Episode 1.15
“Nicodemus”
In a continuing upswing, we don’t see a FotW, which allows for a greater depth of character development. Although in reality it is more of an FotW in theme as it is certainly an individual story rather than an overall arc.
It is also interesting to note it is the first time we see Lex lie to Clark even though it was only a white lie of sorts, and it did work to save the day.
In an experiment with the meteor rocks and an extinct plant, an old disease is released by Dr. Hamilton. The disease makes someone lose their mind and release their inner feelings and inhibitions before lapsing into a coma and eventually dying.
It first affects Jonathan Kent after an employee of Lionel Luthor steals the plant and goes nuts with road rage trying to run Kent off the road. Jonathan acts real forward to Martha and then insults Lex before going over the deep end regarding a denied bank loan.
Lana and Pete also get sick after helping Chloe investigate further which leads to some startling and fun revelations especially with regards to Lana. Lana dumps Whitney claiming to be locked in the relationship due to guilt only and then tries to get it on with Clark, claiming that she knows he loves her before stripping down to her underwear in an attempt to get Clark to swim with her.
Later she starts coming on to Lex and we see the beginnings of Lex’s fascination with her.
Much later on, Pete vents on how Lex has come between him and Clark and how Chloe only has eyes for Clark. Pete takes a gun and goes to kill Lex, but Clark is able to stop him before he goes too far.
Luckily Dr. Hamilton, with funding from Lex, comes up with a cure and Clark is able to procure it, saving the day.
While there is little to mark it as an important episode in the mythology, it is certainly worthwhile to watch.
B
References:
- While Jonathan is driving in the beginning, the radio is playing the theme from the Dukes of Hazzard. (for those not knowing, the actor who played Jonathan Kent also played Bo Duke on the show.)
- When Jonathan is near death, Clark pines that with all his powers he can’t save him, much like the sequence in Superman: The Movie.