Smallville: The Unbroken Circle
I am thoroughly enjoying Season 10 of Smallville, except for Harvest. What is the matter that a show about a Farming Community (Smallville) cannot successfully take a farming community (outside of Smallville) as the subject of an episode? Both communities had an excess of meteorite rocks that afflicted them, but one community dwelt and dealt well with the consequences of the meteorite rocks and the other community took to wearing sun bonnets and sacrificing to the Corn Goddess.
"C'est la vie," say the Old Folks, "It goes to show you never can tell."
And isn't that a fetching pictures of the Scintillating Shelby as the breeze blows his/her golden hair about her/his shining smile? So who do you think won the fight between the Leering Lemur and the Stupendous Shelby? You know that they battled all over the Kent Farm for Dominance and Parking Rights; and that battle was much better than Clark's and Doomsday's Battle for Pissing Rights in the Metropolis Sewers.
I had a viewing companion, the estimable brijeana , for this episode of Smallville and she was explaining to me that she felt a little let down by Season 10 of Smallville. She thought that she was there more for the Ride to the Finish than for excitement anymore. I was concerned and told her why I am still watching this show and enjoying it.
I'm still at it because early in its run, Smallville established its themes and played with them and is now bringing them to their end. But that end is not the end, it is the beginning. The themes of Smallville are like a circle and that circle keeps going round and round but changing as it twirls. I want to see what I saw in the beginning brought back in a new form that re-affirms the beginning and my affection for the show.
My viewing companion compared it to a Jazz symphony (a nice comparison) where the melody is established at the beginning and then is played with and de-constructed and re-constructed in the middle and then is brought back with its original and re-imagined variances at the end. And that circle of ribbon is wrapped up with a bow. And that is a satisfying conclusion for me.
I am excepting Shelby in this, but just for now, we may yet see our Transgendered Dogg and in a cape. I've got high hopes.
How to View the Episode Through My Eyes
This episode echoes Exile and Phoenix throughout its visuals.
In Exile, Clark puts on a Red K ring and heads off to Metropolis for a life of crime and indiscriminate sex and obscene phone calls home.
Our Super Boy, Conner, the product of Lex's DNA Egg (Lex's Bald Head is like an Egg, admit it) and Clark's Sperm Blood, puts on a Red K ring given him by his Fake Grandfather, Alternate Lionel, and heads off to Metropolis for a life of crime and trying to get some from Lois. Conner has no home to Punk Call.
Let us compare their Life Experiences.
First let us establish where Lex Luthor is. He is Dead.
Lex is often dead in this show, but he resurrects himself more times than our Glorious Sun God, Clark. It is sort of Supernatural, in that respect.
Clark is looking Good in his Tween Sophomore and Junior Year in High School.
Clark sees a car that he must have.
He has it. When you look like Clark, you can have anyone or anything that you desire.
Conner has a car to impress the chicks too.
It is a Porsche, just like the Old Man's. The Bald Old Man's.
Clark has his Red K ring to lead him astray.
Conner has his Red K ring to lead him astray.
Conner also has his Faux Grandfather, Alternate Lionel to lead him astray.
Much as LIonel be-deviled and led Lex astray.
Clark also had the Devil to lead him astray.
Is there really a difference between any of them?
Clark chased an unwilling chick in Metropolis.
LA LANA! If this Season is not going to bring her back, then I WILL!
She's back! So sip that bitter draught until it floods your sinuses!
Conner chased and rescued and tossed an unwilling Lois in Metropolis.
A Digression That Will Be Good For the Soul:
- Notice the juxtaposition of the Clark diamond and the Conner diamonds. One is unique and solitary (did we not establish that in Fortune?) and perfect in every way. The other is gaudy and over wrought and stolen. Which is truest?
- Notice the necklaces that Lois wears. One is simple and old and a treasured heirloom whose worth is measured in the keeper's regard and care of it. The other is stolen and probably consists of Blood Diamonds mined by droopy eyed armless and exploited children. Which is finest?
- Notice that Lemur Fur that Lois has draped around her neck. I guess Shelby won that fight.
