8.06, Prey
I really liked this episode when it aired (still do) but man I shoulda known that it was indicative of the tone of the season.
Clark Kent
This episode seems all about underlining how Clark has taken up Chloe's mantle in her absence (and vice versa.) Clark's trying to fill his own hero work in and be a reporter. Which frankly I preferred in s1-s4 where he did journalistic stuff at the Torch and saved the say. They both seemed like parts of him, vs. now it's something he picks up when Chloe's 'not' there.
I really like how in character Clark is; he's living at the DP practically. He's always working, running to crime scenes, eating at his desk; obsessed as John Jones pointed out. So much so that he's ignoring the people he does have around him (Chloe who comes by for a night off, his nonchalonce about talking with Edlo). I'm suspecting that's a theme they might actually resolve this year - Clark's need for balance. Before he only focused really about his direct responsibilities (Zoners) and people he cared about, and big problems happened when he was not paying attention; this year he's paying attention to the city, but not the people around him which is again how a big problem is brewing.
Clark needs to balance the immediate situtations with the big picture. I am hoping that is what he learns this year. I also expect it to underline how Clark solo is *not* a good thing. It's not what he wants and it's not healthy for him.
On their movie night (that became fast food at the Planet night), it's Chloe who says she's got paperwork & he's got herowork so they should just split up (for the night); Clark says he'll see her soon. Chloe scoffs that herowork will always be around and tells him to not stay up all night. It's interesting to me that while Clark's still in his obsession - he's still trying (and failing cause he's busy with herowork which is legit to me) to be her friend here.
I also like that Clark still wanted to find a way to get J'onn's powers back too. Also how initially Clark was pretty concerned about Davis, it's interesting to note that Clark misliking Davis really seems to stem from him not getting a good vibe from the guy in this ep and Clark doesn't let it go (which is typical Clark). In fact the scene is basically "you didn't save those people? I HATE CHU." Of course implying that it was Clark was probably the final straw too.
I also don't hate Clark for looking at Chloe's list - because not that long ago, Chloe would have been wanting to do the same thing and it would have been Clark saying "don't point fingers." I don't have too much of an issue because they are both right here; the type of the attack did limit whom could have done it. Chances are they *aren't* all innoscent. But Chloe was right too, Clark needed way more focus than a blind witch hunt (which he didn't have because his guilt complex had him feeling like failure not hero - even though Jimmy and J'onn forgave him.)
The one thing I don't get is the photos Clark and Jimmy had showed a boney monster and yet they arrested a shadow monster. Does not compute why Clark would assume then it's over (other than the kid confessed to it all, but that still doesn't chage things).
Chloe Sullivan
As stated earlier, Chloe here seems to be taking up Clark "role" in part due to her pushes by Brainiac, though her wanting to save the world/play hero in it has been budding since s6. She's on the typical "half-embracing/half-escaping" path that they had Clark and Lex on for so long. Now most people who read my meta know what I specced for Arctic/s7's Action Meta (note, I still think it's coming) and I personally think the Isis arc would have worked better as a knee-jerk reaction to grief + supercomputer in her head, rather than just random Clark emmulation and Chloe's own issues to feel normal with her power (which is still in limbo on the show)
But we first see her at Isis and yet again, she's not a great councilor. She doesn't see the warning sides with Randy at all. Her intentions as Mary points out are good, but not enough to help them. It's interesting though that how Chloe starts Isis out is by putting out adverts in newspapers and Mary complains about torches being after them. It's painful to watch, but interesting that she was at least trying to keep Isis on the level and actually help people. Her goals are noble, but Isis just isn't the way for her to get MF's recognition and fair treatment.
What I also thought was interesting was the parallelism. Clark was guilty about the Ace of Clubs and him letting those people down, Chloe was guilty about Mary and letting her down. And after Clark pointed out about her Isis group, it's interesting that Chloe went to do her own internal investigation (her hope is to obviously clear her kids, but it's nice that she's not just standing back saying they are fine - she goes to do the dirty work.)
