RedGage

STILETTO Season 8 Episode 19

Written by Caroline Dries and directed by Kevin Fair.

I’m in love. Smallville managed to capture an iconic moment and I wept . . . with joy.

CLARKIE IS SUPERMAN!

Man, it’s been a long haul. But it’s such a beautiful moment – you just want to savor it.

I started reading Superman comics when I was nine years old – during the Silver Age. Lois did some wacky things back then. Much more elaborate than she does in the Modern Age or the Golden Age for that matter. So Lois Lane getting the bright idea to become Stiletto to smoke out the Red Blue Blur was no biggy. It’s just Lois. Erica Durance is wonderful in the role and I love her portrayal out of all the Lois’s. She’s just totally entertaining and believable. She does have an advantage over the other Lois’s. Her character is a conglomeration of the Silver Age and the Modern Age interpretations. And, placing her in Clark’s life at an earlier time frame is just sheer genius. The tale can be told with a twist – and from what I see this season – it’s going to be a great ride.

Clark. Clark Kent is fast becoming the Clark Kent we all know and love. His emotional side which gave us sooooo many troubles for seven and a half seasons, has finally swung around to where he’s confident, smitten, and encouraging. So much hope for this character. We’re all very anxious, delightfully so, to see what the SV staff will come up with in the finale and for Season 9.

Bruno Mannheim. Intergang was always a bunch of mobsters that Clark wrote about in the comics. But there’s no denying, Bruno is a psychopath. He has absolutely no social skills, so he’s not a sociopath. (There is no gray area with the guy.) He was wonderfully portrayed by Dominic Zamprogna and I can’t wait to see more of him. Bruno not only had to contend with Superman, but also Clark Kent the reporter. And I would be thrilled if SV brought on the Crime Bible and, of course, Mr. Boom Tube himself, Darkseid. So much potential for this character for next season.

Even though I loved this episode, it’s not perfect by any means. How can there be a fan website for Blur-etto if the story was never published in the Daily Planet? And Shelby had a sex change operation?

But let’s start from the beginning. There was a previously on Smallville since we had a two week hiatus with repeats of the . . . AoS. No, that does not stand for the Adventures of Superman. It references the Arc of Suck. You know what we’re talking about!

We see the conversation from INFAMOUS about Clark’s double identity. I guess they are going to have him working out of the shadows because he doesn’t have his dual id’s yet. (shades of Batman – so wrong), Jimmy addicted to pain pills, Chloe taking on her Watchtower gig (get her, Babs!), Chloe’s decision to stay with Davis and keep Doomy in the basement of the very public Talon (great thinking there for a supposed smart girl. Sarcasm.), Lois saved by the RBB in IDENTITY and her comment to Clark about how she’s going to get the first interview with the mysterious superdude.

Lois is attending the Edward R. Murrow Press Society banquet – well, she’s trying to. She hasn’t received an invitation, but when did that ever stop Lois? Chloe arrives to pick her up. Why? Not sure. Lois has her own car later in the episode.

They discuss Lois’s career and how she needs that one big breakthrough story. Lois apparently has printed an open invitation in the DP for a Red Blue Blur interview which he has been ignoring. “What was I thinking? If you want your first interview with a rock star, you don’t start with Springsteen!” Love it! ‘The Boss’ mentions are always good.

Lois goes on and on about the RBB. “The man has reinvented the American hero. Think about it. He saves people. He’s mysterious. Completely unavailable. What part of that doesn’t scream Lois Lane?” Chloe realizes Lois has a little crush on the RBB. “I respect his heroism professionally.”

While they are walking to the car, Lois has to stop to relieve her feet from the stiletto boots she is wearing. Chloe, who has parked illegally, must have supersped down the alley fast enough to be mugged as she called out to Lois. The only time she didn’t yell for Clark to save her? Bruno and his buddy AJ are trying to snatch Chloe’s big neon yellow purse which matches her car. Yea, real low profile there, guys. Chloe is unconscious on the ground. Lois kicks Bruno where it counts and then slugs his face. Then she back head butts AJ, then slugs and kicks him, too. So while Bruno takes off in the car. A nod to the stunt driver for the half moon turn with squealing tires. Great action. She has her boot on AJ’s throat while her face is in the shadows. He wants to know who she is, some kind of superhero? With her scarf blowing in the breeze and as the hero music swells, “Just call me, Stiletto.”

Louis Febre did a fantastic job with the music tonight. His work is phenomenal. More about that later.

Metro Gen Hospital. Chloe is leaving against medical advice. She has her phone to her ear talking to Davis (we don’t see him) and she tells him she’ll be home in twenty minutes. She makes sure he is staying in the basement. Clark arrives. Ohhhh, that’s how she gets home in twenty minutes instead of two to three hours. Apparently he’s not going to blur, maybe they want to converse along the way. Who cares.

She apologizes to Clark for not being around as his best friend. He asks where she’s been and she answers Watchtower. (a likely story) Apparently Ollie is in Syria, incommunicado. Why? We’re not sure. BUT, get this. Chloe in all her infinite wisdom had left her laptop in the back of her stolen car – the one with encrypted, but hackable data on the Justice League. She’s been updating her databases from home. (Clark, wake up – why isn’t she leaving the house when she has the megatron at ISIS?) That’s a firing offense with any job. So apparently, Chloe is sloughing off her Watchtower duties to babysit (okay, not exactly babysitting unless it’s a fetish film) Davis. Remember when she worked at the DP but did nothing but hack for Clark and Ollie? Big sigh.

Clark tells her he will find her computer. Chloe tells him that Lois kept talking about Stiletto saving them. Clark thinks it’s a knife expert, which is good thinking actually. “Where’s Lois anyway?” Chloe tells him she’s at the DP working on the hero story. She leaves alone in the elevator – so how does she get to Smallville in twenty minutes? Isn’t Clark taking her home?

