Originally aired May 21, 2002
Teleplay by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar
Story by Philip Levens
Directed by Greg Beeman
Lionel shuts down the LuthorCorp plant in an attempt to force Lex to return to Metropolis. Clark prepares for his prom date with Chloe. Whitney tells Lana he's joining the Marines. Roger Nixon learns about Clark's powers just as a tornado hits Smallville.
Tropes present in the episode:
- Animate Inanimate Object: Once reunited with the Key, Clark's spaceship hovers into the air before opening and revealing a bright light inside.
- Archnemesis Dad: This episode is the source of this trope's page quote, and takes Lex and Lionel's bitter rivalry to a new height.Lionel: [to Lex] If you're gonna take me on, son, you're gonna have to bring your game up to a whole different level.
- Bad Boss: Lionel shows this trait when he closes down the Smallville LuthorCorp plant, leaving 2,500 people unemployed, and blames the whole thing on Lex's management. He even has the nerve to announce the plant is closing after giving the assembled employees a congratulatory speech.
- Big "NO!": Clark lets one out in the final scene after he watches Lana get sucked into the tornado.
- Book Ends: The season begins and ends with a school dance.
- Bring It: Lex's response to his father when he attempts to deter him from leading his buyout.Lionel: When Alexander the Great was dying, his generals asked who he would leave his empire to, if he would appoint a successor who would keep the legacy intact, prevent generations of bloodshed! His answer was simple: "I leave it to the strongest!"Lex: [turns to face his father] I believe the term is "Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!"Lionel: [grabs Lex's face] I'll bury you and everyone in Smallville who takes your side!
- Calling the Old Man Out: In the teaser, Lionel shuts down the LuthorCorp plant and Lex gives him hell for it.Lionel: We're in this business to make profits, not friends! You can't let your emotions get in the way of making tough decisions!Lex: Don't lecture me about letting emotions get in the way! This plant was showing a profit! You're only shutting it down because I wouldn't go work for you in Metropolis!
- Cataclysm Climax: Season 1 ends with a tornado hitting Smallville.
- Cliffhanger: Season 1 ends with Roger Nixon fleeing into the storm with footage of Clark's spaceship, Jonathan chasing after Nixon, Martha left in the storm cellar to face the opening ship, Lionel trapped under a fallen column and begging Lex for help while Lex is left to decide whether or not to let his father die; and, finally, Lana getting sucked into the tornado and Clark speeding in to save her.
- Dramatic Irony: Lex tells Clark that his relationship with his father is built on lies and deceit, and states that any relationship like that is doomed to fail. It's especially
harsh when you consider that both Lex and Clark keep things from one another, and lie to one another. - Event Title: The episode refers to the tornado that hits the town.
- Friendship Moment: Lex helping Clark do his bow tie.
- Hanlon's Razor: Lex says that the two competing theories for why the Smallville plant is closing attribute malice or incompetence to him, and he says if they have to believe one of the lies, believing he's incompetent would be far more dangerous.
- Kick the Dog:
- In the teaser, Lionel gives the plant employees a Rousing Speech... then announces that the plant will be closing due to "management failures" on Lex's part. Lionel, you Jerkass.
- Lionel later pays Lex a visit just to hand him papers declaring that he (Lionel) bought the local bank, one-upping Lex at the moment, much to Lex's apparent frustration.
- Parental Hypocrisy: When Lionel tells him he can't allow his emotions to influence his decisions, Lex rebuffs him and tells him he (Lionel) is only shutting down the plant because he (Lex) wouldn't return to Metropolis. Lionel grows more furious when Lex continues to defy him.
- Rousing Speech: Lex gives one to his employees during a secret meeting.Lex: When I first came here, people assumed I was just another glaring example of nepotism, unskilled and promoted over the heads of the more competent and deserving. But I'd like to think the people in this room feel differently. If we can raise the capital for an employee-led buyout, we can keep the plant running.Gabe: "Buyout?"Lex: I can raise nearly ninety percent of the capital.Gabe: What about the rest? We're supposed to mortgage our houses?Lex: It's a risk, I know. But in exchange, the investors will become minority owners.Gabe: Doesn't your father control the board? Why would he go along with a buyout?Lex: I know a couple of members I can convince, and I don't need a unanimous decision. I'm offering you the chance to take control of your own destiny. Stand with me, and we'll win.
- Say My Name:
- Martha screams Jonathan's name after he leaves the storm cellar to chase down Nixon.
- Lana yells Clark's name right before getting sucked into the tornado.
- Season Finale: The show's first.
- Social Darwinist: Lionel shows this trait with this line to Lex after he announces the plant will be closing.Lionel: [to Lex] We live in a meritocracy, Lex. The weak get left behind.
- Start My Own: When Lionel shuts down Smallville's LuthorCorp plant to force Lex to come back to Metropolis, Lex rallies some of his employees to stand by him as he starts up his own company by buying out the plant. Lionel, of course, works to oppose his son's efforts, starting with buying the Smallville Savings & Loan so he'll have control over the employees' accounts and mortgages.
- Tempting Fate: Lex reassures Clark that no matter what happens they'll still be friends and that will never change.
- Virtue Is Weakness: In the teaser, after announcing the plant will be closing and Lex confronts him about it, Lionel tells him he can't allow his emotions to get in the way of his judgment.
