Bloodlines- Kryptonian Ties Redux

BLOODLINE S8 Episode 8 Review by Baudyhallee Mod, OSCK

Written by Caroline Dries and directed by Michael Rohl. He’s also directed: FANATIC, HYPNOTIC, ARROW, TRESPASS, BIZARRO, HERO (aka Stride, poor Pete!), and PREY.

Again, a previously on Smallville starts this episode. Kara and Clark are glad to be in each others’ lives. Clark confronting Brainiac on Kara’s whereabouts and we then see her in the Phantom Zone. Davis talking about having things just below the surface. Brainiac lancing Chloe’s brain. Chloe telling Clark that it’s her life and she’s choosing to see her turbo intellect as a gift. The indigo crystal with the lightning bolts that was taken by red X. Tess telling Chloe she’s on a mission to find the missing crystal. Clark in the PZ from season 6 opener, ZOD, showing how he was attacked by phantoms while he was powerless.

The quiet solitude of the Kent farm. Clark is coming down the steps adjusting his red jacket as someone is knocking on the door. Who always knocks – Lois. She has her arms full of boxes and Clark takes one from her. She tells him to be careful with her albums that she has had since she was ten. “What could I possibly want with your Def Leppard anthology?” Yes, Lois has vinyl and it looks like the ‘High and Dry’ album which includes Lady Strange. Kind of describes ‘her’ behavior tonight. She tells Clark she is taking him up on his offer (INSTINCT). “Just like old times. You. me. Guitar Hero weekends.” ‘Old times’ sounds reminiscent of PROTOTYPE, said by Clark when he was trying to protect Lois from Project Ares’ Wes Keenan. “I’m moving in!” Clark looks shocked and is a bit gobsmacked. “Uh, . . . you didn’t like it here, remember? The rooster woke you up every morning.” She smiles at him. “But at least the rooster only crows once. You try sharing walls with pre-wedding Chloe and Jimmy.” Cock-a-doodle-do. She starts digging into the refrigerator. “I didn’t need to know that,” says Clark as Lois lets out a little chuckle.
“Do you think it’s a good idea if we live and work together?” She’s got the milk, cereal box and bowl out. “Carpooler’s dream. C’mon what’s the worst thing that could happen? I see you in your Snoopy boxers?” She does a quick once over of Clark and digs a box out of one of her boxes. She found it on the door step. “Guess Ma Kent is still going to make you care packages. I think she put lead in the cookies,” she says as she tosses it (not taped shut) to Clark, who notices there is no return address. (someone call Homeland Security!) “That’s weird.” He pulls out a grey pleather box and opens it in front of Lois. It’s the indigo crystal. “What’s with the funky paper weight?” quips Lois. “I’m not sure,” says Clark. And he sincerely looks confused by it – not panic stricken, but as if he has never seen it before (which he told Tess in INSTINCT). His Fortress of Solitude crystal was clear and multifaceted. This crystal is blue and one side is flat. Who’s been at the FOS and would know about crystals and such? Brainiac? It has to be the work of a Kryptonian of some kind.

Clark takes it out of the box in front of Lois and it lights up. “At least it came with batteries.” He turns and stares at it as it brightens. The house starts shaking. “Lois, get away. Run. Now!” She never listens to him when he says that. Hehehe “Smallville, just drop it,” as she makes a grab for it in his extended arm. There’s a bright light. Lois’ head is next to Clark’s and then the twirling album cover breaks out a window and flies upwards, revealing Clark and Lois are now in the Phantom Zone. (After several decades, that is still the greatest special effect ever! Did my fangirl heart good. Smile.)

Credits roll. First off, Lois is moving in with Clark now? She’s comfortable enough with her feelings for him – but is totally uncomfortable listening to Chloe and Jimmy making scary wild monkey sex sounds. Yea, too much info. Clark doesn’t carpool. He jets to work in seconds. How does he explain that? Clark playing with the crystal like it’s an oddity and he wasn’t sure what it would do. Still, in front of Lois. He must trust her. Notice Lois refers to Clark and herself as separate entities – more about that later. A Mrs. K reference – that deserves a ‘hell yea!’ Lead in the cookies – get it? (Question: if kryptonite in his system highly affects Clark, does lead in his system protect him from kryptonite or does he suffer lead poisoning like the rest of us?)

Kent Farm. Chloe enters carrying a box of Lois’ stuff – looks like a lava lamp and drumsticks. She’s complaining they are moving stuff that Lois never uses. Is Lois using the farm for storage? Chloe notices the broken window. Flat blue crystal on the floor amongst glass shards. She picks it up, looks at it (no recognition), puts it in her purse and zips it while staring at the window. “Not exactly the bachelor pad I had imagined,” says Tess ominously behind her. So Tess, like Lex, can move without being heard in the middle of the Kent house. Yea, I bought that. NOT! It’s another pissing contest. Rolling eyes. “What’s with the broken glass?” Now if Chloe was real, she’d tell her it’s none of her damn business, but we have to have this scene for some reason. Tess asks if everything is okay – and turbo intellect comes up with, “Everything but the bird that flew in through the window.” Breaking out and breaking in leave different debris patterns. Tess pretty much exposes Chloe’s lameness. “It was a large bird. In fact, Lois and Clark are out buying a new pane as we speak.” Okay, stating LnC as a unit makes me forgive a little, but not much. “Where’s the crystal?” says Tess. (This chick has a one track mind.) Chloe denies with a smile and some ‘witty’ repartee, kinda. “My frequency generator recorded an energy surge about two inches from where you’re standing,” states Tess. So does she have that thing in her car? Does she superspeed, too? Chloe tries to show Tess her faulty logic by revealing she knows the crystal is a supercomputer. Rolling eyes.

