Episode Summary

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9.2
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Superb
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At a party at Crater Lake, Lois is saved from drowning by Arthur "A.C." Curry. Arthur has incredible swimming abilities, but also a secret agenda aimed at...Lex. Meanwhile, Professor Fine discussed Lex's weapons-manufucturing operations with Clark.
  • Aqua...Bro?

    4.5
    "Poor"
    Aqua-At a party at Crater Lake, Lois is saved from drowning by Arthur "A.C." Curry. Arthur has incredible swimming abilities, but also a secret agenda aimed at...Lex. Meanwhile, Professor Fine discussed Lex's weapons-manufucturing operations with Clark.

    Ehw! and this season started out so well! Now, as much I liked DC hero episodes on Smallville, "Aqua" is NO "Run" or "Justice", not even "Cyborg"! I don't know what the writers were thinking when they turned the future King of Atlantis into some surfer dude! Alan Ritchson as AC has the perfect look for the character yet his acting is mediocre at best! But it's not all his fault, as the writers give AC some terrible dialogue (why does he say "bro" so much?). Don't even get me started on the fish puns throughout this episode! I never understood why every character has make one everytime their in AC's presence, it's just "eye roll" worthy! Also, his brief (and laughably) romance with Lois throughout this episode seemed so forced, I could bare it. Then there's Lois defending him to Clark and accusing Clark of being jealous....uhh..wtf? Why would Clark be jealous of you, Lois? Ohh and that underwater fight between Clark and AC...can you say lame? Clark just stand there while AC sends him flying out the water.

    The only thing worth watching in this episode is Lex being so supervillain-ish when holding AC hostage at his lab. Micheal was just so effectively evil in that scene! Then there's the full first appearence of Professor Milton Fine, played by wonderful James Masters. I've been a fan of James since his fang days on Buffy as Spike and he makes a fine addition to the season. I love his resentment towards Lex and you can tell he is making Clark realize how truly cruel Lex is. But besides that, "Aqua" is poor representation of Aquqman and the character is better when his just a member of the Justice League like in "Justice" and "Odyssey." But an episode devoted to him is plain torture!moreless
  • Arthur Curry arrives in Smallville. Having the ability to swim underwater allows him to also know when Lex Luthor is developing a new military weapon that will kill all marine life within its range.moreless

    6.0
    "Fair"
    With the success of The Pre-Flash episode "Run" the writers quickly decided to bring in a new member of what will become the Justice League in the near future. Unfortunately the success isn't repeated. While I will admit Arthur Curry's(Aquaman)drive to protect the waters is played pretty well, the character just isn't that interesting(well in Smallville, the Mercy Reef pilot showed he could be interesting). Lex has definitely begun feeding into his dark side that has been inching out more and more since last season(and even more recently given a further push in "Onyx"). The one huge aspect I didn't like was Lois appearance in the episode, it is explained that she was still out looking for her sister, but decided to take a break, just in time to be saved by Arthur Curry and begin her Superhero groupie ways. The rest of the cast does their best with a less than average story to work with. However, further appearances by Arthur Curry tend to be a little better. Worth a look, if not for more than just to see his introduction. FIND "MERCY REEF/AQUAMAN" AND WATCH ITmoreless
  • Superhero Arthur Curry is introduced; he has swimming ability far beyond those of mortal man. He and Clark must team up to defeat a new underwater weapon that Lex has developed.moreless

    7.7
    "Good"
    Clark has started classes at Central Kansas A & M, and starts a debate with Professor Milton Fine, a severe critic of Lex Luthor - "Beware of white knights," and Fine plans an expose piece on Luthorcorp. Hey, wait - Fine is the creature that morphed out of the black goo from the spacecraft in "Arrival" about three episodes back - so is he a good alien or bad alien? And how did he suddenly get a professor's chair at a University? He offers Clark a research position to support the tell-all book, but Clark is still defending Lex, and turns down the offer.

