Originally aired October 27, 2004
Written by Todd Slavkin & Darren Swimmer
Directed by James Marshall
Clark intervenes when Lionel attempts to use one of the Stones of Power on Lex, resulting in Clark and Lionel switching bodies. Lionel learns of Clark's powers and immediately begins causing trouble with Clark's family and friends, while Clark learns Lionel is dying and races to find a way to reverse the switch.
Tropes present in the episode:
- Combat Pragmatist: Clark-in-Lionel manages to win an uneven prison fight by engaging in this, taking an opportunity to smash his opponent's face into a metal railing. Even Clark looks shocked.
- Easy Amnesia: After Clark reverses the body-switch, Lionel has no memory of anything that's happened.
- Event Title: The episode title refers to the "Freaky Friday" Flip between Clark and Lionel.
- Evil Wears Black: Lionel-in-Clark midway through the episode.
- Fanservice: Lionel-in-Clark standing shirtless in the loft and checking himself out in a mirror.
- "Freaky Friday" Flip: Clark and Lionel end up switching bodies thanks to the Crystal of Water.
- Internal Reveal: Clark finds out that Lana is secretly dating Jason.
- Kick the Dog: Lionel-in-Clark seduces Chloe, only to pull back at the last minute and cruelly dismiss her.Lionel-in-Clark: I certainly see you in a whole new light.
Chloe: Well, what exactly is that supposed to mean?
Lionel-in-Clark: I have to confess that I find you absolutely fascinating. It's that twinkle in your eye. Your wonderfully sexy smile. And your skin, it's—
Chloe: Clark, what are you doing?
Lionel-in-Clark: What I've wanted to do for a very, very long time. [moves in to kiss Chloe, but pulls back at the last moment] Don't you wish... Miss Sullivan. - Neck Lift: Lionel-in-Clark executes this on Jonathan and later Clark-in-Lionel.
- Offing the Offspring:
- Lionel-in-Clark threatens to kill Lex if Clark-in-Lionel doesn't help him get access to his foreign bank account.Lionel-in-Clark: [to Clark-in-Lionel] I need you to do something for me. [shows him a piece of paper] Say the name "Mehan" and these numbers.
Clark-in-Lionel: Why?
Lionel-in-Clark: Because if you don't, your good friend, Lex, will very shortly be dead. An unfortunate accident.
Clark-in-Lionel: But he's your son! Your only child!
Lionel-in-Clark: And I'm his only father, but that didn't stop him from putting me in prison and robbing me of everything I have. Now speak the words into the recorder or you will be directly responsible for your friend's death. - He later tries to kill Lex in retaliation for taking money from said account.Lionel-in-Clark: [grabbing Lex by the neck and holding him down on the desk] Now get on the phone, tell the bank to wire the money, or I'll snap your larynx like a twig.
Lex: Go ahead, kill me.
Lionel-in-Clark: All I wanted was the best for you, and you destroyed me!
- Lionel-in-Clark threatens to kill Lex if Clark-in-Lionel doesn't help him get access to his foreign bank account.
- Perverted Sniffing: Lionel-in-Clark sniffs Martha's hair while she's hugging him; this results in Clark's heat vision flaring up.
- Plot Device: The Crystal of Water, one of the Stones of Power which causes Clark and Lionel to switch bodies. It also cures Lionel of his terminal liver disease after the switch is reversed.
- Prison Riot: One takes place near the end of the episode.
- Refuge in Audacity: When Lionel-in-Clark demonstrates a degree of superstrength to Lex, once Clark is back in his body, he suggests to Lex that the strength was a side-effect of the switch.
- Shirtless Scene: Lionel-in-Clark gets one in the loft.
- Showing Off the New Body: Lionel-in-Clark poses in front of a mirror, flexes his muscles, and even checks out his... goods.
- Something Else Also Rises: When Lionel-in-Clark hugs Martha and sniffs her hair, he ends up setting the tractor on fire.
- The Tease: A gender-inverted example between Lionel-Clark and Chloe. (See Kick the Dog above.)
- Too Fast to Stop: Clark mentions a time when he was 6. He was playing tag with his friends, but when he tried to run after them, he suddenly found himself all the way in the woods.
- Trust Password:
- Clark-in-Lionel convinces Martha he's really Clark by telling her how he discovered Super-Speed at age 6.Clark-in-Lionel: I know this is hard to believe, but I swear it's the truth. It's me, Mom. It's Clark.
Martha: [stands up from the table] You're sick, Lionel. You need help.
Clark-in-Lionel: Mom, You Have to Believe Me!.
Martha: I'm leaving!
Clark-in-Lionel: Mom, Mom, remember when I was six, and I was playing tag with Dad, and all of a sudden, I started running faster than I'd ever run before, and I was in the middle of Palmer Woods, completely lost, and you and Dad had to call Sheriff Ethan. And when you saw me, you started crying. And I thought something was wrong with me, and you said no, there wasn't, and then you held me in your arms, and you told me I was just special, I'm your—
Martha: [sits back down] "Special boy!" Oh, Clark! - In the final act, when Clark comes by the mansion, Lex holds him at gunpoint and demands he tell him what Jonathan said to him after the bridge incident in the pilot episode. Clark correctly answers "He told you to drive slower," convincing Lex that Clark is the genuine article.Clark: [enters Lex's study] Lex?
Lex: [holds Clark at gunpoint] Stay where you are!
Clark: Lex, it's me, Clark. I need to talk to you.
Lex: After I drove my Porsche into the river and you fished me out, I asked your dad if there was any way I could repay him. What'd he say that we always joke about?
Clark: Lex, what is this, a pop quiz?
Lex: Answer the question!
Clark: [Beat] He told you to drive slower.
Lex: [lowers his gun] Welcome back.
- Clark-in-Lionel convinces Martha he's really Clark by telling her how he discovered Super-Speed at age 6.
