Episode 508 - Solitude Review




"Solitude" Review

Written by Chris

DISCLAIMER - Please remember that this review does not represent the opinions/viewpoints of everyone; it is the personal opinions of the reviewer only. Thank you.

In Solitude we see Professor Milton Fine continue to manipulate Clark as a way to gain his trust. He goes after Clark's greatest weakness, his love for his mother by somehow infecting Martha with a life threatening Kryptonian virus. With his mother deathly ill and Jor-El's looming threat that someone close to Clark will die, Clark desperately turns to Fine for help. Having Clark right where he wants him Fine is able to create a web of lies about Jor-El and convince Clark that he needs to destroy the Fortress in order to stop Jor-El and save his mother.

In the end, we learn that Milton Fine, AKA Brainiac is not a real Kryptonian, but an artificial intelligence created by Kryptonians. His mission on Earth is to free a Kryptonian Rebel, General Zod from the Phantom Zone. With Fine's magnitude of intelligence it's believable that such a mastermind could take in a young Clark Kent, but in the end Fine underestimates the human spirit and Clark prevails.

Tom's Performance: Tom was outstanding in the episode as his character was put through a realm of emotions. From love, guilt, anguish, despair, desperation and determination, Tom played them all with precision.

The Good

Clark: Clark was very heroic in this episode determined to save his mother's life. Though his love for his mother and his desperation to save her clouded his judgment, he was proactive in trying to find a cure for her. Backed in a corner he was forced to trust Fine and even though he was tricked, in the end he defeated him and good triumphed over evil.

Clark and Milton Fine: Fine draws out Clark frustration by slowly feeding him false information and emphasizing his brilliance as he manipulates Clark into believing that destroying the Fortress of Solitude will save his mother. Once Fine shows his cards he can't help but lecture Clark on the weaknesses of humans and how pathetic they are, but in the end it's Clark's human relationship with Chloe that saves him and allows him to defeat Fine. As intelligent as Brainiac is, he can't relate to the bond of a human relationship.

Clark and Jonathon: One of my favorite aspects to this series is the family element and we get some real quality family scenes in this episode. We see Jonathon in his usual protector role not wanting Clark to go near Fine, but when it comes to saving Martha, Jonathon encourages his son to do what it takes. In their ending scene Clark feels guilty for being so gullible and believing everything Fine said and Jonathon as the supportive father he is, reassures Clark that he would of done the same thing and that he was protecting his mother.

Clark and Martha: There were two exceptional scenes between Clark and Martha in this episode. First, the scene where Martha believes she is dying. This scene was so well acted by both Tom and Annette O'Toole. You could feel both a mother's love as she tries to ease her son's guilt and assure him that her life in exchange for his is well worth it and a son's love as he desperately tries to remain strong and refuses to let her die.

The ending scene between Clark and Martha again was very touching as Clark tells his mother that his father has given him so much, but she is his "heart and soul" and in this episode we really see why Martha Kent is such an important influence in Clark's life. Jonathan may give him his strong moral values and teach him to never give up, but it is Martha who teaches him about compassion, kindness and sympathy. These are all great elements that make up Clark's humanity and his desire to help others. I believe that of all of Clark's abilities, it's these traits that make Superman standout as the greatest superhero ever.

Lois and Chloe: After Lex insults Lois, calling her a "muffin peddling, college drop out"; she turns to Chloe to try to dig up dirt on Lex. In true Lois fashion, we see her determined to show Lex for who he really is and ruin his chances of beating Jonathon for Senator. With this newfound passion for bringing Lex down, she is thrust back into the investigative role with Chloe and for the first time we really see her get bit by the reporter bug. What a wonderful scene and foreshadowing of Lois' future as we get to see her at the Daily Plant looking up at the sign and suddenly contemplating being a journalist.

Lex and Lionel: When Lex thinks his father has taken the now missing spaceship, we see a real glimpse of the darkness in Lex as he almost loses it with Lionel.

Clark and Chloe: At first look, I was frustrated to see Chloe have to save Clark from the Kryptonite, but it's Clark and Chloe's close friendship that drives her further into danger to help Clark, which is something Fine didn't calculate happening. Their scene in front of the fireplace was touching and showed just how wrong Fine was when he claimed humans are insignificant and couldn't be depended on.

Mixed Reactions

Lionel: Somehow Lionel knows about Milton Fine and passes the information to Chloe. It's unclear if his motivations are good or evil and what direction his character is taking this time. He also warns Lex if his secret activities were to come out it would ruin his political campaign and it's not clear if he is trying to help Lex or sabotage him.

The Bad

Clark and Jor-El: Jor-El is again no help to Clark in the Fortress and it's easy for Clark to believe Fine's claims that Jor-El was the rebel dictator on Krypton and Zod was the hero. In Smallville's version, Jor-El is exactly that, a cruel tyrant.

Jor-El's threat: In the ending scene between Jonathon and Clark there is more emphasis to the looming threat that someone close to Clark will die in place of his life. I'm not looking forward to Clark having to lose anyone he's close too.

I give "Solitude" a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

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