Smallville

Season 7 Episode 16

Descent

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Descent
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No one is safe when Lex seeks the secret of Veritas, and Clark tries to stop him.
FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (57)

SUBMIT REVIEW

  • Lame upon lame upon lame upon LAME. This episode made me want to kill myself. EVERYTHING WAS AWFUL. From the beyond melodramatic acting to the absolutely gruesome Script.

    1.0
    By Mrommy, Jun 10, 2011
    It's beyond my understanding how people still continue watching these episodes. Everything goes either at the speed of a turtle or at the speed of light. Nothing makes sense to any sensible human.



    I mean come on! It's a simple small key. Lex can get anything he wants, except for that ONE THING which he needs a SMALL KEY for? And Luthor can't HIDE A SMALL KEY? It's a bloody circus with inconstancy's. Such as when Clark scans a whole **** mansion for a SMALL KEY in a matter of seconds, when there's like a trillion other less sequential things he can't do in a whole damn day.



    Bang my head against the WALL please. Along with anyone who ever bothered to watch more than a single episode.moreless

  • The journey is over.Lex Luthor is here.

    8.0
    By costas22, Jun 10, 2011
    Fantastic episode.One of Smallville's finest.It had everything.Drama,action,terrific acting and a plot that kept you at the edge of your seat.One might find strange that the murder scene is the first one of the episode,but let's not forget that the WGA strike forced the show to reshuffle it's material.It was to have aired towards the end of Veritas had it been the season 7 finale.In my opinion the way this scene was eventually used was much better.It set up a whole episode which gave Lex the chance to complete his descent and Clark to finally realise Lionel's interest in him.Now we are into season 8 but i still miss the two best actors this show has had.Michael Rosenbaum and John Glover.The latter cound have stayed for this season but the writers chose to sacrifice him(ironically in the show he sacrificed himself for Clark) in order for Lex to become all evil.Michael Rosenbaum has been missed simply because no one else in the show now can deliver such a performance.I would really love to see his big screen career take off because he is talented enough.Clark was very determined in this episode as is the case when Lana is not around.The final scene was a milestone for both he and Lex.We know Smallville does funerals in it's own unique way and this was no exception.It was a rather simple scene but the nice music and the well played staredown were enough to make it one of the best Smallville final scenes ever.Great episode!moreless

  • Lionel dies.

    10
    By Canogaparkcindy, Mar 05, 2011
    No one listened to Lionel afte rall of those warnings. Lionel dies unfortunately. That really sucked what happened to him. No one seemed to care but Chloe. Who gets fired for it, and she doesn't even care about her job. Lois keeps her job and that's how Superman pieces together. Lex killed Lionel, I really hate that guy. Anyways I'm glad that the ho, Gina died. She annoyed me so much. It was obvious she was infatuated with Lex. Jimmy was so sweet to Lois in the freezer. I foreshadow romance. Lois & Jimmy together would be perfect. Anyways a really good episode. Alot of things happened in less than 12 hours!moreless

  • Lex does the unthinkable....he murders his own father, Lionel. Clark and Chloe run into a dead end with their search for Kara and Brainiac, while Lois and Jimmy face a chilly end.moreless

    9.0
    By 1960UncleSteve, Feb 02, 2011
    'Smallville' has always been about how Clark Kent became the moral, decent man that is Superman. The main subplot during the first seven seasons was how Lex Luthor went from being a decent young man to an evil mastermind. In this episode, Lex comes to the end of his journey. The episode starts with his murdering his own father, and, towards the end, purging himself of his conscience, by "killing" the good in him represented by his younger self. The drama is riveting, and makes for an episode that is superior to most, in a series that is generally outstanding to begin with.

    As good as it is, it has flaws. In the previous episode, Clark and Chloe treated Lionel with hatred. Clark's biggest problem in this episode is that he didn't take the key Lionel so desperately tried to give him. One would expect Clark and Chloe both to express guilt over how they treated Lionel--Chloe even goes as far to tell Clark that they now know he (Lionel) thought of Clark as a second son. But neither of them seem to feel bad over what was said.

    Still, a great episode, making you want to put in the fifth disk and see what happens next....moreless

  • Lex continues his "Descent" into the darkness of evil, believing that Lionel has committed the ultimate betrayal of him. Clark and Chloe continue to search for answers about Veritas, while Jimmy and Lois investigate a murder photo.moreless

    8.5
    By cxtasy, Feb 02, 2011
    "Descent" continues the increasing tension of the previous two episodes, through which the Veritas organization is revealed as a means of protection for the coming of the Traveler to Earth. Composed of families which have been featured in several previous seasons of Smallville, this series of related stories is a masterful creation of an entire history of the mission of Kal-El, and of those who either attempted to insure his success, or attempted to exploit him for their own purposes. The many previous storylines and episodes leading to this conclusion must be known and understood to truly appreciate how complex the screenwriting became in order to make the current and upcoming episodes not only plausible, but gripping and exciting to watch.



