Smallville: Upgrade
So here's me being negative nancy again, but honestly? I think I'm over Red!K. The one thing that's been consistent with Red!K eps, albeit to varying degrees is that they've never lacked in excitement and a quick pace (even 'Crimson', the most problematic of all Red!K eps). This one just sort of limped all the way through with flashes of brilliance every now and then. But even aside from this, my main beef with the ep is the feeling I get that once again, the writing for Clark is a mere afterthought for the writers. His characterization was, for the most part not only not up to the mark but at certain points other characters (Chloe, I'm looking at you) were actually written at Clark' expense.
I liked that Clark was worried about Lois' safety but him going so far as to actually ask Chloe to lojack her, seemed so utterly contrived. All set up for Chloe getting scot free for her own secrets, basically. This is so clearly a case of the writers coming at things from every other characters POV than Clark', that I'm surprised at myself for even letting it get to me anymore. They can't possibly have Chloe admit, or be told that she was wrong, so they have Clark stoop to her level, so as to put them both on the same footing. I also really resent the fact that my fears about Clark being set up to fail, ala S8, are continuing to being proven true. In the final Chlark scene, not only does Clark yet again apologize to Chloe, but he all out admits her plan was right and lets her completely skate by for her witholding the information from him in the first place. All of this is compounded by the fact that Clark is still putting his faith in Zod, which we now know, unfortunately Zod will betray. Ergo, set up, like I said, to fail Clark in his convictions while Chloe is proven right in hers.
And wouldn't it have been almost refreshing if it weren't the case? To go a different way and have this Zod ultimately prove Clark right. Because the potential was certainly there for things to go that way. I guess not though. Still, having said that, I did think the Zod / RedK!Clark scenes were certainly interesting - the latter at his most manipulative and taking advantage of the former, at his most unwittingly vulnerable. I appreciated their chemistry too, so I think that definitely helped. The Book of Rao mentions got my interest piqued, above all else though. I think Zod telling Clark about it may just prove to be his eventual downfall.
Tess was quite the wild card once again, but ultimately proving her dangerous volatility because at one point it almost appeared that perhaps Zod might actually find more ways to work with Clark, or at least try, no matter the possible ulterior motives. But with Tess' survivalist instincts kicked in, she found a way to get to Zod where it would matter the most - hence the final Zod / Kandorians scene. Speaing of which, how much of Tess' manipulation actually have merit? Did some of the Kandorians actually defect? Because I would appreciate that development, as it would go at least some way in validating Clark' convictions.
Tess' scenes with Chloe were a nice change of pace but ultimately fell a bit flat. The chemistry was there and an intriguing dynamic too, yet after the first scene it seemed we were just going around in circles.
I honestly don't know what to say about Chloe anymore, so I'll just leave it at that.
This was a strong ep for Lois though. Her strongest in a while. I loved that we had her on a story straight off the bat, (believable) undercover and that her dedication to her work, courtesy Clark' 'you've been MIA for a week" was highlighted. What I also really appreciated was that even though she continues to get played by Zod, her phone conversation with him in this ep was restricted strictly to work. There was no swooning, no overt reverance, just shop talk, with her eventually even saying, "if this is it, I gotta go" and then heading straight out to look for Clark. Lois helping Corben, despite their last encounter, seemed natural, not forced, which I also appreciated. It was nice seeing Lois' loyal nature out in the forefront like this. When Corben thanks her at the end, and calls her a dame, I honestly thought it was the most apt way to describe her. And for all the talk of her ober the years being over confident, etc, I've always actually rather admired Lois' often to the point of seld depracating even, humility, which was ever apparent here in her "scary high level of adjectives you've just put me on." Lois also got the best line of the night this ep - "this is the least secret, secret lab I've ever been in, twice."
There wasn't much of Clois in this one, but given all the other dynamics at play, it felt right. I liked the opening Clois quite a bit actually, and Clark' "hi" was very sexily reminiscent of his "hello" from 'Conspiracy.' I also liked that we had Lois spell it out in no uncertain terms that for her, Clark is "it."
The real star of the ep was Corben, and BAG once again, did a fantastic job. I especially liked the way his refuelling scenes were shot - there was a sense of real urgency to them. Corben at once managed to elicit both sympathy and admiration from me.
Zod: "you must've had a friend you had a connection with,like you were opposite sides of the same coin."
Clark: "once, long time ago---"
^ This unexpectedly glorious Clex reference was my favorite moment of the ep.