Smallville S4 E7 – Jinx

Preview

Get ready for some Friday Night Lights with a meteoric twist. This week, the Smallville Crows are on a massive winning streak thanks to a new foreign exchange student named Mikhail Mxyzptlk. While everyone is cheering on the unexpected victories, Clark starts to notice that the “luck” on the field looks a lot like a series of unfortunate, and potentially lethal accidents for the opposing teams.

Chloe is diving deep into Mikhail’s background, uncovering a family history that’s more about manipulation than soccer skills. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor is lurking in the shadows, naturally interested in anyone who can influence the world with just a whisper. It’s a race against the clock for Clark to stop the game-fixing before someone gets seriously hurt, all while dealing with the typical high school drama of being a teenage hero.

Episode Review

The Stars:

Tom Welling continues to play Clark with that perfect “how do I handle this?” vibe, and we get plenty of the usual suspects like Kristin Kreuk (Lana) and Michael Rosenbaum (Lex).

The “Freak of the Week”:

This episode introduces us to Mikhail Mxyzptlk, played by Trent Ford. In the comics, Mxyzptlk is a 5th-dimensional imp who is more annoying than dangerous, but Smallville gives him a sleek, “European cool” makeover. Trent Ford does a great job acting like the smartest, smugest guy in the room. He’s a guest star who actually feels like a legitimate threat because he doesn’t need super strength to win; he just needs to talk. We also get our first real example of Clark/Superman’s relation to magic. (It’s one of his only weaknesses.)

Special Effects:

This is Season 4, so the CGI is… well, it’s a choice. The “glitch” effect used when Mikhail uses his powers to influence players is actually pretty clever and holds up okay. However, some of the physics during the football stunts are a bit “creative.” When players are being tripped or shoved by invisible forces, it looks a little like they’re being yanked by stage hands just off-camera. It’s charming in a nostalgic way, but definitely shows its age!

Music:

The soundtrack for this episode captures that mid-2000s energy perfectly.

• “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” by Green Day (The ultimate 2004/2005 mood). 🙂
• “I’m All Over It” by J-Rad.
• “Fall Behind Me” by The Donnas.
• “Reach for the Sky” by Social Distortion.

Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 out of 5 Stars)

It’s a fun, high-stakes episode that balances the “Kryptonite of the Week” formula with some really important Lex and Clark character development as Clark is pissed that Lex ratted out Teague. Clark really shows some adult decision making as well. I also really really think Chloe knows, when she just basically tells Clark that in the kitchen.

Lessons & The Path to Superman

The Lesson:

This episode is all about the ethics of “winning.” Mikhail shows Clark what happens when you use your gifts for personal gain and to manipulate others. The lesson here is that a true hero doesn’t take the easy way out, even if it makes them popular or successful in the short term. When they use Boulevard of Broken Dreams while Clark is suiting up for the game, it actually hits pretty hard. His interaction before the game with Jonathan is special as well.

Becoming Superman:

We see Clark’s moral compass really hardening here. He has to stand up against the “cool” thing to do. More importantly, his interaction with Mikhail forces him to use his brain and his speed in tandem, rather than just punching a problem away. The introduction of a character like Mxyzptlk also prepares Clark for the reality that not every enemy he faces will be a physical match; some will attack his mind and his environment.

Complete Synopsis & Plot Breakdown

The episode kicks off with the Smallville Crows enjoying an improbable winning streak. The secret weapon? Mikhail Mxyzptlk, a student from the Balkans who seems to be able to control the outcome of every play. Clark is suspicious when he sees opposing players tripping over their own feet and sustaining weird injuries. It turns out Mikhail is a descendant of a family that has the power to control frequencies and, effectively, the actions of others through verbal commands.

Chloe discovers that Mikhail is running an underground betting ring on the games, using his powers to ensure he (and his “clients”) always win. Lex Luthor, ever the opportunist, gets involved by “sponsoring” Mikhail, but mostly he just wants to study the kid’s abilities. Lex’s interest in Mikhail is a chilling reminder of how far he’s willing to go to poke the bear of the supernatural.

The tension peaks during a big game where Mikhail threatens to hurt Chloe if Clark tries to stop him. Clark has to navigate the field, protecting his teammates and his secret while trying to neutralize Mikhail. Eventually, with a bit of help from a high-frequency jammer (and some super-speed), Clark manages to “short out” Mikhail’s powers. The episode ends with Lex whisking Mikhail away to “Level 33.1,” proving once again that Lex is the real long-term villain of this story.

Photos

Talk Ville Podcast

JINX (S4E07) Nonconsensual Evil, Worst Villain Ever & Glorified Product Placement