Originally aired October 16, 2009
Written by Bryan Q Miller
Directed by Wayne Rose
Tess tracks down Oliver and forces him to come back to Metropolis so he can give a speech at a gala, but Winslow Schott takes Oliver captive and threatens to kill him unless he admits his failures. As part of Clark's training, Jor-El gives Clark the power to read other people's thoughts.
Tropes present in the episode:
- Actually a Doombot: Clark confronts Toyman at the party and discerns that the Toyman he's talking to is actually a robot decoy. The real Toyman, however, ends up captured by the police.
- Driven to Suicide: During the crisis at the Ace of Clubs, Oliver steps off the pressure plate he's standing on in an attempt to set off the bomb.
- Humans Are Flawed: When Clark tells him he shouldn't underestimate humans, Jor-El tells him he shouldn't either.Clark: You shouldn't underestimate humans.Jor-El: Neither should you.
- Mundane Utility: Clark uses his temporary telepathy to read the minds of hostages. By doing this, he's able to convince a woman that she's not going to be deported and learns that another hostage is lying about his actions during the hostage situation in the teaser.
- Power Perversion Potential: Clark uses his temporary telepathy to ask Lois out on a date.
- Telepathy: Jor-El gives Clark this ability so he can learn to hone his Kryptonian intuition.
- Villain of the Week: Winslow Schott/Toyman.