7.04 "Cure" Episode Discussion - Spoilers!

[Heather]

Just aired a little over an hour ago. But, for those who want the general rundown of the episode before discussion ensues, your wish shall be granted:

Chloe learns that a doctor, Dr. Curtis Knox (Dean Cain), has been treating meteor-infected people and removing their abilities. Desperate to get rid of her powers, Chloe makes an appointment to see him, unaware that Dr. Knox has a nefarious plan to kill his patients and harvest their organs. Meanwhile, Kara cons Jimmy into helping her locate her crystal and defies Clark's order to stay on the farm after she discovers its whereabouts. Lana sets up secret surveillance of Lex. Erica Durance and John Glover also star. Source: The CW

Rereading the summary, two things came to mind:

1. Kara didn't find the crystal, did she? She just found out that the government was involved, correctomundo? She left because Clark apparently trusts Martian Manhunter more...At least, that's how I saw it.

2. Here I thought Lana was stalking Lex but, no, she's setting up surveillance of him. Why is this? Intriguing.

Ok, I'm only gonna give my brief thoughts on the episode and then I'll come back later to elaborate:

-Chloe! How I LOVE you so! And Alison Mack: you are a goddess. This was my personal favorite of all Chloe-centric episodes. So emotional and powerful and awesome. And I feel horrible for her since she's going through so much crap this season. I can already see all this culminating to her snapping at some point. Losing Jimmy...losing her status at the Daily Planet...possibly having a disruption with her friendship with Clark...her meteor power...all of it just seems to be building on top of each other to the point where I can see her exploding. Which is very depressing but exciting at the same time.

-Jimmy...Aaron Ashmore had great chemistry with Laura Vandervoort and, I must say, I'd enjoy seeing them together more than I've enjoyed Jimmy and Chloe together. But their breakup was sooo heartbreaking and depressing since Chloe's been through SO much already. However, I must say that Aaron delivered his lines horribly in that scene. The pauses were soo long that it made the entire breakup take close to 7 minutes. Literally. I watched the clock. But it's a shame that him and Chloe are done, as much as I didn't support their relationship.

-Dean Cain can't act. As much of the Battle of the Clark's kicked ass and as much as I LOVED seeing Lex pop a cap (6 caps, to be exact) in Mr. Cain, the man delivers every line with such a dull and flat manner.

-Lex! You're back! The past two episodes I thought you weren't completely there (with the exception of the Lex/Kara scene last week). And I love how he's so...grey this season. Is he evil? Or is he really trying to go good again?

-Lana. Badass bitch. Everytime you spoke to Clark I yelled "LIAR!" at my screen. I love it. Such a role reversal is fantastic for the Clana relationship, in my opinion, and her initial reaction in the beginning to hearing that Martian Manhunter is from Mars was freakin' classic. But, again, why are you surveiling Lex Luthor? What HAVE you been up to?

-Martian Manhunter or Kara? Friend or Family? Who should Clark trust? I'm really loving how this conflict for Clark is gonna start to shape up. Especially now that Kara's flown off to lord-knows-where and she's thoroughly pissed at him. Plus, the mystery concerning the House of El and what REALLY happened on Krypton, along with J'onn J'onnz's role in it all, has me completely hooked.

Overall, I'll give the episode a 95% (A). Despite a few flaws (Dean Cain's acting, slight confusion concerning Lana and what has or hasn't been revealed to Clark and Chloe and company, and the neverending Jimmy/Chloe breakup scene), it was truly amazing. I loved it!

So this season has been fantastic so far. Except for a rather weak story of the week with "Fierce" last week, everything has been going oh-so very well, in my opinion. This gives me such high hopes for the rest of Season 7. YAY!

[little albatross]

2. Here I thought Lana was stalking Lex but, no, she's setting up surveillance of him. Why is this? Intriguing.

Good thing she can draw the line between stalking and just...watching She's a spyyyyyy! She snaked all that money away from Lex and got all that high-techy stuff. I say it's partly a crazy ex-wife complex and other partly sneaky espionage stuff. She's even got the all black, very covert ops outfit to prove it.
But really, what's she playing at? She's turning eeevvviiillll and she'll say she's doing it for the greater good.

Anyway...I agree with so much you said, so I'm not even going to bother quoting it all

Thank you Kara for calling out Clark on the gross display of powers. I hope he paid for that syrup. This whole living situation's weirding me out. Loved Lana's reaction to the Mars thing. And I actually enjoy this lighthearted front now that she's in on the secret. But there are moments that have me making weird faces at my imaginary camera. Like "I'll let you guys...catch up." It's nice to know that Lana can still make me cringe.

Kara calls him James As for her vs. Martian Manhunter (I almost typed Maneater...), I'm waiting for them to say it was all just a big misunderstanding.