Frequency generator. Really? Doctor Who fans have sonic screwdrivers and ‘reversing the polarity of the neutron flow’ while Buckaroo Banzai fans have a watermelon and an oscillating overthruster – which sounds like a good Lois nickname for Clark. Hehehe Smallville fans get spinning kitchen racks called a frequency generator. Yea. I’m enthralled.
“Look at you. So eager to cover his tracks,” says Tess in that malevolent way of hers. “Blind loyalty can be dangerous, Chloe.” And Tess ought to know as Chloe eagerly points out. Lex much?

THE PHANTOM ZONE!!! Clark awakes alone with blood on his forehead and feeling the dry dirt of the PZ. Lots of wind, sand and bleakness for these scenes. Great job! There’s a blood red lake. Oooo, that’s cool! Clark gets to his feet and struggles to climb a small hill. Butt shot! Looks like some standing stones at the top. He looks out across a valley and sees Lois lying face down. “Lois.” He runs to her grabbing the side of her face to prop her up. “Lois. Are you okay?” He still hasn’t released his hold on her. “Where are we?” He pulls her up to her feet. “Let’s get you up.” She continues to look at the sky. “What the hell? Look, I’m no astronomy major but I thought there was supposed to be only one sun in the sky.” Clark turns his head from her to look up to see she’s right. “C’mon, we have to keep moving.” Lois is trying to get him to understand. “We’re not on Earth.” She’s a smart cookie. Yea, you can handle her, Clark, but it’ll be a challenge. Big smile.

“Impossible, Lois,” he says as he trucks along. She gets in front of him. “How many spaceships does a girl need to stumble upon to convince you that there are aliens among us? Clark!” she says grabbing his arms. “We’ve been abducted.” Fending off fear (or feelings of any kind) with facts is Lois’ modis operandi. She’s seen Kara’s ship and even wrote about it in KARA. She saw the destruction of Smallville and met the happy loving Kryptonian couple in ZOD. Good thing neither Clark or Kara used the name Kal-El, huh. Yes, they have been abducted. It’s not like they went willingly.

Isis Foundation. Chloe is on the phone with Oliver’s assistant. I wonder if it’s Barbara Gordon? So Ollie has been in Venezuela. Davis opens the door and knocks. “Is this a bad time?” Chloe feels her friends have left the planet and Davis doesn’t want to violate her no fly zone. Question: Where’s Jimmy the Fiancé? Bloome has a folder in his hands. “My blackouts are getting worse. . . . I thought if I found my birth parents, they’d answer some questions, but I’m starting to feel like I just fell out of the sky.” That happens a lot on this show. (case in point later) He hands Chloe the folder and it’s his history of being in the foster program. One name Pearson is very similar to the girl that is killed in PREY. Mary Pierson was the only one of Chloe’s kids that was murdered. Coincidence? Davis confesses he can’t find anything on the first three years of his life. Good set up for what happens later. Davis asks Chloe to help him investigate. I don’t think anyone can display such charm while being Doomsday, but Sam manages to, every time. He’s just amazing.
The PZ. Clark and Lois are walking around the blood red lake. Clark is encouraging. It can’t be easy for a human being in the PZ. “C’mon, Lois. You’re doing great. Keep movin.” He acts as if he wants to take her hand – apparently that’s still a no-no. Although one shot from the trailer looks as if they were holding hands going down a hill. “At least somebody thinks so. We’ve been hoofing it for hours. My legs feel like two ton barbells.” Clark turns to face her while walking. “Something tells me that standing still isn’t a good idea.” Clark stops while Lois looks around. “Right because you’ve been here before.” She starts to walk ahead of him. “Let’s move.” Showing her independent spirit and that she can handle anything. Clark watches her take the lead. “Lois!” She turns to call out to him, “C’mon!” She trips and falls beside a dead body. Clark sees her fall and runs to her aid. “Lois!” She backs up, her eyes wide (for a wind storm). “What is that thing?” Clark still running towards her. “Stay back,” he warns. He kneels beside the body as Lois anxiously looks on. We see skeletal remains. “Zoners,” says Clark as Lois looks up and tries to get her breath. “I don’t want to die here, Clark.” Clark goes to her. He grabs her by the arms. In a calm voice he speaks to her. “All we have to do is keep an eye out for each other, okay? We’ll be fine!” He tries to convince her as the wind and sand blows around them. “We’re not fine! We’re standing on our graves. We’re gonna die. Us. Together. No more farm house. No more Daily Planet!” The situation is starting to get to her, which is reasonable considering. “Listen to me!” shouts Clark to be heard above the wailing wind. “Listen to me,” he says more softly. “No one is going to mess with Lois and Clark.” His lips go up in a little grin suggesting unity. “Right?” Lois nods. “They better not,” she says firmly. “Let’s keep moving,” he says as he starts to go. “Okay,” Lois says breathlessly.
Stop. If PS3 wanted to reassure Superman fans that they will not continue the sins of the past (stalling storylines because of renewal and basically crapping all over the 70 year mythos), then they have just declared it in this scene. Thanks! You’ve made a lot of fans happy. Also note that in this scene. Lois has just spoke of Clark and Lois as a unit. Us. Together. And Clark does as well. Lois and Clark. YEA!!!

