This episode rivals the pilot as the best the season has yet to offer.
Clark is informed by a former employee of LuthorCorp that a disease that causes him to violently shake was caused by a massive explosion within Level 3. Clark inquires Lex about this knowledge, and Lex claims that he knows nothing about such a thing, that the level itself is mythical and claimed only by disillusioned former employees who want compensation for their new and alien disease. However, while Lex is giving a group of Smallville High School a tour of the LuthorCorp facility, Clark sneaks off with the ex-employee to find the Level. Lex realizes that the two have escaped. Lionel arrives in time to create a lock-down in the building, keeping any others from possibly discovering the truth. It turns out that Level 3 does indeed exist. As the press covers the event in Level 3 at the end of the show, Lionel attempts to maintain a persona with the public by imitating a hug with Lex, a gesture that Lex knows is not about love but about Lionel maintaining a good standing with the people- a very touching moment indeed.
In this show, Clark sees the untruthfulness that poisons Lex's character. And the audience sees the artificial love that Lionel gives Lex just to maintain his own persona of goodwill.
Clark is informed by a former employee of LuthorCorp that a disease that causes him to violently shake was caused by a massive explosion within Level 3. Clark inquires Lex about this knowledge, and Lex claims that he knows nothing about such a thing, that the level itself is mythical and claimed only by disillusioned former employees who want compensation for their new and alien disease. However, while Lex is giving a group of Smallville High School a tour of the LuthorCorp facility, Clark sneaks off with the ex-employee to find the Level. Lex realizes that the two have escaped. Lionel arrives in time to create a lock-down in the building, keeping any others from possibly discovering the truth. It turns out that Level 3 does indeed exist. As the press covers the event in Level 3 at the end of the show, Lionel attempts to maintain a persona with the public by imitating a hug with Lex, a gesture that Lex knows is not about love but about Lionel maintaining a good standing with the people- a very touching moment indeed.
In this show, Clark sees the untruthfulness that poisons Lex's character. And the audience sees the artificial love that Lionel gives Lex just to maintain his own persona of goodwill.