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Smallville Season 2 Episode 5

Nocturne

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 10/22/02

Lana has a new stalker - a boy imprisoned in his basement by his parents who sneaks out at night to visit her. Meanwhile Lionel hires Clark's mother as his personal assistant.

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (10)

this ep was really good

9.0

By cube2k8, May 09, 2010

in this ep of smallville lana has a new stalker its a kid name bryon who is locked up in his parents basement. and it treated like a animal he goes out at night to see lana. he writes her a letter but clark shows up they meet and talk but it gets late and the dad takes him into the house and he is sent back to the basement. and clark and lana want to help so they get the sherffe to go investagate but the parents say there kid died awhile ago. clark does some digging but learns that they faked there birth cirtificate and but clark goes and bust him out and he reacts to the daylight really bad and then he becomes like super human and has alot of steath but clark tells lana he is dangrious but she does not listen to him . also in this story martha kent soon has a job working for lionel luther .and will clark be able to help bryon i wonder. this was a great ep i thought.moreless
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A young man named Byron is imprisoned at home by a tryannical father, but he escapes long enough to send poems to Lana, who is taken by this sign of friendship. The whole gang is needed to learn Byron's secret identity, and to stop his destruction.moreless

7.5

By cxtasy, Oct 21, 2008

On a dark and gloomy night in the Smallville cemetery, Lana drops by to visit her parents' grave, and she's being watched. Bad practice, even in Smallville. Someone has given her an envelope sealed with the monogram "B," then we see a young man running hysterically through the woods, only to be shot but an elderly man. Well, it's his dad, and his name is Byron, and he's a virtual prisoner in his own basement. We'll find out why. Richard Moll is the tyrannical dad, really didn't recognize him from his role years ago in "Night Court." Too bad he didn't get more air time in this episode - he only gets to snarl angrily in two or three scenes.

Lana shows the cemetery letter to Chloe and Pete - it's a nice page of poetry, romantic she thinks, but we who have more sense about nighttime forays alone in the cemetery would think more like "stalker." Hey, that's just what Clark said when he read the poem, as Lana leaves after calling him the "Man of Steel," in this case, meaning no worthwhile emotions, not a reference to his physical skills.

Lex tries some poetry on Lana, turns out she a sucker for a well-metered phrase. Clark is poetically inept, as Lana puts him off again. Lionel, still suffering from blindness, has fired an employee selected by Lex as a personal assistant. So after some pointless conflict between the two, Lionel is reading braille with a reader, when Martha drops by the mansion, and has some business insights for Lionel. This is going to lead to a job offer.

At the creepy house of Byron, we see he's the poet, addressing another anonymous letter to Lana. His mother is a bit more humane toward him, but she's in on keeping him confined in the basement, too. Surely he's a meteor-freak of some sort, and he slips out through the basement wall for another late-night delivery to Lana, who's back at the cemetery. This time she's spots Byron, and they talk - she's his inspiration, he says, just as Clark breaks up the meeting by knocking Byron to the ground. So they head back to the Talon for his recovery, where Clark spots scars on his wrists, and Byron panics when he hears the hour of the morning. Too late, he's accosted by his father, who chases off Clark and Lana with a shotgun.

Martha discusses a new job offer from Lionel; it does not sit well with Jonathan. He's crabby as usual, but this discussion goes on hold while they call in the sheriff after hearing Clark and Lana's suspicions that Byron is being abused. With Sheriff Ethan, they all troop to the Byron house, where dad and mom claim that Byron died years earlier. The Sheriff agrees to get a warrant. Chloe prints out a death certificate for Byron for Lana and Clark. Back at the mansion, John Glover fakes playing the piano, just a Lex sometimes does. Why bother trying to make the viewers think they have these skills? Lex is very defensive of the Kents against whatever plot Lionel is hatching. Harsh words, but no real point to the conflict.

Clark and Pete head to Byron's house for a b&e, and it is a creepy place. Finding a hidden trap door in the floor, they find Byron chained up in the basement. But the sunshine turns him into a monster of sorts, pasty-white face and bad eyes, which is why he's only functional during a "Nocturne," and he tosses both Pete and Clark for a loop. Pete gets thrown into a windshield, so he's hospitalized with a fracture. Clark and Jonathan go back to Byron's house; Byron's mother now comes clean. His earlier drug treatment made him hypersensitive to the sun. Clark decides to find him.

Medical trials on Byron had the adverse effects - the drug company was owned by the Luthorcorp. Lana goes it alone, finding Byron in the cemetery, but he's a bit of a raging monster, and throws Lana into a crypt wall. Lex agrees to look into the drug company ownership, while Lionel's helo arrives and Martha joins him for a short flight to Metropolis. Very short, as angry Byron grabs a skid and sends the chopper into the ground, followed by an attack on Martha and Lionel, which is thwarted by Clark, but he's almost met his match for strength. Only solution - get Bryon out of the sunshine, down in the handy catacombs or drainage culverts for a transformation back to good Byron. End of super-skills for this episode.