The Daily Planet, City Editor’s office. Randall Brady and Lois are exiting with her irate because he won’t give her the front page for Stiletto. He tells her to get a picture. Lois, you’ve been told this before. KARA! “Did I misjudge you, Lane? I thought your game was all about the power of persuasion. Get the picture!” He leaves.

Lois runs to her phone to make a call. Clark arrives yelling her name. Chloe has told him about the attack and that she mentioned someone named Stiletto. “Patience, Smallville. Tomorrow you can drool over her along with the rest of the world.” (We can only hope.) He picks up her story which mentions the RBB and quoting Stiletto not sitting on the sidelines as crime rises in Metropolis. Hehehehe “I’m fine, by the way. Thanks for asking.” Does Clark think she can take care of herself? He gives her a nod as if recognizing he wasn’t quite as concerned about her as he should have been. Maybe he thinks Lois can handle a hangnail. (Blahna never could.)

Clark finds all the Stiletto quotes questionable. He tells Lois he needs for her to put him in contact with the new hero. “Get your own hero!” Lois claims respecting the hero’s wanting to keep a low profile. She mentions Stiletto gave her her phone number. Clark finds that strange. He tells Lois he has to find the hero because Chloe’s laptop was stolen and it has all her ISIS info on it. (yea, right) So Lois tells him if he wants to help Chloe to check out the guy in jail that Stiletto smacked down.

Ace of Clubs. With some strange club music. Jimmy is working as a bartender. Remember he quit the DP after giving Tess all the info on Davis. Bruno shows up with his shiner from Lois and orders rye. Jimmy knows him. “Hey, Ugly, the boss wants to see ya. He doesn’t look very happy,” says a flunky nodding towards a back room. Ugly is Bruno’s nickname in the comics. “I bet he’s not. Mr. Businessman,” said with some disdain as he drinks.

Jimmy grabs Bruno’s shoulder as he turns to leave to have a convo. He apologizes for touching. He wants an advance in pay. Bruno says he’ll take to Ricky, the flunky, but it’s the last time. Jimmy is walking a fine line here.

In the back room, there is counterfeiting going on. Bruno enters swaggering. Ron Milano looks upset as he picks up Chloe’s purse. “I was hoping at the very least that AJ was arrested for Dolce&Gabbana.” Reference to Chloe’s purse. I looked it up. The Italian rugby team modeling the underwear was a nice departure from small town girls who like boney protrusions storylines.

Mr. Milano explains to Bruno that he’s trying to run the mob as a business and not by committing petty thefts. Apparently they are making money using green kryptonite in the ink. Bruno responds quite heatedly. “It’s not about the door prize. It’s about reminding people that WE own this town and not some cape wearing circus freaks.” Milano makes the mistake of mocking Bruno and turning his back to him. “You two clowns are real intimidating.” Bruno is incensed that the capes are taking over ‘their’ streets. Milano screams back at him. “We’re done with petty street crime. We’re a business now!” Bruno calmly tells him he’s right. “Maybe it’s time for Bruno Mannheim to climb that corporate ladder.” Takes out his gun and shoots Big Boss Man dead. He turns and speaks to the other minion in the room. “Next we say goodnight to the wanna be heroes. Starting with Stiletto. Now it’s personal.”

Speaking of. . . .An industrial sewing machine violently binding black pleather. A stiletto boot being zipped up. A tight fitting bustier. Shining the boots. Lois applying a mask while wearing deep red lipstick looking into a mirror. All obviously done at the Talon apartment. More on that later.

A Metropolis alley. Jimmy with camera slung around his neck is trying to find Lois. She swings in on a rope wearing a costume much like Catwoman’s or Huntress’s sans ears. She has a scarf, gloves and a cape. Jimmy wants to know what she’s doing there. “Picking up your rebound.” She picks up a fan and places it on a crate. He tells her he’s flattered but he’s just broken up with Chloe. With fan fired up, she realizes what he thinks. “Ew, no. I mean ‘rebound your career.’” Lois Lane’s first line of defense for protecting the heart. “Nothing numbs the pain of a breakup like good old fashioned work.” She lives by that.

He tells her he’s not there to be saved. She offered him $100 to shoot some pictures. Lois gets on the crate and puts on her mask. “Metropolis’s latest superhero.” She nods to him. “Incoming!” She leaps from the crate with her arms spread eagle giving him the full effect. “Meet Stiletto!” Jimmy looks like she’s lost her mind. “I was going to sew an ‘S’ into the chest. Is that tacky?”

Here’s an idea. Let Lois design Clark’s costume. Martha isn’t on the show anymore and the girl obviously has skills. Between that COMBAT red and this black number, she really has a flare for it. Here’s hoping she finds that Warrior Angel cape at the farm house one day and just gushes over it. Hello Clark!

Jimmy is in total disbelief. She admits she’s not serious about cleaning up the streets, but her editor told her she needed a picture to get a page one. “I guess I didn’t see the giant asterisks above Lois Lane’s Rules of Reporting that said ‘just make it up!’” (Even Jimmy has seen or heard of the LLRR. Cool!) Lois reveals her true reason for the ‘get up.’ “Hey, unlike you. Some of us haven’t gotten our up close and personal with the Red Blue Blur yet!” She’s still posing and he’s still clicking away. He tries to reason with her, telling her that the RBB doesn’t talk to anybody. “No offense, but why is he gonna talk to you?” Lois reasons that the RBB won’t talk to her as a reporter but he just might take the recommendation of a fellow superhero to be interviewed by Lois Lane. She’s jumps off the crate. He snaps some shots. “Well, good luck with that.” Reminiscent of Clark at the end of IDENTITY regarding the same subject. She thinks that when the RBB hears a crime committed he’s going to be there in a snap and so will she. “Email those photos to my editor. I’m off to talk to a real hero.”