    A new superswimmer character, Arthur Curry, is introduced through saving Lois (she's back from Europe already) from drowning at Crater Lake, and he can even outswim Clark. A sophomore at the U of Miami, AC supposedly on the swim team, and has a criminal record for stealing dolphins and releasing them to the ocean, so he's a bit of an eco-terrorist. On a later visit to the lake with Lois, Arthur's disabled by a mysterious noise that only he can hear, but all the fish are turning up dead. Lex is behind this, testing a new underwater weapon called Leviathan, which he hopes to sell to the military, hang the fish consequences. Arthur came to Smallville because of a fish die-off at the lake, but Clark is suspicious of Arthur's ability, and follows him back to the lake, where Arthur is following a water trail back to the nearby Luthorcorp lab. Finding Leviathan plans in plain sight, he's about to sabotage the area, when Clark interrupts., and absorbs the C4 explosion with his own self. The rivals battle underwater, with a lot of posturing and staring, and Arthur wins round one. AC tells Clark what he plans to destroy Leviathan because it's threat to ocean life, but Clark will collaborate only by facing Lex directly. Lex is less than forthright, and Clark leaves with, "The days of me believing your lies are over." At the lake once more, someone nails Arthur with a poison dart, and soon he's strapped to a table in the lab, with Lex denying him water, which weakens AC just as kryptonite weakens Clark. The interrogation begins, Lex suspecting extremist groups, and wanting to know how Arthur can breathe underwater. Arriving just in time, Clark gives AC a quick shower, restoring his powers. As the military demonstration begins, everything goes wrong, but Lex only has suspicions about how someone aborted the weapon. Clark can't stop trying to believe in people, Lex can't stop his self-destructive path. AC won't return to school, and we see the beginnings of the Justice League of America. Clark admits to Professor Fine that he was right about Lex, and asks for the research position, which Fine offers. AC has to say goodbye to Lois; for all her brash attitude, she's going to miss him., she just can't keep her man...always falling for busy superheroes. She laments to Clark, "I've known a lot of guys who want to own the world, I haven't met very many who actually want to save it. How am I ever going to meet someone like that again?" Clark assures her (big fat hint of things to come), "Lois, I promise, someday, you'll meet someone even more special." A nice, well-played scene between the two. Rerun rating C+.moreless
  • While diving at Crater Lake, Lois gets knocked out, and is rescued by a mysterious swimmer named Arthur "A.C." Curry (Aquaman). Despite that, Clark doesn't trust him. Meanwhile, unable to trust Lex, Clark befriends Milton Fine, one of his professors.moreless

    9.2
    "Superb"
    While diving at Crater Lake, Lois hits her head on the diving board and is knocked out. Before Clark can save her, a mysterious stranger able to swim faster than Clark appears and pulls Lois from the water, then introduces himself as Arthur "A.C." Curry (a.k.a. Aquaman). Despite having saved Lois, Clark doesn't trust A.C., and later keeps him from exploding a LuthorCorp project that turns out to be a weapon Lex is developing for the US military. Meanwhile, Clark finds himself unable to trust Lex further, and befriends Milton Fine (a.k.a. Brainiac), one of his professors at Central Kansas A&M.

    My Review: As cool as it is that the writers have introduced another one of Clark's fellow superheroes and Justice League members, they couldn't have picked a lamer hero to bring on. I'm sorry to those who actually like Aquaman, but his powers are pretty much useless. Well, unless he's in water, but what are the chances of him having to fight someone other than Clark underwater?? Plus, I've done a little bit of digging on Aquaman (thank you, Wikipedia!), as well as watched the trailer for the now-defunct AQUAMAN pilot, and have discovered that the writers have taken a few liberties with the character's abilities and backstory. What makes it worse is that Alan Ritchson's portrayal made A.C. seem like a bit of an airhead, what with calling Clark his "bro". How in the world this was one of the highest watched eps in SMALLVILLE history is beyond me, especially considering no one seemed that interested in the new series starring Justin Hartley (loved him on PASSIONS, by the way). I will say this, though, in Aquaman's defense: he's helped to give the JLA a bit of a jump-start (at least, as far as SMALLVILLE is concerned), *And* he's jump-started Clark's jealousy at seeing Lois with other guys. Anything that pushes Lois and Clark closer together is always a plus in my book. In fact, my reasoning for giving this episode such a high rating comes primarily from all the Clois moments viewers are treated to. Nine stars, or starfishes as the case may be, out of ten.

