Smallville

[SadPanda]

For those wondering about Doomsday, basically the comic version was created on Krypton by a scientist made Berton who would send a baby out onto the planet's surface allow it to be killed, gather some dna and clone it. He repeated this process for years eventually Doomsday evolved into what Berton considers to be the perfect being. And while he possess Superman-level strength,speed,durability,stamina and healing) his best power is his Reactive adaptation. He evolves to counter his opponents attacks and powers, So Doomsday if killed will return to life immune to what killed him before.

But this is Smallville so I can pretty much sum up what Davis vs Clark will be like (given the shows track record with Superman villains Zod and Bizarro)

1.Clark begins to suspect that something is afoot with Davis, Chloe of course will think he's wrong.

2.Clark will be proven right, at this point Davis will probably be on the verge of killing Chloe,Lois,Lana or Shelby the dog and Clark will have to race to their rescue.

3.Clark stops Davis, some words are exchanged.

4.Davis attacks Clark and the season ends with him having the upper hand over Clark

5.Next season starts and the fight gets resolved within the first episode.

[jordmundt6]

SadPanda--If that's a guess, that sounds like a good guess.

Maxima is a pheremone machine--at least in this incarnation, and Jimmy did a better job resisting her than Clark did. It wasn't a struggle for Maxima to get him to kiss her. Jimmy was tempted--sorely tempted--but he rebuffed he held out more than the average man--a testament to the strength of his feelings for Chloe.

About the writing--I like that Oliver has a dark past. They're taking a chance with Chloe and if they handle it correctly, it could be great--but given the show, I'd say the chances of them handling it correctly are roughly equivalent to the chances of winning the lottery.

[Ginny1976]

You know when Clark starts the show wearing black that he'll eventually lose his control at some point. But they could have dressed him in better black. That suit coat looked like they just grabbed it off the nearest intern. It looked terrible.
Tongue much?! Ugh!
Other than that, Maxima was okay. At least she wasn't totally sadistic. Killing every male just to kill. She just wanted her man. it was nice that she beat up Tess. Oh and Tess needs a new hairdo. The side part in her hair just doesn't do it for her. She's supposed to look menacing, but it's just really unflattering.
Oh, and what happened to Chloe's dad that Clark has to give her away?! Are they really that short on cash to pay the guy? Heck, they brought back Nelly for Lana, couldn't they bring back her dad?
They're beating a dead horse with all the Chlark nonsense. Let. It. Go. Already! Time to move on!

[jordmundt6]

I thought that Gabe escaped, but maybe he got blown to smithereens back at the end of Season 3.

The thing I thought was good about that is that they showed that Chloe HAS moved on--although her taste in men hasn't improved--just as Clark's taste in women has remained awful. If Clark could be truly worthy of her and they could write a believable long-term relationship, I'd still cherish Chlark as a long-term series solution--but Chloe deserves better and Clark is still this emotionally stunted shadow of a hero instead of a full-blown hero.

[LaDonna]

Does anyone else on this thread like season 8 and feel great about the direction of the season, or is it me all alone over her in happy land?

Everyone's complaint in the past with Al/Miles was that there was no clear line, because they sort of dragged different fan groups around with hints and signs, they gave mixed signals on the show and in interviews, and generally left the characters stagnant in a negative way. I thought everyone would at least be relieved with the new guys because they've solved at least a few of the Al/Miles problems: They are using canon to show a clear storyline, they are using show canon to define the relationships and where they are headed, everything on the show and in interviews seem to correlate, and every character is moving forward. I knew some Chloisers and Chlarkers wouldn't like it if they went the route of "Lois and Clark" instead of "Chloe and Clark", but I still expected most of the fan base to at least be relieved that they are telling us what the storyline is and where it is headed, and exactly what every characters role is.