Lois follows Clark when she is attacked from behind. Was there any doubt? Lois is knocked out. What’s the score now? (She was knocked out twice in KARA so history will probably repeat itself.) “Lois!” shouts Clark as the masked nomad attacks him with a knife. He holds the attacker by the wrist and realizes they are wearing a familiar bracelet. “Kara, it’s me.” She takes her mask off. “Kal-El.” They hug. (no hugs for Lois, huh.)

Scene jumps to Kara sharpening something with her knife. Clark is knelt nearby attending to unconscious Lois so they can talk about all things Kryptonian. “I should have known that Brainiac put you here.” She tells him she thought they were zoners. “Zoners kill,” she says looking like a weary warrior. She has long braids and leather attire. She tosses Clark a canteen. “For the blood. They can smell it.” Clark cleans the blood from Lois. “What were you thinking bringing Lois here?” Clark confesses that Lois was with him when he touched the crystal. “We need to find a portal back,” says Clark as the expert gives him a stare. “I did,” she says. “Zor-El built me an escape hatch. Clark rises to stand in front of her. “If you know a way out, then why are you still here?” She stands to face him. “I didn’t want to make the same mistakes that you did. Zoners got out when you left. They’re just waiting for me to open the portal again.” Clark realizes that she stayed in the PZ all these months fending for her life to protect Earth.” Go Kara! This is no longer the teenager stretching her wings; this is a mature being who does the right thing no matter what.

She hands Clark the knife. “This is your lifeline. You lose it, you die.” She walks over to Lois and looks down at her. “She better be able to fight.” Clark has already decided. “She won’t have to. We’re sending her back.” Kara stares at him. “How many innocent lives is she worth to you?” Clark doesn’t answer but steps forward. “Why are you acting like this? What happened to you, Kara?” She does not step back and her words spit out towards her baby cousin. “What would have happened to you if you had been here for more than one day. The portal stays closed.” Clark is arguing. Apparently Lois means a lot to him. “She doesn’t belong here. She’s not one of us, Kara. I’ll guard the gate, but she’s going home!” We hear a faint, “Clark?” Lois is awake. “Oh my God. Kara.” The zone warrior is staring down her cousin as he goes to help Lois up.  “They’ve abducted you too?” asks Lois as Kara looks at Clark keeping silent.

Queen Industries plane on the tarmac. We see two orange file folders. Both labeled AL-65 with Luthorcorp insignias. One says Analysis Data and the other says Test Group Dosages Secound Chance Halfway House. (somebody can’t spell) There is Second Chance Halfway House letterhead inside with some stimulating hormone test results for a patient called Dustin Farrell. (He works in the Art Dept at SV and was listed as a contact on Chloe’s computer in Season 3). Second Chance Halfway House and possibly AL-65 are references to the episode RAGE in Season 6. RL-65 was the healing drug that Ollie had Dr. Pamela Black develop during her sabbatical from Princeton while working at Queen Industries. She was also taking money from Lex. Lana got interested in the charity and was very excited about the possibilities of having worldwide franchises. Lex tried to downplay her involvement. He thought it was too dangerous. The Halfway House was for meteor freaks – a precursor to Lana’s Isis Foundation. Dr. Pamela Black was found dead in her trashed laboratory and it was stated that she was killed by one of the ‘kids’ at the Halfway House. Makes you wonder. Davis, maybe? Before her death, Dr. Black destroyed all the RL-65 and was going to start over from scratch. There was also an RL-65 reference in FRACTURE last season when Lionel told Lex he used the last injection to save him. It was Chloe’s healing power at the time that saved Lex and Clark. Chloe and Clark discovered Dr. Black was working with molecular modifiers and tissue regeneration. However, the side effect was violent and aggressive behavior. Her bio mentions her work with gene expression (healing and evolutionary change –cloning) and quorum sensing – bacteria and some social insects have this. It has several useful applications for computing and robotics. This information may come in handy in a future episode. Obviously Ollie is interested in Second Chance – and the other character that will be around soon, Lana, might have more to say about this.
Ollie puts the folders, along with others in a brief case as Chloe enters the plane. So Ollie is living on the plane now? Chloe gripes about not being able to reach him. She did this with Clark constantly. “Clark and Lois disappeared this morning.” He looks incredulous. “Did you check the Planet? I’m sure they’re just chasing fire trucks again.” He hopes. Maybe they’re at the jewelry store again. Hehehe Chloe is sure and whips out the indigo crystal. “It’s Clark’s crystal. It’s linked to his Kryptonian heritage.” This seems to creep Ollie out so he hands it back to her.

