#8.7 “Identity” Review

NOTE: I’m going to spoil HUGE plot points. So if I were you, I wouldn’t read this review before viewing this terrific episode. So go watch and come back when you’re done. I really loved this episode, so be aware that there is some serious gushing ahead.

With a title like “Identity” in an episode dealing with Clark’s dual-identity (even in its infancy) this episode probably couldn’t have missed. I was looking forward to this one, even without knowing much about it other than that title so I was very happy when I saw that the promise of its name had been completely realized. What a terrific episode!

There wasn’t a single thing wrong with this, well, not a single major thing wrong anyway. It was almost pure viewing pleasure from the opening tease right through the end of the fifth act as Chloe walked down the hallway of Metropolis General with a slightly confused look on her face.

Wow.

That was quite an ending, but the build up was just terrific. Writers and Executive Producers Todd Slavkin & Darren Swimmer penned this episode. They’ve had a somewhat uneven tenure as writers with the show, having written both some my most hated (“Resurrection,” “Velocity,” “Hypnotic,” and “Blue”) and most favorite (“Transference,” “Commencement,” and “Solitude”) episodes. However this outing shows them at the top of their game and could very well be one of the best of the series.

It started out awesome in the tease, with Clark saving Lois just as Jimmy was taking a picture. I loved that Lois was completely clueless and had no idea she’d been saved until later after Clark had saved her again. The way that whole scene was choreographed was terrific too.

Clark’s secret identity was coming dangerously close to being exposed so of course he had to try to stop Jimmy’s photo from ever seeing print. He flailed around trying to hold up Jimmy’s investigation into the mysterious speedy do-gooder, but it just didn’t work. Chloe thought he shouldn’t worry about it, but then Jimmy figured out Clark’s secret so the stakes got tons higher. In came the reluctant Oliver to help orchestrate a fake rescue of Jimmy, but, of course, things didn’t go as planned. The Green Arrow had to save Jimmy for real and Clark had to save Lois, again, but it all worked out in the end.

Along the way, they got in some great (and at times very funny) references to Clark’s future career in superheroing. (I guess that’s not really a verb, Word put a red squiggle under that, but I’ll go with it.) The got in the cape, secret identities, mention of faster than a speeding bullet, and Clark staying in Lois’ shadow by choice…

I also loved the way continuity was maintained from previous episodes. It’s great that they keep up continuing storylines from episode to episode, even if only tangentially. It’s a wonderful change of pace.

It used to be that season long story arcs would go several episodes without getting advanced. The going theory on why that was, I believe, was because the episodes needed to be more or less standalone. They needed to be able to be viewed without having any real knowledge from what has gone on before to understand what is happening in the current episode.

I think that the show working from that stand-point was a mistake mostly because it made everything seem so much more haphazard. They used to drop ongoing storylines, even important ones involving key recurring characters (even going so far as never mentioning them again – just think of the murders of Grant Gabriel and Alicia Baker, or the sparse mentions of Pete Ross and Clark’s parents since they left), because they didn’t want to serialize the show. They didn’t want any episode, when viewed by itself and out of context of the episodes that had been shown before it, to be too dependent on others.

I think that was a mistake mostly because it never was really ever true. When you have characters that grow and learn, like students would that don’t stay the same age and attend high school continually for ten years (a la Beverly Hills 90210), of course, things are going to change. What happens to the characters in the “now” will more or less directly depend on what had gone on before. In a relatively realistic world, even one with aliens and magic and super-powered heroes, they were not going to grow up in a vacuum.

This standalone idea also made them let serious complications drop without any real consequences happening. Lex had Grant murdered, for example, but not a thing happened because of it. There had been no consequences for his actions.

Like I explained in my review for “Odyssey” when I had first started watching Smallville the first episode I had seen was season 2’s “Visage.” It’s a wonder I liked the show enough after watching that to actually watch another episode since it’s probably the absolute worst one for anyone to have started to watch the show on.

It wasn’t that I didn’t like it. No, because I did. The problem with “Visage” was that the episode had characters that were original to the show interacting in ways that were mystifying if you hadn’t seen it before. (That was the one where an original character, Tina Greer, came back and got all stalkerish with Lana by pretending to be her ex-boyfriend, Whitney Fordman, another original character.) I didn’t know who Tina or Whitney were. I hadn’t had a single clue about what the heck was going on.

So yeah, maybe keeping an ongoing storyline going makes the show mystifying for any new viewers. It would make it really hard for them to start watching somewhere in the middle since a serialized show generally assumes you started watching at the beginning.

So, keep in mind that I didn’t fall in love with the show until I’d gone back and saw the Pilot and got all caught up, so there is some validity to the argument. Any “Previously on Smallville” montage can only get you caught up only so far….