As for Chloe, I already posted that Jimmy really disappointed me in "Instinct" and that episode made me want Chimmy to end. However, I was ok with him before, and for me, I like the character Chloe so much that I want her to be happy above all else, and she said on the show that Jimmy is perfect for her and makes her happy. So I don't spend my time wishing pretend AU George would have to come along and rescue her and that she would be swept off her feet by a hero. I used to want that sometimes, and since Jimmy's actions in "Instinct" it still does pop into my mind, but really I want them to write Chloe a happy ending, and give her at least some happiness right now. They are doing that for her. She not only said she was happy with Jimmy, but she also looked really happy. That Chlark letter was perfect in this episode. It was the closure everyone needed, fans included. Clark found out the depth of her feelings and was able to apologize for his blindness, Chloe can tell us that she's moved on and her relationship with Clark that she has right now is exactly what she wants, it should be the final obstacle between Jimmy and his jealousy towards Clark. I think they did such a good job with it. And Chloe asking Clark to walk her down the Isle was wonderful. When they hugged after that, they both looked happy about the situation. There were no longing looks, or regretting looks, or sad looks. They just both looked content and happy.

I guess I have a lot more to say then I thought! This season is seriously exciting for me, so it makes me want to talk about it more. So I'm sure I'll be on this thread more in the next little while to keep throwing out other things I enjoyed or wanted to discuss about that episode, or anything else!

[jordmundt6]

In all fairness, the direction is much better than it's been for two seasons--maybe more. There's the potential for real character growth in the leads--it's just the more I see this Lois, watch her go through the motions and ape the Lois role, the more depressed I get. If all I knew was the Reeve movies, I'd probably be ecstatic about the portrayal of Lois--but the character has made leaps and bounds in the last thirty years, and while changing social expectations are reflected in the writing and acting on this show--it's depressing to think that, as far as this Lois has come, she's still not up to the point where Chloe STARTED--and she pales in comparison to other, lesser known portrayals of Lois. Clark is being forced out of his shell and required to take a world view--but he's been stuck in quicksand for so long, much of my affection for this version of his character has been smothered by ineptitude, codependency and selfishness (thanks LANA). There are possibilities and they are promising--but I, for one, am too jaded by the sloppiness of the writing in the past to hold out much concrete hope for this year. I cling reflexively, desperate to see an ending I can enjoy--but it's not a realistic expectation.

We agree that Chloe's happiness is paramount--but they have yet to write her a suitable soulmate/life-partner. They haven't even tried yet.

As I've said before on this thread and in other places--if Lois were what she's supposed to be--which is basically Chloe 2.0--intelligence, drive, idealism, scrappiness--multiplied by a factor of 10, there wouldn't be an issue. With Lois in the picture--a TRUE Lois, Chloe would, automatically recede (her fans would still care about her, but with Lois to enrapture us and give us promise of the future, we could accept Clark growing away from Chloe because "look at what wonderful adventures lie ahead;" unfortunately, they took what amounted to just about the opposite of that route).

[LaDonna]

I take back what I said about Jimmy and Chloe before. This episode sold me. They were genuine, happy, and cute. And we now know that Chloe does not have romantic feelings for Clark. I'm glad they were able to show this, because one of my favorite things about smallville is Clark and Chloe's friendship. They are best friends, and love each as such. I'm glad the show finally made it clear that is the extent of their feelings though. I mean, I could tell by some other things previously, especially Chloe asking Clark to walk her down the isle (more of something you would ask family or best friend), her accepting Jimmy's proposal, etc. But I know there were questions about whether she still held romantic feelings for Clark, and I'm really happy they answered this, especially before the wedding episode.

And it's even better that it was in the same episode that Chimmy seemed so real and happy. I really have never seen Chloe as happy as she seems to be this season with Jimmy. It's awesome.

The way they were able to have Lois deny what she revealed and it seemed at the end of it like Clark might have bought it, that was also brilliant because it's a reasonable and iconic delay to their future relationship.

Jeez, I just loved this episode all around. Season 8 is like a christmas present to me. Clark was AWESOME in this episode. He was mature, intelligent, he took action, his banter with Lois was funny, and when he was in the elevator with Lois he had the upper hand for most of it. Finally, season 8 is giving us the Clark Kent that becomes Superman.

I better stop now otherwise there is potential for this to be my longest post ever, that's how much I loved this episode.

