Rosetta

Season 2, Episode 17, Aired
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Episode Summary

Clark travels to New York to meet Dr. Swann, a brilliant scientist who holds a message for Clark from his home planet. Meanwhile Lana decides to move out of Chloe's house after they get into an argument about Clark.
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Fan Episode Reviews (23)

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  • this was a good ep

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By cube2k8, May 10, 2010 Report Abuse
    in this ep of smallville clark goes to the cave to put the thing in and he becomes a rosetta stone like thing for the kryptoiana langugae and he can now read the symbols and lex is trying to figure out why he can now read them except he shoots a symbol on the barn and its hope .and everyone the news and everything are taking stories cloey gets inerested and clark says it was just a prank. and clark keeps getting these weried emails and a package and he goes to see doctor swan and he comes alone and doctor swan show him a message from that he got from space and its in the krptoyan language clark walks away and the then swan says you walk out that door you will never see the second message clark comes back and he finds out more info and how his planet was gone. and then also in this ep the scientist that lex hired goes and finds the key to put into the slot and he gets put into a koma.and was over loaded with information.moreless

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  • Clark finally learns where he came from, via Dr. Virgil Swann (Christpher Reeves).

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Superhog, Oct 24, 2008 Report Abuse
    Rosetta is by far one of the best episodes Smallville has ever produced. This is one of my favorite episodes of any show I've ever seen. Even though they waited till Season 2 to reveal to Clark where he came from, they couldn't have done it any better then here.

    Having Christopher Reeves, who portrayed the Man of Steel in 4 feature films, be the one to tell this incarnations Clark where he came from is a touch of brilliance on the shows part and it's something that if you think about couldn't be topped in any other way. One of my favorite moments in the episode, and the series, is when Swann reads the message from Jor-El to Clark. In the backround the trumpets can be heard playing the Superman theme song from the movies. A very nice touch to a truly amazing episode.moreless

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  • Clark is lured to the caves by high-pitched tones, but Lex and Dr. Walden suspect Clark of knowing much more. Christopher Reeve appears for the first time as Dr. Swann, who has a special message for Clark.moreless

    9.2
    "Superb"
    By cxtasy, Sep 04, 2008 Report Abuse
    In the caves, a hovering Clark (learning to fly?) inserts a key into a glyph, and in a flash of light he comes to in the middle of a dark Route 8, almost run over by Lex in his Porsche 911. Was it a dream about the cave calling him?

    Dr. Walden and Lex dispute how to deal with the caves. Clark alone hears a high-pitched tone, leading him to the key in the barn, now intensely bright - Clark must go back to the cave. As the key inserts itself, a strong beam is activated through Clark, then Dr. Walden and Lex discover him unconscious again.

    Lana violates Chloe's trust when she discovers the Chloe-Clark prom photos on the Torch iMac, continuing a higher level of tension between the two. Back at the Kent farm, Clark's heat-vision suddenly becomes erratic, burning a Krypton symbol on the barn. Hard to hide that one when Chloe's right there, but no one tries to discourage her from writing a story on it.

    Lex discovers Clark's Krypto-doodles, and suggests to Dr. Walden that Clark "might be the Rosetta Stone we're looking for." Clark inexplicably waits until Chloe's new article is published, then he scolds her, so here's some weakness in the story line.

    Christopher Reeve, appearing in the series for the first time as Dr. Virgil Swann, sends a Krypton-script message to Clark reading, "I'm a friend." Back in the cave, Dr. Walden finds the key imbedded in the cave wall, inserts it and suffers a nasty reaction just as Clark arrives - leaving Walden hospitalized in a catatonic state.

    Another message from Dr. Swann is from Room 54, 939 W. 54th St, New York, presumably the New York Planetarium, according to Chloe. She's onto something, but encourages Clark to visit Swann, and Jonathan and Martha's misgivings are set aside as they agree to let Clark go. How odd to see one of the best Superman film actors greet Clark with "Hello Clark, I've been expecting you." Swann's deciphered message from space reads, "This is Kal-El of Krypton, our infant son, our last hope. Please protect him and deliver him from evil." Swann delivers a theme which runs through the entire Smallville story - "You must write your own destiny, Kal-El." Fom this revelation, Clark feels totally alone.

    Jonathan and Clark activate the spaceship - it opens - Clark inserts the main control panel, and a message appears from his father - he was sent to rule the earth. But Jonathan reassures him about free will. Tom Welling and Reeve make a post-script appeal for the Christopher Reeve paralysis foundation. This is an important episode, both for Clark's development and for the historical value of Reeve's appearance. Re-run rating B+.moreless

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  • Passing of The Cape

    10
    "Perfect"
    By lenzinoH20, Jun 25, 2008 Report Abuse
    Rosetta-Clark travels to New York to meet Dr. Swann, a brilliant scientist who holds a message for Clark from his home planet. Meanwhile Lana decides to move out of Chloe's house after they get into an argument about Clark.

