Don't Freak Out: Why FotW Episodes Aren't Really Bad for Smallville
Written by Hope and Wendi

One of the common complaints, from viewers to critics, has been Smallville's use of "formulaic" Freak of the Week episodes. Most recently, a review by Entertainment Weekly's Dalton Ross mentions the "dismaying" return of the format, in reference to the recently aired "Magnetic." However, after reviewing the fifty-one aired episodes, three basic points emerge.

* The proportion of FotW episodes has lessened over time, reflecting the growth of the overall story.

In Season One, eighteen episodes out of twenty-one featured a FotW; in Season Two, that number fell substantially to only thirteen episodes out of twenty three. Season Three thus far has aired eight episodes, and of them, only four feature a FotW. These numbers reflect the growth of the show; the first season both laid a foundation for the Smallville universe as a whole,
but also introduced us to the main characters. Unlike other "Superman" universes, the sleepy hamlet of Smallville is three hours removed from the crime and corruption of Metropolis.

As this is a show focused on what forces create the man who will become a hero, and the man who will become his arch-nemesis, there must be some kind of conflict to show the audience who these characters are, and how they proceed toward their destinies. Without a local source of conflict to reveal Clark's powers, Smallville's other alternative would have been a season of Clark "accidentally" discovering he can look through Lana's blouse, and Lex shuffling papers in a self-described "crap factory."

Season Two switches the story focus from introduction to exposition- once the audience knows *what* Clark can do, the story can transition into the deeper question of *who* Clark is. (The same can be said for the other characters as well, but since the FotW format primarily focuses on Clark as protagonist and freak as antagonist, this essay will mainly deal with Clark's development and interaction.) While Clark's dealings with various mutants can illuminate aspects of his character, Season Two split its focus to examine Clark's origins. Of twenty-three episodes, only thirteen featured FotWs.

Season Two presented more personal conflicts for Clark, as well. Each time he fought a FotW in Season Two, he actually had two fights- one against the mutant, and one against himself. These mutants outlined his emotional boundaries (for example, his brotherly relationship with Ryan James, in "Ryan,") and the borders of his jealousy (with Byron in "Nocturne," and Ian in "Dichotic.") More than merely obstacles for him to knock down, these characters presented Clark with issues that would code his internal morality of right and wrong. Red-K Clark was as much a FotW as Tina Greer, and both allowed Clark to examine the ways he does (and does not) want to use his abilities.

This leads into Season Three, the rising action, and keeping in mind that Red-K Clark's appearance in "Exile" constitutes one of them, only four episodes of eight have dealt with FotWs. There have not been enough episodes this season to definitively comment on what part they will play in the overall arc, but if previous seasons are any indication, they will be used as a tool of the rising action and overall theme of actions and consequences. Much like with Season Two, Season Three just doesn't need as many freaks.

* People don't actually dislike the FotW format, they dislike either the individual freak, or the utilization of that freak.

Out of fifty-one episodes, thirty-four have featured FotWs, and not all of those episodes are remembered poorly. "Jitters" was a FotW episode, as were "Shimmer," "Hourglass," and "Hug," three fan favorites from Season One (and "Hourglass" and "Hug" featured not just *one* freak, but two.) This is true for second season as well. The incredibly popular "Red" is a FotW episode with the twist that Clark happened to be the FotW; the return of Tina Greer in "Visage" also marked a high point. "Calling" is considered one of the best episodes from Season Two, complete with the threat Dr. Walden presented.

Sometimes, in spite of a less than perfect episode, individual freaks have captured the audience's imagination. While "Accelerate" wasn't a stellar episode for the fans, Emily Dinsmore became one of the most compelling freaks Smallville ever introduced. Sympathetic FotWs especially engage the audience; people enjoyed Byron from "Nocturne," even if they didn't care for the episode in which he appeared.

The violent, negative reaction that causes an overall condemnation for FotW episodes are those unfortunate instances where neither the story nor the mutant engaged the audience. "Dichotic" stands out as an episode in that vein- the audience didn't care for Ian, they didn't care for the story, and they didn't care for the casting- a triple strike that only added to the overall sense that people "don't like FotW episodes." The same thing happened with "Magnetic" in Season Three, prompting the latest round of disgust for a format that is actually necessary to the integrity of the show.

* Without FotWs, Clark is a bully.

In becoming Superman, Clark has to learn to use and manage extraordinary powers. Some of these abilities can be refined gently- practicing his heat vision by lighting candles is an excellent example of that. Other abilities, however, require a more active use, among them strength and invulnerability. While the initial display of invulnerability in "Pilot" was effective, Clark can't spend the lifetime of a show shoving his hand in threshers.

To really explore the progression of Clark's abilities and his mastery of them, Clark has to have antagonists that equal him. This is where the inherent cleverness of the meteor shower is revealed: not only does it mask Clark's entrance into the atmosphere, it also creates an environment to provide a nascent superhero with worthy opponents. For him to use his abilities on ordinary human beings would make him a monster; his struggle to control his great power against Whitney and Phalen highlight that. Clark could kill someone with one good shove; he needs someone strong enough to hold his (or her) own against him, to develop.

Red K Clark thoroughly embodies the reason why Clark needs those equal antagonists. He beat up his father, and his menace approaching Jesse in the cornfield was made all the more horrifying by the fact that the audience knows just how powerful Clark is, even while acting on his darkest impulses. Again, this show is the making of a hero- the freaks provide Clark the opportunity to hone his body, when they are plainly villains, but also his mind, when their nature is less clearly defined.

As the show continues, in this season and in the future, Clark will continue his journey toward becoming a hero. The mutants and freaks spawned by the meteor shower are going to be a necessary feature on Smallville. Any time Clark gains a new power, there will likely be a freak to use it on. Meanwhile Lex Luthor continues his journey to become Clark's ultimate worthy opponent, and it should be heartening to realize that in spite of a vague, latent mutant nature, Superman's greatest opponent is just a man.

Note: The views of Hope and Wendi don't necessarily represent the thoughts and feelings of everyone at KryptonSite. There's also a thread on the KryptonSite message forum on this very topic - why not join the discussion there? :)

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