A rare flower with strange effects is stolen from Dr Hamilton, leading to a series of bizarre and dangerous events in Smallville. Clark Kent finds himself in the middle of the chaos when the flower’s toxins cause people to act out their darkest desires. Lana Lang is caught in a love triangle as the flower amplifies her feelings for Clark and puts her on the outs with Whitney. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor grapples with his own hidden desires as the flower’s effects threaten to reveal his deepest secrets.
Chloe Sullivan investigates the strange occurrences in Smallville, uncovering a connection between the stolen flower and a series of bizarre events in the past. As the town descends into chaos, Clark must race against time to stop the flower’s effects and save his friends from their own desires. Will Clark be able to control the chaos and maintain his secret identity in the process?
Episode Review
Starring: Tom Welling (Clark Kent), Kristin Kreuk (Lana Lang), Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor), Allison Mack (Chloe Sullivan), Sam Jones III (Pete Ross), Annette O’Toole (Martha Kent), John Schneider (Jonathan Kent), Eric Johnson (Whitney Fordman)
Freak of the Week: This episode doesn’t really have a classic “Freak of the Week” in the usual meteor-infected sense. Instead, the culprit is a flower called Nicodemus, which causes people to act on their deepest desires. It’s kind of like a love potion gone wrong, with a dash of truth serum thrown in for good measure. However, lots of regulars are effected to include Lana and Pa Kent.
Special Effects: Let’s be honest, the special effects in early Smallville were a bit of a mixed bag. The glowing eyes and heat vision are still a bit rough around the edges, and some of the stunts are a little cheesy. But hey, it was 2002, and we still had a few years before the CGI revolution really took hold.
Music: The music in this episode is classic Smallville, with a mix of angsty rock and dramatic orchestral cues. It definitely sets the mood for all the teenage drama and superhero action.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars – This episode is a fun exploration of the characters’ hidden desires, but it’s not one of the most memorable episodes of the season.
Synopsis and Plot Breakdown
A rare flower called Nicodemus is stolen from the Dr. Hamilton, and its pollen causes people to act on their suppressed desires. Lana finds herself torn between Clark and Whitney. Clark must control the chaos and find a way to reverse the flower’s effects before things get out of hand.
Chloe’s investigation leads her to a botanist who reveals the truth about Nicodemus. Meanwhile, Clark discovers that he is immune to the flower’s effects due to his Kryptonian physiology. He uses this to his advantage, helping his friends and stopping the spread of the pollen.
In the end, Lex finds a cure for the effects of Nicodemus wear off, and everyone returns to normal. But the experience leaves a lasting impact on the characters, forcing them to confront their true feelings and desires.
Lessons and Superman Connection
This episode explores the theme of desire and the consequences of acting on impulse. Clark learns that true strength lies in controlling one’s desires and using them for good. This is a valuable lesson for a young superhero who is still learning to control his powers and his place in the world.
The episode also hints at Clark’s growing feelings for Lana, a theme that will continue to develop throughout the series. It also shows Lex once again trying to do the right thing throughout with a Cadmus Labs twist at the end.