Smallville 9x17: Checkmate
O hai mixed review.
Let's just get this over with: I have possibly never hated Chloe more than I do now. And believe me, it's not for lack of trying to like her again, but the show refuses to let me. I know AM is likely gone so they're trying to give Chloe back some level of importance before she goes, but I can't stand it. I haven't been this angry after an episode in a long time, and it was only the last ten minutes that really did it.
I'm used to bitch!Chloe at this point, so her snipe about Clark not following "protocol" I could let slide. That's just who Chloe is now. But I'm sorry, the apology was just too fucking much. Chloe is not this important. Chloe was not the person who brought the League together, Oliver did back in S6 for fuck's sake. Chloe does not need to be told that Clark fucked up when he left her to deal with his own emotional problems and wasn't there to give her a shoulder to cry on.
Oliver didn't fare much better, at least when he was in scenes with Chloe. I guess we're supposed to take that their end conversation in Escape suddenly made them in a real relationship? I didn't see it that way, but the way Ollie's following her around like a whipped puppy, I assume that's what's supposed to have happened. So well done, show. You've relegated the Green Arrow to being nothing more than someone's boyfriend.
Now. In his scenes with Tess, Oliver was okay. Except for that last one, but we'll get there. I loved the scenes at the mansion. Too funny. And he was even charming when talking to Waller and explaining what happened to Chloe and Clark. But then we got that final scene, where he basically washes his hands of Tess because she betrayed him. Now, I have no idea when or how she betrayed him, but apparently she did. Somehow. And really what gets to me is that when it comes down to it, it was All About Chloe. Oliver was pissed off that Chloe got put in danger through means that Tess had no control over, but was peripherally connected to, so Tess has to be thrown under the bus. Never mind that Oliver could have stopped Chloe himself to begin with, because then that would show that Chloe was out of her depth, and we can't have that.
I honestly don't know what to make of J'onn. I loved seeing his powers actually used in a meaningful way, but the fact that he's keeping things from Clark et all - and reacting immediately with anger when CLark questions him about it - rubbed me the wrong way. Again, it seems like yet another case of "We have to protect Clark by keeping him in the dark!" and I'm sick of that, too. And if Martha ends up being the Red Queen, I'm going to throw something.
Waller was okay, but it feels almost to me if PG is playing her one note. Yes, she was badass, but there didn't seem to be much depth to her. And the backlit shots of her standing in doorways are getting old.
So, Tess was FANTASTIC. But possibly I'm biased. I knew the teaser was a set-up, but it was still awesome and I'm sorry, her kicking the car door in on some guy's head will be the best. thing. ever. for a while. Loved her reaction to finding out Ollie is the Green Arrow. Didn't quite buy her believing Clark would actually drop her off a building, but I can fanwank she was already in an overly emotional state after being threatened with death for screwing up her assignment and the GA situation. And as much as her going underground at the end makes sense, I have a hard time buying the fear and the emotion knowing she's not only in next week's episode, but she's not in the rest dealing with Checkmate.
Clark is still my TV boyfriend. For realz. He didn't have much screentime, which sucks, but I thought he was acquitted well, groveling at Chloe's feet aside. This episode did nothing else if prove that Clark doesn't need a team. He can do this hero thing all on his own, thank you very much, and while backup is nice now and then, it isn't a necessity. And chalk me up as one who kind of loved the comic-book style save.
Next week: Zod returns. Thank god.
Let's just get this over with: I have possibly never hated Chloe more than I do now. And believe me, it's not for lack of trying to like her again, but the show refuses to let me. I know AM is likely gone so they're trying to give Chloe back some level of importance before she goes, but I can't stand it. I haven't been this angry after an episode in a long time, and it was only the last ten minutes that really did it.
I'm used to bitch!Chloe at this point, so her snipe about Clark not following "protocol" I could let slide. That's just who Chloe is now. But I'm sorry, the apology was just too fucking much. Chloe is not this important. Chloe was not the person who brought the League together, Oliver did back in S6 for fuck's sake. Chloe does not need to be told that Clark fucked up when he left her to deal with his own emotional problems and wasn't there to give her a shoulder to cry on.
Oliver didn't fare much better, at least when he was in scenes with Chloe. I guess we're supposed to take that their end conversation in Escape suddenly made them in a real relationship? I didn't see it that way, but the way Ollie's following her around like a whipped puppy, I assume that's what's supposed to have happened. So well done, show. You've relegated the Green Arrow to being nothing more than someone's boyfriend.
Now. In his scenes with Tess, Oliver was okay. Except for that last one, but we'll get there. I loved the scenes at the mansion. Too funny. And he was even charming when talking to Waller and explaining what happened to Chloe and Clark. But then we got that final scene, where he basically washes his hands of Tess because she betrayed him. Now, I have no idea when or how she betrayed him, but apparently she did. Somehow. And really what gets to me is that when it comes down to it, it was All About Chloe. Oliver was pissed off that Chloe got put in danger through means that Tess had no control over, but was peripherally connected to, so Tess has to be thrown under the bus. Never mind that Oliver could have stopped Chloe himself to begin with, because then that would show that Chloe was out of her depth, and we can't have that.
I honestly don't know what to make of J'onn. I loved seeing his powers actually used in a meaningful way, but the fact that he's keeping things from Clark et all - and reacting immediately with anger when CLark questions him about it - rubbed me the wrong way. Again, it seems like yet another case of "We have to protect Clark by keeping him in the dark!" and I'm sick of that, too. And if Martha ends up being the Red Queen, I'm going to throw something.
Waller was okay, but it feels almost to me if PG is playing her one note. Yes, she was badass, but there didn't seem to be much depth to her. And the backlit shots of her standing in doorways are getting old.
So, Tess was FANTASTIC. But possibly I'm biased. I knew the teaser was a set-up, but it was still awesome and I'm sorry, her kicking the car door in on some guy's head will be the best. thing. ever. for a while. Loved her reaction to finding out Ollie is the Green Arrow. Didn't quite buy her believing Clark would actually drop her off a building, but I can fanwank she was already in an overly emotional state after being threatened with death for screwing up her assignment and the GA situation. And as much as her going underground at the end makes sense, I have a hard time buying the fear and the emotion knowing she's not only in next week's episode, but she's not in the rest dealing with Checkmate.
Clark is still my TV boyfriend. For realz. He didn't have much screentime, which sucks, but I thought he was acquitted well, groveling at Chloe's feet aside. This episode did nothing else if prove that Clark doesn't need a team. He can do this hero thing all on his own, thank you very much, and while backup is nice now and then, it isn't a necessity. And chalk me up as one who kind of loved the comic-book style save.
Next week: Zod returns. Thank god.