Ep 4.13 - Recruit

[Chiriru]

Lois gets herself in trouble up at Metropolis University at the same time Clark is headed up there for a recruiting trip.

[jdot]

Taken as a stand alone episode, this is great. Lois was a hoot, Clark was in way over his head at the Sorority house, and the FOTW actually was very nicely done. He really showed Clark what could happen to him if he follows this one particular dream, and it's not a picture Clark particularly likes. Plus, Chloe knows part of Clark's secret at this point and is dropping subtle anvils on the boys head that he completely misses. Well, until the end of the episode where he clearly knows something is up but isn't putting two and two together very well.

Unfortunately, immediately following Pariah makes this episode the strongest case for lynching the writing staff of the Smallville ever. Way to have two incredibly emotionally invested episodes with a LOT going on in them, and then completely pretend they never happened. Because, you know, finding the dead body of a woman you had married and barely keeping yourself from popping the head of her killer like a zit wouldn't have any long term emotional fallout or anything.

[Jellie]

the only thing i remember from this ep is

''clark kent quarterback, clark kent quarterback''

I thought this episode was pretty lame.

[F-Stop Blues]

I actually liked this episode. I think its underated. Yes they should have had some mention of Alicia but I liked the plot and I thought it was a great end to the football arc which I actually liked. Plus I really like the clark/lois scene at the end.

[LexLuthorMetropolis]

I like the Geoff Johns name since it's a delibrate reference to one of DC's writers, who's handled everything from the Flash to Green Lantern.

[F-Stop Blues]

Originally posted by LexLuthorMetropolis
I like the Geoff Johns name since it's a delibrate reference to one of DC's writers, who's handled everything from the Flash to Green Lantern.


Plus he's the architect of Infinite Crisis.

[LexLuthorMetropolis]

Didn't know about Infinite Crisis. I've been tuning that one in and out.

[MBCorp]

The only thing that I remember about this episode was that Alicia was never mentioned. :p

I honestly can't even remember the plot to Recruit. I remember Lois getting drunk at the beginning, and Clark being attacked by soriority girls, and there was alot of football, and that's it.:p

[LexLuthorMetropolis]

Geoff Johns was a FotW bent on killing Lois and others that got in his way. Lois was almost drowned but Clark saved her. Pretty typical episode to the most part, but it played into the whole acceptance of Destiny issue that the writers always fail to get connected to.

[MBCorp]

Originally posted by LexLuthorMetropolis
Geoff Johns was a FotW bent on killing Lois and others that got in his way. Lois was almost drowned but Clark saved her. Pretty typical episode to the most part, but it played into the whole acceptance of Destiny issue that the writers always fail to get connected to.

Wow...I really don't remember this episode at all. :eek: I'm drawing like a complete blank here, and yet I know I watched it. I remember Clark hiding in the closet at the soriority and meeting Lois there.

[LexLuthorMetropolis]

The Lois moments were the main plus of the episode. That and her with Chloe.

Only reason I remember is I kind of have a soft spot for this episode, even though I could careless about the football angle.

[Jellie]

I thought I was the only one who could careless about the football angle. I wasnt into it at all.

[LexLuthorMetropolis]

That year had the shortest football arc ever, which suited me just fine.

[F-Stop Blues]

I remember the promotional poster.

Met U has a new recruit.

[LexLuthorMetropolis]

I don't even remember that poster.

Lois was my main highlight of that episode.

[F-Stop Blues]

Its actually one of my favorite Clark Lois episodes. I thought their relationship was handled perfecty as opposed to other eps like Krypto where they come off as brother and sister.

[umm]

Originally posted by F-Stop Blues
Its actually one of my favorite Clark Lois episodes. I thought their relationship was handled perfecty as opposed to other eps like Krypto where they come off as brother and sister.

I agree! Lois was good in that one! As for Lana, and her ´Lex, I am a big girl, I don´t need protection!' stick, well that just cracked me up!
If Lana was supposed to come across as a girl who doesn´t need protecting, then someone has made big a mistake! Either the writers, the actress I don´t know, but the only thing that came across, was: yeah right, give me a break, you need protection 24/7!

[Clark/Lois-fan]

I really loved this episode. And everything with Lois&Clark. When he found her in the closet in the Alpha Alpha house- that was funny, and I especially loved the last scene in the loft.

Lois " Oh- are we friends now ?"