It is hard for new viewers to “get” the show, but when you have an episode like this that depends so strongly on what had gone on before it gives the dedicated fans some serious payoff.

Now that I am a loyal fan, I’m glad to see that they’re keeping this up and that the season long story arcs are touched upon in almost every episode, even if only obliquely or even just mentioned in passing (like Jimmy’s reference to Chloe’s “big secret” that was almost a toss away line). It builds the story and helps the writers to deepen any mysteries…

They’ve done that in this episode big time. Here, Todd and Darren again picked up several ongoing stories, like Lois’ growing affection for Clark. By the way, the writers showing us Lois’ reaction to Clark’s zipping up her dress was an awesome way to show, rather than to tell, that she got a little thrill over teasing Clark like that. What a terrific moment. Added to that was her actually complementing Clark, surprising the heck out of Jimmy. So cute and sweet that Lois has this secret crush on Clark. It’s a bit of a switch, given that it was Clark who for so long had a secret crush on Lana.

In addition they had Clark mention Oliver’s pulling back from being the Green Arrow and his recent drunken binges, which had previously touched on only by Tess. I’m glad that Ollie’s lingering anger at Clark didn’t keep him from helping Clark when he needed it.

And wow. What a way to show the consequences of Chloe’s Brainiac enhanced skills and the menace she could potentially have for others. I think the writers had previously dropped hints that Chloe maybe really isn’t all Chloe anymore, but had they really indicated she could kill?

Yikes!

I’m glad I am not doing spoilers because I didn’t see that coming at all. That was quite a shock. She was so cold and calculating, sorta a lot like Brainiac, when she calmly removed her gloves. She thoughtfully explained exactly what she was going to do to Wilson/Sebastian, even though he had no idea what the heck she was talking about. Good call on her using his real name of Wilson too. (If you got a copy of that episode saved, just pause it on the image of the computer screen that Lois was reading in the memory flashback, Sebastian Kane is an alias for Wilson Turner.) Of course Brainiac/Chloe would know his real name. I loved how she coldly grabbed his wrist and watched him painfully die without blinking an eye.

Wow.

I hope this story will come to a head sooner rather than later, whenever it does I’m really looking forward to seeing where they’re going with this. Whatever is going on will likely be bad news for Chloe and should make for some good TV.

The writers basing several of this story’s events, even if only tangentially, to Tess’ continuing obsession on finding the missing crystal, thus continuing her search for Lex, was awesome. This is the first time they’d really shown her making use of her nascent Injustice League to help her achieve her goals and I loved that!
It was awful, yet terrific at the same time, how she made poor Sebastian squirm trying to get out of his deal with her. She clearly detests the guy, what with her comments on him being a sick predator for the murders he’d committed, but she’s still willing to use him anyway. She has a bad side, which we got a good (if brief) glimpse of in this episode. She threatened him, essentially blackmailing Sebastian to keep him in line long enough to have him find that crystal. That was very Lex Luthor-like of her.

Tess’ search for the missing crystal seemed to be the key of many of the events that happened in the episode, even though at first it didn’t seem like it. It was a terrific way to tie a B or C plot into the A plot. That was probably one of the best parts of the episode.

We didn’t find out until the end of the third act that the guy who’d “mugged” Lois probably hadn’t been interested in her money. He was actually in Tess’ employ and she also sent him after Jimmy as the “next person of interest.”

She had evidently hired him to take Lois’ purse in case the crystal was in it, apparently bringing in the memory thief guy as a back-up plan when her first plan hadn’t worked… Her then going after Jimmy, still in search for that crystal, upped the stakes in a huge way. It helped tie all the sub-plots together like the intersecting pieces of a puzzle finally falling into place. That was completely awesome.

As good as that was, that wasn’t even the best part. No, the best part for me, a self-described lifelong Superman fan, was the fact that in this episode Clark finally sees for himself that being a hero is more than just saving lives. He has finally seen that his destiny includes giving people hope.

Maybe it sounds hyperbolic, but it is an important part of Superman’s mystique and mythos. It’s probably why he’s been around for like 70 years… Superman’s not only a do-gooder, but he stands for something more than that. He’s a force for good not only in what he does to help others, but how he inspires and gives hope to people.

As Clark looked at that crowd who were gazing up in awe at Oliver, the red and blue Superdude as Lois called him, he could finally see the wonder they felt. Tom Welling performed his part perfectly, but the way the scene was shot, with all the people looking in awe at Oliver with Clark looking back at them, was perfect.

