TV.com

Smallville Season 7 Episode 17

Sleeper

Favorite

Watched It I've Watched This 0

Next
Episode Previous
Episode

8.2

User Rating

683 votes

Your Rating: 10
Your Rating: 9.5
Your Rating: 9
Your Rating: 8.5
Your Rating: 8
Your Rating: 7.5
Your Rating: 7
Your Rating: 6.5
Your Rating: 6
Your Rating: 5.5
Your Rating: 5
Your Rating: 4.5
Your Rating: 4
Your Rating: 3.5
Your Rating: 3
Your Rating: 2.5
Your Rating: 2
Your Rating: 1.5
Your Rating: 1

Rate Now

EPISODE REVIEWS
By TV.com Users

Write A Review

Episode Summary

EDIT

AIRED: 4/24/08

While Clark seeks out Brainiac to force him to fulfill his side of their bargain and restore Lana, Chloe and Jimmy go up against the government.

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (52)

After watching the series for several years now, I find that this episode to be the biggest piece of crap imaginable.

1.0

By sirzyrlyn, Mar 14, 2011

The only reason I finished watching it, was the deepest hope that this whole episode was just a lame dream sequence, but alas the writer of this episode STOLE some of my life and I want it back!

Only a computer moron would write this kind of excrement. I hope THIS writer is one of those that the other writers who were striking beat senseless. I hope this episode's example of poor, nay terrible, writing keeps he/her living on the street in a cardboard box from now on.

Some would say I'm being mean, but the writer of this garbage has hurt many of us who suffered through this atrocity.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
1 3

Flag
Share Hide
A show based around Jimmy Olsen as a techno-spy. Yeah I think the writers may be starting to lose it.

5.0

By AegisAtreyu, Mar 14, 2011

Fair enough the initial gag with it revealing Jimmy to be the masked assassin was funny, made better by Duffy's 'Mercy' track blaring out (anything for a break from the overbearing score - which even feels like it is hitting the wrong cues this week such as with Jimmy having a discussion with Chloe and him deciding she must be a spy which was pitched as far too over dramatic). The fact that Jimmy is not really a character I have much of an opinion of doesn't make it bode well for the rest of the episode though. The dance with Chloe feels extremely forced and is hilarious for all the wrong reasons, the bad guy (or should I say gal) is supposedly government agent but 1d evil and neither Clark or Lex have much to do again. I've also noticed something which is that the final act of each show nowadays is boring and doesn't really matter. It's bizarre and never leaves you wanting to see the next episode. I think one of the other reviewers hit the nail on the head when they said this series has a good episode followed by a bad one - I really feel this has become the case myself.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
2 1

Flag
Share Hide
Poor, poor, poor, poor

6.2

By scillaward, Sep 11, 2010

What the hell does dancing have to do with Smallville? I have no idea why Chloe and Jimmy were dancing. What a waste of acting. The storyline made no sense and I was totally confused because I had no idea what was going on. The only good thing about this episode was that Lana wasn't in it. I hope the next episodes are much better than this sleeper crap because they will lose a lot of fans if they are going to pull stupidness from their butt and call it a show. What a big pile of flaming hot garbage.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
4 1

Flag
Share Hide
A reluctant Jimmy plays James Bond and spies on Chloe, Clark gets a cryptic message from Kara, sent from Krypton, and Lex gets his hands on the contents of the mystery box.moreless