I actually love Jimmy and Chloe. Not as much as I'm always hoping for Clark/Chloe, but if I can't have my first choice, I would have gone for Jimmy/Chloe. That was a painful breakup scene. It was really sad, and actually had me tearing up a bit, but goodness, it was loooonnng. (that's what she said.)

But god, I love Chloe. The girl has never failed me yet. I wanted to cry when Clark was trying to talk her out of getting the operation. The way they've just been tearing her down so much in each episode...it's so depressing. I loved her lashing out at Clark when he asked for help, and she said she had more important things. On a side note, I would like to actually see some Lana/Chloe interaction again, because I actually felt really bad when Chloe found out Lana was dead.

Dean Cain. I hate you. I don't always think it's such a fun idea to bring in some past Superman alumni to Smallville. Is it just me, or did he admit to being Jack the Ripper?

Dear Lois,
How are things as a hotshot traveling reporter? I have this theory where you did something wildly hilarious and awesomely stupid (don't worry, I find it endearing) and they're waiting to bring you back for the crazy fun. Or they just sent you away for awhile because they couldn't think of ways to stick you in funny awkward scenes with Clark, as he has his hands full living with two chicks right now. Well, one of them flew away in a huff, so I await your return next week.

[Ehlwyen]

No Dean Cain love? MY PEOPLE!!!

Okay Heather and JJ, those are some of the most enjoyable reviews I've read in a long time. I give up and cannot complete with such astute hilarity!

Dear Lois,
How are things as a hotshot traveling reporter? I have this theory where you did something wildly hilarious and awesomely stupid (don't worry, I find it endearing) and they're waiting to bring you back for the crazy fun. Or they just sent you away for awhile because they couldn't think of ways to stick you in funny awkward scenes with Clark, as he has his hands full living with two chicks right now. Well, one of them flew away in a huff, so I await your return next week.

I miss Lois! I want to see her and Chloe working together or competing! Not Lois off on some lost weekend having wacky unseen adventures. *pouts* There are always enough awkward scenes to go around with Clark. This Lana living with him seems very nonexistant in the romance department. More Three's Company hijinks please! And I am so glad I'm not the only one who wondered if he actually paid for that Maple Syrup!

Good episode and I was glad to see Lex having a more positive role in that he was trying to help cure the meteor freaks rather than just use them in experiments for all this time. As well as being onto the sinister plan of the doctor and trying to stop him. And I was also extremely happy to see Clark swoop in to save Lex from Dean Cain's ego.

I actually love Jimmy and Chloe. Not as much as I'm always hoping for Clark/Chloe, but if I can't have my first choice, I would have gone for Jimmy/Chloe. That was a painful breakup scene. It was really sad, and actually had me tearing up a bit, but goodness, it was loooonnng.

The keepsake part was the longest especially since I didn't remember (or we didn't see) a lot of those items and their precious memory.

I have to admit, I've never pulled for Jimmy/Chloe. He's a good guy and sweet, but he's always been in the way of my OTP of Chloe/Oliver!!! Chloe deserves a knight in shining armor. Clark/Chloe may be destined to never happen because of Lois. But Oliver is the next best available superhero and yay if that means more Justin Hartley on the show. I'm one to always leap with glee whenever Chloe mentions that she spoke with Oliver about intel or whatever. They would make such an awesome crime fighting couple! I can see it now...*melts into a puddle of lovey goo*

Now Kara and Jimmy that could be an interesting pairing. And it would be good to tie Kara to the people of this world. Right now she deals with Clark (who's not human and is more uptight dad than anything), Lana (who's a spy/stalker/jilted exwife on a mission of revenge), and Lex (who is probably the most compassionate of the three but his motivations/future aren't so sunshiny sweet).

And I have always severely distrusted Martian Manhunter. And Clark accepting the don't ask/don't tell policy really quite infuriated then saddened me. I can't believe Clark is letting someone else do the dirty work to keep a clean conscience.

So I'm waiting for Kara to be proven right. Besides doesn't Clark always rebel and distrust Jor-El? Why should he now be so trusting of his dirty right hand? Where's Jonathan Kent when you need him?!!

But since it was Dean Cain, Clark, I am willing to give you and the Martian Manhunter a free pass. Just this once! Unless Terri Hatcher shows up...

Dean Cain. I hate you. I don't always think it's such a fun idea to bring in some past Superman alumni to Smallville. Is it just me, or did he admit to being Jack the Ripper?

OMG, that was actually pretty funny! Chloe making fun of him for his sadistic stylings and poor old Dean Cain being all insulted because no one knew he originated it. *morphed into baby talk at around " and poor old"*

[BlasterBoy]

Why Discussion so down?

So, yeah, I loved it.

