The Lazarus Effect
Smallville season ten speculations. Possibly spoilery for what's coming, certainly spoilery for what happened in the season nine finale, so, behind a cut.
When it was announced on the 16th that "Lazarus" would be the title of season ten's opening episode, I was intrigued. Not so much for the allusions listed in the K-site summary (such as the figure of Lazarus of Bethany), but for another that I think they missed.
Because it's often the case with Smallville episode titles that they have multiple meanings and connotations. And while Clark's Christlike sacrifice leaves viewers concerned with the prospect of his death (as blue-Kryptonite Clark plummeting to earth from skyscraper doesn't seem survivable), is this really all they're getting at? To borrow from Monty Python, he's not dead yet!
Are you familiar with Sylvia Plath's poem, "Lady Lazarus"? You can hear her reading the poem in this YT video or read it by clicking on the previous link:
Because of my love for this disturbing poem, when I heard "Lazarus", I thought of Tess. Tess Mercer is declared clinically dead in this episode (and not the first time this season that she's been dead, you remember, what with Chloe's aid on both the dying and resurrecting, earlier).
Now, the speculation is that the mysterious, older woman with the bag of knitting is Granny Goodness from the DC universe (leader of the Female Furies). I've seen this all around fandom, especially since one of Granny Goodness's long-time canon features is her faithful hound, Mercy (Oliver's nickname for Tess, right there).
And, through Darkseid, Granny Goodness might have the power to resurrect Tess. Is she already one of the Female Furies or will the resurrection change her into one? I don't know. It'd be an interesting way to go.
But, for now, I think that fans ought to not just focus on the Lazarus-like aspects of Clark's appearance at the new season's start, but remember that Tess is the one who's died and seems likely to be reborn. We know that Cassidy Freeman's returning for a good chunk of the season and that the mystery of her death-bed visitor was a big anvil dropped in the season nine finale. So they're likely to have to deal with that in some way or another, right from the start.
I'm game. Are you?
X-posted from Dreamwidth. (
comments there.)
When it was announced on the 16th that "Lazarus" would be the title of season ten's opening episode, I was intrigued. Not so much for the allusions listed in the K-site summary (such as the figure of Lazarus of Bethany), but for another that I think they missed.
Because it's often the case with Smallville episode titles that they have multiple meanings and connotations. And while Clark's Christlike sacrifice leaves viewers concerned with the prospect of his death (as blue-Kryptonite Clark plummeting to earth from skyscraper doesn't seem survivable), is this really all they're getting at? To borrow from Monty Python, he's not dead yet!
Are you familiar with Sylvia Plath's poem, "Lady Lazarus"? You can hear her reading the poem in this YT video or read it by clicking on the previous link:
Click to viewBecause of my love for this disturbing poem, when I heard "Lazarus", I thought of Tess. Tess Mercer is declared clinically dead in this episode (and not the first time this season that she's been dead, you remember, what with Chloe's aid on both the dying and resurrecting, earlier).
Now, the speculation is that the mysterious, older woman with the bag of knitting is Granny Goodness from the DC universe (leader of the Female Furies). I've seen this all around fandom, especially since one of Granny Goodness's long-time canon features is her faithful hound, Mercy (Oliver's nickname for Tess, right there).
And, through Darkseid, Granny Goodness might have the power to resurrect Tess. Is she already one of the Female Furies or will the resurrection change her into one? I don't know. It'd be an interesting way to go.
But, for now, I think that fans ought to not just focus on the Lazarus-like aspects of Clark's appearance at the new season's start, but remember that Tess is the one who's died and seems likely to be reborn. We know that Cassidy Freeman's returning for a good chunk of the season and that the mystery of her death-bed visitor was a big anvil dropped in the season nine finale. So they're likely to have to deal with that in some way or another, right from the start.
I'm game. Are you?
X-posted from Dreamwidth. (
comments there.)