I actually think that this episode does a lot at pushing out Brainiac messing with her mind, even though it lacks the pointed confusion and memory loss bits that Toxic had, for example. Chloe's reactions to Davis mimic those to Justin Gains a bit ("I know you, you're not a killer, now I'm going to snoop around too") but her full out negation that Davis couldn't be a guy who didn't live up to her "you save people" mode is just a touch off. She believes Davis without any doubts at all, which I suppose is meant to parallel the Brainiac caused connection to Davis to be like hers to Clark but comes off as a shoving-personality shift. This is the girl who went not a scene before to double-check a corpse after Clark brought up the possibility. And I actually wonder how much time she gets back once Brainiac is gone due to this scene (I'll bring that up again once I get to Eternal.)
Prey also seems to set up the issue of trust between Chloe and Clark. Chloe sees him going around her wishes for the greater good, Clark apologizes and Chloe points out his hypocrasy. Clark boils the issue down - she's standing up for people en masse when she doesn't really know them; she does however know HIM and should trust HIM. Chloe replies that he should know her and trust her, not trump her. Clark says in that stalemate they shoudl turn to the facts. It's a summation of where their relationship is headed - they are both making choices without talking to each other, both hurt that the other person isn't talking to them. They aren't acting as equals and aren't workting together and that's causing the issue.
But on top of that it's interesting to see how it splits up. Chloe doens't know Davis but she wants to partner up with him initally to really prove her own view right (the view that Brainiac is pushing on her). Clark is told he could enlist EDlo, but doesn't, and Ollie & Co.are out of town. J'onn points out to Clark after finding out Chloe's not agreeing with him that makes Clark working *solo*. Yet, when Chloe comes in to address their disagreement, Clark immediately pulls Chloe back in ("we need more than a few pieces of evidence" "unless we have some hard proof"). It's Chloiaced Chloe who keeps saying "the evidence you have" "I have to admit"
The apology scene though is a good set up for what should happen eventually at the end. Clark admits he lost perspective. Chloe admits she's stubborn. Clark admits he doesn't like her not trusting him and that he crossed the line. Chloe admits Clark was right and she was protecting a killer in her attempt to save people.
"Davis, I help people. It's what I do." <-- fitting after Chloe points out she profiled over 300 people on the WOW and saved no one. She's trying to *save* people now, not just *help* them. I thought it was a nice point out that Chloe's still trying to help, and still can go back to reporting to try to help.
Jimmy Olsen
I like Jimmy's willingness to look at different angles to get the right story here and his want to work with Clark. The shout out to the urban myth aka the Urban Legend stories about Clark broke by Taylor and Chloe back in s3 was great. It is a bit of history repeating itself and I personally would have kept the Good Samaritan tagline, it's an apt one.
I also liked the return of Jimmy the techno geek; that is the one thing that I do see Chimmy having in common beyond liking heroes and the truth - technogeekism. Which is oddly soemthing they never really played up.
It's interesting to me that Jimmy only is threatened by Clark in the relationship at this point (the guy who has always been around and even Jimmy can see the attractiveness) vs. not at all seeming threatened by Davis (the new hot guy whom she just befriended). It's interesting that Jimmy says he doesn't check up on her implying that he trusts her.
Though annoylingly Jimmy got to do what he wanted (get a ride along) by throwing Chloe's name out there, same he did with Lex in season 6. He does not learn.
But this episode is a good example why I do enjoy Jimmy - his total idealism about a hero out to help them, and his appreciation for it? That's endearing, IMO. And it's cool that Jimmy made a promise (to prove that the GS exists) and will get to keep it.
J'onn J'onzz
He's a police detective! For Metropolis PD! I love him as the mentor and I wish we'd see him more this season. I alwyas think it is better for Clark when he's got that semi-family feel going on whether it's the Kents (both of them, s6 with Martha alone just didn't work that well) or Kara or J'onn. I love that he's running interference for Clark at Met PD too.
Davis Bloome
Davis walked into get take out from the Ace of Clubs, and ended up Dooming out... did the watress mess up his order? Also the shot of him as Doomsday on the cameras was totally, totally creepy.
Also creepy is the foreshadowing here for Chloe and Davis. "Meeting in a moldy basement over a corpse, will the romance never end?" Of course that implies once they are at the corpsey/moldy basement combo whatever romance they have should be over. Oh, irony. And Davis says "yo, I'm the killah."