Chloe at Isis. Clark zips in. He tells her Stiletto may be their only hope to getting her laptop back. The perp Stil ‘captured’ got bail before he got behind bars. Choogle has no leads on Stiletto’s whereabouts, but she did find some interesting websites. Blur-Etto. Apparently RBB and Stil have their own fansite. (see earlier question above) Fansites are infamous for matchmaking. (Case in point – Chloe Davis = Chlavis. Chloe and Doomsday = Chloooo (he came out of a snot egg) put an Ah in front of it – you get it.) “No one understands a hero’s life of solitude better than a fellow cape.” Sounds like a Dinah/Ollie thing to me. “Romance is the last thing on my mind right now.” Chloe points out that Clark hasn’t mentioned ‘that thing that shall not be named’ since she left bawling her kryptonite tears. He tells Chloe that he has her for his secret keeping and friendship. Chloe says she hasn’t been the best sidekick lately and the JLA are MIA. “Having someone . . . who knows about leading a double life might not be such a bad thing.” He claims his double life is just fine and he’d rather concentrate on finding Stiletto and getting the laptop back.

Chloe does a ‘Batman’ reference. They’re not going to be able to call Stiletto out with a spike heel over a klieg light. Clark is thinking on that one.

The Daily Planet at night. Clark has the police scanner on – and the Metro Police website (where he’s been getting all his alerts until this episode) on his monitor. Lois is across from him typing away while showing great interest in the scanner. “Isn’t it almost your bedtime, Smallville?” We know he’s not budging because he does his RBB thing at night. Rolling eyes. He seems kind of anticipatory about his meeting with Stiletto. He eyes his backpack on the floor. Nerd. Lois does her own eying of her gym bag at her feet. “Slow night.” She’s trying to get rid of him. “I’m good if you want to go,” he replies. “If the Red Blue Blur calls, I’ll be sure to patch him through.” They smirk at each other. She retaliates with his idea of being a hero is filling the fax machine with paper. “Just doin my job,” he says. Lois points out he is wasting his time because her editor is only interested in her late night hours. “That’s because you’re in the big leagues and I’m just a copy boy?” Lois gets flustered. “No, because you’re doing way better than anyone expected.” Lois Lane just gave Clark Kent an offhanded compliment regarding his journalistic skills. Maybe he’s snipping at her heels? Could this be the inklings of that journalistic rivalry? There’s some eye talking as the police scanner gets louder about a robbery in progress. Clark jumps up and says he has to feed Shelby. Lois is out of her chair also. “I should hit the gym.” Lois leaves through the copier hallway as Clark watches her. He zips up the stairs.

Ace of Clubs. Jimmy arrives with his camera in tow. Bruno sees him. Jimmy apologizes for being late. “I got caught up in a project.” Bruno takes the camera from him. While examining the state of the art camera, he says, “You used to be a journalist, didn’t ya? What are you doing here?” Bruno looks at the digital display and sees a picture of Jimmy and Chloe at their wedding. He remarks how ‘Blondie’ looks a lot better when she’s smiling.

Jimmy is just the sweetest guy. He hasn’t erased the wedding pics even though he dumped Chloe, and rightfully so. Jimmy angrily steps forward wanting his camera back. He’s shoved away. Bruno hits the button and sees a picture of Stiletto. We see below the display it is says ‘Property of Jimmy Olsen.’ Bruno wants to know if Jimmy knows Stiletto. He denies it and says the pic is a fluke. “Where is she?” Jimmy shakes his head no as if he’s clueless. JIMMY IS THE MAN! He’s shoved out onto the terrace. (Uh oh, remember he had a heart attack out there in INSTINCT. This can’t be good.) Bruno repeats the questions and then smacks Jimmy to the ground. AJ takes his turn, but Jimmy shoves him off. Bruno still insists on knowing Stiletto’s whereabouts. “I have no idea.” JO gets a fist to the face from the kingpin. He insists that he doesn’t know where she is. “What is wrong with you? It’s like you want me to kill ya.” Jimmy is still silent and he gets another backhand for his trouble. He lands on the floor unconscious. “Where’s the hero now?” Bruno thinks everyone is in on Stiletto. He wants Ricky to hack into the laptop and he wants AJ to put the squeeze on Chloe for information.

The jewelry store. Yea, the one from COMMITTED. Burglar alarms are going off and we see a shattered window. Lois is standing there and then walks off. She got there too late apparently. Her pleather outfit is squeaking. Man, that thing has to chafe. Ouch! “Very stealth, Lois.” She’s talking to herself. She’s so human. The heels are obviously killing her. “Next time I call myself, Nike.” She looks down an alley and sees the perp has been encased in a pipe. “You beat me here,” she says knowing she’s missed the RBB’s action. “Hello? Are you here?”

We see Clark in his journalist clothes peeking around a corner at her. Then he walks behind her and in his manly voice asks, “Are you The Stiletto?” Lois smiles, happy the RBB is still hanging around. “Can I just say it’s an honor . . .” She turns and sees it’s Clark. Smile leaves. Clark squints at her. “Lois?” His face starts to show recognition, but Lois does a humpf and then goes into this other persona. Hands on hips, with a very feminine swagger. “Lois? Who’s Lois? I’m Stiletto.” Said with a makeshift Brit accent. Clark’s face goes through gyrations. Lois walks towards him still with her hands on her hips. “I should get back to my cave.” The girls are unmistakably present. Clark steps in front of her, she steps to the left. Clark steps along. It’s a dance. The girls are dancing, too. “Lois, you could have a bag over your head and I would still know it’s you.” Good thing he has x-ray vision, huh. Lois steps to the right. Clark still insists that they be nose to nose. With both hands he takes off her mask. “Go figure. I want the Red Blue Blur and I get the exact opposite.” (Remember Lois’ line from INFAMOUS – she thought he was a Peter Pan, but he’s the opposite; a hero. Unfortunately with Clark’s resetting time back – she still thinks he’s a Peter Pan. A boy who will never grow up. That was sooooo true in Season 7 and the AoS.)