    Lionel's life of misdeeds and conspiracies are catching up with him, and are becoming known in full by Lex, the one most affected by Lionel's lust for power. Lionel is seeking redemption by protecting Clark from...Zoners? Brainiac? Bizarro? The specifics aren't brought out in either "Traveler" or "Veritas," as both Clark and Chloe have no desire to ever listen to another story from him. And Lex is remembering scenes and conversations overheard during his childhood, pre-meteor shower. The departure of a major cast member was known before this episode was aired, and the speculation added to the tension.



    When the ultimate confrontation takes place, the events of some 15 years earlier have become known by Lex, and he sees them as a fatal betrayal of his early life and his destiny by a father who cared more about the power of the Traveler than the well-being of his own son. Lionel tries another subterfuge - telling Lex that he is the Traveler...all the mysterious healings and escapes from death are evidence. Lex pulls a gun, knowing that he will find his answers in the safety deposit box in a bank in Zurich - he realizes that Lionel has the second key, and yanks it from his neck chain. Lionel's last words, "Lex, if you open that box, if you get hold of that secret, there will be no redemption for you, no redemption, ever." He sees that Lex will make the same mistake he did - Lex will be seduced by the ability to control the Traveler, and gain ultimate temporal power. Lex watches his own father plunge to his death from the Luthorcorp tower.



    This is merely the opening scene! The continuing search for traces of Kara and Brainiac seems almost trivial after that. But Chloe and Clark press on until interrupted by the news from next door at Luthorcorp. Lex identifies the body as Lionel, even as he feigns innocence - yet Mr. Rosenbaum carries this scene off superbly, exhibiting remorse and defiance all in the same scene, as he visualizes his own youthful self - Alexander - accusing him of murder, and sees a face in the crowd - Clark, who may finally realize his error in refusing to listen to Lionel and to take the locket containing the key.



    Gina, an aide to Lex who clearly has feelings for him, expresses sympathy - as Lex continues his act. She understands how he got the locket - but it's empty. Lex suspects Lionel gave it to someone, and Gina reports that Lionel stopped at the DP earlier. His younger self appears again, working on his guilt, and sending him into a rage. His conscience and potential redemption diminish with each scene.



    Clark invades the crime scene at Lionel's office, and finds in the vault a cylinder lighted with kryptonian symbols. In an effective and mysterious scene, he activates the cylinder, which projects a visual message from Lionel. It's a warning - two keys exist, and they unlock the means of controlling Kal-El, and Clark must now save himself.



    Jimmy has found in some of his photos from Lex's office an image of Lionel falling from his office, and another person in the darkness. Lois suggests using Lana's ISIS equipment to enhance and enlarge the photo. Chloe finds in her desk the other key - left by Lionel - even as Lex enters, pretending to be looking for family heirlooms. Chloe is at her lowest in protecting Clark, clumsily hiding the key in plain view in her desk drawer; Lex finds it, and summarily fires Chloe. This is another Smallville milestone - Chloe is suddenly launched on another career, not involving journalism.



    In another maddening and dangerous move, Jimmy sends Chloe a plain text message about the photo of Lionel's fall, and it's easily spotted by Gina after Lex leaves the DP office. Our cast of heroes is falling way behind Lex - he is running circles around them. And Lois and Jimmy are soon looking down the barrel of Gina's gun. Jimmy's again depicted mostly as an ineffectual boob, while Lois tries heroics and gets shot for her bravery. After stashing the two in a freezer room, Gina is off to hit the 'delete' key for the photo on the ISIS server. Jimmy's only attempt to escape involves shouting through the door glass - most people would try to break it out and open the door.



    Chloe's part in this episode is similarly frustrating - she has withheld significant information from Clark on Lionel's visit, and even now does not clarify it, until Clark mentions the keys. Finally! By now, there's a couple cast members and writers I could just slap.



    So Clark invades the mansion, finding the locket with little effort, but no key. Lex catches him red-handed, and the two have words about Lionel's death - the usual denials and accusations. Meteor freaks, alien ships, cryptic symbols, Lex shouts...and he has a point. His paranoia is justified - the Earth is being threatened by alien forces, and he's acting as protector. It makes a lot of sense from his viewpoint. But like Lionel, Clark only talks about delusions - that line is just not going to cut it any more. Mr. Rosenbaum does another superior acting job in this verbal confrontation.