It's also interesting to me that Davis' claim of his wants (to solve murders he sees) to Clark/Chloe is to do the same thing they do; we know in reality he's looking into proving or disproving what he did/to solve his black outs.
Also really interesting is his line at the coffee shop about not "trying to get between you and the rest of your life."
And the end part with the nun's crucifx is where Davis really got creepy to me. On some level Davis (who is portrayed as Catholic later on) recognized it while Doomsday. Took it, kept it, and has kept it ever since. Which means there is some level of crossover between Jekyll & Hyde. I definately think that's why in the long run they made him an EMT (so there is the Good Doctor, and the Horrible Monster). Daivs here had evidence that really should have been investigated furthur and his own doubts to what is going on. But he's a villain disguised as a good guy so I can't expect him to be that moral about it.
Injustice League
Tess' stand in isn't as cool as Tess and isn't used consistently enough to feel like Gina did (a competent Lacky). Still it's interesting that thus far all of our Injustice Leaguers are ex-Isis people. DUH DUH DUHHH.
Meta of Note
- Mary didn't get to drink her coffee because of Jesse
- Clark and Chloe have planned a "dinner and a movie" night, Chloe comes over and eats fast food and listens to the police blotter - not exactly what she expected.
- Davis goes to the Ace of Clubs to get take out and instead Dooms out/rips up the place
- Chloe tells Clark that he missed the "soda and cookies" at her Isis meeting, but he could get some next week
- Davis sets up a coffee date with Chloe, and Chloe leaves before she has any
- EDlo's assignement is "code for 'monster-truck rally in Lubbock'" which implies she's using her real assignments to do fun things like she did in Fierce
- Davis tells Clark that he "might want to stay closer to home"
- Chloe has a "perpetual knack for getting into lose-lose sistuations"
- Wall of Weird FOLDER. Awesome.
- "It's not just damsels in distress that need saving."
- Davis points out to Chloe that he is extremely unlucky (his whole life underscores that; interesting given Edlo whom is his opposite in that reguards)
- Davis actions are caugh on video by a cell phone
- Chloe "don't make me out to be a saint"
- Chloe is called "Miss Goldilocks" by Mary
Clark Kent
This episode seems all about underlining how Clark has taken up Chloe's mantle in her absence (and vice versa.) Clark's trying to fill his own hero work in and be a reporter. Which frankly I preferred in s1-s4 where he did journalistic stuff at the Torch and saved the say. They both seemed like parts of him, vs. now it's something he picks up when Chloe's 'not' there.
I really like how in character Clark is; he's living at the DP practically. He's always working, running to crime scenes, eating at his desk; obsessed as John Jones pointed out. So much so that he's ignoring the people he does have around him (Chloe who comes by for a night off, his nonchalonce about talking with Edlo). I'm suspecting that's a theme they might actually resolve this year - Clark's need for balance. Before he only focused really about his direct responsibilities (Zoners) and people he cared about, and big problems happened when he was not paying attention; this year he's paying attention to the city, but not the people around him which is again how a big problem is brewing.
Clark needs to balance the immediate situtations with the big picture. I am hoping that is what he learns this year. I also expect it to underline how Clark solo is *not* a good thing. It's not what he wants and it's not healthy for him.
On their movie night (that became fast food at the Planet night), it's Chloe who says she's got paperwork & he's got herowork so they should just split up (for the night); Clark says he'll see her soon. Chloe scoffs that herowork will always be around and tells him to not stay up all night. It's interesting to me that while Clark's still in his obsession - he's still trying (and failing cause he's busy with herowork which is legit to me) to be her friend here.
I also like that Clark still wanted to find a way to get J'onn's powers back too. Also how initially Clark was pretty concerned about Davis, it's interesting to note that Clark misliking Davis really seems to stem from him not getting a good vibe from the guy in this ep and Clark doesn't let it go (which is typical Clark). In fact the scene is basically "you didn't save those people? I HATE CHU." Of course implying that it was Clark was probably the final straw too.