Clark " I won't tell anyone if you don't"


Ok just saw this episode & I had a mixup about the last Clois scene. It can happen :D

[Supergirl Jam]

Originally posted by Clark/Lois-fan
I really loved this episode. And everything with Lois&Clark. When he found her in the closet in the Alpha Alpha house- that was funny, and I especially loved the last scene in the loft.

Lois " Oh- are we friends now ?"

Clark " I won't tell anyone if you don't"


Um that was in the Lucy episode. The last scene of Lois and Clark in Recurit was when she talks Clark into letting her move in his house which i thought was hilarious.

[Chloe fan1988]

Recruit is definitely my least favorite episode of the series--it best demonstrates everything that was wrong with season 4. A lame FoTW and slutty sorority girls...boring.

[UpandAtom]

Originally posted by jdot
Unfortunately, immediately following Pariah makes this episode the strongest case for lynching the writing staff of the Smallville ever. Way to have two incredibly emotionally invested episodes with a LOT going on in them, and then completely pretend they never happened. Because, you know, finding the dead body of a woman you had married and barely keeping yourself from popping the head of her killer like a zit wouldn't have any long term emotional fallout or anything.

Well, there was really no sitation for him to mention Alicia's name and for all we know this episode could've occured a month after "Pariah".

[RedQ]

Brilliant ending scene song. PERFECT!


Originally posted by jdot
Unfortunately, immediately following Pariah makes this episode the strongest case for lynching the writing staff of the Smallville ever. Way to have two incredibly emotionally invested episodes with a LOT going on in them, and then completely pretend they never happened. Because, you know, finding the dead body of a woman you had married and barely keeping yourself from popping the head of her killer like a zit wouldn't have any long term emotional fallout or anything. Some Months passed but it's a nice follow up on the Not Losing Faith in some one and seeing the good in them this is actually the 1st he talked down the FOTW instead of defeating them. also a closer to Clark's Football career and an introduction of the NEW kind of relationship of CHlark the tri-A reminds me the film Johnny be Good (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095409/)

[Shadowlord367]

okay, wish we would find out how the FotW got his power, but still funny, good Lois!

[Welling_is_pretty]

Originally posted by jdot
Taken as a stand alone episode, this is great. Lois was a hoot, Clark was in way over his head at the Sorority house, and the FOTW actually was very nicely done. He really showed Clark what could happen to him if he follows this one particular dream, and it's not a picture Clark particularly likes. Plus, Chloe knows part of Clark's secret at this point and is dropping subtle anvils on the boys head that he completely misses. Well, until the end of the episode where he clearly knows something is up but isn't putting two and two together very well.

Unfortunately, immediately following Pariah makes this episode the strongest case for lynching the writing staff of the Smallville ever. Way to have two incredibly emotionally invested episodes with a LOT going on in them, and then completely pretend they never happened. Because, you know, finding the dead body of a woman you had married and barely keeping yourself from popping the head of her killer like a zit wouldn't have any long term emotional fallout or anything.
I agree with you completely!

I also loved the scene in the sorority (Clark is so perfect there!).

I didn't care for the ending scene though.
And hey, did anyone else think while watching Lois's drinking contest 'where's Indiana Jones?". :lol:

Oh only other thing: if this guy was such a huge deal--going from Smallville HIgh to play for the (you'll forgive the pun) big leagues, how is it that he isn't mentioned before, specifically with Whitney? In small towns big league heroes are always the comparision for types like Whit. (yeah, I know the 'real' reason, I just don't like it.)

[Crusader]

Why couldnt clark just for once enjoy some ladies stripping off for him!!! He acted so bubly and scared why should he!!!

[JayByrd]

I think it is to be assumed that since Geoff was from Smallville, his powers were meteor-induced like everyone else's.

[RedKryptonClark]

This was another great Lois & Clark episode. I love Lois getting drunk and wandering around in her flannel Pjs and bunny slippers.

I love how the costume designers of this show do very subtle things to show how Lois & Clark "mesh" and match together, with Lois nearly always wearing Red/White/Blue when they're off on their adventures and even her own version of flannel in the form of her pink PJs.

Clark's rose-colored lense view of life as a big time college football player was great.

The best parts of the episode though were the Lois & Clark interaction. Clark slamming the closet door in Lois's face was hillarious and their interactions again (as always) caused sparks to fly. And for all that he "hates" her - he was VERY desperate to save her.

His then being roped into inviting her to live stay with the Kents and his complete disbelief afterwards was hillarious.

