Smallville (TV Series) X-Ray (2001) User Reviews

Open Your Eyes...

[Jerique · 8/10 · 9 August 2010]

Perhaps one of the most defining episodes to come from the first season of Smallville is this one, X-Ray. It's story involves Tina Greer (Lizzy Caplan) who has the ability to shape shift due to her weak bones coming in contact with the meteor rocks. As the episode begins, Lex is seen robbing the bank of his own money. Clark gets a headache and we can see he has the ability to see beyond the skin and muscles of people. He sees the bone structure of Lex and see's there is green meteor rocks embedded in his skin. As Lex is proved innocent and has an alibi at the time of the robbery, Clark is convinced someone in Smallville can transform and take the appearance of anyone else they desire.

This pivotal episode is primarily about special effects. It shows all of Clark's previously shown talents (ie. super-speed, super-strength) but embarks on showing the audience his power of X-Ray ability. It's great to watch the X-Ray power being used and it's so cool how they show it. The action is not given a secondary backseat either and it never lets up after the cold opening. The climactic fight between Tina and Clark is one for the ages. It's powerful and intense. It's wicked to watch the tombstones break apart when each of their bodies hits them with such power.

Romance between Lana and Clark seems to blossom in this episode and I enjoy this episode as much as some of my favourites of the first season. As important as his other powers, Clark never stops using X-Ray power because it becomes as important as his super-strength in order to save the innocent lives of the people he loves and the people he's destined to save.

Visual effects, as much as special effects, stand out and when it comes to them both, they are both at the top of their potential in this episode. Even as mastered as they are now, they are great in Smallville's first season.

A new power emerges

[Brettyboy007 · 9/10 · 11 September 2014]

It looks like we've got a new power on our hands. X ray vision. It was very cool how they had Clark first use the power. It also brought up another side of Lex...or did it? Lex is caught in a bank robbery of his own bank, but it is revealed that it's high school student Tina Greer who has the ability to shape shift.

Throughout the episode, it deals with Clark's trouble to be able to control the X-Ray power. Although, after a scene in the episode, I don't think he'd want to control it. Haha.

This is also the first episode I've noticed besides the pilot, that the suspicion of Lex doing bad things will always be there due to the misdeeds of his father. Everyone seems to be blaming Lex and his father for everything bad that's been happening in Smallville. I think this will develop in Lex's head and be one of the things that turn him into Clark's archnemesis.

P.S. Clark never gets credit for his heroic deeds.

Finding and Controlling the X-Ray Vision

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 10 March 2006]

The teenage mutant Tina Greer (Lizzy Caplan) has the power to transform into the shape and face of whoever she wants. She robs Smallville Bank pretending to be Lex Luthor, and accidentally kills her mother Rose Greer (Beverly Breuer). She becomes obsessed with Lana Lang's family, and decides to assume her identity. Meanwhile, Clark Kent finds that he has X-ray vision, and has troubles to control his new-found power, with the support of his stepparents. Lex Luthor is blackmailed by a dirty journalist, who found his hidden obscure past, but reverts the situation in the end.

In "X-Ray", Lex Luthor finally shows his evil hidden side, and honestly he is my favorite character up to this moment due to the unpredictability of his steps. Maybe I am repetitive, but the charming cast, the great cinematography and the better and better special effects, make "X-Ray" another great episode of this excellent TV series. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Visões de Raio-X" ("X-Ray Visions")

Continues the Fantastic First Season

[Rcwilkinson123 · 8/10 · 4 September 2007]

If you ever wondered if Clark Kent needed to battle tough super-powered villains before embarking in his purpose as Superman, you will receive the answers here on this show. And if you ever wondered how he developed his powers and the struggles that he would deal with in mastering them, again, you will find the answers on this show.

To the delight of anybody who likes Superman, which is to assume most Americans, Season 1: Episode 4 reveals how Clark Kent develops the power of X-ray vision. And just in time, too, because he faces an elusive nemesis in Tina Greer, who can shape-shift and make herself look like anybody whose appearance she recalls. With this power, Clark is able to find the truth about Tina and her devious ways, just as a snoopy journalist is doing to Lex Luthor, as we find that the future world villain has quite a bit of dirt on his past.

The One Where Clark Can See Through Stuff...

[taylorkingston · 10/10 · 21 September 2015]

I love this episode. It is one of my all-time favorite episodes from this season, and the entire series.

In this episode, Clark comes face-to-face with a new meteor-rock infected person. Tina Greer, who has to power to transform into the shape of whomever she wants to. She robs Smallville Bank while impersonating Lex, and then accidentally kills her own mother. Since Tina is obsessed with Lana, and her family, she tries to push her way in. But when she discovers that she can't be Lana's sister like she hoped, she decides to become Lana instead. While trying to track down Tina, Clark discovers he has a new power. X-Ray vision. This power eventually helps him save the day.

Fun Fact: This is the first episode where Clark gets his X-Ray vision.

Overall, I give this episode a 10 out of 10, which in my ratings book is: Freaking Ridonkulous

Clark Discovers X-Ray Vision!

[gab-14712 · 9/10 · 24 October 2021]

Well, "X-Ray," was lots of fun to watch. It had an interesting villain, a shape-shifter, who delivers headaches to Lex Luthor and Lana Lang because of her actions. The villain-of-the-week plot was good, but nothing that compares to what else happens. First, we get hints of evil Lex. Lex blackmails a news reporter so he can have the media under his wing. Most importantly, as the title of the episode suggests, Clark delivers a new superpower in which anyone familiar with Superman lore would know...x-ray vision. It was funny trying to watch Clark struggle to harness his new power. We got a strong episode with great performances and an engaging story that is worth every second.

In this episode, we meet Tina Greer. Tina is a teenage girl who has the power to transform into any person she wishes. Pretending to be Lex Luthor, she robs the Smallville Bank. She also accidentally kills her mother, Rose. She becomes obsessed with Lana and her family...to the point where she takes over Lana's identity. Lana is struggling with her own demons regarding her deceased parents and her Aunt Nell. Clark, of course, discovers he has x-ray power. He has to somehow keep his power secret from Chloe, Pete, and Lana. At least his parents are supportive. Lex is blackmailed by a reporter named Roger Nixon, but the youngest Luthor eventually turns the table on him. Lex wants to investigate Clark to figure out how exactly he was saved during his car accident.

Overall, this was a well-balanced episode that manages to keep the fine line between humorous and serious. It was great to see Clark discover his new power, learn how to use it, and how to harness it. Michael Rosenbaum has been killing it as Lex this season and he takes it to a new level here. It looks like he may be closer to discovering who Clark really is. Lex cannot know this early, right?

My Grade: A-