Originally aired May 3, 2007
Written by Brian Peterson & Kelly Souders
Directed by Jeannot Szwarc
After being hit on the head, Jimmy finds himself in a 1930s version of Smallville.
Tropes present in the episode:
- Clark Kenting: In the dream version of Smallville, Clark is a detective for the Metropolis Police Department who poses as a nerdy reporter at the Daily Planet.
- Damsel in Distress: Chloe falls down the Daily Planet stairwell. Fortunately, Clark speeds in and rescues her.
- The Dandy: Lionel in Jimmy's dream world.
- A Day in the Limelight: Jimmy gets his chance to shine in this episode.
- Double Agent: Lana playing both Luthors against each other.
- Dramatic Irony: The last time we see Clark killing Lana was also in a bad dream. Of Clark's.
- Exactly What It Says on the Tin: This is of the Noir Episode of Smallville.
- Femme Fatale: Lana in Jimmy's dream world.
- Internal Reveal: Chloe finally learns that Lana was coerced into the wedding.
- Just in Time: Lampshaded when Chloe asks Clark whether he could've saved her before the last second. Clark answers, "Where's the fun in that?"
- Murder the Hypotenuse: There is a zigzag of this trope. Lana claims that Lex has this intention for her, when she is actually creating a gambit to get Lex shot.
- Mythology Gag:
- Just the fact that Clark Kent is indulging in actual Clark Kenting. Complete with glasses.
- The noir parts also nod to the classic George Reeves version of Superman, which started out in black and white.
- Noir Clark's police badge is the same shape as the Superman logo. Interestingly, both actual police badges and the Superman logo are sometimes referred to as "shields".
- Pocket Protector: This trope can work in a dream. In real life, getting shot with a small object in your pocket would not prevent serious injury, because a small object only distributes momentum a minor amount.
- Shout-Out: When Lana reports her own murder, it's a reference to the opening scene of D.O.A..
- Tap on the Head: The reason Jimmy falls asleep and has a dream set in a Film Noir universe.
