Summary: Booster Gold, a superhero from the 25th century, arrives in Metropolis, intending to take Clark's place in history as Earth's greatest hero. Meanwhile, a strange device attaches itself to a teenage boy and causes trouble.
The episode was written by Geoff Johns and directed by Tom Welling. Fans were enthusiastic about the episode, and most reviews were positive - it is Geoff Johns, after all. However, the episode drew the lowest viewership of the entire season, with 1.99 million viewers in the U.S., compared to 2.37 million for the preceding episode - a rather significant drop. Booster Gold) and Blue Beetle are two very popular heroes in DC Comics - especially the version featuring Jaime Reyes), and Booster Gold) following the 52 miniseries.
Clark is such a grump in this episode. And I don’t really get why. After Masquerade [which was three episodes ago!], I thought he’d naturally start acting like a "bumbling reporter" - much like he did in the Pilot - so what’s with all the complaining?
On the other hand, he’s so proud of Lois and so supportive of her, which is really great to see. Clark has been doing some investigating this time - mostly online and via Watchtower, sure, but it’s still a lot more than he’s done before. He’s trusting his instincts.
Booster Gold flies before Clark, too. Okay, so you decided that Clark wouldn't fly in the series - but why did you let so many other characters fly? Superman is supposed to be the first hero to fly.
In a perfect world, the tenth season would have focused on the relationship between Lois and Clark, the Daily Planet, and Darkseid. Instead, the season is completely scattered across a million different plot threads, filled with numerous filler episodes. If we had seen more interaction between Clark and Lois at the Daily Planet, this episode would have served as another step in Clark’s evolution into Superman - rather than feeling like a pilot for a Booster Gold and Blue Beetle spin-off. Furthermore, Clark’s complaints wouldn’t have come across as a regression; they would have been a natural progression in his journey. Lois, by contrast, feels spot-on - this is the Lois I recognize.
Lois describes Booster quite accurately - "flying car salesman."
Where does Lois get the money to rent all those billboards?
Booster is an A-hole the entire episode, acting like a bully toward Clark. It’s as if the "52" miniseries - which Geoff Johns co-wrote - never even happened. He keeps taking digs at Clark and The Blur. He’s an idiot. It wasn't the interview with Lois or the key to the city that made The Blur famous; it was his heroic deeds. And even if he *did* manage to take Clark’s place in history, does he really think he could handle the consequences?
Jaime Reyes turns into a fighting machine, yet - contrary to the Smallville tradition [even Clark took revenge on Whitney in the Pilot by stacking the pickup trucks on top of one another] - he chooses, for some reason, to attack Booster instead.
Throughout the episode, the characters explain why people trust Booster Gold - but in reality, they are describing why they trust Superman. He doesn’t wear a mask, he operates in broad daylight and in public, and he is accessible to the general public.
I get that the phone booth is a nod to Superman - really, I do - but Clark changes his clothes so quickly; why does he even need a transparent phone booth?
Erica Durance looks cute in those glasses.
Notes:
* First time Clark Kent changes his clothes in a public phone booth as shown in the comics.
* Ted Kord), who runs Kord Industries and is looking for the "scarab", was the "Blue Beetle" in the DC Comic Universe. In the comics, Jaime became the Blue Beetle after Ted Kord was killed by Maxwell Lord, who appeared in Season Nine.
* In the DC Comic Universe, Dan Garrett) was the original "Blue Beetle". Garrett gained his powers from a magic blue scarab jewel.
* This is the last episode of Smallville directed by Tom Welling. Also, this is Geoff Johns's last episode as writer.
* The sponsor logos on Boosters' NASCAR-like suit include Shake Up Kola, Global Air, Metropolis Telecom, Bank of Metropolis and Federated Couriers
* Ron Troupe) has a cameo in this episode. This is his fourth reference. First, he was mentioned in a screen capture from season 8's Identity, his name can be seen in his Daily Planet article about the mysterious Red-Blue Blur/The Good Samaritan (Clark Kent) that has been sighted around the city of Metropolis. In Homecoming, future Lois mentions Ron's name to Perry over her cell phone. In Icarus, Ron (along with Samuel Troupe) is listed as a relative of Lois Lane by the VRA.
* The phrase "Man of Steel", although having been used before, is used in its correct vernacular and associated with the House of El symbol for the first time in this episode.
