Smallville Season 7 Episode 14-Traveler

In Traveler we learn more about the mythology of Smallville and the mystery of how Lionel Luthor is so entrenched in helping Clark Kent. We find out that Virgil Swan, Lionel Luthor and the Queens, along with a fourth family - the Teague's, have known about 'The Traveler' for some time. That the Traveler arrived on Earth during the first meteor shower. At the time they didn't know who that was, but eventually Lionel figured it out. He had the other patriarch's killed. We get to see more of the motivation of Lionel Luthor. This episode came up with a great way to neutralize Clark Kent, with kryptonite tasers and a kryptonite cage. With Clark captured, it was great to see Chloe Sullivan and Lana Lang work together to first free Kara Kent from the evil clutches of Lex Luthor, and then help Clark escape. If they have a common goal, Lana and Chloe work great together and it's fun to watch. We also see Chloe declare her love for Clark, not in his presence though, while it didn't come across as romantic love, more like true love for another human being. I still think that Chloe and Clark should end up together and scenes like that only reinforce that idea for me.

FULL REVIEW:

In Metropolis at LuthorCorp, Lionel Luthor is working late and is brought a note from a security guard, who indicates that he has recieved another one. He opens the envelope and he is distraught.

At night in the Kent barn, Clark goes up to his loft and retrieves the key to the portal to the Fortress. In the background we see someone sneaking around in the shadows. Clark is tased with a kryptonite taser by multiple military personnel who capture him and knock him out.

Lana Lang and Chloe Sullivan go into the barn and see the mess left by the kidnapping. Lana tells Chloe that Clark was going to the Fortress. Chloe finds the book with the hidden key and they realize he never made it to the Fortress. They discover a kryptonite taser left from the kidnapping and give each other a worried look.

We see Clark in a cage that has kryptonite infused bars. The leader of the kidnappers is in a booth and pulls a lever which increases the level of kryptonite in the bars. Clark tries to escape and it is again increased. The kidnapper warns him not to try and escape or he will continue to amp up the levels, possibly killing him.

Lionel Luthor meets with Patricia Swan, the daughter of Virgil Swan. Lionel reveals that Patricia and Lex used to play together as children. Patricia has inherited Virgil's Estate, money and research. Virgil was obsessed with a Traveler who came to Earth in a meteor shower and lived in Smallville. Patricia begins to tell a story of how four powerful families would gather every summer, the Swan's, the Queen's, the Teague's and the Luthor's. They formed a secret group called Veritas. Lionel calls it their astronomy club and minimizes the group. Patricia points out that all the other patriarchs are dead, and accuses Lionel of murdering them. She points out that she has proof that he murdered them. She tells him to turn over the Traveler now, Lionel refuses and tells her that she is in over her head.

At the Luthor mansion, Kara is reviewing documents and pictures of her in her alleged High School. Lex walks in and she tells him that is enjoying living there. Lex tries to convince her to undergo the tests to help her get her memory back. He urges her to trust him as he wants whats best for her. She agrees and Lex tells her that he will get things going. Lex leaves and meets with his assistant, who is watching Kara via video cameras. Lex tells her to ready the lab for tomorrow and that if she shows any signs of getting her memory back, to lock down the mansion.

Clark is still in a cage and the kidnapper is cruelly torturing Clark by increasing the krypton levels. In walks Lionel Luthor who is behind the kidnapping and tells the kidnapper to stop being cruel to Clark.

Back at LuthorCorp, Lionel is on the phone when Lana and Chloe walk in. He tells them that he is having his people look for Clark, he will let them know if he finds anything. They show Lionel the kryptonite electrode from the taser. He tries to pin the blame on Kara and Lex. He tells them that he wants Clark back safely as much as they do.

The next day, at the Daily Planet, Lana and Chloe are doing some research and discover that Lionel built a secret lab the same time he discovered Clark's secret, and that according to power records the lab was turned on last night. They conclude that Lionel is holding Clark captive in a secure facility. They realize that they need Kara's help, but that they will have to help her get her memory back. Chloe can take her to the Fortress if Lana will get her out of the mansion. Lana is aware of some secret passages that she can use to get Kara out.

At the mansion, Patricia Swan is visiting Lex and they talk about old times and catch up on what they are doing now. Patricia is wearing a locket that her father gave her when he passed away. Patricia gives Lex a painting that he drew when he was a child. It is in an insignia of the Veritas group. Lex doesn't remember much, and Patricia doesn't know too much, but Lionel is the last surviving member and he would probably know.

Lex visits Lionel and shows him the painting and that it is the symbol of Veritas. Lex wants to know about Veritas, but Lionel minimizes the importance. Lex tells Lionel he will go to Patricia and seek answers about Veritas and leaves the office. Lionel immediately calls Patricia and tells her that he is ready to make a deal.

Lana and Chloe are preparing to go rescue Kara. At the mansion, the security video feed is cut. Lana and Chloe enter Kara's room and convince her to go with them. By the time the security guards arrive, Kara is gone.