She tells him she wants him to steal the frequency generator so she can bring back Clark and Lois. He’s cracking up. How is she going to do that? He warns her that it is dangerous. She tells him she knows what she’s doing. He wants an explanation and doesn’t get one. When she tells him Tess Mercer has the equipment. He gives her a shit eating grin. “Why didn’t you just say so?” Gotta love Ollie.

Big Foot in the PZ. Clark, Lois and Kara are continuing their trek. Lois, never one to waste down time, is trying to figure out why they were chosen to be abducted on the Kent farm. Clark and Kara look at one another. “The important thing is we get out of here,” says resolute Clark. “You go ahead with Kara.” Lois with mouth agape looks at Kara and him. “Actually I think I’ll stick by you and your right hook.” Kara who doesn’t seem too pleased with the plan. “He can’t. He’s guarding the entrance so we can open the portal.” Lois definitely does not like this turn of events. “It’s okay, Lois. I’ll be right behind you.” He says somewhat convincingly. “You better be!” she challenges him. There’s some eye talking as Kara walks ahead. Lois follows Kara as Clark watches her. Lois turns for one last look at Clark, who doesn’t look too happy about her leaving. He knows what he has to do. He’ll protect her and Earth.

Kara and Lois enter the area where the altar resides. It’s the one with the giant ‘S’ symbol. The El family crest. You can see Lois is curious and yet she keeps looking behind them as if waiting to see Clark appear. Kara scrapes her hand against the crest to make a line of blood. “This is our DeLorean?” says an incredulous Lois. Kara tells her they just have to touch it. Before Kara’s hand meets the altar, there are grunts and sounds of combat from outside. Lois looks back. She makes a lunge in that direction. “Clark! He needs us!” Kara grabs her and tells her he’ll be fine. “You have to go.” Kara puts her hand on the shield and it lights up. Lois looks on the portal in awe. “We can’t leave yet, Kara. We have to wait for Clark!” Kara grabs her arm. “Lois, there’s no time. Go!” She says shoving Lois into the portal. A wraith comes and attacks Kara and throws her against a wall while it goes through the portal.
Lois awakens on some railroad tracks. She doesn’t appear to be frightened. “Clark.” He did say he would be right behind her. “Clark.” We hear the wraith. Then the wraith goes into Lois’ body. Good effect. Durance takes on a whole other demeanor. She looks at herself in the window of a car. Blink. “This will do.” Blink.

The Daily Planet. There are newspaper stories passing rapidly on a monitor. Did you ever wonder what they actually put on those? Of course, I looked! Two noteworthy: One was the mourning of Julius Schwartz – longtime DC editor who died in 2004 and the other was the mourning of Elvis Presley who died in 1977. Elvis and his wife, Priscilla, were in the panel of Lois’ engagement ring in Adventures of Superman # 473 (published 1990). Back to the episode.

Surprise. It’s not Chloe doing this, it’s possessed Lois. Tess walks in, trying to start another pissing contest. (Does this character ever have a normal conversation?) Faora (possessed Lois) ignores her. “Oh, I’m sorry am I bothering you?” quips Tess. Faora still ignoring her. “I need to find my son.” This is said in a very precise speech pattern, low key, but powerful. Tess looks confused. “Your son?” She’s still talking to Faora who is busy on her mission. Tess sees the guy who used to occupy the desk lying beside it, unconscious, dead, can’t tell. You can see the wheels turning in Tess’s head. She’s seen a lot of weird stuff – since she seems to be gathering freaks for her ‘injustice’ society, but she really can’t place this situation. “You mind me asking who the father is?” Faora actually smiles at this but it does not reach her eyes. “A great leader. General Zod. Our creation arrived here attached to the Kryptonian spacecraft housing the baby Kal-El.” You have to hand it to Tess, she doesn’t even blink. “A Kryptonian spacecraft. Well that makes perfect sense.” Faora is now intrigued with this being. “You know about it?” Tess immediately responds. “Absolutely. I can connect you with your son.” Watch it, Tess, you have no idea with what you’re dealing with. Faora rises from the chair. “Tell me what you know.” It’s said as a challenge. Tess tells her she’s searching for a Kryptonian crystal that was stolen from her. Cassidy speaks the lines as if it is an appeal for sympathy for her plight. Faora has been emotionlessly observing Tess. “Do you want to exploit me?” Tess, cool as a cucumber. “Of course not. We’d be partners. We could combine our resources.” The schmooze doesn’t work. “You’re lying. You’re worthless to me.” Bet no one has ever said that to Tess before – well not since she left the shack in Louisiana anyway. Faora superspeeds past Tess and out the door. Tess is left wide eyed and stunned.

