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Smallville: Power
by Brad Trechak, posted Jan 30th 2009 3:00AM
(S08E13) Consider that she's a recurring guest-star, a Lana-centric episode was something of a surprise. However, since she and Clark have a lot of history, it's also a necessity in order for Clark to move on.I didn't like this episode. The writing seemed more cliché and the acting more melodramatic than usual (and that's saying a lot), and the pacing of the direction seemed off. I will give Allison Mack the benefit of the doubt because it was her first time as a director (and she's just so darned cute).
The backstory was okay. I was even a little jealous because in the beginning of the show, I always fantasized about torturing the ever-whiny Lana. Okay, maybe not actually torture her, but I still found her annoying. Even worse, Kristen Kreuk's performance in this episode sort of reminded me of early Lana.
I wonder how Lana paid the guy that tortured her in order to teach her to be tough? Did she still have some of Lex's money or did she trade in, ahem, other assets?
At first I thought the flashback between Chloe and Lana broke continuity since Chloe was surprised to see her at the wedding. But when I learned she agreed not to tell Clark about it, I realized it didn't.
The beginning of the episode was very Star Trek. I presume the "suit" Lana is wearing is a dermal layer of skin based on Clark's DNA which somehow replicates his powers. My guess for the next episode is that she is either going to lose her powers, die or both. It's likely that Lex allowed her access to the Prometheus project in the first place to use her as a human guinea pig.
The following contains spoilers for next week based on the trailer, but that's pretty brilliant how they returned Lex Luthor without having Michael Rosenbaum return. They give him a mask and a voice modulator. Eventually, they could even replace Luthor with an entirely different actor (something I recall the producers were planning for all the actors at the end of season three when everyone's contract was up for renewal).
With everything else happening, where the hell is Doomsday? I haven't seen him for weeks. Maybe he'll end up killing the super-powered Lana. That would be an interesting twist on the legend.
If Lana ever decides to give up her philanthropy, she should become a hairstylist. She can work wonders with simply a razor blade.
There were some positive points to the episode: I liked how the writing fooled you into thinking it was yet another "Lana in danger" plot (even though she was at the end), however it turned out she left willingly.
Tess is going full-blown evil in the episode and murdering (or attempting to murder) everyone in sight. In fighting Lex, she's become as bad as him. Let that be a lesson to us all.
Speaking of corny dialogue, at the episode's end I was practically expecting Lana to break out into the song "No Day But Today" from the musical Rent.
The verdict? Mostly a bad episode with one or two highlights. Next week: Lex returns.
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