Lois. Lex talks to Lana about something that is happening. He has been working on something big and asks her how deep she wants to get involved with a new project. He warns her that if he shows her this new information she is all in and can't go back. She agrees and they go to a facility at LuthorCorp. Lex has been collecting viruses so that he can change the world. He has been altering the viruses to be able to help people. Fine believes that the spacecraft could be the first of many. Lex is now working against Fine. Lex has pictures of the spacecraft and Fine standing next to it. Lana reveals that she might know how to stop him. She says that  Lionel had told her how to do it when she found him in that strange trance he was in, when she found him scratching symbols on the floor in the mansion.

At the Kent home, Martha recieves a voicemail from Lionel warning her that something is going on that Clark needs to know about. She looks into the darkened living room and sees Jonathan sitting in a chair. Jonathan questions how long she has had feelings for Lionel. She denies any feelings for him, and tells him that she misses him so much. Jonathan warns that Lionel will kill everyone unless Clark kills him. He disappears from the home, and we as the audience see Jonathan looking in through a window at Martha. Jonathan then slowly morphs into one of the Dr. Fine's and he smiles mischeviously before he runs off.

Martha is talking with Clark about how she saw Jonathan, they talk about why Lionel has to be killed. Martha tells Clark that Jonathan said that Lionel had something to do with his death.

At the Luthor mansion, Lex is reviewing video reports on Dr. Fine's whereabouts when one them walks in the door. Dr. Fine talks to Lex about their agreement and how he has been cut out of the loop. Lex assures him that the vaccine is being developed. Lex tries to disable Fine with a rock of kryptonite, but it doesn't work. He says that he isn't one of them, but he was made by them. Fine then turns his finger into a sword and holds it to Lex's neck and demands the vaccine.

Chloe has been doing some research into Lionel's phone records and discovers that Lionel had been calling Jonathan multiple times and that the last time was an hour before his death. The last call was made near the Kent Farm and that he was there the night his father died.

At the barn, Lionel and Clark meet. Clark is mad and confronts Lionel about meeting his father the night he died. Lionel admits that they met and that they had to talk. Clark accuses Lionel of killing his father, Clark brings up the weapon, but Lionel denies that Clark is the weapon. Just then Jonathan shows up and encourages Clark to kill Lionel. Lionel tries to convince Clark not to kill him as Jonathan wouldn't tell Clark to kill anyone. Clark realizes this and uses his heat vision to push Jonathan away. Jonathan throws a tractor at Clark and then starts to choke Clark. Jonathan admits that he isn't his father and when Clark asks who is he, Jonathan only says that he is the one that will bring the world to it's knees. Just then, a high pitched metallic sound is heard and stuns Jonathan. It is coming from Lionel whose eyes are whited over again and he reaches out and touches Jonathan, who then begins to be destroyed. Just before disintegrating, he fades into one of the Fine's and then is gone. Lionel wakes up from the trance and asks "What just happened?"

Clark and Lionel head back to his office and talk about Fine and how he has been destroyed twice now. Clark questions Lionel how he was able to destroy Fine? Lionel doesn't know, but opens his vault revealing pages and pages of kryptonian symbols that he has written while in the strange trance. Lionel feels that what he wrote is meant for Clark. Lionel warns Clark not to tell Lex.

Clark and Lionel go to The Planet and show Chloe the symbols. She doesn't know what any of it means. Lionel tells Clark and Chloe that Lex and Fine are developing a weapon, the virus, that was completed today. They have to stop them. Chloe suggests they talk to Lana about getting into the lab where Lex is.

Clark is in Lana's dorm room, when Lana walks in finding Clark. Clark tells Lana that they have to stop Lex before it's too late. Lana doesn't want to tell Clark, but he tells Lana that Lex is in trouble and he needs help.