7.0

By 1960UncleSteve, Aug 17, 2009

The last character on 'Smallville' one would expect to have a James Bond adventure would by James Olsen. So, naturally, that's what we get. The teaser sets things up, a black clad figure using Bond-ish gadgets to steal information. In the elevator, we removes his camouflage, we see he has a tuxedo, like Bond...and it's....Jimmy! A good part of the episode leads us to the events in the teaser. Agent Webber of the Department of Domestic Security (why they can't just say 'Homeland Security', we know what they mean)wants Jimmy to spy on Chloe for her. Chloe's constant hacking into government files has finally caught Uncle Sam's attention, and, understandably, they suspect her of NOT being one of the good guys. Jimmy goes along, not wanting to get arrested himself, and knowing Chloe's clean. However, he doesn't know, as we do, that she has been breaking in government files for years, helping out Clark. So he's understandably shocked when he finds out that yes, Chloe's been where the government doesn't want her. The cloak and dagger stuff is great. The idea that a spy agency would have an outpost above a nightclub is something we might have seen in a James Bond film (Roger Moore era). All, good, all fun. What's not fun is how Jimmy just accepts that he'll go to jail if he doesn't cooperate. Huh? What did he do? The government might be able to make a case against Chloe--she did, in fact, break the law many times and in interesting ways--but Jimmy is more or less an innocent bystander. He knows that. We can also assume that as much as he loves Chloe, he wouldn't be to keen on her committing treason. What explanation could she have? When he visits Clark, (an amusing scene, as Jimmy's words at first make Clark think he's talking about Clark and his secret, not Chloe's)he expresses dismay over what he thinks she's doing, but seems to want to find a way to accept it. Bad Jimmy. At the club, Jimmy downloads files on a table right in front of Chloe...and everyone else. Sure glad no one was paying attention! As for Clark, Clark, on the other hand, he had no problem risking falling into a trap set by Jor-El, and returns to the Fortress. There he hears Kara calling for help. In the next episode, we learn Kara sent the message getting him there, basically a lie about Lana. That's also weird; the message should have read "Save Kara at Fortress". Did she not think Clark would try to save her? Lex gets to make his way to Zurich and the contents of the mystery box...after initially being refused permission to leave the country. In a deleted scene, we learn Webber was summoned by Lex to pressure her to get him clearance. One phone call, and it's done. That's some authority! Makes you wonder why she needed Jimmy in the first place. One final problem--the sheer fun of having Jimmy playing James Bond is muted by the savage beating Chloe takes at the hands of Agent Webber. Then maybe it wasn't as bad as it seemed...she was completely recovered from her injuries about ten minutes after being rescued by Jimmy. About that rescue...Jimmy takes down a federal agent? He got his training from where again? Serious plot holes here. And still, it's not a bad episode. Could have been better, if the writers/director could decide if they wanted a drama or comedy this time out. Some times it works. Some times, not. This time...somewhere in between.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 0

Flag
Share Hide
Very unexpected storyline.

9.5

By Canogaparkcindy, Dec 09, 2008

Suddenly Chloe & Jimmy get a main plot now, I was as surprised as you were. Jimmy works for the government to get Chloe. Who in the world would agree to that. CALL CLARK! If he just did that , this episode would of lasted 5 minutes. Clark finds out Braniac went back in time to kill him. I like that plot a lot. As he hears Kara's voice crying for help. Lana continues to be sick. While Lex finally opens the box & all he got was some stupid clockwork. I was a little disappointed by that. Seeing Jimmy save the day & waltz while he's doing it was surprising but still good. Great episode overall. Hey I am the first positive review about this episode!moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
1 0

Flag
Share Hide

See All Fan Reviews

Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

Tom Welling	Clark Kent/Kal-El of Krypton
Allison Mack	Chloe Sullivan
Michael Rosenbaum	Alexander ("Lex") Luthor
Aaron Ashmore	Jimmy Olsen
Laura Vandervoort	Kara

See All Cast & Crew

Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

Anne Openshaw	Vanessa Webber	Guest Star
Don Broatch	Mysterious Attacker	Guest Star
D.J. Rhiannon	Woman at Bar	Guest Star
Ari Cohen	Regan	Recurring Role

