This was all an evil plan to get Lex literally within arm’s reach. As Clark happens to notice with his X-ray vision, Lionel is concealing a rune-marked artifact in his hand. Before Lionel can touch Lex with the stone, Clark pushes Lex out of the way. This would be great except for the fact that Lionel tags Clark with the stone.

If you’ve ever wondered what Lionel would do with Clark's abilities, here’s your chance to find out. Some slow motion Matrix-style camera action and it becomes obvious that Lionel and Clark switch bodies.

John Glover does an accurate and entertaining Clark impression throughout. He pulls off the boyish, innocent, naïve thing really well. The wide eyes and the confused look were great. And Tom Welling is not half bad playing a really sexy jerk…that kind of jerk that you really want to slap, but kind of want to kiss at the same time.

Naturally, as an inhabitant of Clark’s body, Lionel discovers Clark’s powers. He lifts heavy machinery for Jonathan, he shoots fire through his eyes as he gets hot for Martha, and he moves quickly to keep a lamp from breaking. Lionel likes! He incorporates phrases such as, “pluck your fruit” when speaking to Lana. He also nearly kisses Chloe, but disses her with “don’t you wish.” Ah, evil Clark can be so much fun.

In the meantime, poor (real) Clark is getting used and abused in Oz. Nobody seems to like Lionel and everyone wants to play “Who Wants to Beat a Millionaire?”

It turns out that Lionel’s cellmate happens to be a wacky mathematician named Edgar. Edgar has been studying the Kryptonite symbols for many moons and yadda yadda yadda he discovered that one way of using them results in body switching. (The real) Clark learns that Lionel’s body is dying. He also invites Martha to visit him and tells her what has occurred. It was actually a sweet scene as Clark recounts an event from his childhood to prove to Martha that he really is her son.

Evil Clark tries to do some fancy bank account work, but discovers that Lex has changed all the passwords and transferred funds. Enraged, he goes to Lex’s mansion. Lex, being the intelligent guy that he is, quickly deduces that Clark is not really Clark. He realizes that somehow Lionel has managed to invade Clark’s body (mmm...that doesn’t sound so bad!) Evil Clark, a.k.a Lionel, has Lex in a death grip when Martha enters with some meteor rock and incapacitates Evil Clark.

As Martha goes to help Lex, Evil Clark gets up and heads for the Kent Farm where he threatens Jonathan. While choking Jonathan, Edgar calls and leaves a message explaining that all is not well. Evil Clark drops Jonathan and heads for Oz where Edgar informs him that the fancy schmancy body switching is not permanent.

Eventually, Clark will go back to Clark and Lionel will go back to Lionel. Ah, but who wants to be a dying old man when you can be Clark Kent? Theoretically, if Evil Clark destroys Lionel’s body, he could forever inhabit Clark’s body.

Cut to some crazy jail fighting. It’s amazing what Lionel’s old body can do when Clark is in control. He actually manages to kick some scary jail scum butt! The glory is cut short though, when Evil Clark enters during the chaotic jail fight and picks up Lionel by the neck. Must be kind of scary to squeeze your own throat, but Evil Clark manages just fine. There is a little conversation here between the two, but the important part happens when (the good) Lionel whips out the artifact and touches Evil Clark’s arm with it. Yup, you got it. They switch back.

No doubt Clark is really happy to be back in his own skin, but of course now he has to apologize for all the horrible things Lionel did. Chloe suggests he seeks some professional help and he learns that Lana is seeing Jason. Yeah, he didn’t look too happy about that last part. At least he doesn’t have to apologize to Lex who had already realized that some involuntary body snatching had taken place. Clark asks for Lex’s help to release Edgar. Because Lex is wonderful, he agrees. The last we see of Edgar is him entering a limo and giving some woman (maybe she returns from earlier episodes?) the artifact.

Now, we all know the rule, right? Anyone who discovers Clark’s powers winds up dead by the end of the episode. So does Lionel die? Good question! No, Lionel does not die. In fact, his liver is completely healed. Ah, but there’s a twist beyond that! It would appear that Lionel does not have a very clear recollection of the past few days. He explains to his doctor that he feels different, that there has been a profound change in him. I’m very interested to see where that goes and I very much hope they develop that in the next few episodes.