Smallville (Season 4)

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Smallville Season 4
Released on DVD
Country	USA
Network	The WB
Original runs	September 22, 2004 – May 18, 2005
No. of episodes	22
DVD Release Date	September 13, 2005
DVD Format	Widescreen, Boxset

This article contains a complete review of the fourth season of the American drama action/adventure sci-fi television series Smallville. The season began airing on September 22, 2004 and concluded on May 18, 2005.

No.	Title	Airdate
401	Crusade	Sep 22
402	Gone	Sep 29
403	Façade	October 6
404	Devoted	October 13
405	Run	October 20
406	Transference	October 27
407	Jinx	November 3
408	Spell	November 10
409	Bound	November 17
410	Scare	December 1
411	Unsafe	January 26
412	Pariah	February 2
413	Recruit	February 9
414	Krypto	February 16
415	Sacred	February 23
416	Lucy	March 2
417	Onyx	April 13
418	Spirit	April 20
419	Blank	April 27
420	Ageless	May 4
421	Forever	May 11
422	Commencement	May 18

[edit] Season Four Overview

Clark has returned, though he isn't his usual self. Clark is "reprogrammed", by Jor-El, to seek out 3 stones from around the world. The stones are the key to the ultimate knowledge of the universe..

Lois Lane comes to Smallville, to search for the truth behind her cousin Chloe's death. Lois finds an amnesiac Clark, returned to Smallville after a 3 month absence, and takes him to the hospital. Lana, still in Paris and with a new love interest, is researching an ancient martyr and witch, Countess Marguerite Isobel Theroux, whom she is linked to via her bloodline. Jonathan lies in a coma, with Martha by his side; Lionel awaits his trial.

Martha brings the real Clark back by using a mysterious black kryptonite that changes "Kal-El" back into her "Clark". In that moment, Jonathan wakes up from his coma. Afterwards Lois and Clark find out Lex saved Chloe from the explosion and she makes it in time for Lionel's trial.

Clark decides that this year will be the year of Clark, and he will not be worried with what Jor-El has in store for him anymore. Clark goes out for the football team, experiences difficulty in his relationship with Lana, sees a relationship with Lex begin to fully crumble, meets future superheroes and old obsessions, and battles witches from the 17th century just in time to graduate from Smallville High. Clark's true destiny is also revealed to him by the season's end, and a second meteor shower comes to Smallville.

[edit] Sections

• Characters in this season

[edit] Episodes

[edit] Crusade

• Original airdate: September 22, 2004
• Written by: Alfred Gough & Miles Millar
• Directed by: Greg Beeman
• Guest role: Margot Kidder
• Featured music:
  • "Better Days Will Come" by Tahiti 80
  • "Plus près de moi" by san.drine

[edit] Plot

Clark returns to Smallville re-programmed as Kal-El. Intent on fulfilling his destiny, Kal-El takes to the skies to steal a powerful kryptonian stone. Determined to save her son, Martha turns to Dr. Swann's emissary, Bridgette Crosby (Kidder), and learns about a surprising new form of kryptonite. Meanwhile, Lois Lane comes to town to investigate the murder of her cousin Chloe. Also, Lana returns from Paris with a new attitude and a new boyfriend, Jonathan lies in a coma, and Lionel faces a grim new life in prison.

[edit] Gone

• Original airdate: September 29, 2004
• Written by: Kelly Souders & Brian Peterson
• Directed by: James Marshall
• Guest role: Michael Ironside
• Featured music:
  • "A Long Way" by Dara Shindler
  • "She Will Be Loved (acoustic version)" by Maroon 5

[edit] Plot

Clark and Lois Lane investigate Chloe's apparent murder, but are stopped by an army officer, General Sam Lane (Ironside), who turns out to be Lois' father. Lois suspects that Sam knows more about Chloe's death than he will admit, and Clark discovers that Sam has recently been in contact with Lex. Jason arrives from Paris and convinces Lana to continue their relationship. Suspecting that Chloe is still alive, Lionel sends an assassin with the power to morph his limbs into metallic weapons to keep Chloe from testifying against him.