I also don't hate Clark for looking at Chloe's list - because not that long ago, Chloe would have been wanting to do the same thing and it would have been Clark saying "don't point fingers." I don't have too much of an issue because they are both right here; the type of the attack did limit whom could have done it. Chances are they *aren't* all innoscent. But Chloe was right too, Clark needed way more focus than a blind witch hunt (which he didn't have because his guilt complex had him feeling like failure not hero - even though Jimmy and J'onn forgave him.)
The one thing I don't get is the photos Clark and Jimmy had showed a boney monster and yet they arrested a shadow monster. Does not compute why Clark would assume then it's over (other than the kid confessed to it all, but that still doesn't chage things).
Chloe Sullivan
As stated earlier, Chloe here seems to be taking up Clark "role" in part due to her pushes by Brainiac, though her wanting to save the world/play hero in it has been budding since s6. She's on the typical "half-embracing/half-escaping" path that they had Clark and Lex on for so long. Now most people who read my meta know what I specced for Arctic/s7's Action Meta (note, I still think it's coming) and I personally think the Isis arc would have worked better as a knee-jerk reaction to grief + supercomputer in her head, rather than just random Clark emmulation and Chloe's own issues to feel normal with her power (which is still in limbo on the show)
But we first see her at Isis and yet again, she's not a great councilor. She doesn't see the warning sides with Randy at all. Her intentions as Mary points out are good, but not enough to help them. It's interesting though that how Chloe starts Isis out is by putting out adverts in newspapers and Mary complains about torches being after them. It's painful to watch, but interesting that she was at least trying to keep Isis on the level and actually help people. Her goals are noble, but Isis just isn't the way for her to get MF's recognition and fair treatment.
What I also thought was interesting was the parallelism. Clark was guilty about the Ace of Clubs and him letting those people down, Chloe was guilty about Mary and letting her down. And after Clark pointed out about her Isis group, it's interesting that Chloe went to do her own internal investigation (her hope is to obviously clear her kids, but it's nice that she's not just standing back saying they are fine - she goes to do the dirty work.)
I actually think that this episode does a lot at pushing out Brainiac messing with her mind, even though it lacks the pointed confusion and memory loss bits that Toxic had, for example. Chloe's reactions to Davis mimic those to Justin Gains a bit ("I know you, you're not a killer, now I'm going to snoop around too") but her full out negation that Davis couldn't be a guy who didn't live up to her "you save people" mode is just a touch off. She believes Davis without any doubts at all, which I suppose is meant to parallel the Brainiac caused connection to Davis to be like hers to Clark but comes off as a shoving-personality shift. This is the girl who went not a scene before to double-check a corpse after Clark brought up the possibility. And I actually wonder how much time she gets back once Brainiac is gone due to this scene (I'll bring that up again once I get to Eternal.)
Prey also seems to set up the issue of trust between Chloe and Clark. Chloe sees him going around her wishes for the greater good, Clark apologizes and Chloe points out his hypocrasy. Clark boils the issue down - she's standing up for people en masse when she doesn't really know them; she does however know HIM and should trust HIM. Chloe replies that he should know her and trust her, not trump her. Clark says in that stalemate they shoudl turn to the facts. It's a summation of where their relationship is headed - they are both making choices without talking to each other, both hurt that the other person isn't talking to them. They aren't acting as equals and aren't workting together and that's causing the issue.
But on top of that it's interesting to see how it splits up. Chloe doens't know Davis but she wants to partner up with him initally to really prove her own view right (the view that Brainiac is pushing on her). Clark is told he could enlist EDlo, but doesn't, and Ollie & Co.are out of town. J'onn points out to Clark after finding out Chloe's not agreeing with him that makes Clark working *solo*. Yet, when Chloe comes in to address their disagreement, Clark immediately pulls Chloe back in ("we need more than a few pieces of evidence" "unless we have some hard proof"). It's Chloiaced Chloe who keeps saying "the evidence you have" "I have to admit"
The apology scene though is a good set up for what should happen eventually at the end. Clark admits he lost perspective. Chloe admits she's stubborn. Clark admits he doesn't like her not trusting him and that he crossed the line. Chloe admits Clark was right and she was protecting a killer in her attempt to save people.
"Davis, I help people. It's what I do." <-- fitting after Chloe points out she profiled over 300 people on the WOW and saved no one. She's trying to *save* people now, not just *help* them. I thought it was a nice point out that Chloe's still trying to help, and still can go back to reporting to try to help.