Clark holds the mask up. “What do you think you’re doing?” He’s agitated with her. She grabs the mask from him. “What are you doing? You’re supposed to be feeding Shelby. Seriously, is there any woman in your life you haven’t stood up?” Aside from the dog’s gender flip flop – the answer would be – NO. Clark has stood up every female in his life because of his abilities and his hero activities. But it’s a different thing when you think he’s just being immature or wishy washy then knowing the reason he’s not where he’s supposed to be is because he’s saving people.

With her zinger, she manages to walk around him. So Clark follows her giving her reasons why he was there. He knows she’s after this superhero story and he came to make sure she’s okay. Ahhh, that was sweet, but pretty lame. “You’re obviously not [okay] if you’re impersonating The Stiletto.” Lois turns around irate. “Hey, first off . . . “ The shoulder punch is back! YEA!!! “it’s just Stiletto. There’s no THE. And second, I’m not impersonating anyone. I AM Stiletto.” Yep, it has never been The Superman either. It was The Batman at one time, but that never was true for Clark’s alter ego.

Clark looks incredulous and puzzled at the same time. He can’t believe she would make up a fake hero so she could write her story. He missed it by . . . that much. Lois looks at him as if he should know better but she goes with it. Let him believe what he wants. “Yea.” They stare at one another. Clark still seems to be questioning that is her motive. Lois quickly turns and walks away. She comes clean as he walks beside her. “Stiletto is only the beginning, Clark. These heels could kick open some major doors for me.” Clark gives her the heel to head once over. “What if Stiletto could land me a one-on-one with the Red Blue Blur?” She smiles about that. We see that this is her true motivation for dressing up. Clark tells her that ‘this Blur’ avoids reporters for a reason. “What would you say to him no one else already has?” Lois turns and stands in his way. “I wouldn’t say anything, Clark. I’d listen.” Again with the puzzled face from Clark. He’s really staring into her eyes as if her answer is important. “What if he isn’t looking for a best friend?” Lois informs him. “Superpowered or not. Every Fred needs a Barney.” (Uh, could there have been another way to put that? That verges on Chloe speak.) Clark adamantly tells her. “Unless it’s based on a lie.” She turns and walks away. Clark has nailed her poor judgment. He reminds her it could be dangerous. She’ll find herself in a situation that she can’t get out of by herself. (Yep, that’s Lois. Fearless. Resourceful. But needs a little help once in a while.) Lois reminds him that Stiletto kicked ass the night before. “You should have seen the guy I sent downtown.” Clark tells her he couldn’t because an attorney named Moynahan bailed him out. Lois knows the name as Clark seems clueless who the guy is. “He represents Ron Milano.” Clark recognizes THAT name. The biggest crime boss in Metropolis. Lois is revved. She tells Clark, “Then let’s go save the world. I’m in the market for a sidekick anyway. Just don’t slow me down.” Clark ain’t buying. He tells her how’s it’s gonna be. He’s going to find Milano on his own and she’s going to make sure the Stiletto article doesn’t get published.

So Lois can’t print this story because it places her in mobster-trouble. And besides she wasn’t in it for the heroics even though she is capable of a few lucky punches. She just wanted a good story with a hero, preferably the RBB.

The Talon. The coffee shop appears closed (Thank goodness!) as Chloe climbs down the steps with a glass of water. Must be time to water the dog…err monster. AJ grabs her from behind. He wants to know what she knows about Stiletto. Chloe shoves her elbow into his solar plexus as she runs down a hallway to a large door. Yep, this is could be the basement door. He grabs her and pulls a knife threatening her. She denies knowing anything about Stiletto. He wants to make sure Stil gets a message so he starts to slit Chloe’s throat. We hear growling and see a shadow appear behind AJ. He falls to the floor and is dragged by his feet down the hallway. Then we hear maybe munching? So Doomy is NOT in the basement. What if Lois or Clark showed up at the Talon?

The Talon apartment. Chloe is examining her neck in a mirror. We heard the door open behind her. She calmly turns expecting Doomy, I suppose, but then we see it’s Lois. Oh gee. Chloe is so great to be harboring a monster in her basement. That’s just terrific. Sarcasm. She seems more afraid of Lois than she does Doomy. Well, maybe she should. She has just put her cousin’s life in danger!!! Hello!!! Chloe slaps a scarf around her neck. “Hello to you, too. Expecting Freddy Kruger?” Lois can nail it, can’t she?

Chloe all smiles no less. Asks what Lois is doing there. Uhhh, is it still Lois’s apartment or has she moved to Metropolis? Would someone pleaasssseee answer this question!!!

Chloe says she thought Lois was tracking down Stiletto. Lois looks at her curiously. She tells her cousin the story fell through. Chloe just says ‘bummer.’ So now she’s giving Lois the heave ho because of what she’s got going on in the basement. Ms. Guilty Google!!! She’s back to season 6 and 7 Chloe. Mentioning there’s a tequilla shooter out there with Lois’s name on it. She opens the door and tells Lois to go have fun. Lois lets her know she wasn’t there to hang and she gets the ‘get out of here’ message. Chloe is undone. Lois tells her the reason why she is there. Jimmy is not answering his phone. Chloe refers to Jimmy as her ‘ex.’ A bit harsher than what Jimmy seems to feel for her. Which is screwy because Jimmy was the wronged party in this whole fiasco. Ms. Internet Life says something about Facebook updates. “Why are you even looking for him?” Well, gee, Chloe. Lois did spend weeks by his bedside. Just cause you screwed up your marriage doesn’t mean that Lois has to treat him like the plague especially when you have a MONSTER IN YOUR BASEMENT!!!

