Smallville, I didn't think you had it in you. When I got my hands on Janus, I didn't know what I was expecting. I had no spoilers, no fannish rumors, just a whole lot of the great unknown. I really can't explain how a copy of this episode fell into my hands. To do that would reveal sources better off left in the ether of anonymity. Let's just say there was a Yaris involved and leave it at that.

That said, allow me to repeat my original statement. Smallville, I really didn't think you had it in you. Seriously. Yes, this year has been - as story telling goes - really good. Lana's been morally ambiguous, Kara turned out to be amazing, Chloe's been relevant, Lois hasn't sent me running for sharp and pointy objects, and Clark...

Well, if he'd just remember there are other colours in the rainbow beyond variations of red and blue? I'd be satisfied.

Okay, more Oliver and less of the one-note-evil with Lex and Zor-El. (Never thought I'd lump those two into the same sentence) Though, I suppose I can blame the DCU comics for the travesty that is Zor-El's characterization, but I'm on a role here.

Yes, more often than not, I've been very satisfied with season seven.

Which is why Janus being what it is? Knocked me flat.

Let's get this straight. It is a tremendously well-written (so much so I wasn't sure I was watching Smallville), well-acted, and downright gusty episode. Like I said, I really didn't think I was watching Smallville for a while.

I've been saying for quite a while that Allison Mack was one of Smallville's biggest strengths. I've also been saying that Smallville has not stepped up and delivered Erica Durance the material she deserved. In Janus, Allison maintained her status, but the writing for Erica improved drastically. She finally had a storyline, and a character, worthy of the spark and life she brings to her job.  I still can't believe it.

I did mention not believing it was Smallville, right?

The Chlois theory has been popular in the fandom for years, dating back prior to Erica Durance. It still maintains a strong presence in the fandom (even in the face of rather unpleasant opposition from fellow Smallville fans) with essays, episode analysis, and fanfiction centred around the topic.

It's not a surprise, really, that fans would believe Chloe Sullivan could eventually morph into the Iconic Lois Lane (as they refer to her) of DC Comics legend. She was designed to be a proto-Lois; a possible rewrite of the Lois originally conceived by Al and Miles for their 'Young Lois Lane' series. With that much 'Lois' in her, fans can hardly be blamed for wondering. It's also quite possibly why, when Erica Durance's Lois was introduced, the character fumbled. With so much of Lois in Chloe, there wasn't much left over for the supposed genuine article.

With that in mind, Janus was almost an inevitability. I'm just relieved it turned out so well. Everyone brought their A-games. Everyone from Tom right down to Phil Morris (lovely to see J'onn again and used this way) deserves credit. The writing was good, but not exceptional. The performances more than made up for that.

Erica and Allison especially. The story of Lois becoming Catherine Grant, Chloe slipping into her shoes could have been so cheesy. Instead, it broke our hearts. They played those final scenes together with such depth. It was a long time coming. J'onn's manipulation of people's memories should have been a cop out. Instead, thanks to Phil Morris, it was compelling and somewhat ominous, exactly as it should be. Nothing about this should be easy and it wasn't.

It's going to throw things into chaos for some time to come. Smallville, you may screw this up tomorrow, but today, consider me impressed. I didn't think you had it in you.