Despite my wish to stay "spoiler-free" I do occasionally like to skim the official episode listings for the titles, guest star information, perhaps an interesting tidbit or two.

This week, the official WB description read as follows: When Chloe (Allison Mack) accidentally inhales a mysterious krypto-gas, she discovers it acts as a truth serum to anyone who comes in contact with her and decides to take advantage of her new power by going to the Kents (John Schneider, Annette O'Toole) to find out Clark's (Tom Welling) secret. However, her new power comes with fatal consequences and Clark must find an antidote before she discovers the truth about him or worse, dies.

So, right there, we have at least one interesting tidbit: "krypto-gas." Evidently the WB knows more than we do, or has simply accepted the green=meteoric equation I assumed so long ago.

TV Guide chimes in with: A chemical accident at the LuthorCorp plant gives Chloe the ability to make people tell her the truth. When Lionel learns of Chloe's new power, he tries to exploit it by forcing her to uncover Clark's secrets.

The plot thickens. It's Lionel pulling the strings now, which hearkens back to an almost-forgotten subplot from almost a year ago. A year! A plot that has not been advanced or resolved, that still has the power to motivate these characters!

Of course, in an episode entitled "Truth," ramping up to a third season finale that really does need to do something to keep the momentum this show is losing more of each week, one could have hoped for slightly less anemic truths and revelations.

Pete has a crush on Chloe, a fact which has been blindingly obvious (and equally unimportant) since the pilot episode, and will likely continue unabated in its inconsequentialness. Pete gets, what, six minutes of screen time every other episode, even ones that ostensibly focus on him, so how much could it really matter?

A forgettable yet promising subplot about a teacher on the run from the law, which catalyzes the completely not-promising krypto-freakishness and is promptly abandoned, could have really been something for Clark and Chloe's characters to sink their teeth into -- journalistically, heroically, morally. But instead...

LuthorCorp is still doing mysterious krypto research? What a shock. What a complete shakedown to the characters and loyal audience to this show. What a freaking waste of an awesome villainous corporation.

Chloe could die? Or learn Clark's secret? Clark might not find the antidote and the helpful sympathetic soul to save her? I'm sorry, I just didn't believe it for a minute, any more than I believe Lana will actually leave Smallville. It's painfully standard WB practice for conflicted couples, setting a clock for action and forcing them to analyze the state of their relationship.

Even if she does go, there's no way they are writing Lana Lang off this show, and I don't have to be spoiled to know that. Anyone who believes otherwise needs some serious television therapy. It could mean she's absent for a few shows, opening the door for another meaningful relationship for Clark, or she could make a decision and stand by it, forcing Clark's hand, but there is really no double-plus way she goes and stays gone.

More likely, it happens -- like everything else on this show -- off-screen over summer vacation, evincing no changes in her character and creating no opportunity for interesting conflict or development. Actually, most likely it doesn't happen at all, which anyone who remembers Joey's agonizing choice in the first season of Dawson's Creek will tell you.

Actually, most likely of anything, she decides to go, is all packed, and is forced to stay home to support Clark for his father's funeral. Where was Pa this week, anyway?

 

Sarah Stanek