    Highlights: Lois and Chloe intruding on the Clana moment; Clark rushing to save Lois (I know that's what he does, but still...awww); Clark trying to sneak in to Professor Fine's class ("Good morning, Mr Kent. Did we start too early for you?" :D); Clark interrupting Lois and A.C.; Clark interrogating A.C., and Lois pulling Clark away; Clark and A.C. confronting Lex; Clark rescuing A.C. from Lex's lab; Clark and A.C. teaming up to one-up Lex; and Clark comforting Lois after A.C.'s departure (;D).moreless
  • Lois is saved from drowning not by Clark but by Arthur "AC" Curry, the future Aquaman.

    8.9
    "Great"
    Let me start off by saying that I never really cared for Aquaman. Okay, it'd be neat to be able to breathe under water and swim faster than a torpedo but I just never really cared for the character. That being said I thought this was a very good episode. I was hoping we'd hear more about AC and where he came from but maybe that will come in future episodes. AC of course has a run in with Lex Luthor and is captured by him. He's saved by Clark who uses his heat vision to break a water pipe and drench AC with water. Seems AC is really a fish out of water on land and needs water constantly. Worth watchingmoreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • TRIVIA (17)

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    • At 10:03, at the college. There is a guy with a blue bike, he starts down the second set of steps. But at 10:06 he is back on the landing and is starting down the second set of steps again.

    • When A.C. reaches an unconscious Lois underwater he stops to have a staredown with Clark. While each was surprised to see the other couldn't that wait until after Lois is rescued?

    • When we first see Clark in his underwater face-off with A.C., you can see that he is barefoot. However, when A.C. throws his waterball at Clark and shoots him onto the beach, you can see (when he's flying through the air) that Clark now has his shoes back on.

    • When Lex is taunting Aquaman with a glass of water, the water level in the glass changes repeatedly throughout the scene.

    • Trivia: Chloe finds A.C.'s criminal record on the Metropolis Police website. Unlike the Miami Hurricanes website, it does not exist in reality. According to the website, Arthur Curry served his sentence - 8 months of community service at Ocean Village Resort successfully. He committed his crime (breaking and entering) on 11.12.04 and was tried by the Metropolis City Courts.

    • The "mountains" of Kansas are visible in numerous scenes, primarily around Crater Lake.

    • Professor Fine makes the statement that humans only use 10% of their brains - this has been discredited for years. Professor or alien, he'd know better.

    • A.C. makes several fundamental errors in administering CPR to Lois, some of which would actually injure her further.

    • After Clark saw what happened to him after he was hit with the first waterball, why did he just stand there and wait for A.C to throw the next one at him?

    • When Clark and A.C. are having the underwater fight, A.C. blasts him with some sort of water wave, sending Clark flying out of the water and onto the sand. The stunt double landed on his back, whereas Clark (Tom Welling) is seen in lying on his side.

    • Why did Clark have to superspeed to catch up to A.C.? He left the Talon right after A.C. did. If he let A.C. go far away ahead that Clark would have to superspeed, how would he even know where A.C. went?

    • The door clicks shut and Lex immediately looks up, and Clark and A.C. are standing directly in front of him, with no indication they stopped walking. How'd they get from the door so quick?

    • Lex may not be concerned about the fish, but he's testing Leviathan in Crater Lake when kids swim in it. Clearly he didn't check the lake before testing the weapon (since Lois and A.C. are swimming in it). Wouldn't kids potentially dying due to a prototype weapon draw some attention? Or is Lex just suddenly this completely ruthless?

    • After Arthur freed himself, why does he just stand under the sprinkler system to finish rehydrating himself? There were two huge pools of water behind him that would have probably done a more thorough job of getting him wet.