Jimmy Olsen
I like Jimmy's willingness to look at different angles to get the right story here and his want to work with Clark. The shout out to the urban myth aka the Urban Legend stories about Clark broke by Taylor and Chloe back in s3 was great. It is a bit of history repeating itself and I personally would have kept the Good Samaritan tagline, it's an apt one.
I also liked the return of Jimmy the techno geek; that is the one thing that I do see Chimmy having in common beyond liking heroes and the truth - technogeekism. Which is oddly soemthing they never really played up.
It's interesting to me that Jimmy only is threatened by Clark in the relationship at this point (the guy who has always been around and even Jimmy can see the attractiveness) vs. not at all seeming threatened by Davis (the new hot guy whom she just befriended). It's interesting that Jimmy says he doesn't check up on her implying that he trusts her.
Though annoylingly Jimmy got to do what he wanted (get a ride along) by throwing Chloe's name out there, same he did with Lex in season 6. He does not learn.
But this episode is a good example why I do enjoy Jimmy - his total idealism about a hero out to help them, and his appreciation for it? That's endearing, IMO. And it's cool that Jimmy made a promise (to prove that the GS exists) and will get to keep it.
J'onn J'onzz
He's a police detective! For Metropolis PD! I love him as the mentor and I wish we'd see him more this season. I alwyas think it is better for Clark when he's got that semi-family feel going on whether it's the Kents (both of them, s6 with Martha alone just didn't work that well) or Kara or J'onn. I love that he's running interference for Clark at Met PD too.
Davis Bloome
Davis walked into get take out from the Ace of Clubs, and ended up Dooming out... did the watress mess up his order? Also the shot of him as Doomsday on the cameras was totally, totally creepy.
Also creepy is the foreshadowing here for Chloe and Davis. "Meeting in a moldy basement over a corpse, will the romance never end?" Of course that implies once they are at the corpsey/moldy basement combo whatever romance they have should be over. Oh, irony. And Davis says "yo, I'm the killah."
It's also interesting to me that Davis' claim of his wants (to solve murders he sees) to Clark/Chloe is to do the same thing they do; we know in reality he's looking into proving or disproving what he did/to solve his black outs.
Also really interesting is his line at the coffee shop about not "trying to get between you and the rest of your life."
And the end part with the nun's crucifx is where Davis really got creepy to me. On some level Davis (who is portrayed as Catholic later on) recognized it while Doomsday. Took it, kept it, and has kept it ever since. Which means there is some level of crossover between Jekyll & Hyde. I definately think that's why in the long run they made him an EMT (so there is the Good Doctor, and the Horrible Monster). Daivs here had evidence that really should have been investigated furthur and his own doubts to what is going on. But he's a villain disguised as a good guy so I can't expect him to be that moral about it.
Injustice League
Tess' stand in isn't as cool as Tess and isn't used consistently enough to feel like Gina did (a competent Lacky). Still it's interesting that thus far all of our Injustice Leaguers are ex-Isis people. DUH DUH DUHHH.
Meta of Note
- Mary didn't get to drink her coffee because of Jesse
- Clark and Chloe have planned a "dinner and a movie" night, Chloe comes over and eats fast food and listens to the police blotter - not exactly what she expected.
- Davis goes to the Ace of Clubs to get take out and instead Dooms out/rips up the place
- Chloe tells Clark that he missed the "soda and cookies" at her Isis meeting, but he could get some next week
- Davis sets up a coffee date with Chloe, and Chloe leaves before she has any
- EDlo's assignement is "code for 'monster-truck rally in Lubbock'" which implies she's using her real assignments to do fun things like she did in Fierce
- Davis tells Clark that he "might want to stay closer to home"
- Chloe has a "perpetual knack for getting into lose-lose sistuations"
- Wall of Weird FOLDER. Awesome.
- "It's not just damsels in distress that need saving."
- Davis points out to Chloe that he is extremely unlucky (his whole life underscores that; interesting given Edlo whom is his opposite in that reguards)
- Davis actions are caugh on video by a cell phone
- Chloe "don't make me out to be a saint"
- Chloe is called "Miss Goldilocks" by Mary