What I'm Watching: Smallville

Smallville: Season 7, Episode 12 “Fracture” (F)

Talk about starting an episode in media res! The flashbacks via Lex’s brain should be more interesting, however, the nature of “Smallville” and its relentless refusal to kill off characters (see Lois, Lana, and Chloe who are all still alive after dying in last season’s finale) makes fatalistic episodes like this where one character bites the bullet so much less intense because you just know that everyone except the freak of the week is going to survive. Clark being in Lex’s mind proves to be entirely less exciting than it should be because a ghoulish Lex is “fractured” (as per the title) into a younger version of his self, called Alexander. Clark talking to Alexander as if he is his best pal is weird enough since the characterization is so obnoxiously concrete. All the techno-babble should be interpreted by a far more scientific mind than mine, but I think it is mostly crap. Clark getting ready to leave via the transporter beam is pretty ridiculous. Chloe’s powers are way too “catch-all” and fully effective in any situation, which is especially lame given the fact that this situation is hardly one that calls for her powers. The freak-of-the-week is hardly even in this episode, and his motivations are never really revealed, save for that final scene. Lois and Kara together in a number of scenes is something I can definitely live without. Clark’s theatrics are a bit much at the end of the drama there. And this episode is a perfect instance of the tendency for an epilogue at the end of each episode which just seems unnecessary – why attempt to sustain the show for an extra commercial break rather than just cut it a little early or extend out the central conflict of the episode.