Hug

I think in this Smallville episode, "Hug," all of our characters need a hug or two. Many things happen here. An evil tycoon able to manipulate people just with a mere handshake, Chloe literally pining for Clark (which is a nice pace change because it is always about Lana and Clark), Lex using a submachine gun and shooting bullets at Clark, and Clark coming to the realization that he is bulletproof (despite Pete's foreshadowing words). The episode would not have work nearly as well without the great visual effects (once again, above average for a 2002 television episode). The episode is well-directed and the one that shows the extent of Clark's and Lex's friendship...and its future.

In this episode, Bob Rickman is a businessman who is not so friendly. His intention is to build a plant with high levels of pollution in Smallville. But he needs the Kent farm to build the plant the way he wants. He is famous around these parts for his ability to convince people to do his bidding. But little do people know that he can change people's mind with just a simple handshake. His former partner, Kyle Tippett, helps Clark and Lex fight this foe. Because Clark formed a kinship with this hermit, a rift is created between him and both Lana and Whitney.

Overall, this is a fantastic, character-driven episode. Lots of foreshadowing here, especially with the future between Clark and Lex. It is nice that we have an adult villain for once. I am surprised it took a little long to bring in the jealously angle with Clark/Lana/Chloe. Better late than never, I suppose. Great visual effects and a great episode on the whole.

My Grade: A.

Jonathan Kent, owner of a farm who has passed through the Kent family for centuries, suddenly was changing his mind. However, this decision did not solely come on his own. It came through the supernatural convincing power of one Bob Rickman, a businessman who wants to own the property for his business.

One of Bob's former employees helps Clark and his father work their way out of the problem. In addition, Victoria's motives began to be scrutinized by Lex, who is becoming cynical of Victoria's true reasons for arriving at the mansion.

"Hug" is a decent episode.

This was a fantastic episode with much foreshadowing. Clark and Lex are the ones who foreshadow what will become of both of them and a hint into their friendship. There were great quotes with Lex saying at the end of the episode that "Our friendship will be the stuff of legends." If only they knew. Another great quote was Clark saying he wants to be "Anything as long as it doesn't involve putting on a suit and doing a lot of flying". Haha.

The mutant of the week side story isn't bad either with a salesman having the power of persuasion with a shake of his hand.

Loving these early episodes with everything leading up to the later seasons where it all comes to a head.

The evil tycoon Bob Rickman (Rick Peters) intends to build a very pollutant plant in Smallville, and he needs to buy Jonathan Kent's farm. Rickman is famous because of his capacity of convincing people, but indeed he has a powerful gift of changing people's mind with his shake of hands, and he uses his power against Jonathan. Meanwhile, the eremite Kyle Tippet (Gregory Sporleder), who was the former partner of Rickman, helps Clark Kent and Lex Luthor against the powerful industrialist.

"Hug" is another good episode of Smallville. In this episode, Clark Kent realizes that he is invulnerable to bullets, and that Lex Luthor is his best friend. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "O Aperto de Mãos" ("The Shake of Hands")