Voice of Reason: Season One: Obscura

"She just can't help herself." It's cute how Martha has to get involved in Clark's dating life, while Jonathan figures it won't last and is more concerned about the plumbing situation.

Jonathan and Martha had grown accustomed to Lex, and greeted him the way they would have greeted any other neighbor. It was pleasant to see this phase - to see Lex's needs being fulfilled.

"Well, I – (glances down at the check and stops for a moment) – 'preciate the gesture, Lex, but…"

"Safe to say we won't lose you to the entrancing world of journalism." I love those little moments.

"Now what could Carrie Castle do for you that I couldn't?" "She gave me a pretty mean shiatsu massage."

Nixon: "Claims he saw something fall out of the sky." Lex, dryly: "We all did."

"Slamming the door in his face over and over only helps turn him into what you think he already is." Somebody should remind Clark that in the following seasons.

"I remember…" and Chloe's voice trembles. She had some great acting in that scene.

It was so normal that Clark lingered at the site and tried to make up for Jonathan's weirdness. It was Lex who put an end to the conversation. That's where they should have gone with the relationship if they wanted the "dark side" angle. It shouldn't be Clark being inconsiderate and Lex trying to make up for something, as eventually it becomes.

Great that they didn't show what was in the bag.

Clark smiles when he sees Lex. It was little details like this that made their friendship what it was. They supported each other and were glad to be around each other. They lost that so soon after the first season. The writers should remember these moments.

"Some of them have been extinguished for thousands of years, but their light is only reaching us now. The past is always influencing the present." Good line.

When Whitney told Chloe and Clark, "I'll drive," Chloe quickly said, looking at Clark, "That's okay, we'll take my car." What was that about? Was it about his driving, or his truck, or not wanting him around…and whatever it was about, why didn't they make it more clear?

Good music after Clark asks Chloe to the dance.

"What is it?" "Well, I can tell you what it isn't." "I don't like riddles, Doctor." "Then this object will make you profoundly unhappy."

Number one question: Why on earth was Lana just standing there? She was the one who realized there was going to be an explosion, but she stood there even after Whitney had gotten fairly away. If she wanted to make sure Whitney was all right, she could have looked over her shoulder.

Lana again had a mind-blank when she failed to tell anyone that she was being watched. She had seen enough to know that she was seeing through someone else's eyes, so why did she brush it off?

Slightly odd, the way the bullet bounced off Clark's hand and into the mirror. They only used that once, though; starting with "Red", bullets hit his hand and flatten, which is more believable.

I liked the set-up where you suspected the wrong deputy - it made for a good twist.




Obscura Overall This episode seemed to be intended to represent the Chloe-Clark relationship at its best. However, though seeing Clark as Chloe's protector allowed some depth into the relationship, the two of them honestly seemed much closer in "Kinetic". And since Chloe was kidnapped half the time and Clark spent his time saving Lana as well as Chloe, the real relational focus of the episode fell on Lex. Which was the perfect place for it to fall. Lex's relationship with the Kents has gone through many changes and phases. This episode showed two - the first one a breath of fresh air, the second one complex and a bit stretched. However, while I don't agree with making Jonathan the villain of the story, there was still an element that made this phase believable: Clark. His loyalty to Lex, his innocent willingness to believe in him, and his Superman integrity that forced him to stay and apologize for his father (how many fifteen-year-old boys would have the guts to do that?) helped make this a compelling step in the Superman-Luthor journey. Meanwhile, the plot had its twists and turns, and concluded with two great scenes - one to close the Chloe-Clark plot, the other to continue the spaceship plot. If the Chloe-Clark relationship wobbled its way for most of the episode, the closing scene did much to atone for it. Verdict: 8 Good/Bad Moments "She just can't help herself." It's cute how Martha has to get involved in Clark's dating life, while Jonathan figures it won't last and is more concerned about the plumbing situation. Jonathan and Martha had grown accustomed to Lex, and greeted him the way they would have greeted any other neighbor. It was pleasant to see this phase - to see Lex's needs being fulfilled. "Well, I – (glances down at the check and stops for a moment) – 'preciate the gesture, Lex, but…" "Safe to say we won't lose you to the entrancing world of journalism." I love those little moments. "Now what could Carrie Castle do for you that I couldn't?" "She gave me a pretty mean shiatsu massage." Nixon: "Claims he saw something fall out of the sky." Lex, dryly: "We all did." "Slamming the door in his face over and over only helps turn him into what you think he already is." Somebody should remind Clark that in the following seasons. "I remember…" and Chloe's voice trembles. She had some great acting in that scene. It was so normal that Clark lingered at the site and tried to make up for Jonathan's weirdness. It was Lex who put an end to the conversation. That's where they should have gone with the relationship if they wanted the "dark side" angle. It shouldn't be Clark being inconsiderate and Lex trying to make up for something, as eventually it becomes. Great that they didn't show what was in the bag. Clark smiles when he sees Lex. It was little details like this that made their friendship what it was. They supported each other and were glad to be around each other. They lost that so soon after the first season. The writers should remember these moments. "Some of them have been extinguished for thousands of years, but their light is only reaching us now. The past is always influencing the present." Good line. When Whitney told Chloe and Clark, "I'll drive," Chloe quickly said, looking at Clark, "That's okay, we'll take my car." What was that about? Was it about his driving, or his truck, or not wanting him around…and whatever it was about, why didn't they make it more clear? Good music after Clark asks Chloe to the dance. "What is it?" "Well, I can tell you what it isn't." "I don't like riddles, Doctor." "Then this object will make you profoundly unhappy." Details Number one question: Why on earth was Lana just standing there? She was the one who realized there was going to be an explosion, but she stood there even after Whitney had gotten fairly away. If she wanted to make sure Whitney was all right, she could have looked over her shoulder. Lana again had a mind-blank when she failed to tell anyone that she was being watched. She had seen enough to know that she was seeing through someone else's eyes, so why did she brush it off? Didn't it look like the deputy put a stick of kryptonite in the coffin with Chloe? But Clark wasn't affected. What was that? Slightly odd, the way the bullet bounced off Clark's hand and into the mirror. They only used that once, though; starting with "Red", bullets hit his hand and flatten, which is more believable. I liked the set-up where you suspected the wrong deputy - it made for a good twist. © Voice of Reason, 2007