Originally aired October 13, 2005
Written by Brian Peterson & Kelly Souders
Directed by Whitney Ransick
Chloe learns that Gabriel, a former classmate, is planning to launch a nuclear missile that will devastate Smallville. Clark, still powerless, is shot when he attempts to stop Gabriel, and the only one who can save Clark is Jor-El.
Tropes present in the episode:
- Ax-Crazy: Gabriel is definitely loose a few screws, to the point where he thinks nuking a town out of existence will make him a hero.
- Back from the Dead: After dying from his gunshot wound, Clark is brought back to life by Jor-El, but with a terrible price.
- Balancing Death's Books: Jor-El reveals to Clark that someone he loves will have to die to compensate for his restored life.Clark: Am I dead?Jor-El!Lionel: Your mortal journey is over, yes. But your imminent destiny is too important to be sacrificed. You will return with all your natural gifts. Unfortunately, this rectification does not come without a price: The life of someone close to you will be exchanged for yours.Clark: No. No, I would never ask for that.Jor-El!Lionel: You already did when you decided to relinquish your powers and disobey me. It was your choice.Clark: Then just don't bring me back.Jor-El!Lionel: It's too late. For everything in nature, there is a balance. The life force that has been returned to you will soon be taken from, from someone you love.
- Crucified Hero Shot: After being shot by Gabriel, Clark falls to the ground in this position.
- Darkest Hour: Jor-El tells Clark that the death of someone he loves will be this to him.Jor-El!Lionel: [to Clark] The life force that has been returned to you will soon be taken from, from someone you love. You're about to face your darkest hour, my son. But remember, the lessons that we learn from pain are the ones that make us the strongest.
- Does This Remind You of Anything?: Martha and Lana finding Clark's empty hospital bed mirrors Mary and Martha finding Jesus's empty tomb.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones:
- Gabriel may have killed his father, but judging by how his voice starts breaking while explaining his reasoning, he didn't want to do it.
- Subverted with Chloe, the first thing Gabriel does after launching the nuke is call her and tell her to get out of Smallville. But, he only did this because he wanted her to write a story about his heroism, rather than any genuine love or even care.
- Fantastic Racism: Gabriel towards meteor freaks.
- I Can Explain: Clark's reaction after he and Lana are caught by his parents after spending the night together.
- Knight Templar: Gabriel thinks his actions are heroic and just, to the point where he callously dismisses the thousands of innocence he's going to kill for the sake of killing all meteor freaks.
- Man Hug: Jor-El!Lionel embraces Clark while expressing his love for him.
- Modesty Bedsheet: Clark and Lana begin the episode wearing this after they clearly spent the night together.
- Mouth of Sauron: Jor-El explains to Clark that Lionel's exposure to the Crystal of Water turned him into a vessel for Jor-El to use if Clark ever needs his aid.Jor-El!Lionel: [to Clark] When this body was activated by the crystal, it became an oracle of Kryptonian knowledge, a vessel for me to inhabit if ever you should need me. That time was now.
- Mundanger: Gabriel is a normal human with no superpowers.
- Not-So-Well-Intentioned Extremist: Gabriel thinks he's doing the world a favor by eliminating all the meteor freaks, but ultimately he's little more than a xenophobic madman looking for an excuse to be seen as a hero.
- Nuke 'em: Gabriel's solution to dealing with meteor freaks in Smallville.
- Relocating the Explosion: Clark jumps onto the nuclear missile, tears out the warhead, and throws it far into space, where it explodes.
- Sadist: Gabriel shows signs of being one. He's prone to violence, convinces himself that his victims need to die, and that he's doing them a favor. He also callously dismisses the thousands of innocent non-powered people he's about to kill for the sake of eliminating a few meteor freaks.
- Self-Made Orphan: Gabriel killed his father, who was affected by the meteors.
- Sexy Shirt Switch: Lana wears Clark's shirt when she's trying to sneak out of the Kent's house.
- Touched by Vorlons: This is revealed to have been the case with Lionel after he was exposed to the Crystal of Water after Clark united the Crystal of Air with the Crystal of Fire in "Commencement." Exposure to the Crystal of Water transformed Lionel into a vessel for Jor-El to use if Clark ever needed his help.
- Villain of the Week: Gabriel Duncan, a computer expert who wants to purge Smallville of meteor freaks by nuking the whole town.
- Voices Are Mental: While Jor-El is using Lionel's body to speak with Clark, John Glover speaks with a British accent not dissimilar to Terence Stamp's.
