Comments | jeannev: Kent Screentime Minutes, and some thoughts

jeannev

Kent Screentime Minutes, and some thoughts

Apr 18, 2011 22:47

God, it feels like this took me forever to get around to.

I guess I could blame a busy weekend, or a terrible on-again, off-again headache that has just been messing me up for 2 days.

But in reality? I expect its just more about my general feelings about the show this season, and the episodes. Which isn't to say that I didn't like Kent well enough ( Read more... )

screentime minutes, thoughts, kent

Comments 41

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jeannev April 19 2011, 03:02:46 UTC

Well, I think its because Lois felt that Clark was annoyed with her, so thats why he might be acting different. So, I understood that.

I've always thought that the SV actors varied from week to week, and I suspect that has something to do with scripts and directors.

I'm sorry the show never gave Clark and Lois a reporter storyline. Another lost opportunity. *sigh*

tasabian April 19 2011, 03:36:47 UTC

I wish they'd made this a three episode arc. Would happily have sacrificed at least half the S10 eps to see this plotline get more substance. The final scene with CK rushing CL to the Fortress were far too rushed to carry much impact.

The most obvious thing to take away from this episode is just how great Tom Welling can be when he turns it on. In this episode, much like in the previous AU episode, Luthor, he's spectacular not only in his Clark Kent persona, but in his role as Clark Luthor.
I'm hoping this catches the eye of a casting director or two - makes a great audition reel for him.

I'm not at all comfortable with Emil and Tess going behind Clark's back and taking the remnants of a kryptonian artifact that Clark thought he had destroyed.They may not get to it by the time the series wraps but Emil famously does betray Clark in the comics - occasionally the show seems to drop little hints in that direction, or AJ conveys it with his performance. If the last eps weren't so over-stuffed, I wouldn't have minded seeing that ( ... )

jeannev April 19 2011, 13:42:03 UTC

I also wish that, if they were going to do this whole Clark Luthor thing, they had spent more time developing him as a character. The possibilities and dynamics of it are potentially fascinating, but the way they executed is shallow as a puddle. I do appreciate what they've hinted at, and the interactions between Tom and Cassidy have been amazing to watch. But ultimately, it sort of feels like half a meal.

And yeah, I can't help but wonder if any of this was really necessary for the shows last season.

I think Clark has had enough of "friends" betraying him on this show, so I'd rather they didn't go there with Emil (or Tess, for that matter). In this last season, it would be nice to believe that Clark actually has some loyal friends. As it is, I'm not sure I can think of one that I'd say 100% on, outside of Lois. But then again, maybe thats what they are going for. *sigh*

anonymous April 19 2011, 06:57:53 UTC

Kent is the sequel to Luthor in that we revisit the parallel universe and we have the returns of Ultraman Clark Luthor and alternate Lois. We also see the debut of alternate Jonathan. Through Clark's viewpoint when he returned to the parallel universe, we get to learn what happened to Clark Luthor, Oliver, and Jonathan in that world and how it parallels and differs from the real SV universe ( ... )

jeannev April 19 2011, 13:47:10 UTC

Clark did shine in this episode, and thats a big reason why it was as enjoyable as it was. I've said all season that we were really missing some components of who Clark/Supes is shown on screen. And one of those components was actually seeing how he can inspire people, and how he can help them onto the right path. This ep did that successfully with AU Jonathan, and less successfully with Clark Luthor. And thats as aspect of Clark we should be SEEING, not hearing about with fan testimonials.

One of the things I really DID NOT like about this episode was how AI Jor-El is written as one big fat deux ex machina when it becomes a necessity for a plot resolution. Lazy, lazy, lazy writing.

Did Clark Luthor fly?