Clark in the PZ. Struggles to make his way to the altar. He sees Kara lying beneath some debris. She calls out to him. “No. I thought you got out.” She tells him a wraith escaped as her blood pools around her. Clark tries to remove the pillar that is pinning her. Kara pleads for him to go through the portal before more prisoners come. He won’t hear of it. They would kill her. “Kal-El, look at me. It was my destiny to find you and protect you, not the other way around. Go!” Clark stares into her eyes. “I’m not going anywhere.

Isis Foundation. Chloe has received a text from Oliver. He’s nearing the target. Chloe turns and Faora is standing right behind her. She thinks it’s Lois and gives her a big hug. Faora doesn’t respond. Chloe asks her if she is okay. “I’ve read your articles, Chloe Sullivan. What do you know about the Kryptonian spacecraft that landed in Smallville?” Chloe blinks realizing it’s not Lois. “Where’s Clark?” Faora, expressionless, tells her. “The man you call Clark will die in the prison his father created.” Chloe’s voice shudders. “What did you do with Lois?” Faora tells her she needed her vessel. “Not my first choice, but surprisingly flexible.” Chloe still trying to figure it out. “And you would be?” With a proud lift of her head, she tells her. “Faora, wife of Zod.” The reaction shot when hearing Zod is perfect. Chloe gulps and runs with her phone and a file in her hands. Faora superspeeds in front of her. “Where’s my son? Tell me where he is or suffer the consequences.” Chloe is near sobs. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Please let me go.” Faora with one hand, grabs her by the throat and lifts her off the floor. “You must know more,” Faora says snidely. Chloe tells her she can’t breathe and she drops the file. It opens slightly to reveal a picture of Davis. Faora releases her. “Thank you,” and then she superspeeds off. A polite Kryptonian??? I doubt it. Maybe Lois is in there somewhere afterall?
Lex mansion. We see Ollie in Green Arrow gear through the skylight walking on the roof and then he enters through a side door. Biceps and leather. He leaps around to find the case containing the frequency generator. The case is similar to the case that housed the crystal. We hear the click of a gun safety. He turns with hands up and sees Tess. Ollie, always the smart Alec. There’s no hello or how are you. “What do you know about the crystal?” she asks. “That depends. How good is your shot?” She wants to know who he works for. So she doesn’t know who he is. “I’m self-employed. Sort of an occupational safety hazard.” She tells him getting blood out of leather is a total bitch. He kind of smirks and tosses an arrow at her. He grabs her before she hits the floor. She’s paralyzed. He carries her to a couch. There’s no caressing of a face or looks back. “Thank you. I’ll see myself out.” He says as he takes the case. Tess appears conscious and aware. So everyone criticizes Lois being fooled by glasses. This chick slept with that body, knows his penchant for witty repartee and she still doesn’t have a clue?
Met Gen. Faora is walking into the Emergency Room where she sees Davis treating a small boy. She approaches him. A doctor steps in front of her. “Excuse me, Miss. This area is restricted.” Okay, if the ER was in lock down there would be no one walking around except cops. There are plenty of people milling about in this scene. “Please, that’s my son.” So the doctor thinks the small boy is her son, so he allows it and walks off. Whatever. Davis and the kid high five each other as a nurse takes the boy away. “You helped him,” she says confused. Davis asks ‘Lois’ what she’s doing there and she says she would ask him the same question. He wants to know if she’s okay. “I don’t understand. All that human carnage, is that not your doing?” She seems disappointed in his actions with the boy. Davis offers to find her a doctor. “All I need is you, my son.” She says as she pulls him into a hug. “Mother’s here.” Davis has a WTF look on his face. WOW! Durance sells it. So creepy and great!
Isis Foundation. Chloe has the crystal in her hand. “Phantom Zone, huh,” says Ollie (in civilian duds) watching her. “Seriously, who names these things.” LOL (it’s better than frequency generator) Chloe tries to describe the PZ and calls Lois, LoBot. Rolling eyes. She places the crystal in the device. Ollie wants to know how she can hack into something that’s not connected into anything. “Do I tell you how to shoot your arrows? I don’t think so.” Loved this line. Mack is precious. She tells him to stay back as she hovers her hand over the device. (Shades of ODYSSEY when she hovered her hand over Clark’s chest and nothing worked – Ollie was there for that.) Chloe concentrates and the pie cooling rack starts spinning. We see blood begin to drip from her nose. “Chloe?!” says a concerned Oliver. “Chloe, you’re bleeding.” Her eyes go white. (a Marvel Storm effect?) Oliver tries to stop her for her own safety and she pushes him with one hand. He flies down a hallway and lands unconscious. Hmmm Ollie has added to his knock out count.
The PZ. Clark is still trying to save Kara. “Kara, you have to stay strong.” She is in terrible pain. She places her bloody palm on his. “Take my blood . . . it will open the portal.” Clark responds with an agonizing, “No.” “It will take you home, okay,” she says. He stares into her face. “You are my home. Do you hear me? You’re my family. You make me feel like I actually belong.” (These words will be his life with Lois some day.) Suddenly Clark is pulled into the air by a bright light. He hangs onto the pillar with fingertips. Chloe is still at it. “Kara! Grab my hand! Please,” he begs. Kara stares at his extended hand. “Kara, I can’t let you die here. You were made for more than to rot away in the Phantom Zone. Please.” She finally relents and grabs his hand with both hands. Chloe still at it as we hear them land. She’s exhausted. Clark and Kara are on the floor of Isis in front of her. Clark grabs Kara’s shoulder in reassurance.

