The only real criticism I have about this episode is the blatant product placement for old Spice Red Zone and watching Chloe getting manipulated into kissing someone yet again. Jeez this poor girl…
In another nod to comics lore, Smallville is visited by Mr. Mxyzptlk. Only, this guy isn’t a mischievous imp from the 5th dimension, but a foreign exchange student, sponsored by LuthorCorp. Apparently Lionel saw potential in the young Mikhail that’s not apparent in his grades. While Lex ties to find out what is so special about him, poor Chloe is finding out first-hand. Mikhail seems to have some sort of bad luck power, which he activates by looking at someone and telling them to do something. Now, that’s not really a bad luck power as much as the power of persuasion (which a Krypto-freak of the week had in the first season using a handshake).
No 5th dimensional imps appeared in this episode
Mikhail uses this power as a gambling aid, quickly becoming the biggest bookie in Smallville. Clark, who as we know (from the comics, anyway) is vulnerable to magic, becomes one of Mikhail’s targets on the football field (apparently Clark un-quit from the week before). Mikhail looks at Clark and says “trip,” which Clark does, though he had enough momentum going to get him into the end zone. What also happened though is Clark lost control falling hard onto an opposing player, breaking his collarbone.
The injury is enough for the coach to think Clark may be using steroids. Assistant coach Jason doesn’t believe that though and actually lies t the coach about it. But there’s another reason – Clark could blow the whistle on Jason and Lana, so Jason doesn’t want to risk angering Clark. Not particularly ethical, but then neither is dating a student.
Jonathan, of course, is all over this. After exactly what he feared – he would hurt someone with his powers – happens, he wants Clark to quit immediately, and this time Martha agrees. Bu not only does Clark enjoy playing so much, he is now a hero to the team. Wearing the uniform makes him feel like someone else, like he can do anything. Hmm, get use d to the feeling Clark.
Chloe and Clark decide to bring Mikhail down. Chloe Googles his name, but doesn’t get any hits, but the search engine asks is she means “kltpzyxm” (his name backwards, nice touch). Apparently the power runs in his family and only a swarm of locusts negated their powers. Chloe somehow (it’s a bit of a stretch) figures out it’s the sound of the locusts and gets some sort of sound device from her Uncle Sam (that would be Lois’ Dad). She plugs in to into the stadium sound system during the game, and it indeed seems to do the trick.
As we approach the end of the episode some really cool things happen. First Clark tells his Dad right before going out in the field about the conscious decision he makes with every play to hold back his powers and not hurt anyone, something Jonathan could never understand. And Jonathan doesn’t say anything. He realizes he can’t. Then he smiles and says Clark is starting to sound just like his father – and he’s not talking about Jor-El. And then , as if to prove that Clark really is on a whole different playing field, he does something that is a pure comics moment (though more like something from the Flash). On the sidelines between plays, Mikhail tells Clark he’s going to kill Chloe if he doesn’t blow the game, showing that even without his power, he’s quite resourceful. Back on the field, he sees Mikhail threatening Chloe with a knife with his X-Ray vision. But he still won’t throw the game. He calls the play and gets ready to throw the football, but then just as he throw, he super-speeds to Chloe and Mihail knocks him out and frees Chloe, before racing back to the filed to complete the pass. No one is the wiser. THAT’s a super-hero!
We close with a few moments that show Lex truly is heading down a dark path. Even though Mikhail has lost his powers, Lex is still interested in learning what he is capable of. He takes him down to a sub-level at LuthorCorp, where he will apparently stay now. He says he won’t be alone, but we don’t see what he means. Seems to me that Lex has bunch of former “freaks-of-the-week” stashed. He also makes it clear to Clark that he got Jason tired by making it know he was dating Lana. His reason for doing so seems to have nothing to do with Clark though. Creepy. Good stuff.
