Smallville - S6E11

League
First Aired: Thursday January 18, 2007

As Clark and Chloe get closer to 33.1, they find that another group is just as eager to stop Lex's plans.

The episode begins at the Planet, where Chloe is waiting to speak with a doctor involved with 33.1. He shows up, Chloe grills him, and he pulls a gun on her. She is saved thankfully by a speedy blur who she believes is Clark, who shows up next to her a split second later. He says it wasn't him and Clark chases the blur. It turns out to be none other than Bart Allen. Welcoming him back with open arms, Clark is still worried about what Bart is up to. When he goes to talk to Lionel Luthor about the Luthor lawyers getting the doctor out of jail, Lionel shows him a picture from Mexico of a blur infiltrating a Luthor Corp facility. Clark confronts Bart about this, but he leaves before anything can be said. Bart then takes some information he got from Lex's personal computer to Oliver/Green Arrow. Chloe is able to back trace some of Bart's cell phone calls and they find out that he had been in contact with Oliver Queen. Clark goes to confront Oliver and they discuss 33.1. Bart goes on another mission to get the mainframe information, but is captured by Lex, who puts him in a cell where if he stops then the floor will fry him. Clark finds out about Oliver's League, which includes A.C. (Aquaman) Victor (Cyborg), along with Oliver and Bart. Chloe and Clark are able to deduce where Bart is being held, in Metropolis, so Clark goes ahead but he encounters meteor rocks and is subdued. Chloe lets Oliver and the group know where Clark was headed and the team gets ready as well. They infiltrate the base, with Oliver saving Clark. Clark then goes and gets Bart while Aquaman, Cyborg, and Green Arrow get the information from the mainframe and blow the facility. Later, Cyborg reveals there are 33.1 facilities all over the world and the group is headed to one in South America. Oliver breaks up with Lois because he has to go do this. They ask Clark to come, but he opts to stay behind to get the rest of the Zoners first. Lex talks with Lionel about his suspicions that Clark was at the facility, but Lionel covers for him. Lex seems not to buy it, though.

Wow ... welcome JLA! This was one of the better episodes of the series I have seen in a while and the best of the season, so far. There was something about the team that was so seemless and well-executed that they didn't seem too far fetched. I, for one, would welcome a JLA series with these characters because there is so much to go with here. It seems like Lionel is still good enough, or least really working at helping Clark, which I like. I am sad that the team left so soon, but I hope they make a return at some point in the seventh season. Highly recommended!

Score: 5 / 5

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

Buffy - S4E22

Restless
First Aired: Tuesday May 23, 2000

In this strange season finale, the Scoobies fall into a deep sleep and are stalked by an unknown assailant.

Picking up briefly after the previous episode, Buffy is saying bye to Riley who is going in for a debriefing from the government. As he leaves, Xander, Willow, and Giles all sit down with Buffy to watch some video because they claim that they aren't tired from the spell used to destroy Adam. However, moments after Joyce leaves the room and Xander puts in the first video, they are all asleep. This is where the episode gets weird, as we are transported into the jumbled dreams/nightmares of each of the characters, starting with Willow, going to Xander, then Giles, and finally Buffy. Willow is afraid that she may be acting the part of cool wicca person/lesbian and that people will see right through to what she used to be. Xander is running from his basement where he is currently stuck and hiding from his parents. Giles is worried about how is training or not training Buffy and begins to realize something is terrible wrong. Finally, Buffy is faced with her fears about Riley joining right back up with the government. At the end of each of their dreams, they are accosted by a strange faced-painted warrior who takes Willow's breath, Xander's heart, and Giles' brain. Buffy finally confronts the creature in the desert and it speaks through Tara. The thing tells her that she is the first slayer, her gift is death, and that there should be no friends. Buffy then proceeds to fight her to get control of her body again. She is successful and the others are safe as well. They discuss the dreams as the episode ends.

I can't stress how much I love this episode, especially since I have seen it last because I have gotten into more experimental things, such as David Lynch's movies and Chuck Palahniuk's books. It seems this is either a love it or hate it episode that is a little difficult to "get", but once I did, it was great. The cameos were very good, such as Snyder, Harmony, Oz, and non-killer Adam. The filming and the dialog is spot on for this type of dream sequence episode. This was an odd choice, perhaps, for a final episode of the season, since Buffy had already killed the Big Bad the episode before, but I found it revealing and a great vehicle for the next season.