Lois trying to hide her own guilt with the Stiletto whim tells her she needs his help in destroying some ‘evidence.’ Chloe gives her a puzzled look. Lois confesses untying her coat and revealing her Stiletto costume. So the first thing out of Chloe’s mouth is, “Lois, you did this for a story! Didn’t you?” Sounding a little bit accusatory there, Chlo. Back off!

Lois looks humbled. She tells Chloe Clark has already laid down the law. She looks at herself in the mirror and then closes her coat. “I get it. I messed up! Like you’ve never gotten in over your head?” Yes, she has Lois, but she won’t admit it. She sweeps it under the rug or puts it in the basement. Chloe actually looks as if she is going to tell Lois what is going on. But then she would have to explain A LOT of things including Clark’s secret and how Doomy is there to destroy him. So she buttons her lip. She’s still endangering every person on the planet. That’s 6 billion, right? “Jimmy, should be at the Ace of Clubs.” She smiles and rolls her eyes trying to sell that she is A OK to Lois. So lighthearted. Fake! Lois goes to leave. “Thank you for understanding.” (about Stiletto). “Anytime, Lois.” So Chloe has herself in a corner and refuses to have anyone help her – on any level.

The Ace of Clubs. Clark arrives. Is he looking for Moynahan there? He turns on the superhearing as the wise guys are about to break into the JLA computer. We see a picture of Impulse. (who we will see in a future episode. YEA!!!) “Who the hell are these guys?” says Bruno. Clark zips into the backroom. Okay, Clark – what about a little x-ray vision before you go blindly anywhere. Just a thought. As he zips, the krypto money starts flying everywhere. Good CGI guys. Clark grabs the stomach and gets weak in the knees as usual. He sees the k-rock laced money and then Bruno slugs him to the floor. Clark’s bleeding. There are jars of kryptonite liquid and Jimmy lying unconscious across from him. “Jimmy?” See what a little x-ray vision would do for ya?

Lois pulls up to the Ace of Clubs building in her shiny red car. (Again, why did Chloe have to pick her up at the beginning of the episode?) She gets out of the car and sees Jimmy’s broken camera on the ground. She heads for the door.

Bruno is kicking Clark while he’s down. “How the hell did you get back here?”

Lois on the rooftop looking for a way into the club. Strange. There’s a full moon so all the crazies will be out tonight. (that doesn’t include Lois) She hears Bruno yelling. She goes to the skylight and sees what he’s doing. She gasps. Bruno is repeatedly kicking Clark. “Oh my God!” She pulls out her cellphone to call the police but it’s dead. “Seriously?” Yea, our thought, too.

Bruno finds Clark’s DP ID card. “Looks like you reporters think you have a little story here.”

“Oh that’s it!” says Lois as she unties her coat. “Wow! That’s far.” She says estimating the height to the floor below. She sees Bruno pull out a gun. He aims it at Clark’s head. “If you want, I can tell you how it ends.” Clark just stares at him.

Lois on the rooftop. “C’mon, Lois.” She is going to do what she has been pretending to do. There is no other recourse. Clark has to be saved. He’s there because of what she has done. She leaps through the skylight. The music blares. Her cape flies proudly over her as she descends. Glass breaking everywhere. Bruno and Clark look up. Lois kicks the flunky in mid descent, catapulting him across the room. She lands as Bruno somewhat awkwardly crouches behind her. Lois is amazed. “That works!” She sees Jimmy lying unconscious on the floor. “Jimmy!” She goes to him. He seems to be in worse shape than Clark, who watches her with mouth agape.

From the corner, we see Bruno raise his gun. “Stiletto has no idea what she just stepped in.” Helpless Clark on the floor sees what the kingpin’s about to do as he aims at Lois. With determination, Clark rises from the floor. “Lois!” He’s getting up despite the fact that he’s usually totally useless with that much kryptonite around. Lois turns at the sound of his voice. Bruno fires. Clark heroically leaps in front of Lois. He takes the bullet. He’s bleeding. He lands on the floor with a thud. Jimmy awakens as Bruno gets behind Lois to fire again. “Clark!” screams Lois. As Bruno aims, Jimmy gets up from the floor, grabs Bruno’s arm and slams him against a wall. They struggle. Jimmy manages to slam the gun from Bruno’s hand. As he’s choking Jimmy, Lois comes up behind him and smashes a bottle over his head. He falls to the floor.

Lois strips off her mask and gloves and goes to Clark. “Clark! Hang in there. You’re going to be just fine.” She presses her hand on his wound as he puts his hand over hers. Clark is struggling. Jimmy sees how much pain he is in. “Oh my God.” Lois crying tells Jimmy to dial 911. He goes. “Why did you do that, Clark? You didn’t need to be some kind of hero.” Tears are streaming down her face. She’s holding his face with her hand as he tries to breathe.

“Lois, you have to . . . get me out of here.” Lois nods as she tries to get him up. “Okay, okay,” her words are barely audible because of the sob in her throat. She and Jimmy manage to get the big guy up. “C’mon,” says Lois as Jimmy informs them medics are on the way. (Let’s hope they don’t send Davis!)

With his arms around Jimmy and Lois, he takes a few steps to exit the room. “C’mon, superhero,” she says as Clark looks at her. “You’re going to be fine.” The DP trio walk out together. They have saved each other. This is canon at its finest. Great job!!! So good to see Clark, Lois, and Jimmy together. Let’s see more of that in season nine.

