Smallville S5 E3 – Hidden

When Clark Kent decided to give up his powers for love, he probably didn’t expect a nuclear missile to be aimed right at his hometown! In this explosive episode, a former Smallville High student named Gabriel Duncan goes off the deep end, hijacking a local missile silo with a plan to wipe out all the krypto-mutants in town. A completely powerless Clark has to step up to the plate, but playing the hero without invulnerability leads to a tragic and fatal showdown. Will Clark survive a bullet to the chest?

Meanwhile, Chloe Sullivan is packing for Metropolis University when she gets a chilling warning call from Gabriel, pulling her right into the middle of the madness. With the military closing in, Sheriff Adams on the hunt, and Lex Luthor obsessively trying to crack open the hidden Black Ship, the stakes have literally never been higher. Tune in to see if Jor-El will step in to save his son, and what terrifying price might come with a second chance at life!

Episode Review

This episode is an absolute rollercoaster and easily one of the most intense hours of the fifth season. We kick things off with some delightfully awkward morning-after humor between Clark, Lana, and the Kents, but things take a dark turn super fast. Having Clark actually get shot and flatline in the hospital is an absolute gut-punch. The slow-motion directing in that hospital sequence is visceral, frantic, and wonderfully done.

And then there’s John Glover as Lionel Luthor being possessed by Jor-El—which is just peak Smallville greatness. Glover switching into full Kryptonian dad mode is brilliant and gives the show an incredible twist. Sure, the idea that a high school kid can just waltz into a silo and launch a nuke is completely ridiculous, but we’re watching a show about a teenage alien, so we just have to roll with it. The episode balances heavy emotional stakes with superhero action perfectly, ending with a cliffhanger that sets up a massive tragedy down the line.

Stars & Freak of the Week

The Main Cast: We have our usual heavy hitters here doing fantastic work: Tom Welling (Clark Kent), Kristin Kreuk (Lana Lang), Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor), Allison Mack (Chloe Sullivan), John Glover (Lionel Luthor/Jor-El), Annette O’Toole (Martha Kent), and John Schneider (Jonathan Kent). Tom Welling really shines, giving us a very human Clark who has to face the music without his safety net.

Freak of the Week: Johnny Lewis guest stars as Gabriel Duncan. Ironically, Gabriel isn’t actually a meteor freak; he’s just a heavily armed, highly disturbed kid who wants to wipe out anyone infected by kryptonite. You might recognize Johnny Lewis from his later role as “Half-Sack” on Sons of Anarchy. He does a great job making Gabriel feel frantic and dangerously unpredictable. Also guest-starring is Camille Mitchell as Sheriff Nancy Adams.

Special Effects

Smallville usually does a great job with its visual flair, and the slow-motion sequence when Clark gets shot is beautifully framed and visually striking. However, we have to talk about the climax. When a repowered Clark super-jumps into the sky to intercept the launched nuclear missile, the CGI definitely shows its age. The green-screen work of Clark clinging to the side of the nuke and ripping out the wiring mid-air looks a little bit goofy and didn’t hold up as well as the practical effects. It’s a fantastic Superman moment conceptually, but visually, it’s just a bit rough around the edges.

Music

Smallville always brings the great 2000s angst. Here is the track listing for this episode:

• “Breathe (2 AM)” by Anna Nalick (Plays when Clark and Lana wake up together)
• “Dirty Little Secret” by The All-American Rejects
• “Collide” by Dishwalla (Plays when Clark comes home and reunites with Lana)
• “Supernatural” by Wild Whirled
• “Disappearing World” by David Gray (Plays during the final scene with Clark and Chloe)

Rating

I’m giving this one 4.5 out of 5 stars. The wonky missile CGI is the only thing holding it back from a perfect score, but the emotional beats, the acting, and the sheer stakes make it unforgettable.

Complete Synopsis and Plot Breakdown

The episode opens with Gabriel Duncan forcing his way into a missile silo, shooting the guards, and setting a nuke to launch in one hour. He calls Chloe, warning her to get out of town because he’s going to wipe out all the krypto-mutants. Meanwhile, Clark and Lana accidentally sleep in, resulting in a hilariously awkward run-in with Jonathan and Martha in the kitchen.

Chloe tells the Kents about Gabriel’s warning. While the military and Sheriff Adams try to track Gabriel’s signal, Chloe and a powerless Clark rig a fake car accident to lure Gabriel out into the open. The plan backfires when Gabriel pulls a gun and shoots Clark point-blank in the chest.

Clark is rushed to the hospital where he tragically flatlines and is pronounced dead, leaving his parents and Lana completely devastated. Over at Belle Reve, Lionel Luthor is suddenly possessed by Jor-El, breaks out with super-speed, and steals Clark’s body from the hospital. In the Fortress of Solitude, Jor-El resurrects Clark and restores his powers, but delivers a heavy warning: to keep the universe in balance, someone Clark loves will eventually have to die in his place.

With only minutes to spare, Gabriel and Chloe struggle over a gun at the silo; the gun goes off, killing Gabriel, but the missile launches anyway. A fully repowered Clark super-jumps into the sky, catches a ride on the ascending nuke, and rips out its circuitry to disarm it. The episode ends with Clark returning home, telling his family his powers are back, but secretly carrying the heavy burden of Jor-El’s deadly prophecy.

Lessons and Superman Connections

The Lesson: You can’t run away from who you are, and every choice has a consequence. Clark thought he could just be a normal farm boy, but ignoring his destiny put his own life and his town in danger.

Superman Connections: This is a massive leap forward for Clark’s journey to becoming Superman. First, he willingly sacrifices his own life to try and save people, which is the ultimate hero move. Second, his mid-air disarmament of the missile is a classic Superman trope, very reminiscent of moments you’d see in the comics or Superman Returns. Most importantly, he finally accepts that his Kryptonian powers are necessary to protect the world, bridging the gap between Clark Kent the farm boy and Kal-El the savior.

Photos

Talk Ville – HIDDEN (S5E03) Tom’s Rocket Riding Choices, Clark Losing His V-Card & Dark Reality of Our Guest Star

Review Notes

The opening certainly sets this up as a big episode. First off we get some straight up murder, followed up with some Clark and Lana oversleeping after their night of oogey boogey and Clark being all paranoid about Dad’s reaction. (turns out he was right while Mom was just like “were you safe” LOL Martha Kent’s oh shit face was classic.

Chloe shows up with some perfect comic relief.. you know she was probably the best actor on this show, I wonder how big she would have gotten in an alternative universe where she didn’t have her “problems”

I like how Clark and Chloe just straight up break into Gabriel’s house. Oops he murdered dad too.

OK Holy fuck what did I just see… Clark’s bleeding out.Wait a second did he jump into Lionel’s body??? Oh that’s Jor-El.. wait how does he have powers in Lionel’s body… whatever doesn’t matter this is cool except Clark’s dead now with some great acting by all involved. I cant wait to see how they get out of this one.

How much is going to happen in this episode. Chloe just killed Gabriel. Well at least her and Lana will have something to bond over besides Clark (both Killers)

Jor-El is still a dick, even inside Lionel. Guess I was wrong, I know that Dad dies in the lore, but I really thought it was going to be later, thanks Jor-El you dickhead.

Next Week – S5 E4 – Aqua. Geez, I wonder what that could be, at least make my guesses a little harder.