Marvel at the way Smallville is heading...

“Ambush”

Once again, Smallville is making waves with the right-leaning community. This time, the military stereotype is the target of the writers, and who better to take the brunt of it than Lois’ own father, General Sam Lane. Thanksgiving has come again, and as Lois and Clark are about to “enjoy” the great outdoors as young people do, they are surprised at the front door by an unexpected Sam, accompanied by Lois’ sister Lucy. This leads to Lois pleading with Clark to get along, because Sam is one of the foremost pushers of the new Vigilante Registration Act, and his biggest opponent is Clark’s own mother, Senator Martha Kent. Then there’s the impossibly long list of chores Sam gives Clark to do to “prove” himself, there’s Lucy kissing Clark to start trouble with Lois, and a mysterious foe tracking the General for purposes unknown.

While I have no problem with the show being more political, it was kind of cheap to write Sam as a very narrow-minded military stereotype. However, it did work for the story, and by the end of the episode, he does have a nice heart-to-heart with Clark, where he shows he is human, and not just a soldier automaton. He starts off right away explaining that vigilantes are merely trying to take over the country by way of anarchy, and that the real heroes are the soldiers who are properly trained and are accountable for their actions (*cough*Abu Ghraib*cough*). We see the tension growing as Lois merely tries to get along, fearing ever going against daddy, even though she fully supports vigilantes.

Clark, to vent steam, goes out to finish his chore list, while also running off to Watchtower to check in on Oliver, who has found a tag left by the presumed deceased Rick Flag, who is recruiting new members of the Suicide Squad. Flag, it seems, is out to rid the world of Sam Lane because of his support of the new bill, and will stop at nothing. When Clark returns, he finds himself interrogated by the General, who has had the Pentagon run a check on him. This is the last straw, and he gives it to Sam, who gets the girls packed and orders them to Lois’ apartment. Clark pleads with her, but she goes with them. It’s only when Sam starts to attack Clark and his ties to Oliver Queen that she finally speaks her mind, causing Sam and Lucy to leave. But there’s a rocket headed straight for Lois’ apartment to do away with Sam, and it’s up to the Blur to save Lois and make Sam see the error of his ways.

So Sam and Clark have their understanding, Lois and Lucy finally get their issues out of the way, and the Vigilante Registration Act passes, which only strengthens the resolve of Flag and his Suicide Squad. Will there be a war? Will the vigilantes take over? Will they rip any more off from Marvel? It’s anybody’s guess. But I think everyone can agree that it’s time Clark puts on the suit and starts flying.

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