Smallville S3 E14: Obsession

Today we’re diving into Season 3, Episode 14, titled “Obsession.” Put on your red jacket and grab some lead-lined courage, because things are about to get a little clingy.

Preview

Clark Kent’s lonely heart finally gets a jolt when a school field trip to LuthorCorp takes a literal dive. After using his powers to save a fellow student from a plummeting elevator, Clark discovers he isn’t the only one hiding a miraculous secret. Enter Alicia Baker, a girl who can “teleport” faster than Clark can say “secret identity.” It’s a match made in meteor-freak heaven, but Clark quickly learns that having everything in common with someone doesn’t mean they’re your soulmate—especially when they start viewing your friends as “obstacles.”

While Clark is busy playing “Now You See Me” with his new crush, Lana is busy trying to find a way to stay safe in a town that seems to have a vendetta against her. Meanwhile, Lex is still dealing with the fallout of his father’s mind games, and the tension at the Talon is rising. Can Clark handle a girl who literally won’t take “no” for an answer, or will this new romance end in a puff of smoke?

Episode Review

This is widely considered one of the best episodes of Season 3, and for good reason. For the first time, we see Clark actually get to be himself with someone his own age. The chemistry between Tom Welling and Sarah Carter is off the charts, you actually root for them for about ten minutes before Alicia goes full “Fatal Attraction.” It’s a refreshing break from the “will-they-won’t-they” angst of Clark and Lana, even if it ends with someone trying to drop a elevator on someone else.

The episode handles the “freak of the week” formula differently by making us actually like the antagonist first. Alicia isn’t trying to rob a bank or get revenge; she just wants to be loved. It’s tragic, creepy, and a great showcase for Tom Welling to play “happy Clark” for a change. The subplot with Lex and Chloe is a bit thin here, but the main story is so strong it doesn’t really matter.

The story plays like a teen thriller version of “Fatal Attraction”: it explores how isolation and parental fear can twist a gifted kid, and how Clark’s desire to share his secret clashes with the dangers of misplaced trust. It’s also the most “adult” episode thus far in the series. I really felt uncomfortable as they had Pa stand and watch them in the bed scene for what felt like forever.

The Cast & “Freak of the Week”

The series regulars are all on point, but this episode belongs to Sarah Carter as our Freak of the Week, Alicia Baker. She is arguably the most memorable guest star in the show’s history. She plays the transition from “sweet girl-next-door” to “obsessive stalker” with a chillingly calm demeanor. We also see the usual suspects: Kristin Kreuk (Lana), Michael Rosenbaum (Lex), and Allison Mack (Chloe).

Special Effects

The teleportation effect—the “purple-ish green ripple” or “poof”—is classic 2004 CGI. It’s not terrible, but it definitely looks like a Photoshop filter come to life and makes very little sense, why would it do that? The best effect is actually the elevator sequence at the beginning. It’s a bit shaky-cam heavy, but the practical stunt work of Clark catching the elevator cables is peak Smallville heroics. On the downside, some of the “super speed” shots are starting to look a little repetitive by this point in the season.

Music

Smallville always kills it with the early 2000s alt-rock.

• “Echo” by Elevate – This plays during the initial flirting.
• “Reason Why” by Rachael Yamagata – Sets the mood for the emotional beats.
• “Hundred Mile High City” by Ocean Colour Scene – High energy for the tenser moments.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

(Loses half a star because Lana’s “You need to move out” drama feels a bit repetitive, but otherwise a top-tier episode.)

Complete Synopsis & Plot Breakdown

The episode kicks off at a LuthorCorp facility where the Smallville High students are on a field trip. An elevator cable snaps, sending a group of students—including a girl named Alicia—plunging toward their deaths. Clark does the Clark thing: he ducks into the shaft, uses his super strength to grab the cable, and saves everyone. However, Alicia catches him in the act.

Instead of being scared, Alicia reveals her own secret: she can teleport! She “puffs” into Clark’s tool shed later that night, and the two hit it off instantly. For the first time, Clark doesn’t have to hide. Clark is smitten, thinking he’s finally found his equal.

But the red flags start flying faster than a speeding bullet. Alicia becomes insanely jealous of Lana Lang. When she sees Clark talking to Lana, she decides that Lana is the only thing standing in the way of their “destiny.”

Clark eventually realizes that Alicia is mentally unstable. In the climax, Alicia realizes she can’t have Clark, so she decides to “out” him. Ultimately, Alicia is subdued using lead paint (which she can’t teleport through… don’t ask too many questions about the science there) and is sent to Belle Reve. The episode ends with Clark, feeling more alone than ever.

Lessons and the Road to Superman

The big lesson here is The Burden of the Secret. Clark learns that just because someone shares your “burden” doesn’t mean they share your “character.” It’s a tough lesson in discernment.

Relating to Superman:

This episode is a massive stepping stone for Clark’s eventual isolation as Superman. It reinforces the idea that he can’t just trust anyone who is “like him.” It also highlights his compassion; even when Alicia is trying to kill his friends, Clark wants to help her, not just hurt her. This “save everyone” mentality is the core of the Superman mythos. He also learns the hard way that his secret is a weapon that can be used against him, which is why the “glasses and suit” disguise becomes so vital later in life.

Photos