[tibbit78]

What did I think of Recruit?


1) I loved the Clark and Jonathan scene. That was the best part of it. The transcript was great.

Jonathan: I realize, I already gave you my blessing on this Clark, and I don't want to lie to you. This whole thing makes me feel uneasy.

Clark: Dad, we've been watching Met U Football games, since I can remember. Now they're knocking at my door.

Jonathan: I know that, Clark, and I'm proud of you for it.

Clark: Then why can't I have a shot at what every high school kid dreams of?

Jonathan: Because you are not like every other high school kid, Clark.

Clark: On that field I am. I'm not even using my abilities, and I can be the new Starting Quarterback for the Metropolis Bulldogs.

Jonathan: There's going to be millions of eyes on you, you're going to be under a magnifying glass, Clark.

Clark: I have pulled it off, before.

Jonathan: Clark, Met U is not like Smallville High. It's a much bigger stage, there's going to be much bigger problems.

Clark: You always told me not to walk away from something, just because it's a challenge. Dad, I can do this.

Jonathan: I know that you can handle it. I also know you'll behave yourself this weekend. Stay clear of the beer kegs.

Clark: Don't worry. Alcohol can't affect me, remember?

Jonathan: That's not the point. You're still underage. Look son, I just don't want you to get booted out, before you get in, all right?

Clark: Okay.

Jonathan: Now, there's one more thing. This is very important. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Have a great time.


2) I like how Lois Lane sticks up for herself and tells Geoff Johns off. She says to Geoff, "Look, Geoff, we know Coop was going to the newspaper about something involving the football team. I'm out on bail, and I'm looking to be locked up for manslaughter."
Geoff Johns says to Clark, "Clark, can I talk to you for a second?'
Lois Lane interrupts him and goes on to say, "Look, I'm sorry about Coop. I really am. But if you have something to say about me, say it to my face, because I have this little pet peeve about people talking behind my back."


3) Clark tells his parents he's not playing football anymore. He tells them he decided to give up football, because of his powers. He told them it wasn't fair for him to play football with his special powers, when he should give it up for somebody else.

Martha: Clark, I know how difficult it is to give up something you love.

Jonathan: But this decision you have made, son, it shows integrity well beyond your years.

Clark (to Jonathan): Then why don't I feel good about it?
This is one of the best Clark, Martha & Jonathan scenes. I really miss those Clark & Jonathan scenes, some of the best moments of Smallville were Clark & Jonathan.


4) I just loved this Chloe & Clark scene. Chloe always seems to have the best quotes, the best transcripts, sayings, etc. That's what I love about Chloe Sullivan.

Clark (to Chloe): I'm not going to Met U. I turned down my scholarship. I'm not playing football, anymore. I'm just not sure that football's my calling.

Chloe: I'm proud of you, Clark.

Clark (laughs): You're proud of me? Why?

Chloe: I just have the feeling that you're destined to do a lot more in this world than just score touchdowns.

Clark: Chloe, you've been saying a lot of weird things, lately. What makes you think I'm destined to do anying?

Chloe (smiling at Clark): Just a hunch.


5) I liked how Clark was looking for Lois Lane, finds Geoff Johns and says to him, "Geoff, please, you don't want to kill another person. Where is she?" He kept asking Geoff where Lois Lane was, and had to fight Geoff with all his strength to stop him from hurting anyone else.

I loved how Clark jumps down the sewer, and when there is a gate to keep Clark from getting any closer to Lois, he uses his heat-vision and the door falls down. Clark Kent comes to Lois' rescue. (The only thing I was disappointed in was not being able to see Tom Welling lift Erica up and carry her to safety, like Tom has done in many episodes in Season 1, 2 & 3. This was my only disappointment).

[Acejournalist82]

I loved this episode!

[Gypsies_Princess]

I loved this episode as well, it was funny yet some sadness in it because it's the episode where Clark gave up on his dream of playing football because of who he is..
Loved the episode :)

[Mr.]

help with music/song played when clark is saving lois from drowning....same song played on scare when lex has the dream of catastrophe....

any help greatly appreciated :) (going insane)

[genvillewars92]

i think it's just the score mark snow did for that epi :)

[Kevin24]

Lana: who the HELL do you think you are?
Lex: Is something bothering you lana?

LMAO

I love this episode, man how I wish Clark would have some fun sometimes! With those sorority girls! You know if he was on red k he would be all over them! I'm just messin I found that scene HI-lirious

[jon-el87]

Clark: Then why can't I have a shot at what every high school kid dreams of?



