Ep 1.21 - Tempest

[ProudPenny]

This one really blows. A tornado comes to town on the night of the Spring Formal. Clark goes with Chloe, but of course you know he's going to have to save Lana in the tornado. Whitney announces he is leaving for the Marines, and Lionel decides to close the Smallville LuthorCorp plant. Plus, Roger Nixon finds the storm cellar and Lex has a choice to make... Part one of two, continued in S2's premiere.

[red-K glory]

this is my favorite season finale of them all.
i liked how Clark and Chloe went to the spring formal together, and the ending where Lana's truck is sucked into the tornado and Clark just runs in after her, then the "to be continued"

the season ended perfectly!

[OutlawAngel]

Nixon is still the most annoying character to me. I wanted to just reach into the tv and choke the guy just gah!

[vyperman7]

My favorite cliffhanger is still from Tempest with Lana being sucked up and Clark running in. But the episode as a whole was kind of slow. It was decent enough, but it is probably my least favorite finale. But like I said, the cliffhanger is my favorite of all the finales. The best finale for me was Covenant, because the whole episode was awesome.

[UpandAtom]

The cliffhanger I liked was when Lionel was trapped underneath the column. I didn't know if Lex would save his father or let his die.

[supergirl_1095]

Tempest is one of my favorite episodes because of the cliffhanger and when Chloe looked so happy when Clark took her to the prom. I love to see Chloe happy, she's not happy that often. I liked the locker scene between Chloe and Clark too:D:D:D:D:D.

[TV_gal9]

I liked how simple it was now knowing about how mythical it gets I enjoyed the simplicity of it.

[grenator]

I agree, in the early seasons sometimes simple works best.

[TKFlash]

Funny how he went into a twister. Chloe was done wrong.

[Zungas]

Wish we saw more of Pete's date from the spring formal;).

[newscaper]

In S6 TPTB have GOT to let the Chlark ship finally sail.
I am normally NOT one to pull for some alternate ship, but they really sold me on how right CHloe is for Clark leading up to Tempest -- and if they didn't mean to follow up on it some day then they've screwed up in continuing to reinforce it in later seasons. Dramatic symmetry requires a payoff, however short-lived (Lois, boo!) on the back end of the series.

[elphabakicksass]

I just started watching Smallville, my cousin has almost all the seasons and she lent me Season 1. I can't wait to watch more. I just watched Tempest today. Luckily I get Season 2 tommorow. lol

[tallville]

this episode has one of the most exciting cliffhangers ever. It was exciting and emotional and i literally yelled at my television when i finished my season one dvds. I was going to have to wait a couple of monthes before i found out what happened. Thank god i am all caught up now.

[TheOriginalKal-el]

Agreed, although we knew the eventual outcome, it left you sitting there literally stunned. Season 5 could've learned a lot from Season 1.

[D.M.A.]

its funny how chloe tells clark at the lockers she had that fear he would leave her at the dance to go after lana(To confess his luv but still he left),and he did.She told him she may never forgive him and maybe that lead to her reaction to stay friends so quick.I guess she knew that even back then it'll be hard to get what she wanted completely without feelin like clark is doin it out of pity.Even he had to convince her that he was goin wit her by choice,which I still don't believe she believe.And bein a rebound is also why I think she'll blow off the kiss from vessel again,for those same reasons.Chloe luv clark and wants him but if he's not over lana yet she'll always be scared.The rejection to me only happen once and that was in devoted(Which he really didn't reject her),he told her that he didn't have those feelings now.Which were true and she even said she knew this,so that's a reason I think the kiss will be brush'd off.And also what I stated before a reason for the quick end in s2

[Naman is 1#]

Along with "Pilot" this is the best episode of season1, great Cliffhanger scene with Lana being suck in the tornado screaming and Clark yelling LANA! Loved it ! ! !

[ClarknChloe4eva]

Total Chlark!!!Need i say more?? No!

[hrhsalla]

I remeber that even though I liked Lana then I was more worried about Chloe and how she would be feeling .

[thorshammer]

Poooor Chloe.

[wearetheborg]

I loved Chloe's smile after she says "I feel better now" :) durring her scene with Clark.

[Zaine07]

Damn lana... She messed up the kiss for chloe and clark... i will never forgive her.

[A MAN OF REASON!]

Originally posted by newscaper
In S6 TPTB have GOT to let the Chlark ship finally sail.
I am normally NOT one to pull for some alternate ship, but they really sold me on how right CHloe is for Clark leading up to Tempest -- and if they didn't mean to follow up on it some day then they've screwed up in continuing to reinforce it in later seasons. Dramatic symmetry requires a payoff, however short-lived (Lois, boo!) on the back end of the series.

