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Smallville: Lara

by Kevin Kelly, posted Nov 2nd 2007 2:03PM

Smallville: Lara
(S07E06) Shades of Superman past! Kara getting sent off-world by her Dad Zor-El while Krypton starts to come apart around her? Egads. Plus all of that crystalline Kryptonian architecture that the Superman: The Movie provided us with. Then snap cut to Kara almost getting run down in the sky by a jetliner in a really nice special effects shot that probably blew their budget for a show to come later in the season featuring nothing but talking heads. Yes, this episode of Smallville begins with a bang.

However, that bang turned until a turning stomach once I had to witness that Lionel / Clark hug. Is it me or was that a pretty bizarre and awkward man-embrace? Clark's gone from hating to loving the Luthors more times than I can count, but hugging Lionel? I never thought I'd see the day.

While this episode was called "Lara", it could've been called "The Dysfunctional Kryptonian Family Power Hour". You've got Kara, still pissy and in no mood to deal with Clark. She sort of exhibits this by punching him into a steel door and flying off through a hole she smashes in the roof. Then you've got Clark's birth mother Lara (Helen Slater, the original Supergirl, FTW!) appearing via some 80s time-travel and "shared memory" experiences, Zor-El, the jealous uncle who has a crush on Clark's mom, and a few references to both Jor-El and Jonathan Kent. There's almost enough people for the whole gang to take a spin on The Family Feud.

In a medium-sized nutshell, here's what you've got going on. Kara has been dreaming about her Dad, and the crystal he gave her. She knows she's got to find it but oops, she wakes up in the path of that jet. The FAA files a report about it, and of course Chloe finds out, and Clark gets involved. In the meantime, Kara has been checking out the Department of Domestic Security and trying to find out where they've stashed the ship and the crystal. She tries seducing a poor geek, which gets her into the lab, but the crystal is nowhere to be found. Clark finds Kara, warns her to stop, and that's when she pops him in the gut. Ouch.

Kara doesn't listen, obviously, and she gets nabbed by the creepy government agent who's been dealing with Lex. He also just happens to have a pair of kryptonite handcuffs, and takes her to his secret lair, er ... lab, and starts extracting her memories. So that's how we find out about Lara, the the truth about Zor-El and Jor-El, and what the crystal actually contains ... some strands of Lara's DNA. Probably without a crisp candy coating.

Of course, let's not forget the subplots, which Smallville loves to treat us to. Lana has apparently been running a website and a clinic for "the meteor infected", which just seems a bit off the charts wacky for me. It seems like the writers don't really know what to do with her character anymore. She's turned from the darling of the show to the black sheep who shows up in the oddest places. Then you've got a sprinkling of more sparks between Jimmy and Kara, jealousy from Chloe, and more Lex & Lionel strife. So we're all status quo on that front. However, poor love-smitten Clarky gives Lana the crystal with Lara's DNA in it. Oh noes. The preview shows us what that's going to lead to. Good times for all when a superpowered Lana is tossed into the mix.

Should Smallville be done with Lana?
No, keep her around.51 (14.0%)
Yes, I'm done with her.214 (59.0%)
Let's see what happens this season.90 (24.8%)
Who?8 (2.2%)

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11 Comments

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Dr. Cosmos

Jason said they jumped the shark. However, in the superhero genre, the phrase would be: introduced the girl superhero. What happened to the Batman tv show when Batgirl came along? Cancellation city. How about when Batgirl was put into the movies? Flopperoo. How about when Supergirl was given a movie? People crushed while running for the exits. So now, Clark is no longer the sole survivor, the only spawn of Krypton, the isolated hero. Thanks, Smallville writers, for yanking away one of the most basic tenets of the Superman mythos. Of course, none of this rant is meant to disparage the actress who plays Kara, who is REALLY easy on the eye.

January 03 2008 at 10:43 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
seyibobo

the new supergirl is too soon coming into this season and it has to end this 7th season. clark is not ready to accept his destiny yet and he has to gain or find all of his powers like "flying" before any other supervillian can come in.

January 01 2008 at 12:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John

Huh? I thought this was a really strong episode.

I think you're reviewing just this single episode, rather than the context of the full season. It fits into the season really nicely.

I agree that Lana is annoying, but I actually think her plotline around trying to make amends for Lex is pretty powerful. Also, she's hiding lots of secrets from Clark - which is going to drive them apart. Nicely done, I thought.

November 02 2007 at 8:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Observer

Maybe with the writers on strike some of the know it alls on here can submit their own scripts for Smallville. Lana has almost become too dark for the show, we need the whole show to mature, Lex needs to be more evil, and Clarks enemies need to pose more of a challenge. Enough with all the kryptonite, it seems like everyone and their mother has a secret stash of the stuff, at what point does it start to run out?

November 02 2007 at 6:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mayorjimmy

ok is it just me or is the whole "clark no fly" thing getting annoying? it's no longer an effective "we're focused on clark not superman" it's reached the point of "we're going out of our way to keep him grounded" and it's just ticking off fans who watch for the superman part of the show instead of the crappy soap opera plots.

bottom line: ditch lana and let clark fly.

November 02 2007 at 6:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jason Blosser

Jumped. The. Shark.

November 02 2007 at 5:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kevin Kelly

Thanks Vince and Logan. I knew all these L-based names would get to me eventually.

November 02 2007 at 3:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Cole

The whole Lana character should just end already. She has no purpose and the fact that she's being shoe-horned into every episode in some forced way is just a gigantic speedbump to every story.

I know she has tons of appeal for people but with Chloe, Lois, Kara and whatever guest-chick-o-the-week then they can easily do without Lana. Heck, with Lana out then maybe Lex can finally focus on being a criminal mastermind and Clark can consider starting his journalism path at the tender age of... 27???

November 02 2007 at 3:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sam the Deaf

Should mention "Kal-El's mother" instead "Clark's mother" as we speak two different mother.

November 02 2007 at 3:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Logan

You wrote: "Lara getting sent off-world by her Dad Zor-El while Krypton starts to come apart around her?"

It was "Kara" who got sent off-world by Zor-El, not Lara. Lara is Clark's mother.

Great review, though:)

November 02 2007 at 2:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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