Byron is in the hospital, with visitors Clark and Lana. But no worries, we can see the relationship with Lana and Byron is going nowhere. Martha later convinces Lionel to fund research on Byron's condition - while Lex is pretty skeptical. While Clark moves hay bales from one place to another in the blue Chevy stake-side, Lana stops by, getting another apology from Clark, and another attempt by Lana to convince Clark to take a step toward being open with her. Too risky? This tension may be a long time resolving.

Nice acoustic music in this episode - not much notable drama or clever lines, as the Byron story is resolved pretty quickly, and Clark and Lana make no romantic progress. But the Martha-working-for-Lionel story line might offer some interesting developments in future episodes. Re-run rating C+.moreless
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"I'm a Freak and Obsessed With Lana" Part 3

6.2

By lenzinoH20, Apr 13, 2008

Nocture-Lana has a new stalker - a boy imprisoned in his basement by his parents who sneaks out at night to visit her. Meanwhile Lionel hires Clark's mother as his personal assistant.

A forgettable freak of the week episode with some better subplots, "Nocture" is only interesting because of the development of Martha becoming Lionel's new assistant. Both Annette O'Toole and John Glover work so well together as they're scenes still the show. It's obvious that Lionel has feelings for Martha at this point and John plays it off so well. I liked that Martha took a stand against Jothnathan by taking the job and wanting to have a career of her own. It's a great storyline for the career and about time she got one.

The rest of the episode sees Lana getting romantic letters from some emo-eqse poet named Bryon whose parents lock up in a basement. Clark, of course, becomes jealous but both he and Lana investigate the situation anyway. The plot is mysterious and slightly creepy at first thanks to Richard Moll as Bryon's father as the actor is always plays creepy roles well. But the revelation of Bryon's situation as he "hulks" out in the sunlight is uninteresting and the climax as Clark throws him into a tunnel is not exciting. All and All, Besides a great sub-plot, "Nocture" is just an average yet slightly dull hour.moreless
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Great Episode

10

By Beer75, Aug 22, 2007

Lana finds a secret admirer in a boy named Byron. However, Byron is a former test subject for one of LuthorCorp's projects run by Lionel Luthor. After an encounter with Byron's parents, Clark and Lana come to the conclusion that Byron is being abused, and decide to rescue him from his parents. When they release Byron from his room, the sunlight turns him into violent creature with superhuman strength. Clark tracks down Byron and during a fight the two fall down a well shaft. The darkness returns Byron to normal long enough for Clark to get Bryon to the hospital. Martha takes a position as Lionel Luthor's personal assistant.moreless
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Plain and boring

8.2

By sazloo07, Apr 04, 2007

Lana has a new admirer and stalker who it turns out gets very strong and frightening when he is out in daylight - lame right? I hated this episode because of the storyline which i just thought was cheesy and unoriginal. Plus i hate Lana episodes in general since the writers turned her into a whining old bag. I did think that stalker boys face make-up was impressive, and the fight scene wasn't too bad though it could have been better. I think the episode was just missing something, okay to watch but wouldn't bother watching it again.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Annette O'Toole	Martha Clark Kent
Michael Rosenbaum	Alexander ('Lex') Joseph Luthor
John Schneider	Jonathan Kent
Allison Mack	Chloe Sullivan
Tom Welling	Clark Kent/Kal-El of Krypton
John Glover	Lionel Luthor (Recurring Season 1, Regular Season 2+)

