'Smallville' - 'Charade' Recap

(S09E18) With only four episodes remaining in the season, this felt like an episode that should have come a little earlier. But, it is what it is. I liked the non-linear storytelling aspect of it and almost wish they did an even less linear version of the story to keep it interesting. Now that it's very mature, 'Smallville' as a show is taking more chances.Another comic book creation, Maxwell Lord, made it to the show. His powers were slightly different than seen in other forms. In this case, he's more of a mind-reader than the mind controller he is in the comics. He's also has less hair on top.

Let's hear it for Blu Mankuma as the Daily Planet's new editor-in-chief Franklin Stein. He's world famous in Canada. I wondered what happened to him after 'Forever Knight.'

How can Tess still be CEO of LuthorCorp if she's on the run from the law? I know, it's 'Smallville' logic and one should not think too hard about. It's conceivable that Tess herself is the Red Queen. She only recently learned about the current version of Checkmate and the Red Queen only recently became a player in the game (and it's exactly the sort of game she would play). It's either her or Martha Kent (but that could be too much of a spoiler of episodes-to-come). Speaking of Martha, did you catch the picture of Jonathan Kent on the table? John Schneider should come back for a cameo. Yeah, he's dead but in a show about a super-powered alien, it's not inconceivable.

Chloe seems to be wearing green in honor of her boyfriend. And she's using a lot of Microsoft products (check out her cell phone and her use of Microsoft Surface). Who makes that tablet computer she uses around the Watchtower?

It must be a bit difficult for Lois to display journalistic professionalism against a man who tried to kill her. Shouldn't Mr. Stein have assigned someone else to the story? Of course, it doesn't matter anymore since neither of them work at the Daily Planet. Think that will last? Yeah. Me neither.

Lois is getting even more brunette as time passes. What's with the kid with the camera phone actually being able to take Lois in a fight? Didn't Lois go one-on-one with the athletic Tess Mercer at the end of last season? It must have been luck.

There was some nice progression in the Lois/Clark relationship with the confession about the Blur, as well as some nice storyline progression now that Clark knows that Zod was communicating with Lois. There are three more episodes to wrap that up.

I could have sworn I've seen that whole setup before with the chairs surrounding the central column. Was it the movie 'Alien' or perhaps 'The Matrix'? They must all share the same props.

It's a major revelation that Lois doesn't actually want to know the Blur's identity and a great idea for the character. In previous incarnations of Lois in various media, she just HAS to know who Superman is. Here, she understands why it's a better idea for her to not know. I hope they stick with that concept (although she'll probably just eventually find out anyway).

This was a good if not great episode and a good step towards the season finale. What are your thoughts?

[You can always relive the excitement with full episodes of 'Smallville' on SlashControl.]