What's up with Clark? After wearing his new class ring, Clark becomes rebellious and flirtatious. He tries to entice Lana, Chloe and Pete away from studying to go out to party, goes on a spending spree with mom and dad's credit card, takes off on Jonathan's motorcycle, peeps Chloe and Lana with his x-ray vision, and generally turns into a "bad" boy.
Who is Jessie? New girl at school Jessie comes to Smallville with big city attitude and an instant attraction to Clark. She and her father fled protective custody and are now being hunted by Ted Palmer, U.S. Marshall turned hired gun, who wants dad's computer disks, implicating a big corporation. The hired gun is so ruthless. He's already killed Jessie's Metropolis boyfriend to discover the family's whereabouts.
What's up with the Kents? At first Martha thinks Clark is going through a normal "teen rebellion" phase. After more uncharacteristic disrespect from Clark, they are suspicious of his drastic change in behavior. Clark goes as far as telling Jonathan he's not his father and slamming him into his truck. Martha enlists Pete's help to discover the source of the change in Clark.
What's up with Pete? After Chloe discovers the bogus precious stone in the class ring is red kryptonite, Pete understands its effect on Clark and tells the Kents. They realize that just as green kryptonite weakens Clark, red kryptonite effects his emotions.

Guest-star Sara Downing portrays "Jessie" in this episode. Regular WB viewers will recognize her from appearances on past dramas "Roswell" and "Dead Last," as well her film appearances in several teen thrillers.

What's up with Lana? The "new" Clark openly flirts with Lana, tells her of his feelings for her, and kisses her passionately. They go on a date in Lex's borrowed Ferrari to a wild bar. Clark wants to drink and dance, while Lana wants to leave. They bump into Jessie who dances with Clark. Jealous and offended, Lana starts to go, with Clark holding her back. A couple of big guys step in and Clark starts a brawl. The bartender calls the hired gun looking for Jessie, setting him on the trail.
What's up with Lex? Dad Lionel is feeling sorry for himself in his blindness. Lex tries to adjust to having him live at the mansion. After Clark's night out in the Ferrari, he confronts his parents, telling them he's leaving home. He stops in at the mansion to tell Lex the news, bragging that he wants to show the world what he's capable of. Lex tells him he'll join him in leaving Smallville, and delays Clark. Meanwhile he goes to tell Jonathan.
How it ends: The hired gun tracks Clark down at Luthor mansion. When he threatens Clark with a gun in front of Lionel, Clark shoots his own hand in a display of invincibility. Clark goes to Jessie's house to collect the computer disks when he learns of their value. The hired gun follows him. Jessie's dad shoots the hired gun when he threatens Jessie. She runs out. Clark tears up the house looking for the disks, nearly killing Jessie's dad. Then he runs out into a field after Jessie. Pete and Jonathan corner Clark, weakening him with green kryptonite, while Jonathan breaks away the red kryptonite from Clark's school ring, freeing him from the ill effects. Later Clark apologizes to his parents for his behavior. He is confused by the experience of his altered emotions. Clark also apologizes to Lana, but can't explain his behavior to her. He has the chance to tell her how he really feels, but cannot. Upset, Lana won't accept his apology or friendship.
[back to top]

We begin at school with Chloe modeling the new Smallville High class ring. Apparently, everyone has to get the same stone (ruby red) and they get them when they're sophomores. That seems like a bad idea given the drop-out rate these days, but hey, I'm not Josten's. Chloe remarks that nothing says school spirit like the class ring. She immediately complains about the cheapness of the ring, saying they'll be lucky if the glue holds through graduation (which is...how many years away?). Chloe wonders aloud if the stone is actually a ruby. She walks off, her whisper of a sub-plot to be taken up later when it's needed.

"Are you gonna do this?" Pete asks. "I'm here, aren't I?" Clark answers. Are they buying class rings or going to a bordello? Quick aside: My last week living in Germany when I was fifteen, my best friend Karl and I decided to go to this place called "Crazy Sexy." We'd been hearing about it for as long as we'd lived there. It was one of...you know, those places. So we took our backpacks and the logs we carried around (we were big Twin Peaks fans at the time and carried around logs. Oh, stop looking at me like that) and took the bus downtown to go to Crazy Sexy. We walked in and immediately saw a sign that said, "All U.S. non-active duty personnel, we will call the M.P.s (Military Police)." We got superscared and hightailed it out of there, but not before we saw what looked like the lobby of a shabby Motel 6. We also saw a lady poke her head out of a room with a huge feathery hat on her head, and saw another lady walk by wearing a towel. She had the longest neck I've ever seen on a woman. And that's my "Crazy Sexy" story. Pete brings up the issue of Bo Duke telling Clark that $350 is a lot of money to spend on something as useless as a class ring. Listen to your dad, Clark. My class ring is somewhere in a plastic baggie along with my twelve-sided dice collection and senior pictures of people I haven't seen or heard from since graduation. Clark says he earned that money (on the street?) and it's his decision. Pete still thinks Clark's not supposed to buy the ring. Whose side are you on now, Pete? Maybe the Kents should adopt you, ya baby.

