The 200th episode of Smallville brings a trip down memory lane. It's the Smallville High School reunion, 5 years after graduation, and is Lois the one who reminds Clark of the event, and convinces him to go. Given the recent rejection of heros, Jor-El's disappointment, his solitude, Clark is depressed. Still, he and Lois go to the reunion: she's excited given her 23 days enrolled there in senior year, reminding cheerfully the short time at school. The funny part is that no one remembers her, and is only considered as Clark's companion. When they go to retrieve the name tags, Lois sees Lana's, and reminds when was the last time she saw her (Bride). Seems that Clark never explained what happened then, but when Lois becomes thoughtful, remembering how many memories Clark has from high school (including Lana), he calmly assures her that she's not coming. The way Clark said this was special, like he was assuring Lois that she doesn't have to worry about his past history with Lana, it's over. Then, Clark sees Chloe's name tag, and they go to the Torch, where he reminds when the innocent Chloe introduced the wall of weird. Lois feels sorry for bringing him there, and they're interrupted by the current students who carry the on the Torch. They ask about Chloe, who "disappeared" from the world, and talk about the superheros, Oliver, the Blur. They suspect the Blur grew up in Smallville, Lois tries to throw them off trail, and tells how he inspired a lot of people, like them. Then, a surprise is revealed, as Clark was the quarterback and won the title for the Crows in Senior year, he's crowned Prom King, and so, Lois is crowned as the Queen. She's obviously flattered, happy, but he's quiet, stunned. And just when he sees Greg Arkin, Brainiac 5 appears, to take Clark to the past. Of this part, the only reminding of the tragic, dramatic past of smallville high school was on the counselour's memory. Seemingly she treated every meteor infected student from the school, and so realized Clark's role on each case, but Brainiac 5 erased her memory. If each death or each meteor freak student would have been remembered on the reunion, it would have had a darkest tone. But instead, this episode tried to show that people got better, and the school reunion was as normal as possible.
Anyway, Brainiac 5 explains Clark how the Legion modified him for good, and now wants to show him how to become the man he's destined to be. Clark sees the defining moment of his life (and in some ways, of the series): Jonathan's death. Clark always blamed himself for it, and never understood that his father willingly gave his life, his heart to protect his son, he made that decision, just like any parent should. For the first time, Clark sees, thanks to Brainiac 5, the moment when Jonathan fought and hit Lionel the day of his death. The android also shows Clark the present, where is shown that Oliver is waiting for Clark's sign, support, after he revealed his Green Arrow identity to the world. By blaming him for past mistakes, Clark is not supporting Oliver now, leaving him alone against the media, the people who hates heros. They return to the reunion, where a couple of hours passed somehow despite the time travel, and they see Lois alone, looking for alcohol at the punch drink. There, Maddie, the punch girl, asks Lois about Clark and reminds about his strong friendship with Chloe, and his story with Lana. Lois is forced to admit that she and Clark are not together now, so Maddie thinks he doesn't like her. These moments were sad, and reminds that all the past and present has been mostly that way. Lois unfairly broke up with Clark in Hostage, but still, it's sad that the girl made her feel much less than Chloe and Lana, when she's actually the woman Clark truly loves. Then, when Greg approaches Lois to talk about Clark, he interferes with the ring, and is sent to the future, at the Daily Planet. On this brightest side, Clark finds future Lois, who warns him about his wardrobe. When he realizes the time he's at (2017), he tries to explain her, but she doesn't understands, and instead ponders each reason of why he'd be acting so disoriented: his responsibility as the last son of Krypton, the different types of kryptonite, or that she forgot the anniversary of the day that he told her his secret (she didn't). For some reason, Clark is surprised that she knows everything. This nice scene occurs in their office, 8th floor of the building, where they both work as reporters. Then, when Clark asks about the legion ring, Lois tells him to look at the farm, and so in the elevator, he finds his future self. Future Clark knew exactly what was happening, and says that he needs this experience to become him, besides, he has to be on the roof to save Lois, while himself goes to contain the explosion of a nearby nuclear plant. At the roof, Clark saves the helicopter, and Lois protects his secret from the pilot. Clark's surprised, shares a kiss with her before she leaves, and also sees his future self save the day. He finally realizes the life he can have, and Brainiac appears to bring him back to present. The advice is not question the past, or fear the future, but to live the present. Then, Clark sees that Greg was telling Lois to thank Clark for what he did for him, for setting him straight (stopping him for hurting more people I guess). He defines him as the hometown hero, and Lois agrees. Finally back, Clark takes Lois to dance, casually the same Lifehouse song of Pilot, Tempest, but the time for the reunion ends soon. The next day, Clark goes to his dad's grave, to say goodbye, knowing that he will always be with him, and that he can't remain stuck on the past. He buries the watch there, and goes to see Oliver during his interview with the press. His silent support gives Oliver the strength to justify his actions as Green Arrow, as a hero, as someone who's doing something for his country. At the night, Clark invites Lois to the barn, after setting up a disco ball, music, to make up for the missing dance. She tries to brush it off, that's not big deal, or that they're friends, but Clark nicely insists, "get over here", and they start. The magical moment comes after a trip, so she steps onto his feet, and they dance. Clark tells her "I love you", she says "I love you too", and though she mentions that they have to talk about (his secret), he just wants to enjoy the dance, nothing else. As this goes on, they both start to float above air, without realizing. The special about being Superman.
This episode takes us on a perfect trip to the past, the future, and illuminates the present. I got to feel not only season 1, with the distant memory of that crush on Lana, the innocent young Chloe and the Torch, the music, but also some of season 4, like Lois brief time at the school, Clark's short succesful career at football. And the dramatic side of season 5, Jonathan's death on Reckoning, linking the two best episodes of the series, the 100th and the 200th. That brilliant small sight of the future, with the uptight, mild-mannered, glasses-wearing Clark Kent, and his loyal kind of wife Lois Lane, both of them working together, under Perry White. In so little time, the moments of the future said a lot. And the present, where things have to be done. The role of Brainiac 5 here was perfect, just as his evil past self was one of the greatest villains, now he was the greatest guide, mentor. Many persons feel like living on past mistakes, and fearing the future. It has happened to me too, and a lot of people. Knowing what you want, the mistakes that you made, but in the meantime, not living the present. Clark went through that many times during the series, instead of forgiving himself or the persons around for their mistakes. What he says on Jonathan's grave will be corrected on the series finale, but from now on he'll try to be a better friend for Oliver, and a better man for Lois. The last scene at the barn was beautiful, what Clark and Lois deserved. There are times for discussions, for secrets, for action, and other times are just to dance, enjoy, times of love. The crucial about this trip, is that allowed Clark to follow the path to the bright future he saw., with Lois by his side.
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