Chloe with garbage bags. Apparently Doomy is not a clean plater. Bad monster. She’s dutifully tossing them into the dumpster – shouldn’t she be driving those somewhere else? Evidence too close to the scene of the crime. Having a pet can be such a strain. Chloe with blood on her hands. Yea, well there is going to be more of that since you are harboring the thing that will eventually kill Superman in the future and who knows how many more people — since your wedding reception and before the season finale. Way to go, Chlo. She slides down to squat against the dumpster and cries. Great scene by Mack and Febre’s music is haunting. Storywise, meh. She’s sucking up too much screen time!

The Daily Planet. Daytime. Mob Men Behind Bars. “Ugly” Arrested reads the headline on the newspaper Clark is holding. The byline is Lois’. A picture of Bruno holding his number. Lois lays down some food and has brought some orange juice and coffee. Clark looks at her suspiciously. “Nothing like a double frosted bearclaw to ease the pain of a fleshwound, right?” Lois is nervous and obviously feeling guilty with the turn of events. Plus she’s copied his article every which way but loose for him. She’s rapid fire talking. Yep, she’s nervous. Clark looks at it all. “Lois, you didn’t have to do all this.” But then he has another thought. You can see it in his face. “But thank you,” he says as he reaches for the coffee. With his arm extended, he groans as if in pain. Clark, you dirty dog. I love sneaky Clark. Bwahahahaha. Lois grimaces watching him struggle. He looks up at her with a hidden grin. “Looks like you got your cover story afterall.” She sloughs it off, grabs a bear claw and goes to her desk. “I guess.” Clark is shocked she’s not thrilled. “The last time your name was above the fold, you held a champagne toast!” Lois takes a bite of bear claw and looks at him with wide eyes. “Is there something about this article that is still bothering you?” he asks encouragingly. Lois stands tall. “Fine, I admit it. Sometimes the Lois ‘Fast’ Lane ambition ramps into cruise control and gets away from me.” He gives her a slight grin to cheer her up. “Those mob guys would still be on the street if you hadn’t come to my rescue.” There’s this underlying conversation going on again between these two that is not audible. It’s in their eyes and facial expressions. Tom and Erica have fantastic chemistry.

Lois lets out an ironic chuckle. “Your rescue? Yea, right!” Her gaze is one of astonishment that he doesn’t realize the truth. “You’re the one with the . . .” She can’t say the word. He looks at her curiously. She looks down and then faces him. “Smallville,” she says shaking her head. “If you hadn’t been there to . . .” She still can’t say it. He seems endeared by her inability to articulate her strong emotion. “You’re welcome, Lois.” She grins and nods at him. “I hope this means that Stiletto has hung up her heels for good.” She tells him, “Gladly. Those heels were giving my blisters blisters.” She starts to walk back towards his desk. “Besides if Mannheim had had better aim, you’d be dead. And it was really sweet of you to, y’know, throw yourself in there. But I should have never put you in danger. It’s not like you save lives for a living.” This reminded me of the IDENTITY end scene where Lois told Clark she didn’t tell him about her psycho date because it would have put him in danger. Again, she is thinking of Clark and his safety.

Clark denies that he saves people. “There’s only one Red Blue Blur.” There is major eye sex going on. “Honestly, I don’t envy the guy,” says Lois. “After walking a mile in Stiletto’s shoes, I was reminded that I am not cut out for that life of solitude.” Clark agrees with his eyes. “I didn’t know there was room for introspection underneath that costume.” Oh, Clarkie. Always checking out the girls. Good on you! And Clarkie made a joke and is openly flirting! Lois grins at his humor. “Wow! Look who got grazed by a funny bullet.”

Lois takes the last bearclaw while chuckling to sit at her desk. She’s flirting, too. “You weren’t going to eat this, were ya?” She dangles the bearclaw in the air before taking a munch out of it. Clark seems to be mesmerized by her actions. She brushes the sugar from her hands and looks away. Then as if daring herself, she gazes at him and he still has the same expression on his face. He’s grinning.

Lois Lane makes mistakes. She doesn’t try to blame anyone else for them. She has remorse and tries to make amends. She realizes by impersonating a hero, she put everyone she came into contact with in danger and with almost dire consequences. She is trying to apologize to Clark for putting him in the deadly situation. She tries to thank him for saving her life. She tries to make his life a little easier since he took a bullet for her. Clark sees that Lois learns from her mistakes and although she is willful, she is not selfish. Her need for a great story is not an obsession. She has perspective when it comes to a story and people’s lives. She truly cares. She thinks about others first. He truly enjoys being with her. He teases her. He never did that with Blahna or Chloe. He knows Lois can take it and give as good as she gets. Something tells me Clark is going to be spending a lot more time looking at Lois from across his desk as he did at the end of this scene. No wonder he enjoys his job at the DP so much. Grin.

Jimmy is making a buy in an alley. Apparently he was strapped for cash until now. He digs out a wad of kryptonite laced counterfeit bills and hands it to the dealer. He does not look happy about his actions. More trouble for Clark with krypto-cash floating around town?

The Talon apartment. Chloe is digging a gigantic casserole out of the oven. There’s even more food on the counter. Clark walks in (no knocking) with the laptop. So is she going to take that stuff to the basement or is Doomy still walking around? And if Clark’s there, wouldn’t his presence set off the monster? Are there customers downstairs? I’m starting to believe that the Talon is a magical place where reality and believability never visits especially with this storyline.

For next season – GIVE LOIS HER OWN APARTMENT!!! So Clark can visit, late at night, with some lame excuse why he has to be there. Wink.