What an awesome moment! It was in that moment Clark saw the possibilities of his future. He is destined to not just save people, but to inspire and give people hope. I’m not sure that had ever really occurred to Clark before. It’s one thing for John Jones to tell him that people are looking for miracles and a reason to hope, but it doesn’t have the same impact as Clark finally seeing the truth of that himself. It was a key moment in the series long character arc for Clark that will eventually lead him to pull on blue spandex and a red cape. He’s not quite there yet, but increasingly the pieces are coming together.

I’ve said online, while I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it in a review, that I think that the tights are only costuming and that Clark Kent was born Superman. It isn’t just in his DNA or even who his parents were, although both the Kents and Els had a lot to do with how Clark turned out. No, it’s his strength of character and his innate goodness that makes him a hero. That’s what makes him Superman. Jimmy said it himself in this very episode.

It was easy for Jimmy to see the hero in Clark because he is such a good person. He’s a man who will stick by you and help you, no matter who you are or even what you’ve done. Like Jimmy had said, that’s rare, so it’s little wonder that Jimmy figured Clark’s secret out so easily. He had looked to Clark as a hero in a lot of ways, it was easy for him to see Clark as the secretive superman (with a lowercase ‘S’) who saves lives, but never sticks around for people to take photos.

It’s been a long time coming, but I think Clark is so close to being Superman at this point, the only things missing are the flights and the tights. I hope flight will come soon, perhaps before the end of this season, even if they go for a 9th season. He’s ready for it, I think.

If they do a 9th season, by the way, they need to throw down whatever Tom Welling wants to get him to sign for another year. I can’t see the show about Clark Kent becoming Superman surviving without possibly the best Clark Kent ever. If they do end it at the end of this season, I hope they see their way to getting Clark to fly for real before the end. The tights I don’t need to see. When Clark pulls them on the show’s over anyway. He’ll be Superman (with a capital ‘S’) then. After all, the point of the show is to show Clark’s journey to that wearing blue tights and a red cape, not to show him once he gets there.

This was a fantastic script! I loved it. The stakes increased for all characters throughout and the act breaks were all excellent. I loved the humor of this episode and the nods to the future without them necessarily hitting us over the head with it. Todd and Darren did a wonderful job.

Tom Welling was fantastic in this episode. Not only did he look great, but he was very Supermanly. He played Clark as calm and resolved even in the face of Clark’s biggest secret coming out.

I loved the scene when he went to get Oliver’s help. He was desperate, but Tom kept Clark from getting whiny. He played Clark as certain that it would hurt Jimmy more than it would hurt him for learn Clark’s secret. Then later when he saved Lois from the memory thief, Wilson/Sebastian, the look on his face as he held the guy’s hand was chilling. The way that Tom plays him, Clark can be one scary guy when he’s angry. I guess it’d be a good idea to make sure Superman never gets mad at you.

Possibly the best parts for Tom, as always, were the scenes with Erica. He is just adorable when Lois teases him and busts his chops for silly things. Tom makes Clark just so cute, how can Lois not be in love with him? It helps that Lois is sexy as all get out too. She’s not even my type and I can see that.

Erica Durance was brilliant as Lois. I always love the banter between Clark and Lois, Erica and Tom have such a good natural chemistry they’re always a joy to watch. I especially loved when she was rubbing it in his face about the sparks flying and she was surprised that the bull pen didn’t burn right down. I adored how she read that line.

Initially, I was confused what she was doing with Sebastian. She had Lois act a bit cagey with him, but when I saw it again, I could see the hints that Erica had given from the start that Lois knew this guy. It was a remarkably subtle performance. She acted odd in the apartment because she was teasing Clark. Of course, Clark had no clue she was teasing him through belittling him in front of Sebastian, but she was also trying to protect him from whatever Sebastian was really up to. That was confirmed by her pushing Clark away before he could shake Sebastian’s hand. She had dual-intents there and she played that perfectly. Erica was absolutely marvelous in this episode.

Allison Mack was terrific as Chloe. I loved how supportive of Clark she played Chloe, but then I didn’t see the ending coming at all. Wow. I’m not sure what’s going on with Chloe, whether Brainiac is taking over Chloe or whether Brainiac is just influencing her through the connection they’d had at the end of last season, but in that last scene it was like she was echoing James Marters’ portrayal of Brainiac. Just like he would have plaed it, she was calm and matter-of-fact with Sebastian as she explained exactly how she was going to kill him. That was cold and Allison played that perfectly. I don’t know where they’re going with Chloe and this particular story arc, but I’m intrigued by it thanks to Allison’s performance.

Aaron Ashmore was adorable as Jimmy and Justin Hartley played Oliver perfectly. I haven’t loved either man unconditionally, but they both did great jobs in this episode.

Probably the best part of Aaron’s performance was the final scene with Clark in the Daily Planet. However, I think the entire episode was incredibly strong for Aaron.