    As Chloe continues enhancing the murder photo, Gina slips in and brains the clueless Chloe, who hasn't so much as locked the door. Gina erases the photo files as Clark arrives, shouting Chloe's name before he enters so any intruder can hide, and Gina does. Please, writers, is it necessary to dumb down the cast in every scene? Is anyone going to do anything right and/or heroic here? As he finds her on the floor, Clark doesn't even do a sweep of the complex. This is just rookie police work, folks. Then Clark and Chloe blab out his secret, and the danger of the keys, so Gina can overhear everything. Oh well, this just means that she's a dead woman.



    Clark rescues Jimmy and Lois at the DP, thawing them with heat vision without being seen. Heroics as last. As Gina leaves a message for Lex stating that she knows the identity of the Traveler, she's put away for good, presumably by one of Lex's thugs. Hope he got the message, but regardless, he's planning a little trip to Zurich. His young self, played by Connor Stanhope, probably for the last time, appears again, having a dialog with Lex, but he retorts, "I'm done listening to you," as he puts aside the last vestige of his conscience.



    Clark continues to beat himself up about the death of Lionel, his father, and Jor-El, as Chloe tries to talk some sense into him, offering the definition of evil as "the total absence of love." Interesting thought. At least Clark resolves to stop Lex from opening the safety deposit box.



    Lex and Clark see one another again, at the cemetery, where Lionel is laid to rest in a rather ordinary grave. No words pass between them, but we all say goodbye to a long and compelling characterization by John Glover. He brought great skill to the part, often making us wonder if he was truly as evil as he appeared, but balancing that with insights into a person who eventually became one of Clark's greatest protectors, and who attempted to shield the world from the threat posed by his own son. Thank you, Mr. Glover.



    "Descent" is a series classic, primarily for the significant developments, if not for the characterizations of the major cast members, who are depicted as inept and slow to react to threats. But so what? It's part of a trilogy, and even more episodes must reveal the growing threat of Lex and his knowledge of the Traveler. The season-ending episodes may continue along these lines, and if the dramatic tension can be sustained by good scripts and acting, especially by Mr. Rosenbaum, we might have an eight-episode must-see series. By itself, this episode gets only a C+ for a re-run rating - it should have been a B+, but at least it's elevated to that level as part of the Veritas story.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

Michael Rosenbaum

Michael Rosenbaum

Alexander ("Lex") Luthor
Tom Welling

Tom Welling

Clark Kent/Kal-El of Krypton
John Glover

John Glover

Lionel Luthor
Allison Mack

Allison Mack

Chloe Sullivan
Erica Durance

Erica Durance

Lois Lane
Aaron Ashmore

Aaron Ashmore

Jimmy Olsen
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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

Connor Stanhope

Connor Stanhope

Young Alexander "Lex" Luthor

Guest Star

Jill Teed

Jill Teed

Captain Maggie Sawyer

Guest Star

Don Broatch

Don Broatch

Mysterious Attacker

Guest Star

Anna Galvin

Anna Galvin

Gina

Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • TRIVIA (5)

    • When Lex takes the locket from Lionel it is on a chain around Lionel's neck. Later, Lex tells his "assistant" there was no key in the locket. This is not possible. The locket is made up out of two parts, a key and a cover. The hinged cover fits around the blade of the key which leaves the bow of the key free to attach the chain. Without the key, the chain can't be attached to the locket.

    • When Clark aligns the letters on the rod giving him Lionel's final message, the Kryptonian letters (from an English-Kryptonian alphabet DC Comics uses) should spell out "For The Traveler." Someone goofed making the item because instead they light up and, as the music swells dramatically, they spell out "For The Tarveler."

    • Trivia: At the end, Clark sprinkles dirt on Lionel's grave, a scene very reminiscent of the last scene of "Reckoning" in which Clark sprinkles a handful of snow and dirt on Jonathan's grave.

    • Lex was asked to identify his father's body on the stairs near the Luthorcorp building. Family members usually do that privately in the morgue and not on the street in front of everybody.

    • Lex killed Lionel at night time but in the picture Jimmy took, it's clearly daytime as there is sunlight shining through the window onto the desk.

