Martha (Annette O’Toole), in an effort to hide the ship key, falls ill after breathing in toxic meteor spores. And that’s just the beginning of trouble in Fever. Written by Matthew Okumura, this episode was first broadcast on 18 February, 2003.

Things go badly, and get complicated when the Disease Control Agency wants to conduct a full investigation of the farm. And you know we can’t let that happen.

While Martha is in the hospital, Clark (Tom Welling) attempts to cope with the possibility of loss, and keep things going for the fundraiser she was involved in. Jonathan (John Schneider), meanwhile, won’t leave the hospital, where Dr. Bryce (Emmanuelle Vaugier) is tending to her, and also delivers the news that Martha is pregnant, despite not being able to have children.

When Clark grabs his ship to hide on Pete’s (Sam Jones III) farm, he inhales the meteor dust as well, and it begins to have an adverse effect on him as well.

The family also has to deal with the possibility of a new member of the family. Clark confides in Lana (Kristin Kreuk), he’s worried, but also sick, and when he collapses, his secret is in danger of coming out. And Bryce needs to be trusted with Clark’s blood sample, which throws a curveball in her relationship with Lex (Michael Rosenbaum) – more secrets.

Oh and Chloe (Allison Mack) confides in an unconscious Clark how much she cares for him, but when he says Lana’s name, that has to hurt a bit.

So, is there a cure, will the Kents be alright? And how much will Jonathan risk for his family to recover the key? Will Bryce keep the beginning of the secret she’s discovering? Oh and what about the pregnancy?

Well, the key may be the, um, key to the cure, and delivered just in time. So Bryce? The pregnancy? Lots of things to worry about… especially when Lex gets his hands on Martha’s hospital file.

Oh, and Lana learns the Chloe still harbors feelings for Clark, so will she step aside to give her friend her shot?

Rosetta has a fantastic guest star, advances the mythology arc and entertains. The episode debuted on 25 February, 2003 and was written by show runners Miles Millar and Alfred Gough.

Clark feels compelled to use the key in the caves. He’s had a very vivid flying dream about them, or is it more than a dream? When he does place the key in its receptacle in the caves, something happens, something changes. It allows him to understand the pictograms, and also brings someone who may have answers about where he comes from into his life. Enter Dr. Virgil Swann (played by the one and only Christopher Reeve).

He shows up after Clark’s heat vision is triggered and burns a symbol on the side of the barn, and Chloe shares it online.

Where does Swann get his knowledge? He knows a lot, including Clark’s real name, Kal-El and where he’s from. And Swann gets to explain it all, it’s wonderfully done.

Lex, meanwhile, is having problems with Walden (Rob LaBelle), who is working in the caves for Lex, and the knowledge that his father, Lionel (John Glover) may be maneuvering around him for control.

And Lex also seems to be increasingly suspicious of Clark and what he may or may not know. And Walden gets a hold of the key and triggers the cave as well, leaving him in a coma, and the key back in Clark’s possession.

Lots going on in this episode, and it’s so good. And bringing in Reeve, I love it! And with him, some very familiar music cues.

Love this episode. This may be one of my favourites. It advances the show’s mythology, and has some great character stuff, moments, and shows everything the show can be.

Oh and for all the people who got mad about the reveal of Clark’s parents in the 2025 film, I guess you didn’t see Smallville, and the potential reveal in this episode.