    A true milestone episode for Smallville and one for the old and new generations of Superman fans to cherish! "Rosetta" features the long anticipated appearence of Superman legened himself, Christopher Reeves. Hard to believe that Christopher almost turned down his guest spot as he wasn't impressed at first with Smallville's take on the Superman mythologu, but luckily he reconsidered and came on to the show to create one of the most memorable moments in TV history.

    Who could forget the scene where Dr. Swann shows Clark the message his father sent him? Finally Clark finds out about Kryption and learns that his Kryptonian name is Kal-El. Christopher Reeve is expectional throughout as Dr. Swann and the character fits the story perfectly. Tom Welling holds his own against the iconic actor and gives a wonderful performance as Clark's anticipation over finding about who he is builds. The Superman score playing behind that scene was so moving and very inspiring. I love the use of the Kryptonian language and the caves, especially how Clark uses the octagon key to gain the knowledge of the Kryptonian. the scene in which Clark unknowlingly creates the Kryptonian word for "hope" on the side of the barn is haunting and well played. Also, there's a creepy development as Dr. Walden, falls under a strange atatonic state after using the key. The way his eyes look so demonic during his state is errie and makes you wonder what will happene to the character.

    There is also a sub-plot with Lana and Chloe as Chloe finds Lana looking through her stuff. It's petty storyline that just gets lost in the brilliance of the rest of the episode. "Rosetta" isn't just a classic episode for Smallville, it was a TV even that brought tons of old and new fans together to watch one Superman pass down all his wisdom and legacy over to the next. Complete Perfection!moreless

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  • This episode was one of the best so far in Smallville. I loved it.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By HarryPotel, Feb 15, 2008 Report Abuse
    There are two things that made me love this episode so much, the first one is the presence of the great Christopher Reeve as a perfectly made tribute for the great work he did portraying Superman. The second one is to actually hear the Superman score several times.

    Being that said, I really liked this one because Clark finally learns that he comes from Krypton and his name is Kal-El. We all know that, but he didn't so far. And also, for what we see in next episode, he learns that the "meteor rocks" are actually kryptonite. Also, he can read kryptonian now. It's cool to finally be able to call the things by their names. There's still a lot that Clark needs to find out about his roots, he doesn't know yet that Krypton has exploded, or that his parents are called Jor-El and Lara-El, but I hope that will come soon.

    Another great piece of this episode was the revelation that Jor-El sent him to Earth to become his ruler. The part that Jonathan tells him that he's his kid and he knows him more than anybody, that he's a force of good, it's great. And it's completely in line with the Superman mithology, he wouldn't be so noble if it weren't for the education that the Kents gave him.

    A really really good episode.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • Trivia: Clark's e-mail address is CKent@digitalwave.com, and Virgil's is V_Swann@digitalwave.com Edit
    • The website to which both Virgil Swann and Clark Kent have their e-mail addresses registered is DigitalWave.com. The site, however, is actually a web design firm, and do not offer e-mail accounts to the general public. Edit
    • Lex wakes Clark in the cave, advises him to go to the hospital, then says he doesn't want him down in the cave alone. Except why doesn't Lex just offer him a ride? Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • This episode was nominated for a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form. Edit
    • Music: "The Scientist" by Coldplay, "Satellite" by Kid Lightening, "Leaving Town Alive" by Pancho's Lament, and "Nuclear" by Ryan Adams. Edit
    • Smallville producers used the same Kryptonian writing/language as the Superman comics did long ago. DC Comics provided it to the Smallville staff. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Clark: (to Pete, referring to a family tree assignment) Why are you so excited about this? Pete: Because it's gonna be a piece of cake. Chloe: Yeah, because your family's been in Smallville since the Jurassic era. Pete: What are you so worked up about? Chloe: There's just so many variables to take into account, like what if your mother abandoned you? Is that branch of your family tree technically cut off? Lana: Yeah, and what if your biological father comes back into the picture? Which family do you claim? Clark: What if you're adopted? Pete: Hey, okay, I get the point. But is it my fault that I'm part of a nuclear family? Edit
    • Chloe: You know what, Clark? This is one time Lana doesn't need you to come to her rescue. Edit
    • Jonathan: Clark Kent, you're here to be a force for good, not a force of evil. Clark: How can you be so sure? Jonathan: Because I am your father. I raised you, and I know you better than anyone. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Clark: I'd like to thank you for turning our farm into Area 51. According to various rumors, the U.S. government hides UFOs on this American millitary base (in Nevada). Edit
    • Dr. Swann: We all have our windmills, Clark
      The cultural reference has me a bit baffled, here. It seems to me that the line is in reference to "Don Quijote," a mad nobleman who reads too much Medieval literature and eventually goes crazy. During his lunacy, Quijote has a famous scene where he mistakes windmills for giants. The phrase "Tilting on Windmills" came about. Here's where it's cloudy: tilting on windmills can either mean attempting the impossible, or trying in a venture that can't succeed. Now, attempting the impossible means that what you're doing is really hard but you still do it because you don't know if you'll succeed. Trying in a venture that can't succeed implies that you're basically banging your head against a brick wall. There's a fine line, and I have no idea how this reference applies to Dr. Swann, as he already has his answer to the unanswerable question. So why is he "tilting on windmills?" Edit

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