Clark sees Chloe and hugs her asking her if she’s okay. “What did you do?” She’s wiped the blood from her nose and tells him it doesn’t matter, that he’s safe. She acknowledges Kara’s presence but not by name. I guess Chloe still doesn’t like Kara. With great concern, Clark asks about Lois. “Where’s Lois? Have you seen her? Is she alright?” (well if you’d touch her once in a while she’d probably be better!) Chloe tells Lois has been infected by someone named Faora. “Zod’s wife,” says Kara as Clark turns to her with a “oh shit” look. “The wraith that escaped,” she whispers to Clark. “I need you to go to the Metropolis police department. Find John Jones. Ask him for his crystal. He’ll know what you mean.” Oooo, I like decisive Clark. You wouldn’t have gotten that if he was Blahna infected. Since the Manhunter has taken on a human persona – Kara would have to know who to ask for. Chloe tells Clark he needs a heads up. “Lois has all of your abilities without any of your inhibitions.” And from 4 years of wimp ass – that’s a lot. Clark takes in what she’s telling him. “Don’t worry. I can handle Lois.” He keeps saying that.
Met Gen. Faora fondling flowers in a private ER room. Still creepy. Davis walks in, handing her a cup of coffee to sober her up. “You don’t recognize me, but you’re the spitting image of your father.” Davis is somewhat amused as he shines a light into her eyes asking what drugs she’s taken. “You don’t know who you are.” Davis stops the examination even though he still has the light poised. “You experience blackouts. Hours of your life mysteriously lost. Your body is still evolving.” She tries to reassure him. Davis obviously weirded out by this. “How do you know that?” he whispers. “Before we were phantoms, Zod and I were unable to have children. So we created you.” Davis still trying to make sense out of it. “You . . . ‘created’ me.” She explains. “You arrived here as genetic matter containing our planet’s most powerful life forms. So that in time, you would evolve to become Earth’s ultimate destroyer.” Davis tries to fend off her information. “I drive an ambulance.” She ‘lovingly’ grabs the side of his face, as she spouts Kryptonian parenting philosophy. “The duty of a child is to continue the legacy his parents began.” She walks around him heading towards a bed. “Our family is meant to take this planet as our own.” Her voice is low and threatening, but then it changes to soft and understanding. “And after seeing you with these humans, I realize you are still too weak to fulfill your destiny.” Davis looks at her with questioning eyes and his mouth agape. She reaches for the guardrail on the bed and breaks it off. Without hesitation or emotion, she stabs him through the heart with it. He winces. His eyes ask why. She pulls the rail from his chest as if observing his reaction. He falls to the floor. She kneels placing the rail quietly beside him. She leans down to his ear as she holds his head. “Trust me, my son. That which kills you makes you stronger.” She kisses his head. “I’ll be back when you’re ready.” She leaves him on the floor in a pool of his own blood.
Faora leaves the exam room shutting the door behind her. She begins to make her way out when we hear a superspeed sound as Faora’s hair is blown. She stops and turns. It’s Clark. He’s wearing the red t-shirt and blue jacket combo. Why? Not hero mode. “I’ve been looking for you.” His voice is low and menacing. “You’re too late, Kal-El,” she warns. Reminiscent of Brainiac’s warning through Blahna. He takes a breath of disbelief as she turns to go. He grabs her upper arm as his nostrils flare. She’s not deterred. “Zod may be gone, but our creation will destroy your world.” She brutally pulls back her arm. Clark stares into her eyes and in a mild mannered voice says, “Lois, I know you’re in there.” He says this with certainty. “Remind me, Kal-El. Did Jor-El and Lara come looking for you?” You can see her words hurt him. “Of course not, they didn’t love you like I love my son.” Clark ignores Faora. “It’s all my fault, Lois. I’m sorry.” Faora sees his emotions as a weakness. “You have feelings for this creature I inhabit.” Clark is closed mouthed. “Like father, like son.” Jor-El was deeply in love with Lara and their son in a culture that worshipped science over all else.

Faora pushes Clark down a long hallway and through the wall. He lands haphazardly on top of a fire vehicle crushing it’s roof and popping it’s windshield. She packs a mean wallop. Before Clark can rise, Faora is straddling him with her hand around his throat. “Lois, stop,” he chokes out. “Lois can’t hear you,” she says as he continues to lose his breath. We hear a weird sound and Faora looks up. We see the Manhunter’s red crystal effect as it hits Faora and releases her hold on Clark. The phantom is released from Lois and is in the crystal that Kara is holding. Lois collapses on top of Clark, but he still doesn’t hug her. Drat! Kara rushes over. “Does that mean she’s okay?” Clark still breathless. “I don’t know. I hope so.”

