Solitude

DVD, Smallville S5 (Solitude)

The resolution of the Dr. Milton Fine arc is about as good as expected, revealing his character and affiliation and providing Clark with a top-class punch-bag. The big surprise is that he isn't Zod (yes, I know he didn't have the beard, but the writers have chosen not to follow continuity slavishly), but a form of artificial intelligence created by the Kryptonians, perhaps by the ship that brought the other two renegades to Earth since he was so free to melt in and out of it. It keeps to the established facts of there being no other Kryptonians alive, ties up the story neatly, though we aren't sure if he'll return, and explains why he was quite happy to waste time posing as a college professor while he's actually an evil-minded and rather hasty fellow when it comes down to Clark destroying Jor-El. Being a program he wouldn't get bored, but stuck to the ultimate plan - to free the nasty General Zod from his Phantom Zone prison, and almost succeeding. I must admit I wanted Zod to get through (beard and all) as he could be just about glimpsed in the vague, shadowy face that spins in the vortex, but it was not to be... yet.

I thought the name Zod might sound a bit corny if they did get to bringing it up, but it was okay as he was introduced as the great hero of Krypton by Fine, undeserved though it was, it stopped him from being simply a silly name. The impending doom Jor-El foretold was averted this time, with Martha surviving the lesions of a Kryptonian disease. It seemed very likely that Fine was behind it so I wasn't surprised by that revelation, but the slurs he made about Jor-El were almost believable, as we've already seen mostly bad things from Clark's real Dad. Whether he was to be responsible for the person close to Clark dying is unclear, as he's only told us it will happen, not that he will do it. The episode managed to end on a grim note, literally - after the pleasant 'things are alright now' speech from Jonathan a negative noise crashed the image out...

If Jor-El is so powerful in the form of the Fortress why did he 'sit' by and allow the agent of Zod to enter, and Clark to put in the black crystal? You'd think he'd have the power to protect 'his' structure, but there's not a peep out of him. We should give him a break I suppose, he is, after all, dead. I still can't get used to Lionel being in the same room as Chloe after their potentially career/life-ending encounter in Season 3. Lionel's release from prison was so unlikely I can't even remember how it happened now, but Chloe doesn't mind the mogul's presence too much, it seems. She gets to look like a cliched reporter when tracking Fine, standing in a phone booth, from the camera view appearing to wear a trenchcoat like some old-style detective. She's not, of course, but the image is there. She does get to be the most important female in Clark's life for this episode, being of great help to him and sharing experiences. Lana doesn't even appear so Clark's mind isn't on girlfriends for once, which is a good thing. There's even the merest hint of the series' more energetic past with the escape from the warehouse, but it's cut brutally short.

Lex' campaign is apparently continuing apace, but we don't actually see either he or Jonathan doing anything related to their campaigns, we're just told it's happening. As for Lex' line to Lois that he has nothing to hide, that doesn't gel with what we know of his chequered past in Metropolis, often cited in earlier seasons. I half hoped Warehouse 15 would be something to do with the skyscraper he took Mxyzptlk last season, but that little storyline hasn't been picked up as yet. The episode was quite strong, again successfully melding the established series with more 'Superman' myth (Lois gets to look intrigued for once as she gazes at the Daily Planet's sign), even the title is better than usual, with the obvious meaning, but also the analogy, mentioned in the episode, that Clark will have to leave people behind, and that no one lives forever. Humans, that is anyway. Are Mr. Kent's days numbered?

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