Prototype

Season 6, Episode 21, Aired
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Episode Summary

Lex tries to turn a soldier that supposedly died in Afghanistan into a "super-soldier." A senator threatens to tell the world about Lex's labs, prompting Lex to send the "soldier" to kill the senator. Lois sees the attack and becomes the soldier's next victim.
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Fan Episode Reviews (37)

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  • This episode has nothing to do with the story line; just another filler.

    1.7
    "Abysmal"
    By RoAzorica, Dec 22, 2010 Report Abuse
    You can tell that the show is starting to fade because of the sotry line. They are throwing things in that have nothing to do with the Superman story. When is clark going to take care of all the phantoms and get his training? It is strange that he is taking his sweet time to do it. Instead let's worry about super soldiers and Lana getting shot; these things are all pointless.moreless

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    5 8

  • Super Soldier Syndrome

    6.2
    "Fair"
    By lenzinoH20, Nov 06, 2010 Report Abuse
    Prototype-Lex tries to turn a soldier that supposedly died in Afghanistan into a "super-soldier." A senator threatens to tell the world about Lex's labs, prompting Lex to send the "soldier" to kill the senator. Lois sees the attack and becomes the soldier's next victim.

    As a penultimate episode of the season, "Prototype" fall short. Here we have Lex's lastest weapon, who turns out to be Wes Keenan, the supposed dead husband of Jodi Keenan from "Nemesis". Wes Keenan himself makes for an interesting character as first super soldier of Lex's army of meteor freaks. Super-strength and invisiblity make for some stellar effects.I love the concept of Wes' powerful abilities coming from parts of Titan and the idea of Lex messing with alien body parts to make his super soliders is great development. Tahmoh Penikett is so-so in the role, only because you don't really have that much sympathy for the character in the end.

    Lois' involvment seems a bit forced, although Eric Durance gives a great performance as she tries to help Wes remember their history together. But the story neevr gets exciting or as engaging as it wants to be. Also, the final fight between Clark and Wes is yet another short and sour climax for the episode. Also, Clark using his heat to kill Wes was very off putting, since when does Clark kill! At least the death of the U.S. Senator gives Martha a new position to consider as the new U.S. Senator. All and All, "Prototype" is barely average and holds on by a thin thread, not a good lead in to the finale.moreless

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    0 2

  • Lois loses another friend

    10
    "Perfect"
    By scillaward, Sep 11, 2010 Report Abuse
    I was so sad when I watched this episode. Lois is sticking her nose where it doesn't belong as usual and Wes kidnaps her. The only reason why Was doesn't kill Lois is because Lois makes him remember her as he was her first kiss. But Lex messes with his mind through a controlling device and takes over. Wes warns Lois to run before his mind gets corrupted. Lois reluctantly runs for her life. But Wes catches up to her and tries to kill her, but Clark is forced to kill him first to save Lois. He sadly watches Lois cry over her friend. Lois is determined to take down Lex and Clark warns Lionel if he had anything to do with the Lexanna wedding that he better be fearful. The season finale is next and I got a huge feeling things will be up in the air.moreless

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    1 0

  • Love Is In the Ares

    7.4
    "Good"
    By maxpower03, May 17, 2010 Report Abuse
    I always find Smallville seasons usually start really well, but after the February-March hiatus, it completely skids downhill in terms of quality. This is true in the case of season six, which I loved at the start, but began to become increasingly bored by as it went along.

    The Project Ares story never interested me, and what could have been a decent sci-fi epic turned tedious as soon as Lex and his random scientist men babbled on and on with all this technological hoodoo that I didn't care about. Plus, the idea of a huge team of evil supersoldiers has been done to death already, so it was a difficult subject to approach in the first place, let alone make it fresh and exciting for the viewer.

    It felt a lot like Lois was shoehorned into the story. Whilst I was happy that her appearance for once didn't involve stripper outfits or lesbian banter, it was another example that showed she hasn't really got a believable purpose on the show anymore. Still, Erica Durance gave a good performance, and it did ring true that she cared for Wes.

    Meanwhile, it was again probably Lana that kept me interested. The whole Lex/Lana marriage is so unlikely to last that it's fun to watch it all unravel, especially as it's clear that Lana can't stand the guy any longer.

    A mostly tedious episode which didn't exactly get me all hyped about the finale. Terminator-esque supersoldiers have been done on Smallville before, and a lot better, whilst the rest was easily forgettable.

    Director: Mat Beck
    Writer: Steven S DeKnight
    Rating: Cmoreless

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    1 1

  • Work on a proto-human continues in the tunnel labs, as Lex continues manipulating Zoner DNA and a U.S. Senator on a secret military project. Lana and Lois play key roles in deterring the threat of the "Prototype."moreless

    8.0
    "Great"
    By cxtasy, Sep 30, 2008 Report Abuse
    At a dark Luthorcorp lab in the tunnels, an alarm sounds as sectors are being compromised by a security breach. As an intruder enters, Lex aims his pistol and shoots...but it's only a test. A superhuman he created has successfully penetrated his security in only minutes.