At the lab, Fine and Lex are talking about how the vaccine is ready. Fine injects it into Lex and he collapses. Fine then punches the power grid causing the lab to be destroyed. Clark shows up and rescues Lex. At the mansion the next morning a doctor is checking out Lex and finds him to be okay. Clark shows up and tells Lex he should have listened to his father. Lex tells Clark he crossed the line and he doesn't want to hear about Clark going through her stuff. They argue about Lana and Lex tells Clark that it is his own fault Lana isn't interested in him anymore.

At the Kent home, Lionel shows up and talks with Martha about how he visited Jonathan the night he died. He told Jonathan that he knew about Clark and that he was so angry that he never let Lionel explain. Martha doesn't say anything and Lionel asks her to forgive him in time.

Lex and Lana talk about Clark and how he is barging in where he isn't wanted. They agree to not talk about Clark for awhile. Lex goes to open a bottle of wine and there is an injection scar on his wrist. He then cuts himself on the wine opener, but he self heals instantaneously. He doesn't tell Lana.

At the barn loft, Lois and Clark discuss how Lana is moving on. Lois tells Clark to stop stalking her and to put his focus on something else. Clark mentions that there are times when he feels that Lois doesn't know him at all, and times where she knows him better than anyone. Chloe brings up the leftover cake and they talk about Jonathan's real gift to him was that he taught Clark to be his own man. Chloe reveals that there were three signs repeated more frequently than others. The signs translate as "Zod is coming".

TO BE CONTINUED...

Smallville Season 5 Episode 17-Void

At Met. U in Chloe and Lana's dorm room, Lana pulls out a wad of cash and goes to the cafeteria and finds a man with some green serum, presumably kryptonite in nature. The man, Lance, and his assistant are going to inject Lana with the serum. Lana apparently has done this before, as she wants to go under longer this time and that she almost found them last time. She's injected and is transported to some sort of dream state and finds her parents. She is talking to them about how she misses them and that it's been really hard now that she and Clark are no longer together. Her parents are supportive, and she goes to hug them, but is transported back to reality. She tells Lance that it wasn't long enough and she needs to go back. Back at the Met. U dorms, Chloe is doing some research into Honduras and some deaths, but she finds a photo with Dr. Fine in the forest. She shows Clark the picture and says that a "source" tipped her off.  Lana walks in and it suddenly becomes awkward. They share an awkward moment without saying anything. Clark leaves, and Chloe and Lana talk about how Lana looks haggard. Lana says she will get over it.

Clark uses his superspeed and runs to Honduras in a matter of minutes. He shows up to a village and starts showing Fine's picture around.

At The Talon, Senator Kent is being interviewed by the press. Afterwards, Lionel Luthor is there and compliments her on her handling of the press. They are both going to a dinner later and Lionel gives Martha some background on the host. He suggests that they go together, so he can help her navigate the rough waters. She thanks him, and firmly tells Lionel that they will never be more than friends.

In Honduras, Clark is talking with the locals and finds the boy with the carved wooden ship from the previous episode.

Lana, looking like a drug addict needing her next fix, sneaks in to talk with Lance while he is in a autopsy exam. She tells him that she needs to go back. Lance tells her that it will cost her $5,000 this time. Lana says it won't be a problem.

At the Luthor mansion, Lex Luthor arrives home and hears glass breaking. He grabs a gun and goes to investigate and finds Lana going through his stuff. He tells Lana all she needed to do was ask for money if she needed it. Lex asks what's wrong, but Lana says nothing is wrong. Lana then admits that she needs the money for more of the serum. The serum kills the person and then brings them back. Lana says that she went to the other side and saw her parents. Lex is intrigued and begins to console Lana and tells her to look at herself and what she has become, her parents wouldn't approve. Lex tells her that they should stop worrying about the people they have lost and should focus on those they have in their lives. Lex leaves the room to go get a blanket, and Lana takes off with hsi car keys.

Back in Honduras, the boy leads Clark to where the spaceship was located, but it is no longer there, it did leave an triangular imprint in the ground though.

