Welcome back to Rewatching Smallville, my weekly dive into the iconic series that explores Clark Kent’s journey before becoming Superman. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the show, you’re invited to join in each Tuesday as I revisit episodes and share my thoughts and observations. Be sure to share your own memories and theories in the comments below!

Ah, Smallville. The show that answered the burning question: “What if Superman was a brooding teenager with great hair?” In its sophomore season, the series continued to build on its unique blend of superhero origin story and teen drama, with Episode 12, “Insurgence,” taking us on a wild ride that’s part hostage thriller, part family drama, and all Kryptonian angst. Let’s dive into this episode faster than you can say “meteor freak of the week.”

The Setup: Trust Issues and Tall Buildings

Our episode opens with Lex Luthor doing what he does best: being paranoid and rich. After discovering that his dear old dad has been playing Big Brother in the Luthor mansion, Lex decides to fight fire with fire. Or in this case, bugs with bugs. He hires a team to plant listening devices in LuthorCorp Plaza. What could possibly go wrong?

Meanwhile, in the Kent household, Martha’s job as Lionel Luthor’s personal assistant is causing more tension than a Kent family game night. Jonathan’s not thrilled about his wife working for the man he considers the devil in a designer suit, and Clark’s caught in the middle like a super-powered ping pong ball.

The Hostage Situation: When Office Politics Get Extreme

Things take a turn for the dramatic when Lex’s hired team decides to go rogue. Instead of just planting bugs, they decide to go full Die Hard and take hostages. Unfortunately for Martha Kent, she picked the wrong day to work late with Lionel.

Now, we’ve got Martha and Lionel trapped in an office together, which is either the setup for a very awkward workplace rom-com or a tense hostage drama. Spoiler alert: it’s the latter.

Clark Kent: Superhero in Training

This is where Clark’s hero complex kicks into high gear. Our boy scout in training decides that the best way to save his mom is to leap from one tall building to another. Because nothing says “I’m definitely not an alien with superpowers” like jumping between skyscrapers, right?

It’s in moments like these that we’re reminded that Clark is still learning the ropes of this whole superhero gig. His solution to most problems at this point is “run fast” or “jump high,” which, to be fair, works more often than not.

The Luthor Family Drama: A Subplot in Every Episode

While all this is going down, we get treated to another round of the Luthor family soap opera. Lex is trying to outsmart Lionel, Lionel is trying to outmanipulate Lex, and everyone else is just trying to stay out of the crossfire.

The real kicker? When the vault in Lionel’s office is finally opened, what do we find? Kryptonite bricks, files on Clark, and a mysterious octagonal key. It’s like Lionel’s own personal “Clark Kent Conspiracy Theory” starter kit. This revelation adds another layer to the onion of distrust that is the Luthor-Kent relationship.

Martha Kent: The Real MVP

Let’s take a moment to appreciate Martha Kent in this episode. Not only does she handle being held hostage like a champ, but she also manages to pocket that mysterious key without anyone noticing. Martha Kent: loving mother, farmer’s wife, and apparently, secret agent material.

Her decision to continue working for Lionel at the end of the episode, despite the day’s events, shows just how savvy she is. Keep your friends close and your Luthors closer, right?

The Small Subplot: Lana’s Family Drama

In the midst of all this excitement, we get a small subplot about Lana Lang meeting with Henry Small’s wife. It’s a reminder that even when there isn’t a hostage situation, being a teenager in Smallville is complicated. Poor Lana can’t catch a break, whether it’s meteor-infected stalkers or complex family dynamics.

Themes and Undercurrents

“Insurgence” does a great job of highlighting the ongoing themes of trust and family that run through Smallville. The Kents’ struggle with Martha’s job, Lex’s paranoia about his father, and even Lana’s attempts to connect with her biological father all touch on these ideas.

The episode also showcases the growing rift between Lex and Clark. Lex’s increasing paranoia and willingness to cross ethical lines put him at odds with Clark’s straight-arrow morality. It’s a subtle nod to their future as arch-nemeses, even as they still consider each other friends.

The Superhero Moment

Of course, we can’t forget the climax of the episode: Clark’s dramatic entrance through the window of LuthorCorp Plaza. It’s a perfect Smallville moment, blending Clark’s emerging superpowers with his very human desire to protect his loved ones. The fact that he’s immediately weakened by the Kryptonite in the room is just the cherry on top of the dramatic irony sundae.

Easter Eggs and DC Comics Connections

Comic book fans got a treat with the introduction of Maggie Sawyer, a character straight from the DC Comics universe. In the comics, she’s the head of Metropolis’ Special Crimes Unit and a friend to Superman. Her appearance here is a nice nod to Clark’s future and the larger DC world that Smallville exists in.

The Aftermath

The episode wraps up with some interesting developments. Martha decides to keep working for Lionel, Jonathan agrees it might be for the best (character growth, anyone?), and that mysterious key gets hidden in a flour can. Because nothing says “secure hiding place” like your baking supplies.

Final Thoughts

“Insurgence” is a solid entry in the Smallville canon. It balances the “freak of the week” formula with ongoing character development and mythology building. We get to see Clark take a significant step in his journey to becoming Superman, even if that step is a literal leap between buildings.

The episode also does a great job of ramping up the tension between the Luthors and the Kents. Lionel’s vault of secrets adds a new layer of intrigue to his character, while Lex’s increasing paranoia and willingness to strike back at his father show his gradual descent towards villainy.

In true Smallville fashion, “Insurgence” leaves us with more questions than answers. What’s the deal with that key? What exactly is in those files about Clark? And most importantly, how many more times can Clark use his powers in plain sight before someone other than Lex starts to get suspicious?

As we move forward in Season 2, it’s clear that the stakes are only going to get higher. The secrets are piling up, the relationships are getting more complicated, and Clark Kent is one step closer to trading in his red jacket and blue shirt for a cape and tights.

“Insurgence” reminds us why Smallville was such a hit. It’s not just about superpowers and villains; it’s about family, trust, and the challenges of growing up – even if you’re growing up to be the world’s greatest superhero. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go check my flour cans for any mysterious alien artifacts.