At the secure lab where Clark is being held captive, the kidnapper is talking about how he has hunted down a lot of meteor freaks. He used to be head of security in 33.1.

At the fortress, Chloe and Kara are looking for Jor-El. Chloe tells Jor-El about how Clark is in trouble and that he needs his help. A bright light appears and surrounds Kara and her memory is returned. Chloe tells Kara that they need to save Clark.

At the lab, Lionel meets with Patricia and she turns over the evidence of the murders. She asks to see the Traveler and sees him in a cage. She is saddened that he is in a cage. She wants to see him face to face to verify that he is the Traveler. The kidnapper knocks Patricia out from behind. Lionel takes the evidence and tells the kidnapper, Pierce, to put Patricia on a plane back to Europe and then take Clark back to his home and release him. Pierce pulls a gun on Lionel and tells him that he can't do that. The safety of the world is at stake and he won't release the meteor freak. Pierce tells Lionel that he is going to terminate Clark, and then knocks out Lionel. He turns up the power of the Kryptonite to it's full power and Clark is about to die. All of a sudden Kara bursts in and destroys the cage and frees Clark. Pierce is about to taser Clark and Kara when Lionel pushes Pierce and he falls on some wreckage, impaling himself.

At the Kent farm, Patricia is being cared for Clark. She knows who he is and gives Clark Virgil Swan's diary. Clark opens the diary revealing that it is full of kryptonian symbols and notes. In the diary, Clark reads a 'prophecy' that the Traveler will bring great change to the Earth. Patricia tells Clark about Lionel's treachery of murdering the other's in Veritas. She warns Clark of Lionel's evil intentions and his manipulations. Patricia tells Clark that she is willing to help him and will be moving to Metropolis so she can see the Traveler change the world.

At LuthorCorp, Lionel is in his office and Clark arrives. Lionel admits that he locked him in the cage, but it was to protect him. Lionel tells Clark that he was getting these letters that someone was after him. Lionel tells him that he built that cell for the other Kryptonians that have come to Earth. Clark tells him that he has spoken with Patricia and he knows about the murders. Lionel tells Clark that he has changed and he is a different man now. Clark responds, "No, you're not." and walks out.

Clark is rebuilding the parts of the barn that were damaged when he was kidnapped. Kara walks in and asks if he needs any help. Clark says that he doesn't and pulls out Kara's bracelet and gives it to her. He thanks her for saving his life, Kara tells him that Chloe and Lana helped her. They talk about how they have both been fooled by the Luthor's and that they only do what's right as long as it benefits them. Clark tells her that he wants to see the good in people, but he thinks that the Luthor's are a lost cause.

Patricia is heading into Metropolis in her Mercedes and it stops on a bridge. Her driver gets out and she asks him why they stopped. He shoots her, killing her. We then see Lex polishing the blood off of Patricia's swan necklace.

In some deleted scenes, we see how Lana and Chloe enlist Jimmy Olsen into helping Kara escape the mansion by disarming the security so they can cut the power. Once inside the mansion, Jimmy meets up with Kara and they talk about how they used to hang out. Jimmy tells Kara that she shouldn't trust Lex and that he is probably watching her 24/7. This puts some doubt in her mind and leads to her going with Chloe and Lana so quickly. Jimmy's mission is a success and he lets Lana and Chloe know so they can now cut the power.

Smallville Season 5 Episode 22-Vessel

Clark is working in the barn and a mysterious wind and reflecting light appears. At the Luthor mansion, Lex Luthor and Lana Lang are sleeping on the couch together and Lex starts acting strange and has a pain in his head. He takes off in his car driving fast with Lana following him. Lex pulls over by a field and starts running through the field with Lana chasing him. He comes out into an open area and the pain subsides, he warns Lana to stay away. The ground starts erupting at his feet all around him. Just then a shadow falls over Lex and Fine appears next to Lana. Just then a beam of light comes down from a spaceship and takes Lex up into it. The ship leaves a kryptonian symbol on the ground and disappears. At the Kent Farm, Lois is on the phone with an airline company trying to get a flight for her and Martha to go to Washington. Lionel comes by and offers to take them in the LuthorCorp jet. She declines and Lionel starts complimenting Martha on her rare qualities and is quite close to her.

Lana visits Chloe at The Daily Planet and she tells Chloe about Lex being abducted by the black spaceship. Fine was there and Lana blames herself for getting Lex involved. She is worried that Lex is dead.

Chloe visits Clark at the barn and tells him about Lex's abduction. Clark is thinking that Zod is using Lex to get himself free. Clark tells Chloe that he needs to go talk with Jor-El about this. He goes to the Fortress of Solitude. Clark talks with Jor-El about how Fine is back and how they can stop him. Jor-El tells Clark that the ship and Fine are preparing for Zod to come back. Zod is imprisoned in the Phantom Zone and that he killed him and his mother. Zod's physical body was destroyed, but when Zod is released he will need a new physical body. Jor-El gives Clark a kryptonian knife to kill Zod's human form when he returns, whomever Zod inhabits.

