


I'd go as far as to say it's easier to make a show exciting in real time. As 24 proved, it is possible to make an exciting show in real time format. The other half of the episode is less exciting, but again a simplified story involving Clark trying to stop the Kandorians who had been given their powers by Zod, by aligning with Faora and those Kandorians that were left behind. Tess tries to infiltrate Watchtower, and both she and Chloe get locked inside. Sometimes the writers forget that you don't need an overly complex plot to make an exciting episode, but rather a simple and basic plot like has been written here. Season 9 had a big comeback with "Sacrifice". Season 9 of Smallville hit a bit of a slump as it came near the end, in part due to the poorly executed Checkmate story.
