Smallville "Suspect" Talkback (Spoilers)

**The Penguin** · 01-28-2003, 08:12 PM

An all new Smallville premieres tonight at 9 p.m. ET on The WB. If you miss it you can check out the Easy View at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Last week was Insurgence

Lionel gets shot! Here is the official preview from TheWB.com

When Lionel (John Glover) is shot, Jonathan (John Schneider) is arrested, but after Clark (Tom Welling) and Pete (Sam Jones III) perform their own crime scene investigation, they realize that more than one person had the opportunity to kill Lionel - including Lex (Michael Rosenbaum). Meanwhile, Lana (Kristin Kreuk) is suspicious after she asks her father (guest star Patrick Cassidy) to take on Jonathan's case and he declines for mysterious reasons.

Allison Mack and Annette O'Toole also star. Greg Beeman directed the episode written by Brian Peterson & Kelly Souders.

**Good Ol' Batmanuel!** · 01-28-2003, 09:26 PM

Classic "whodunnit?" that was not too obvious. I sometimes get them right away, but I didn't on this. Nice character progression, which I feel is the most important thing to the show. I'll give it a 4.

(I watch it at 7p.m. ET on ASN, an Atlantic Canadian channel. Woo!)

**RZetlin** · 01-28-2003, 09:45 PM

Overall this episode is not as action oriented as the previous episode, but it is still a good crime drama.

And for once the shooter is not a predictable suspect!

I thought that it would be Lionel's aide that shot him or maybe Lana's father, but I was wrong.

I never thought the killer would be Sheriff Ethan. He seems like the last person to do it!

Points of Interest:

Three Possible Suspects: Clark's Dad, Lex and Lionel's aide.
Clark loses his temper and lifts the bartender off the ground.
A hit was made on Clark and Pete.
The freezer that Clark opened had a green glow. (I thought Kryptonite was inside.)
The Sheriff made a deal with Lionel.
By the way does anybody know what kind of evidence Lionel has against the Sheriff? It wasn't clear.
The speech Clark about how even the greatest of friends (Jonathan and Ethan) can be divided by darkness. (A foreshadowing of Clark and Lex's future.)

Rating: 4.0/5.0

**hardway35** · 01-28-2003, 09:59 PM

By the way does anybody know what kind of evidence Lionel has against the Sheriff? It wasn't clear.

I think that was about the bar that let minors in and never got shut down. The bartender and sheriff were friends and thats how it never did.

**Starflyer 58** · 01-29-2003, 01:29 AM

Great episode! Luckily, 24 was a repeat tonight so I got to watch Smallville on the "good" family TV instead of the reject foiled-antenna one in the garage, which gets cringeworthy reception.

Anyway, my brother and mom ended up joining me, they really enjoyed it. My mom at first thought it was "Superman's son", though.

I had to give her a quick premise rundown during commercials.

I liked the whole murder-mystery type deal, it was an interesting deviation from the usual. A lot of little twists caught me off-guard and kept things entertaining.

Mr Small gets on my nerves, though. Bah.

Overall, four stars. Looking forward to next week.

**Simpler Simon** · 01-29-2003, 01:47 AM

What I love about Smallville is how it continues to surprise me through it's scripts. Seeing Lionel Luthor get shot in the chest TWICE was a definite jaw dropper!!!

I thought for sure another character had bought the farm (but wait...shouldn't he have...? Wouldn't those two bullets PLUS the fall have instantly killed him?) Also, the acting was incredible, as always, especially the jail scene between the Kents, Clark attacking the bartender, and the further development of the fallout between Clark and Lex.

HOWEVER:

1) While I understood Ethan's motive for shooting Luthor, I don't see why he had to frame Jonathan, of all people. Jonathan was his friend, for cryin out loud! If you're the sheriff, you could've framed anybody. Frame a bum off the street, frame Connery's greasy lawyer character, but why Johnathan??? Character development without real motive. And the guy in the ski mask, who I'm assuming was Ethan, didn't fit in that well. Yes, Clark and Pete were getting close, but did he really need to kill them?

