Asylum

[attolia]

I wanted to get my thoughts on Asylum down before reading any of the other commentary. Unfortunately, it took until tonight before I could sit at the computer with both hands free to type.




Well, that wasn't as painful as I was afraid it would be, but it was still hard to watch. The teaser was rough, especially as I saw it live and then had to put the kids to bed and then resettle the babe after they were asleep before I could sit down and watch the rest of the episode on tape. I had a lot of time to get agitated about Clark's refusing Lex's request for rescue.

I loved the Clark/Lex interaction in the teaser. Lex was SO happy to see him. The love and the awe were still there, plus lots of physical contact to drive it home. Does anyone have any thoughts about Lex's painting, aside from the obvious shattered world, that is? I bet thameris will have something to say about the image of Lex after his failed escape, lying bent on the ground with bloody hands.

I wondered why it had taken Clark a month to get to see Lex, when he had rescued Ryan as soon as he could. The answer came in the scene with his parents. Presumably, they talked him out of it, still believing that Lex seriously needed help and that he would be getting real care at Belle Reve. I was glad to see Johnathan at least give lip service to the idea that Lex's wellbeing was more important than Clark's secret, but I'd have been more impressed if he hadn't negated it with what he said next.

I don't have much to say about the Lana scenes, except that they were relatively few and didn't have Clark in them, except for the last one in which neither speaks. I did like Adam pushing her to do more for herself. We'll have to see where they go with that. Ian Somerwhatever does nothing for me, but if he gives us a break from the Clana, more power to him.

Lionel is a (magnificent) bastard again. I wonder if he believes that all this is for Lex's own good because the alternative, as he sees it, is for him to kill Lex. When he speaks of Lex being ill and want only what's best for him, he is really playing with Lex's mind as well as playing for an audience.

This universe clearly doesn't have a medical privacy act. Clark and Chloe get medical records way too easily.

So Dr. Foster was being blackmailed, after a fashion. But if she's dead, she can't go on to be Superman's shrink.

Nice use of the FOTWs. However, if they could realize they didn't need Van after they got the meteor rock, why didn't Ian, who is supposed to be bright, realize he could leech Clark's powers himself, once Eric explained how it happened? He didn't have any problem killing Van, so why not Eric?

I really didn't get how Lex was involved in their escape attempt. The WB's episode summary said that Lex would work with the FOTWs to lure Clark to Belle Reve. But Clark went on his own. Ian clearly wasn't really expecting money from Lex, given that he beat him and left him behind, but Lex's comment that he wouldn't give him any money, made after they had beaten him and Clark, makes no sense unless they'd had an arrangement. All we saw on screen earlier was Ian making an overture and Lex rejecting it. I don't know that the writer(s) intended, but that plot point didn't make any sense.

Nice symmetry between Clark's and Lex's electric shocks. I hope Clark never realizes that it was his switching the power back on *after* he'd shocked Eric and gotten his powers back that restarted Lex's electroshock.

TW did a great job at the end. You could see just how devastated he was that he hadn't been able to save Lex. Even when he visited Lex at the mansion it was hard for him see Lex, knowing what had been lost. I don't blame him for not telling Lex what really happened. He thought Lex seemed happier. And, given what Lionel had been willing to do to him, he might reasonably think Lex would be safer not knowing.

I think Lex clearly retains some memories he wasn't supposed to. Did he ask if there was something Clark wanted to tell him as a test? What did that half smile during the hug mean?

Another point of symmetry in this episode that I really liked. Both Lex and Clark learned how they don't have as much power as they thought they did, (although Lex may not remember that). Will this be the incentive for them each to make sure they are never in that position again?

Overall, this is my second or third favorite episode this season (Shattered is first, this comes either before or after Phoenix). The seeds are there for the rift, but they don't have to sprout. There is still room for us denial folks to believe it can work out. But I don't think we have much longer.

Comments

[pepperjackcandy.livejournal.com]

Clark will realize that he turned the power back on at the most inopportune moment, but he probably will never know that Lionel had Lex shocked one more time after that, just in case.

The better to exploit Clark's guilt complex with, my dear. ;-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I wondered why it had taken Clark a month to get to see Lex, when he had rescued Ryan as soon as he could.

I wondered that too, and concluded that Clark felt he could have handled the Ryan situation better - he almost got sent to jail and Ryan could have been sent back to Summerholt, were it not for Lex's help and intervention. Lex wouldn't be around to help in this instance.

And, as you say, his parents talked him out of it. Lex's commitment was legal. Clark would have been breaking laws.

Now, you know and I know that Lionel was up to more illegalities than Clark ever could be (drugging Lex, for example) but Clark can't prove that. Or might fear he couldn't.

I liked the way the episode implied (I thought) that the decision *not* to break Lex out of there was a hard one for Clark to make. On the other hand, I can't quite shake the thought that Jonathan and Martha were relieved to have Lex out of the way? They seemed so lacking in concern for Lex, who has proved himself their friend as well as Clark's. (Or has tried to.)


This universe clearly doesn't have a medical privacy act. Clark and Chloe get medical records way too easily.

I can't help thinking too that Clark is way too casual about his theft of private documents, which is illegal, and a breach of personal privacy. On the other hand, it's in a good cause - which I suppose is his rationalization - but it isn't something the virtuous Superman (or Superboy) of the comics would do.

if she's dead, she can't go on to be Superman's shrink.

Good! She was creepy.

why didn't Ian, who is supposed to be bright, realize he could leech Clark's powers himself, once Eric explained how it happened? He didn't have any problem killing Van, so why not Eric?

A good premise for a sequel - or for fanfic.

In terms of the story, I might argue that it isn't clear that the lightning effect would work for anyone; it might be something unique to Eric's physiology. And green Kryptonite affects everyone differently.

The WB's episode summary said that Lex would work with the FOTWs to lure Clark to Belle Reve. But Clark went on his own.

The WB summary lied. I suspect something was cut.

I hope Clark never realizes that it was his switching the power back on *after* he'd shocked Eric and gotten his powers back that restarted Lex's electroshock.

I hope he does realize. More plot fodder. More reason for angst. It's also possible, too, that the electroshock didn't materially affect Lex, except for the pain. (Which is good incentive for him to pretend it had its effect.)

TW did a great job at the end.

His acting was excellent. Really excellent.

There is still room for us denial folks to believe it can work out.

Hmm. So far my denial template is firmly in place.

But I don't think we have much longer.

Really? I think they'll play with this as long as they can.