Lex calls Chloe and tells her about Lana. Chloe goes to Lance's assistant, Allie, and confronts her about what is going on. Allie is evasive and looks terrible. Chloe tells her that she wants to know what is going on. Allie begins to choke and cough up blood, she only says "near death experience" and "metero rocks" and then dies.

Late night at the cafeteria, Lana visits Lance, while he is packing up the serum and getting ready to leave. Lana gives Lance Lex's car keys in exchange for more serum, but Lex shows up, due to his GPS tracking device on his car, and Lance and Lex fight. The bag with the serum falls and a container rolls to Lana and she picks it up and runs off. Lex calls for Lana and while distracted, Lance gives Lex an injection of the serum allowing him to escape. Lex passes out.

In Lex's near death experience, there is a woman playing a piano by a fireplace. It turns out to be his mother. They talk about how she used to play all the time when Lex was young. She tells Lex he is dead and she reminds him of the last time, when he was shot during the 'Lexmas' episode and how she warned him to make a different choice, but he didn't. She warns him that he won't be the only one that suffers. She warns him that he will murder lots of people and she shows him his hand, that has a black glove on it. He is then brought back by Chloe, who had found Lex dead and injected him with the 'bring back' serum.

Lex is taken to the hospital just as Clark shows up. They talk about how they need to find Lana and why she has been attempting these near death experiences to talk with her parents. Chloe hacks into the college security system to try and locate Lana.

Lana breaks into a medical facility and finds some needles. Lance is there and fills a syringe with the serum and is about to inject Lana. Clark arrives throws Lance away. Lana says that she needs his help to get the serum. Lance comes up from behind and since the serum is kryptonite, Clark can't stop Lance from injecting him and Clark falls down "dead". Lana and Lance struggle and Lance ends up getting killed by falling on a saw. Lana grabs Clark, but he is already gone.

In Clark's near death experience he is in the Kent barn laying on the floor. He goes outside and sees Jonathan Kent. Jonathan comes into the barn and they embrace. Jonathan tells Clark he doesn't belong there and he needs to go back. Clark tells his father that it was his fault Jonathan died, and tells him about Jor-El's curse. Jonathan tells Clark that it wasn't his fault and that he was proud to die protecting Clark. Jonathan reveals that Lionel knows his secret. Jonathan tells Clark that he needs to keep everyone safe, that he is much more than a man, that he is a symbol of peace and justice. That now it is time for him to go and that he will always be there for him. Clark returns to life with Lana there.

Clark heads back home and finds Martha all dressed up for the dinner with the Governor. Martha realizes that something is wrong, but they can't talk as Lionel shows up to escort her.

At the Daily Planet, Chloe and Clark talk about the ship and Fine. Chloe says she will talk with her "source". Clark tells Chloe about his near death experience, and that Jonathan told him that Lionel knows his secret. Chloe reveals that her source is Lionel, and that he knew how to play her. Lionel appears to be playing all of them.

At the Luthor mansion, Lana shows up to talk with Lex. He is playing the piano. Lana apologizes to Lex, he accepts the apology. He talks about his near death experience and how he saw his mother. He lies to Lana and says that his mother is proud of the man he is becoming, Lana mistakenly agrees and Lana and Lex share a goofy smile.

At the dorm room, Lana is looking at old family pictures and Clark shows up to see how Lana is doing. Clark is worried that Lana was trying to hurt herself, and Lana explains she was doing it because she felt alone for so long. She wanted to feel her parents arms and warmth again. Lana says that she won't let herself be that dependent again.  Clark tells Lana that all he wants is for her to be happy, she tells him that she will be.

I believe this episode is meant to help Clark and Lana and the audience move on from the recent Clark and Lana breakup. It also reveals to Clark his destiny and how he needs to move forward with that and that Lionel Luthor needs to be stopped.

