Even though it was a total rip-off of Saw, it was still a reasonably good episode (epecially when compared to last week's stinkeroo!!).

Yeah, I agree. But I guess it's an attempt at some forward motion, while Lost this season has had little to none for five or six episodes, and then some great stuff for two episodes or so...maybe good network television is going the way of little development per ep in hopes of a longer run....or not.

Hmmm... the WB writers must have recieved their Netflix order. Let me guess the top three in their queue... Saw, The Cell, and (because I DVR'd the first two minutes of Supernatural afterwards) Near Dark.

Wouldn't the elevator slamming into Clark be almost the same as hitting the ground?

Anyway, I still tune in for the microscopic advances in the Superman myth story line. "Truth, Justice, and the American way" gave me a slight nerdy chill.

I wonder if they do this in a comic book sense, ignoring the actual (geek/nerd) physics involved. By the same token, the shot now used in the opening credits where Clark grabs the kid out of the path of the meteor is at such acceleration that pieces of the kid would still be left where he was standing. I'm thinkin' it's for effect, like a Bugs Bunny cartoon.

The point of the scene is that Clark uses his superpowers to save his mother and Lionel Luthor, which leads to Clark confronting Lionel about knowing "the secret".

Why would they bother spending the time and money to stage and film the complicated action and special effects, which would be required to show Clark leaping up and catching the elevator car and stopping it in freefall.

Even though it was a total ripoff of Saw, this episode was actually much better than the past few that have aired.
Keep my hopes up that the last few episodes of the season will be good.

I liked it--and have no intention of ever seeing Saw

I thought it was a decent show. I don't have my hopes up for next week...but the last 2 episodes should be great.

Yeah, I was thinking, perfect opportunity to remember how to fly. Get up there and gently bring them down. How was hitting Clark's hand's supposed to be any differnt then hitting the floor? This was definitely the cut rate episode with minimal "super" effects.

That's the way I looked at it even though I wondered about his hands going through the floor of the elevator. It's a friggin comic book character - I'm not going to nitpick the physics involved.

Rip-off or not, this was the first episode in a while that I actually enjoyed. Let's hope the final ones keep it up.

I enjoyed this one as well. I thought it gave an intersting insight to Lionel (who is one of the more interesting charcters in the show.) The conversation at the end was way overdue. And, as was stated earlier, less Lana always gets a thumbs up from me. Personal taste, I guess.

I did have to laugh at Lana's regrets over mushing faces with Lex.

So how did Lex know that Clark appeared across town in a few seconds? He just knew that Clark left the room he was in. Who's to say Clark didn't just step out for some fresh air.

While I like Smallville, it is really hard to believe that when Clark becomes Superman, he won't know immediatly who it is from all he suspicions (not even including that Superman's face is not covered & Lex has been around Clark for 5+ years).

sure seemed like lionel had something or someone in his head at the end.

he appeared to be drawing something, didnt look lke he was writing.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight, because Saw is a totally original idea. Don't get me wrong I like Saw (the first one more than the second) but let's not go nuts thinking that they created something new. I normally wouldn't of said anything but this thread is filled with comments that break down to "OMG, they're ripping off Saw!" The concept of villians putting heroes/protagonists through death traps has been a staple of comic books for many many many years now. Long before Saw was ever conceived. And given that Smallville is, of course, based off one of the most popular comic book characters ever I don't see where the writers have done anything wrong.

Maybe Jor-El is still inside Lionel

The main thing I'm sick of is the damn "freak of the weak" bs. You would think after 5 seasons we wouldn't have to watch anymore of that crap. Unfortunately, it looks like we can look forward to more "freak of the week" next episode.

That's what I was thinking. He did call him son at some point.

By the way, did you know Kristin Kruek had a myspace account?

http://www.myspace.com/kristinlaurakreuk

wow, smallville writers can't come up w/ anything orignal anymore.. saw..

whoa

I really hope we don't have to deal with a bunch of Lana/Lex drama similar to the Lana/Clark stuff.

But with the ominous character on the screen, the series of lose-lose choices, and so on it was a lot more blatant of a ripoff than simply co-opting the death trap theme. Perhaps Saw was not the first thing to use these elements, but it was clearly the inspiration for the Smallville writers when they made this episode. Sort of how Fast & the Furious was not the first movie to feature car racing, but that one season 3 racing episode was still obviously made as a response to that film.

Not to mention the scary, disguised voice saying "we're going to play a game".