As Smallville is finally coming to the end of it's ten year run, we've seen Clark Kent (Tom Welling) develop from a self-concious high-school freshman into a confident, strong and, dare I say it, super man. Along the way we've had to experience a few deaths to some major and secondary cast members. In the show's ten years, we've experienced the death of Jonathan Kent, the death of Lionel and Lex Luthor and even the death of James Olsen to name a few and all of which have been a burden on the young Clark Kent's life and has, according to the producers, been the reason for his grounding and lack of motivation to wear the suit. Now it seems as if the show is prepping for one last farewell before it's grand farewell in the form of a death of another character. How will this death hinder the progress that Clark has made and how much will it defer the flight and suit?
As we've known for months now, Allison Mack only signed on for five episodes this season and she's been in four--Lazarus, Collateral, Beckon, Masquerade-- of the fourteen episodes this season. That means that Fortune, this week's episode, will be her last of the series. Although she may not be a fan favorite, Chloe Sullivan has been one of the most influential characters in the show's tenure. She's the only character, besides Clark, to have starred in over two hundred episodes. She was created to be a version of Lois Lane in Clark's life and make it clear that Lana Lang was Clark Kent's high-school sweetheart and no one, not even Lois Lane, could get in the way of that. Although Lois Lane was introduced in the show fourth and planned final season, Chloe still starred on the show and has even been incorporated into the mythos in Action Comic #893.
Chloe is, in the show, Clark's oldest friend. She's been there from the beginning and her possible death has to bring out some kind of emotion in Clark. As we've learned from the Homecoming episode, Clark blames himself for the death of his father and that has kept him from earning his wings. Chloe, who Clark has always looked at as a sister could possibly have a similar effect on him. If you've been paying attention to this season you'd notice that Chloe has been pushing Clark as far as he could go all season. She's the one who pushed him into experiencing flight for the first time, even though it was virtual, and I believe that she's the key to Clark's flight. I just hope that whatever they do with her it doesn't erase everything that Clark has worked on to this point.
Chloe was originally made for Smallville, but due to that fact the writers have been forced to take liberties with the character. She's gone from reporter to Brainiac to Watchtower to Doctor Fate to Bride of Doomsday/Jimmy to Morpheus and to a Black Canary stand-in and has evolved just as much as Clark. While I think her death has been long overdue, I can't help but feel saddened that this character that we've come to be accustomed to will, seemingly, make her last appearance in a filler episode. She, like Smallville, deserves to go out with a bang and I hope the writers honor her.
Tune in this friday at 8 to say farewell to a friend. =)
Destiny is NOW!!!