Originally aired March 19, 2002
Teleplay by Michael Green
Story by Greg Walker
Directed by James Marshall
Jonathan saves a panicked driver with a discovery for Lionel Luthor from an accident, but Jonathan is exposed to the pollen of a strange flower and starts acting wildly out of character until he slips into a coma. After Lana is exposed to the same flower and suffers the same results, Clark races to find a cure and must also stop Pete after he's infected. Lex confronts Dr. Hamilton and learns he has foolishy resurrected the once-extinct flower called the Nicodemus, which caused the same incidents in olden times. He seizes one so his researchers can develop the cure.
Tropes present in the episode:
- Antagonist Title: The episode's title refers to the flower responsible for the plot's conflict.
- Above the Influence: Clark when he rejects Lana's advances.
- Fanservice: While infected, Lana tries to seduce Clark by stripping down to her underwear and diving into the school's pool.
- Fille Fatale: Lana (who's 15), while under the effects of the Nicodemus, flirts with Lex (who's 21/22).
- Find the Cure!: This becomes Clark's goal after Jonathan and Lana lapse into comas.
- Interrupted Intimacy: Clark walks in on a Nicodemus-infected Jonathan making out with Martha on the kitchen counter.
- Not Himself: Jonathan, Lana, and Pete, thanks to the Nicodemus flower.
- Jonathan makes out with Martha in the kitchen, shirks his responsibilities, mouths off to Lex, gives the loan officer hell over the phone, and tries to take a shotgun into the bank.
- Lana dresses more provocatively, breaks up with Whitney, comes onto Clark, strips in the school swimming pool, closes the Talon early, gives the customers free coffee, takes Lex's car for a spin, and tries to climb a windmill.
- Pete puts the moves on Chloe before taking Dr. Hamilton's gun and heading off to confront Lex.
- Primal Scene: Downplayed. Clark walks in on his parents making out in the kitchen and quickly turns away.Clark: I did not need to see that.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Jonathan gives one to Lex under the influence of the Nicodemus.Jonathan: What do you want?Lex: I heard you pulled my employee out of a car. I wanted to see if you were okay.Jonathan: No, you didn't. You wanted to see if I was gonna sue you or not. That would put an end to all my financial difficulty, wouldn't it?Martha: Jonathan, that's enough.Jonathan: No, it's not enough, Martha. You see, I don't like Lex Luthor, I don't like Lionel Luthor, and I don't like your friendship with my son. In fact, if all of you Luthors were to dry up and die, I wouldn't shed a tear.
- Two-Person Pool Party: Infected Lana tries to lure Clark into one.
