Smallville – Turbulence review

This episode marks the return of Jimmy Olsen since Bride. The characters with the most emphasis was Clark and Jimmy. I thought this was Clark-lite, but it wasn’t because Clark had 16 minutes and Jimmy had 15 minutes. Clark’s scenes with Tess has bolstered their numbers. Even though TW had a minor illness, he still was able to be emphasized more.

The Clark/ Tess relationship has potential in that it’s reminiscent of the Clark/ Lex friendship from the earlier seasons. Clark knew that Tess was trying to get him to expose his powers, but Clark turned the tables on her when he got her drunk and he squeezed the oxygen line of the mask which caused her to pass out. He wouldn’t let anyone make the decision for him concerning his dual identity and he sure wouldn’t quit the Daily Planet for nobody. It was nice to see him change in the phone booth, which was an iconic moment. He didn’t fly, but rather jump out and glide down. I just wish we saw the rest of it, but this was the new showrunners’ way of teasing us about the flying.

Jimmy returned in a big way in that he saw Davis murdering someone and that Chloe trusts Davis more than him. He no longer fell for Chloe’s shenanigans because he was right  and she knew it. He quit the Daily Planet and left a note for Tess to meet Davis, which will come into play in Eternal. This episode clearly shows why both Chloe and Davis have to go because Chloe is on the dark path of no-return and Davis is clearly embracing his Doomsday side by killing his victims, so he’s not the innocent victim nor was he ever in the first place.

The way that Jimmy and Chloe have broken up is the way that Clark and Lana should have broken back in Requiem. Their breakup was for internal reasons while Clark and Lana’s breakup was for external reasons. This is probably Septien and Meyer’s answer to Requiem.

Why is Chloe telling Clark to hide like a coward and quit the Daily Planet? Clark works for Tess, not her so Clark will make that decision on his own. Her advice is opposite of Lois’ from Infamous. I hope there will be a confrontation between Lois and Chloe later in the season concerning her trust in the wrong people like Davis. There is another foreshadowing from Jimmy’s viewpoint.

Solid episode, but not the best work for Septien and Meyer.