In S7 i strongly believe we're gonna finally get to see Chlark in full action. It would really be great if TPTB let Chlark stay together for a long time. They've redone the mythos a little so far,so why not take it one step further.......... ;)

[Abdifatah28]

I felt sorry for Chloe her special night
with Clark was interrupted by Lana.

[tibbit78]

What did I think of Tempest?


1) Favorite Clark Related Moment: My favorite Clark moments, are the ones with Clark & Chloe. It's a great night for Chloe & Clark, and this was a great script. I especially loved the lines between Chloe & Clark. They are:


A) Chloe asks Clark, "Are you going to miss me?"

Clark looks at Chloe as if she asked a dumb question and answers politely, "Do you even have to ask?"

Then Chloe goes on to say to Clark, "Just promise me Saturday night is gonna be great."

Clark smiles at Chloe & answers, "It'll be a night you won't forget."


B) Chloe (to Clark): So, Whitney's off to fight evil for Uncle Sam. That technically makes Lana a free agent.

Clark: He asked her to wait for him.

Chloe: Long distance relationships never work. People change, have different experiences. It's kind of like us, you know? I'm sure after a couple of weeks, you'll forget all about me.

Clark: Chloe!

Chloe (this is Chloe's best line to Clark): OK, I just -- I have this horrible nightmare that you are going to rush to the bus station after Whitney leaves and profess your undying love for Lana, and I'm going to be waiting for the gym all alone, and if you do that to me, Clark, I will never speak to you again, OK? I said it.

Clark: Chloe, I'm going to the dance with you, not by default, but because I want to. (Clark Kent plants a kiss on Chloe Sullivan's cheek as Lana walks by them. Clark doesn't see Lana walking by. Lana looks unhappy after Clark kissed Chloe).

Chloe (smiles at Clark): All right, I feel better now.


C) Chloe (to Clark): What was that about?

Clark: Oh, just guy stuff. Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?

Chloe: Yeah, but frequent reminders are always appreciated.

Clark: May I have this dance?

Chloe: Of course. Clark Kent. Man of mystery. Just when I think I have you figured out, you surprise me.

Clark: How's that?

Chloe: The song... the tux... tonight.

Clark (smiles at Chloe): And I'm still here.

Chloe: Yes, you are.

(Chloe & Clark come very close to kissing each other, until the tornado warning ruined their evening).


2) Favorite Clark Kent Lines are: When Jonathan Kent talks about Lex Luthor, Clark responds with, "You should be happy then. It means that Lex is going to Metropolis and out of our lives. Dad, Lex cares about the town. He said he had big plans." I also like this line from Clark, "Storms are a way of life around here, Lex. The trick is not to get caught out in the open." My favorite line from Pete is, "Thanks. Now I gotta go make a call and change my order. Don't want people mistaking us for twins." My favorite Lana Lang line is, "I don't know, Clark. Red always looks good on you." Favorite Chloe line is (after Clark tells Chloe how beautiful she looks), "Frequent reminders are always appreciated."


3) I loved the scene with Clark & Whitney. They both did a good job acting out their parts, and I just loved the script with Clark & Whitney. Especially when Whitney apologizes in the end. Better late than never.


Whitney: You and I had a weird year. I started out thinking you just wanted to steal Lana. I'm not trying to make excuses, but I did some things I'm not proud of. I'm sorry, Clark.

Clark: I appreciate that.

Whitney: Clark, there's something I want to ask you. A favor. Lana's not sure how she feels about our relationship right now. But I am. I need you to look after her until I get back.

Clark: I really don't know what to say.

Whitney: Say yes. Clark?

Clark: I promise.

Whitney: Thanks.

Clark: Good luck.



4) Funniest Moment In the Episode: Is the Clark & Pete scene. I loved this scene very much.


Clark doesn't know whether to wear a black tuxedo or a red one, so he asks his best friend Pete Ross for advice.

Pete: If I were you, I'd stick with the traditional black. This is no time to get adventurous.

Lana: I don't know, Clark. Red always looks good on you.

Clark (smiles as Lana gives him an answer): Then red it is.

Pete (with a great sense of humor): Thanks. Now I gotta make a call and change my order. Don't want people mistaking us for twins.

Clark (with a quick remark): Yes, because that happens all the time.


5) I only wish that Clark & Chloe shared a kiss in that scene. I thought that was the best part of the story. I also wish that Clark saved Lana in time, rather than to wait until the next season.