[edit] Façade

• Original airdate: October 6, 2004
• Written by: Holly Harold
• Directed by: Pat Williams
• Guest role: Eric Johnson, Michael Ironside, Brianna Lynn Brown, & Julianne Christie
• Featured music:
  • "Eight Half Letters" by Stereoblis
  • "My Happy Ending" by Avril Lavigne
  • "What Do You Do In The Summer (When It's Raining)" by Beu Sisters
  • "F**k N' Spend" by High Speed Scene
  • "Ghetto" by John Gold
  • "Devils And Angels" by Toby Lightman

[edit] Plot

Clark faces a surprising new foe in the form of a shy high school girl, Abby Fine (Brown), who turns to plastic surgery to enhance her looks and boost her popularity. However, things go awry when she discovers that her kryptonite-enhanced beauty causes harm to anyone she kisses - and she decides her next victim will be Lana. Meanwhile, Jason and Lana continue to hide their relationship from Clark.

[edit] Devoted

• Original airdate: October 13, 2004
• Written by: Luke Schelhaas
• Directed by: David Carson
• Guest role: Amanda Walsh
• Featured music:
  • "Meltdown" by Ash
  • "Revolution" by Authority Zero
  • "Our Mystery" by Bebo Norman
  • "Better Off By Myself" by Bosshouse
  • "California" by Hawk Nelson
  • "On The Run" by Sam Roberts
  • "Medicated" by Sub Space Radio
  • "Disco MF" by The Penfifteen Club

[edit] Plot

Clark joins the football team at school and is immediately given the starting quarterback position after the old quarterback tries to kill the new assistant coach Jason. Chloe drinks a glass of team water and becomes devoted to Clark. Jason also drinks from the water and attacks Clark. Curious about the behavior change in both Chloe and Jason, Clark and Lois investigate and discover that the cheerleaders are poisoning the teams' water with kryptonite, turning the players into Stepford-like boyfriends.

[edit] Run

• Original airdate: October 20, 2004
• Written by: Steven S. Deknight
• Directed by: David Barrett
• Guest role: Kyle Gallner
• Featured music:
  • "Don't Say Nuttin'" by The Roots
  • "Welcome To My World" by Kyle Newvachek
  • "Cruel Sun" by Silver
  • "Feels Like Today" by Rascal Flatts

[edit] Plot

After Jonathan's wallet is stolen, Clark tracks down the thief, but is stunned when he cannot catch him. The thief, Bart Allen (Gallner), later shows up at the farm and tries to talk Clark into leaving Smallville for a life on the road together, flexing their super powers. Meanwhile, Lex buys a priceless framed manuscript with Kryptonian symbols and Clark learns that it contains a mysterious hidden map. However, when Bart steals the manuscript from Lex, he inadvertently puts Clark's life in danger and must make the decision whether to save Clark or himself.

[edit] Notes

• Bart Allen is one of the Flashes in the DC Universe.^[1] Bart carries around identification with the names Jay Garrick, Barry Allen, and Wally West, three other Flashes in the main DC Universe.

[edit] Transference

• Original airdate: October 27, 2004
• Written by: Todd Slavkin & Darren Swimmer
• Directed by: James Marshall
• Guest role: Margot Kidder & J.P. Manoux
• Featured music:
  • "Pain" by Jimmy Eat World

[edit] Plot

Clark hears a painful ringing sound in his ears and is drawn to the prison where Lionel is being held. When he sees Lionel attempt to stab Lex with a strange glowing stone, Clark grabs for the stone causing the two men to switch bodies. Learning his new body has super powers, Lionel immediately begins wreaking havoc on Smallville. Trapped behind bars without his powers, Clark must figure out a way to get his body and powers back in order to save his friends and family.

[edit] Jinx

• Original airdate: November 3, 2004
• Written by: Mark Warshaw
• Directed by: Paul Shapiro
• Guest role: Trent Ford
• Featured music:
  • "I'm All Gone" by Bosshouse
  • "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" by Green Day
  • "I Believe" by Shiloh
  • "Reach For The Sky" by Social Distortion
  • "Fall Behind Me" by The Donnas
  • "Walk Idiot Walk" by The Hives

[edit] Plot

Chloe is drawn into an underground gambling ring at school run by foreign exchange student Mikail Mxyzptlk (Ford) and loses her savings on a football game after Mxyzptlk uses his powers to control all the players - including Clark. When Chloe discovers Mxyzptlk's secret, he kidnaps her and threatens to kill her unless Clark throws the championship game. Meanwhile, Lex threatens Mxyzptlk with deportation unless he uses his powers for Lex's benefit.