At The Planet, Clark has returned and is talking with Chloe about having to kill Zod. They don't know who it will be, but that it might be why Lex was captured so Zod can inhabit his body. Clark then states that if it is him, he will have to kill Lex. Lana overhears the last statement of how Clark has to kill Lex from the doorway.

At the Kent Farm, Clark pulls out the knife from where it is hidden. Lionel walks in an sees him with it. Lionel asks what Jor-El wants him to do with the dagger. Lionel brings another paper with kryptonian symbols, Clark translates it as "Sacrifice The Vessel". Lionel wants to help him, but Clark tells Lionel about he will have to kill the vessel. Zod will inhabit a vessel that Clark will have to kill. Clark says that he can't kill anyone. Lionel tells Clark that the true test of a hero is that he might have to kill one to save many. Clark says that even if it is your own son? He tells Lionel that Lex was abducted this morning at the field. Lionel goes to the field and Lex is back. Lionel and Lex talk about Lex has made a deal with the devil and he always comes to collect. Lionel grabs Lex by the shoulder and Lex throws him 100 yards away. Lex now has super powers. Lex runs off back to the mansion.

Lana is there and she is glad to see Lex. Lex tells Lana that he is okay and that he has been given a gift. He pulls out a gun and shoots his hand to demonstrate, he catches the bullet. Lana is amazed that he isn't scratched. Lex tells her that she needs to tell the truth about him. He has their abilities but he isn't one of them. Lex tells her that he couldn't keep something like this from the person he cares about the most. Lana then tells him that she overheard Clark and Chloe talking and that Clark is going to try and kill him. Lex believes that it is his father's fault for infecting him with fear. Lex tells her that he has to go somewhere, Lana wants to go, but he tells her no. Lex tells Lana to meet her at the top of LuthorCorp Plaza tonight.

Lionel is at the hospital and Clark comes in and Lionel tells Clark that he found Lex and that he has changed. Lex now has powers like him and that he is dangerous. Lionel believes that Lex was chosen by Zod because of the darkness in him. Lionel warns Clark that Lana is in danger too.

On the LuthorCorp plane, Martha and Lois board and find a bottle of wine and a card from Lionel. Martha states that she isn't interested in a relationship with Lionel. Lois doesn't believe her.

At the Luthor mansion, Clark comes looking for Lex. Lana is there and they talk about how Lex is in trouble. Lana doesn't believe him and won't tell him. Lana asks Clark to tell him what is happening to Lex, Clark doesn't answer and Lana tells Clark that she can't believe she ever loved him and then walks out. Fine appears behind Clark and tells him that if he would have told her the truth about him, then Clark would have her allegiance. Clark then punches Fine, and Fine tells Clark that he was supposed to be the vessel and release Zod the first time. Clark tells him that he will never release Zod. Fine tells him that he will use Clark's weakness of caring for humans to manipulate him. He then uses a computer program to shut down all the power.

At The Planet, Clark finds Chloe and they talk about how the computer virus is shutting everything down. Havoc and panic are occurring throughout Metropolis. All of a sudden, a car comes through the window and Clark saves Chloe. They talk about how now the only option is to kill the vessel of Zod. Clark goes to leave, and Chloe says that she doesn't know if she will ever see him again. Chloe gives him a passionate kiss. Just then a phone rings and Clark answers it. It is Lex, who says that he heard Clark was looking for him.

On the LuthorCorp jet, Martha and Lois start talking about how it sure is taking them awhile to get to Washington. They look out the window and see they are not anywhere near the East Coast, as there are snow covered mountains below them.

Clark goes back to the Kent farm and is in the barn when Lex walks in. Lex asks Clark if has decided to kill him. Clark tells him that Lex did this to himself. Lex confronts Clark how he used to think that Clark was so virtuous, but realizes that Clark lies to everyone he cares about. Lex tries to throw Clark, but Clark throws him. They fight and Clark pulls out the knife to kill Lex, but can't do it. Fine appears and encourages Clark to kill Lex. Clark instead kills Fine with the knife. A red beam shoots out from The Fortress and Zod is released into Lex's body. Zod's confronts Clark and tells him Lex is dead. Zod tells Clark that Jor-El banished him to an eternal hell and that the only survivor is Kal-El. Clark tells him that it is between them and no one else. Zod tells Clark that he needs to join him and Clark says that he will never join him. Zod then is able to imprison him in the Phantom Zone.

In the LuthorCorp jet, Lois and Martha are running out of oxygen. Martha passes out and Lois is able to pry open the oxygen masks, but passes out before she can put them on.

News clips from all around the US are shown of people rioting and looting. In Metropolis, Chloe is stuck in the middle of a riot. Lionel shows up in his limo and Chloe gets in, but they are pulled out and assaulted. Lana is also in the middle of Metropolis heading for the top of LuthorCorp. She manages to arrive and finds Lex there. Lana tells Lex that she is there for him and wants to find out where this will take there relationship. They kiss and the camera pans to Metropolis and then the US and then the world and how it is in chaos. Tjhe camera pans to space and we see Clark trapped in the Phantom Zone flying away from Earth.

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.