Isis

Having to follow episode 200 "Homecoming" was always going to be a tough gig. What I think was meant to be a highly climactic episode perhaps didn't meet the standard of the previous, and maybe finished a bit too similarly.

A disappointment in episode was that the main plot involving the Isis necklace did not hold much integrity in of itself. It seemed like it was all fuzz waiting for the final two minutes of the episode.

Nevertheless, for smallville fans this episode has been long awaited for. It was probably never going match our expectations, but it was an amazing moment for the characters which was well set up by the previous seasons and episodes.

When it comes to Smallville some fans expectation is high and the airing of a questionable installment is always a harsh tempest to endure. Surviving the deception that follows is even harder and only time can heal the wounds of the ones who feel betrayed. My last major crisis with the show happened with Upgrade because it was just a terrible sequel to the astonishing Metallo, one of my favorite season 9 episode. Homecoming nearly had the same destructive impact on my mind because I just couldn't accept the fact that Clark Kent's destiny was dependent of the future. So in my opinion it's still rotten but now that I've seen Isis I think the few casualties have found an episode to make their bitter sorrow feel better.

I hesitated nearly a week before giving Smallville an other chance. A story written by Genevieve Sparling just didn't seem worthwhile enough. She's responsible of the controversial Roulette after all and even if I enjoyed Escape I still had doubts about her capacity to make me forget about the 200th episode of the death. […] Indeed the story wasn't spectacular, because the characters have already been possessed a dozen of times, but it was just overwhelmed by love. Your session should feel like a fresh and fantastic vacation in Ancient Egypt. Otherwise it was more than a sequel to Shield. Isis can be considered as one of the most pivotal episodes ever. It should also remind you of epic adventures like The Mummy. From the visual effects to the intensity of the scenes it's not an odyssey you'll forget before a long time. […]

Beside its exciting story Isis was also heavy on character development. Season 8 and 9 were a journey between heaven and hell for psychology hobbyists and so far the 10th had only left a few breadcrumbs for us. The real 200th episode of Smallville has finally put an end to our misery. For some of us the void left by Chloe's evaporation is just impossible to stand. I thought the only solution would be to give more importance to other characters and it's exactly what the writers have decided to do. Tess ? Oliver ? Sexy Cassidy Freeman and Justin Hartley finally had an installment respectful of their talent. Of course they let them express it from time to time but it never sparkled as much as in this episode. Some key scenes featured Tess and Freeman's acting was both skilled and touching. A reluctant Oliver was the perfect match to our favorite wicked pawn. Black or white ? She's Lex, on heels. An other element I found interesting was the teamwork. The last time I was so inspired by it was probably after watching Absolute Justice and learning from its mature superguests. Last but not least a guest was also part of the ride and at first I worried but that little surprise quickly turned into a pleasant experience. The character greatly contributed to the overall entertainment appeal of the episode. From hilarity to annoyance the palette of emotions it should make you feel is quite promising. Yes because it would be a shame if it didn't become a recurring guilty pleasure !

Lois and Clark ! Clark and Lois ? I still remember Erica Durance toying with these names in an episode. However I had to admit that their neverending teasing in Supergirl frustrated me. That's why a step forward of their timeless love story always feel like breathing fresh air in the morning. We already tasted these sweet moments in Crossfire and Charade for example. Each time the writers developed their relationship further and further, leaving us speechless and starving for more. That heartbreaking quest will never end but Isis managed to move me even more. It wasn't just an other jaw dropping cliffhanger or random two minutes scene. Even if the final round should knocked you out for good, at least until Harvest, the episode was filled with Lois & Clark dual moments. Durance made you laugh out loud in Persuasion, well you better consider checking your fun factor because her performance was just hilarious. What a brilliant way to introduce this memorable installment ! Her lines were just irresistible and I instantly wanted to hug Lois. Girls are crazy and that's why I love them ! Let's also not forget to mention how sexy she was in her outfit. Remember Warrior and its Amazon ? Well the actress and her fashion designer gave birth to an angelic and terrible creature. Goddess may have mercy on our mere mortal souls ! And the best part is that Durance doesn't need to lose her top like Justin Hartley. Did I hear one of the Green Arrow groupies screaming ? On both sides, we're hopeless !

What happened, happened. […] Homecoming aired, some people were devastated when others were thrilled. It's not a question of right or wrong. It's about embracing Smallville for what it is, the matter how flawed it can be at times. Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders decided to develop Clark Kent in a way that didn't appeal to some of us, well they're the executive producers and I'm just a lonesome reviewer. That's why I found it so relieving that they questioned their own decision in Isis. Of course they had planned it right from the start but how were we supposed to know it ? So in a way I was right to compare the episode to Lost's Across the Sea. I still believe that Clark learning to become Superman from the future was insulting but Isis proved that a cause doesn't necessarily have only one effect. His friendly scenes with Oliver were also enlightening, even if it awkwardly reminded me of Ghost Whisperer for some reason. Was it just a dream ? Maybe but obviously not one you'll ever want to wake up from !

This is just a standard filler story for the most part. Smallville has produced many episodes in the past with characters possessed. Some are a lot of fun like "Spirit" from season 4, some are terrible like "Spell" from season 4, and some are just average like "Bloodline" from season 8. "Isis" falls under the 'Slightly Above Average and Passably Entertaining Smallville Character Gets Possessed By a Spirit or Entity' episode. For the record, I guarantee that will never be a major award. This episode was written by Genevieve Sparling, who usually misses the mark on her scripts. On her resume, "Isis" is a crowning achievement. After the opening 4 episodes of this season, which all built a strong story, throwing a cheesy filler episode could have been a mistake, but everyone involved seems to know just how cheesy the idea is, so the finished product never comes across too serious. If you want to see an entertaining Smallville possession story, this is a good one to check out. If you hate these kind of episodes, be sure to catch at least the final scene, which will go down as one of the key moments in the history of Smallville.