Smallville (TV Series) Skinwalker (2002) User Reviews

The Legend is Revealed

[Rcwilkinson123 · 9/10 · 19 September 2007]

One of the most crucial episodes of 'Smallville' up to this point, and probably one of the most crucial for the series, presents itself in the 31st episode of the series.

Why, you might ask? Because the man who is destined to become a legend needs to learn the legend himself. And that is indeed what Clark learns in this episode.

After falling into a cave while motocrossing with Pete, Clark comes upon a beautiful Indian girl named Kyla, who indisputably resembles Lana Lang. In the caves, Kyla tells Clark about the legend on the walls concerning the hero Numan, who shoots fire from his eyes, is incredibly strong, and will be sent from the stars to save Earth. Clark, citing his recently newfound ability, immediately considers himself while trying to disregard the legend as a hokey native tale.

Meanwhile, LuthorCorp is trying to construct a new building right on top of the caves, which would generate many new jobs in the town but completely wipe out the caves and the suddenly important legend that Clark so needs to discover more. In their retaliation, a mysterious, mutated Indian tribe member attacks Lionel and Martha. It's up to Clark not only to learn the legend, but find this attacker. Could it be his newfound love Kyla?

This episode is wonderful for many previously mentioned reasons. The presentation of the Indian legend is a great, fresh new take on the self-discovery of Clark.

Love at First Sight

[claudio_carvalho · 9/10 · 24 April 2006]

While practicing motocross with Pete Ross, Clark Kent falls down through a hole in an underground cave and meets the Indian descendant Kyla Willowbrook (Tamara Fieldman). The girl is investigating some mysterious ancient paintings in the walls of the cave, which might explain the origins of Clark, and they immediately fall in love for each other. Her grandparent and some ecologists are fighting against the construction of a Luthor Corp. building that will destroy the caves, but generate one thousand new jobs in Smallville. Martha becomes split between the both interests. Meanwhile, a wolf threatens one constructor, Martha Kent and Lionel Luthor, and Clark Kent believes that the Indian Chief is a mutant with the power of transforming himself in a wolf.

"Skinwalker" is the first episode where Clark Kent has a girlfriend and is completely in love. The actress Tamara Fieldman is very beautiful and slightly reassembles Kristin Kreuk. The relationship between Lana and Mr. Small is finally disclosed. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Mutantes" ("Mutants")

Enters Pocahontas...

[m-47826 · 7/10 · 28 July 2022]

Kidding. But not entirely, the Native American folklore was all over the screen, back in the 90s and early 2000s. So Smallville included it in its script in a natural way. Only too similar to how it was done previously on Roswell. Dichotic was a great monster of the week, that set the record straight and offered interesting scenes and characterizations. But Skinwalker has that X-Files meets Roswell feel to it. Which I love. And introduced the Kawatche caves. Lex keeps on pursuing his plans after reuniting with future fiancé Helen Bryce. One of Vaugier's best part to date. Martha establishes her new career working for Lionel, which is finally giving her something of her own to do. And use her strong will for the right cause. Clark has a one and go, new love interest and digs through his past. Just like Lana does with her long lost biological father. And Chloe stops being petty and vindictive, almost. But I really like her friendship with Lana. As usual, it has good music like the series knew how to feature.

Worst Episode of Smallville I've seen so far.

[MeloDee · 5/10 · 4 April 2007]

I felt so passionately about this episode that I absolutely had to write a review for it. It is going to be hard to write about it without giving too much away, but I'll try the that best I can.

As Pete and Clark are motocrossing shortly after the beginning of the episode, Clark crashes into a log slightly hidden in the tall grass, goes flying off his bike rather comically, and falls through the soft earth and into a cave. There, he meets Kyla, who, after making sure he is okay- and of course, he is- shows him the caves. They are covered with paintings that her people did, telling of "Numan" a legendary man who would fall from the sky. These foretold that Numan would be able to shoot fire from his eyes, a friend as close as a brother would become his nemesis, and another foretold of a mysterious woman he was destined to love. The symbol in the last foretelling, matched one on Kyla's bracelet- she said that her Indian tribe had passed it down for generations.

Now, of course we knew immediately who "Numan" was. And of course, we could see that Kyla thought she was destined to be with Clark- and Clark apparently believed the same thing.

We knew better, so this begged the question; what were the writers going to do about Kyla? And although Lana's not "the one", we knew that their "romance" would have to be rekindled at least for a time.

The way the writers resolved the Lana/Kyla issue was, to say the least, pathetic. Tom Welling gave one of his worst performances as well- but that was the fault of the director and writer for giving him such a hastily moving script! He's no Kirsten Kreuk you know- her and Allison Mack generally give more solid performances than Tom Welling, but he does a pretty darn good job most of the time.

The episode was just disgustingly, pathetically not good enough. I would say don't bother to watch it, and maybe, you won't mind, because after it (the episode "Visage") is a month-long time jump the writers smashed in to tie up the loose ends they left in "Skinwalkers."

White saviour complex!

[TheDyingGirl · 4/10 · 1 September 2020]

This episode really rubbed me the wrong way. First of the actress who plays Kyla is not even native American, why not hire an actual native American. Secondly this whole episode is the epitome of the white saviour complex and white worshipping. So basically this tribe of native Americans is waiting for their "supposed" saviour who was prophecised to come back and protect them etc and this dude is white. Yikes! That's why they are working so damn hard to preserve those caves. Double yikes! On top of that these caves tell the story of Numan and his archnemesis.... another white dude. Legit this tribe of native Americans is fighting to protect a story that has nothing to do with them at all, a story where they are just passive bystanders. They literally credit Clark's white ancestors on making them skin walkers. I am all for diversity but this ain't it. This tribe looks to the stars longing for the day this Numan white dude comes to earth. They literally gift this white dude a special bracelet from their tribe to give to his future white bae. Not only that but they protray this tribe as super gungho with Kyla using underhanded tactics to intimidate and at times elimate those who are hindering the tribe from protecting the caves. Kyla's grandfather is also portrayed as aggresive. While dear old white Numan/Clark comes to solve all their problems. From hiring lawyers to getting the grandfather bailed out of jail and finally Numan/Clark along with Ziget/Lex also facilitate in the caves being deemed a historic artifact thus ceasing their demolition. All this is a huge feat that the tribe has not been able to accomplish but Clark manages to do so in a matter of days. Who wrote this? SMH!