Smallville Review Season 5 Episode 7

I admit, I'm the first one to get upset when I get a splinter. After all, it hurts. But I don't go around tossing men through windows, blowing out the wall of my parents' house, or strangling a girl half to death. Then again, I'm not Superman.

This week's Smallville episode - titled, appropriately enough "Splinter" - is an hour dedicated to what happens when Clark Kent, the future Superman, get a splinter. Of course, his splinter is a new form of "silver kryptonite" which courses through his veins and blows his teenage mind, filling his head with hallucinations.

Someone sends Lana Lang, Clark's girlfriend, an unsolicited present in the form of a shiny silver meteor rock. The card is signed Lex Luthor, but Smallville's baldest, baddest, billionaire says he didn't do the deed. Clark handles the rock and cuts himself. From there, he starts seeing things that may or may not have happened, including an alliance between Lionel Luthor and Jonathon Kent, and some down and dirty diddling between Lex and Lana.

Great premise for an episode, and a solid step forward for Smallville this season. We learn a few big things, and the writers lay down the patchwork for the rest of the season. Clark's father, good ol' boy Jonathon Kent, is running for State Senate because he can't stand the thought of someone like Lex Luthor winning. Surprisingly (or not) Lex's father Lionel (played brilliantly by John Glover) wants to support the Kents rather than his own son.

Must be a bit of a blow to the ego for Lex. He is becoming further and further alienated from those around him. And Clark ends up tossing him down a hallway this week in a bit of Smallville tomfoolery that did not disappear when someone lost their memory. Instead, an equally lame-o excuse of Clark having "temporary powers" because of the splinter is used to smooth over the curiously raised eyebrows among his friends who wonder why he can lift people off the ground, blow through walls, handle live electrical wire, and hurl men like bowling balls down shiny mansion hallways.

Well, whatever. This is Smallville. Weirder things have happened, I guess.

Besides Jonathon Kent's run for Senate against Lex, we are also seeing the rise of Brainiac, played by James Marsters. He's up to no good, and Clark finally knows the guy is no longer his creepy, obtuse, quote-sputtering History teacher who, frankly, never seems to teach any history and instead singles Clark out for weird questions in front of the entire class. At least that facade is done and over.

I think the highlight of this episode comes near the end, when Lionel and Lex Luthor have a talk in the mansion. Lex is sporting a shiner and busted up face courtesy Clark. Lionel smart-asses: "Those Kents pack quite a punch don't they son?"

Lionel further rips his son a new one on Lex's run for Senate: "This isn't about serving the greater good, or even about power, it's about you changing the way people perceive you isn't it? That's why you are running for office. Even if you were President of the United States do you think that is going to make any difference? Because the people who are closest to you will always know what's truly in your heart. That's why Lana Lang will never truly love you son."

BOOM! What a great scene. Lays out the whole motivation behind Lex's pursuit of power, his rise to become president, and his future head-to-head battle against Superman.

Simply put, "Splinter" was another great episode. The series is 2/2 lately, and here's hoping we get a third hit next week.