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This review contains MINOR SPOILERS for "Toxic," the third episode from "Smallville's" eighth season.

Normally it is a fantastic occasion when "Smallville" stories are lifted straight out of the comic books. Unfortunately, "Toxic" doesn?t quite hold up to previous benchmarks.

It was certainly a nice nod to the character of Oliver Queen's (Justin Hartley) origins and was straight out of the original comic book stories as the billionaire playboy was knocked overboard from his party-yacht and finds himself stranded on a desert island to fend for himself. In the comics, champagne, pearl slippers and the playboy lifestyle were all exchanged for a lesson in self-reliance and discovery that was ultimately the birth of the Green Arrow hero.

The problem however is that the adventure could have been better served as a flashback or live experience rather than an illusion brought about by a bizarre poison.

Instead it was only after the crisis was averted that the episode shows its real potential as all of the characters gravitate towards their new relationships; Chloe (Allison Mack) and Davis (Sam Witwer) carried with it a few hints to the future and Lois and Clark was bursting with discussions of heroes and noble sentiments. The real joy through was the revelation of Oliver and Tess' (Cassidy Freeman) mysterious past following their islandic escapades and the Green Arrow's dark side after he learns the truth about his parents demise.

What Worked

Lois (Erica Durance) and Tess' head butting allowed for some needed tension in the Daily Planet office, however it was incredibly underplayed and could have held a larger significance in propelling the characters forward this season.

Tess is still less of a villain than previously promised (thus far the worst thing she has done is head-up Luthorcorp and kill a murderer), but presumably once she is fully clued up on Lex's fringe-science investigations that will change. She is only half-aware of all of his projects after all, and that?s only the ones named after constellations.

The cavalier and sudden nature of the young girl being shot in the island was more graphic and human than what "Smallville" normally goes for but it succeeds in capitalizing the more serious nature of the series, and further raises its head above its mediocre beginnings.

Lois' heart-to-heart with Oliver didn?t quite hold the super-charged chemistry that the Clark (Tom Welling) and Lana relationship once did; however, the vulnerability of Lois was a very welcome opportunity to see the person she is below the head-strong reporter. Her openness to voice her feelings on their relationship carried hints that she might one time re-kindle her romance with Queen, and was also strong enough to force her to take charge when "Dimples" arrives on the scene.

Fear over what Brainiac has done to Chloe once again sees Clark worrying about what might happen, which is why Chloe's optimistic outlook on her new found ability is something of a relief.

What Didn?t Work

The "Lost"-style hallucinations involving Ollie constructing a bow and arrow and slowly developing his life as a hunter would have been better had he actually been stranded on a desert island instead of lying in the Isis Foundation re-living it all; a stranded Ollie with a hand-fashioned bow and arrow is still no match for an emerald-clad Green Arrow.

Queen's poisoning also allowed for a convenient write-in of Bloom, but unfortunately it was left as too little too late. There was a nice reference in the Daily Planet though to Metropolis' own Jack and Ripper which is undoubtedly a hint to his twilight alter-ego, Doomsday.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

"Smallville" stars Tom Welling, Erica Durance, Allison Mack and Justin Hartley. "Toxic" was written by Caroline Dries and was directed by Mairzee Almas. "Smallville" airs on The CW Thursday at 8 p.m.

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