Comments | jeannev: Smallville, Mid-Season Report Card

jeannev

Smallville, Mid-Season Report Card

Jan 09, 2011 23:18

Whew, Finally!

Ya know, this sounded like a good idea at the time, but given how much time its taken me to do this, I have to second guess myself. I decided to do a full rewatch of the S10 eps thus far. I had only seen Ambush and Luthor after my initial review/screentime minute count. I don't think my overall feelings on the season changed much, ( Read more... )

mid-season report card, s10, smallville

Comments 55

jlvsclrk January 10 2011, 11:17:46 UTC

I was rewatching Supergirl on Friday and just kept shaking my head over all the things that went wrong. My sister didn't originally have any problems with it, but by the end she was even more negative than I was. Just a symptom of what's wrong with this season.

Homecoming is the personal highlight of the season so far, even if it doesn't make a lick of sense.

jeannev January 10 2011, 14:49:58 UTC

Supergirl will forever remain a complete WTF for me. I just Do. Not. Understand. Why did anyone think that was a good idea? Why was it even necessary? There were so many good ways to bring Kara back, and they chose a way that makes me not want to see Kara ever again. And I don't care how its wanked, or rationalized, I do think her emergence as Supergirl (which is what it was, lets be honest) impacts Clark's emergence as Superman. When he shows up in red and blue, flying around, saving the day, people can look up and think "Oh, another one!"

Ambush, followed by Luthor, followed by Shield were my highlights. But I do understand why people loved the future stuff in Homecoming so much.

And I love your avi. :)

asha14 January 10 2011, 13:31:54 UTC

I think you are a very fair grader and I agree with your report. Imo don't think that it has been suggested that Clark becomes Superman because of Lois (maybe a better Superman because of having that support his adopted parents had with each other and that has been a storyline for Clark from the very beginning which is nice. I however want more DP action for both characters) that belongs to another character and that is why I am thinking really really hard about watching the second half. The first half good have been better for the character of Clark Kent however I don't think he has been all about Lois while imo Lois with the exception of that wasteful episode of Super-girl has been all about Clark. she has been shown to be his only emotional support system and that is where I think the imo miss place accusations of the character making him Superman are coming from. In the early seasons Clark had his parents, and also his friends even if they did not know about the "super" half of him. Clark now only has Lois for emotional support: ( ... )

jeannev January 10 2011, 15:06:01 UTC

I hear what you're saying, and you make a lot of great points. I think what really stands out for me are certain lines like Hawkman saying "He can't do it without you" and "You have everything you need" when looking at Lois. Its that she's linked to his floating in Homecoming (and I have no doubts she'll be equally linked to his flying). Its the talk of her as "Co-captain" in Patriot. Its her matching leather jacket outfit while being front and center at a funeral attended by all superheroes in costume.

And I know these are just moments, but they feel like a bit too much for me. I understand how mileage varies.

As for Oliver my OTP on this show is not Clois its Oliver/Star City.

LOL, Love it! I'd be fine with his going away, even though he's gotten a lot more tolerable for me as the season has gone on.

asha14 January 10 2011, 20:12:33 UTC

I think that imo those lines for me are what goes to the emotional support that Lois gives Clark, and the floating imo was not about Lois so much as it was about Clark feeling in that moment being totally free with whom he is. I have been told most married or committed couples call each other co-captains and that they are in the relationship together and all that other cliche bullshit. As for the furneral Lois is the most important emotional supportive person for Clark that is why she was front and center holding his hand. (throwing it into the viewers face that she is not Lana and will not let go when Clark needs her most...its annoying anvils like that that is making the clois relatioship to me look like a checklist or anti Clana) Lois also knew Hawk-man personally and had a relationship with him such as it was. As for the color matching this is nothing new to this show they have been color matching Lois and Clark since season four. The characters first four episodes together they went overboard with it.

jeannev January 10 2011, 20:26:07 UTC

Don't get me wrong, I had no issue with Lois being at the funeral, or being next to Clark and holding his hand. But I didn't quite get the outfit. The heroes were in their "uniforms", but Lois shouldn't need the leather jacket get-up. But again, its all about how little things like that strike you.

Like, I know a lot of people don't think the floating was about Lois, and I took that scene to mean it was ALL about Lois. Just 2 different perceptions of the same scene. In the grand scheme of things, its a minor issue as long as Clark taking flight doesn't become all about Lois. That would be a major problem for me.

If Lois had been called Clark's co-pilot, I would've been more comfortable with the sports analogy. Co-captain was uncomfortable for me.

Thread 5

ext_374301 January 10 2011, 15:24:48 UTC

Supergirl was just grade A crap.

I still don't get Homecoming..didn't Greg Arkin die? I still think it's ridiculous and a bit of a cheat to show Clark his future..it's as if he only embraces it because it's unavoidable.
Free will and all that jazz..out the window.

jeannev January 10 2011, 16:12:36 UTC

Supergirl was just unforgiveable to me. I think, over time, I've just been worn down by these types of episodes, and after a while, it just becomes too hard to let them slide. It matters and I think it robbed something from Clark and his journey that he can't get back, no matter what they do with the end of the season.

Greg Arkin certainly seemed like he died. Here's the funny thing...I liked his reappearance, and his one scene with lines was really emotional for me. However, of all the meteor infected people Clark went up against, Greg wasn't really one of the ones he tried to save, or had an impact on. So, he was an odd choice for the episode.

Showing Clark his future was a cheat. And I don't understand how people can dismiss the line "As you can see, the future is just fine..." and say that its still an unknown. How do those 2 things reconcile?

Being shown a happy and successful future isn't a guarantee for Clark, I agree. But it does give him an advantage most people in the world never get, and I find that problematic

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Re: general comments goodvibe January 11 2011, 20:12:19 UTC

//Why is his Blur stuff all happening offscreen? Why hasn't he had a single DP assignment that he's actively pursuing onscreen? Why isn't he going on the offensive in dealing with the way the VRA has turned public sentiment against vigilantes? If I compare S9 to S10 in terms of which features a more well-rounded and proactive Clark, I'd give the hat-tip to S9, frankly. At least Clark was actively trying to deal with Zod/the Kandorians and dealing with Blur activities onscreen while also trying to pursue a relationship with Lois. In S10, the only place he really shines at all is in the Clois aspect ( ... )

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Re: the grades: part II jeannev January 10 2011, 17:05:47 UTC

I think you owe me a neck massager, because I think I pulled something while nodding in agreement. We disagree somewhat on eps like Homecoming and Icarus, but overall, I think you've really articulated well my problems with the episodes of this season, and why this season grades rather low for me ( ... )