[edit] Spell

• Original airdate: November 10, 2004
• Written by: Steven S. Deknight
• Directed by: Jeannot Szwarc
• Featured music:
  • "Blame" by Black Toast Music
  • "What You Waiting For?" by Gwen Stefani
  • "We Might As Well Be Strangers" by Keane
  • "Impromptu No. 2 In E Flat" by Franz Schubert

[edit] Plot

After Lana reads from a spell book written in the 1600s, she, Lois and Chloe become possessed by witches that had been burned at the stake. The three witches have come back to seek revenge and search for the powerful Kryptonian stones, wreaking havoc on the town in the process. Clark attempts to stop the witches but they strip him of his powers and force him to reveal the location of the stone he hid in the cave.

[edit] Bound

• Original airdate: November 17, 2004
• Written by: Luke Schelhaas
• Directed by: Terrence O'Hara
• Guest role: Jane Seymour
• Featured music:
  • "Daddy's Little Girl" by Amanda O'Connor
  • "I Want More: Part 2" by Faithless
  • "Chopin Etude, Opus 10
  • No. 3 in E Major: Lento, ma non troppo" by John Rusnak

[edit] Plot

After Lex is accused of killing a young woman, Clark sets out to prove his innocence and turns to an unlikely source for help - Lionel. Swearing he is a changed man, Lionel offers Clark insight into the crime but he asks for something in return. Meanwhile, Lana meets Jason's mother, Genevieve Teague (Seymour), and has a vivid flashback of the incident in Paris, leading her to suspect that Jason's mother was there when she got her tattoo.

[edit] Scare

• Original airdate: December 1, 2004
• Written by: Kelly Souders & Brian Peterson
• Directed by: David Carson
• Featured music:
  • "Falling" by Mindy Smith

[edit] Plot

Lex's secret experiment at Luthorcorp goes awry and causes a dangerous toxin to be released into Smallville. Those infected by the toxin, including Clark, Lana, Chloe, Lex, and Jason, imagine their greatest fears come true and then fall into a coma. Desperate to find a cure, Clark heats up the vials containing a cure while Lex is not looking. With the cure heated to the correct temperature Lex does something unexpected with the unproven antidote.

[edit] Unsafe

• Original airdate: January 26, 2005
• Written by: Steven S. Deknight & Joph Loeb
• Directed by: Greg Beeman
• Guest role: Sarah Carter
• Featured music:
  • "Beautiful Soul" by Jesse McCartney
  • "Laura" by Scissor Sisters
  • "Life for Rent" by Dido
  • "Welcome To My Life" by Simple Plan
  • "It's Now Or Never" by Elvis Presley
  • "Funny Little Feeling" by Rock n Roll Soldiers
  • "Break So Easy" by Johnathan Rice

[edit] Plot

Claiming to be cured, Alicia (Carter) (Season 3, Episode 14) is released from Belle Reve hospital and comes to Smallville to rekindle her relationship with Clark. Initially skeptical of Alicia, Clark finds himself enjoying a relationship with someone who knows his secret, but when she pushes for more he hesitates, causing her to use red kryptonite on him. "Morally challenged Clark" emerges and whisks Alicia off to get married in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Lana decides to have sex with Jason in order to win him (Jason) back.

[edit] Pariah

• Original airdate: February 2, 2005
• Written by: Holly Harold
• Directed by: Paul Shaprio
• Recurring role: Camille Mitchell
• Guest role: Sarah Carter, Jane Seymour & Derek Hamilton
• Featured music:
  • "I Love Rock 'N' Roll" by Joan Jett (karaoke song)
  • "To Die For" by Dan Zweben
  • "Deeper Water" by Minnie Driver

[edit] Plot

Clark has big concerns after his new girlfriend Alicia becomes the prime suspect in a brutal attack against Lana and Jason. Clark initially defends Alicia, but when the evidence begins to pile up he is forced to take a hard truthful look at the situation. Hurt by Clark's actions, Alicia forces Clark to unknowingly reveal his powers in front of Chloe. Afterward, she is killed by the person who was truly responsible for the attacks against Lana and Jason. Jason's mother returns to town with an offer for Lex.

[edit] Recruit

• Original airdate: February 9, 2005
• Written by: Todd Slavkin & Darren Swimmer
• Directed by: Jeannot Szwarc
• Guest role: Chris Carmack
• Featured music:
  • "It's All Behind" by Anthony Michaelangelo
  • "Wild West Show" by Big $ Rich
  • "Wonderful Night" by Fatboy Slim
  • "Finding Out True Love Is Blind" by Louis XIV
  • "Untitled" by Simple Plan

[edit] Plot

In an effort to recruit Clark for their football team, Met U sends their star player Geoff (named for comic book scribe Geoff Johns) to show Clark the perks of attending Met U. However, after one of Met U's players dies under mysterious circumstances and Lois is arrested for his murder, Clark discovers that Geoff has super powers and is using them to paralyze anyone who gets in his way, including Lois. Meanwhile, Chloe continues to watch Clark to learn more about his secret.