Smallville Season 5 Episode 13-Vengeance

After Jonathan Kent's untimely death, Clark Kent decides to drop out of Central Kansas to be able work on the farm and help Martha out at home. Things are understandably melancholic at the Kent Farm.  Martha tries to pass on Jonathan Kent's favorite watch to Clark, but he declines.  Martha takes Jonathan's clothes to a local mission for the homeless, at night no less, and is mugged by some thugs. One of them steals Jonathan's watch, and the other is set to kill Martha. However, a mysterious woman  in red with a black mask and cape shows up and beats up the thugs and chases off the one who stole the watch. The police begin to arrive and she disappears as mysteriously as she arrived. Martha notices her belt with a skull and two crossed swords for a buckle. At the Kent Farm, Lana Lang shows up to speak with Clark, but he is angry and blows her off. Martha arrives home and Clark sees her injuries. Martha tells Clark about the incident. Clark goes to The Daily Planet and speaks with Chloe who has some info on this Vigilante. Clark bumps into a pretty young reported who drops her papers and Clark helps her pick them up.

At the Talon, Lana is closing up and Lex stops by to apologize to her for the other night. They talk about Clark and how they need to be there for him, Lex reiterates that he is there for Lana if she ever needs him.

Back at the Daily Planet, Chloe is trying to come up with a new moniker for The Vigilante. She comes up with The Angel of Vengeance. Chloe is then threatened by The Vigilante to stop investigating her, and Clark tries to intervene, but is pushed away by The Vigilante and is shocked that she could manhandle him like that. The Vigilante escapes. Chloe and Clark come up with a plan to catch The Vigilante.

They go around town and Chloe pretends to be mugged while Clark pretends to mug here. Eventually she shows up and The Vigilante and Clark struggle and The Vigilante is unmasked, revealing her to be the woman from the Daily Planet with whom Clark collided with earlier in the episode. The Vigilante tries to escape by leaping to the top of a building, but finds Clark already there waiting for her.

Lex comes to meet with Lionel at his LuthorCorp office. They talk about finances and how his campaign compromised their finances. They try to outmanuever each other.

Back at the top of the building, The Vigilante and Clark talk about their abilities. The Vigilante was given a heart transplant from a girl who died in a meteor shower, this gave her these abilities. She also carries a Kryptonite rock as a keepsake. They discuss the loss of Clark's father and the missing watch. The Vigilante describes how she and her mother were mugged too, by the same gang no less, and she was stabbed in the heart which led her to needing the heart transplant. Her mother was killed in the attack. The Vigilante knows where to find the attackers and will take Clark there.

Martha shows up to The Daily Planet looking for Clark, she and Chloe talk about Clark feeling guilty and how he might be looking to take out his emotions on the attackers. Chloe and Martha have a moment about how they both know Clark's secret and take solace in their both knowing this.

The Vigilante and Clark approach the gang to try and find the attacker with the watch. He isn't there, but Clark steals a phone and they head back to The Planet. With Chloe they try to find out where the attacker is at. The Vigilante comes out of a phone booth located in The Planet ,changed out of her cape and mask. Clark remarks "Do you always change in phone booth?"  The Vigilante wears glasses to hide her secret identity and comments that she was impressed with Clark's moves and could use a sidekick. To which Clark responds, "I'm not a sidekick."  Chloe remarks that The Vigilante works there because there is nothing that happens in Metropolis without it going through The Daily Planet. They track down the attacker's address. Clark indicates that he will go and take care of the attacker. Chloe tells Clark that he is too close to this and it's not a good idea, to which Clark responds that he can use his abilities to stop people like this from hurting others. He takes off, while The Vigilante tells Chloe that she'll keep an eye on him.