I do think this was a better ep overall then Luthor, and yet Luthor had certain things that I did enjoy more. Overall though, I do have to ask myself about the necessity of this AU at all in this last season. It seems more "bucket list" to me then real necessity for our Clark's last chapter.

tariel22 April 19 2011, 07:35:37 UTC

The most obvious thing to take away from this episode is just how great Tom Welling can be when he turns it on.This episode was a treat for me, just because it gave me so much of Tom, and gave him such an opportunity to shine. Clark Kent and Clark Luthor are so different, and I enjoy them both. I especially loved seeing CK embody Superman so perfectly in his scenes with CL and Jonathan. Believe me, I'm happy Tom's not a part of Snyder's MOS, but he could have rocked it so hard ( ... )

jeannev April 19 2011, 13:58:43 UTC

Its very, very hard for me to dislike an episode with so much Tom, and him being so brilliant. I've always maintained that one can forgive a lot when you get certain things that make you happy. And for me, lots of Tom with great acting is one of those things.

Its true that they were never going to be able to cram everything they needed to truly bring Clark Luthor to life in 42m. And especially when they spent no more then 5m on him in his last outing. But for me, knowing the time constraints doesn't make me more forgiving of the writing, because this is a fact they are well aware of going in. So, as they say "keep it simple Stupid!" Don't create all this intricate scenarios that you can't adequately resolve in 42m

I also liked that scene between CL and Tess at the mansion. I totally agree that his reaction gave us a hint of what lies beneath. I wish the episode had included more of those hints.

It didn't make a lot of sense to me either. Exactly what lesson was Clark supposed to have learned there? He's never placed ( ... )

tariel22 April 19 2011, 18:45:02 UTC

But really, its manufactured drama.

There's been an awful lot of that in S10, IMO, especially between Clark and Lois. I miss the fun, flirty banter between them, and the way they used to butt heads sometimes. Lois is a little too soft for my taste lately. I appreciate that she's always there for Clark, and Erica portrays that beautifully, but where's the fire? Where's that unique spirit that made him fall in love with her in the first place? We get glimpses, but I want more.

At this point, S10 is what it is, and for me, its a terrible disappointment.

That's the thing. For all these seasons I've hoped for certain payoffs from this show, and now I know a lot of them are never going to happen. Not that it's up to me to say what should happen, not at all, but of course I'm disappointed. And it's a done deal, it's over. It's time to put my hopes, and my passion, in the future. Tom's future.

jeannev April 19 2011, 19:45:16 UTC

I think one thing that I've really taken away from S10 Clois is sweet and loving is very nice, but I think I need my TV couples a bit more fiery and tempestuous and spicy. Its just a personal preference.

And why isn't it up to you to say what should happen? There's nothing at all wrong with you having expectations. I think thats a natural reaction when you invest so much time in something.

I hope Tom's next project is a lot more fun for me.

Thread 6

costas22 April 19 2011, 10:04:20 UTC

Thanks for the screentimes and the insightful review. I hope your headache has finally gone. :)

The most obvious thing to take away from this episode is just how great Tom Welling can be when he turns it on.

He was brilliant as Clark Luthor. And given more screentime in Kent, I feel that he did a better job here than he did in Luthor. When Tom plays the bad guy, it's really fun to notice how he pays attention to detail. Like when CL is playing with his ring. Or when he was tapping on the desk as Tess was searching for Lionel at Luthorcorp. Or when he was mocking Chloe behind her back in Persona. But the best part about his performance was his expressions. It made it believable that he was a completely different person.

But, my biggest problem with the episode is that it still wasn't enough development. Especially not when you factor in the ending he got. Yep. If you are going to pull off an ending like that, give us a reason to believe that he really wants to change. The only inkling I got that he wasn't a total monster, was that ( ... )

jeannev April 19 2011, 14:10:11 UTC

The headache comes and goes. I'm convinced its stress ( ... )

costas22 April 19 2011, 22:35:07 UTC

Heh, I guess you could say that Jonathan's parenting had little to do with honesty. Of course there was always a reason for that and I could cut him some slack. It was always the treatment of Lex that bothered me more. I am not a Lex apologist, but the show went overboard with that. One final thing about AU Jonathan. He was living at the Kent farm right? And he never realized what was going on between AU Cless at the barn near his house? :D ( ... )

jeannev April 19 2011, 23:05:54 UTC

Don't get me wrong, because I don't blame Jonathan or Martha. I just hate when the show is careless like this. There are so many things that Jonathan did teach Clark. But honesty just wasn't one of those, because it couldn't be ( ... )