[Ginny1976]

So it just takes torture to have chemistry between Chloe and Jimmy. They should have done that a LONG time ago! But now we are sold, well La Donna and I anyway. I liked it as well. It was a very necessary episode to finally make everything crystal clear about Clark and Chloe.
And I couldn't agree with you more about Clark, LaDonna! He was everything you said he was. And it's about time!! I've missed this Clark. We only got to see glimpses of it last season. Hopefully they'll continue.
Now Ollie and Mercy on the other hand. It seems a bit silly that Oliver would be chasing Tess like that. But then I guess we don't know him like we thought we did. And, poor guy, Tess has put him in his place and hopefully he'll move on. "I had and itch and you scratched it" OUCH! I wonder if they'll clear it up with him about Clark and Lois being engaged. Maybe he'll try to go after Lois again...

[jordmundt6]

I believed Chloe--it made me want to throw up every time she talked about it, but I believed her. Jimmy--I was sold right up until the very end. He doesn't understand her at all, does he? "Guys like me don't get girls like you. The world doesn't work that way." True statement, but not what he meant. Having an abusive drunk for a father doesn't disqualify him, being poor doesn't disqualify him--his total and complete inability to serve as a life partner because he can't understand her DOES disqualify him. For me to be happy about any long-term Chloe relationship, I have to believe it's as grounded, as loving and as soul-consuming as Lorelai and Luke on Gilmore Girls and I'm just not sold. Sorry, no. Emphatically NOT sold.

On a side-note--this Davis garbage is just that. It was a mistake to bring him on.

At the end of all that, the relationship I end up having the most faith in is Mercy and Oliver (and they're completely toxic for one another). I liked Lois' breakdown--and her lying her rump off trying to subvert her admission. This is as close as we'll probably ever get to the Kent-Lane relationship that I loved so dearly on L&C.

[crookshanks1177]

Jord, I'm kind of with you on this one. I wasn't a fan of this episode. I don't know it just rubbed me the wrong way...

Clark and Lois didn't really bug me, like they had been. Lois' hidden dreamy teary eyed looks through the episodes of this season has sort of been bugging me for some reason.

And I don't mind Chloe and Jimmy in general. Jimmy loves her, I never questioned that. He's not Mr. Perfect, but his love is genuine. I always more doubted Chloe's love for him. I mean she cares for him. She was crushed when they broke up was it last season? Maybe the season before. But I was never really sold on love from her side. I kind of felt like she had been getting over Clark romantically. I think with her, she had so much other independence of her own, working at the DP, keeping Clark's secret, working with Ollie, acquiring a meteor power, now linked with Braniac, and controlling Isis. I guess with all this going on, all these personal changes that she has to cope with and grow to live with, I felt she had a hard time fitting Jimmy into all that.

His speech about his alcoholic abusive father and never knowing his mother... I don't know. That just irritated me more than anything. Don't get me wrong I symathize with anyone that has had to endure that childhood. But really... why was this even thrown into the storyline? What does it have to do with anything. I don't see Jimmy as any different... I don't know, I just felt like our time was wasted with that whole scene.

[LaDonna]

I don't know why the Jimmy background story on his parents was thrown in. It was pointless. Maybe the only reason they included it is so they could use the line "I'm not who you think I am" in the promo's to try and get people to wonder and tune in. Either way, it doesn't really add almost anything to the story. Unless they were going for viewer sympathy for Jimmy, but there are better ways to get that. I think they should have gone for something about his career. How he got there, what his aspirations were as a photographer, etc. I'm really hoping in episode 7 "identity" we will see the photographer JO, and not so much of the boyfriend JO. I don't mind the boyfriend role, but I also want the photographer role and I think the 7th episode would be the perfect one for that, and he plays a key role in it.

In an interview with AM she said that besides Chloe really loving Jimmy, she also sees that relationship as a good, steady, normal thing in Chloe's life, and that is one of the reasons Chloe enjoys it so much.

[frack412]

I thought Jimmy's "I'm not who you think I am" thing was supposed to get Chloe thinking about the secret she's keeping from Jimmy.

He told her what is probably the deepest, darkest secret in his life because he's ashamed of his family life, and the secret wasn't REALLY all that bad. I mean, I was expecting something huge & then I was like.. 'seriously?'

But Chloe's determined not to tell Jimmy about her insane brain power.

Then Chloe wanted to know why he didn't trust her enough to tell her. And she's hiding something a lot stranger than an alcoholic father.