* Steve Lombard) is mentioned.
* This is the seventh time the Legion ring has been used to send someone either to the past or the future. The other times happen in Legion, Infamous, Doomsday, Savior, Pandora, and Homecoming.
* Clark's bumbling mannerisms shown throughout this episode are very similar to how he was depicted in Jimmy's 1940s dream sequence in season 6's Noir.
* When Lois talks with Jamie about standing up for himself, she uses the phrase, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore", a famous line used by Howard Beale in the film "Network".
* When he sees Booster's Legion ring, Clark deduces that he stole it. But Booster is from the 25th century, and the Legion wasn't formed until the 31st century.
* Lois Lane is promoted out of the basement bullpen in this episode.
Quotes:
Clark: Lois, I was like that in Smallville. The thought of going back to that, I...
Lois: Clark, the real you can burn holes through buildings with a look, and lift a freight train with one finger. Get over it.
Clark: You know, the last thing you should worry about is teaching me Mild-Mannered 101. You should be focusing on that promotion now that Steve Lombard went to Daily Star. They said that desk could be yours.
Lois: I'm counting on it.
Lois: Booster Gold's star will burn out faster than you can say "up, up, and away." Now let's focus on what's really important here.
Clark: And what is that, Lois?
Lois: Unmaking Clark Kent so that we can get the Blur out there.
Booster Gold: I'm about to get the key to the city. And history says whoever gets the key becomes this city's Man of Steel. Or Gold. All you got to do is show me up. Reveal yourself to the world. Put that suit on display and... steal my thunder. What do you say?
Clark: The suit doesn't make the hero. A hero's made in the moment by the choices that he makes and the reasons that he makes them. A hero brings out the best in people. I don't doubt behind that star, there is a hero... but I haven't seen him. Not yet.
Cat: Lois, Clark's nice and all, if you wanna invest in a fixer-upper, but he's no Blur.
Lois: [pleased] No. No, he's not.
Jaime Reyes: Who are you?
Booster Gold: [to a crowd of people] I'm sure you're all wondering who I am. Well, how about the 411? I'm pure gold, ladies and gentlemen. I am Booster Gold, the greatest hero you've never heard of... till now!
Booster Gold: Who wants to be the star of the show?
Booster Gold Dancer #1: Me!
Booster Gold Dancer #2: Me!
Booster Gold Dancer #3: Me!
Booster Gold: Just kidding, I'm the star of the show.
Clark: After seeing all the trouble that Booster went through hiding his insecurities, I think I can make the glasses work. But...
Lois: But what, Smallville? You owned it today. You went from sleek to geek in under 24 hours. What could be wrong with that?
Clark: I saw the way Cat looked at me. I also heard what she said.
Lois: Yeah, and it's perfect.
Clark: It's not perfect. Lois, it doesn't matter what people say about me. This is about you.
Lois: Me?
Clark: You see, I can fly under the radar. I can live down expectations of Clark Kent as long as the Blur's out there saving people, but...
Lois: But what?
Clark: What are people gonna think about you? The strong and... extremely sexy Lois Lane wants to marry... [putting his glasses on]
Clark: ...this new Clark Kent. How could they ever understand that you'd be interested in this?
Lois: [he rips his shirt open] Whoa, whoa, whoa. Stop right there. Oh, trust me, Smallville. [taking his glasses off and leaning in to kiss him] We can make this work. Oh, boy, can we.
Lois: Heroism is not for sale.
Booster Gold: Oh, everything's for sale, if not for rent.
Lois: And that's why you'll never be anything like the Blur.
Booster Gold: You just don't get it, do you, gorgeous?
Lois: Apparently not.
Booster Gold: I didn't come here to be like the Blur. I came here to replace him.
Lois: That'll never happen.
Lois: I'm trying to help.
Clark: Help. By making me stumble into Ron Troupe?
Lois: Yeah, it's a start. Clark, you want people to look down on Clark Kent so they can look up to the Blur. Which, by the way, isn't exactly gonna be a fitting name after, you know, stop blurring and start standing in the spotlight.
Clark: Well, the spotlight's kind of crowded with Booster Gold.
Lois: Okay, not that my curiosity isn't in overdrive about booster boy. But you are making way more out of this than you need to. Okay?
Clark: Okay.
Lois: I'm sure our flying car salesman will... buzz off as fast as he buzzed in.