Obscura

"Obscura" is a suspenseful episode that serves well for a climatic buildup to the season one finale of Smallville. Lex is essential to the episode as he ponders the question, "What else came to Earth during the meteor shower?" Someone dear to Clark has superpowers this time around and its no raging homicidal maniac. It is Lana Lang! She has visions and Clark uses these visions to save Chloe from a painful death. I thought that was well thought out. I found some things about Clark's relationship with Chloe interesting. Wasn't it established that they knew each other for a long time? Apparently, with them being freshmen in high school, they only knew each other for a year (since they met in the 8th grade)? Definitely somewhat odd.

In this episode, Lana develops superpowers after being hit by an explosion of a gas pipeline. Lana, now a clairvoyant, has visions of Chloe being kidnapped. Clark uses these images to try and save Chloe. Speaking of Chloe, Clark wants to take her to the spring formal. His best pal, Pete Ross is thinking the same. Roger Nixon makes a return and tells Lex to reopen his investigation on the meteor shower as a witness reported something else came down from the skies that day. Dr. Steven Hamilton also may have discovered something to do with Kal-El's spaceship. Finally, after the death of his father, Whitney tells Lana he plans to leave Smallville and join the military.

Yes, so much happened here. This was a great episode that speeds us towards the finish line. Sooner than later, someone will discover Clark's secret. Chloe or Lex will be the first ones to know, I gather. I loved how Lana used her powers for good, to save a friend from certain death. This is a very strong episode that promises an action-packed finale.

My Grade: A.

There are plenty of plot points that build up to the finale of the first season in this 20th episode.

In an accident, Lana awakes as a visionary. She can see a man hotly pursuing Chloe. These visions help Clark see the man's next move and save Chloe from disaster.

In addition, Whitney Fordman tells Lana that he is going to leave Smallville and join the army after his father's death. Clark contemplates asking Chloe to the spring formal, as does Pete Ross. Nagging reporter Roger Nixon works with Lex to continue the investigation of what came down from space in the meteor shower. Also, and most importantly, Dr. Hamilton discovers an octagonal-shaped piece of the spaceship in which Kal-El arrived on Earth, validating the questions that Lex and Nixon had had on extraterrestrial life having arrived that fateful day.

This is debatably the most suspenseful episode of the season leading to the finale.

When Lana Lang is hit by a blow of a gas pipeline in the field, she has visions of a criminal and sees Chloe Sullivan being kidnapped. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor is visited by the despicable reporter Roger Nixon (Tom O'Brien) that convinces him to open again the investigation of the mysterious events surrounding the meteor shower of years ago.

"Obscura" presents two different stories at the same time: the one about the power achieved by Lana Lang in her accident, but the most important is the one about the achievement of a piece of Clark Kent's spacecraft by Dr. Steven Hamilton (Joe Morton) in the fields and the investigation of Roger Nixon. I believe the series will take another route along the next episodes. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Oculto" ("Hidden")