TNMC

If this were nearly any other genre program, "Splinter" would be an average to slightly above average offering. For Smallville, it's nearly the height of broadcasting excellence. The season got off to a fairly sluggish start, but this furthers many dangling threads.

What, did you guys run out of vampire stories already? You had to bother with the season's arc for once? For all intents and purposes, most of the past few episodes can be ignored, as per usual. Clark experiences one more type of Kryptonite, but before you get all huffy about the chromatic variance of these Kansas meteor rocks let me tell assure that his is a hoax. Silver Kryptonite was first introduced in the comics about forty years ago during Superman's 25th, or Silver, Anniversary. It was just a gag back then, but it’s used more effectively this time around.

Clark becomes increasingly paranoid after cutting his hand on a piece of the silvery rock. The rock was sent to Lana, supposedly by Lex. Clark was in Lana’s room after receiving a text message from Lana, that she apparently didn’t send. There’s something fishy there, and it’s not Aquaman’s new show. No, it’s Brainiac. He’s setting Clark up rather well. Clark starts to suspect his friends and family of betraying him. He hallucinates some of it, but only some. He sees emails from Lionel Luthor on Chloe’s laptop. He sees Lionel giving Jonathan money. These things are actually happening, but Clark’s mind is skewing the events a tad. Lionel is sending Chloe emails, but their about Lex. The money is for Jonathan’s senatorial campaign. Lionel doesn’t want his son getting a taste of real sociopolitical power. He’s afraid of what the boy will do with it.

As Clark becomes more and more paranoid, he becomes more reckless and violent. He starts to lash out physically at those around him. He injures his parents, Lex, and Lana as a result. His spree is brought to a close by Professor Fine, who reveals he has powers identical to Clark’s. Fine removes the Silver K splinter from Clark and worms his way into Clark’s trust. Though Clark is hesitant, given his past experience with Kryptonians, he seems to view Fine as a friend. Mission accomplished. Brainiac disassembles the Silver Kryptonite, which was apparently a part of him or his ship. I can see what they’re doing here, and I can’t say I don’t like it. I just think it’s too little, too late. Things are going to have to get considerably better from this point forward.

Oh, and speaking of ships. Lex finally shows the big, black Pentagon to Lana, verifying the events of the season premiere for her. Lex and his people can’t open the ship, and Lex seems to think Lana might be of use. This is so fucking retarded it defies words. Because Lana has seen the ship open, Lex thinks she might be able to help him get inside it? This is just another idiotic attempt to force this character into the storyline. The Lana in this episode was nowhere near as insipid or stupid as I’ve come to expect. She was downright easy to watch. Still, I can think of several ways to incorporate her into this storyline, but it would require a complete retcon of Season Four. If only.

Quite a bit happened, but is any of it of value? If you ask me, I’d say it isn’t. I’m biased though. Clearly I’m mentally challenged, since I basically chose to continue reviewing this show over one that was clearly superior. God, I’m going to hate myself for this.