Score: 5 / 5

Buffy - S4E21

Primeval
First Aired: Tuesday May 16, 2000

After the emotions ran high, the Scoobies are now divided, thanks to Spike's plan to help Adam. They are able to get the courage to face their demons before they have to face the real demon threat; Adam's ultimate plan is to unleash all threats in the Initiative.

At the end of the previous episode, the Scoobies have gone their separate ways because of things said. As they each try to deal with their feelings, Riley has had his behavior modification chip activated by Adam. The chip makes him completely subservient to Adam whose final stages are about to begin. Spike shows up and ultimately figures out his plan to separate the Scoobies has one fatal flaw; how will Willow get the disk information to Buffy if they are strained? Spike encounters Buffy and tries to persuade her to make up with "reds" in order to get the information and Buffy begins to realize what may have happened. Calling an importune meeting, the four core Scoobies meet and discuss how Spike was the one giving them the wild thoughts. They make up and start working together again just in time to take on the Initiative. They try to infiltrate the base again, but are ambushed by the commandos. Elsewhere, Adam shows Riley his new lab as well as his new experiments; Professor Walsh and Forest. Adam then begins his next phase by cutting the power and unleashing the demons in the Initiative. Buffy and the others escape capture and make their way to 314, where they think the secret lab is located. While Giles, Xander, and Willow set up for their spell, Buffy encounters Riley and the others. Forest and he square off, enraging Riley to the point where be gets enough willpower to remove the chip from his chest and takes on Forest himself while Buffy goes to find Adam. Buffy is no match for Adam and he has upgraded himself with an arm cannon, which he uses to chase Buffy into hiding. At that moment, the three others complete their spell and are infused with Buffy, giving her their power as well. With untold power, Buffy is able to rip out Adams power source and destroy him. Riley is also able to kill Forest while Spike saves the Scoobies, who are drained from the spell. The episode ends with a government panel discussing their failure while scenes of the escape orchestrated by Buffy are shown.

Awesome episode all around. This is how all seasons finales of Buffy feel; epic to a T. While the final fight scene between Buffy and Adam could have been a little more fleshed out, the action sequences in the Initiative's central area was amazing. While the action soared, so did the drama and humor, which was still intact. This season did depict college life, where you drift away from high school friends, but these friends have something stronger than simple friendship keeping them together. It was heartwarming to see the core four be the main focus and power behind the confrontation. Great stuff.

Score: 5 / 5

Angel - S1E18

Five by Five
First Aired: Tuesday April 25, 2000

When Faith comes to Los Angeles, Angel has to deal with her after Wolfram and Hart contract her to kill Angel.

This episode begins with Angel killing some demons in order to save a latino gang member. At the same time, Faith is shown getting off of a bus in Los Angeles and mugging a mugger. Angel uses his *ahem* persusive manners to get the gang member to testify in a pivotal Wolfram and Hart case, headed by Lindsay. The senior partners are unhappy with Lindsay's results and he tries to figure out a way to kill Angel. It is brought to the attenion of Lyla and him that Faith, the rogue vampire slayer was in town. The make contact with her and offer her safe haven, as well as money, if she kill Angel, which she gladly accepts. She shows up and her first attempt is foiled, but Angel, Wesley, and Cordelia are shaken by the encounter. As the story progresses, Angel goes to Wolfram and Hart and confronts Lindsay, but leaves intact. Elsewhere, Faith is waiting in Cordelia's home and kidnaps Wesley. She tortures him until Angel shows up and they proceed to fight. In the closing scene, Angel isn't fighting back as he doesn't want to make it "easy" for Faith. She begins to lose composure and cry, begging Angel to kill her. It ends with him holding her as she cries and Wesley dropping a knife he brought with intent to kill her.

While I commented highly on Sara Michelle Gellar's acting in the two-parter where she "became" Faith, I was totally blow away by Eliza Dushku's acting in this. Going from the extreme pyschopath torturing Wesley to the broken woman begging to be killed, this was the best I could ever remember Dushku being Faith. I know that Faith comes back briefly in season four and then for the rest of season seven of Buffy, but I really wish she would have gotten her own series. Boreanz's acting, as well, can't be discounted. Overall, one of the best Fatih-centric episodes.

Overall: 5 / 5