Chloe thanks Clark for returning her laptop in Chloe speak. Cringe. She used to be a computer why wouldn’t she want to be reunited with one? Clark grabbed it before the police arrived so hopefully Bruno wasn’t able to pull any files off of it. Lucky for that Watchtower girl, huh. Yea, the one with the Destroyer of the Universe in her basement which she is cooking up a storm for. Rolling eyes. More Chloe speak. She’s not going to carry around the Watchtower files anymore. Clark sees the spread on the kitchen bar. “Are you expecting company?” She says no. Huh? She tells him when she’s stressed she has to eat large quantities. What is she, a conehead? Clark looks skeptical and says he’s never seen anything more than a cookie come out of that oven. He knows something is wrong. “Are you okay?” She tells him he almost died yesterday for her computer. Uh, no. He died because you are a careless bitch who can’t focus on her job whatever that might be at the moment. You put 6 billion people in danger by having the JLA files confiscated. Duh! Oh yea, it’s all about you and your computer, Chloe. Dream on!

Clark tells her she made an honest mistake. (little does he know) “I’m fine.” And then he lifts his shirt ala Lois in BIZARRO. Oh yea. We’ve missed that!!! More please. Hey, if I can’t see the muscles in tights – then let me see them otherwise! Preferably with Lois. “I know you better than that, this isn’t about a computer. What’s wrong?” Great opportunity for Chloe to come clean, but does she take it? Nope. She’s still thinking she can get some Kryptonian nookie. “Nothing. Really, I’m fine,” she says through a small sob. Very convincing. Not. She goes on the defensive and walks over to the oven. “Look I apologize. . . it’s just that after my divorce . . .” Her and Jimmy are divorced! Why divorce? An annulment would have sufficed. “and Brainiac, and now playing Watchtower to a bunch of needy superheroes” She’s ditzin her job??? Hello!!! She’s banging stuff around. “I forget I need to be all smiles all the time.” Go off much??? Yea, real defensive. Throwing the big man off the track. With concerned brow, Clark tells her no one expects her to bounce back from everything she’s been through. “I just want you to know that I’m here for you if you need me.” Oh, Clark, she needs you alright – you’re the only one who can save us all. “I know,” she says with shifty tearful eyes. “But right now I just need a little bit of space.” I hear the Phantom Zone has vacancies. “Not a supersave, okay?” Uhhh, I think he was just being your friend. Not your hero there, Chlo. Clark looks puzzled by that remark. Chloe tries to give him the stiff upper lip and grin. She obviously doesn’t want to talk about it. So he nods and leaves.

And then . . .

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness this man and this woman . . . No, it’s not a wedding scene, but . . . it’s one of the most iconic scenes ever on Smallville, hands down, no questions asked.

Lights in a tree in front of the Nib and Quill store. Remember when Lois ‘shook down’ a seventy year old man on that exact sidewalk telling him “If this was the last place on Earth and I had to write an SOS, I wouldn’t come here for a nib or a quill.” COMMITTED. Great episode. Lois is carrying a red and blue piece of paper. “We should talk. 1421 Third Street. – 10 PM” Lois is having regrets about her ‘wild goose chase’ when she sees what store she’s standing in front of. It must hold sentimental value for whomever sent the note, right? Wink.

Lois turns to leave and we hear a phone ringing. She walks over to the phone booth and picks up the receiver. “Hello?” She’s looking all around. We see the Metropolis El in the background. The train not the other El. Wink. A modulated voice asks, “Is this Lois Lane the Reporter?” She’s breathless for a second. “Who wants to know?” He answers. “This is the Red Blue Blur.” SQUEE!!!

Lois smiles from ear to ear. She’s finally in contact with her big story. Lois Lane’s Rules of Reporting. Rule 1.) Always know your source. She loses the grin to make sure. “Yea, right. How do I know you’re not some Deep Throat wanna be with a lot of time on his creepy hands?” We hear a rush of air as Lois’ bangs blow slightly. “Look down.” Some time in the future everyone will be looking up . . . hopefully. (Look! Up in the Sky! It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s . . . that guy.) Lois obeys and it’s the insert of the DP where she openly invites the RBB to talk to her. You can read it if you freeze frame.

‘I know it can be hard out there for a hero, and I promise to make sure you’re represented fairly and accurately. I will do my utmost to make sure you’re protected. I will fight on your behalf when exposure is too risky.” Ahh shades of INFAMOUS before he put on the Legion ring.

Lois can’t believe it’s him. We see Clark talking into his cell phone with the voice modulator. Smart guy. Doesn’t’ call her on her cell phone so she can id him. “I received your letter . . . Ms. Lane.” Oh no, Lois is a goner. He’s pulled out the manners. Here’s a little secret: Chicks dig the whole Boy Scout routine. It shows respect and caring. He’s totally watching her from a rooftop as she stands in the booth. “Call me Lois, if you want. And while we’re at it, do you want to weigh in on the whole Red Blue Blur thing because it’s kind of a mouthful on this end.” Clark is nodding and agreeing. “I think there’s probably a better name out there.” His grin!!! Damnnnn he’s never grinned like that before! Then he gets all serious for her benefit apparently. “And if there’s anyone who can find it, it’s you. . .Ms. Lane.” I am swimming in happy sauce!!! Go Clarkie Go! He’s still grinning with her in his ear. She does some grinning of her own. Nods confidently. “I’ll put my best men on it.” In a split second she retracts it somewhat. She’s keeping it honest. “By men, I mean me because I work in a basement and employ pretty much no one unless you count my intern (Clark).” She finally takes a breath. “I’m sorry. I’m rambling.”

Clark has a realization. “You’re nervous.” This seems to tickle him. Okay, go back to Season 4 premiere, CRUSADE newly reborn Kal-El of Krypton falls at Lois Lane’s feet. (See original Naman legend) While in the hospital he learns that Lois talks a lot especially when there are uncomfortable silences. And in COMMENCEMENT, season 4 finale, Clark remarks that disk jockeying would be a good career for Lois since there wouldn’t be any dead air. He knows this woman, and he is getting a kick that he, Clark Kent the hero, rattles her.

