"Hex" starts as a corny, magical encounter as Chloe (Allison Mack) has a serious case of the other half blues but - like pulling a rabbit out of a hat - the episode very quickly transforms into something far more enjoyable.

It may be because of the stark brutality of the last few episodes involving Doomsday, broken relationships and a dark vision for the future of Earth, but this no-strings attached outing is a tale of the weird and unexplained and pulls "Smallville" out of its mid-season slump.

To put it simply, "Hex" is a fun, laugh-out-loud adventure.

Remaining loyal to the original canon of the comics, the account of Zatanna's lost father and her quest to revive him carries the episode along nicely through a character-based story dusted with a dazzle of magic and some sitcom-style comedy. Serinda Swan great as Zatanna and seems to have a genuine spark with Justin Hartley's Oliver Queen character ... plus there is a chance she could return to Metropolis in the future. Also, after a string of non-appearances, Erica Durance finally gets a chance to show how multi-talented she is as she trades in Lois Lane for Chloe Sullivan.

And above all else, the episode has one of the best endings "Smallville" has crafted this season.

What Worked

The episode allows for a harsher than normal view of the Man-of-Steel as he shows his true opinions on the Jimmy/Chloe break-up. It is a side to Clark (Tom Welling) that normally stays concealed for the softer-side of the character

And it's not just cards, flowers or vibrantly colored handkerchiefs up its sleeve, "Hex" is also credited with a wonderful mix of gags - both verbal and visual - aimed at the characters themselves. The greatest being Clark's reaction after witnessing a mugging - he steps forward in a bold and epic pose, throws back his jacket and very anti-climactically announces the words "9-1-1" into his phone like that will make the world a better place. Others include the tongue-twist of a name "Krypton-Jor-El- Fortress-Brainiac-Chloe" and Clark's skepticism at being a hero with "I'm a regular Green Arrow."

Trumped up with a musical score that has a sparkle to it that simply screams "magic," the entire scene on the roof of The Daily Planet was hilarious and filled with such unanimous affection as Chloe (in a Lois suit) tries to convince Clark that he really is out of this world in a very pantomime fashion. The choreography was masterfully done for maximum impact on the visual comedy and the dance between Welling and Durance was fascinating to behold.

What Didnt Work

Sights of Luthocorp facilities just doesn't have the same sinister atmosphere that they once did when Lex Luthor was the big-bad of the show and although the small-scale facility came part and parcel with and outing from Green Arrow, it was somewhat unadventurous and served a gentle reminder that Ollie is in fact the emerald archer from Star City. Coupled with another reminder of Bart Allen's Impulsive identity (not to mention the final scene) it becomes clear that there is another Justice League adventure lurking somewhere over the horizon.

The moral dilemma of Oliver's role in the death of Lex Luthor was relegated to behind the scenes contemplation making it a seriously weighty missed opportunity to explore the character further. When Oliver made his choice to take action against the tech'd-up bald billionaire, he was ruthless and brutal : and now, several weeks later, his conscience has finally caught up with him and he is wishing he could do things differently. His inner turmoil would have been great to see on-screen, but then again it would have given the episode a sharper edge and detract a little from the fan antics.

And there was simply no reason for Zatanna to be perched on the roof of The Daily Planet, the street of which is incredibly smaller than the usual real-world locations that have been used in the past : especially since it is supposedly next to the wide open spaces of Luthorcorp Plaza.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

"Smallville" stars Tom Welling, Erica Durance, Allison Mack and Justin Hartley. "Hex" was written by Bryan Q. Miller. The episode was directed by Mairzee Almas. "Smallville" airs on The CW Thursday at 8 p.m.