It's as simple as that Alison Mack is an absolutely stunning actress and deserves much more credit than she ever receives! Her pain is crazy! Why are the writers giving Chloe hell on earth!? It's horrible, how could they? But, it makes good TV

I didn't think Dean Cain was THAT bad He wasn't good and kind of bland, but not enough to say he's horrible or sucks. His storyline was nice, where he was immortal and all.

And Lex! Ah, my Lex! Shooting people. There you are

And Lana is spying on Lex? Oh, yes, this WILL be good!

Bye-bye, family reunion This, also, WILL be good!

And Chloe and Jimmy's breakup I thought that scene was amazing, and hello hell for Chloe....

So, overall? Loved it. Want more. Yay.

[Obsessed]

Maybe its me but I didn't think this was such a great episode. Yah... its must me be. While it was great to see Dean Cain, I didn't think he added much interest to the story.

I wasn't too shocked with the idea of Lana spying on Lex. And the idea of Lex turning a new leaf? Oh pls. Let's see how long that will last.

What intrigued me was when Martain the Manhunter warned Clarked about Kara. So to see the cousins on opposite sides of the fence will be interesting to watch.

And I didn't really care for the break up of Chole and Jimmy. Sure it was a bit long but, eh I am not crying over it. I just don't see Chole and Jimmy as a super couple with so much passion like Clark/Lana or even Lana/Lex. I just feel bad for Chole- how she views herself as those evil/misguided meteor freaks. Her powers clearly are healing ones. I would think she'd look insisde herself a little harder and see she's not like them at all.

And I am not feeling the love between Clark/Lana. Regardless of the fact she's harboring a secret from Clark, it just feels like the love/spark between them are gone. Am I the only one that feels this way? I mean- this is pretty ironic coming from me. Most of you know I've been a hardcore Clana shipper up til last year (when she married Lex) but I thought I'd be happy that she left Lex and went back to Clark. But I am not. It just feels dead to me. The show feels dead to me... what's wrong with me?

[little albatross]

The show feels dead to me... what's wrong with me?

Well, the show can win 'em all It's just not your flavor at the moment...

And I am so glad I'm not the only one who wondered if he actually paid for that Maple Syrup!

I guess the new Lana would be impressed by minor shoplifting?

And I have always severely distrusted Martian Manhunter. And Clark accepting the don't ask/don't tell policy really quite infuriated then saddened me. I can't believe Clark is letting someone else do the dirty work to keep a clean conscience.

OMG, mcseriously! I mean, this is the hero of the people? It's unsettling really, and even if (or maybe because) he doesn't quite trust Kara yet, was it really smart to just let her fly off and do god knows what? She's already proven to be a little unpredictable and he knows she's not the best at controlling those powers...


As for the Dean Cain thing...I don't *hate* him. Okay, I kind of did in the episode, but otherwise I just never found him enjoyable enough. (Tom Welling as Clark, bless him, can be a bit of a doofus as well...but somehow I tend to overlook that ) And I wasn't a fan of the Lois & Clark show. (I was never actually very into the whole Superman thing very much...) But god, Lyn, please never scare me by mentioning Teri Hatcher

As for Lex, I believe that *he* believes he's turning a new leaf and has seen the error of his ways. But his sense of right and wrong, and his intentions...they've all been twisted. It's kind of sad to think about actually, because I just see a great big giant fall into evil...dom. A little twisted and grayness...you know who else that's reminding me of? People who might enjoy gross displays of superpowers and shoplifted syrup.

[DigitalLeonardo]

I have to admit, I've never pulled for Jimmy/Chloe. He's a good guy and sweet, but he's always been in the way of my OTP of Chloe/Oliver!!! Chloe deserves a knight in shining armor. Clark/Chloe may be destined to never happen because of Lois. But Oliver is the next best available superhero and yay if that means more Justin Hartley on the show. I'm one to always leap with glee whenever Chloe mentions that she spoke with Oliver about intel or whatever. They would make such an awesome crime fighting couple! I can see it now...*melts into a puddle of lovey goo*

Yeah sure, except for Oliver belongs with the Black Canary *rolls eyes* so unless Chloe learns to scream with a super sonic pitch, grows her hair out and starts wearing fishnet stockings, um I won't get my hopes up.
But then again... I can see Oliver and Chloe somewhat working... He gets killed, she heals him, he gets killed, she heals him again. Dating a chic who can heal is always a plus for superheroes.

Okay onto the episode. I REALLY enjoyed it. Though I think I liked Chloe centric episode from last season with Lynda Carter a bit more, but this one was good. I guess I like her and Jimmy, but I dunno if its ment to work. I have a feeling Chloe will die by the end of the series in a big epic way (which will be cool.) I disagree with Heather, I was melting at the end with the breakup. Jimmy's delevery made it for me, and it felt real like he was thinking about his words perfectly and that it wasn't all scripted.