Met Gen Exam Room. Davis still on the floor in his own blood. His eyes open with a start.

Daily Planet. Lois looking concerned yet confused. She finds Clark at a copier. She obviously wants to run something past him to see what he thinks. She’s actually whispering. Why doesn’t she want anyone to overhear? “I just came from Tess. I got a raise,” she says with some surprise. Clark looks at her like, ‘Huh’. “Why would she give you a raise?” They obviously are on the same wave length. But Clark didn’t handle it very well, so Lois being Lois goes for the snark. “Because I’m me. Hello!” Love this line and the delivery is perfection. Erica rocks! Clark regrouping before he speaks. “Right. It feels kind of random, doesn’t it?” I’m a bit confused by Lois’ next tact, maybe it’s because they didn’t have much time left for a more in depth convo. Maybe she’s thinking about Clark and his immediate ‘in’ with Tess in PLASTIQUE. “Ah, hang in there, Smallville. You just have to pay your dues until the boss sees you can photocopy with the best of them.” She pats his shoulder as she walks past him. “Did you see Tess yesterday?” Is he fishing? “Beats me. All I remember is touching that rock. Having some Arabian Nights acid trip and waking up very confused.” Clark right behind her as she trucks around. “It was a pretty intense hallucination even for you.” He’s studying her reaction to that statement. “So I passed out, just like that?” He quickly offers a reason. “It was probably a blood sugar thing. Lois, the best part of you living on the farm is that I can keep an eye on you.” He seems very comfortable with that. Lois turns and makes a confession. “Yea, about that. Change of plan. Nothing against you. It just means that with this raise I can afford a place, y’know, without farm animals.” Clark doesn’t look happy. “Does this have anything to do with the hallucination you had?” He’s concerned that if Lois does remember she will hold it against him even though he apologized. “Yea, right. It was a dream. It’s called make believe. What other reality stars you as my knight in shining armor?” Well, there was APOCALYPSE. “I was your knight in shining armor?” he’s almost grinning. Lois’ eyes do a bob and weave. “Like I said. Crazy,” she says staring into his eyes as she sits in a chair in front of him. Pretty submissive stance for Lois Lane. Pay attention Clarkie! A Tess lackey interrupts. “Kent, Ms. Mercer wants to see you.” Lois squints and then looks at Clark who has this kind of ‘hey, it’s not my fault’ kind of look on his face. Lois gives him a smirk as if saying ‘I told you so.’ Clark tosses a file on Lois’ desk as he turns to leave.

Tess’s DP office. She’s got a lot of porcupine fish lying around. Must have been from her marine biologist days. Also there appears to be a picture of Alexander the Great – Lex worship. She’s studying a paper while sitting on her couch. Clark enters. Tess places her papers beside her but doesn’t look at him. “I shouldn’t have underestimated Lois. She really blew me away yesterday.” Clark walks further into the room. “So you did see her.” Great, so now he has to go into coverup mode. Tess is still not looking at Clark. “Y’know just when I didn’t think she could have an interesting bone in her body. She kept going on about a Kryptonian spacecraft. Carrying some one called, Kal-El?” Now she looks at Clark. He gives her the half smirk. “Well she hit her head. She was hallucinating.” (that’s his story and he’s sticking to it) “I’m sure Chloe told you I stopped by your farm.” Obviously Chloe didn’t by the look on Clark’s face. Subtle but telling. (Tom does so much with his facial expressions.) Tess rises from her couch and shows him the paper she’s been examining. “That’s a hell of a muddy driveway you’ve got there.” It’s a picture of a bootprint. Clark looks puzzled. “You were the last one to see Lex alive, weren’t you,” she says as a statement. He gulps but remains silent. She hands him a transparency that matches the photo. “This was taken in the Arctic.” Clark furrows her brows realizing what she is getting at. He’s already tried to protect Lois. Now he has to protect his secret. “The boot fits.” He tells her a lot of people wear workboots. “You don’t think I was in the Arctic based on these pictures?” He makes it sound like a ridiculous idea. She thinks there’s more to him than he will even admit. “A farmer turned journalist, not a very interesting story,” he says rather blandly. She knows he’s hiding something about Lex’ disappearance. She tells him they’re on the same side and that it would not be in his best interest to lie to his boss. “If you want to fire me, Ms. Mercer, go ahead. I have nothing more to say about this.” She calls him Clark and says she doesn’t want to fire him. “I want to trust you and I want to know why Lex didn’t.” She also sits before him. “In time, I’m sure the truth will reveal itself.” Clark silently looks at her.

