Exposed

DVD, Smallville S5 (Exposed)

Another episode that I caught on TV, and another that made me think I'd made the right decision not to keep watching. It is demeaning and gratuitous to have one of your main characters do a lap dance just because you can even with the humourous and embarrassed slant of those scenes in the club they were obvious and disappointing, let alone unnecessary. The episode had its positives, Chloe at the Daily Planet on her first mission brings the series close to what the Superman mythos has always been - reporters uncovering corruption and evil in the city: 'life in Metropolis' as Detective Sawyer (returning from Season 3) said, and summing up the episode perfectly. In fact it practically was the Superman mythos, but without Superman, except when he shows up at the end to pull a helicopter down. The lack of Clark and focus on Lois and Chloe was a positive change, I'm always wishing they starred the other characters more, and Clark was still involved in both the A-story (the Wingate club) and the B-story ('Uncle' Jack running for office).

Even better, Jonathan was gifted a proper storyline instead of appearing at the end to remind us who he is. I would have liked more of his scenes with good friend Jack - at one point it looked like going all 'Dukes of Hazzard' with Mr. Kent at the wheel burning some rubber, but it sort of petered out. Even the strong moral messages came across as a bit deflated. Are we suppose to read into it that even Superman has his flaws, or he'll be the only hero without flaws? Maybe it's not about the future, but about Clark in the now, I don't know.

I don't understand how people such as Clark and Jonathan can vary so much in their dealings with Lex - the guy's been nothing but trouble this season, and suddenly we're back in Season 1 with Clark and Lex pretty much mates (if uneasy ones), and Jonathan accusing Lex of badness when he's actually decided to do something good. The difference is we know Lex is no longer trying to fight his ambition and the negative driving forces inside, so even if he performs a small act (finding out Jack's misdemeanours then not releasing them to anyone but Jonathan) we can't feel any sympathy or warmth towards him because of so much he's done. Running for senator is another small step in his rise to power! I applaud Michael Rosenbaum for delivering lines such as the one about Clark putting barriers up in their friendship, but even with his skill the words sound awful and unreal.

I hoped to find out more on the Professor Fine storyline, but a lot had to be left out to make the episode (Lana, Martha and Lionel don't appear either), but I can hardly complain when I've been wanting more exposure (pun unintended) for individuals beyond Clark. The story isn't exactly on fire and is pretty basic and the quality of the scripting continues to lurch around. Like the last episode this doesn't really cut it, but it does bode well for future Chloe stories now that she can get involved in Metropolis' dark underbelly.

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