Smallville (TV Series) Commencement (2005) User Reviews

A fitting finale to the fourth Season

[The_Sandheaver · 10/10 · 20 July 2006]

Things finally come to a heated end for the fourth Season of Smallville in an episode which any Smallville fan cannot miss. Complete with the trademark Cliffhanger ending and the non-stop action and suspense, this has everything that makes a perfect episode of Smallville.

In this episode, Lana ends up killing Genevieve Teague whilst possessed by her ancestor with one of the three stones that have been the focus of the Fourth Season. However, things are even more complicated when Clark receives a warning from Jor-El to retrieve all three of the stones and bring them together or a catastrophe of the likes that not even Clark can stop will rain down upon Smallville. So commences a race against time on Graduation Day to stop Smallville from becoming a victim of huge destruction.

Smallville, Bull Eye of Meteor Shower

[claudio_carvalho · 10/10 · 9 July 2006]

On the Smallville High graduation day, Lana Lang is attacked by Genevieve Teague in her apartment, and she mortally stabs Genevieve with the Kryptonian stone, killing her. The blood in the element triggers a meteor shower toward Smallville. Clark Kent goes to the Kawatche caves and after inserting the disc in a stone, he talks to Jor-El, who orders him to join the three stones to save Earth of destruction. Lana Lang surprisingly gives one of the stones to Clark, and the other one, which is in possess of Lionel, "calls" him. A deranged and wounded Jason goes to the Kent farm and threatens Martha and Jonathan trying to find the stones. And Chloe saves Clark in the Luthor mansion.

"Commencement" is certainly the best episode of the Fourth Season of "Smallville", with many new situations: the death of Genevieve Teague; the declaration of Lana to Clark; another meteor shower in Smallville; Chloe secretly saving Clark; Lana apparently seeing a spacecraft; Clark sent to the Artic. Unfortunately I have to wait for the release of the Fifth Season on DVD to watch the sequel of this excellent episode. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "Formatura" ("Graduation")

No Doubt: One of the best, if not the best, episode of the series

[Rcwilkinson123 · 10/10 · 27 December 2007]

Clark prepares to make a crucial step toward his destiny, and accepts his origins, while the town prepares for a catastrophic event in this gripping, action-packed episode that embodies everything that makes the appeal of this show.

Clark has refused to search for the three elements from Krypton that will lead him toward a place that can help him learn and understand his purpose on Earth. His refusal to search for these stones leads to a punishment from his biological father: a meteor shower that will prove to be just as deadly or more than the first one that hit. Meanwhile, Genevieve attacks Lana with the intent of retrieving one of the stones. The witch Countess Thoreau possesses Lana's body and fulfills her purpose of returning in killing Genevieve. A terrific, frantic chase for the stones involving Clark, Lex, and Lionel ensues, while the Kent parents are held up in their own home by a gone-mad Jason Teague. Lana tries to leave the town, but the LuthorCorp helicopter is caught in the sky among the meteors. Lana crash-lands back in a field, and discovers something remarkable and miraculous in a crater, while Clark unites the stones, creating a crystal, which transports him to the Arctic. Clark lets the crystal fly into the sky, promising great things for his destiny, and great things for Season 5.

This episode is my favorite episode of "Smallville." The stone search is terrific, the action is awesome, the suspense is gripping, and the cliffhanger at the end is the best of any season finale.

exit countess thearoux, enter general zod

[justinweithers · 10/10 · 19 August 2008]

season 4 was definitely one of my favorite season as it had a balance of a dark story and some light heartness than the previous season. during the season Lana is possessed by a 17th century witch, who ironically happens to be your ancestor. Clark on the other hand has refused to locate 3 kryptonian stones, as he just wishes to have a normal senior year, however when the countess,in Lana langs body, stands one the elements in Genevieve teagues blood, it triggers a meteor shower that forces Clark to act on his destiny, its also a consequence of clarks refusal to obey his father.

commencement is not just an episode that adds to the story, its also an episode we can relate too in terms of closing one chapter of our lives and opening another. commencement something we all go through as well as an episode that will leave you wondering what happens next, event if you already do.

My favourite episode of smallville

[stupidorrange · 10/10 · 9 June 2019]

This is literally the best episode. What can I say. The acting was the best acting of any show. The storyline was literally one of the best storyline in any show and it got executed and preformed perfectly. This episode is my favourite episode of smallville and my favourite episode of any show.

Best Episode Ever

[dancrussell-83592 · 10/10 · 1 August 2022]

This is 100% the best episode of Smallville. Another meteor shower heading straight for Smallville and everyone has to evacuate. I honestly thought that Jason had shot Shelby for a second and then the meteor destroys their house. But the best bit has to be the ending. Lana discovers the spaceship, Lois looking over a destroyed Smallville and Clark & Chloe being teleported to the artic to create the Fortress of Solitude. Is episode was just Super.