[jordmundt6]

See, I'm on her side here. The brain thing--if she explains that she pretty much has to blow Clark's secret. She's perfectly within her rights not to deal with it. Jimmy's is an interpersonal thing, not a global security thing. Additionally, his sitting on his heritage and putting so much weight on it shows just how little he truly understands Chloe (which bugs me far more than I can explain in couth language). My initial reaction to the mention of his powerbroker father was:

Seriously?! Are they KIDDING with this? Turns out they were--but Jimmy in other continua has been known to have a colorful past. On L&C, his dad was a spy and he was a military brat (to say nothing of his alternate universe Bill Gates self). Still, I didn't buy it for a second--which made the reveal not so much a surprise as a waste of time.

[LaDonna]

And Chloe also thought Jimmy wouldn't understand and would turn against her once he learned she was a meteor freak. But he didn't, he came through and has protected her secret. She wouldn't have to tell Jimmy Clark's whole secret. All she would have to do is say that this is some new power she developed. How she got it isn't as important as the fact that she has it, and that is what she should be telling him as it's being used quite a bit now. I see absolutely no reason why Chloe couldn't and shouldn't tell Jimmy about her enhanced computing abilities. The bad guys already know she has it, so it's not a big secret to protect Chloe. I think her not telling Jimmy, and then asking him why he didn't trust her about his parents is wrong of her, or at least a bit messed up.

[jordmundt6]

Except really explaining the brainpower means explaining Brainiac and explaining Brainiac means explaining "The Phantom Samaritan." Should I be depressed that Jimmy acts more like Lois than Lois does? Incidentally, I liked the episode last night--except that it was almost certainly aired out of sequence. We went from the engagement Saw-killer right to Samaritan establishment with no point where Clark stops to make that decision. Either there's an episode that's supposed to fit where last night's was--or they just dropped a very important piece of connective tissue. Additionally, I'm really starting to loathe the fake Promo of a Promo habit that Smallville seems to have picked up from ER (since "the thing that can kill Clark, is the dark part of Davis and we didn't get there yet). This episode was an unexpected pleasant surprise, for the most part. "We interrupt the show you've been dutifully watching for five years to give you an episode of the show we SHOULD have been broadcasting to you all that time." The most significant drawback was Chloe sort of fishing for romantic connection in two places that had nothing to do with Jimmy after that heartfelt declaration that we're all supposed to applaud and support from last week. The backhanded admission about Clark was in character, but was a backtrack from the new direction they were setting us up for with Jimmy and Chloe. AM delivered it well but it seems Charlie Brown wishy-washy of Chloe to go back and forth like this when she's already engaged and "sure" about her choice. I like the new Jimmy direction--it gives him a purpose and a role (except that he's co-opting something that should really belong to Lois). Still, I like him and the way he pursues things--he owns this quest for a story.

[Black_XY390]

Originally Posted by jordmundt6

Except really explaining the brainpower means explaining Brainiac and explaining Brainiac means explaining "The Phantom Samaritan." Should I be depressed that Jimmy acts more like Lois than Lois does? Incidentally, I liked the episode last night--except that it was almost certainly aired out of sequence. We went from the engagement Saw-killer right to Samaritan establishment with no point where Clark stops to make that decision. Either there's an episode that's supposed to fit where last night's was--or they just dropped a very important piece of connective tissue. Additionally, I'm really starting to loathe those fake Promo of a Promo habit that Smallville seems to have picked up from ER (since "the thing that can kill Clark, is the dark part of Davis and we didn't get there yet). This episode was an unexpected pleasant surprise, for the most part. "We interrupt the show you've been dutifully watching for five years to give you an episode of the show we SHOULD have been broadcasting to you all that time." The most significant drawback was Chloe sort of fishing for romantic connection in two places that had nothing to do with Jimmy after that heartfelt declaration that we're all supposed to applaud and support from last week. The backhanded admission about Clark was in character, but was a backtrack from the new direction they were setting us up for with Jimmy and Chloe. AM delivered it well but it seems Charlie Brown wishy-washy of Chloe to go back and forth like this when she's already engaged and "sure" about her choice. I like the new Jimmy direction--it gives him a purpose and a role (except that he's co-opting something that should really belong to Lois). Still, I like him and the way he pursues things--he owns this quest for a story.

