Smallvile Injustice Review
Review of Injustice episode
I do have to say I enjoyed this episode. Tom did an amazing job of directing and he really gave the entire episode a look and feel that contributed to where the story line is heading at this point in the show. Visually it was a bit dark but again I think they are doing that with a purpose in mind.
I've read a lot of opinions about how the writers are handling Oliver and how they are destroying his character. I agree and disagree here. I think they are doing a wonderful job with him. The entire show has always been about the struggle between good and evil, and knowing what is right and wrong. It has always been about how far do you push the limits before doing "good" actually becomes doing evil and once you have done this are you able to get back to the "good" side of things. (Wow that was a mouthful, but I hope you get my meaning.) I also want Oliver to be good so his transformation is personally a struggle for me and seems out of character with canon. How can Ollie do this? He is supposed to be better then Lex. However, I think it is necessary since Lex is gone for someone close to Clark to be going through an inner struggle that mirrors Clark's own development. Tess is just evil as evident in the deaths she has caused in this episode so she really can't be transitional. Oliver can show Clark a glimpse into what Clark could become if he isn't careful. I think the writers walk this line pretty well. It has to be someone who is close to Clark that is drawn into the darkness in order for this good/evil struggle to work. Until Lex comes back. (I know he will. I am in denial otherwise.) Ollie is a good vessel in this respect. Actually he is perfect. It really can't be anyone else.
Clark has always believed that no matter how far a person falls that they can come back into the light and regain the goodness that he sees within everyone. While this may be very naive and is essentially his downfall with his relationship with Lex it is what makes Clark who he is. The writers by using Oliver and letting him slip toward the darker side of good (The gray area so to speak.) are doing a good job of showing what this is doing to Oliver the man. You can plainly see the pain he is going through in regards to his killing Lex. You can see he is struggling by having to use his and Tess past relationship in order to get what he wants. (Oliver needs to stay out of Tess's bed. That tactic is not working!) It is tearing him apart. He is so close to losing himself as you can see when he uses the ring and starts thrashing Parasite on the pool table. Clark is the only one that gets through to him and brings him back to himself. I think eventually Clark is going to be the one that saves Oliver in the long run. We will have to see.
Justin is doing an amazing job with bringing this pain out into the character. Even though he is acting tough with both Clark and Chloe by telling them Lex and Davis deaths are both essential deep down he really is struggling with what has to be done no matter what. I also think that is why he is keeping the ring. Let's face it if Clark does go off the deep end who is out there to save the world from Clark/Superman? Someone has to be practical in this event. I think that no matter how much faith Oliver wants to have in Clark he knows deep down what people are capable of and he knows everyone needs a failsafe plan. We all know eventually in canon Superman gives Batman the Kryptonite in order to control him if necessary, but the bat isn't in the picture yet so Oliver is the perfect one to do what is required it warranted. I also believe that he needs to come back to the "good" side of his character in order to be trusted with such a responsibility. Let's face it Oliver has seen way more bad in this world then Clark has. I am interested in seeing where the writers will eventually go with this struggle.
Can't wait for the last episode of the season. I will just hate waiting for the new season to start. I am not going to speculate on who will die...either physically or metaphorically as has been hinted at. I will just wait and see. All in all it was a good episode, with really great acting on everyone's part. (EXCEPT THE INJUSTICE LEAGUE! THEY SUCKED!)
I do have to say I enjoyed this episode. Tom did an amazing job of directing and he really gave the entire episode a look and feel that contributed to where the story line is heading at this point in the show. Visually it was a bit dark but again I think they are doing that with a purpose in mind.
I've read a lot of opinions about how the writers are handling Oliver and how they are destroying his character. I agree and disagree here. I think they are doing a wonderful job with him. The entire show has always been about the struggle between good and evil, and knowing what is right and wrong. It has always been about how far do you push the limits before doing "good" actually becomes doing evil and once you have done this are you able to get back to the "good" side of things. (Wow that was a mouthful, but I hope you get my meaning.) I also want Oliver to be good so his transformation is personally a struggle for me and seems out of character with canon. How can Ollie do this? He is supposed to be better then Lex. However, I think it is necessary since Lex is gone for someone close to Clark to be going through an inner struggle that mirrors Clark's own development. Tess is just evil as evident in the deaths she has caused in this episode so she really can't be transitional. Oliver can show Clark a glimpse into what Clark could become if he isn't careful. I think the writers walk this line pretty well. It has to be someone who is close to Clark that is drawn into the darkness in order for this good/evil struggle to work. Until Lex comes back. (I know he will. I am in denial otherwise.) Ollie is a good vessel in this respect. Actually he is perfect. It really can't be anyone else.
Clark has always believed that no matter how far a person falls that they can come back into the light and regain the goodness that he sees within everyone. While this may be very naive and is essentially his downfall with his relationship with Lex it is what makes Clark who he is. The writers by using Oliver and letting him slip toward the darker side of good (The gray area so to speak.) are doing a good job of showing what this is doing to Oliver the man. You can plainly see the pain he is going through in regards to his killing Lex. You can see he is struggling by having to use his and Tess past relationship in order to get what he wants. (Oliver needs to stay out of Tess's bed. That tactic is not working!) It is tearing him apart. He is so close to losing himself as you can see when he uses the ring and starts thrashing Parasite on the pool table. Clark is the only one that gets through to him and brings him back to himself. I think eventually Clark is going to be the one that saves Oliver in the long run. We will have to see.
Justin is doing an amazing job with bringing this pain out into the character. Even though he is acting tough with both Clark and Chloe by telling them Lex and Davis deaths are both essential deep down he really is struggling with what has to be done no matter what. I also think that is why he is keeping the ring. Let's face it if Clark does go off the deep end who is out there to save the world from Clark/Superman? Someone has to be practical in this event. I think that no matter how much faith Oliver wants to have in Clark he knows deep down what people are capable of and he knows everyone needs a failsafe plan. We all know eventually in canon Superman gives Batman the Kryptonite in order to control him if necessary, but the bat isn't in the picture yet so Oliver is the perfect one to do what is required it warranted. I also believe that he needs to come back to the "good" side of his character in order to be trusted with such a responsibility. Let's face it Oliver has seen way more bad in this world then Clark has. I am interested in seeing where the writers will eventually go with this struggle.
Can't wait for the last episode of the season. I will just hate waiting for the new season to start. I am not going to speculate on who will die...either physically or metaphorically as has been hinted at. I will just wait and see. All in all it was a good episode, with really great acting on everyone's part. (EXCEPT THE INJUSTICE LEAGUE! THEY SUCKED!)