Dichotic
Overall
The first time I watched this episode, I thought everyone in it acted immature. The second time I watched it, I realized that the most immature one of all was Clark.
Clark's busybody way of going back and forth, talking to one girl, talking to the other, telling them about what the other one said, giving unsolicited advice, gave the girls ample ground for their jealous boyfriend suspicions. Nobody asked him to get involved: and his aggressive handling of the situation – particularly after he saw Ian kissing Lana, of course – was totally uncalled-for. He was playing the girls against Ian just as much as Ian was playing the girls against each other. Of course, the girls were a bit witchy, as they often are when there's an issue on which they and Clark differ. (Lana: "I can't believe you!" He had a point when he said they wouldn't believe him but gave Ian all the latitude in the world.) This episode started off the unreasoningly stubborn side of Clark, which was magnified in the next episode. Yes, ultimately his suspicions were justified; but his manipulative "well, she said" way of handling it was like a gossipy little old lady with no life and/or no judgment.
The story was interesting, but the characters were underdeveloped and childish, leading to a climax of immaturity when Clark, feeling himself justified and taking a moment to rub it in, tells Lana and Chloe (who had barely escaped being murdered by their boyfriends) that, to be honest, he had expected a lot better of them. Lana, naturally offended, points out that he wasn't exactly blameless either – that, although they had made a mistake, it was still their mistake to make. Clark does not seem to be moved, and makes a good point that they refused to believe him but were willing to give Ian all the latitude in the world. The girls don't seem to be moved by his point, either. Chloe, getting fed up with Clark's reluctance to admit his own error, says in a "let's-just-get-this-over-with" tone, "How can we _____******?" (Girls, even though he's being a jerk, he did just save your lives. How about some gratitude?) Clark, in yet another strange deviation from his usually generous character, says lecturingly, "Well, to start with, you can stop treating me like the jealous boyfriend…" In short, had any of them displayed any maturity, Clark wouldn't have ended up walking home in the dark, a lone figure. You couldn't feel sorry for him because he brought it on himself. None of them were willing to take any responsibility for their own actions, and as a result it was more like a junior high episode than anything else.
Good Moments
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Clark finding it hilarious that Lex lost it and took it out on the guy's car. It was relieving to see them together in that way, without Clark intensely reproaching him and warning him of the consequences, or Lex becoming defensive – just a laid-back, enjoyable moment. They weren't all busybody-like into each other's business – just knew that it had happened, and Lex was wry, and Clark was tickled. Cute moment.
- "I am taking it easy – I slept in until 6, didn't I?"
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The moment where Lana gets temperamental and storms away with the proclamation of "I can't believe you!" and Clark watches her walk off…and the next shot is of the Anger Management sign. I don't know if it was intentional, but it made me laugh out loud.
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As did the moment when Lex slaps his nametag on.
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"What's Ian Randall's Secret?" I liked the headline Chloe gave her article.
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Pete, in the school basement, getting the creeps. "You happy? We looked around. There's nothing here." (Body falls onto him.) For some twisted reason, I am still cracking up with the jitters over that one.
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"Does Chloe always finish her interviews by making out with her subjects?"
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"I terrorize meter maids."
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"Okay, this just got incredibly awkward." That's what you love about Chloe – it's against her nature to hold something back. She's an up-front person.
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"The 2-for-1 special?"
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Great Superman-like music as Chloe fell, as Clark caught her and looked up at Ian, as he pulled Lana up, and as he knelt with her by the railing.
Details
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The mild parallel of the story was between Ian and Martha, tied together by the line, "Nobody expects you to be two places at once." Not exactly a strong or meaningful tie, but at least they found some way to keep the parallels going.
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Of course, Clark's concept of the school logo, and the teacher's reception or lack of reception of the idea, was a humorous concept.
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Clark saw that his father's leg was broken, then proceeded to haul the guy up and drag him to the car – or fling him over his shoulders and run. Either way, not too bright.
© Voice of Reason, 2007