    • When Clark goes to rescue Arthur from the lab, he just turns on the sprinklers and lets Arthur free himself after much struggling and grunting. Clark was standing ten feet away - why doesn't he just take the extra two steps to free him like he does for everyone else?

    • Why does Lex have the presense of mind to put a camera underwater to watch his weapon go off, but not to keep one in his lab for security? After all the unexplained mysteries that have happened on Lex's property, why doesn't he have cameras running nonstop?

    • Arthur brags about how Lex will never find him since the world is three-fourths water. So after saying that why does he go to the docks of Crater Lake...where a little earlier he was shot at by Luthor's people?

  • QUOTES (42)

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    • Fine: You know, history shows us that every decision a man makes has an effect on the sum of his life.

    • Clark: What brings you to the most landlocked spot on the map? A.C.: Crater Lake. Last few months, a bunch of fish have been dying off. EPA blames it on temperature changes, but I think that is totally bogus. Clark: Smallville's a long way to go to check on temperature changes. A.C.: Not if you care about the world you live in. See, people think that whatever happens in the oceans and lakes doesn't effect their lives, but it does. It's all connected. Clark: Do you really believe that or is that a pickup line for the girls?

    • Fine: What is history? What is her story? What is your story... Mr. Kent?

    • (to A.C.) Lex: I... I guess I shouldn't be surprised there's something unusual about you. I mean, you are a friend of Clark Kent's.

    • (to A.C.) Lex: Now, I usually don't deny my guests a drink, but... something tells me if I give you water... you'll bust out of those restraints before the glass is empty.

    • A.C.: How 'bout some water? I'm running a little thirsty. Lex: So am I. I have a thirst for knowledge. One that never seems to get quenched.

    • A.C.: You know, you're a real tool, Lex. I hope you get what you deserve.

    • Lex: Your new friend's got a bit of an anger problem. Clark: He gets that way when someone's trying to destroy something he loves.

    • A.C.:Why are you doing this to me? Lex: One: you called me a tool. And two: most people I know need scuba gear to breathe under water. A.C.: I'm just good at holding my breath.

    • Clark: So, how do you like the University of Miami? Lois: You go to school in Miami? A.C.: Yeah. How did you know that? Clark: I'm a big fan of college swimming. Lana: Really? Since when? Clark: Since Arthur Curry started dominating the sport.

    • Lois: I've never seen anybody swim so fast. Or drink so much water. A.C.: Keeps my skin soft.

    • (talking to Clark about A.C.) Chloe: But I mean according to all of this, he has never dipped a fin into Smallville until now. Sort of shoots down our meteor freak theory.

    • Lois: Look, just because you saved me when I wasn't really drowning does not give you the right to slobber all over me. A.C.: I'm sorry. Lois: You should be.

    • A.C.: What's the verdict, doc? Lois: You're actually a little cold. A.C.: That's weird. I'm feeling kind of warm right now. Lois: Does that line ever work on anyone?

    • Milton Fine: How long have you been friends with Lex Luthor? Clark: Friends? Who said we were friends?

    • A.C.: Tell you what. You show me how to dress the way you like and I'll teach you how to swim. Lois: I know how to swim. Thank you. A.C.: You're welcome. But next time I might no be there to suck the water out of those pretty lungs.

    • Milton Fine: Good morning, Mr. Kent. Did we start too early for you? Clark: Sorry. I got lost.

    • Lois: (to A.C.) I didn't need you to play paramedic, fishstick!

    • Lex: It's a complicated world, Clark. Only the naïve view it in black and white.

    • A.C.: I've got a buck. Lois: Yeah? You should use it to buy some fashion sense.

    • Clark: I'll go talk to Lex. A.C.: There isn't enough time. Come on, Superboy. With you on the turf and me in the surf, we could stop this thing cold.

    • Milton Fine: Don't apologize. If you're going to be late, at least be late with conviction.

    • Clark: (about A.C.) Doesn't he seem a little fishy to you?

    • (to Lois) Clark: What are you doing back? Lana: Yeah, we thought you were in Europe until the end of year. Clark: Hoping.