2) This is starting to feel like a rehash of previous Smallville episodes, albeit a REALLY AMAZING rehash. Jonathan Kent in jail? Seen it. Luthor in the hospital? Done that too.

3) What was the purpose of the bullet embedded in the shack?

4) Pete's still not doing much. He goes with Clark to look for clues twice, and both times its Clark who finds something.

Overall, still an amazing episode, but did they really need to twist around a minor character to suit the story like this? Who'll be next? Chloe's dad?

**Robin2099** · 01-29-2003, 01:56 AM

Good episode of Smallville tonight, and an enjoyable mystery to boot. I'm going to have to start taping this show when 24 comes back next week.

**dc_gothamite** · 01-29-2003, 02:01 AM

great episode... classic "whodunnit" type plot...

much of this episode was very reminiscent of last season's "Zero." In that episode, we saw multiple possibilities of who could have shot Jude Royce... here in "Suspect" we see multiple possibilities of who could have shot Lionel Luthor...

it'z great how more than one person had a certain "conversation" with lionel, which may have prompted each one to shoot lionel...

i also like how both Clark and Lex's dads were in some deep trouble... this aspect wuz kind of like a role reversal in season one's "Jitters," in which both Clark and Lex were hostages at the Luthorcorp plant, and Jonathan (and Martha) & Lionel were (briefly) at each other's throats... here, we see that Jonathan's in jail, and Lionel's fighting for his life, as Clark and Lex are at odds with each other.

it wuz a complete shock that ethan pulled the trigger... however, i wish there was more of a story for him as the show itself, progressed... we've seen ethan in many episodes in the past, and he seemed like one of the few honest men in Smallville...

then again, how do i know that? he was never expanded on...

it wuz kinda surprising to find him as the villain for this week...

like MILatino said, "Suspect" wuz another great episode to showcase the true staying power of Lionel Luthor (in addition to "Insurgence"). He may be missing one of man's most powerful capabilities, sight, but he proves to be just as menacing as the next super-villain with regular vision...

i find lionel's blindness really ironic... he can't see, yet he has this whole vision; a plan, almost... he'z just that damn good... without his eye-sight, he can prompt four separate people into possibly shooting him... for a "disabled" guy, he'z got gutz...

although many ppl will probably miss it, "Suspect" wuz a nice foreshadowing episode... whereas Ethan betrays his friend, Jonathan, the same thing may happen between Lex Luthor and Clark Kent.

Another thing I liked about this episode wuz that it showed how far Clark wuz willing to go to secure the well-being of his family... his anger towards the bartender at the Wild Coyote wuz very reminiscent to Clark's confrontation with Sam Phelan in "Rogue."

i also liked seein' Bo Du--- I mean Jonathan gettin' hammered... it wuz a nice change of pace, considering throughout this season, he has been the voice of reason... he always seems to have as much burdens on his shoulders as Clark does... it wuz nice to see him do wut any average guy would do in this situation... chase the blues away with a depressant...

it'z surprising that Jonathan hasn't gone nuts with everything that'z happened to him: Clark's adoption, his beef with the Luthors, Martha's new job, and his resentment towards his father-in-law... at least we see him "dealing" with it in a normal way (trust me, i've seen it)...

great acting, plot, and directing skills added to this overall awesome episode... also having pete around more than chloe wuz a nice change of pace

also, although it wasn't really expanded, there is another aspect to the mystery of clark kent... Lana overheard Jonathan's arguement w/ Lionel and they mentioned Clark's adoption... I think Lana should be really curious as to what really went on with his adoption... this could all come back to the intrepid reporter, Chloe (who sports some new hair highlights, here)...it'z a thought

**Borg4of3** · 01-29-2003, 08:57 AM

Originally posted by CaptainJustice
1) While I understood Ethan's motive for shooting Luthor, I don't see why he had to frame Jonathan, of all people. Jonathan was his friend, for cryin out loud! If you're the sheriff, you could've framed anybody. Frame a bum off the street, frame Connery's greasy lawyer character, but why Johnathan??? Character development without real motive. And the guy in the ski mask, who I'm assuming was Ethan, didn't fit in that well. Yes, Clark and Pete were getting close, but did he really need to kill them?

