Episode 3.12
“Hereafter”
Fairly mediocre episode with a few cool points is how I would describe Hereafter. We meet Jordan Cross who has an interesting power. Everyone he touches, he sees how they are destined to die. It’s a very unsettling power indeed. Especially when he touches someone who is destined to die soon.
The episode feels like a bit of a rush job to be honest, with very vague storylines being thrown onto very vague new characters who are lumped in with our leading folks.
The track coach at Smallville High lost a daughter and wants to kill himself so he steps in front of a car but not before Cross brushes against him and views this future. Clark notices Cross’ reactions just before the car comes and is able to intercede.
In the hospital, Lana’s friend talks to the supposedly unconscious coach and apolgizes revealing that Lana, Megan and Coach Altman’s daughter had a fight the night she ran off and was killed. Altman opens his eyes after they leave indicating he heard every word.
This little filler story seems like the overall major portion of the episode and it is showcased as such but it is so underdeveloped that it is boring at best and offensive at how little is gleaned at worst.
Jordan’s powers are very cool and I would have liked to find out more about him. But his story is also short shifted, making room for everything else.
One cool moment is when he touches Clark he doesn’t see an end as if Clark’ll never die. He gets an image of space everlasting after passing by a familiar looking red cape with a familiar looking yellow S. It’s a pretty iconic moment.
Adam Knight’s storyline gets a little development as it is obvious that Lana is starting to have doubts about who she let in her life. Chloe spots him injecting himself with a syringe. She takes the empty syringe and uses it as an excuse to look through his apartment where she finds a full vial. She is interrupted by Lex who encourages her to keep up her looking into Adam as he is intrigued as well.
Especially after an interview with him at the mansion.
The end of the episode has Clark discovering his father face down in the barn suffering from an apparent heart attack.
Overall not much missed if you skip the episode. Some of the overall story is interesting to piece together but the whole thing seems rushed and unecessary.
REFERENCES:
1. Jordan’s vision of the future shows Clark’s familiar red cape