SMALLVILLE 3:10 ("WHISPER," 2004)

 

PHENOMENALITY: *marvelous*
MYTHICITY: *fair*
FRYEAN MYTHOS: *adventure*
CAMPBELLIAN FUNCTION: *cosmological, psychological*

"Whisper" is something of a callback to the first-season episodes in which Clark began learning more about his special powers, but benefits from good development of the somewhat dormant Chloe-Lionel subplot.

Through an involved set of circumstances, almost worthy of Rube Goldberg, Clark gets blinded while trying to stop a robbery attempt by a normal thief, Masterson, and his partner Nathan, who possesses a "sonic scream" meteor-power. Masterson is captured but Nathan escapes. Later Nathan tries to spring his partner from jail by abducting Pete Ross and threatening him with harm so that the cops will release Masterson.

Before things heat up to that point, Clark's super-senses seek to compensate for his blindness, so that he becomes sensitive to loud sounds. However, his super-hearing is augmented, and this makes it possible for him to overhear a distant conversation between Chloe and Lionel. in which Lionel's badgering Chloe for more info about Clark. Clark naturally feels betrayed that Chloe would spy on him, and since he also hears Lionel make a remark about keeping the "cured" Lex sidelined at LexCorp, Clark also conveys that info to Lex, so that his friend won't be suckered in by Lionel's deceptions. Lex challenges his father with the new info but conceals the source.  

Though Lana has gotten over her aversion to Clark, her growing affection for Adam makes her tentative for a new reason. Meanwhile, Lionel accuses Chloe of having discussed their conversation with Lex, which accusation has consequences for the young reporter. 

Clark's super-hearing guides him to Nathan's hideout, but because he's blind, Nathan ambushes Clark with an acetylene torch across the eyes. Ironically, the torch doesn't hurt Clark but rather breaks up his scar tissue so that he recovers partial vision. Then a second use of the super-hearing guides the now sighted Clark to Nathan's second hideout, so that Pete is rescued and Nathan is killed. The physical conflict is well handled, particularly since Clark is vulnerable to Nathan's powers, though again it's the soap opera with Lana and Chloe that provides greater enjoyment. For a few moments, Clark dons ordinary spectacles to improve his damaged vision, so that this is the first time Glasses-Clark makes an appearance in the series.