jlvsclrk | Smallville 8-16 Turbulence (Reply)

Loved it, loved it, loved it! No, its not the best ever episode and there were some things I didn't like, but parts of it were just flat out wonderful. An unabashed "A" - would have been an A+ with more Clark time.

Keep in mind that in the original scheme of things, Tom was to have directed the next episode, Hex. As a consequence, the writers (Septien-Meyer, best known for Apocalypse) cut down on his screen time in Turbulence to give him time to prep. Kudos that they did a MUCH better job than Dries did for the last pre-directing episode, Sleeper - shudders. Here, Clark and Tess are the "B" story, meaning they have less screen time, but Clark was still adorable, optimistic and above-all Supermanly. They also wrote a very compelling "A" story revolving around Jimmy that really advanced the Doomsday arc. And we saw the somewhat inevitable disintegration of Chimmy as the part that links the "A" and "B" stories together. Well done I say! Now for the details.

Let's start with Clark, who was just flat out marvelous. I had heard Tom switched off directing Hex because he was feeling ill and I thought he was looking a bit wan in Infamous. But if so, he certainly seemed fully recovered here. Clark was beautiful, happy, proud of himself, clever, and just a little devious. And he jumped out of an airplane! Sure I would have liked to have seen the crash landing but my imagination can fill that in for me. So many things to love:

Making headlines as the Red Blue Blur! (too bad the saves are offscreen - stupid budget issues - but again, I can use my imagination)
Clark went so far as SLOWING DOWN so the traffic cameras would pick him up! I loved his complaining how hard it was.
And how great that his reason for doing this is not the fame or even just the people he's helping but to give everybody that most precious gift - hope. ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Clark demoing his quick change routine! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ And how great that he comes back with a slight wardrobe malfunction ♥ ♥
Showing his concern for Jimmy
Clark researching at the Daily Planet for more crime to stop
His FRANTIC reaction when Tess picks up his backsack ♥ ♥ I love how he snatched the bag out of her hands and told her he didn't want his boss looking at his underwear. Here's a hint Clark - that kind of might make some women MORE interested in the contents of the bag.
His reaction to Tess's offer of a "big break" by attending the conference in California. He really just wants to get back to that crime he'd uncovered, but he knows he has to spend some time on the reporter side to fill out his secret ID. Or which side is the secret ID? He seemed just a little befuddled there
Clex!!!!!! His reaction in the plane to Tess's comments about Lex. He seemed really hurt at the idea that Lex never saw him as anything but an obsession.♥ ♥
And Then! His reaction when he finds out Lex kept a DIARY! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Finding out what Lex said about (insert Clexy secrets) immediately becomes his top priority: he goes so far as to get Tess drunk to find out. All's fair in love and war. ♥
And Then!! When Tess springs her trap, how he renders her unconscious by putting a kink in her oxygen supply (much nicer than his usual tap to the head) and kicks the door to the plane open and JUMPS! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Afterwards, how he calmly responds to Tess's grilling about the accident. She catches him out though because she saw three parachutes and he only claims to have found one.
His realisation that Tess probably knows based on her reactions (Come on Tess, the boy was educated in double meanings by the master. You're going to have to work harder to fool him!)
His reaction to Chloe's statement that he should back away from the Planet and the RBB - he just looked at her in disbelief.
And he winds up the episode with yet another super change of costume before zooming off to save the day. You are totally and utterly the man - Superman! ♥ ♥ ♥

With all that, its kind of amazing that Clark-Tess was the "B" story. The "A" story was one of Smallville's "beloved" triangles, but this one worked really well for me. Of course, Chloe fans have a right to complain about character assassination here - would she really have been dumb enough to cry on Davis's shoulder like that so soon after her wedding and keeping in mind what he said last episode about staying clear because of his feelings. Would she really so blindly take Davis's side over Jimmy's, especially given the discussion in Prey (and as someone else pointed out, the massive coincidence of the Doomsday abduction and Davis's presence in her life). And what the heck is up with her soothing away Doomsday with a touch. That sure didn't seem to be happening last episode!!! But whatever. What I do think is consistent here is that Clark is, always was and always will be Chloe's number one priority. I do think she's over him romantically but as long as she can help him, that's what she'll do. And of course this is an enormous wedge in her relationship with Jimmy, one Jimmy has just barely learned to accept - mainly since he sees Clark is interested in Lois. That's why Jimmy is such an enthusiastic Clois shipper in Bride for example. But what he's learned to tolerate in her with respect to Clark, the best of men, he cannot and should not accept with respect to Davis. I did find it interesting how she warned Clark of the risk of blindly believing in Tess, when she's running a much greater risk believing in Davis. That's not hypocrisy, that's human nature. Chloe has a blind spot a mile wide when it comes to Davis - how much of it Brainiac related no one can really tell.

I totally felt for Jimmy here. To my shame, I know that family members aren't always as supportive as they should be for people in chronic pain. Chloe's meant-to-be-supportive comment about him needing help to deal with it must have felt like the first sign of distrust to Jimmy. Chloe, do a little research before shooting your mouth off. For one, any surgery involving the abdomen is INCREDIBLY painful for AGES afterwards, and there's no magic time table for recovery. Given the nature of the injuries, Jimmy could also easily have spinal damage that may never fully heal. Those pain control devices aren't infallible and doctor's are notorious at erring on the low dosage side because of the risk of addiction.

I just love-hate how Davis took advantage of Jimmy's situation to literally get away with murder AND get the girl of his dreams. Well, he doesn't actually have Chloe yet, but he sure did break up Chimmy. And he did it is such a cruel way, feeding Jimmy with so many painkillers that he hallucinates and then gets addicted. That's a whole level of evil entirely separate from his earlier Doomsday rampages, or even his quasi-church-sanctioned attacks on the wicked to keep Doomsday at bay. For those, maybe he doesn't have much of a choice. But what he did to Jimmy breaks through the woobie mask for all time. Maybe he'll still wear it to fool Chloe, but knowing its a mask will let me enjoy it.

Stray thoughts:

Loved the new look for Tess. Not so much the hair as the simpler makeup. No more raccoon eyes!
What was that song played at the end? Love it!
Loved how AM was just sobbing her heart out in the hospital at the end - no attempt to make it look pretty.
Strange last shot of Davis in the rain. Seemed a pretty flat ending to an otherwise excellent episode. Am I missing the significance?
Next episode looks like fun!!!