Memoria

DVD, Smallville S3 (Memoria)

The thought 'an episode from an abandoned TV series' came to me watching this. I'm not sure what that means, but as a whole the episode seemed kind of distant, inactive, but I don't mean it wasn't engaging. Perhaps it was the flashbacks, or maybe because only half the cast were in it, but it did seem strangely detached from the series, despite being full of exposition, revelations and retconning. For that reason the story never feels as if it really got going, as it mixes in a more traditional type of story (the Summerholt goings-on), with some deep psychological stuff, and some strong visual images.

The young Lex was well judged, it only took a moment in the teaser for me to realise this was the past, thanks to Lionel's hairstyle, after the thought of Lex' half-brother flashed through my brain. We get to see both Lex' mother, Lilian, as well as hear Clark's parents and get a sense of that first scene from the first 'Superman' film, where Kal-el is placed in the ship. The tank of liquid Kryptonite was very reminiscent of the scene in the first 'Hulk' film where he turns into the jolly green giant and smashes out, and I was half-expecting that to happen!

I knew Dr. Garner's days were numbered as soon as he got mixed up with Lex trying to recover the lost memories, because if he does recover them Clark's secret would be out, and Lionel's secret too, and it felt too early for these momentous events to occur. The only way out was for Garner to be taken out, or made comatose as happened here, though I expected he'd be in trouble later in this season or next. But, like Dr. Walden last season, he's conveniently in a coma, ready to be utilised by the writers should they need him, which is always good.

The episode was ably directed by Miles Millar, with some very nice sweeping camera moves and lighting decisions (such as the flashbacks), although I think the directing was another factor in making the episode more detached from the season. There are many references, big and little, thrown into this one, so you had to be paying attention, but the performances were the important part, along with the arcs moving further. The biggest revelation comes between the Luthors, and something almost too momentous to take in for Lionel.

With only three episodes left, can the series be wrapped up convincingly and satisfy the viewer? As a whole the season has been hit and miss, the first you could say that of, but there have been moments and there have been times of the series fighting through the difficulties. I hope it recovers.

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