A rogue Metropolis detective witnesses Clark's superstrength in action, and threatens to expose his secret if Clark refuses to help him with criminal acts. Chloe and Lana have a falling out over editorship of the Torch newspaper.moreless
7.5
"Good"
Young Clark looks out of place at a glitzy museum reception for some rare art objects, including a jeweled breastplate owned by Alexander the Great, as Lex explains to Clark. Whitney (who gets no speaking part in this episode) is escorting Lana, while Clark is clearly pining for her. Lex introduces Clark to Victoria Hardwick, a very old friend, but she's not old.
Outside, detective Phelan beats up another guy, demanding he get into Internal Affairs for some files, as Clark steps outside for some air. City bus rounds the corner, driver suffers heart attack, bus heads for sleeping derelict, so heroics happen early. Clark throws himself in front of the bus, and it wraps around him like a phone pole. Good move, but he's spotted by Phelan. How will he misuse this information?
Mom and Pop Clark are proud of his deed, meanwhile we see some blackmail going on against a museum guard by Phelan. He gets a security cam photo of Clark with Lex, so he intends to blackmail Clark, no doubt.
Lex is getting along with Victoria, who's trying her best to be very sultry, and has come to see him from the Old Country, where her father is an wealthy industrialist. She's using her charms to recruit Lex away from Luthorcorp.
Over at the High School, reporter Chloe has written a story about "whack funky" Smallville, America's strangest town, but Principal Kwan is not pleased about another "Mutant" headline. Meteor rocks have been found to be harmless, he insists, and relieves her from her editor position. Chloe is crushed.
Lex seems to know bad guy Sam Phelan, who claims to have something on Lex. Back at home Clark finds a Metropolis police badge, just as a tractor engine drops on him; it's Phelan and he's seen what Clark can do. He now knows Clark's powers, but Clark refuses to help. Clark later has to tell Martha and Jonathan about this imminent blackmail, but Jonathan is going to see Phelan instead.
Lex drops by to see Clark at the barn, and detective Phelan has already been to see Lex. Phelan is a dirty cop, Lex warns him. Later at the Talon, Jonathan meets Phelan, who demands Clark's help, presumably in his battle against crime. Jonathan refuses to allow Clark to help, Phelan threatens to expose Clark, ending his normal life, and Jonathan nearly loses control.
Clark researches Phelan at the Torch, whose computers seems have no limits on getting into various databases. Lana comes in; she's been appointed new editor, but Chloe explodes in anger about losing her position. Phelan intercepts Clark outside, and they go to Metropolis to fight crime, by Clark breaking and entering to get files from police Internal Affairs. Clark reluctantly complies, and throws the chief's safe right onto Phelans car, as the police arrive. Nice turn of events by Clark.
Victoria is romancing Lex, who knows her father wants control of Luthorcorp, but Lex is even more ambitious, suggesting they control both companies. Time will tell if this story line goes anywhere.
Then Sheriff Ethan arrives at the Kent farm with a warrant; they find a dead body in the barn, and a gun in Jonathan's truck, all obviously planted by Phelan. When? Isn't he in jail from the previous night's escapade? They arrest Jonathan, then Phelan shows up at the house, where he reasserts control over Clark. Clark visits Jonathan in the jail, where he has to admit he saw Phelan again, during the b&e. Clark was close to killing Phelan; Jonathan advises keeping control over his impulses.
Lex offers to help against Phelan, Clark refuses the offer. That night, Phelan appears again at the barn. This time he wants Clark to help him again, and they leave the farm, followed by Lex in a Jaguar XJ sedan, license "LX LTHR." Phelan and Clark arrive at the museum; Clark is pressured to steal the breastplate. He disables the security system, while Phelan calls in a bomb threat to the museum staff, and Lex sees the building evacuated. Inside, Clark bends steel in his bare hands and the breastplate is out. But Clark flings it outside to the guards and Lex, Phelan pulls a gun and fires a slo-mo bullet at Clark. Nice touch - the bullet even rotates as it zooms past Clark, faster than a speeding.
The guards burst in and Phelan is killed in a brief gun battle, refusing with his last breath to tell Lex anything about Clark.
Back at the Torch, new editor Lana is in hot water with Principal Kwan, too, after her lead article about him crushing free speech. He offers Chloe the editorship again, if she promises to prove anything she writes. Chloe and Lana make up.
Jonathan has been released, all charges dropped, but Clark is justifiably depressed about Phelan's fate. He's positive no one saw him at the museum, but when we hear those words, we know they'll be shown wrong. Lex is seen repeatedly viewing museum security video - a speeding blur crosses the screen, and his suspicions grow....nice ending....always leave something unresolved, a thread for the next episode. An average Smallville story, showing some of the challenges and threats Clark will always face if someone learns his secrets. Re-run rating C.moreless