    Lana is back home, almost recovered from the gunshot wound she suffered last week, and trying hard to deal with Lex, who doesn't know what she knows. Senator Burke arrives for an update on ARES; Lex tells him the "Prototype" is in final testing. The military project is ahead of schedule, but Burke knows Lex is already gearing up for full production. Burke is in a precarious position in the Senate, and one of his staffers was shot after revealing the presence of a mole in Lex's organization. Lex has been bribing Burke with cash, but Burke says he's shutting down ARES, as they each threaten exposure of the other. Perhaps Lana is the mole; she overhears this conversation.

    At Luthorcorp, Lionel watches the video from Patagonia, which he discovered last week on the USB drive in Lana's possession. This video ties back into a similar scene of a wraith from the Phantom Zone at the end of "Zod," the season premiere. As Lionel watches, he writes in kryptonian symbols, and adds the word, "mirror." Clark bursts in to talk - last week he began suspecting Lionel of manipulating Lana to the point where she was the target of a hit. Now Clark wants to know if Lionel was behind Lana's decision to marry Lex, in spite of her pledge to return to Clark. Lionel issues the usual denials. Lionel's secret is keeping Lana close to Lex so he can control him; he won't collaborate with Clark, who leaves after threatening Lionel that "the gloves will come off."

    Lois and Chloe have some girl talk at the Talon about Jimmy's absence, so he's out of the cast for awhile. When Clark joins them, Lois leaves, referring to a story on a dirty Senator. Tension still exists between Chloe and Clark over Lana's dilemma.

    Lois accosts Senator Burke, asks for an interview, and when he blows her off, reveals she knows about his $5 million in an off-shore account. Suddenly the Senator and his guards are cut down by an assailant, and Lois recognizes him - "Wes?" He's the Army veteran who was missing in "Nemesis," and a fellow Army brat with Lois when they were young. As sirens sound (who called the police?), Wes is gone in an instant - he has superspeed.

    Clark hears from Chloe that the Senator has been murdered - and hears from Lois about Wes. Chloe digs up the official report - Wes was KIA in Afghanistan months earlier.

    In the tunnel labs, Lex and his researcher are monitoring Wes, now back in stasis. Lex gets the report on Burke; assassinated so as to implicate the mob, as they planned, but there was an unnamed witness - and Lex says nothing can get in the way of his project. They begin prepping Wes to carry out the deed.

    At the farm, Lois has taken refuge for the time being, but asks for political help from Martha in checking the military records for Wes. Pretty tough request to a state senator, who would have zero influence in getting classified material from the U.S. military, but this is fantasy, anyway. Martha agrees to try.

    Lois and Clark hear something - Wes appears, with superpowers, throwing Clark aside and bringing a dagger to bear on Lois, when she calls out his name. He pulls her aside...and both disappear! Where to search? Look for a building with a Luthorcorp logo! But Clark goes to to the Talon and Chloe instead, and they suspect Lex and his 33.1 experiments.

    Clark will find someone who can help - that is Lana, in a room at the mansion, filled with lighted candles to fire-hazard proportions. Lex is amorous, but Lana is not. Lex then hears that "the asset" (Wes) failed to return. Clark slips in to see Lana for help in finding Lois - Lana at least knows about ARES. Why is she still with Lex, he asks - "We all have our secrets," she replies. So he finally understands that she's protecting him. Lex returns, then leaves for the office - or rather the lab.

    Lois awakes to find herself in a dark warehouse, with Wes. He's robot-like in action, she tries to awake in him memories of their childhood, and how he got his scar. Does he remember? She was her first kiss, it that very place. Les seems to be restructuring pathways in his brain, perhaps remembering.

    Lex and his security specialist return to the lab. They used Titan's genetic material to alter the DNA of Wes to defend the earth against aliens. They will try to reprogram Wes via Luthorcorp satellites.

    Wes and Lois talk; she tells him he killed a Senator. While overseas, he was seriously injured, and Lex showed up in the military hospital, offering Wes a way to continue serving his country. The satellite pulses begin taking effect; he tells her to RUN! His mind succumbs again to control by Lex; Lois has only moments to escape his murderous programming.

    At the farm, Martha has the military records of Wes, and realizes his wife was the one killed in the tunnel explosions - where would Wes go? To the old fort outside Metropolis, they conclude. Clark blows the curls right off the faces of Chloe and Martha as he heads out.

    Lois is still trying to escape, but Wes is in transparency mode again, nearly killing her. Clark to the rescue, but Wes is invisible. How will Clark find him? Heat-vision is effective in knocking Wes down, as Lois regains her senses. Wes can only express regret to Lois as he dies, with Clark watching in the shadows.