Clark finds the attacker, Snake, and they fight, Clark tells him he wants his dad's watch back. Clark begins to choke him, The Vigilante shows up and tells Clark to kill him. Clark realizes what he 's doing and stops. The Vigilante pulls out the Kryptonite and gets Clark out of the way. The Vigilante, or Andrea-as her name is finally revealed, is going to kill Snake and he tells Andrea that he killed her mother because it was a hit job made to look like a mugging. The orders came from Lionel Luthor himself. Clark pleads with Andrea to not kill him that he isn't worth it. Andrea stabs the attacker anyway, killing him. She then leaves to go find Lionel.

Back at LuthorCorp, Lex and Lionel again meet at his office and they discuss their family skeletons. Lex reveals to Lionel that he knows that Lionel met with Jonathan shortly before he died, he threatens to tell Martha. Lex blackmails Lionel to quit the company.

Snake's friend shows up and finds Snake dead and Clark lying there still affected by the Kryptonite. The friend grabs Clark separating him from the Kryptonite and Clark breaks free from the attacker and heads off to LuthorCorp after Andrea.

At LuthorCorp, Andrea jumps through the window of Lionel's office and grabs him and tells him about her mother's death. She tells Lionel that he will pay, and starts to through him out the window. Clark shows up and they talk about not doing this. Clark tries to convince Andrea to not do it, but Andrea throws him out anyways. Using his super speed, he grabs Lionel before he can fall, but Andrea escapes in the meantime. Lionel thanks him for saving him.

Back at the Kent Farm, Martha is in the barn with Jonathan's coat and Lionel shows up to talk. Lionel admits that he knows that the Governor is offering Jonathan's seat to her, Martha tells Lionel that she hasn't even told Clark about that. Lionel tries to manipulate Martha into letting her trust him, by saying that she doesn't have to pay the campaign contributions that he gave her earlier. Lionel leaves saying that Martha can come to him for anything.

The next day at The Daily Planet, Clark shows up to find Andrea's desk clear and she was gone. Clark and Chloe talk about the previous night's struggle with how Clark wanted to kill Snake, but didn't due to his father's memory. They talk about how Metropolis needs someone like Clark right now. Chloe asks Clark if he could do something like that. Clark tells her that he wouldn't want to hide who he is.

Back at the Kent Farm, Clark walks into the barn finding his father's watch. Lana is there too and she had searched many pawn shops to find it. They talk about losing a parent and how hard it is. Clark goes back into the home and finds Martha watching old home movies of Jonathan and Clark riding a tractor. Martha sees that Clark is wearing his father's watch, they embrace and Clark has a good cry with his mother.

This episode was another well written and executed episode and was a great follow up to the previous episode. Following up such an emotional episode as the last, with Jonathan Kent's death, is a tough act to follow but they pulled it off very well with the right amount of closure for the Kent's and inserting another new storyline that plays off the heartache of the recent Kent tragedy. This episode helps Clark and Martha move forward with their lives instead of getting stuck in this recent emotional rollercoaster.

Smallville Season 5 Episode 12-Reckoning

Lana Lang and Clark Kent meet in the loft for a mystery date. Clark is nervous that he is losing Lana, he tells her that he should have shown her something a long time ago. He takes her to the caves, and to the secret room. He pulls out the key and inserts it into the table and they are transported to the Fortress of Solitude. Clark tells Lana he is from Krypton and she doesn't believe him. Clark takes her in his arms and jumps to the top of the Fortress.  She realizes how many times he has been there to save him. Then in one of the coolest proposal scenes ever, Clark then crushes a piece of coal into a diamond, sets it into a gold ring via his heat vision and the proposes to Lana. Back at the Kent Farm, Clark tells Martha and Jonathan that he has told Lana everything and then proposed to her. Clark mentions that he asked Lana to not respond yet and to thing about it. Clark and Jonathan have a man to man and Jonathan is proud of the man Clark has become and they hug.

Things are going too well in the episode and I'm wary that this is another dream episode or another alternate story that in the end everything goes back to normal.

At the Daily Planet, Clark and Chloe talk about how Clark has told Lana everything, and Chloe is happy.  At The Planet, weird things are happening, which tips me off that this isn't your normal story. Plus the soundtrack is too uppity and happy.