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Sean Faris	Byron Moore	Guest Star
Richard Moll	Mr. Moore	Guest Star
Gwynyth Walsh	Mrs. Moore	Guest Star
Mitchell Kosterman	Sheriff Ethan	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (11)
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- At 4:13 Pete grabs the poem from Lana and hands it to Clark, but when the shot changes back to Lana, she shifts in her seat and the poem is visible back in her hand.
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- When Lionel is "playing" the piano, you can see he isn't atually playing, as none of the piano hammers appear to be striking. This is apparent when Lionel resumes "playing" after Lex exits the scene.
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- In the scene in the Torch after Chloe prints the death certificate, the green iMac she uses is clearly empty (not filled with computer innards).
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- When Jonathan, Clark, Lana and the sheriff went to Byron's home, why didn't Clark scan the house with his X-ray vision? (some contributors thought that he might have a difficult time explaining how he found what he found, but Pete always seemed to buy those "hunch" hints last year in episodes like X-Ray. Also, the whole house plus the ground around the basement would have to be lead to thwart Clark's x-ray vision!)
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- Lana says Byron's poem is "personal" when Lex picks it up. From the counter where she laid it. Where it's laying all nice and out in the open. Which she says other people have been giving her a hard time about.
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- Lana says she hasn't got any love letters since third grade. Including the ones Whitney sent her earlier this season...? Or did he really not send her anything resembling a love letter?
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- What prevents Byron from covering his whole body in a white material so sunlight doesn't hit his skin? White will reflect the light better than other colors. And also, the problem with sight if he is completely covered. Well, sunglasses would work, or something similar to that. He can have some light, as otherwise he wouldn't have been able to see in the basement.
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- Since when is it okay for Byron to have a good side and a bad side, but when Clark does (as seen in "Red") he gets heavily criticized by Lana. (editor's note: Lana's issue with Clark seem to be the secretiveness of his "good" side rather than what he did when he was "bad". Plus Byron had a chemical excuse and Clark doesn't seem to have bothered to try to explain how the red rock altered his behavior.)
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- Byron comments that Lana inspired his poem writings. How can this be when he's been locked in his basement for eight years, hunted by his dad when he leaves? Alternately, if he's so good at getting out of the basement to spy on her, why does he managed to get captured twice in the course of this episode?
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- The helicopter should have pulled Byron off the ground, not the other way around. He got stronger, not heavier.
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- When Byron throws Pete into the car, the roof is dented, presumably by his head. Given the force with which he was thrown and the trajectory of the rest of his body, how is it even remotely possible he did not break his neck?
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QUOTES (19)
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- Byron: How can you let him do this to me?
  Mrs. Moore: You have put your father through enough, just be glad that things are back to normal.
  Byron: Normal kids aren't hunted by their fathers.
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- Lana: You pulled one of your trademark disappearing acts last night.
  Clark: Well I figured uh, you could use some time alone with Byron.
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- Lana: Why do you leave me these poems?
  Byron: Because you inspire me.
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- Clark: Don't you think it's weird? This guy's sneaking around watching you?
  Lana: Come on, Clark, tell me you've never watched somebody from afar.
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- Chloe: I'd love to help you but Pete just sent an SOS for his Playstation 2.
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- Clark: It doesn't bother you that he's so..
  Lana: Different? If you really like someone, you accept every part of them, but you can't do that until they're willing to share every part with you.
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- (talking about Byron)
  Lana: At least someone has some artistic culture.
  Lex: Certainly raises the bar for any other contestants, doesn't it, Clark?
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- Lionel: Just get me an assistant who meets my criteria.
  Lex: I don't think I would fit your criteria.
  Lionel: Probably not. But nobody's perfect.
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- Lex: If your agenda contains plans to harm the Kents in any way, this amiable father and son detente will come to an abrupt end.
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- Lionel: Lex? I can feel your smirk from here.
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- Clark: My family doesn't fly much.
  Lex: Trust me – that's about to change.
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- Lex: My father's the poster boy for family strife.
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- Chloe: I think I know why our prospective Shakespeare went all pro-wrestler.
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- Pete: This place is like the NRA petting zoo.
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- Pete: Being part of this family should come with a group health plan.
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- Lex: (to Lionel) I'm glad to see your condition hasn't softened your paternal side.
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- Tad: Are you letting me go?
  Lionel: Never lose that grasp of the obvious, Tad. It's one of your strongest attributes.
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- Tad: (to Lionel) So as you can see, sir... well, you can't actually see.
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- Lana: I almost forgot – Clark Kent, the man of steel.
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NOTES (3)
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- Another one of Superman's nicknames is used to describe Clark when Lana calls him the "Man of Steel." Of course here she was referring to his lack of sensitivity rather than his super-strength.
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- Although Clark doesn't know it yet, he (presumably) gets his great strength and other powers from the same source as Byron -- Earth's yellow sun.
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- Music: "Crazy Richie" by Cactus Groove, "Underneath It All" by No Doubt, "Don't Ask Me" by OK Go, OK Go , and "Love Song" by Sheila Nicholls.
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ALLUSIONS (8)
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- Pete: This place (with hunting trophies) is like an NRA petting zoo. NRA is the National Rifle Association, an American gun owners organization formed in 1871. Membership is common among hunters.
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- Pete: You're a regular Dr. Dolittle.
  Hugh Lofting wrote a series of books about Dr. Dolittle, a doctor who could speak to animals. The most recent film version featured Eddie Murphy.
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- Pete: You should come with an instruction manual.
  On the TV series Greatest American Hero the protagonist had a suit that gave him superpowers but lost the instruction manual that gave him Superman-like powers.
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- Lex: Take me to you, imprison me, for I never shall be free, Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.
  This is an excerpt from Donne's Holy Sonnet XIV, slightly misquoted.
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- Chloe: Metron Pharameuticals
  In the DC universe Metron is one of the "New Gods", created by Jack Kirby and a "god" of knowledge for the sake of knowledge.
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- Byron: If I could write the beauty of your eyes, And number all your graces, The age to come would say 'This poet lies; Such heavenly touches ne'er touched earthly faces.'
  This is an excerpt from Sonnet XVII, slightly misquoted.
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- Lana: Like the poet?
  Lana is referring to the English Romantic poet Lord Byron.
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- Byron: He writes about pain and suffering, and people being buried alive.
  The writings of Poe dealing with pain and suffering are too numerous to list. In The Cask of Amontillado, a man is chained and then bricked up in a catacomb, similar to Byron's situation.
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