This was a very good episode of Smallville. Very interesting and the script was quite good and well played out. You were never really sure what to believe until the end. The only annoying bit is that they keep making Clark do some stupid and unnecessary things. Like stopping the car with his body. Why did he need to do that? Lex was excellent! He's such a good actor and he played his role really well. The ending is quite sad though. It's so sad to see Lex in the state he's in at the end and I really feel sorry for him. You know he becomes bad at the end and all the things that keep happening to him just make you realise why. Lionel too is given a bit of a humane face even though he does some really horrible things to Lex. But we're made to feel he's sad about them and doesn't really want to do them. I guess he feels he has to protect himself and his empire at all costs. All in all, very good episode.
6 Reviews
3x08 - Rewatch (Lex-centric episode)
DCSassyQueen16 July 2016
Lex thinks someone (his father) is out to kill him, but he is having some delusions... poor dude.. & no one believes his stories except his buddy, Clark Kent.
Reaction: I have been watching too many shows where I have been rooting for the villains & it is starting to affect me in my re-watch of Smallville. I was, actually, happy Clark was on Lex's side even though Clark is a little naive.
It is hard to know which Luthor is the lesser evil... right now it is Lex? because Lionel is too damn creepy? Or are both of them a mess... I feel like a hot mess because Lionel cares about Lex in his own weird. I am not sure if I should take that into consideration or brush it off. My head hurts... it sucks to be a Luthor.
Michael R. did the damn thing with his acting skills. I am loving that dude more & more with this re-watch.
I love seeing Clark's aggressive side in this episode.
Lana finally smartens up & realises that she had to stay away from Clark. He has been preaching that they should be apart since they broke up, but when she finally says it he is hurt. What do you want dude?
I hope Lex's gets out of the asylum in the next episode because it was so sad seeing him in there.
Reaction: I have been watching too many shows where I have been rooting for the villains & it is starting to affect me in my re-watch of Smallville. I was, actually, happy Clark was on Lex's side even though Clark is a little naive.
It is hard to know which Luthor is the lesser evil... right now it is Lex? because Lionel is too damn creepy? Or are both of them a mess... I feel like a hot mess because Lionel cares about Lex in his own weird. I am not sure if I should take that into consideration or brush it off. My head hurts... it sucks to be a Luthor.
Michael R. did the damn thing with his acting skills. I am loving that dude more & more with this re-watch.
I love seeing Clark's aggressive side in this episode.
Lana finally smartens up & realises that she had to stay away from Clark. He has been preaching that they should be apart since they broke up, but when she finally says it he is hurt. What do you want dude?
I hope Lex's gets out of the asylum in the next episode because it was so sad seeing him in there.
Lex's forced descent into Madness
Rcwilkinson12314 November 2007
Warning: Spoilers
The truth behind many evil conspiracies rises to a high point in this eighth episode of the third season.
Lex is convinced that Lionel is trying to gain the upperhand over his son in a continuous battle for LuthorCorp control, and regain the iron fist over his empire. Lex concludes that Lionel is hiring people to drug Lex and have psychiatric sessions with him to convince him that he is crazy. Lex sees his personal bodyguard get "killed," and leaps out the window for safety. In addition, Lex says that Metropolis crime lord Morgan Edge is alive and has gotten plastic surgery.
Lex has a difficult time persuading anybody of the truth behind these events. Jonathan, Martha, and Chloe begin to believe that he is completely insane, but Clark holds out hope that these stories are legit. Lex and Clark go to investigate, but nothing that Lex says seems to be true. That is, until they discover where Morgan Edge- indeed alive and well- is living, and who provided him with the luxurious estate.
However, Lex's madness drives him to do regrettable things. He causes Lana to get partly trampled by a horse, and is ready to kill Clark, after convincing himself that everyone is out to get him. In his crazed state, Lex sees Clark do something incredible. However, how sure can he be about it when he is crazy? This is a fantastic episode. It is the best of Season 3 thus far, and one of the seven or eight best in the series so far. Michael Rosenbaum is wonderful as a crazed, confused, but correct-in-his-accusations Lex, and it is interesting to witness a key moment in Lex's psyche.
Lex is convinced that Lionel is trying to gain the upperhand over his son in a continuous battle for LuthorCorp control, and regain the iron fist over his empire. Lex concludes that Lionel is hiring people to drug Lex and have psychiatric sessions with him to convince him that he is crazy. Lex sees his personal bodyguard get "killed," and leaps out the window for safety. In addition, Lex says that Metropolis crime lord Morgan Edge is alive and has gotten plastic surgery.
Lex has a difficult time persuading anybody of the truth behind these events. Jonathan, Martha, and Chloe begin to believe that he is completely insane, but Clark holds out hope that these stories are legit. Lex and Clark go to investigate, but nothing that Lex says seems to be true. That is, until they discover where Morgan Edge- indeed alive and well- is living, and who provided him with the luxurious estate.
However, Lex's madness drives him to do regrettable things. He causes Lana to get partly trampled by a horse, and is ready to kill Clark, after convincing himself that everyone is out to get him. In his crazed state, Lex sees Clark do something incredible. However, how sure can he be about it when he is crazy? This is a fantastic episode. It is the best of Season 3 thus far, and one of the seven or eight best in the series so far. Michael Rosenbaum is wonderful as a crazed, confused, but correct-in-his-accusations Lex, and it is interesting to witness a key moment in Lex's psyche.
Crazy or not...?
thedcjoker10 April 2020
This is one of the best episode of the season.
Micheal Rosenbaum is really great in this one and deliver an outstanding performance. I adore those kind of movie that make you question yourself is he crazy or not? Is it all in is head. Like Shutter Island, Shattered is very well construct, and show a side of Lex that we didn't saw a lot in the show until now.
The ending scene with Johnny Cash - Hurt is a masterpiece. It's worth easily a 9.8/10.
Delusion or Reality?
claudio_carvalho8 May 2006
Lex Luthor is investigating the dark past of his father. He meets Morgan Edge (Patrick Bergin) with a new face after a plastic surgery, and collects evidences to send Lionel Luthor to prison. However, a hit man tries to kill Lex in the mansion, but he escapes to Kent Farm. Clark goes to the mansion to retrieve the evidences from the safe and finds that life is normal and there is no hint of the claimed attempt against Lex's live. When Lionel goes to the Kent Farm and tells that Lex Luthor is paranoid, Jonathan and Martha Kent question his sanity. Clark decides to investigate deeper to see if his friend is delusional or there is an evil plot against him.
"Shattered" is a good episode of "Smallville", but could be better. The conclusion of Lana Lang that being close to Clark Kent is dangerous is simply awful. I am really upset with the relationship of Clark and Lana in this Third Season, since the writer seems to be lost, using the most ridiculous motives to keep them apart. I miss the character of Whitney in this series, because at least there was coherence in the relationship of Clark and Lana. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "Surto" ("Break")
"Shattered" is a good episode of "Smallville", but could be better. The conclusion of Lana Lang that being close to Clark Kent is dangerous is simply awful. I am really upset with the relationship of Clark and Lana in this Third Season, since the writer seems to be lost, using the most ridiculous motives to keep them apart. I miss the character of Whitney in this series, because at least there was coherence in the relationship of Clark and Lana. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "Surto" ("Break")
The story and direction....
terminator-mjc16 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
...doesn't work out well. Clark wants Lana to be safe, but he brings Lex to where she is at a horse stable. Clark should have brought him somewhere else. That scene is despicable and Lana wouldn't have never got harmed at all.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
