Subterranean

Season 6, Episode 9, Aired
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Episode Summary

An illegal immigrant comes to Clark for help, escaping from a nearby farm where he's working... a farm that houses a dark secret.
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Fan Episode Reviews (93)

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  • Yuck

    3.0
    "Bad"
    By bbagnall, Feb 08, 2011 Report Abuse
    This episode should be stricken from Superman canon. Normally Superman upholds the law but in this twisted episode he aids a bunch of illegals. Even Lex Luthor and Lana get in the mix by allowing another dozen or so illegals into the country. At this rate pretty soon Smallville will no longer look like Kansas, it will look like South Central LA or worse, Mexico. Smallville is a great show and one of the rare shows that actually seems to promote American values, but this episode seems like it was written by some sort of globalist UN supporter. I hope they never use this writer again. In the future I hope they can keep the leftist propaganda out of Smallville. It left a very bad taste in my mouth.moreless

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    5 1

  • PSA? Poor story? Both?

    1.0
    "Abysmal"
    By BatUser, Jan 15, 2011 Report Abuse
    Wow, this episode serves quite a painful existence. I am not sure it was meant more as a Public Service Announcement or just a really poor episode. In fact, the episode itself feels like it cannot make up its mind as well.

    The season was in a very smooth rhythm, and was relatively increasing in development. This episode seems to be a slight pothole on the pathway that the show was traveling. It won't ruin the season, but it will annoy faithfuls in a very "what was that about?" manner.

    Essentially, it felt like a left over script from the first couple seasons; and a weaker episode of those seasons to boot!moreless

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    5 0

  • Loved the ending

    10
    "Perfect"
    By scillaward, Sep 11, 2010 Report Abuse
    I have to admit, if it wasn't for the ending I would have probably rated this episode a 4, 5 at the most. But when that heavy metal music played and Lex was walking out while all the meteor freaks were trying to grab him was spectacular. I loved how the door closed and the last thing you see is 33.1. This episode really had nothing to do with Clark moving forward with his destiny. This was just an out there episode to go with the flow. Hopefully future episodes will have a lot more to do with Clark's destiny.moreless

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    3 0

  • I Wish I Could Deport The Writers!

    2.8
    "Terrible"
    By lenzinoH20, Jun 10, 2010 Report Abuse
    Subterranean-An illegal immigrant comes to Clark for help, escaping from a nearby farm where he's working... a farm that houses a dark secret. So, the writers are either very lazy or very cocky and think anything they write is passable. Cause who in their right mind thought Clark playing savior to some Mexican kid for whole episode would be interesting. This episode is so empty of anything remotely interesting that the special effects even suck! The relationship between Clark and Javier feels something like from a bad Lifetime movie. Both actors have absolutely no chemistry and the supposed brother-esqe relationship they are suppose to develop is laughable. Also, Tyler Posey (Javier Ramirez) is god-awful and since when can an immigrant speak perfect english? No amount of television can make a person with absolutely no understanding of a lauguage make you speak it perfect in just a month or so? The was just incrediably stupid on the writers part! I mean it's like the writers were obviously trying to jam into our heads the storyline of an illegal alien and a real life alien befriending each other and relating to each other that it makes you want to yell at the screen, "Yeah...We get it!"

    John Novak (Jed McNally) was one of worst meteor freaks ever and his ground digging powers continue the trend of lame powers this season. The fight between him and Clark lasted literally 3 seconds and was the worst fight scene the series has ever done. Other embarrasing scenes are Javier reuniting with his mother (Gag me, please!) and the tasteless immigration jokes Jimmy makes when looking after Javier (my ears almost bleed!). Atleast, the last scene of the episode was a show stopper as Lex walked down the hall of 33.1 with meteor freaks encaged and Lex looking like a complete badass! "Subterranean" is a sub-par suckfest and one of the worst episodes of the series. Avoid this episode like the Mexican boarder, ha!moreless

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    4 1

  • In a tie for the lowest-rated Smallville episode ever produced, this one is full of cultural and ethnic stereotypes and political posturing.

    4.0
    "Poor"
    By cxtasy, Jun 10, 2010 Report Abuse
    Among Mexican immigrants working in the fields near Smallville, two young men aid a collapsed comrade, after they discussed how any would-be escapees tend to disappear. The two plan to run to find the mother of one of them. Maybe the featured actor isn't Mexican; his English is perfect, no trace of an accent (claiming he watched a lot of American tv). Since this plot is an advocacy piece, the overseer is a heartless American farmer. That night, the pair starts running through the corn stalks, making lots of noise, when the earth starts collapsing behind them, and one is gone to ground.

    Lana and Lex have a proposal pending; is she thinking about it? Lex says, "I almost wish I could take it back," implying he acted rashly. For entertainment, he suggest a trip to Amsterdam for her - lucky Lana, she doesn't have to stick around for this worst-ever episode.

    One farm laborer has taken refuge in the Kent barn; Clark finds him and offers first aid. Javier asks Clark not to call the police, since he's an illegal. He says the McNally farm is a prison, and describes how his friend Francesco disappeared; he's trying to find his mother in Granville. Clark's next stop - the McNally farm, where farmer McNally says all his workers are legal. None of them know Francesco, and we find Clark is not bilingual, but one worker slips him a note.

    Martha has just arrived from Topeka, when the deputy comes by looking for a running Latino; Clark covers up for Javier. Martha comes in to discover the two. She's upset about Javier's presence, and wants to notify the authorities; Clark claims to be an illegal immigrant, too, and virtually accuses Martha of hypocrisy, since the Kents falsified his birth certificate. So these two are taking the common political advocacy positions, turning this episode into an immigration debate rather than a good story. Harboring a fugitive puts a state senator in a pretty precarious position, but Clark shows no sympathy for that, and meets two workers who say the ground swallowed many others. Time for some x-ray vision - Clark sees numerous skeletons buried in the field.

