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This review may contain spoilers.

Coming off the back of "Warrior," an episode that was a fun-filled romp from start to finish, "Persuasion" struggles to find any kind of consistency and unfolds through some very uneven storytelling.

Starting with Lois and Clark (Erica Durance and Tom Welling) doing some super sleuthing into the R.A.O. Corporation's development of the Solar Tower (which, thanks to the flash-forward, we know as a plot by Zod – Callum Blue – to regain his abilities). On their way home, Clark is exposed to the new gemstone Kryptonite, temporarily granting him the ability to force people to do his will.

All of the supernatural events are just a way for the series to stir things up with the central characters without having to go through the mature relationship stuff that "Smallville" is so capable of exploring. The concept itself sounds as enjoyable as most of "Smallville's" uplifting episodes and it would have been had it not been mixed in with some very dark and very mythological storytelling.

"Persuasion" bounces between some aloof, carefree encounters and the hard, gritty nature of Kandorians on Earth and Zod's plans for domination. Both sides of the episode are individually well constructed, but are completely contradictory in terms of the type of atmosphere they try to develop. It's hard to fall into the exhilaration of the romantic comedy aspects (like Lois becoming Martha Stewart incarnate) when such hefty threads of doom and gloom are lurking in the background. Even the cause of the shenanigans, gemstone Kryptonite, turns sinister, sending Clark over the edge into villaindom and within paces of killing Tess Mercer (Cassidy Freeman).

What Worked

Lois as the soon-to-be Mrs. Kent was a barrel of laughs; if she's not scrubbing the floor until it sparkles, she's dancing through the house in Martha's old wedding dress. "Love's a Boomerang" is the perfect choice of music for her bridal parade. But, like all such occurrences on the show, it is swept under the rug far too easily and the proverbial reset button sends everyone back into their previous positions.

The funeral of Alia (Monique Ganderton) was put together and created an atmosphere of a real society and a real religion.

Best of all, seeing Clark Kent bringing down a skyscraper with his heat vision is nothing short of epic coolness.

What Didn't Work

Valentine's Day is the worst non-holiday that "Smallville" has ever attempted and becomes more of a MacGuffin than anything else.

Plus, gemstone Kryptonite is a whole new form of the radio-active alien rock that is unique to "Smallville." It may have some commonalities with Jewel Kryptonite, a rare form which amplifies the psychic abilities of those from the Phantom Zone, but it remains a quick and convenient way to stir things up with the Last Son of Krypton's love life.

Again, Clark's interaction with the Kandorians was false and rushed. He has spent a grand total of three minutes on screen with the refugees and now we are expected to believe that he is not only on a first-name basis with them, but he is also working his own underground railroad to integrate them into society.

And, seriously, is there even a point to Dr. Emil Hamilton (Alessandro Juliani)?

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

"Smallville" stars Tom Welling, Erica Durance, Allison Mack, Justin Hartley, Cassidy Freeman and Callum Blue. "Persuasion" was written by Turi Meyer and Al Septien, and was directed by Turi Meyer.

"Smallville" airs Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.