Smallville (TV Series) Arrival (2005) User Reviews

A Key Element in the Mythic Story Arrives

[Rcwilkinson123 · 10/10 · 29 November 2007]

A key element in the mythic story of Superman arrives in the premiere of the fifth season of "Smallville." In the finale of the fourth season, "Commencement," we see Clark uniting the three stones to form a crystal, a crystal that when inserted into a table in the Kawache Caves, transports him to the Arctic. Clark then proceeds to throw the crystal into the sky, ending the fourth season with a major cliffhanger.

'Arrival' completes this tantalizing cliffhanger. The crystal submerges itself in the frigid Arctic ice, producing an upwelling of a complex system of crystallized columns to create the Fortress of Solitude. However, Chloe Sullivan, who was present in the caves near Clark when he inserted the crystal, is transferred to the Arctic as well, and cannot handle the brutal conditions. Clark begins to train in the Fortress of Solitude with his biological father Jor-El before he makes the choice to save his friend- a choice which, according to Jor-El, will have serious consequences. Once Clark can get Chloe to a hospital, Chloe reveals that she knows Clark's secret, and has for at least a month.

Meanwhile, mysterious figures come out of the angular, jet-black ship, looking for Kal-El. As disciples of the Kryptonian warlord Zod, they want revenge. The figures, the woman Aethyr and the man Nam-Ek, discover Clark and try to capture him in the Phantom Zone. However, Clark is able to elude the dangerous foes.

This episode is fantastic. This episode and the Season 7 opener 'Bizarro' are the best season premieres of the series and some of the finest television you will find. The production quality and epic feel of the episode makes it feel like a movie. This episode represents the best of Smallville, captures the mythology of Superman, and is quality entertainment.

Losing the Abilities and Revelations

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 29 April 2007]

Together with the meteor shower, two evil super powerful Kryptonians beings, Aethyr and Nam-Ek, arrive in Smallville looking for Kal-El. Clark Kent is transported with Chloe from the Kawatche caves to the Artic and the Fortress of Solitude is built in the ice. Jor-El begins to educate Clark, but when he sees Chloes needing help, Clark stops the class and promises Jor-El to return until the sunset. Chloe discloses to Clark that she knows his secret. Lois Lane helps Jonathan to rescue Martha from the debris of their house. Lana lures Aethyr and Nam-Ek, and Clark arrives just in time in the Luthor's mansion to save Lana and trap the Kryptonians in the Ghost Zone, but Jor-El removes his abilities to punish Kal-El for not committing with his promise.

"Arrival" is a great conclusion for the last episode of the Fourth Season. Clark Kent, without his powers, finally confess his love to Lana. Chloe reveals that she knows his secret and Luthor steals the alien spacecraft. The beginning of the Fifth Season is promising. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Chegada" ("Arrival")

Contains one of the best scenes of the entire series

[claytonchurch1 · 10/10 · 22 February 2021]

Having now seen every episode of the entire series, I can say that this episode contains not just one of my favorite scenes of the series, but also one of the most satisfying. It is the scene in the hospital with Chloe and Clark. For so long, Clark has gone unappreciated, and instead of receiving gratitude from all the people he has saved, some of them numerous times, he has only received accusations from impetuous Lana, Pete, Chloe, and others. Here he is, saving everybody, and all these people whom he saved are mad at him because he's "hiding something." Ugh. So frustrating, and you feel for Clark. He's doing good, and everyone is mad at him. No one is giving him any grace or slack.

Thus, how satisfying to hear the conversation between Clark and Chloe in the fortress and in the hospital room afterward. Finally, someone appreciates Clark and expresses it in a very satisfying way, including Chloe's exclamation as Clark whooshes out of her room to go back to Smallville: "Wow!" she says, under her breath. One of the best "reveals" in the series.

And what a great burden off of Clark's back. He tells her he is not only endued with great powers, but that he is from another planet. It makes no difference to her, she says, and she promises that this secret will never come out of her lips. This was the great threat with Chloe, since she's a reporter and is always exposing everyone secrets. Very satisfying to see that her friendship and commitment to Clark is finally outweighing her desire to expose private things to the public, as journalists often do. Very satisfying.

The most epic season premiere in TV series history

[thiagorodriguezardissone · 10/10 · 6 October 2022]

Smallville was at its peak in 2005 thanks to a fourth season that introduced new characters and was probably the show's best "high school" season. However, if the series continued with the same structure, it would get repetitive and boring. Arrival begins with one of the most epic scenes of the season, the emergence of the fortress of solitude. The effects are amazing and surprising for a 2000s TV episode. Right after that, we have a show of acting, dialogue, special effects and soundtrack. Later on, we noticed that the series matured in terms of plot and structure as a villain for each season. All of these factors culminated in one of the best made episodes of the series.

My burning question....

[LittleStorpingInTheSwuff · 2/10 · 20 September 2018]

One thing that remains unexplained. Apparently Jor-El, or some other Kryptonians, came to Earth at least 400 years ago (based on events in prior episodes) to create/set up all of these elaborate phenomena in the caves, one of them being the spirit of Clark's father Jor-El. The reason for all of this was to prepare for Clark's (Kal-El) coming to Earth. So they knew many years ago that Krypton was going to explode and that Kal-El would be sent to Earth. How did they know that? Clairvoyance? Also, if they came to Earth once before, why didn't they escape Krypton's destruction and come back to Earth? It just doesn't make sense. Sure, it's an X-files type of show geared to younger audiences and the comic book crowd. But, geez, at least make it somewhat plausible!

Who was Sam Loeb?

[jastpeel · 15 May 2008]

At the end credits of this episode there is a page that says:

"In Memory of Sam Loeb (1988-2005) A True Superboy"

Purusing the credits at IMDb I can find no one named "Loeb"; nor the mystery thirteen-year-old mentioned.

It is always a bit annoying when the producers include mystery memoriams at the end of a movie or episode. It is nice that they choose to do so but it would be helpful to know who they were.

It leaves the audience with this mystery person who may or may not have been germane to the plot. If they are an actor we want to know which one.

So who was Sam Loeb?