Smallville: Thanksgiving, the General and the Vigilante Registration Act

Now that they are a couple without a super secret between them, Clark (Tom Welling) and Lois (Erica Durance) open up the episode with a romp around the Kent farmhouse, where Lois clad in just Clark's old football jersey, has designs on the front porch swing. This kinky super adventure comes to an end before it ever gets started when Lois' dad (aka the General) shows up for Thanksgiving. The General (Michael Ironside) then proceeds to give Clark the third degree, going as far as giving him a long list of chores to do to test his mettle (or in this case find out if his daughter will stand up for the man she loves). While the list and the visit are enough to get under the skin of our mild manner superhero, nothing irks Clark more than the General's stand on the Vigilante Registration Act that Congress is about to pass. What's more, Lois, unable to stand up to her dad at first, doesn't seem eager to come to the aide of the Man of Steel.

Meanwhile, Lois' wayward sister Lucy Lane, decides to plant a kiss on Clark, one which Lois catches. Though she is quick to realize what her sister is up to, Lois still questions Clark's inability to get out of the way of the kiss, after all, isn't our hero the fabled Blur?

While the General starts to suspect that Clark is a vigilante sympathizer, Lucy is used by Rick Flag (Ted Whittall) to unwittingly help with an ambush on the General. The ambush goes awry, and Flag's missile makes a bee line for the Talon, with Lois still inside. The Blur of course gets to his sweetheart in the nick of time and the General has a new found respect for vigilantes.

Unfortunately, the Vigilante Registration Act passes in Congress, causing Rick Flag and his band to declare war on the establishment. But all that is lost on Clark and Lois who enjoy their Thanksgiving dinner in peace.

Isn't it Time for a Name Change?

Look, I get it, he is going to get the name (Superman) near season's end. I am okay with that, but how long has Clark been The Blur now? Can't we play around with some other name in the meantime? Wouldn't the Daily Planet sell more papers if it held a name the Superhero contest? How about "The Smallville Titan," or "The Bound Superhero who is taking 10 seasons to learn to fly?" Not catchy enough? Oh, and The Blur is? Come on writers have some fun.

Vigilante Registration Act:

Okay the idea is far from new, having been explored by both DC Comics and Marvel Comics in plenty of story lines before, as well as the animated film, "The Incredibles (2004)," among others. With such a rich array of plots to draw from, let's hope that "Smallville" writers can do this plot line justice. Critical to the plot will be the actions of Rick Flag and how far he is willing to take the fight to the government factions that help pass the Registration Act.

While the Blur can still hide behind his secret life, Oliver Queen (Justin Hartley) will be left out in the cold now that his identity as The Green Arrow is known. How Oliver and his super friends cope with this new twist will be fun to watch.

Tess and Watchtower:

Really, Watchtower with Tess (Cassidy Freeman) instead of Chloe (Alison Mack)? How can you really have a successful final season without Chloe? And why add insult to injury by having Tess take over Watchtower? No one else was available for the duty? Still, it will be fun to see if Tess has any romantic designs on Oliver. If she makes a move, it would be cool to see the return of Chloe and a girl fight over Green Arrow.

Sources:

http://watching-tv.ew.com/2010/11/05/smallville-season-10-episode-7/

http://screenrant.com/smallville-ambush-review-discussion-aco-86628/