Referring to the bold:
I thought that when I first saw it too. It confused me that they brought that Clark mess up again. But then I thought up another way you could interpret it. Seeing as Chloe and Clark did not end up together, he obviously isnt who she is meant to be with. But she still loves him, only now as her very best friend. It could be a similar way with Davis. I thought the line about not feeling guilty was great. And I am curious to see how the friendship with two arch-enemies is going to affect Chloe.

I am a bit annoyed with this evil meteor-freak team that Tess is putting together. I wish they would say more about it.

[Ginny1976]

Bravo Chloe, or the writers, for having her walk away. I'm thinking that she wanted to try to toe the line with Davis but since he couldn't do that, she stayed true to Jimmy and left. But yeah, the whole conversation at the end really did blur things again. Dang it. It was so nice last week.
I like it that they're keeping the Legion of Doom in the shadows for now. It's a build up to...hopefully, oh please, PLEASE, don't let us down....some showdown between the Legion and the League. The guy was a bad actor though.
They did miss us seeing the time when Clark decided to embrace his destiny. But my question is: What about the Training? The one that was all so important? Maybe that will still happen?

[LaDonna]

I gave it a nine out of ten. I really enjoyed this episode, especially the acting. Everyone brought their A game. This season is amazing, no matter who has been in the episodes. I'm a huge Lois fan, but I was totally ok with her being gone in this episode. There was no real reason to have her in it, and it set up the plot well (with Clark being on his own). I was just happy that they even mentioned why she wasn't there! That happily surprised me. As well as the mention of Ollie and group, great continuity. It's like these people still exist when they're not in the episode, which is a huge improvement over past seasons.

SW is amazing! I thought he was a good actor after his first two episodes, but after last night, he was awesome!!! Seriously! And I'm not just saying that because of the shower scene. That was just icing on the cake (it's too bad this show wasn't on HBO or something, the camera may have been able to dip a little lower). He rocked his scenes with Clark, Chloe, and Jimmy. What I wish the story line was would be that somehow Doomsday was inside Davis, a regular old human. I have no idea how they would do the how or why of it, but I just really like Davis, and to me it's hard to fathom a Doomsday who is also a human and a paramedic. But either way, I'm really enjoying the story.

Jimmy, I missed you so much!!! You are a photographer, I knew it! I was wondering as of late, but you showed me that you can still be an independent person who has a job, and is excited about his job. Chloe has all of that, so you should too. Plus, that is who you are: A photographer! You get your cute little butt out there and nab that good samaritan!

Chloe, you are the most adorable person on the planet. I'm serious, she couldn't be any cuter if she tried, even when she's calling Clark out (whether he deserves it or not). And I think both Clark and Chloe did have points, but I was on Chloe's side for the most part. She promised those kids it would be a secret, and they trusted her. For Clark to come in without giving Chloe proof or anything was selfish. He didn't even stop to say something like "I'm sorry I'm asking you to do this, and normally I would never ask you to betray their trust, since I know how much this means to you". But instead, he basically stole the list. That's the way I looked at it at least, she said no, he memorized it and wrote it down for MM anyways. Not cool, boyfriend, not cool! I don't understand all the bagging on Chloe for not being a very good counselor. She just started recently trying to work with them, most of them don't want to go public or get help, and she's only coming into their lives recently. They have trust issues, and some corrupted power issues. Chloe isn't Jesus, she can't just smile at them and turn them into good guys! I think showing the support group was a big step in showing that Chloe is on the right path, and she is determined to make a difference in the lives of the meteor infected, even if the pay off isn't very big. The end scene between her and Davis was a bit weird to me. I mean, we knew he had a crush on her, but the things she said seemed a bit odd. She's had an easy time with someone only once before and it wasn't Jimmy? Did she mean Clark, and if so in what context? Was it the dance they went to romantically, or the friendship? And if it was the friendship, why did she say "I had it once", as in past tense? I just didn't get it. I think her saying she shouldn't see Davis anymore is a credit to Chloe's integrity, because she doesn't want to get to a point where it becomes inappropriate. I think that was a good thing she did since she is engaged. It is odd after last week seemed to be the show telling us that Jimmy is the only one she loves and wants to marry, and then this week she seemed to feel something with Davis and mention her easy relationship with Clark (if that's what it was). I don't know, weird.