[edit] Krypto

• Original airdate: February 16, 2005
• Written by: Luke Schelhaas
• Directed by: James Marshall
• Guest role: Jane Seymour & Bud
• Featured music:
  • "Anodyne" by Speechwriters LLC
  • "Give A Little Bit" by Goo Goo Dolls

[edit] Plot

While driving, Lois accidentally hits a dog (Bud) and she brings it back to the farm to heal. Clark realizes this is no ordinary dog after the pup drags a tractor it was chained to. Clark and Lois learn the dog is a product of an aborted LuthorCorp experiment and is being used to commit crimes, but when Lois is kidnapped by the robbers and Clark is weakened by kryptonite, it is up to the dog to save them. Meanwhile, Lana questions Jason's involvement in his mother's schemes.

Note: Before the Kents named their dog "Shelby", Clark thought about naming it "Krypto." Superman's pet dog is named Krypto.

[edit] Sacred

• Original airdate: February 23, 2005
• Written by: Kelly Souders & Brian Peterson
• Directed by: Brad Turner
• Recurring role: Terence Stamp (voice)

[edit] Plot

After learning that Jason and Lex are in China searching for one of the mysterious kryptonian stones, Clark and Lana follow in the hopes of finding it first. Clark finds an artifact that leads them to the stone but he must battle Isobel Thoreaux, the witch, who has once again inhabited Lana's body in order to take the stone for herself. Meanwhile, Lex has more information on the stones than he is letting on.

[edit] Lucy

• Original airdate: March 2, 2005
• Written by: Neil Sadhu & Daniel Sulzberg (teleplay); Neil Sadhu (story)
• Directed by: David Barret
• Guest role: Peyton List & Bud
• Featured music:
  • "Club Foot" by Kasabian
  • "Spaghetti Streetwalker" by Speechwriters LLC
  • "Hold On" by Newcomers Home
  • "Fly" by Mark Joseph

[edit] Plot

Lois' younger sister, Lucy (List), with whom Lois doesn't get along, comes to town and charms everyone she meets. However, Clark discovers a darker side to Lucy after he catches her stealing money from a bar and forces her to reveal the truth about her sudden appearance in Smallville, a truth that puts Lois in grave danger. Meanwhile, the crystal disappears from Lana's apartment and Jason accuses Lionel of stealing it.

[edit] Onyx

• Original airdate: April 13, 2005
• Written by: Steven S. Deknight
• Directed by: Terrence O'Hara
• Featured music:
  • "I Drive Alone" by Esthero

[edit] Plot

A glimpse of the future Lex Luthor is revealed after a kryptonite explosion splits Lex in two and his evil side - Alexander - is released. Alexander immediately imprisons Lex in the mansion and begins his rampage by trying to kill Clark and Chloe in the lab, jousting with Lionel and convincing him to return to his dark seeded nature, and finally, threatening to close the Talon unless Lana moves in with him.

[edit] Spirit

• Original airdate: April 20, 2005
• Written by: Luke Schelhaas
• Directed by: Whitney Ransick
• Recurring role: Camille Mitchell
• Guest role: Bud & Beatrice Rosen
• Featured music:
  • "La La" by Ashlee Simpson
  • "Not Gonna Wait" by Lamar
  • "Merry Go Round" by Split Habit
  • "Good" by Tim Cullen
  • "You and Me", "Undone", "Blind", and "Come Back Down" by Lifehouse

[edit] Plot

A stunned Chloe is nominated for Prom Queen and tries to talk a reluctant Clark and Lana into attending the dance with her. However, after her rival Dawn (Rosen), a wannabe Prom queen, crashes her car into a ravine filled with kryptonite, Dawn's spirit is released and she enters the bodies of the others making them act out of character. As a result, Lana asks Clark to be her date, Lois attends the Prom and Chloe attempts to set the school on fire. Lex gives the seniors a special gift by having the band Lifehouse play at the dance.