Huge Stepdown From Season 3

[themanofhope · 10/10 · 29 October 2016]

The show Smallville has had its ups and downs but season 4 is unfortunately not an up. Don't get the wrong idea, season 4 of the show is probably better than half of the shows on TV but compared to what Smallville usually has to offer, it doesn't stand a chance. The biggest problem with the season is that its extremely inconsistent. So the episode is usually amazing or horrible. Their are only about 2 episodes in between. And their are way too many freak of the week and filler episodes in this season. The show clearly established in season 3 that they had got over freaks but season 4 unfortunately brings them back. The show basically has 6 amazing episodes, 3 OK episodes and 13 episodes that are an absolute waste of time. They do not advance the plot but just waste the time that is given. Lana also bugged me more in this season and Jason was a pointless addition to the cast except for giving Clana a break. The witch episodes were so horrendous and the plot of the three rocks didn't even make sense but instead added confusion. But when their were good episodes in the season, they were all 10 out of 10's. For example the flash episode, the episode when Clark and Lionel switch bodies, the two part season premier, the episode where Lex's angel and demon splits in two and the season finale were absolutely astonishing. But their were just so many weak episodes in the season that unfortunately dropped the season's rating by a tremendous amount. I never expected this to happen but it did so let's just hope that the show improves from its mistakes. Season 4 of Smallville gets a 7.3/10.

To be continued...

[m-47826 · 8/10 · 10 July 2023]

With episodes like these, Smallville's cinematic qualities can't be denied. Commencement was a mix between the series opener and season 2 finale. Which are one of the best moments of the early years of the series. It also marks the end of an important chapter for the show, as well as my own personal enthusiasm regarding it. Previous episodes were more or less decent fillers, with a chilling one about a student, literally trying to freeze the moment, until everyone go their separate ways on graduation day. And in a show/town like Smallville, it's as spectacular as you would expect. With characters dying, Lionel becoming a vessel for whatever kryptonian new message, and Clark furthering his destiny. After Genevieve was murder by « Isobel », using one of the (pointy) stones, Jor-El unleashes a new shower of meteorites, to punish humans greed. And his son's inability to complete his task. Of course there were very annoying moments that slowed the episode down, like Clark stumbling upon a vault filled with kryptonite, as he was about to retrieve the missing element. Or Jason dropping out of nowhere, preventing the Kents from fleeing before the meteor shower strikes. But there were also rewarding ones, like Lex showing his evil side (and true feelings for Lana), Chloe having Clark's back. Or even Matha and Jonathan, fighting against Jason, Lana discovering the spaceship, and Lois watching the damages from afar. The show was not at its peak yet, regarding the Lex/Lana/Clark love triangle. And the episode where Lana is forced to marry Lex, is so poignant it's one of my favorites. But Smallville's high school years, are the show's most pertinent and memorable seasons, so much so that this finale managed to capture its essence, while offering renewed excitement for a story that needed to reinvent itself.

Season Four (6/10 stars): A Show That Has Somewhat Lost Itself

[zkonedog · 5/10 · 3 July 2019]

In Smallville's first season, the "hook" of the show was pretty simple: "Superman in high school". In seasons two and three, the series began straying from hallways and lockers, but still maintained that adolescent feel. Here in season four, however, it is clear that the high school angle is actually wearing the show down to the studs--it needs to grow but is unable to even begin doing so until graduation day.

There are some obvious problems with S4 that clearly denote it as the weakest of the bunch thus far:

-The season-long arc surrounding the "stones of power" and Lana (Kristin Kreuk) being possessed by a medieval witch's spirit. Despite getting one comedic episode out of that premise, this storyline bogs down the entire season and ends up not even really mattering in the endgame. A very poor concept to base this campaign around.

-Remember when you thought Whitney from S1 was a useless character? Well, let me introduce you to Jason Teague (Jensen Ackles)--easily the most useless Lana love interest to date. His family arc also ruins what could have been a really standout guest starring role from Jane Seymour (she is still great, but those characters are as confusing as they are uninspiring).

-The introduction of Lois Lane (Erica Durance) onto the farm, as it were. I get the intention, seeing as how Margot Kidder's film portrayal is so iconic. But this Lois is little more than a super-annoyance--we're talking teeth-gratingly so--and her role is completely undefined. In short, she isn't needed here whatsoever and her presence actually sort of mucks up the mythology.

Though clearly a notch below its predecessors in overall quality, S4 does have a few shining moments to keep things watchable:

-Continued great acting from Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor, such as in a body-split episode ala Captain Kirk in Star Trek. Tom Welling--Clark--also puts in a nice turn mimicking the mannerisms of Lionel Luthor (John Glover) in a similar type situation.

-Though Lois's introduction doesn't "hit", the first glimpses of Bart Allen (Kyle Gallner)--The Flash--and trickster Mxyzptlk (Trent Ford) prove to be solid episodes.

-A two-episode angle that sees the return of Alicia Baker (Sarah Carter)--Clark's former love--might actually be some of the best work the show has ever done in terms of pure emotion and fun.

I think the uneven nature of this fourth season can also be seen simply by examining its beginning and end. The premiere--Crusade--is actually a great episode that seems to set the table for some very interesting plot and character angles. But by the finale--Commencement--the show is so thematically lost that the actual pomp and circumstance is secondary to the asinine stones quest, Teagues, and CGI effects. Very clearly not the same sentiment as that first time we all glimpsed Smallville High.

As I continue a Smallville re-watch, I'm interested to remember what season five brings, now freed from the high school of it all. I hope it allows for some innovation in storytelling and character arcs, as those areas got a little embarrassing over the course of these 22 episodes.

It will be a challange....

[LittleStorpingInTheSwuff · 1/10 · 20 September 2018]

The writers will really have to struggle to come with an episode more ridiculous than this one. Even the *cough* 'cliff hanger' ending is so ridiculous that it has to be continued in the next season.