Episode 601 - Zod Review




"Zod" Review

Written by Scarlett

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.

Zod worked well primarily because there was progress in Clark Kent's journey. Clark learned about Jor-El, and he defeated Zod by outsmarting him rather than using his amazing physical abilities. This episode showcased a young Superman. As long as Clark is written well, all the other characters and the sub-plots just seem to fall into place.

The Good:

Clark: The most powerful episodes are the ones with Clark at the center, with all the other characters in peripheral roles, in relation to how they impact his life and his journey. Clark learned the truth about his birth father, Jor-El, and how he tried to save Krypton. The parallels between Jor-El and Clark were obvious. Clark was clearly the hero and he was the only one who could save Earth. Clark acted without hesitation and he risked his own life in the process. The fact that a 19-year-old Clark could defeat a seasoned Kryptonian warrior like Zod by outsmarting him speaks volumes. This is the way Clark should be written! And the classic Superman symbol and the theme song were nice additions.

"If you could save everyone you loved, wouldn't you risk your life to do so?" Clark asks. This question reflects the essence of why Clark later decides to take that famous alter ego, and to devote his life to serving humanity.

The best scene was when Clark pretended to be submissive to Zod, using Zod's own arrogance as the means to defeat him. Tom Welling delivered the line: "My father sends his regards" perfectly in a calm but powerful way, banishing Zod again from Earth. It was the first time Clark referred to Jor-El as his father, and symbolizes the turning point for their future relationship. What happened to the FOS? Can Clark still talk to Jor-El? Stay tuned.

Clark and Martha: It's a pleasure to watch scenes between Tom and Annette O'Toole. Martha is important in Clark's life, and it was good to hear her give sage advice. It was also good that Jor-El acknowledged Martha's positive influence. Hopefully, there will be a Martha and Lara scene in the future.

Clark, Chloe, and Jimmy: The scene between Clark, Chloe, and Jimmy was cute and provided some comic relief. Clark was surprised Chloe had a romantic interest but he was happy for her too. Clark's female best friend pairing up with one of his future male best friends seems appropriate.

Clark and Lois: The hospital scene foreshadowed the future iconic Clark and Lois. It was done well by both Tom and Erica Durance. Clark and Lois were genuinely glad to see each other, but there was awkwardness as the two of them grudgingly realized they care for each other. Hopefully, the writers will take the time to develop this relationship starting with the building of a solid friendship.

Writing, Directing, and Special Effects: Kudos to both Steven DeKnight for his writing of Clark, and to director James Marshall for doing a great job. All of the actors gave good performances. The lighting and special effects were effective. The stark desert FOS scenes contrasted well with the gray desolate Metropolis skyline. And the warm golden lighting of the Kent barn projected a feeling of home. The fight scene between Clark and Zod contained some nice visual effects, including Zod leaving Lex's body.

Violence: It was uncomfortable watching Clark being beaten several times and watching Zod's violence towards Lana. However the violence, although graphic, was not gratuitous. The PZ is a hellish prison and Zod is a ruthless warrior. The violence depicted made sense within the context of the scenes.

The Bad:

Lex/Zod: Possession storylines have outlived their purpose. The excuse of 'you weren't yourself' has been overused, and does nothing to progress the characters. Even though Michael did a good job as Zod, it would have been more effective to use a different actor. Instead, Lex could have teamed with Zod, with a confrontation between Clark and the real Lex. Hold Lex accountable for his behavior instead of providing excuses or blaming other people. Hopefully the ending scenes with both Luthors were a preview of the evil and darkness in both of them.

Lana: Lana's self-centeredness from Vessel was partially explained. She asked Zod for help and Lana searched for Clark, in regards to his prior conversation with Chloe about killing Lex. Lana realized she was wrong to not trust Clark. Kristin also did a good job especially in the graphic scene when Zod impaled her hand in the wall.

However, watching Lana should come with a warning. Caution: viewer whiplash may result while watching Lana do a 180 turn from episode to episode. Bottom line, Lana needs to take her rightful place as Clark's loyal friend in the story. Will this happen, or will she be reduced to being the Kitty Kowalski of Smallville?

My rating? I give "Zod" 4 out of 5 stars.

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