  • QUOTES (12)

    • Lionel: In my lifetime, I've known many famous and powerful men: presidents, sultans, kings. And I believed that I was superior to them all. But I've come to know the truth, Kal-El. My greatest accomplishment is that I have dedicated myself to protecting your life and serving you. For that, I am grateful.

    • Lex: My father just died and you're already breaking-and-entering?
      Clark: Lionel would never take his own life.
      Lex: I thought that you would least try to offer a word of comfort. Get out.
      Clark: I'm not going anywhere.

    • Clark: I tried to be your friend, Lex. But all you care about is power and control.
      Lex: This is Smallville! Meteor freaks, alien ships, cryptic symbols! These threats are real. Someone had to take control. Someone has to protect the world.
      Clark: Listen to yourself, Lex. You're so caught up in your own delusions, you've lost track of reality.
      Lex: Have I? Then let's talk about something you can't deny. After years of pleading with my father, showed me some compassion, he turned to you with open arms. Now what would a worldly-billionaire have in common with a simple farmboy?
      Clark: Maybe he just knew he could trust me.
      Lex: Of course. Everyone can trust Clark Kent. You're the perfect son. So...so why did Jonathan Kent always seem so stressed? I mean, was raising the perfect son really that much work? I wonder how much of a strain it put on his heart?
      Clark: Are you blaming me for my father's death? Are you?!? You're the guilty one, Lex, not me. And this time you're going to own up to what you've done. I know you killed Lionel.
      Lex: (scoffs) Who's delusional now?
      Clark: I have proof.

    • Lois: You shot me?
      Gina: You weren't cooperating.
      Jimmy: How about a warning?

    • Jimmy: I got an exclusive for you. When we get out of here, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen are going to be world famous.

    • Lionel: What if I told you now...that you are the Traveler? You're right, your life truly changed that day. I told you in the helicopter that you were destined for a great future. That's why I've been so hard on you, trained you so relentlessly. Think, Lex, think. You have survived mortal injuries so many times. How else can you explain it?
      Lex: Because I was trained never to accept defeat.

    • Lionel: (to Lex) You think I can control the fate of individuals? Oh God... you give me too much credit.

    • Lex: You're fired. Please escort Miss Sullivan from the building.
      Chloe: You're not even going to give me a sec to clear out my things?

    • Lex: (to Lionel) I'm sure there were moments when King Arthur regretted pulling the sword from the stone. But he never gave up his quest. So why did you?

    • Lionel: Lex, I know how strong it is, the attraction of the dark power. But it will destroy you. I can't let you go down that terrible path. You must not open that box.

    • Clark: Jor-El died getting me on that ship. My dad died of a heart attack from the powers he took on protecting me. And now Lionel's been murdered protecting my secret.
      Chloe: They did die for you, Clark. But ultimately, they died for all of us. There was a reason those men were in your life--each of them added something to the man that you are today.
      Clark: How could Lex have done it? How does a son murder his own father?
      Chloe: Total absence of love. Some say that's the definition of evil.

    • Lionel: Lex. Lex, if you open that box--if you get hold of that secret--there will be no redemption for you, no redemption. Ever.
      Lex: I was raised in your shadow. Now, you're gonna die in mine. No one will even remember your name.

  • NOTES (4)

    • This is John Glover's final appearance as a series regular.

    • Jonathan Kent (played by John Schneider) is seen briefly in this episode, but only in a photograph.

    • International Airdates:
      Norway: Monday, April 28, 2008 10.50 pm on TVNorge
      Denmark: Monday, June 9, 2008 on TV3
      Australia: Thursday, July 10, 2008 8:30 on TEN HD
      United Kingdom: Tuesday, September 2, 2008, 10.00pm on E4
      Sweden: Friday, September 12, 2008 on TV6
      Greece: Sunday, November 1, 2008 on Star
      New Zealand: Friday, May 15, 2009 on TV2
      Czech Republic: March 8, 2010 on TV Nova
      Slovakia: August 24, 2010 on Markiza

    • Kristin Kreuk and Laura Vandervoort are credited but do not appear in this episode.

  • ALLUSIONS (2)

    • Lional Luthor as Christ-figure.
      Many elements of Lionel Luthor in this episode allude to Jesus Christ in the Bible:
      - He offers redemption to the evildoer (Lex)
      - He dies to save another (Clark)
      - He dies in the same position as a crucified man (body straight, arms outstretched)

    • Lois: I guess trying to take on one of Lex Luthor's fembots doesn't make me the smartest icicle in the freezer.
      The fembots were originally created for an episode of The Bionic Woman. They were later parodied in the Austin Powers movies, and the term generally applies to any female robot.

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