    • Milton Fine: Think of Hitler, Stalin, Napoleon. Clark: Lex is not a saint...but I don't think you can put him in the same league as those guys. Milton Fine: An honest opinion...I like that.

    • Clark: Do you think (Lois) could sleep through me smothering her with a pillow?

    • Clark: I didn't ask for this to happen. Chloe: We didn't ask for a world that needs heroes, but the truth is we do. Now more then ever, Clark.

    • A.C.: Maybe you ought to stick to the shallow end until you know how to swim, gorgeous. Lois: Maybe you ought to try a breath mint, surfer boy.

    • Milton Fine: Beware of white knights. They don't slay dragons, they train them to suit their own dark purpose.

    • Lois: You know that orange and green thing you got going? It looks like Flipper threw up.

    • Milton Fine: Groucho Marx said there's only one way to find out if a man's honest – ask him. If he says "yes," he must be crooked. Clark: I'd think a college professor would be quoting Karl Marx, not Groucho. Milton Fine: German history is easy, comedy's hard.

    • Lois: You're not a military brat, are you? A.C.: No, just a brat.

    • Lois: You don't even know me. A.C.: What's to know? You're abrasive, sarcastic – you never shut up. Lois: Yeah – those are my good qualities.

    • Lex: You might be a big fish in the water, but up here I'm the shark.

    • Clark: You know, the other day a professor of mine, he accused LuthorCorp of being evil, and you just short of being the devil. Lex: Well, you didn't tell him about my pitchfork, did you?

    • A.C.: Maybe we should start up a Junior Lifeguard Association or something. Clark: I'm not sure I'm ready for the JLA quite yet.

    • Clark: Stay out of trouble, alright…A.C. A.C.: Try to get in some, Clark. Stay super, bro.

    • Lois: I've known a lot of guys who want to own the world. I haven't met very many who actually want to save it. How am I ever going to meet someone like that again? Clark: Lois, I promise, someday...you'll meet someone even more special.

    • Lex: Clark, the days of you barging into my home to give me sage advice are over.

    • Lois: I just had a little bit of water go down the wrong pipe. A.C.: You were turning blue. Lois: It's a good color on me!

    • Lois: You know, we really should get you checked out at a hospital. A.C.: No, I'm cool. Lois: Is that surfer talk for "there was blood coming out of my ears" because on dry land that usually isn't a good sign.

    • A.C.: You really don't listen, do you? Lois: No, I try not to - I find it distracting.

  • NOTES (11)

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    • Deleted Scene: Lois apologizes to Arthur for Clark's accusation of him being a terrorist. Arthur admits that he blew up a lab and tries to convince Lois that he was doing the right thing. Lois says that she thought he was somebody. Arthur apologizes for hurting her, then takes his leave.

    • Chloe looks up information on A.C. on the actual Miami Hurricanes website under Swimming and Diving. The page she is looking at is almost identical in design to the actual website, apart from the absence of advertising banners and a different layout for swimmer profiles. Also, there are only women on the actual swimming and diving roster of the University of Miami.

    • This was the highest rated episode for a Thursday night in The WB's history (6.4 million viewers). A reason why WB green lighted an Aquaman pilot to be created by Smallville creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar.

    • Milton Fine In the comics, Milton Fine was a circus mentalist that went by the name "Brainiac." A Coluan scientist named Vril Dox possessed Milton Fine in its dying moments. To keep possession of Milton Fine, Vril went on a murdering spree to get cranial fluid. He later developed psychic abilities which he used against Superman in their many battles. Eventually, Milton Fine used his psychic powers to take over LexCorp and had LexCorp scientists restore him to his Coluan form. This version of Milton Fine and the comic books version are obviously drastically different.

    • The first shot we see of Kansas A&M is the Koerner Library at the University of British Columbia. This building was also in the episode "Recruit" when Clark visits Met U.

