Smallville Review: "Isis"
If not for that final scene, I would think "Isis" was an episode better left entombed inside the dank nether regions of the Warner Bros. archives, wedged somewhere between the Aquaman pilot and the unsold cases of Birds of Prey DVDs.
Oliver, an even bigger celebrity now that he's gone hood-free, was slightly less mopey over Chloe this week, and he did share some rather nice scenes with Tess, so there was at least that. For Tess, it turned out to be her lucky day since she essentially became both a mother (to the rapidly aging Alexander) and a semi-trusted member of Oliver and his band of merry vigilantes. It was actually kind of nice to see the emotion overshadow the menace coming from Tess for a change.
The Nancy Drew-meets-Dora The Explorer nuisance that is Kat Grant reappeared and continued her assault on my senses like nails on a chalkboard, but thankfully for her was not the most exasperating part of the episode. No, that honor stands reserved especially for the A-plot.
It incenses me that after such a super kickstart to the final season, especially the gem we had last week with "Homecoming," Smallville decided to go and suffer an identity crisis, apparently confusing itself with the occult-themed show it precedes - and not for the first time, either. Let's take a look back, shall we?
In the season four episode "Spell," Lois was "possessed" by a 17th Century witch. Later that same year, in "Spirit," Lois gets overtaken by the spirit of a girl who died in a car accident. She was also inhabited by the Kryptonian wraith, Faora, in season eight's "Bloodline," and of course who can forget the Silver Banshee occupying Lois's body in season nine's "Escape." And now Isis uses Lois as a vessel to try and rekindle a centuries old romance?
Lois has had her body inhabited so many times, she might consider changing her name to Marriott.
This doesn't even include the number of times that Chloe, Lana, Lex and other characters have been the target of a similar type of supernatural acquisition. Just because you've been on TV for 10 years doesn't give you a license to keep pumping a stale old well you've visited already too many times before.
Maybe I'm dense, but I also don't get how the story of Isis and her ill-fated lover relates to Clark's relationship with Lois, but it sure felt like there was some attempt at a parallel being made there. It didn't register with me, but perhaps because I was distracted by the umpteenth rehash of such a mortifyingly overused plot device.
Whatever the intent, Lois and her near fatal turn as the Egyptian goddess was used as some sort of springboard to Clark revealing to her his identity as The Blur, which he already seemed primed to do before Lois started walking like an Egyptian. (I'm sorry, I just couldn't help it.)
The scene between Lois and Clark at the end seemed completely out of tune with the rest of the episode, but in a wonderfully welcome way. It was sweet, romantic and poetic, and I'd almost swear that Erica Durance was holding her breath through Clark's entire speech. It was a stupendous, monumental exchange that was, quite simply, perfect. Having Lois so characteristically tackle Clark into the boxes of files while paper fluttered around them and ask him "What took you so long?" was like icing on a cake.
What a shame, though, that such a climactic moment had to take place within an ultimately trite and otherwise forgettable episode.
Jeffrey Kirkpatrick is a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow him on Twitter.
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Rank: New User
October 25th, 2010 6:20 PM
This creates another Henry Jimmy, because know the Lex we knew is not the one that becomes Superman's ultimate nemesis.
October 25th, 2010 11:06 AM
I'm a latecomer to the show so maye others have sen it all before but I was entertained by the show. Let's face it, I'd rather it NOT just be a "realistic" drama & the sci-fi-ish elements add some nedded spice for me. The look, drama & even the soundtrack are so compelling, I'd pay to see the show on a movie theatre screen!
I've never seen Lois like that so it was novel for me & seemed pertinent since she is (nearly) exposed as a perason with super powers at the same time she is trying to get Clark to reveal/commit himself to their relationship. Since Chloe (supposedly) died protecting Green Arrow's secret it IS a big deal whether Clark lets her in on his secret identity or not-his not telling her isn't just a cheap way to milk the suspense for episode after episode. I liked the drama with Tess and her emotional reaction at the end. I see the episode as being about characters who have been hurt in love/trust & their trying to fight their way out of painful isolation a
October 23rd, 2010 10:00 PM
Well, is a other show to watch : Lois in a sexy costume, no ?
Anyway Erica was very pretty in the episode, and, yes, the end justified the meaning !
Rank: Extra
October 23rd, 2010 1:59 PM
The firs few paragraphs were pretty much our twitter conversation last night lol. I think there were key moments in the development between Oliver, Clark, Tess and Alexander last night that will mold the remaining episodes. It was needed. The final scene also needed so that we can now finally stop the Clark woo is me pritecting the world droopy dog act. Although my problem with it is that Clark has scene the future before and reacted out of emotion to it which led to disaster for him so why does he think this five minutes peek would be any different. I know they need to make the Lois and Clark relationship happened but they should have done it a different way. I also agree that the Isis storyline was bad. Its a Captain Marvel storyline to begin with. I know there has been a lot of DC character cross over but this was a bad choice. Then being reminded of how many times they made this same story really made me angry. So I have mixed emotions, 15-20 minutes I thought were really g
October 23rd, 2010 10:49 AM
I think the ending made up for the rest of the episode :)
Also, all spammers should be drawn and quartered!
October 23rd, 2010 9:22 AM
I still freaking loved the end and can't wait to see what happened next. But im very intelligent and still i dont get what the whole ISIS theme was about...made no sense. I love this , So does My boyfriend .he is almost 11year older than me .i met him via agegap love ``.c`o`m` a nice place for seeking age le ss love.which gives you a chance to make your life better and open opportunities for you to meet the attractive young girls and treat you like a king. Maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends.. Just love it...
Rank: New User
October 23rd, 2010 3:11 AM
God ur so right....i was late to get hooked to smallville so when i first started watching smallville got me really hooked on clark and lana. They had so many emotional moments that i actually wish that clark and lana ended up together. But then they finally got rid of lana, which was so freakin sad and wanted to bring lois to the forefront. I feel like lois and clark's relationship always gets messed with. Like was i screaming like a girl at the end of this episode? u bet i was. I've been waiting for this forever...and im waiting for him to put on the freakin cape already. But when i reflect, i realize that i still think it could have been better....i feel like lana and clark still had better emotional moments with better music in the background. SO even though i loved it, im still left wanting a little more from the producers. But whatever, im not complaining. I still freaking loved the end and can't wait to see what happened next. But im very intelligent and still i dont ge
October 23rd, 2010 1:47 AM
I totally agree with you about everything.