[edit] Blank

• Original airdate: April 27, 2005
• Written by: Kelly Souders & Brian Peterson
• Directed by: Jeannot Szwarc
• Recurring role: Camille Mitchell
• Guest role: Martin Cummins, Jonathan Bennett, & Tom Butler
• Featured music:
  • "24" by Jem
  • "Let Me Go" by 3 Doors Down
  • "Satie" by Paco
  • "This Is Your Life" by Switchfoot

[edit] Plot

Kevin (Bennett), a boy who can cause people to temporarily lose their memory, turns his powers on Clark and causes him to have total amnesia. Chloe discovers what has happened and must teach Clark about his superpowers while simultaneously trying to keep him from accidentally revealing them to others. On his trip down memory lane, Clark meets Lana and falls in love all over again. Lex takes advantage of the situation and convinces Clark to tell him about a secret room behind the back wall in the cave.

[edit] Ageless

• Original airdate: May 4, 2005
• Written by: Steven S. Deknight
• Directed by: Steven S. Deknight
• Recurring role: Camille Mitchell
• Guest role: Jane Seymour, Owen and Elizabeth Stewart, Jeff Ballard, & Colin Ford

[edit] Plot

Clark and Lana discover an abandoned baby (Owen and Elizabeth Stewart) in the cornfield and take him back to the Kent farm. However, once the baby ages from a newborn to 7 years old (Ballard), and finally to 16 years old (Ford), in a matter of days, the two realize he is aging at a rapid rate and frantically search for a cure before the disease kills him. Meanwhile, Genevieve orders Lionel to kill Lana or else she will send him back to prison.

[edit] Forever

• Original airdate: May 11, 2005
• Written by: Brian Peterson & Kelly Souders
• Directed by: James Marshall
• Guest role: Jane Seymour & Steven Grayhm
• Featured music:
  • "Anywhere With You" by Split Habit
  • "Down" by Tim Cullen
  • "Around The Way" by Wonderlife.

[edit] Plot

Clark must stop the school photographer (Grayhm) after he sets up a secret simulated high school and begins kidnapping students - starting with Chloe - to keep the glory days of high school going forever. Lex and Lionel are kidnapped and tortured by the Teagues in an effort to find the Kryptonian stone. However, after Genevieve realizes Lana has it, she decides to put an end to the hunt once and for all.

[edit] Commencement

• Original airdate: May 18, 2005
• Written by: Todd Slavkin & Darren Swimmer
• Directed by: Greg Beeman
• Recurring role: Terence Stamp (voice)
• Guest role: Jane Seymour & Bud

[edit] Plot

Lana becomes free of Isobel's possession after Isobel kills Genevieve Teague with one of the stones. Clark begins to piece together the reason he was sent to Earth after he has a nightmare that something horrible is going to happen to Smallville. He heads to the cave to seek answers from Jor-El. Jor-El informs him he must reunite the three stones immediately or a disaster of epic proportions will befall the planet and even Clark won't be able to stop it. During the graduation ceremony, everyone learns that a meteorite shower is about to hit Smallville, again. Jason takes Jonathan and Martha hostage and threatens to kill them unless they tell him where Clark hid the stones. In Luthor Mansion, Lionel goes into convulsions, in front of Lex, and the third stone burns its way out of Lionel's pocket. Lex helps Lana escape Smallville after the death of Genevieve Teague, but takes shocking action to get one of the stones away from her. While Lex is helping Lana, Clark steals the stone from Lex's vault with a little help from Chloe. Realizing they are connected to Clark, Chloe tries to stop Lex from discovering the truth about the stones. Lex takes Chloe to the caves because she knows who stole the stone from his vault. Lana's helicopter crashes in a field; she tumbles out hurt and discovers something not of this world. Clark places the stones together and they immediately merge and rise into the air. Chloe and Lex arrive at the caves and witness a blinding light emanating from a passage in the cave wall. Chloe, knowing who is in the passage, pushes Lex into a wall under the guise that she was "protecting" him and blocks his view of the light. Clark grabs the newly formed crystal and is immediately whisked away to an arctic location. The Kent home is crushed by a meteor just as Jason is about to kill Jonathan and Martha.

[edit] References

• Season 4 Full Ep Guide at The Smallville Talon
• Episode list at epguides.com

1. ^ CW episode guide describing Bart as The Flash

Smallville
Episodes: Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3 | Season 4 | Season 5 | Season 6
Characters
Clark Kent | Lana Lang | Lex Luthor | Chloe Sullivan Lionel Luthor | Lois Lane | Martha Kent | Jonathan Kent Pete Ross | Jason Teague | Whitney Fordman
Smallville Guest Characters
Seasons: Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3 | Season 4 | Season 5 | Season 6
Related articles
Broadcasters and home video releases | Kryptonite | Kryptonian Crystals