Meanwhile Lana, good Samaritan that she is, is leading around a new girl. The new girl has dirty blonde hair, leather pants, and a red bra showing through a black mesh top. She's also got eye makeup applied via putty knife. She's Raccoongirl McMeshtop. Lana gives Raccoongirl the first-day-of-school spiel and our meshy friend asks what people do for fun around there. They used to hang people up in the corn fields, but it's been boring since Jocko Whitney left town. Lana pimps the Talon and then says that she's biased because she owns the place. Lana's the kind of person who, later in life, would hire a clown or a cowboy to do local TV ads for her coffee shop and tell people she's dropping prices on cappuccinos because she's "insane!" "Gee, I'll have to check it out," Raccoongirl says. If I were Lana, I'd start hiding any assorted nuts at the shop in case the girl wants to start foraging for the winter. Raccoongirl spots Clark and Pete at the ring counter and asks Lana about the major "hottie" in the primary colors. Lana tells her it's Clark Kent. Raccoongirl tells Lana she'll get Clark to show her around. Raccoongirl watches Clark, her mouth open a little. She so belongs in a video as Lita Ford's understudy. Clark slips on his ring as the girls watch. Nobody, not even Clark, notices that his veins turn all glowy maroon and the ring lights up when he puts it on. It fades quickly, up his arm. Clark smiles strangely and his eyes get all red. Uh oh. Clark got into Snoop Doggy Dogg's discarded weed stash! Clark's eyes flash orange and he looks like he had a burst of refreshing fruit flavors in his mouth. Pete looks at Clark. "You feelin' all right?" he asks. Clark needs a cigarette. He says he feels great. (more...)
-- Omar G (TWoP)

The school unknowingly uses red kryptonite in the class rings and its effect on Clark stuns his friends and family as he turns into a rebellious and dangerous teenager who decides to use his powers for evil instead of good. Jonathan and Martha scramble to find the truth behind Clark's behavior before he exposes his true identity, while Lana finds herself drawn to the "new" Clark who declares his love for her. Michael Rosenbaum, Sam Jones III, Allison Mack and John Glover also star.

Clark: She is kinda hot!
Pete: But aren't you married to Lana in your imagination?

Chloe: Welcome to the conundrum that is Clark Kent. Part knight in shining armour, part "where did that come from."

Clark: Did you know that Chloe has a birhtmark on her cheek?
Pete: No she doesn't.
Clark: Not that cheek.
Pete: Are you doin' what I think you're doin'? That's Chloe you're scoping, man.
Clark: (look at Lana) Not just Chloe.

Lex: I don't know. It's a very expensive piece of machinery, difficult to handle.
Clark: It's not like I'm going to, uh, drive it off a bridge.

Lana: I wouldn't call it a date when the guy you went with leaves with someone else.
Chloe: Wow. You just went from the gossip column to page one. (pause) Sorry, sometimes my glib-o-meter goes into overdrive.

Clark: You have no idea what I'm capable of.
Lex: Really. Why don't you fill me in?

Clark: My dad said it was my money to spend how I wanted.
Pete: Which means he said not to buy it.

Jessie: (talking about Clark) Who's the hottie in the primary colors?

Martha: When did we get a satellite dish?

Chloe: What planet is that guy from, and what did he do with Clark?

Pete: Chloe, there's something wrong with Clark.
Chloe: More than usual?

Pete: Clark's parents think he might be on drugs.
Chloe: Clark would have to be on drugs to be on drugs.

Lex; (to Clark) I wasn't aware a $2,000 coat came with a backbone. What's going on?

Jessie: (at a different bar) I took your advice, Lana, and checked out The Talon.
Lana: Yeah?
Jessie: That's why I decided to come here.

Clark: Clark Kent and Lex Luthor. I like the sound of that.

Pete: Hey, if Clark Kent decides to break the rules, I'll be there.

Lionel: You've got a lot to learn about tact, young man, but you speak your mind - it'll take you far.

Low Point:
The set-up for the most important visual effect in the episode was predictable, and the execution felt very forced. The visual effect itself was positively awful.

This was a somewhat original episode. We've seen the krypto-freak-of-the-week much too often, but at least it was Clark this time. The crooked cop angle has also been done before on this show and others. I give it 3 out of 6.

Most of the effects were good. The most important effect in the episode was terrible. Since that was the only effect they haven't done several times before, it was the only one that was really challenging, and the only one that required any real work in the design stages. I give the effects 3 out of 6.

The story was tightly-paced and nicely written. The "bad boy" came across well, but some key events had just enough indication of internal conflict to help the audience believe that certain lines wouldn't be crossed. It's also nice to see Pete's increased role from last week is still around this week. I give it 5 out of 6, for the nice work to keep it interesting, and the ramifications it'll have in future episodes.

The acting was good or great from everyone but Tom Welling. He's even worse at playing the bad boy than he is at playing the good boy. Kristen Kreuk didn't even seem as bad as she usually does here, although that may just be because she was playing off of a sub-par Tom Welling the entire time. Fortunately, the rest of the cast (including John Schneider, Sam Jones III, Michael Rosenbaum, Allison Mack, and John Glover) turned in some great work. I give it 4 out of 6.

The emotional response produced here included very little suspense. There were some moments that drew me into the ongoing saga, including every scene with at least one Luthor. The equestrian scene was also intruiging due to the implications for future stories. The crack about the way the wardrobe department dresses people was also a source of great amusement. I give it 5 out of 6.

The production was up to its usual high. The camera work did a great job of setting up Clark's new attitude by filming him from a steeper angle than usual. The lighting contributed to this as well. The directing, editing, score, etc. were competant, but not spectacular. I give it 5 out of 6.

Overall, this was an entertaining episode that merits rewatching when it's rerun. I give it 4 out of 6.

In total, Red receives 29 out of 42.
By fiziko