MM, I couldn't say enough good things. I wish he was a regular, but I guess if he was then Clark might have it a bit too easy looking for help. I don't know, but he is a fantastic addition to this show. He does a great portrayal of MM, putting him in the police department is an excellent segue to Clark's future working relationship with the police. And he's in a position to give Clark great advice, I just hope Clark listens to it.

And now, my Clark. Oh my God, you are becoming Superman. It's real, isn't it? I didn't just dream this up? Ok, he's a little overeager and obsessed, but since he's just starting out trying to save the world, I'm hoping that attitude was just a way to get him to learn to balance his life out. It's sort of annoying, though, that every time he thinks something is important, he snaps at everyone. But, he's got to progress to Superman, and so hopefully all of this moves him forward and he learns from his mistakes. I mean, in the past few seasons, that would be hoping to the point of foolishness, but with this new season, I gotta say, I feel pretty confident he will learn and move forward. Oh ya, and I also loved that he wants to help MM get his powers back. YA!!! He remembers, without adding in his guilty talk, and says he wants to help him and will find a way to get his powers back.

Before this episode aired, I was feeling just so-so about it. After I've seen it, it went beyond what was previewed. I'm glad we didn't see DD, because I want that to be a huge event this season, and it's too early. The episode was creepy, scary, heroic, and it had real relationship problems and growth, as opposed to junior high relationship problems and stagnation. I gave Episode 1-9, Episode 2-8, Episode 3-6, Episode 4-9, Episode 5-10, and this one a 9. This season is so far beyond what I could have expected Smallville to give me (after what I suffered through for season 7). It's given me so much faith in TPTB and the writers, that I'm not even dreading Lana coming back. I don't hate Lana at all, but I hate Clark when Lana's around. But with the way things are shaping up, I think this may end up being positive for both Lana and Clark.

This is a long review, so I guess I should go watch the shower scene again to see if there is any hidden clues that I may have missed the first time around!!

[jordmundt6]

Phil Morris is amazing and I hope they have John Jones or Jean Jones in it again. I was pleased with the "sources" comment for two reasons. It was a nod to his telepathic and empathic powers--showed they actually did a little research--and it showed that his powers aren't gone, just drained (just like Clark's powers weren't gone in the premiere, just drained).

I think they're setting up Davis being Doomsday's shell somehow because it would be a great mirror image of Chloe's Brainiac horcrux deal (I think that might even be what Davis was talking about a little bit when he said "I think you know"--that the darkness inside him was attracted to the darkness insided HER, but that's another story and requires an entirely new level of talent an commitment from these writers). That might even be why Chloe finds it easy with Davis--a corrupted mirror image of her attraction to Clark. Even if I'm being charitable and I stretch for something positive in that admission, it completely destroys all that positive work they did in the Alien Empress and Saw-Engagement episodes. It leads us to believe that either Chloe was deluding herself earlier, or she found a way to "beat the box" in a more legit way than Lois claims she did.

I loved Jimmy, even his nose for an article--but as I said, the article part is Lois' beat and she's not really stepping up into that role yet. We have a star reporter without instincts or raw writing skills--and that still bothers me.

The easy time refers to the easy way in which Clark stole her heart, I think--it was incredibly easy to be attracted to, to fall in love with, Farmboy. It's incredibly easy for her to give vent to her attraction to Davis.

Oh, I forgot--the warning. If they do the Davis-is-a-husk thing, bear in mind that better writers than these have tried it and it bombed. *cough*Joss Wheedon*cough* Buffy Season 5 with Ben and Glory was a thought experiment that totally bombed.

I agree with a lot of what you said LaDonna and I'd probably give the episode an 8.5 or a 9 out of 10 myself.

[LaDonna]

I hope that's how they are setting Davis up, but so far it's interesting either way, so I'm not too nervous.

After watching it again, I think that Chloe saying she's had an easy time with someone once before actually meant something different. What I think she was referring to here was actually her friendship with Clark. That friendship led to her having a crush on him that wasn't returned, and even though that relationship led to such an important and deep friendship, it was still a crush at the beginning for quite a long time. She had strong feelings for him, that were not just friendship, and she is sensing the same thing with Davis, and now knows that she can't go there with Davis and still be engaged to Jimmy. That's why I think she left and said she couldn't see him for awhile. I don't think they are trying to mirror her relationship with Clark, as in Clark and Chloe's connection was because of the good in both, whereas Chloe and Davis's connection is because of the bad krypto connection. I mean, there is that connection, I just don't think they are trying to equal it out.

