Ep 3.17 - Legacy

[yellowqueen22]

Lionel seems to be coming closer to learning Clark's secret, and goes to Dr. Swann (Christopher Reeve) for help. Meanwhile, it seems that Jonathan is somehow communicating with Jor-El, and the consequences of the deal the two of them made are coming to the forefront.

[OutlawAngel]

I really liked this episode. Lionel rocked!. Cristopher Reeve Rocked! And I really liked the Jonathan story line. Jonathan had never really been portrayed as 'weak and emotional' It showed a new side of him and then there was the Lionel and Jonathan fight as the end. I never noticed how many fights them 2 got in :lol:

[vyperman7]

This is an amazing episode. In fact, I love this one almost as much as Rosetta. The only reason why I don't like Legacy more is because of the fact that we never got an answer on how Swann got the key. Rosetta had the awesome ten minutes at the end and the flying dream, but the time in between was a tad slow. Legacy was consistantly good for the whole episode, with the acception of that horrible ending.

[MBCorp]

^^I will never, ever forgive tptb for not explaining the ending of Legacy. Just...gah!

[OutlawAngel]

Yeah I dont like the ending now either. I bet that the writters were gonna bring that back up in Season 4 but never had the chance with Christopher

[UpandAtom]

This episode didn't quite meet my expectations. I thought the Christopher Reeve scenes were great but I just didn't feel good about everything else.

[Liriel]

I thought Rosetta was really good. This ep, for me, was a let down.

[UpandAtom]

I think the reason this episode was a let down was because it served as an introduction to the rest of the season as well as Season 4 while "Rosetta" was more of an epilogue.

[Welling_is_pretty]

I agree that this episode was ok but since it doens't really continue it's rather pointless. Once again, CR turned in a great performance (the man knew how to act!) and his scenes with JG were amazing. I know they weren't able to continue with that but they should have done something.
If I were to watch it again it would only be for CR's performance.

[tallville]

I dont really remember this episode. the only part i remember is the end with swann and the key.

[al821]

what was the deal that was made?

[Welling_is_pretty]

Originally posted by al821
what was the deal that was made?
the deal between Jonathan and Jor-el, you mean? If Jor-El gave Bo the power to bring Clark back from Metropolis (in Exile and Phoenix from Season 3) then Bo would give Kal-El back to Jor-El when the time came.

[Spirit Detective]

How the heck did Swann get the Key? Stupid writers!

[dave73085]

Not only do they not explain how Swann got the key, they don't explain what the deal that Swann and Lionel made was (as far as I can tell).

[Jill]

I like it, but I wouldn't call it as one of my favorite episodes of season 3.
I agree with dave73085, thet do not explain how Swann got the key and stuf...
It's a weird episode.

[dave73085]

Maybe they would have explained these questions in S4 or later if Christopher Reeve hadn't died and Margot Kidder hadn't quit her role...as it was they really left the Dr. Swann storyline hanging.

[Lex Dance]

I watched Legacy just last night and had forgotten how good it was. I had remembered it for Christopher Reeve's performance and the great ending (which doesn't seem so great for the fact it was never resolved from the viewers' perspective). But I'd forgotten about the great scenes involving Lionel and Lex ("they say insanity runs in the family, Dad" :lol: ), Lex and Clark (outside the FBI's hideout), Lex and Lana (BIG pointers towards his romantic intentions), and of course Lionel and Jonathon (the boy from suicide slums sure slapped Bo about! :eek: )
Great episode, and all the better for coming right before Truth and Memoria.
Originally posted by dave73085
Not only do they not explain how Swann got the key, they don't explain what the deal that Swann and Lionel made was (as far as I can tell).
Although the look on Swann's face at the end is extremely ambiguous, I think this was just a red herring (although it might have been developed were Christopher Reeve still with us - God rest his soul). I think we are supposed to assume that Swann wants Lionel to put the key into the wall, knowing that it will find its way to him (somehow!) He makes a deal with Lionel because he realises that Lionel is desperate enough to forego the consequences (anti-human consequences which Swann is no doubt aware of). I think the writers might have intended Swann's own scientific curiousity to interfere with his protective role over Kal-el, but I guess we will never know. Ultimately I think his motives must be good (why else would he return the key to Clark in S4?) and the deal he made was a means of tricking Lionel into thinking that the key has disappeared, which in turns protects Kal-el from Lionel.

[tibbit78]

What did I think of Legacy?


1) I loved the scene between Lionel & Clark. Usually, Lionel quotes are usually not my favorite quotes (especially during the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Season of Smallville). I liked what Lionel said to Clark at the end of this scene. I thought the writers did a good job writing this Legacy script. Especially, my favorite part is Lionel: "Of course you love your father. A son's love for a father -- there's nothing to compare it to. After all, you only get one." This was one of my favorite Lionel Luthor quotes.


Lionel: Clark. How's your father? How's his, uh, recovery progressing?

Clark: He's better.

Lionel: I can only imagine how difficult it must be for you to see him so... so weak.

Clark: Weak, strong, healthy -- he's still my dad, and I love him.

Lionel: Of course you do. A son's love for a father -- there's nothing to compare it to. After all, you only get one. Clark.


2) (This next scene that I liked was the Lionel and Lex scene. It shows how Lionel Luthor is fascinated with Clark Kent, just like I am fascinated with Clark Kent, and all of his powerful gifts. I always liked Lionel's curiosity over Clark; I thought he was funny. I've always wondered if Lionel was interested in Clark Kent out of curiosity, or if he really wanted to harm Clark Kent. It's interesting how the 5th & 6th Season has changed Lionel's attitude about Clark Kent, after Jor-El used Lionel as a vessel to help his son, Clark Kent. Now I know that Lionel Luthor wouldn't hurt Clark Kent; he even wants to protect Clark from his son, Lex Luthor. I enjoyed this scene).