6) What did I think of Tom Welling's performance in Tempest? I thought he did a great job with expressing his emotions. He did a wonderful job at defending Lex in front of his father. I liked how Tom got excited about the school dance, and how he expressed fear when Lana Lang was caught in the tornado. I also like Tom being heroic in trying to save Lana's/Kristin's life. I also thought Kristin Kreuk did a fantastic job crying while on the way home from the bus station. She played a good part. Allyson, is as usually a great actress, especially the long speech she made about Clark rushing to the bus station to profess his undying love for Lana and leaving Chloe all alone at the gym. John Schneider was excellent in acting out his anger towards Mr. Roger Nixon and punching him out. He did a fantastic job in expressing his anger. This is one of John Schneider's best performances.

[Alexander III]

Wow...I'm in Season 1 EP 1 discussion board...this brings back memories!!

[ClareKent]

My favorite episode on the first season next to the pilot.

Plus, the only season finale where the big disaster isn't 'cause by any krypto thing or people.

Love the Lex/Lionel confrontation, but I still don't understand how he got blind that way...anyway, really nice touch leave in wonder if Lex will save him or not.

[Hopefulsuicide]

best cliffhanger on smallville ever... literally screamed at the TV. in fact, and i say this even with Lost and Heroes in mind, i think it's possibly one of my favourite Cliffhangers ever!

[LexLuv180]

I thought it was a great finale. I didn't know what would happen at the time with Lex and his father, and of course even though I knew Johnathan would live, the dramatic Nixon subplot was just terrific. Then the ship lit up with Martha- perfect.

[Misstaken]

Great cliffhanger. I remember screaming at my television because the episode ended with a ''to be continued''.
I ran to the DVD store to buy seasons 2 to 6 (at that time season 6 just had been released) thinking ''I don't care if I don't like the show afterwards, I don't want to have to wait before I know what's gonna happen next''.

The Chlark dance was cute and romantic, Eric (Whitney) nailed his last scene (for once he seemed like a real individual with a personality) and Nixon discovering the ship were all great.

But the best part of the episode is when Lex looks at Lionel and hesitates. That shot is so beautiful. Lex's make-up was perfect (with the blood surrounding his eye) and it gave much more intensity to his look. Lionel could see the hesitation in his eyes and so could we. Great artistic moment!

[Clark/Lois-fan]

Truly an excellent season finale for S1. And that cliffhanger where you still hear the tornado is amazing.

[marcella]

Best episode of the season,hands down

The cliffhanger was pretty cool

[blackcelebration]

Awesome Season finale... 8/10

[SGuthrie27]

Oooh, I watched this one again for the first time in a couple of years and LOVED it JUST AS MUCH as when I first saw it. Beautiful! Heart-wrenching! Exciting! Intense! Lots of exclamation points in this review!!! LOL. Anyway, yeah, this is probably one of my favorite Smallville episodes of all time, and is easily my fave of the first... oh, three seasons, probably. I, too, love the Chlark interaction. My dad was watching it with me today, and he kept asking, "How can Clark act like he's so in love with her in this episode and they never actually get together?!" I didn't say it then, but I'll announce the answer on these forums: "Big Dumb Alien." :p Seriously, though, they were beautiful together in this episode. I loved how cute, sweet, and innocent they were together -- so uncertain of what would happen, but almost giddy with excitement. When Clark picked out "Perfect Memory" to be played for her because he knew it was her favorite song, I was like, "I've GOT to do that for a girl someday." And then that stupid tornado had to go and ruin everything. ;) I loved the Roger Nixon plotline, too, and the increased animosity between Lex and Lionel stemming from the latter's closing of the fertilizer plant and Lex's buyout attempt. It was also refreshing to see a much more altruistic, caring Lex than we've got to see for the last 4-5 years of the show. And Lana and Whitney -- wow, major flashbacks, there. The Kent family conversations were awesome, too -- they were so supportive and calming, even though they knew Nixon's discovery of Clark's secret could have massive repercussions. Finally, the cliffhangers were incredible -- Lex standing over an incapacitated Lionel with blood surrounding one eye, and then Lana's truck getting sucked into the tornado as she screams Clark's name... It still thrills me to see this episode, even after seven years! And YAY once again for old-school Chlark!

--SGuthrie ><>' :)--

[Supsfan]

not to be picky but I just watched this episode again and wondered why the hell Lana went into her Truck that was in the ditch while the tornadoes were coming at her.

I don't live in Tornado country but wouldn't logic says when you see Tornadoes coming towards you, your best bet might be to somehow run/drive to avoid them, instead of sitting inside of a truck that seems they are heading for?

[SGuthrie27]

Well, yeah, or an even better idea would've been for her to... well... dive into the ditch! They say that it's safer, if you're caught out into the open, to get down in some low-lying area, like a ditch or some kind of hole, where you're less likely to be buffeted by the strongest winds or smacked by the debris. But agreed, climbing back in the truck? If she didn't have her own personal boy scout on hand to save her, Lana would've signed her own death warrant by doing that.