The rest of the episode was good. Dead Cain, aha, loved him as Superman, not sure I liked him in this episode. But great chance to bring him back. His character felt alot like Mr. Freeze to me, with the love of his life and stuff, it just didn't feel original and I would have loved Mr. Freeze over his character, now THAT would have been a cool (pricey, but cool) episode.

Kara and the Manhunter was great. I like this conflict and I dun know who to trust. MM has this darkness to him that makes me wonder if is intentions are true (he is always one to ignore true emotion) and then I don't think Kara is bad, she just doesn't know either. Shes still young.

Lana... What ever... I would have rathered Martha. I think there would have been some great Martha/Kara moments, since she never had a daughter, she would be able to do some stuff with Kara that she was unable to do with Clark. But what ever, missed oppertunity.

[Ehlwyen]

I guess the new Lana would be impressed by minor shoplifting?

Oooooh! Clark the bad boy! Watch out Lex, there's a new villian in town!

OMG, mcseriously! I mean, this is the hero of the people? It's unsettling really, and even if (or maybe because) he doesn't quite trust Kara yet, was it really smart to just let her fly off and do god knows what? She's already proven to be a little unpredictable and he knows she's not the best at controlling those powers...

Clark has been very distracted this season. And very particularily in this scene. It's like he didn't even hear what Martian Manhunter said, Clark just nodded and agreed. Must be all the women problems in his life.

As for the Dean Cain thing...I don't *hate* him. Okay, I kind of did in the episode, but otherwise I just never found him enjoyable enough. (Tom Welling as Clark, bless him, can be a bit of a doofus as well...but somehow I tend to overlook that ) And I wasn't a fan of the Lois & Clark show. (I was never actually very into the whole Superman thing very much...) But god, Lyn, please never scare me by mentioning Teri Hatcher

LMAO!!! That's 100% how I feel on everything. Poor Dean Cain's mostly guilty by association to she who will not be named. But he should stick to hosting Ripley's Believe it or Not (if that's still on, sorry no cable these days!).

As for Lex, I believe that *he* believes he's turning a new leaf and has seen the error of his ways. But his sense of right and wrong, and his intentions...they've all been twisted. It's kind of sad to think about actually, because I just see a great big giant fall into evil...dom. A little twisted and grayness...you know who else that's reminding me of? People who might enjoy gross displays of superpowers and shoplifted syrup.

Poor Lex probably only dreams about shoplifting syrup. With that bald head, you know store owners put a shifty eye on him whenever he walked in! Poor Lex. Denied!

Yeah sure, except for Oliver belongs with the Black Canary *rolls eyes* so unless Chloe learns to scream with a super sonic pitch, grows her hair out and starts wearing fishnet stockings, um I won't get my hopes up.
But then again... I can see Oliver and Chloe somewhat working... He gets killed, she heals him, he gets killed, she heals him again. Dating a chic who can heal is always a plus for superheroes.

Fine! You and your actual knowledge of the DC universe! But they make such a cute couple!!! I still pull for it by the end of Smallville!

But great chance to bring him back. His character felt alot like Mr. Freeze to me, with the love of his life and stuff, it just didn't feel original and I would have loved Mr. Freeze over his character, now THAT would have been a cool (pricey, but cool) episode.

It really reminded me of the Charmed episode Y Tu Mummy Tambien. Which I loved so Smallville couldn't compare.

Kara and the Manhunter was great. I like this conflict and I dun know who to trust. MM has this darkness to him that makes me wonder if is intentions are true (he is always one to ignore true emotion) and then I don't think Kara is bad, she just doesn't know either. Shes still young.

It'll probably turn out to be just a bunch of misunderstandings. Kara is young, brash, and idealistic. MM is more set in his ways and jaded. Probably both the El brothers were jerks or bad people which is why Krypton was destroyed. So maybe neither side Kara and MM are taking was right, each were wrong. *shrug*

[Wolfie Gilmore]

Dean Cain was SCARY. Seriously, so eerie seeing him be evil after Lois and Clark. Stupid stupid plot and...STILL scary. That's impressive.

Loved Chloe and Jimmy's break up. Not meaning that in a nasty way, but I just thought it was surprisingly realistic for Smallville, and very upsetting. Poor Jimmy, poor Chloe! But, I must confess I rather like the idea of a Kara/Jimmy ship myself. Perhaps it could be called the Space Ship?

Oh god, that's just such a pun I deserve to have my fingers snipped off with green kryptonite scissors.

Really want to know the truth about the Martian Manhunter/Kara. Which is proof that Smallville's improving...before I never trusted the writers to actually pay off a plot twist properly, now I almost believe they will!

Loving sneaky Lana. Loving Lex. Loving ex-Clex!