Lex: I'm having a strange case of deja vu. Why the sudden resurgence of interest in the caves?

Lionel: Lex? Listen. Something truly extraordinary has happened. Do you remember the, um, the octagonal hole, or the indentation that was in one of the walls of the cave?

Lex: I'm sorry, Dad, that's your obsession, not mine.

Lionel: All right, but you remember the hole was sealed over. Yesterday, I found Clark Kent down there.

Lex: Clark?

Lionel: Yes. And the hole was opened. He'd opened it somehow.

Lionel: Oh, don't let your friendship with Clark Kent blind you, son. Don't forget it was Clark who discovered the caves. Then one of the symbols from the caves mysteriously appeared on his barn. The hole sealed itself up the same day that explosion happened on his farm.

Lex: Probably coincidence.

Lionel: (Scoffs.) Coincidence. That's an explanation used by fools and liars. Lex, we could accomplish so much if we work together.
Don't pretend that this isn't an obsession you and I share. We both know that you have an entire archive devoted to uncovering the mystery of Clark Kent. And if you won't help me, I'll find someone else who will.


3) I really enjoyed having Christopher Reeve on Smallville. I loved the conversation that Clark & Dr. Swann had in the episode, Rosetta of the 2nd Season of Smallville. Now Christopher Reeve was back again on Smallville (his very last episode of Smallville). I thought this scene was funny, epecially Christopher Reeve's sense of humor:


Lionel: Are you aware that, uh, at one time there was an octagonal keyhole on the wall of the cave? It was sealed for months. Then it reopened suddenly just after our young friend Clark had been down there.

Swann: (jokingly). Oh, then you don't need me. You need a locksmith.


4) This next scene that I really liked was the Clark & Dr. Swann scene. This was Christopher Reeve's last scene with Tom Welling. They really worked well together, even if it only lasted a very short time. I'm sure Tom Welling enjoyed working with Christopher Reeve, and I'm sure that all the Smallville fans enjoyed watching Christopher Reeve as well.



Clark: You betrayed me!

Swann: Hello, Kal-El.

Clark: My name is Clark.

Swann: You think I betrayed you because I met with Lionel Luthor?

Clark: You did more than meet with him. You agreed to help him.

Swann: I didn't betray you, Kal-El. I promised you your secret would never leave this building and it hasn't. My involvement with Lionel Luthor is in your best interest.

Clark: That man has done nothing but cause my family pain.

Swann: Was he the one who caused the explosion on the farm? Did he make you run wild in Metropolis? I opened the door to your heritage because I thought that you were ready. Your actions over the past year have proven me wrong.

Clark: You don't understand. There was another message in the ship from my biological father, and it said I was sent here to conquer. Do you know if that's true?

Swann: I don't have all the answers. I'm still on the same journey as you are, Kal-El.

Clark: Please, don't call me that. I don't even know who that is!

Swann: Fathers often want futures that their sons reject. That struggle is as old as the human race.

Clark: Except I'm not... human.

Swann: Humanity is not only about biology.

Clark: Look, you don't know Jor-El. Everything that he said has come to pass. My father made a deal with him to save me, and now it's killing him.

Swann: But the more you pursue this course, the greater the risk that you'll expose your secret not only to the Luthors, but to the world.

Clark: I can't let my father die for my mistakes.

Swann: Well, if that's your decision, then there's something else I have to show you. Activate screen.

Clark: It says, "I am waiting." It must be from Jor-El.

Swann: That message didn't come from the stars. It originated right here on Earth. But I believe that it wasn't meant for you, Kal-El.


I enjoyed watching this episode, Legacy. It's one of the best episodes of the whole 3rd Season of Smallville. Great script, great cast, and great acting. This will go down in Superman history, just because Christopher Reeve was on this show. Christopher Reeve was the very first actor to play Superman on the big movie screen. Other actors that played Superman, were on a TV show (not the movies). Smallville is my favorite Superman/Superboy TV show.

[npower1]

Swann deliberately misleads Lionel. He knows (somehow, unresolved) that subsequent actions by Lionel/JK will result in the key making its way into his safe keeping. He has recognised that Clark has not matured enough to accept his predefined destiny, hence he deliberately removes the possibility of progression for Clark.

[A.S.C.]

Hey you guys know how they said Martian Manhunter had been watching Clark for a while maye he retrieved the key while all the confusion was going on....you never know.
they didn't explain "some" things till way later in the other seasons.

[smallvillefreak24]

A. The whole beginning with Lionel about to shoot himself couldn't he have just paid oodles of $$ to get first on the transplant list

B. How did Swann get the key

C. WHat did Swann tell Lionel

D. I Did really like this episode tho

[starsky]

I found it ridiculous how they portrayed the FBI search at the KENT farm, the pillaging an plundering.

[lostinbrave]

The writers goofed later. It is established here that this was their first meeting but later(season 7) they depict them meeting with the queens and some one else(I can't remember).

[Twelling_SV_L0VE]

Omg. Lionel was such a b*tch in this episode. Specially on the fight with Jonathan, when the key lighted up. But I still don't understand how Swann got the key after all..

Hey, was Chloe in this episode? I have the feeling I didn't saw her.

[wendelboe]

The writers goofed later. It is established here that this was their first meeting but later(season 7) they depict them meeting with the queens and some one else(I can't remember).

As far as i can see we don't really get any definitive proof that they have/haven't meet each other before. (Lionel and Swann) - Nothing they say indicate that they did/didn't known each other from before

[Nimkong]

This episode was good but rosatta was better.I liked how christopher reeve came back,liked how they handled lionel well and how jhonathan was turning darker.