--SGuthrie ><>' :)--

[Eric II]

Tempest will always be one of the best episodes in the series. Pretty much everything went right with it. The tornado was insane, especially at the end when Clark went running into it. It really gave you the sense of hopelessness and despair a season finale is supposed to (the whole world was crashing down for everyone).

I disagree with most people about Clark and Chloe, though. She always struck me as feeling sorry for herself and blaming Clark for not liking her back, so I didn't feel much sympathy when Clark had to leave her at the dance.

Sure, she couldn't help how she felt, but neither could Clark (either about her or Lana). And lost in all of it was Chloe doing the exact same thing to Pete that Clark was doing to her, but she never bothered to feel much guilt over that. So Chloe always pining for Clark got on my nerves rather than got my sympathy.

[lois346]

This was the second best episode of the season right after the piolt. I loved this one Clark and Chole were so cute at the dance and The end scene where Clark went into the storm to save Lana was great too.

[Lex Dance]

One of my favourite episodes, mainly for the amazing opening scene and subsequent cliff-hangers. I find it hard to describe why the scene at the LuthorCorps plant is so good. I guess it's down to the foreboding atmosphere which is evoked. But we seem to feel Lex's frustration at being totally dumped in it! I know you could argue that Lex's desire to help out his workers is fuelled by his need to get even with his father, but I also think it shows some more of that philanthropic side that we got regular glimpses of in the early seasons. I loved how he nearly managed to turn the tables on his father without resorting to nefarious means. It compounds the maddening frustation he feels at the end, when he could have killed Lionel. It's a scene like this, with a storyline like this, that I wish they had used in Descent instead.

But the best part of the episode is when Lex looks at Lionel and hesitates. That shot is so beautiful. Lex's make-up was perfect (with the blood surrounding his eye) and it gave much more intensity to his look. Lionel could see the hesitation in his eyes and so could we. Great artistic moment!
Before the S1 DVD came out I used to hammer my videoed version that I taped off the tv. Strangely, and without me knowing any different until I saw the DVD version, the cable channel paused for a split second at the very same moment that the lightening illuminates Lex's murderous expression. It always looked incredible and added something to the scene, so I was a bit disappointed when I finally saw it without the glitch! :)

[hiler1988]

This episode was flawless...a great ending to the first season. A lot of stuff happened and it was key to the future storylines. I really liked the scene when Chloe picked up Clark at the Kent Farm before they went to the spring formal.

[olivermask]

I love the opening scene, with Lex's panning with the wind moving his shirt and the look in his face, also the music does half of the job... amazing!

When I first saw this episode I was like "Woah!" and the ending with Lex and Lionels fight for life in the mansion was amazing, back then I though it was the darkest scene Lex had... fantastic!

[Lex Dance]

^^^ Totally agree Oliver. It is a truly dark scene and all the better for being in an episode when Lex is trying to do something altruistic. Early seasons of Smallville dealt so well with the development of Lex. He is such a likeable character in those seasons and I was truly fascinated to see how he would "go bad". As it turned out, and as much as I like the character throughout the series, it's the journey that I enjoyed most - not the getting there. :)

[wendelboe]

hmm When lana drive the truck back from where she dropped whitney off, you can see that the truck doesn't have any license plate at the front (you can't see the back of the trcuK) - Any reason for that ?

[Lex Dance]

As it happens I don't think any of the Smallville vehicles have license plates. The only one I can think of is Lex's limo when Lana is meeting with some expert or other - I think Jimmy takes a photo of it. I've often wondered why this is. The obvious missing plates have always been on Chloe's cars! :)

[Nimkong]

This episode was just an inch off my top.When i saw the end i was like "what the heck does that mean" :confused::eek::lol:

[Munnag]

Awesome episode, Best among the series
10 out 10

Love the tornado affects, Whitney and lana send off scene was very touch.. Whitney loves for Lana is true but seems like Lana also have feelings for Clark.. Sounds like triangle love story, The Space ship moved all of sudden.. Can't believe it man, Very interesting.. and Lex Luther officially responsible for his own father death?? Looks like his first to be an evil side.... Can't wait to see what happens in Season 2

Great ending for Season 1

[jsm]

Some good cliffhangers to end the season. Even though it is probably the weakest of the finales, it’s still a good episode. 8/10

[Raistlin]

I felt sorry for Chloe her special night
with Clark was interrupted by Lana.

I felt bad for Chloe, too. She was so looking forward to a special night with Clark and they did look good together. But to blame Lana for interrupting it is ridiculous. Clark made the decision to rush out and save the day, and since he will eventually become Earth's greatest protector, did we expect anything less?

[LoisL]

I liked how atmospheric the storm coming was. And the cliffhangers were great re:Lex and re:Nixon! :)