Voice of Reason: Season Six: Reunion

"I don't know, we all turned out all right. Didn't we?" "I can only speak for myself." Actually I was cheering for Lex during that moment. It seemed so twisted of Oliver to hang out with the pack whom he really should have renounced. In the past few episodes, he has seemed to be nudging Lex toward the edge. Before I had assumed that he held a grudge for something, but the flashback made it clear that the situation was the reverse...so I lost some respect for Oliver. His behavior to Lex was still wrong, and I loved it that Lex made this comeback.

"Man, after ten years, gang's all here." "Except for Duncan." Lana senses the changing atmosphere. "Who's Duncan?" Oliver peremptorily, taking the guy's drink: "You know what, maybe you ought to lay off, huh?" This was a relief. We needed some reassurance that Oliver had changed, after that last moment.

"What, like you all weren't thinking about - " "Hold it." Oliver is stern. This reemphasized his role as a leader, both as a teenager and now as a young man.

"Are you all right, son?" "Nothing a little drycleaning won't cure." "That's distasteful, Lex, even for you." "What can I say? It's a nice suit." Lex seems a little drunk, and very haunted. This was a good moment that wrenched my compassion out into the open.

Chloe comes over and helps Martha fix dinner, while they discuss everything like a family, openly. This was a sweet moment. It's rare that we see Chloe with anyone but Clark or Jimmy, and we needed this refresher, giving a new and homey side to her, instead of the machine rattling off facts and presenting data. (Although she also had a better role last episode, too.) In "Truth" Chloe was part of the family until she started asking Martha questions...since then, we haven't really seen her interacting with them. Was the last time Chloe spoke with Martha in "Vengeance" last season? Whenever it was, this scene was realistic, as both of the girls tried to persuade Clark that the disasters weren't his fault.

Nice touch, that as Clark was beating himself up about the Zoners, Oliver was beating himself up about his friend's death. And the females were trying to convince them that there was nothing they could have done. A good connection.

"I actually have to be getting back to Gotham." After this moment, I expected the camera to pan past Gotham City or Wayne license plates.

It seemed a bit premature to have Clark wandering into Oliver's place without knocking, but it served its purpose – to establish the friendly relations between them. Although I would have been annoyed if anyone grabbed my arrow.

"Clark. I was wondering if my security system could keep someone like you out." "Looks like you need an upgrade." "Or you need to learn how to knock." Oliver is smiling, watching Clark with fascination. Clark is perfectly serious. It was interesting that Oliver was so open in this scene, even chatty. This moment suggested that it was a relief for him to be with someone who knew his secret, with whom he did not have to hide anything.

"I was thinking about developing a boxing-glove arrow, and then I thought, 'Come up with something a little fancier.'" I don't know if this was an allusion to the comics or not, but it was humorous no matter what the context.

"Knocks out anything electrical within an eight foot radius. Cameras, laser systems...pacemakers." Clark blinks, confused. "The last one was a joke, Clark." Oliver turns around, smiling. "I'm laughing on the inside." "Well, maybe we'll get lucky one day, and it'll all bubble to the surface." This play back-and-forth was interesting. Their relationship is still forming and changing with each episode - in a good way - and this brought out their social contrast, as last episode brought out their ethical contrast.

"Help me figure out how Lex caused the 'accidental' deaths of two of my friends." Interesting that Oliver believed this of Lex. Then he claimed to know Lex better than Clark...but it turns out that we know Lex better than Oliver. It is strange that all the characters on Smallville seem to believe that people cannot change. It used to be that Clark and Jonathan believed in the best of people, but now the motto seems to be "born good or born bad". What's ironic is that Oliver is the one saying this, when he was cruel as a teenager and has changed for the better. Lex might as well tell Clark, "The Green Arrow is evil. I know him better than you do." (Yes, Lex doesn't know that Oliver is the Green Arrow, but you know what I mean."

Lana getting hurt and having a patch of blood on her forehead is a bit old. She's been stabbed in the hand, she'd been choked to unconsciousness, she's always passing out and hitting her head and getting knocked over…she should be on crutches by now.

Lex refuses to let Clark in to see Lana. Then, "Save yourself a trip next time, Clark. Just send flowers." My brother commented, "I think it's so juvenile, the way they keep having Clark and Lex take cheap shots at each other." I couldn't have said it better myself. The characters get played down when they act like they're in middle school. Frustration, hurt, yes. Verbal revenge, lording it over one another, no.

"And how many times did she wind up in the hospital when she was dating you?" "Ouch. That was harsh." "It's not like he's wrong, though." I liked this moment between Clark and Lois. Clark recognized the truth in what Lex said (I love it when Clark is so reasonable) and Lois saw the dynamics in the relationship. "Lana made that questionable choice on her own. Stop beating yourself up. That's my job."

"Or I could man up and get to the bottom of this like a real reporter...preferrably before the Grim Reaper drops something very heavy on my hot boyfriend." That was such a peculiar and entertaining way to put it. My brother and I burst out laughing.

Oliver interprets Clark: "He loves Lana too much to risk her life." Clark realizes that this is true, and it's a startling revelation. I wish we could see more of how Clark felt about this...if he really believed that they loved each other.

"It's not Duncan." "How can you be sure?" "Because Lex and I killed him ten years ago." Later, Oliver gazes disturbed out the window. "Duncan suffered massive brain injuries." This acting, this whole revelation, was very well done. The cinematography was excellent - the whole episode, and particularly this scene, was full of a feeling of regret.

"It was an accident. It just happened." The theme of this episode. "No. No, I told myself that same lie for years." Is that the answer in every case? Seems like that's not the answer for Clark's problem.