    Chloe's only computer hacking this week is a yellow pages search for Javier's mother's employer. What, the Kents don't have a computer? Chloe is shown as more than willing to harbor an illegal, too, so she's now part of a conspiracy. Jimmy drops in for a promised date with Chloe and sees Javier; trying exaggerated English, so Jimmy's depicted as a stereotypical prejudiced fool, too. Well, maybe it's just a common misconception that most illegals can't speak perfect English.

    Clark arrives to tell Chloe about the virtual graveyard at the McNally farm; he's notified the Sheriff. Chloe has checked property records and found Luthorcorp bought the farm after it was pummeled in the last meteor shower. Clark busts in on Lex, accusing him of exploiting and murdering migrant workers. Even I don't believe Lex is involved. Clark self-righteously stalks out. Meanwhile, Javier has skipped from Chloe's apartment and hooks a ride out of town, to overly-dramatic background music, but you can't squeeze drama out of a banal script.

    Next day, the Sheriff's team is excavating numerous corpses from the field; Deputy Morales tells Clark and Jimmy that the others will be deported. McNally is under arrest, but he's another stereotype of an evil slave-labor employer. He breaks free and burrows into the ground - another meteor freak.

    Lex somehow has on-site video from the crime scene, and berates his staffer Dr. Bauer for failing to keep tabs on McNally's activities. Lex spent millions in research on this human groundhog, and wants him back. Chloe finds that McNally had been buried under a mountain of kryptonite. In Granville, Javier is found stowing away on a bus; Clark exposes his super-speed by taking Javier back to the farm before the Sheriff can take him into custody, so now Clark's obstructing justice.

    Chloe and Jimmy look for the mother of Javier at a Granville laundry, guess they're all illegals, as no one will speak to them. They find her anyway, and everyone is to meet at the Kent farm. Clark tells Javier that the Sheriff identified the body of Francesco; then he runs out to the field, where Clark does battle with Mole-Man McNally, and apparently leaves McNally's injured or dead body where it landed. Good thing Clark didn't fall into that gaping plot hole.

    Back home, Martha is working to get them legal status; she'll take the risk because she likes the family. So the message is this - if some politician likes you, they'll find a way around the law for you. Can this philosophy succeed? Lana's back, she missed all the action. Lex doesn't seem upset by the loss of millions and the deaths he indirectly caused and in a burst of political activism, Lana wants to help the migrant workers.

    Chloe and Jimmy discuss apartments in the big city; he thinks she'd be safer away from the "murderous freaks" in Smallville. Jimmy still thinks Clark is a rival for Chloe, and is ready to challenge him to a pickup game for the rights to her. She doesn't seem bothered by being treated like a prize in a basketball lottery. Again, Lana comes to see Martha about all the workers being sponsored by Luthorcorp - apparently the producers see this as the right thing to do for big corporations and are using a Smallville cast member to push their agenda. Clark and Lana have words again, and part angrily again.

    Finally, back at the Luthorcorp lab, Lex has somehow retrieved McNally from the field where Clark unceremoniously left him injured, still alive and ready to be a lab rat again, and we're worked over by a heavy rock track as demon-like Lex slo-mos down the cellblock of miserable prisoners in 33.1.

    Cultural and ethnic stereotypes are the major feature in this weak and repellent episode, along with political posturing, and feel-good, self-satisfied writing. It's not the only episode by this screenwriter and director, just their worst. It can be deleted immediately from your Tivo/DVR/VCR or anything else as soon as it shows up - no loss. Re-run rating - not even worth giving one.moreless

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    1 0
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • When Clark offers a drink to Javier, he gives the options of milk, orange juice, and lemonade. However, when he opens the fridge, a Mott's apple juice container is clearly visible. Why is Clark hoarding all the apple juice? Edit
    • When Clark is driving Javier down the road, when the camera cuts to Javier you can see the scenic mountains of Kansas in the background. Edit
    • Javier runs away from the truck and down the dirt path. He stops and in the background you can see the truck. Then McNally grabs Clark and comes after Javier and he runs for at least 20-30'. Then he stops and in the subsequent shots... you can see the truck behind Javier in the same position as it was before he ran the distance. Edit

  • Notes

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    • Original International Air Dates: Norway: April 22, 2007 on TVNorge Belgium: December 1, 2007 on KanaalTwee Australia: December 21, 2007 on Ten Czech Republic: May 14, 2008 on TV Nova New Zealand: June 21, 2008 on TV2 Slovakia: July 26, 2009 on Markiza Edit
    • In Latin America the WB aired this episode before and after "Static" which created some confusion among watchers. Edit
    • John Novak (Jed McNally) played Coach Quigley in the Season 4 episode "Recruit." Dee Jay Jackson played Pete Ross' father in the Season 1 episode "Pilot." Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Martha: We have no choice. We have to call Immigration. Clark: I told Javier he'd be safe here and I meant it. Martha: I wanna help this boy as much as you do, but I took an oath to uphold the law. Clark: All he's trying to do is find his mom. Martha: I know, but we have to go through the proper legal channels. Clark: Was it legal when you forged my adoption papers? I'm an illegal immigrant, Mom. You've been harboring me for over 17 years. Martha: Your situation was entirely different. We had to protect you. Clark: And I need to protect Javier. If I don't defend him, who will? Edit
    • Clark: Chloe, all I did was ask you to watch him. Chloe: I know, I know and I'd plead guilty to child negligence in the third degree. Edit
    • Javier: Why didn't you tell the police? Clark: Because I know what it feels like to be out of place. Besides, I'm not from around here either. Javier: Where are you from? Clark: It's a place a lot further than Mexico. Edit

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