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This review contains MODERATE SPOILERS for "Bloodline," the eighth episode from "Smallville's" eighth season.

The Phantom Zone is a place of pure hatred, suffering and unadulterated comic book mythology, so when "Smallville" makes a pit stop in the area, it is always a thrilling adventure. And with Lois Lane (Erica Durance) tagging along for the ride, it makes ?Bloodline?s? Zone encounter a goosebump-worthy affair.

As the double team are floated out into space as part of a rotating mirror, the camera pans from the Kent farm carries an epic quality (something that always seems to accompany the series in its hardcore comic book episodes), and the exploration of the Zone allows for more scenery than your casual walk through a corn field.

It was wonderful to see how quickly Lois, a hard-nosed reporter who always takes charge, fell to pieces after coming to the conclusion that the Daily Planet?s reporting duo have been ?abducted?. Their trek through the alien landscape though was hampered by the unfortunate -- yet oddly-convenient -- fact that every encounter with a bizarre creature left her unconscious. In a similar sense, Lois also managed to reach a spectacularly wrong and outlandish conclusion to events inside the Zone that keep Clark?s identity concealed.

Their "Delorean" out of the Phantom Zone had a high coolness factor as the House of El family crest lit up with the Superman colors and the portal was activated. The tear-jerking and heartfelt goodbye in the Zone was fantastically performed by Tom Welling as he bids farewell to his Kryptonian cousin.

The problem is though that the entire events of ?Bloodline? may have been better spread over several episodes to allow the real implications of the adventure to be properly realized. Lois being inhabited by Faora, the wife of Zod, and the true origins of Davis Bloom being revealed are by no means minor proceedings in the ?Smallville? story. Normally such mythology-filled adventures are unrelenting in their drive, tone and pace, but ?Bloodline? seems to rush through elements that could have held a much larger significance in order to move onto the next big shocker. Despite the inconsistencies though, ?Bloodline? is without a doubt a turning point in the season.

What Worked

Despite the epic tone, the return of Kara and the harsh nature of life in the Phantom Zone, a lot of the fun characterisms were not forgotten: Lois moving in to the Kent farm to avoid pre-wedding Chloe and Jimmy, Oliver?s instant interest in stealing from Tess Mercer and the superhero banter.

Tess? from-out-of-the-shadows appears in the Kent farm is very Lex Luthor, and for just a split second you almost forget that she isn?t Michael Rosenbaum ... especially when a little verbal dueling ensues filled with supposition and cryptic implications. Unlike Lex, though, Tess drops all pretense early on and reveals all to Chloe she wants the crystal and she knows it landed in a corn field.

Kara?s choice to remain in the Zone to prevent more Zoners and Phantoms escaping into the universe showed how much of a hero she already is. She may not don a red cape or leather boots, but the Maiden of Steel has certainly earned the right to be called a champion on behalf of humanity.

?Bloodline? also sported a nice little reference to Bloom as The Ultimate -- a small token from the comics among many changes made to his origins story.

What Didn?t Work

Aside from the rushed story that could have been a fantastic arc for the November sweeps, the one-line explanation as to why Oliver isn?t around to help Clark from the on-set was a little disappointing and ultimately unnecessary as the emerald-clad archer eventually makes his somewhat refined appearance.

And, despite it being their zone, very few Phantoms graced the screens until Lois made her crash-landing back in Kansas.

The biggest downside of all though is Kara's second-rate decision to leave Smallville. Lets just hope she finds the lost city of Kandor and she makes an awe-inspiring return in the future.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

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

Alan Stanley Blair is the Assistant News Editor for Airlock Alpha and its sister site Rabid Doll. He is currently studying for a diploma in Freelance Journalism and can be reached at ablair@airlockalpha.com.

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