ast season left most of the characters in jeopardy as a meteor shower rained down on Smallville. While a meteor crashed into the Kent's house, Lana saw a spaceship in a crater and watched as it started to open, and Lex, on the hunt for the stones, took Chloe to the caves. Chloe was able to stop Lex from seeing Clark in a blaze of white light, but she got caught in the fallout when Clark was transported to someplace with a whole bunch of snow.
As season five begins, Lana sees two beings emerge from the spaceship. She tries to run, but they confront her and demand to know where Kal-El is. Meanwhile, Lois arrives at the Kent's house and helps Jonathan dig through the wreckage looking for Martha. They find her, but she's barely alive. And at the caves, Lex wakes up to find Chloe gone, but something else of interest catches his attention.
In Alaska, Clark throws the artifact into the snow, and the Fortress of Solitude emerges from the ground. He enters the structure and is told by Jor-El that "a dark force from Krypton has been awakened, and its sights are set on Earth." He tells Clark he must study with diligence, because it is the only way to save the planet.
However, just as Clark begins his training, a nearly frozen Chloe finds her way into the Fortress. Clark knows he has to save her, but Jor-El tells him he must be back before the sun sets. Clark makes the promise he will return on time. However, as Clark races to save those he loves and heads toward Smallville, he soon discovers that keeping his promise to Jor-El may be more difficult than he thought.
Revelations and a new villain
With some major revelations, an increase in the tension between Clark and Lex and a new villain on the horizon, Smallville's season-five premiere was well worth the wait. The WB promises "everything you've waited four seasons to see ... will happen." And it just might, based on where this first episode of the season is taking us.
"Arrival" works on several levels, particularly in strengthening the bonds between some of the characters and pushing farther apart the eroding relationship between Lex and Clark. The Superman mythology also gets touched on as Clark finally makes it to the Fortress of Solitude, which in design is very reminiscent of the Superman movies with Christopher Reeve.
While the plot involving the Kryptonians and their search for Kal-El has little depth, it's quite obviously a setup for something to come. Still, it's a weak device that could have been better incorporated into the story.
However, what does work nicely are any moments that involve Michael Rosenbaum and his increasingly complex portrayal of Lex. We see his descent into evil and Clark's part in that journey. It colors the hero as well as the villain. Also, Kristin Kreuk as Lana is particularly good in the episode. Her own character's progression into the mythology of Smallville last season was fascinating, and in "Arrival" the mix of terror and bravery continued to build on that depth of character.
It's going to be quite a year for Smallville fans, who at the end of "Arrival" will finally get a glimpse of James Marsters as Brainiac. The character will appear in several episodes this year, becoming a major new villain. In addition, look for Aquaman to steal Lois' heart at some point this season.