2) This is starting to feel like a rehash of previous Smallville episodes, albeit a REALLY AMAZING rehash. Jonathan Kent in jail? Seen it. Luthor in the hospital? Done that too.

3) What was the purpose of the bullet embedded in the shack?

4) Pete's still not doing much. He goes with Clark to look for clues twice, and both times its Clark who finds something.

Overall, still an amazing episode, but did they really need to twist around a minor character to suit the story like this? Who'll be next? Chloe's dad?

1 - *nod* Good point. Perhaps he thought that as a local Smallville 'hero' others were expendable for his own safety - But why kill his good friend the Bartender? Makes him out to be overly psychotic.

2 - Hehe, I noticed that too. Maybe Lionel's failing health represents the corruption he strews around him?

3 - One piece of evidence 'proving' Jonathan was the murderer was powder residue found in Jonathan's hands. Clark hypothesized, and was proven correct, that whoever framed Jonathan waited until he pulled over and then, with gloves on, put the gun in Jonathan's hands and fired it at the shed. That's how the powder residue got there and Ethan's way of 'proving' that Jonathan had fired the gun.

4 - True, he was kinda the comical sidekick. "Speak about sleeping with the fishes,"

-- Chloe, I'm happy to say, is the same as always, digging up facts that are helpful to the situation. And, very nicely on the writer's part, she didn't use this ability to jump straight to the final conclusion and play deus ex machina, as she has in past episodes.

I thought it was a great episode whose tension kept building up to an unpredictable conclusion, although you do bring up a big flaw in Q1. I'm giving it 4 stars.

**Kal-el** · 01-29-2003, 09:08 AM

Originally posted by CaptainJustice
1) While I understood Ethan's motive for shooting Luthor, I don't see why he had to frame Jonathan, of all people. Jonathan was his friend, for cryin out loud! If you're the sheriff, you could've framed anybody. Frame a bum off the street, frame Connery's greasy lawyer character, but why Johnathan??? Character development without real motive. And the guy in the ski mask, who I'm assuming was Ethan, didn't fit in that well. Yes, Clark and Pete were getting close, but did he really need to kill them?

The way I see it, Ethan got to the point of corruption and being in over his head that he needed (in his estimation) a fool-proof out. Even Jonathon said in the ep that he never made a secret of his dislike of the Luthors, and going into the bar and spouting off about Lionel gave Ethan his chance. True, they knew each other since high school, but as Lionel pointed out, sheriff is an elected position, and to keep his job Ethan desperately needed to cover his tracks. Really, who better to frame than Jonathon? His great dislike of Luthors, being upset while at the bar, his well-known bad temper, and even the possible jealously issues Jonathon had with Lionel (over the watch he gave to Martha)...everything fit perfectly...until that meddling Clark stepped in...

I enjoyed the ep. 4 stars.

**Antiyonder** · 01-29-2003, 09:35 AM

Originally posted by Kal-el
The way I see it, Ethan got to the point of corruption and being in over his head that he needed (in his estimation) a fool-proof out. Even Jonathon said in the ep that he never made a secret of his dislike of the Luthors, and going into the bar and spouting off about Lionel gave Ethan his chance. True, they knew each other since high school, but as Lionel pointed out, sheriff is an elected position, and to keep his job Ethan desperately needed to cover his tracks. Really, who better to frame than Jonathon? His great dislike of Luthors, being upset while at the bar, his well-known bad temper, and even the possible jealously issues Jonathon had with Lionel (over the watch he gave to Martha)...everything fit perfectly...until that meddling Clark stepped in...
I enjoyed the ep. 4 stars.

I mean Ethan doesn't really care much for Lex, so why not frame him for the shooting.

**Kal-el** · 01-29-2003, 09:42 AM

Originally posted by Antiyonder
I mean Ethan doesn't really care much for Lex, so why not frame him for the shooting.

Lex certainly had motive, but he would also have the resources (moreso than the Kents) to beat the rap.

**Jedigreedo** · 01-29-2003, 10:28 AM

Originally posted by Kal-el
True, they knew each other since high school, but as Lionel pointed out, sheriff is an elected position, and to keep his job Ethan desperately needed to cover his tracks.