Lionel studies pictures of the cave symbols. He hides them when Clark enters. Interesting moment. He was willing for Clark to try to decode Jor-El's messages - what makes this different?

"How do you know all this?" "You're not the only one with hunches." "Nice work." Lois walks straight past the room. Good moment, demonstrating how they will work together in the future, while maintaining Lois's general ineptness.

"I heard about Lana. She going to be all right?" "She'll be fine. Not that you really care." Lex was a bit overdone here. People change, Lex. People change, writers.

"No, I do care. I care that a nice girl like that ended up with a guy like you." People change, Oliver.

"And you think that's my fault. Sounds to me more like bad karma." That was a good comeback, if unmerited.

"Go back to Star City, Oliver...while you still can." "I've seen that look before." Lex stops. That was a good line...but Oliver didn't have to go further than that. "When was it? Oh yeah. When you almost beat your only friend to death back at Excelsior." That was unnecessary, and damaged Oliver's character. He was pushing Lex over the edge.

The silence of this stark exchange - no music, just their voices - accented the rawness.

Lex punches Oliver in the face. Oliver rises, looks at Lex good-naturedly but speaks firmly. "That's good. First one's free. Next one's going to cost you." This was the perfect reply. It showed that Oliver was actively working not to be the domineering intimidator he used to be. He was deliberately refraining from fighting, even though he knew he could easily win. Yet he was not tolerating Lex's actions…he was giving him a warning. This line helped him to maintain perfect balance and control of the situation. His restraint somehow made him more threatening.

"You never could take responsibility for what happened to Duncan." "Like your hands were clean." "Not even close. But since then, I've been scrubbing 'em real hard. Yours just keep getting dirtier." That was a good exchange. It told us the meaning behind everything that had happened - told us why the writers wanted us to see this episode.

Oliver shields Lex from the flying glass. Good moment. Again, after seeing the violence he was capable of, we needed this moment. I still think he shouldn't have pushed Lex over the edge - Lex was so troubled the writers could have helped him over the edge on his own, without making Oliver pressure him - but at least after pushing him, he helped him up again, so to speak. He didn't harbor malice...though that's not really saying much. It's a bit like stomping on someone's foot and announcing, "I forgive you." Still, I appreciated the thought behind this moment.

It was a bit…unusual, to have the same camera shot of Lana and Lex stone cold on the floor. Maybe it was supposed to be symbolic (symbolic of what?) but it came across as rather amusing. Afterward, my brother was saying, "Ohhh, what a connection they have." "They pass out the same way! Great minds think alike."

"We've all done things we're not proud of. I just wish Oliver didn't feel like he had to hide it from me." "You know, sometimes in order to protect the people we love, we keep secrets." I didn't like Clark's delivery. It was halting and a bit melodramatic, like some of Martha's speeches. However, Lois's reply - "That is…totally retarded!" - was spot-on.

"You're a lucky man." "In more ways than one. I should be dead, but here I stand." "You would have done the same thing for me. Right?" Lex doesn't answer. Instead he says, "I wanted to say Thank you. And that's all I wanted to say." This was an intriguing moment. Oliver does the right thing in every way, and so does Lex. Lex acknowledges that Oliver saved him. Oliver does not take credit but assumes a mutual respect. Lex tacitly denies it, thanks him, but refuses to go farther than that. To be honest, as far as this exchange goes, I think there's nothing more either character could have said or done. They both did the honorable thing.

"Lex. What happened to Duncan...the way I treated both of you...it's not something that I'm proud of. I want you to know how much I regret it." The writers did a great job of keeping Oliver in character while delivering his apology. It would have been so easy to send him into a melodramatic speech, but this terse apology was balanced by his concerned look, making for the perfect apology.

"I want to see the data on Duncan's last treatment. Have it on my desk first thing in the morning." Lex has a grip on Lionel, and he's not likely to let go. Yet Lionel smiles. Strange.

Clark displays his powers, not putting his life on hold for the presence of someone else. This freedom was nice to see...demonstrating all the effects of Oliver's knowing his secret.

"You know, making the wrong choices and living with the consequences is not easy, is it?" "Speaking from experience, huh?" "More than I'd like." This moment seemed a bit odd. Clark counseling Oliver? It seemed a bit soon for this. I could see it later on, but now he doesn't really know the guy.

"We all make bad choices, Clark. All we can do is hope to make the right ones in the future, right?" That line should have been broadcast to all the characters in this episode...including Oliver.

"Oh! Hi. I feel like I know you already: Lois talks about you all the time." "I was actually just going to see Lois right now. Maybe it's time I did some talking." Oliver is smiling, a bit awkwardly. I couldn't tell if this awkwardness was from Chloe's presence or was just Justin Hartley, but either way, it worked. Incidentally, what did he mean by talking, and why did he look at Clark when he said it? I assume he was going to talk about his role in Duncan's death.

"Well look, I'm looking forward to your article on Dark Thursday. I hope my satellite images helped." Oliver and Chloe were so perfect here, perfectly proper, a bit shy. My head was saying adamantly, "No, that's really bad, they cannot have a relationship, not another triangle..." but regardless every time I think of that moment between them I smile. There's no way I could see them in a serious relationship – they're too much alike – but I could definitely envision a gentle, mild relationship. Yes, I know, I'm going too far...but the music here was tender piano, and the shy friendliness was well crafted. I can be excused.

"Wow. In person, he is really..." Clark acknowledges with a smile. Chloe looks after Oliver. "Wow." "Chloe." Chloe looks at him, distracted. "Were you able to pull anything off the satellites?" "Oh, yeah, um..." I'm not that far off base, am I?