Kent farm at night. Clark opens the door to the house and lets out a sigh. He appears not happy to come home to an empty house. He turns his head and sees Oliver grinning at him. “Hallmark didn’t have any welcome back to Earth cards,” he says. Clark walks to him. “Oliver, it’s nice to see that everyone has a key to this place.” He thanks Oliver. Apparently he wouldn’t be on Earth if it wasn’t for Oliver or so Chloe said. Oliver wants some answers of his own. He tells Clark that Chloe tweaked into a supercomputer to get him back. “Her eyes turned white and she, uh . . . with one hand, mind you. . . pushed me into the other room.” Clark seems shocked by this revelation. “So, uh, what happened to her?” Clark states what he suspects. “Brainiac. He infected her somehow.” Ollie asks him what he is doing about it and Clark tells him everything he can. “I’ve tried to talk to her, but I can’t control her life.” Good ole Ollie gives Clark the smack upside the head he’s been needing about Chloe and her place in his life. “Her life? It’s not her life anymore, Clark. She’s living yours. Chloe is knee deep in these situations that, pardon the expression, ‘humans’ just don’t understand. As her best friend, make her stop before she gets hurt.” He smacks his arm and walks off leaving Clark pensive.

Ollie only knew that Clark and Lois were in the Phantom Zone. He did not know about Lois’ possession. Lois obviously can handle these situations even though she doesn’t understand them. She’s living her own life.

The barn. Clark looking at the crystal in its box. Kara climbs the steps. “Looks like someone has cold feet and he’s not even at the frozen tundra yet.” She teasing him somewhat. Clark is dead serious as he shuts the lid. “After what this crystal did to Lois and I, there’s no way I can trust it to rebuild the Fortress.” Good thinkin, Clarkie. He sets down the case. “So did your adventure with Lois end with you telling her your secret?” His voice is soft and low, almost regretful. “Not exactly. All I ever wanted was to keep Lois away from my secret. But yesterday, that nearly got her killed.” Kara presses on. “You want your cousin’s two cents?” He gives her a half grin while she walks to the loft window. “Lois can handle it. She’s tough. Strong. You wouldn’t have let her get so close if you didn’t think so, too.” Hands in his pockets, Clark gives a nod and an acknowledgement to the truth of that statement. “I was beginning to miss these family lectures.” He gives Kara a smile when she turns to him. She’s not smiling. She gulps. “I’m leaving Smallville.” Clark looks at her in disbelief. “Kara, you just got back.” She tries to explain. “When I was in that hellhole, I heard rumors that Kandor still exists. Kal-El, I think that part of our civilization may have survived before the explosion. If I can find that city, I can save our bloodline.” Clark walks towards her. “Then I’ll go with you.” She’s not allowing him this decision. “Kal-El, there was a reason why you were sent to Earth and raised as a member of the Kent family. Your path is on Earth, living amongst the humans and inspiring mankind.” Clark tries to reassure her. “Kara, we can do all this together.” She shakes her head no. “We can’t. I don’t’ fit in here. My journey is somewhere else.” She’s grown up. Clark gives her a hug. “I’m going to miss you.” They release each other. Kara pulls out the S medallion from around her neck. “See. You’re always with me. Close to my heart.” Clark is sad but looks at the medallion and then gives her a grin. She turns and flies out the window leaving Clark in her wake. We watch Kara fly, possibly for the last time. Clark continues to watch her until she is out of the range of his sight. It is a sad moment, well played and well written. Although I was not wild about Kara’s storyline last season. This one was so well done, I’m going to miss her.

Met Gen Morgue. Davis unbuttons his shirt. Sam had skin honors. He touches the spot where Faora stabbed him through. There’s not a mark on him – and believe me I made sure. Hehehe He picks up a knife, warily looks at it, takes a breath and closes his eyes for a moment. He’s going to test what Faora said. He takes the knife with both hands and jams it into his chest. Blade shards fly everywhere and he’s still alive. Doomsday cannot die by stabbing.

Rating: 4.75. Yes, there were a lot of good things in this episode. The plot was great. The actors brought it home. But there are just a few things that I’m starting to get leery of. Tess, needs to be more developed. I don’t really get where she’s coming from. She’s communicates through pissing contests. Let’s not drop the ball on her character development as was done in past seasons for Lex. Also, by the looks of things, Ollie doesn’t consider Tess his soulmate, so does that mean Dinah is coming back? Davis is coming along well. His bloodline was well defined in this episode. It was good to see Kara again. She’s matured and I really thought she showed Clark the way on how she did the right thing even though she had to suffer to do it. Still miss Jimmy. Can’t we give him something more to do? Jimmy Olsen is an iconic character and yet he’s playing second fiddle to Chloe and SV’s version of Doomsday.

Clark and Lois tonight were well developed. Erica Durance was totally amazing tonight in her dual role. Both characters were well defined and completely different from each other. She truly did an incredible job. Emmy worthy.

Trailer for next episode: We saw past scenes from Chloe’s memory. One shot of Clark with the car when Alicia showed her the secret. One shot with Lois – while she was Faora? Her and Jimmy dancing – which was cute. Then just her and Davis. Lois is not in this episode. And if the one old shot of Clark is any indication – this was not a very well thought out trailer. Clark should be in every trailer. Definitely more than one shot. BLOODLINE’s ratings are probably the highest this season and may prove to be higher than the highest rated episode last season. This proves the storytelling is much better and TPTB are not counting on gimmicks or product placement to get them by. PREY was the lowest rated show this season, it was the first episode without Lois in it. ABYSS, next week’s episode, is the second.

Credits: HD Screencaps from KEakaCK

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