For Justin, I really liked Oliver’s final scene with Clark in the jet. (Have they gotten rid of Ollie’s penthouse set? He’s always in his plane nowadays.) Anyway, when Oliver was talking about his parents Justin showed a remarkable vulnerability that was very touching…

Cassidy Freeman was wonderful. She played Tess with some vulnerability, the moment where she was crying in the memory that Sebastian had dredged up, but then was harsh and coldly business like when push came to shove.

Director Mairzee Almas hit it out of the park with this one. The choreography of Clark’s rescue of Lois was terrific. The use of Clark’s speed mixed in perfectly with what was happening in the scene.

The way the fourth act had been edited, intercutting between Oliver, Clark, Chloe, Jimmy, Tess’ henchmen, and Lois, was fantastic. It built up the tension and wove all the varied storylines together at the same time.

I wonder if Mairzee working on the show for so long as a first assistant director helps her coordinate things like that. It was perfectly done.

She also got wonderful performances from the entire cast, even this week’s guest star Kyle Schmid was terrific. It was good casting him and he did a better than average job in his part as Sebastian/Wilson. This was another excellent outing from Mairzee.

Glen Winter photographed another terrific show. I really liked the setup in the street when Clark was in the background and Oliver in the foreground. The switch between Oliver being in focus and Clark being in focus was done flawlessly. In addition, the mid-shot on Chloe’s and Sebastian’s hands going to an extreme close-up on just Sebastian’s eye was also perfectly done. I loved both of those. I don’t know how hard that is to set up, but the focus puller or camera operator responsible for that on this show certainly earned his or her paycheck.

Not so happy with Melanie William’s costume design this episode. That black satin tuxedo shirt fronted chiffon thing that Lois was wearing in the first act? Yikes… I thought it was hideous, especially so when paired with that black patent leather belt.

Tom looked good, as did Justin, but I wasn’t too wild about Allison’s wardrobe choices. Nothing was as bad as Erica’s black satin tuxedo shirt thing and it wasn’t as frumpy as some of the wardrobe had gotten for Allison before this season, but I’m not sure I liked it much either. How many jackets does Chloe have that she likes to wear belts over? I don’t know how “in” a look that is, I’m hardly a fashion plate myself, but it’s a look I’m bored with. We’ve seen it too much in Smallville lately anyway…

I do have to say that Erica did look completely fabulous in that red dress. It fit her perfectly and was a wonderful choice for that scene.

Oh, and I saw the episode one time with my fifteen year old son and a couple of his friends. I would say, going by their reaction that even teenage boys would agree with that assessment of how good Erica looked in that dress. I should have my son invite his friends over more often. Their reactions were actually was remarkably illuminating, in addition to being very amusing.

I usually don’t have any complaints about the special effects that Entity F/X does for the show, but I have to say that I really, really hated Oliver’s CGI cape. Couldn’t they get a practical one that looked good? The CGI one looked way too, well, not real… I can kinda see why maybe they did it, I mean it’s more romantic having the cape flutter like that and it might not have been possible to get that same look with a real cape.

I understand why they did it, but they should know that when they can’t afford to make an effect look good, they should go with the cheaper real-life alternative, or maybe cut it altogether. If the only reason they did it was to get the inside joke in at the end of the episode, Clark saying about wearing a cape, “Not in this lifetime,” perhaps referencing Tom’s alleged reluctance to ever don the tights, then they need recognize when it just wasn’t going to work. And, in my opinion, it just didn’t work this time. Funny punch line, but the setup wasn’t completely successful without a better looking cape.

That said, I loved the way the special F/X helped out with Clark’s rescue of Lois in the tease. The choreography of the scene was terrific, but they used just enough CGI to enhance it. We rarely get a good look at Clark’s saves, so I really enjoyed that, especially the flare of Jimmy’s flash as it slowly blossomed out. It was cool to see how much time Clark really had, even though in real time it all happened in the blink of an eye.

I don’t usually talk about the music much, I don’t play an instrument so I can’t really speak about it even with a pretense of authority, unlike the other stuff I normally pretend to know stuff about. However, I love Louis Febre’s music. It’s very atmospheric and I love the little drum roll, at least I think that’s what it is, whenever Tess is being Lex Luthor-like. It sounds almost like a growl.

I also like the music that played when Clark was looking at the people who were in awe of Oliver’s heroism. It was very reminiscent of John Williams’ iconic scores for the Christopher Reeve Superman movies.

Despite a few minor complaints, I’m not sure episodes get as close to perfect as this one did. I’m going to have to give this episode 5 fabulous, form-fitting red cocktail dresses out of a possible 5.

Note: The views of Triplet don’t necessarily represent the thoughts and feelings of everyone at KryptonSite. Send her feedback.