Dr. Helen Bryce!!! The ONLY WIDOW of Lex Luthor's Many Brides. The Bride Wore Black!!!! She buried Lex Luthor! She would make a great step mom for Conner.
The mere mention of the name of Dr. Helen Bryce makes Lex's Blood Boil with Rage! Wait a minute, that is Clark's blood and it is boiling from Green K, Conner's blood would boil from it too. But it is the Blood of Clark that made Conner! And Dr. Helen Bryce supplied that blood!!!
The Best Fight Ever!!!!
What saved Clark from Debauchery in Metropolis? His Dad, Jonathan Kent!
Who hunted Clark down like a deer in deer season in Smallville even though he was in Metropolis?
Jonathan Kent! In his flannel shirt and his Jor El Powers, Jonathan Kent beat some sense into Red K Clark!
Who ripped the Red K ring and the shirt off of Clark?
Jonathan Kent, shut your mouth!
Although I must say, that I have never understood how Jonathan Kent managed to keep his shirt on during that fight. It must have been the Jor El in him, but if LA LANA had been around that shirt would have come off.
Who goes to the ruined Luthor mansion and re-claims Conner's soul from the Devil, Alternate Lionel, and the Red K ring?
Clark Kent! He's a bad mother....Shut your mouth! You are talking about the Sun God, you scraggly heathens of the night!
Conner's smirk is much like both his fathers'.
Notice how Clark the Later is dressed like Clark the Tween? Same red T shirt and dark jacket, but now he is on Jonathan Kent's side.
The fight for Conner's soul begins in the ruins of Mordor the Luthor mansion, the ruin of his other father's goals and desires.
The Ring!
Despite the encouragement of Alternate Lionel, Conner resists the temptation and choses his Dad, Clark, which is what his other Dad, Lex, should have done but didn't.
Lex could just never let his Bad Dad go.
Luthor Blood Fights
Unlike Lex, Tess' Luthor Blood does not lead her down the path of temptation.
Tess rejects Lionel before it is too late. Lex "watched" his father fall 66 stories to the mean streets of Metropolis below. Lex only had his arm out-stretched to his father before the great fall.
I guess that those stairs where Lionel's body lay in state on are on the other side of the Luthor Corp building. Hey, where is the Luthor Corp logo? Oh Yeah, Clark borrowed it.
Tess faces down Lionel against that uncertain window in the CEO office of Luthor Corp.
Tess has Lionel escorted out of the building by the working elevator, not by the window.
Now Tess stands in front of that unfortunate window. Not too close Tess!
Tess seems rather lonely, but not to worry. Tess still has her secret rendezvouses with Lois in the Copier Room.
Lois and Tess can never get enough of the old slap, tickle, and straddle in the basement of the Daily Planet. What is it about office file boxes that makes Lois so horny?
Is It Hot in Here? Or Am I Horny?
Clark had a little problem with his eyes in sophomore year in high school.
All those Breasts! They were every where he looked.
And where he looked, fire and destruction followed.
LA LANA was never known for her breast works...
but with her goodies, why should she be?
But even Clark ignited and made the coffee roast around her. Yummy, fresh roasted coffee!
What was the Boy to do?
Jonathan Kent knew.
Give the boy practice so that the little slips in the package aren't noticeable. What did I say?
Oh Jonathan Kent! You leave me gasping...with laughter.
Clark lit a great many candles with his desire...
for discipline and control.
Conner is the mirror image of his Old Man. Hey, isn't that how Tess caught Lionel out?
Hot chicks set Conner's Loins Eyes on Fire!
What is a Boy to do?
Practice and discipline and scarecrows. Thank you Jonathan Kent.
And those candles are a great aid when a boy is alone with his thoughts and his body. Bring light into the darkness, Little Sun God.
That kid!! I remember when Clark used to burn symbols in the barn.
Happy Family Pictures
Well, that is what you are supposed to think.
Screen Caps from all over the Damn Universe Internets
rawr!
homeofthenutty
screencap paradise
cloiser_trish made the gif