Warning do not read unless seen episode.
This is another of my favorite episodes of the show as well as one of my favorite season finales. This is also one of the saddest episodes I've ever seen.
It's a common thing in Greek Mythology, mortals can dare to challenge Gods and Fate but that doesn't always mean they'll come up on top. Most of the time why mortals lose this conflict is because not just are the reasons petty and desperate but mainly mortals forgot the most important rule, that even Gods and Fate have their places in the universe alongside mortals. This truly is a sad episode because for once Clark/Superman loses and he truly has only himself to blame.
The episode really has a bit of a calm but tense atmosphere, it's the kind of feeling where you feel a bomb is about to go off but you're not entirely sure when. Really like some of the calm moments seeing Clark with Lana and their chemistry is good as usual as both are making each other happy. Then there is also the time with his parents which is also nice, I really like that little scene where Clark along with Johnathan is looking at the sunset fearing it's the last one because of the order supposedly Jor El gave but it goes down and nothing happens.
This signifies why Clark's fears are not fully proven nor justified. Granted there was that one message about ruling the Earth which slightly contradicts the earlier message. But that message was just one translation that wasn't even perfect to begin with and should obviously have been crosschecked by Swan or anyone else familiar with Kyptonian dialect.
And of course, there was the voice of Jor Rel from his ship but that was an A.I. program with his voice, so it's not Clark/Kal El's true father. Clark really should have consulted and told his parents the truth and I'm sure with Johnathan with the true Kryptonian key they would of somehow come to the cave and talked with Jor-Rel whom I'm sure is capable of reason.
I like that throughout the episode there are two themes. One of them is about honesty, the biggest problem with Clark right now is his trouble to be honest. It's understandable why he needs to keep certain secrets, but some secrets aren't meant to be secrets and as we see those kinds of secrets are becoming poison making him fear losing everything but also that no one will understand him and his dilemma. This is not just starting to damage his relationships he holds but worst of all himself as its damaging his faith in both himself and everything and everyone that's good.
The other is on fear, as a saying goes, "Fear is a treasonous commander you must never obey." To me fear is never your ally, it pretends to be and seems like what it's saying is right but isn't. But also, if you know and feel something is wrong than it usually is.
It's really sad despite knowing and even feeling what he's doing is wrong, he is ignoring his better judgement and constantly letting himself be compelled by fear and desperation to use it. It's really suspenseful seeing Clark use that Kryptonite key and I'm constantly thinking, "Clark, please don't do it, this is wrong!"
The aftermath is just completely devastating once Clark sees the aftermath of his terrible decision. We see Jonathan not wanting to look at Clark, just the look on his face and when he get the worst news ever on what happened with Martha and their child, there is just absolute silence from Johnathan as he comes in to visit his wife. That part just made my heart absolute sink and what I felt for Clark at that time, I'll just say was just utter disappointment as his action just shows Clark truly doesn't have what it takes to be a hero.
It's truly tragic what Clark did was you can say is a self-fulfilled prophecy, where he feared losing everything, but he caused it to happen, he did that himself. When I saw Martha crying and Johnathan is holding her, that moment just put tears in my eyes; but we even see a look on Clark and that look was a person that has truly lost everything.
Clark at this point is in absolute anguish, despair and all the above of the negative feelings just overwhelm him so much that Clark once again is listening to fear taking the easy way out as he uses the Red Kryptonite ring to not just take his pain away but also a form of self-destruction, as he's became almost suicidal when he doesn't want to be himself right now.
And the final moments we see him on the bike riding away. I'll admit I was almost heartbroken as once again he lets me and all of us down but worst of all himself. And now he's riding away from everyone and everything that matters in his life but most of all his destiny.
As an old saying goes, "The road to hell, is paved with good intentions." Clark is now riding on that road.
Rating: 4 stars
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