    Clark and Martha are at home as Lionel arrives - he suggests Martha as a replacement for U.S. Senator Burke; the Governor agrees. Clark agrees. Clark can handle the farm alone. Are we writing Annette O'Toole out of the cast? What a loss.

    Lex discusses ARES with Lana; he knows she overheard his conversation with Senator Burke. She acts repentant, but Lex feels betrayed. "I'd never hurt the man I love," she says. He warns that if he ever felt betrayed, he has no idea what he might be capable of doing. "No secrets," they both agree, lying to one another as they maintain their secrets.

    Chloe and Clark discuss with Lois her meeting with federal authorities about the death of Wes, but his body has disappeared, and no evidence exists of his surviving the military accident months earlier. Lois is now on a crusade against Lex...will Clark and Chloe have to keep her under control?

    The body of Wes has been taken to the dam, where Lex tells the doctor to analyze it. DNA from aliens is in short supply - the doctor claims they can't continue the project with Titan's peptides - all used up. But Lex has more resources - as the lights come up in a warehouse of bodies, in suspended animation, for the next "Prototype." This is just the beginning.

    Nothing really memorable occurs in this episode; it's a routine story with the entire cast of characters. The usual good acting, some effective special effects, a few explosions, but the wrenching emotions that could have come from the Lois-Wes relationship didn't quite gel. No harm in seeing it again, though...re-run rating B-.moreless

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    0 0
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • At the end of this episode, Clark says he will lease out the back 40 for extra money. However, in Season 5 in "Lockdown," Jonathan says he sold the back 40 to pay back Lionel's campaign contributions. Edit
    • How did Wes know to find Lois in the Kent's barn when Lex ordered his henchman and the doctor to "take care of" the witness? Particularly when Lois didn't want to and hadn't planned on staying with the Kent's until they insisted that she stay with them because it "may be safer." Edit
    • In the previous episode, although the bullet wound was first shown on Lana's left shoulder, throughout most of the episode the wound was placed on her right shoulder. Nevertheless, in this episode, the wound is back on the left shoulder again. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • Original International Air Dates: South Africa: July 4, 2007 on Mnet Norway: July 15, 2007 on TVNorge Belgium: February 23, 2008 on KanaalTwee Australia: March 6, 2008 on Ten Czech Republic: May 30, 2008 on TV Nova New Zealand: September 12, 2008 on TV2 Slovakia: September 6, 2009 on Markiza Edit
    • In the "Justice and Doom" segment, the masked figure with superpowers, one of Lex's experiments, makes his way through the desert and is confronted by Impulse, while Green Arrow monitors the situation. The Queen Industry scientists are still going over the Yaris and find a new code. Impulse lures the masked figure in where his teammates hit him with lasers, pinning him down. However, the lasers burn out. Two weeks earlier, Lois was following up on the missing reporter, Beppo. Chloe gets hold of Green Arrow and warns him that Lois is in trouble. With the lasers failing, Green Arrow shoots the masked figure with a radioactive arrow-warhead. Edit
    • In-Joke: Clark says he'll lease part of the farm to a man named Ben Hubbard. In the first Superman movie, Clark tells Martha he asked Ben Hubbard to look after the farm while he's away. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Lois: Wes. Wes: Designation incorrect. Call sign: Ares, prototype, Mark IV. Lois: You don't remember me, do you? It's Lois. Lois Lane. My father is General Sam Lane. And when I was a kid, he used to drag me around to all the bases he was stationed at. One of them was Fort Avelson. Where I met you. Do you remember how you got that scar? You used to tell everybody that you got it falling off your dirt bike. But that's not how it happened. We got into the general's whiskey...then we broke into the storage warehouse. We were wrestling around, being stupid. And I kissed you. The first time I ever kissed anybody. And you smiled your crooked smile and then you puked and passed out and cracked your head open on the floor. Never could handle your liquor, Wes. Edit
    • Lois: (to Chloe) Triple espresso mocha cappulatte -- my own invention, guaranteed to put the zip-a-dee back in your doo-dah. Edit
    • Lex: Every time I open my heart to someone I care about, I've ended up being very disappointed. If.. if you ever betrayed me, I dont know what I'll do. Lana: I'll never hurt the man I love. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Lois: Triple espresso mocha cappulatte--my own invention, guaranteed to put the zip-a-dee back in your doo-dah. Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah is a song from the 1946 Disney live action and animated movie Song of the South. Edit
    • Chloe: Mrs. Kent goes to Washington. Well, if anyone can give Jimmy Stewart a run for his money... Referencing the 1939 movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, directed by Frank Capra. In it a naive young man ends up being appointed a U.S. Senator and ends up fighting corruption in Washington. Edit

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