Lana and Clark meet at the Kent Farm and Lana accepts his proposal. Clark puts the ring on her finger and everything is awesome for them!

At the Talon campaign headquarters, Jonathan Kent appears to be winning the election and everyone is hugging. Lana breaks the news to the Kents and they are happy and hug. Just then Jonathan is announced as the winner. Lex calls Lana and she heads over to the mansion.

At the mansion, Lana and Lex talk about the election and how he lost. Lex expresses his feelings on how he wants to get out of his father's shadow. Lex is drunk and hurts Lana's feelings. Lex sees Lana's engagement ring and Lana breaks the news to him. Lex is bitter and tries to dissuade Lana by pointing out all the times Clark has lied to her. Lex realizes that Clark has told Lana the truth, he gets angry and Lana escapes the mansion. Lana calls Clark and Lex is driving real fast, Lana's car is hit by a bus and her car rolls. Clark rushes to the scene to help. Lex sees him. Lana is killed in the accident.

Clark goes to the Fortress of Solitude to plead with Jor-El for Lana's life. Jor-El reveals a way, but that the consequences are unpredictable. Clark is then taken back to the beginning of the episode where he and Lana talk about the mystery date. Clark decides to not tell Lana. Lana realizes that Clark is not telling her the truth. Lana tells Clark she can't do this anymore and wants a break from their relationship and walks out.

At the Daily Planet, Chloe and Clark talk about how he has come back in time. He points out the odd things that were happening in the beginning of the episode. He tells Chloe about how he told Lana and proposed. Chloe and Clark come up with a plan to keep an eye on Lana to make sure she is safe.

At the Talon, Jonathan Kent wins again, but this time, Lois Lane almost dies and Clark saves her from electrocution. Lana gets the call from Lex again.

However, Lana still ends up going to the mansion to talk with Lex, as he lost the election-again. Lex is drunk and Lana talks with him about she and Clark are no longer together. They've had their 'last' fight. She tells Lex that Clark would never let her in. Lex tells Lana how Clark will never trust her and puts the moves on her and kisses her. Lana leaves and again Lex goes after her in his car.

Chloe tells Clark that she can't find Lana and Clark rushes to the scene and stops the bus before it can hit Lana. Lana narrowly misses getting hit by the bus, but appears to see Clark stopping the bus. She is freaked out by the whole incident. Lex stops and tries to console Lana, but she leaves before anything happens. We see Jonathan driving home to meet with Lionel.

At the Kent Farm, Jonathan and Lionel have words and Lionel tries to blackmail Jonathan with a photo. Jonathan punches Lionel and  tells him to leave his family alone. Jonathan  starts feeling faint. He then collapses as Jonathan and Martha arrive home. Jonathan Kent dies in their arms.

The day of the funeral, Clark blames himself for his father's death. His mother consoles him and tells him that it isn't his fault. In this pivotal scene for the entire series, Martha tells Clark that he will be the man that Jonathan wants him to be.

Jonathan Kent is buried on a cold, snowy winter day. The visuals for this scene are perfect, the black suits and dresses contrasting with the white snow with large snowflakes falling all around them. Lana grabs Clarks hand for a moment, Chloe looks longingly back at Clark with Lex from afar watches the ceremony. Clark is left alone by the gravesite and drops a handful of dirt on the casket.

While I knew the upbeat and happy start to this episode was a setup, I didn't think this was going to be the ending. This episode ran the gamut of emotions from start to finish. While we all know Jonathan Kent dies from a heart attack in the story, I didn't think it was going to be at this point in the series. This episode did Jonathan Kent's character justice and provided a more than fitting end to his character arc in the series.

On a sidenote, in a deleted scene Clark brings Jonathan back to the Fortress of Solitude to plead with Jor-El to bring Jonathan back. There is no answer this time from Jor-El.