Smallville - S6E1

Zod
First Aired: Thursday September 28, 2006

In the sixth season premiere of Smallville, things are in complete disarray after Lex was infected by Zod and sent Clark into the Phantom Zone. His friends and family come to the realization that they must kill Lex to save the world as he fights the denizens of the Zone.

Picking up right where the season finale of the fifth season ended, Clark is stuck in the Phantom Zone, a barren wasteland for Kryptonian criminals, by Zod, who had completely taken over Lex's body. Lana begins to realize Lex is someone/something else and starts to become frightened when she watches him transform the black ship into a small red tablet. Chloe and Lionel are able to retreat to his office in Luther Corp, where they come to conclusion that Clark has failed and they need to get the knife to kill Lex. Lionel volunteers to return to Smallville, due to Chloe's injured leg. In the mountains somewhere, Martha finally comes around and finds Lois' inert body in the wreckage. Surprisingly, she has been drawn to the Fortress by Jor-El, who tells her what has happened and that she must fulfill Clark's destiny of killing the vessel. He returns her and Lois to Smallville as Clark encounters Raya, a Kryptonian aide to Jor-El in the Phantom Zone. She explains to Clark that the phantoms in the Zone are the worst of the worst from the 23 known galaxies, no longer able to take the form of their own bodies. She also explains that there is a back door to the Zone so that any of the El line are able to escape and she vows to take him there. Back on Earth, Zod brings the power back to the world because he needs to get to the Pentagon for their satellite information. He leaves Lana behind with a pike sticking out of her hand, vowing he would return so she can sire his heirs. Chloe has found shelter at the Daily Planet, where she also encounter her old fling, Jimmie Olsen. Lionel, Martha, and Lana all arrive at the barn at the same time to find the knife. Lana wishes to take the knife to kill Lex. Even though Clark and his guide are ambushed by Nam-Ek (from the fifth season premiere that Clark sent to the Zone), he is able to ultimately escape, though some of the phantoms appear to follow him. Lana tries to use the knife on Lex, but is unsuccessful, and he begins to use the satellite information he obtained to destroy the Earth. Clark shows up in time and they start to fight. Though it appears that Clark is defeated and kneels to Zod, he uses Jor-El's gift to Raya to send him back to the Phantom Zone. Lex awakens in the hospital later, knowing nothing of what he did and can tell he has a lot to work out with Lana. Clark confronts Chloe about their kiss, but they both try to shrug it off as Clark meets Jimmie. The episode ends with Lionel scribbling designs with the word "Power", Lex holding a piece of the tablet/ship, and a brief glimpse of one of the escaped phantoms in Argentina.

This is everything a season premiere is suppose to be; suspenseful and making me constantly question what can possibly happen next. Rosenblum's acting as Zod is truly marvelous. I wish we could have done more with the Phantom Zone, but it will always be there and I think the escape of the phantoms is a great vehicle for the season. One thing I am hoping is that Lionel doesn't go back to his truly wicked ways. Of course, I have always enjoyed Glover's acting as the devious man, but I started to really enjoy him as a "good guy". I am also a little peeved about Chloe/Clark, since I really want to see them happen because they are right for each other. Of course, this is another plot vehicle for the season. All in all, a great start.

Score: 5 / 5