It's been a little while since I have taken the time to comment on a Smallville episode. Yes, the Tivo missed one and I made an urgent plea to TVgasm readers for help, which they obliged. The main problem though was that the WB has waited quite a long time to air new episodes after the new year. Although some people argue that my infatuation with Kristin Kreuk has clouded my objectivity, and although I might not love Smallville as much if the mannish-chinned Jennifer Garner was in the lead, I still think the formula works quite well. And since one of the admittedly many reasons TVgasm was launched was because I wanted to write about the show, I think everybody owes that fine ass of Kristin Kreuk at least a little bit of gratitude.
I have long lamented how the writers of The OC really have no grasp on how long or short story arcs should be, although since I am only a viewer, maybe I'm the one full of shit. Still, when I see how the writers of Smallville are able to juggle between full season and three or four episode story lines with ease, not to mention bringing back interesting characters at what always seems like a good time, perhaps I am only half full.
As we open the episode, Clark is studying at the Talon. As the star quarterback on a team that won the state championship, Clark not only won himself a scholarship, but also the sudden onset adoration of his classmates, including many that have never seen the school newspaper. So it is only natural to think that when Clark is invited by two hotties to a party and they make special mention of the hot tub that will be at the party, he will be more than happy to oblige them with his super self. (Oh look, more than 5 people in the high school have speaking parts. I hope The OC writers are learning.) But this is Clark Kent, and he is forever to be tortured by love he may never be able to fully experience. As he explains to his mom later, he is interested in other girls, but he doesn't want to get to know them only to be forced to lie to them about his secret. Well, he could have sex with them and then sneak out the next morning, but I guess he'll have to wait until college to try that out. Like he said "A girl must be crazy to go out with me." Oh, now that's a GREAT setup for a segue.
It just so happens that there was one girl that was very crazy and very much into Clark. Her name was Alicia, and for those of you who don't remember, or are just humoring me by reading this article, she not only learned of Clark and his abilities, but had some abilities of her own in the form a nifty little teleporting trick. Alicia (played by Sarah Carter, who makes me rethink my Erica Durance crush) is hot and Clark actually seemed to enjoy spending time with her, that is at least until she became a little too obsessed with having Clark all to herself, to the point where she tried to kill any competition, including Lana.
Alicia was sent to the crazy house, but through the miracles of modern medicine, was completely cured. Her doctors even developed an arm band that would prevent her using her teleporting ability. After her release, she immediately goes to see Clark and apologizes. Now even though we all have a feeling that this is going to turn into some crazy fatal attraction, you can see the kind of attraction Clark and Alicia have for each other. She went as far to say that knowing Clark was on the outside and had feelings for her was one of the things that gave her the strength to get better ("In my darkest moment, you gave me hope"). For Clark, he was impressed that there was one person on this earth that not only knew what it was like to be different from everybody else, but knew about his secret, and didn't reveal it for any reason.
Now Clark's parents aren't so sure that she is cured, and Clark wants to make sure that everything is on the up and up, so he asks Chloe to do a little investigation for him. After hacking into the computer of the mental facility that had stored Alicia, she learns that the she didn't escape, and that her doctors really did believe she was cured.
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Comments (6)
Did anyone else find it the least bit disturbing that they were putting lead into Alicia's bloodstream to keep her grounded? Doesn't that make people go crazy?
1 of 6 | Posted by R.B. Boyer | Posted on January 31, 2005 4:56 AM
Great recap J-Unit, I was hoping someone would recap this ep. Did anyone else find the previews to be annoyingly manipulatively false? In the previews they talked about Clark getting married, cut to Lana saying "look me in the eye and tell me you don't love me", cut to Clark looking sheepish.
But in the episode - Lana was speaking to Jason not Clark. UGH
They seem to do that every week - airing very deceptive previews that suck you in. I like the show but the previews are growing irksome.
2 of 6 | Posted by TinkerbellAPixie | Posted on January 31, 2005 4:57 AM
It is a comic book setting. Alicia being a freak nullifies lead poisoning.
I stopped watching "90210" in '91 because of misleading promos. If Emily Valentine sets a float on fire and the teaser implies Brandon or Dylan dies, Brandon or Dylan better die.
Very funny recap, B-Side. I just don't understand what Martha was on about. It was the Red Kryptonite. He couldn't help it.
3 of 6 | Posted by Lady J | Posted on January 31, 2005 4:14 PM
Why thank you. However, I did not write this.
4 of 6 | Posted by B-Side | Posted on January 31, 2005 4:30 PM
Eh, you all look alike to me.
5 of 6 | Posted by Lady J | Posted on February 1, 2005 12:29 PM
Wow, if I am indistinguishable from B-side, I *really* need to get out in the sun some more. Maybe I'll try some Mystic tan.
6 of 6 | Posted by J-unit | Posted on February 1, 2005 1:28 PM