Why does Clark and the others in Smallville always assume that everyone is like them and dreams of exactly the same thing they do?

I never dreamed of Playing Football in High School. Sure, in my country, we don't play Football, but soccer (but I've never been insterested in that eigther).

Personally, In High School, there was only one thing on my mind (a clue; It's spelled
S-E-X). I never had any intrest in sports. I was the guy that made fun of jocks behind their backs.

But I guess, in a place like Smallville, the jocks are worshiped and many fathers pressure their children into playing Football.

[MjLaDy08]

I love this scene... another episode where we could see Lois vulnerabilities... And Clark... It was like he was feeling what Lois was feeling that time...

[pizzahead2490]

This episode was very interesting. Lois was hilarious in this episode. I loved the whole destined to do something great speech Chloe gave Clark at the end. I give this episode a 7.

----- Added 2 Minutes later -----


Lana: who the HELL do you think you are?
Lex: Is something bothering you lana?

LMAO

I love this episode, man how I wish Clark would have some fun sometimes! With those sorority girls! You know if he was on red k he would be all over them! I'm just messin I found that scene HI-lirious


Also when Lana told Jason something like : "I can't be with someone who Lies for a living"
:rotfl::rotfl:

I could not stop laughing when she said that because I was thinking, well in a year and a half you will be married to Lex. Lmao.

[wendelboe]

So in Smallville metropolis has two football teams - Metropolis Sharks (Whitney told us) and Metropolis Bulldogs. Can you even have two football teams in the same town or is that an error ?

[Cage]

So in Smallville metropolis has two football teams - Metropolis Sharks (Whitney told us) and Metropolis Bulldogs. Can you even have two football teams in the same town or is that an error ?

Answer to the second question is "Yes" - Jets and Giants of NY

Answer to second question is Bulldogs are the college team and Sharks are the pro team

[Poe1809]

So in Smallville metropolis has two football teams - Metropolis Sharks (Whitney told us) and Metropolis Bulldogs. Can you even have two football teams in the same town or is that an error ?

I think a better question would be, 'Why do the Metropolis Bulldogs play Canadian football if they are in Kansas?'

Clark Kent is at the 45, the 50, the 55...wait, what?:rotfl:

[Supsfan]

I think a better question would be, 'Why do the Metropolis Bulldogs play Canadian football if they are in Kansas?'

Clark Kent is at the 45, the 50, the 55...wait, what?:rotfl:

I can just imagine Clark scoring a rouge single handedly. Clark purposely misses the field goal, Player X catches the ball int he endzone and Clark tackles him, 1 point Clark's team


Taken as a stand alone episode, this is great. Lois was a hoot, Clark was in way over his head at the Sorority house, and the FOTW actually was very nicely done. He really showed Clark what could happen to him if he follows this one particular dream, and it's not a picture Clark particularly likes. Plus, Chloe knows part of Clark's secret at this point and is dropping subtle anvils on the boys head that he completely misses. Well, until the end of the episode where he clearly knows something is up but isn't putting two and two together very well.

Unfortunately, immediately following Pariah makes this episode the strongest case for lynching the writing staff of the Smallville ever. Way to have two incredibly emotionally invested episodes with a LOT going on in them, and then completely pretend they never happened. Because, you know, finding the dead body of a woman you had married and barely keeping yourself from popping the head of her killer like a zit wouldn't have any long term emotional fallout or anything.

I know this post a few years old but I thought I would respond. I generally felt like S4 was much easier to handle if you could view all episodes as one shot deals with minimal storyline(let's face it if you don't you can ask yourself why wasn't Clark searching for the stones every episode).

Overall I don't get the negativity on this one by some people(I see this many times rated negatively). I thought it was a fun episode(with slight touches of comedy) and Clark came off looking good and heroic saving the day in the end all while learning a good life lesson. What more could somebody ask for in an episode. As you pointed out taken as a stand alone episode it's great.

[camycats]

I can just imagine Clark scoring a rouge single handedly. Clark purposely misses the field goal, Player X catches the ball int he endzone and Clark tackles him, 1 point Clark's team

I know this post a few years old but I thought I would respond. I generally felt like S4 was much easier to handle if you could view all episodes as one shot deals with minimal storyline(let's face it if you don't you can ask yourself why wasn't Clark searching for the stones every episode).