    • Aquaman In the comics, Aquaman (Arthur Curry) first appeared during the Golden Age in 1941 in More Fun Comics #73 - created by Mort Weisinger and drawn by Paul Norris. the son of a human lighthouse keeper and an Atlantean woman, he was basically an ongoing backup character and didn't even appear on a cover until 1960 (in Brave & The Bold #28, as a now-Silver Age member of the Justice League in their first appearance). He got bounced from back-up to back-up until getting a solo run in Showcase and finally got his book in 1962. He became one of the first DC characters to become a married man after appearing in the comics and then have a son. Blessed with a rich supporting cast, Aquaman eventually lost his solo book, reverted to back-up features, lost his son to Black Manta, separated from his wife, left the throne, got his hand cut off, and had his shaving razor stolen. He's since gone through a reinvention or two in the comics and had several on-again/off-again solo series, but is probably best known (if somewhat inexplicably) for his various animated TV series appearances: the Superman-Aquaman Hour of Adventure (featuring episodes from a 1967-68 series he appeared in) and various incarnations of the SuperFriends. Aquaman was introduced into the WB animated universe in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "A Fish Story".

    • A.C.'s Clothing The orange and green outfit A.C. wears is similar to the team colors of the University of Miami Hurricanes. Not surprising, since the character attends the University of Miami. This creative decision was most likely chosen since Aquaman is traditionally depicted in orange and green in the comics.

    • Music featured in this episode included: The Dandy Warhols ("All The Money Or The Simple Life Honey" - Odditorium or Warlords of Mars), Cary Brothers ("Waiting For Your Letter"), Amy Ward ("Everyday Is Like The Weekend")

    • At the end of the episode in the initial airing, Annette O'Toole came on to promote the Christopher Reeve Paralyis Foundation and its Superman tags.

    • John Glover, John Schnieder, and Annette O'Toole don't appear in this episode.

    • James Marsters is billed as Special Guest Star.

  • ALLUSIONS (11)

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • AC: It's a sonar weapon called Leviathan. It emits some kind of focused wave. Packs enough punch to rip a submarine in half. Leviathan (le-vi-a-then), is a sea creature from Biblical times, described as a giant serpent. It is mentioned throughout the Old Testament, and feasted on all living things in the water.

    • Lois: You know this whole orange and green thing you got going? It looks like Flipper threw up. Flipper was the dolphin star of the 1963 movie Flipper. The movie was followed by TV shows in 1964 and 1995 and a movie remake in 1996.

    • Professor Milton Fine: German philosophy is easy. Comedy is hard. A riff on the famous deathbed words: Dying is easy, comedy is hard. Exactly who first said them on their deathbed is up to debate. Two common candidates are Sir Donald Wolfit and Edmund Kean.

    • Lois: Well, I know what you did this summer. Alluding to the horror movie I Know What You Did Last Summer.

    • Professor Milton Fine: The most powerful supercomputer... (taps his forehead) ...is right here. Although in his speech he says he is referring to the human mind, it is a sly allusion to the fact that as Brainiac, he is indeed the most powerful supercomputer.

    • Chloe: Where did Bobby Baywatch come from? Referencing the (in)famous TV series Baywatch starring David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson, featuring the day-to-day exploits of a highly-skilled team of handsome attractive lifeguards.

    • A.C.: I don't run with an entourage. This is an in-joke/reference to the HBO show Entourage, which has used Aquaman as the basis for a possible movie adaptation for main character Vincent Chase, played by Adrian Grenier.

    • Clark: Lois, I promise, someday...you'll meet someone even more special. Alluding to the comics where Lois and Clark are married.

    • Clark: I'm not sure I'm ready for the JLA yet... The JLA are the initials for the Justice League of America, which in the comics both Superman and Arthur are members of. This is the second future JLAer Clark has meet (Bart - the Flash of a sort) was the first, and "Run" also featured a JLA allusion.

    • A.C.: Come on, Superboy... During his teenage days in the comics during the Silver Age, Clark performed superheroics in Smallville by the name Superboy.

    • A.C.: We'll try it your way, boy scout... One of Superman's nicknames in the comics is the'"Big Blue Boy Scout."

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