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Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Smallville - 10.2: "Shield" Review
Lois arrives in Egypt to end up in a deep and meaningful with Carter Hall, who checks up on her for Clark. Oliver finds out Chloe traded her life for his and a new reporter arrives.
The scene opens in the desert with Lois (Erica Durance) arriving in Egypt. Her dream assignment is going down the plughole fast. She picks up a manuscript with two Egyptian gods and Carter Hall (Michael Shanks) calls them star-crossed lovers. Plenty of references to those in this episode, what with Clark (Tom Welling) and Lois, Chloe (Allison Mack) and Oliver (Justin Hartley), as well as Carter and his wife, Shayera. (Which was about as close as you could get to Daniel Jackson's wife's name in Stargate SG1! - Sha're.) He comments, "guess you never know what fate has planned for you." The star-crossed lovers being an allusion towards Clark and Lois and he's here not only to keep an eye on her but ensure they do get together; or at least they can in the future. Carter as we recall is Hawkman.
Clark leaves messages for Chloe about the dark force Jor-El warned him of. Some soppy music in the moments when Clark looks at Lois' empty desk. Which doesn't last long as his new partner, Kat Grant (Keri Lynn Pratt) arrives. She offers him a Brownie whilst she throws Lois' name block in the bin, rescued by Clark who throws her Brownie away instead. Hero-bashing can be heard on the radio and Kat is against vigilantes too; blaming it all on Lois. Who she points out is in love with The Blur.
Oliver looks into Chloe's disappearance with Tess (Cassidy Freeman) admitting she's not behind it. He can't wait around for his girlfriend to return like Clark. No digital record of Chloe can be found anywhere. Tess tells him Chloe is the only one who can erase herself. Tess also didn't write the e-mail Chloe left for Oliver, only Chloe could write something like that. Calling Oliver her "knight in shining leather, my hero." Tess did help Chloe reset the system because Tess would understand why she was doing that. It's what Chloe wanted, Tess trusted Chloe had a plan and he should too. That's what Clark will also tell him.
Carter talks about Isis (in full Daniel Jackson mode! ha) and texts Clark that Lois is fine, as well as mentioning Ra, the Sun god, who was born again at sunrise. (Hey so was Clark in the first episode Lazarus, when the sun came out to give him the energy he needs). Ra was revered. Lois repeats "a god born again with the sun" alluding to The Blur/Clark, as I just said. She comments about the "guy sitting across the room from you is Ra." She has plenty of questions for Clark and Carter suggests she should ask him. So Carter knows Lois knows about Clark being The Blur.
A mysterious man in cowboy attire fires a bullet with precision marksmanship, to blow up Kat's car but she's saved by Clark. Clark being the real intended target, which was obvious. The letters 'A R N T' are all that remain visible on the bullet, which Clark and Tess believe was meant for Kat Grant. But was really meant for Clark, it's clear someone is aware of his secret identity too. Clark lets Kat stay at Chloe's apartment where Oliver is already there, searching for clues and finds an empty bottle. Kat believes the Green Arrow is trying to kill her and he tries to convince her that he's not a criminal. She tells him innocent people are being tortured at the docks, which he later checks out.
Kat's real name is Marie and Clark believes Lois should live her own life. Tess had the bullet analyzed at Luthor Labs and the bullet had Clark's name on it. She believes the shooter was on Checkmate's most wanted list, known only as 'Deadshot' (Bradley Stryker). Cue said assassin speaking with Flag. He has another bullet for Clark. Kat admits she's in hiding from her ex boyfriend and has to hide behind the power of the pen, with no one knowing who is behind her words. Another allusion to Clark if ever there was one. He's doing exactly that, writing under his name of Clark Kent whilst hiding from the world in order to save the world.
Lois believes Clark's destiny is huge so she has to stay away from him. Carter tells her Clark worries about her and "every great relationship comes with a great burden and the strength to carry it." He gives her a book to read that his wife gave him. Telling her the story of Prince Khufu and Shayera. Their love was strong and they bonded through eternity; were born again to find their true love; then lost each other. Khufu travelled the world in search of other women. He finally saw her in his palace where she was all the time, only he didn't recognize her as the time wasn't right. "Love made their love stronger." He sees Shayera and tries to kiss Lois. But Lois isn't his beloved as we know.
Tess only wants Clark to trust her. Clark believes there's more to the shooter's plan. Tess tells him if he knows Clark "is faster than a bullet "then he'll go after someone else, i.e. Kat. Clark arrives in time to rescue her from the bullet, only to have been shot by the bullet himself, since it enters and disperses with a skull logo inside of him. Kat tells him they need a hero in "red, white and blue," or red and blue, since that's what Clark is wearing and what he always wore in the show. Carter is also shot by one, as is Oliver who tells Flag (Ted Whittall) that he's only got a bow and arrow not a gun. Everyone thinks his group is dead and asks Oliver to join them. Oliver beats the info about Chloe out of him. Chloe took cyanide and died.
Oliver tells Clark the group call themselves "crimefighters" who think they should remain in the shadows. Oliver found a cyanide antidote bottle in her apartment. Clark realizes this is what Chloe was planning when she saw the future, begging Clark to trust her and her decisions. Oliver wallows in believing he let Chloe down. Clark wants Lois back, but "they left us." Oliver believes they should have remained in hiding then none of this would have happened.
We get an intro to the Suicide Squad, formed of Plastique, Deadshot and Flag. Plastique says everyone's been tagged with the bullets. Carter apologizes for the night before, he's too caught up in the story. Lois tells him it's his autobiography, she found a note reading: "To Carter, my once and ever Prince, with love Shayera. Shanghai 1824. Lois knows he's not the only one of Clark's friends "with a mysterious past." Carter had a vision of his wife last night and knows he will join her in a new life, but to do so, he has to leave this one. "It's time I met my destiny, before you go, I wanted you to meet yours." Carter tells Lois. Clark can't save the world without her. He tells her about Nietzsche and how he believed that people who chased dreams were running from their true destiny. They should embrace life and make it better. Calling them the "uber mensche." Lois translates as "Superman." Nietzsche believed every one could be one, "in our own way."
Clark loses the black in favour of the new leather look! Lots of love notes and love e-mails in this episode and one clearly putting forward events to be played out the rest of the season. Be sad to see Carter leave, but he can't just yet since he's been infected with the bullet. Also lots of references to the destiny we know that Clark will embrace along with Lois.
Amanda Waller (Pam Grier) mentioned the Suicide Squad in the season 9 episode Absolute Justice.
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