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Given their absence from the series over the last few weeks, the return of Doomsday (Sam Witwer) and Jimmy Olsen (Aaron Ashmore) should have come as a mythology infused outing. Instead, "Turbulence" is hampered by its own narrow vision and depends too much on idle dialogue and E.R. based antics.

Ashmore does a brilliant job as the obsessive and determined Jimmy Olsen, however the events that lead to his final argument with Chloe (Allison Mack) depend to heavily on his fragile state following with his wedding night encounter with Doomsday and enough pain killers to put the Man-of-Steel out for the count. His midnight shenanigans don't come with the same razor sharp edge that Bloom's twilight activities have and unfold at a somewhat disjointed pace with low-level gore.

Overall, the episode feels like a filler episode designed to keep the characters busy until the real plot points kick in. The reveal that Bloom is actually Doomsday is slowly building and a full-on transformation scene is also becoming a must have for the series. Many of the threads that have been developed in the first half of the season all come into play but ultimately don't go anywhere new. Despite the yawn-worthy adventure though, the climax at Metropolis General between Chloe and Jimmy is well worth the wait and leads perfectly into the kind of epilogue that suggests some impressive things are coming to "Smallville."

The hook of the episode comes in the form of the new and improved Tess Mercer (Cassidy Freeman). Following the "death" of Lex Luthor, her character has gone through a dramatic transformation and has become a friendly and reassuring presence on the show. Her new fuzzy-wuzzy status is quickly established by her offer to give Clark his big break and the duo's shared adventure on the Queen Industries jet becomes the main point of interest.

Just what exactly did Lex write about Clark Kent in his journal, and how much does Tess know about his origins? These are the questions the ten minute flight prompts and in true "Smallville" fashion no answers are offered. Tess herself states that although she runs his company and she lives in his mansion, she is not Lex Luthor. Yet, the subtle threats, cunning plans and a mysterious agenda are all trademarks of the Luthor name.

What Worked

It was great seeing David taken on the anti-hero status on the show - killing those who are deemed "unworthy" or "unclean" may be an alternative way to clean up the Metropolis streets that Clark has never considered but it is also fantastic way to purge his system of the destructive impulses that were awakened by Braniac. Pimps, thieves, drug deals and other sinners must now beware; it is not just the Red-Blue Blur they need to fear.

Witwer's opening monologue during the teaser contains a hefty dose of biblical overtones to it, particularly the mentions of overcoming evil, eliminating sinners and trying to become more human. Witwer himself delivers the lines wonderfully, encompassing a dark foreboding as well as a vulnerability of the Bloom character who is as much a victim of Kryptonian genetics as his own casualties.

There were some nice nods to the future as well, particularly as Clark and Chloe discuss the pros and cons of having a duel identity and the origins of wearing a superman suit under his Daily Planet threads are explored. Who knew the Man-of-Steel's undercover gear came about as a wardrobe malfunction?

The musical score of the episode is a wonderful addition to the score that the series has already put out, and comes with an impressive subtlety similar to "Requiem For A Dream" that fits with the events perfectly. Then, as trouble strikes in the high skies, the score (this time accompanied by some fantastic special effects) takes a dramatic turn and shows how epic the series can be.

What Didn’t Work

In addition to the fragile plot, "Turbulence" is let down by its own bottle-scale. Yes, the events on the Queen Industries jet come with a lot of intrigue and some flashy effects, but the episode remains low-scale and feels like more of a filler episode until the real juicy stories come into play.

Very few of the E.R. scenes come with any real substance and are made up of a lot of idle chat between the love triangle of the season. Jimmy's investigation lacks the same potency that his usual pairing with Lois brings to the show and despite a few horror stylings (the blood splatters, monstrous transformations, etc), lacks any real kick.

The connection that Bloom has to Chloe remains artificially constructed despite the chemistry the two have together. After only a handful of episodes we are expected to accept their bond and friendship as we would any other long-running relationship on the series

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

"Smallville" stars Tom Welling, Erica Durance, Allison Mack and Justin Hartley. "Turbulence" was written by Turi Meyer, Al Septien. The episode was directed by Kevin G. Fair. "Smallville" airs on The CW Thursday at 8 p.m.