After Clark tries to track down a thief who is able to erase the last few seconds of memory from a person he ends up developing a case of full blown amnesia. Chloe finds him and brings him back to the Kents’, who happen to be out of town. This makes a perfect opportunity for Chloe to be the one to teach him about his powers and explain why he has been keeping them a secret for so long. This was a good plot device for Chloe to reveal to Clark that she knows his secret, but it is ultimately wasted, as we see later in the show.

Because of his memory loss, Clark is able to meet Lana and Lex for the first time. It’s obvious that Lana still has the same effect on him as she always did. Clark even suggests that they start over and she seems very open to the suggestion. With Lex, it becomes clear that there is some hesitation and trepidation on Clark’s part. Apparently, this is for good reason as Lex lies to Clark in order to find out more about the caves.

This was the first time that I’ve noticed Lex appearing evil and underhanded toward Clark. Sure, Lex has lied in the past to protect Clark or so as not to have to explain too much, but he never seemed deceitful in an evil way.

Anyway, due to Chloe and Clark’s amazing deductive abilities, it doesn’t take more than 15 or 20 seconds of conversation to discern that there is a thief running around with the ability to make people forget. Chloe, Clark, and Lois manage to track down where he lives through a motor cross card he dropped at the coffee shop. They find out the thief’s name is Kevin and his father tells them an obviously fake sob story about how Kevin is at Summerholt undergoing treatment and therapy. According to the story, Kevin accidentally killed his brother, Dylan, in a hunting accident.

Chloe sneaks into Summerholt and is able to email information from their computers to Lois. The real truth is that Kevin’s father is the one who accidentally killed his other son. Of course, Chloe gets caught and we discover that Kevin’s father is the doctor in charge of this whole memory replacement deal.

It just seems rather silly that if he could replace and alter memories that he would place all the guilt of the accidental death on his living son. If he couldn’t live with the pain of killing his son, why would he burden his innocent son with it? Why not change both their memories so neither of them appear guilty of the death? Logic is hard to come by in Smallville.

Clark finds Kevin in the clearing where his brother died and Kevin finally remembers the actual truth about the incident. The two of them then work together to break into Summer Holt to save Chloe. Stuff happens and the final climactic moment involves Clark saving Chloe from the evil memory altering mad scientist. Of course this involves Clark using his super human strength to prevent two giant pillars from collapsing on top of him and Chloe. Lois and the sheriff walk in right as Clark is looking especially Samson-like.

Fortunately for Clark, Kevin happens to be around and is perceptive enough to realize that this is a prefect time to use his powers. Lois and the sheriff get zapped and don’t remember Clark’s exhibition.

Yadda yadda yadda Clark gets all his memories back except for the last 24 hours. This means he doesn’t remember Chloe teaching him about his powers and protecting him from other people. He also doesn’t remember what happened with Kevin even though Kevin tells him that they’re even Stevens.

This episode could have been a great way for Clark to find out that Chloe knows his secret and has been a very loyal friend. Of course, it gets ruined at the end because Clark doesn’t remember. Isn’t it about time Clark knows that Chloe has known all this time? This episode made me wonder (AGAIN!) why Clark doesn’t love Chloe the way he loves Lana. There’s just so much more to Chloe. The episode ends with Lana and Clark looking like they are giving things another try. I guess it was a little cute. I was getting sick of the Lana and Jason drama anyway.

Honda Dimitriu