However, even if what I'm saying about why Chloe said that is right, I don't think it was a very good piece of dialog and I don't think it belonged in the episode. It wasn't at all clear, and after last weeks episode, it could easily be viewed as a reverse of what was said last week. I don't think it was a reverse, but I can see how it could be taken as one.

I do disagree with you strongly about Jimmy having more of a nose for an article than Lois. Lois wasn't even here, and yet it seems like you are blaming her because Jimmy is out trying to catch a photo of the "good samaritan". You would maybe have a point if Lois was in this episode and was trying to discourage Jimmy from even bothering with it, or if Lois was given a chance to try and go after the story but she turned it down because she wasn't interested. But that is not what happened. And there have been times in the comics when Jimmy has alerted Lois and Clark to something that he thinks would be a good story. It will be her and Jimmy who are going after it. Lois will want the interview and Jimmy wants the photo, and that's how it is in the comics. If next week rolls around and shows Lois to be uninterested in this story even after Jimmy gets a picture, or if Jimmy is the one doing the investigating and Lois is just saying to make it up, or if Jimmy wants a picture of it and Lois says they don't need the proof, then I'll admit that they are not writing her to be competent. But so far this season, she has been more than just an average reporter. She's gotten headlines, and is consistently being printed. They have even showed her being the one insisting on verifying facts or getting pictures for proof. I think it's extremely false to say that she doesn't have raw-writing skills (because if her articles were poorly written, I don't think the paper would continue to print them, the supposed best newspaper at that, when the papers goal is to make money), and I also think it's false to say she doesn't have instincts. Wasn't it her idea in "Committed" to pose as a couple in order to figure out where Jimmy and Chloe were being kept? That ended up being how the crazy guy was found. If anything, I think this season is making a point to show the audience that Lois is a good reporter, and they are giving us not just exposition to show this, but actual plots.

I did like in "prey" that Chloe is still available for research, and that just because she works at Isis doesn't mean she is no longer a researcher for Clark. Researching and hacking are skills that Chloe will use the rest of her life, it's just now it's going to be for the good guys who are trying to fight the bad guys.

So far I think season 8 has drawn clear lines in the sand to show where characters are supposed to be, why they are supposed to be there, and where they are headed. "prey" sort of wiggled the line on a couple things, though, so I certainly agree with you Jordmund that it is possible that Chloeiac could be influencing Chloe's decisions so far this season, and it's very possible that what she said to Davis was meant to signal her feelings for Clark, whether in the past or the present. I'm just trying to put this episode in context with the first five of the season. Too bad after each episode we couldn't have a question and answer session with the writers and such! I mean, I wouldn't want them to give away future plots, but there are some simple questions that they could answer, I'm sure.

I'm also pretty happy that they included the Chloe and Clark friendship date. People were starting to get worried that the Clark and Chloe friendship would end if Chloe was going to be with Jimmy, and if Clark and Lois now worked together at the DP, and I think this date was a sign that the friendship is going to continue, even if they are both busy with other things. Their little tiff was a mature tiff, and I don't think it damaged their friendship in any way. That friendship is going strong, and will stay that way until the end (which hopefully won't be until Chloe passes away as a happy 120 year old lady!).

Edit: I just rewatched the episode. I thought that when Davis told Chloe that it was so easy with her and that he had never felt that way before, and then asked her if she ever felt that way before and she said "once" and then he asked if it was Jimmy and she said "no", that she must have somehow been talking about Clark. But after watching it again I'm considering the possibility that she meant with Davis, and that's why she said she couldn't see him for awhile. I'm not sure either way, because it was sort of cryptic (or at least open to interpretation). However, it is a possibility. It was right after she answered that it wasn't Jimmy, that she looked sort of introspective, and the conversation that followed was trying to figure out what was between them. I'd much rather this be the case, that she was referring to Davis, and it would make more sense in my opinion. It could still be Clark, though. And I'm counting the hours until this thursdays episode of Smallville "Identity"!!!