See All Cast & Crew

Watch Online

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

FILTER BY TYPE

TRIVIA (5)
ADD TRIVIA
- The journal page says 1989, and Chloe says it's referring to 1989. but then Clark says Kara is 20 years in the past. But then Clark says Kara is talking about the version of him "20 years ago." 1989 would be 19 years ago.
  EDIT SHARE
- When the figure at the beginning climbs through the ventilator shaft and opens a grille, he simply lifts it up. Ventilator grilles are fastened with screws.
  EDIT SHARE
- Chloe mentions that she's packing to move, and then lies to Jimmy and says she needs to talk to the building manager about the rent. What building manager? She lives above the Talon, which is owned by Lex. If he had kicked her out, she'd be out already, but at the beginning of the episode she's still living there.
  EDIT SHARE
- Why does Clark text Chloe to have her meet him in Smallville? A) he has superspeed so he could meet her anywhere in a matter of minutes, and b) why make her drive all the way from Metropolis to Smallville if the matter's so urgent?
  EDIT SHARE
- Chloe says, "Well, Krypton 1989--give or take a few light-years." A light year is a unit of distance (approx. 6 trillion miles), not time.
  EDIT SHARE
QUOTES (9)
ADD QUOTES
- Chloe: You know, having a gang of superheroes is great in theory, but no one ever considers the shipping costs.
  EDIT SHARE
- Lex: Zeus' right hand couldn't muster a storm that would keep me from Zurich.
  EDIT SHARE
- Chloe: (to Clark) You do realize that your greatest superpower is your ability to win me over with just one look, no matter how ridiculous you sound, right?
  EDIT SHARE
- Chloe: Maybe the Olsen's not so wholesome after all.
  Jimmy: I'm just getting started.
  EDIT SHARE
- Chloe: Why didn't you come to me like a normal boyfriend?
  Jimmy: 'Cause a normal boyfriend doesn't get lied to every five minutes by the girl that he thinks he's in love with.
  EDIT SHARE
- Jimmy: You're a Luthor, you build and burn political ladders for sport.
  EDIT SHARE
- Clark: You're saying Kara's actually on Krypton?
  Chloe: Well, Krypton 1989--give or take a few light-years.
  Clark: That explains how her message mysteriously appeared in Swann's journal. She sent it to him, hoping that I'd read it.
  Chloe: Sounds more like a Hail Mary pass. Clark, if she sent those messages, to Swann and the Fortress, Kara's desperate to get your attention.
  Clark: When I was in the Fortress, Kara warned me that Brainiac was trying to kill me. She must have meant the version of me on Krypton 20 years ago.
  Chloe: When you were a baby. Clark, if you really are in trouble on Krypton, you better find a way to get there and soon or...
  Clark: I'll have never existed.
  Chloe: Looks like it's finally time for Kal-El to go home.
  EDIT SHARE
- Jimmy: (to Agent Webber) Look, I'm not your James Bond. I went to a Halloween party once as James Bond. Everyone thought I was the maître d'.
  EDIT SHARE
- Weber: (gives Jimmy a bow tie) Wear it--there's a fiber-optic inside so I can keep an eye on you.
  Jimmy: So we can both watch my girlfriend drink cozumels and until she finds her inner Shakira?
  EDIT SHARE
NOTES (5)
ADD NOTES
- International Airdates:
  Norway: Monday, May 5, 2008 10.50 pm on TVNorge
  Denmark: Monday, June 16, 2008 on TV3
  Australia: Thursday, July 24, 2008 on Ten HD
  United Kingdom: Tuesday, September 9, 2008, 10.00pm on E4
  Sweden: Friday, September 19, 2008 on TV6
  Greece: Sunday, November 9, 2008 on Star
  Czech Republic: March 9, 2010 on TV Nova
  Slovakia: August 25, 2010 on Markiza
  EDIT SHARE
- Kristin Kreuk, Erica Durance, and John Glover are credited but do not appear in this episode.
  EDIT SHARE
- Music: Dirty Laundry (Bitter:sweet), Mercy (Duffy - Rockferry), The Beat Is (Channel Two), Shiver (Madita)
  EDIT SHARE
- Laura Vandervoort doesn't appear but her voice is heard.
  EDIT SHARE
- Injoke: In the comics, the Ace O'Clubs is owned by Bibbo Bibbowski, a longshoreman turned bar owner and Superman admirer. The character and the bar (as Ace of Clubs) also appear in The New Adventures of Lois and Clark (in the episode "Double Jeopardy"), and in the movie Superman Returns where the character is played by Jack Larson but only called "Bo."
  EDIT SHARE
ALLUSIONS (1)
ADD ALLUSIONS
- Chloe: Okay, this entry didn't just Rita Skeeter itself into Swann's journal.
  Referencing the fictional reporter created by J.K. Rowling and who first appeared in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Rita works for the Witch Weekly and has a habit of making up stories or spinning them to suit her personal agenda. She uses magical means to record her interviews.
  EDIT SHARE