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Smallville episode 8.11 "Legion"
Airdate: January 15, 2009
In the mid-season return of Smallville this Thursday, the show takes a page out of the Superman mythology by featuring three prominent members of the futuristic Legion of Superheroes. Although full of special mentions and tidbits associated with comics, the show reached out to the casual fans by explaining who the Legion members are and how they are tied to Clark Kent. Before the opening credits sang “Somebody Save Me”, the proper introductions were made. There was also more action and stunts in this episode than usual, which was a treat, although none of it was due to Clark Kent rescuing anyone. This was still an episode about Clark’s continuing quest to find his destiny, but it also offered a peek into his far-reaching influence on future heroes and generations. And it tied in nicely that someday, we are going to see Clark Kent wear glasses, and fly with a cape and in tights.
Written by DC Comics writer Geoff Johns and directed by Glen Winter, the midseason opener of Smallville is titled “Legion”:
It’s the aftermath of Doomsday’s destruction of Clark’s barn. The whole place is ransacked and Lana tearfully collects herself. Clark reminds her to take a rest but she insists that Chloe needs their help. Lana leaves for the Isis Foundation to dig up more information. Clark is suddenly confronted by this masked man dressed up as an executioner with a super-axe. He takes a swing at Clark and cuts him near the ribs! Three strangers, all with superpowers, take turns in defeating this executioner and make him disappear into thin air. We learn the villain is called Persuader, a villain from the future who can kill Kal El. He came back in time to destroy the device that can release Brainiac from being trapped inside his host’s body. The three super-beings are the Legion, alien heroes from the 31st century who came to stop Persuader from killing Clark. They introduce themselves as Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad, and were star-struck at the hero they adore. Kal El’s influence will reach far beyond his galaxy, and he will open the door for more alien beings to rally to Earth and keep the peace in the different worlds.
The Legion also came back in time because this day is historic in the annals as the day Clark Kent defeated Brainiac. Clark is confused because he had destroyed the computer before, but the three heroes insist. The Legionnaires are confused as well. The Kal El they remember is very different from the young man before them. “No glasses, no cape, no tights, no flight.”
Meanwhile, Davis finds himself at the Fortress, where a strange-acting Chloe greeted him. Davis tried to talk to Chloe and convince her that his feelings for her are real. Chloe/Brainiac mocked Davis that he is not human, and his feelings are only Brainiac’s means to get him close to her.
When Clark realized that Brainiac may be alive, and possessing Chloe’s body, the Legion insists there is only one way to defeat him – kill the host. Kill Chloe. But Clark would have none of it and so he goes to the Fortress to ask Jor El for advice. There he finds Chloe, now controlled by Brainiac, who wants nothing more than to drain the whole world of its knowledge. And what’s left of it, Doomsday will annihilate. Chloeniac throws Clark into a corner and flies away.
Saturn Girl sought out Lana and asked her to convince Kal El about killing Chloe. Later on, Clark confided to Lana about the Legion’s solution, and she reminded Clark that he’s the kind of man who will do everything in his power to do what needs to be done without harming anybody.
The Legionnaires find Chloe at the Daily Planet, draining all energy and knowledge from computers and slowly draining the mind of every person on the planet. They stop Chloeniac from downloading all the information and Clark brought her back to the barn, away from all electronic devices. When Saturn Girl realized that Chloe’s consciousness is still alive inside her possessed body, the Legion believes Clark is right. They create an electromagnetic field to draw the computer out and saves Chloe.
Before the Legionnaires return to the future, they give Clark a ring that will teleport him to their future. Lightning Lad asks for Clark’s first baseball hit. Cosmic Boy warns him of the days ahead. The three Legion members face each other, they raise their hands and shout “Long live the Legion!” before disappearing!
Later, doubting about his capacity to become the hero for all time, Lana reminded Clark that he will follow his own destiny, in his timeline and not anyone else.
The last scene of the episode goes back to Chloe’s ruins. Davis Bloome has fully metamorphosed to Doomsday!
Next on Smallville 8.12 “Bulletproof” on Thursday January 22, 2009 on CW.
Images: © 2008 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved
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