Lois looks stunned that this ‘stranger’ has pegged her. “Can you read my mind?” Ahhh man, I’m dying from happy here. Love Theme from Superman the Movie. Terrace and flight scene between Clark and Lois. (Which I rewatched several times after this episode – same feelings. Yep, I cried.) YES!!!

Lois starts rambling again. “Who am I kidding? It’s Saturday night and I hightailed it down here because I have one obsession right now and it’s you . . .” Clark who has been grinning all this time suddenly seems to not like the sound of the word ‘obsession.’ But Lois is still talking a mile a minute. “and when you didn’t respond to my skywriting, I just . . . “ We hear the modulated voice from Lois’ end. “It was a nice one by the way.” Lois is really digging on this guy. She smiles. “Between you and me, I could use a little work on that subtle thing,” she chuckles.

Clark, still grinning. He’s really enjoying himself. “You know there’s nothing wrong with taking your work seriously.” Lois opens up even more. It’s as if she feels some kind of bond with this guy. “There is when you don’t know who you’d be without it.” The mod voice tells her. “Something tells me you know yourself better than you think.”

“Lois, you’re a great reporter.” First time he uses her first name. “All on your own.” He pauses looking very happy. “You don’t need a hero or some gimmick to make a headline.” She thanks him. “My editor will kill me, but . . . I don’t want this story. What I’ve really been wondering is . . . what is it that YOU need?” Lois Lane the woman with the generous heart. No wonder Clark falls so hard for her and she for him.

Clark has a furrowed brow at her turning down the story, but he appears amazed at her question. Has any female on the show asked him that? Martha maybe, but certainly not the two Smallville girls. It was all about Blahna and Chloe thinks of him being in hero mode all the time. Neither thought of what Clark might need, or truly want for that matter.

“I mean you’ve dedicated your life to a city full of strangers and I’m not saying I know what it’s like to be a hero, but . . .” Clark looks as if he’s wondering where she’s going with this. Lois always gets his brain cells fired up (amongst other things). She’s a challenge in the best connotation of the word. “. . . the fastest blur in the world can’t outrun loneliness.” He looks as if he was going to say something and then he stops. “I guess what I’m saying is . . . If you ever want to talk, totally off the record, I’m only a phone call away.”

Remember earlier in the episode, Lois told Clark she would listen to the Red Blue Blur and in all her exuberance over getting stories perhaps Clark didn’t quite believe that. But we see she is a woman of her word and that her heart is in the right place when it comes to others.

Clark gives a little grin at this revelation. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he says smiling. “And Lois, when I’m ready to tell the world my secret, you’ll be the first to know.” Lois sort of startles as if she didn’t really know he had a secret. He’s a hero and all, but what is this mystery he will let her in on? She smiles and hangs up the phone. They do not say goodbye!!!! YES!!!!

Lois smiles looking incredulously happy and humbled by this honorable man. Clark closes his cell phone still staring down at the phone booth. Lois bends down and picks up the newspaper as Clark turns and looks very content and happy. The music swells and there are hints of the flying sequence music from the Superman movie.

HUGE SIGH OF PLEASURE!!!

Lois turns down her breakthrough story. The one she swore she’d get because she understands that there’s a person behind the blur. She offers to be there for him if his hero world becomes too lonely. To listen. To fight for him if need be. She admires and respects what he does.

Clark handed Lois the story she has gone through antics for. He wants her to be happy. He trusts her with his life. Because that is what the story would be. Lois offered him something more. . . her ear. Her friendship. Eventually her heart. Love this couple. Always have. They are partners in every sense of the word.

Clark and Lois are an intricate part of one another. Strong characters separately, but together – amazing. Definitely the ticket for next year!

CLARKIE IS SUPERMAN!!!

Okay, so he’s not flying . . . yet and he doesn’t have the suit, but Lois can sew him one apparently. BUT, emotionally he is the Man of Steel. I never thought we’d get here. This episode proves that the Smallville writers can write mythos – and that’s what I personally want to see for the finale and for next season. Give me THAT!!!

Rating: If I were using the BQ Miller scale, five out of five – cause he always gets much more than that. If you only watch the Clark saving, Lois and Jimmy, Clark and Lois, and Lois and RBB scenes – it’s still a five. It’s the Chloe inserted story, bad continuity/believability that messes up the points. So a fair rating would be four out of five. BUT I love this episode – especially the final scenes, both the DP and the phone booth one.

Everyone did a SUPER job. Can’t say enough about the acting especially between our two leads, Tom Welling and Erica Durance. They do an incredible amount of work with their entire beings to convey the quintessence of this couple. Mack was totally on her game. Aaron! I love Smallville’s Jimmy Olsen. He’s edgier and not so much golly gosh. He’s downright sweet and ALWAYS does the right thing. I blame Chloe and her messin with him for this pill deal. Clark and Lois will get him out of it. Maybe it’s SV’s way of making Jimmy, RBB’s pal?

Music . . . We love you Louis!!! Dominic can come back anyday. Loved Bruno’s introduction. To the effects and prop people. Super job as always.

The future’s so bright I’ve got to wear shades.

One final question: Can we get a Clark and Lois kiss this season??? PLEASSSEEE!!!

I will not be watching the next episodes, BEAST and INJUSTICE live – no Erica Durance. Hey, it’s not my fault if they like to shoot themselves in the foot! So it will be delayed viewing for me – and without contributing to ratings. The finale is May 14th – mark your calendars. DOOMSDAY is coming and supposedly some deaths and some leaving for characters. Can’t wait!

Clark Kent has matured and accepted his destiny so much this season that Operation Save Clark Kent has been declared a success. The blog will still be alive and kicking as OSCK Superman Fans for Smallville.