Overall I don't get the negativity on this one by some people(I see this many times rated negatively). I thought it was a fun episode(with slight touches of comedy) and Clark came off looking good and heroic saving the day in the end all while learning a good life lesson. What more could somebody ask for in an episode. As you pointed out taken as a stand alone episode it's great.

TALK ABOUT OLD....Caught this rerun epi on HDNET last week and just realized now that Chris Carmack's character (Star Football Player) was named after Geoff Johns (Star Comic Book Writer). HA! Quite funny never caught on to that one before. I definitely liked this episode, too. Guess the whole idea of "filler episodes" is actually pretty good, it at least shows the "daily life" CK had to lead, showing his potential path & life after high school was interesting. After all, Smallville's origins was really "to show" to story tell Clark Kent in his younger years. Agreed, nicely done! :)

[Supsfan]

Guess the whole idea of "filler episodes" is actually pretty good, it at least shows the "daily life" CK had to lead, showing his potential path & life after high school was interesting. After all, Smallville's origins was really "to show" to story tell Clark Kent in his younger years. Agreed, nicely done! :)

I don't get the negative stigma of an episode being "filler". Personally S4 + 1 are my 2 favorite Season and both are rather "filler" heavy. Personally I think when the episodes stay away from long running season story arcs it is better, instead focusing on the plot of 1 episode with the background of Clark personal life being the sub plot of that episode.

Recruit basically used the FOTW method for the A story while the football arc was used as the B plot and tied those 2 things together

[camycats]

I don't get the negative stigma of an episode being "filler". Personally S4 + 1 are my 2 favorite Season and both are rather "filler" heavy. Personally I think when the episodes stay away from long running season story arcs it is better, instead focusing on the plot of 1 episode with the background of Clark personal life being the sub plot of that episode.

Recruit basically used the FOTW method for the A story while the football arc was used as the B plot and tied those 2 things together

AGREE AGAIN....You definitely described it better and in a more positive way Sups. Don't get me wrong, I like it when they do different storytelling in every episode as well. I'm not too much of a fan when the story line is dragged out so much. Guess that's why I kinda got a little bored of watching SV somewhere between S5 thru S7, where the whole Lex & Lana relationship-Clark-triangle-baby-marriage thing happened. I think I stopped watching for a while around there. Of course, I've had to catch up by the time S8 came back :p Thanks for sharing the "plot info".

[Supermania]

As you pointed out taken as a stand alone episode it's great.

I don't think that Recruit was a standalone episode at all; it is part of the 'Clark-Football' sub-plot which dominated the first half of Season Four. All those early episodes built up to this; Jonathan kept telling Clark that he was bound to make mistakes during his football matches and cause himself to be put in the spotlight and this was a chance for Clark to see it with his own eyes, to see what sort of person he'd have to be to maintain a footballing career at Metropolis University.

[Supsfan]

I don't think that Recruit was a standalone episode at all; it is part of the 'Clark-Football' sub-plot which dominated the first half of Season Four. All those early episodes built up to this; Jonathan kept telling Clark that he was bound to make mistakes during his football matches and cause himself to be put in the spotlight and this was a chance for Clark to see it with his own eyes, to see what sort of person he'd have to be to maintain a footballing career at Metropolis University.

True, but I seen this episode many times refered to as "filler". I am guessing alot of people didn't care for the football storyline in S4 and seen it as filler. I didn't mind it myself, it was nice actually having a storyline of Clark being involved somehow in the school and doing school related stuff

[Nimkong]

This episode was good but not on my top.Liked how clark got enrolled at metroplis and liked how lois is envolved.But disliked how the plot was so boring

[SGuthrie27]

This was definitely one of the better Lois Lane-centric episodes of Season 4, in my opinion, so I gave it 8 football cakes out of 10 for a cool turning point in Clark's life and an actually pretty enjoyable episode for one that featured a lot of Lois. Note that I LOVE Lois now, but back then, she aggravated and annoyed me about every 11.6 seconds that she was on-screen. The Geoff Johns character provided an interesting parallel to Clark and how he originally wanted to go the football route, and he was portrayed by a good actor, so it made the storyline that much more interesting. Chloe and Clark's conversations, and her gentle hint-dropping, was a TON of fun for me to watch. "Just a hunch," indeed, my sly, sweet, tiny blonde. :D

[Simba_Muffy]

Clark's Lois save is great and funny. It's funny because Clark has said "Where is she?!" at least 3 times in S10 and he always uses the same tone.