True, and it was said that the bartender guy also went to high school with Jonathon and Ethan, but he still went with business over friendship when he drugged the drink.

Kinda feel sorry for Lionel, with all the beginning and flashbacks combined, Lionel gets shot 10 times.

Very nice episode, I just wonder how Ethan was able to get a black Semi (did it say LexCorp on it?) and go out of his way like that to kill Clark and Pete, a huge semi isn't exactly very subtle.

Then again maybe it was some drunk trucker and he didn't want them to report it so coincidently he decided to kill'em.

**Simpler Simon** · 01-29-2003, 12:49 PM

Originally posted by Jedigreedo
Then again maybe it was some drunk trucker and he didn't want them to report it so coincidently he decided to kill'em.

Yes...a drunk trucker...wearing a ski mask...with a high-powered rifle

**Jedigreedo** · 01-29-2003, 04:44 PM

Maybe that's standard for LexCorp drivers...

**Nightwing1221** · 01-29-2003, 06:11 PM

I loved this episode two great episodes in a row. We see again that Clark will do anything for his family. I like the more human aspect the show has taken instead of the "Freak of the Week" it usually has.

Ethan being the shooter was a good idea. He needed money, Lionell knew this. He made an offer on his soul, and Ethan excepted it. He probably seen Jonathan going in or out of the Luthor mansion all pissed an that is what gave him the idea of framing him. Everthing they did was completely logical.

The Lex and Lionell power struggle is coming back into focus no more kids gloves. Lionell is going full throtal.

I like how Clark and Pete are shown as friends. They need to play that up a little more. Most of Clark's "friend time" comes from Lana or Chloe it is nice to see him having a guy friend, and someone who he doesn't have to hide who he is from. I would like to see Pete maybe become a little bit envious of Clark's powers.

Lana and Chloe seem to be getting closer I like this too good to see them getting along instead of having that tension between them. But at the same time they add the Clark tension in there, perfect.

Like I said another great episode. I can't wait for sweeps, and the sight of "The Man That Made You Belive You Could Fly".

**PowerZord** · 01-29-2003, 08:09 PM

Great Episode! one of the best that i have seen.

anyways here it's next week:

Spoiler:

**MILatino** · 01-29-2003, 09:12 PM

Five Stars. Again, no FOTW! Yeah!

This was very well done and the ending was a total surprise to me. Usually, writers make it obvious by the time the program is coming to an end, or they make it someone totally silly. This was neither.

The complaint that they shouldn't have used a trusted character like the Sheriff is an emotional response, but not a reason not to do it. The Sheriff was trusted only because he was a cop and a recurring role. Some gripe that he was "too nice" to frame Jonathon and kill people. That's not a valid observation because despite the fact that he was a recurring role, nothing about his moral character was ever revealed. Being a childhood friend with a badge doesn't make him "too nice." This episode not only continued to show relationships between the Kents and the Luthors... it also told us who Ethan was. He was capable of corruption (taking Lionel's money), murder, and betrayal. Now we know him.

The show is telling us how much Lionel is able to corrupt all who are around him. He's been playing with Lex's mind from Day One. He's made others learn to hate, driven them to violence, and even corrupted the Kents to fake an adoption. Not only did Lionel make it easy for them, now Jonathon will turn to violence to protect his illegal son.

If anything, this episode (which I call "Who Shot L.L.?") is a testimony of the evil that Lionel unleashed that has been more destructive to Smallville than any meteor rock or resulting FOTWs have ever been.

**Buddy Lee** · 01-29-2003, 11:13 PM

Well, I really enjoyed this episode. Lionel sure had it coming by diverting the oil from the elementary school, causing damage to the local retirement home, and blocking out the rays of the sun.

Oh wait!! That was "Who Shot Mr. Burns?"

Sorry, but "Suspect" was good too

**Yuss** · 01-31-2003, 06:37 PM

Originally posted by powerzord
anyways here it's next week:

Spoiler:

"rush" a parasitic worm turns pete and chloe into daredevils,and pete induces clark to join them on a dangerous adventure

Spoiler:

~B+: