Season nine look back (Roulette edition)
I was dreading re-watching this one and you know what? I actually liked it more than I expected. Ah, the hidden blessing of lowered expectations.
Not that Roulette doesn't have it's share of problems with the fact it felt like Clark was a supporting character on an Oliver and Lois show at the top of the list but all things considered I guess I thought it wasn't as bad as I remembered.
Favorite Moment
Clark’s Movie night with Lois.
Clark is such a nice guy and TW does a great job channeling the nervous energy of someone desperately trying to be nice when in truth watching a bunch of old shark movies is clearly about the last thing in the world Clark wants to do.
Hell Yeah! Moment
You've done a hell of a job protecting the world on your own Clark. I'm here to help you now.
Truthfully there’s not much to choose from this episode but despite all the crap that lead up to it it’s still hard for me not to feel good about the music and imagery of Clark and Oliver standing on the rooftop together in the final scene. If only instead of making cracks about Clark’s outfit Oliver had apologized. More on the conversation I wish had been below.
OMG Moment
"Lex" in a coffin.
Too bad it wasn’t Lex who’d abducted Oliver. On the other hand Chloe and her mind games are are pretty damn hard core aren’t they?
Emo Moment (tie)
What do you have to lose? Absolutely nothing./Nothing about this is fine./Ollie, I'll always be here for you. And if you forget that again... I will knock you out.
Despite a fair amount of action it felt like every other scene had some sort of emo moment. On the bright side at least the emo didn’t drag down Clark. Of course that's because Clark wasn't there a lot of the time but I digress.
Least Favorite Moment
You can't be serious. Clark would never in a million years risk what needed to be done.
Not in a million years? Then maybe, just maybe, it wasn't work the risk. And considering all the ideas Clark has bounced off Chloe over the years is it too much to think maybe Chloe could bounce some of her ideas off of him for once, especially the more questionable ones? Did it not occur to her that together maybe they could have come up with something a little less drastic to pull OIiver back from the abyss?
WTF moment (tie)
One can tie up loose ends with a simple square knot or one can choose the more elegant clover leaf. It's all a matter of style./Birthdays and Beer pong.
A cloverleaf knot, seriously? Surely there’s a cliched gambling metaphor that would have served just as well. Maybe that's why so many Smallville seasons seem to completely unravel toward the end. The writers are trying to tie up with loose ends with type of knot they’re still learning how to tie.
And while the fact that Lois and Oliver are so tight is cool and all but I never got the vibe they hung out together post break-up.
Bonus: Retrospect WTF moment
In light of Kandor Jor-El gives Clark the scoop on Alia, telling him if she's her on Earth there may be others but for some reason he leaves out the "Zod" part of the others? While I’m guessing a surprise face-off with the man who grew up to destroy Krypton is all part of Clark’s “training” that’s one hell of a pop quiz.
Double Bonus: Retrospect WTF moment #2
I enjoy Clark and Lois together but more for the banter and partnership than for the romance. So maybe that’s why I didn’t notice the first time around that in the prior episode Clark messes up their first date (and is warned he’ll have a hard time earning a second chance). Then in the following episode Clark seems willing to to jump all kinds of hoops in hopes of earning that elusive second date. But smack dab in the middle of that here in Roulette Lois pretty much initiates a movie date that by appearances it's about the last thing Clark wanted to do. Color me confused.
The scene that should have been:
The final scene between Oliver and Lois was powerful. She wonders why he didn’t talk to her and he gives some believable answers: Pride, Fear, Regret. And it works because they do mean a lot to each other. But dammit if they're not going to let Clark actually, you know, save Oliver why can't they at least have let this kind of conversation happened between Ollie and the main character?
Season nine checklist
And though Roulette may not have wowed in any other aspects it did earn top marks on my season nine checklist:
Clark in blur mode on a rooftop: Yes
Mention of Clark's destiny: Unfortunately the Jor-El discussion was off-screen so not this time
Chloe invades someone's privacy: And kidnaps them. But don't worry, it was all with good intentions.
Chloe says something bitchy to Clark: I need to stop giving out keys.
Lois knocked unconscious: For most people falling over in a chair is just plain embarrassing. For Ms. Lane it's a guaranteed head injury.
Lois plays dress up: I'm guessing Roulette put her in the dragon lady outfit but I'll take it.
Oliver loses his shirt: Figuratively, when his banking account is cleaned out. (What? I’m taking it!)
Oliver too caught up in himself to effectively play hero: And so drunk he can barely walk.
Someone kneeled before Zod: no Zod to kneel before.
Zod quotes earth literature: no Zod to quote.
Tess physically abused: No Tess.
Tess schemes: No Tess.
Supporting character gets more screen time than Clark: Yeah.
Comic book character appearance: Roulette
Roulette level of authenticity: 90% (9 of 10) the highest yet!
Compared to prior episodes:
Savior: 86% (12 of 14)
Metallo: 70% (7 of 10 Zod/Oliver stuff excluded)
Rabid: 50% (7 of 14)
Echo: 58% (7 of 12)
Not that Roulette doesn't have it's share of problems with the fact it felt like Clark was a supporting character on an Oliver and Lois show at the top of the list but all things considered I guess I thought it wasn't as bad as I remembered.
Favorite Moment
Clark’s Movie night with Lois.
Clark is such a nice guy and TW does a great job channeling the nervous energy of someone desperately trying to be nice when in truth watching a bunch of old shark movies is clearly about the last thing in the world Clark wants to do.
Hell Yeah! Moment
You've done a hell of a job protecting the world on your own Clark. I'm here to help you now.
Truthfully there’s not much to choose from this episode but despite all the crap that lead up to it it’s still hard for me not to feel good about the music and imagery of Clark and Oliver standing on the rooftop together in the final scene. If only instead of making cracks about Clark’s outfit Oliver had apologized. More on the conversation I wish had been below.
OMG Moment
"Lex" in a coffin.
Too bad it wasn’t Lex who’d abducted Oliver. On the other hand Chloe and her mind games are are pretty damn hard core aren’t they?
Emo Moment (tie)
What do you have to lose? Absolutely nothing./Nothing about this is fine./Ollie, I'll always be here for you. And if you forget that again... I will knock you out.
Despite a fair amount of action it felt like every other scene had some sort of emo moment. On the bright side at least the emo didn’t drag down Clark. Of course that's because Clark wasn't there a lot of the time but I digress.
Least Favorite Moment
You can't be serious. Clark would never in a million years risk what needed to be done.
Not in a million years? Then maybe, just maybe, it wasn't work the risk. And considering all the ideas Clark has bounced off Chloe over the years is it too much to think maybe Chloe could bounce some of her ideas off of him for once, especially the more questionable ones? Did it not occur to her that together maybe they could have come up with something a little less drastic to pull OIiver back from the abyss?
WTF moment (tie)
One can tie up loose ends with a simple square knot or one can choose the more elegant clover leaf. It's all a matter of style./Birthdays and Beer pong.
A cloverleaf knot, seriously? Surely there’s a cliched gambling metaphor that would have served just as well. Maybe that's why so many Smallville seasons seem to completely unravel toward the end. The writers are trying to tie up with loose ends with type of knot they’re still learning how to tie.
And while the fact that Lois and Oliver are so tight is cool and all but I never got the vibe they hung out together post break-up.
Bonus: Retrospect WTF moment
In light of Kandor Jor-El gives Clark the scoop on Alia, telling him if she's her on Earth there may be others but for some reason he leaves out the "Zod" part of the others? While I’m guessing a surprise face-off with the man who grew up to destroy Krypton is all part of Clark’s “training” that’s one hell of a pop quiz.
Double Bonus: Retrospect WTF moment #2
I enjoy Clark and Lois together but more for the banter and partnership than for the romance. So maybe that’s why I didn’t notice the first time around that in the prior episode Clark messes up their first date (and is warned he’ll have a hard time earning a second chance). Then in the following episode Clark seems willing to to jump all kinds of hoops in hopes of earning that elusive second date. But smack dab in the middle of that here in Roulette Lois pretty much initiates a movie date that by appearances it's about the last thing Clark wanted to do. Color me confused.
The scene that should have been:
The final scene between Oliver and Lois was powerful. She wonders why he didn’t talk to her and he gives some believable answers: Pride, Fear, Regret. And it works because they do mean a lot to each other. But dammit if they're not going to let Clark actually, you know, save Oliver why can't they at least have let this kind of conversation happened between Ollie and the main character?
Season nine checklist
And though Roulette may not have wowed in any other aspects it did earn top marks on my season nine checklist:
Clark in blur mode on a rooftop: Yes
Mention of Clark's destiny: Unfortunately the Jor-El discussion was off-screen so not this time
Chloe invades someone's privacy: And kidnaps them. But don't worry, it was all with good intentions.
Chloe says something bitchy to Clark: I need to stop giving out keys.
Lois knocked unconscious: For most people falling over in a chair is just plain embarrassing. For Ms. Lane it's a guaranteed head injury.
Lois plays dress up: I'm guessing Roulette put her in the dragon lady outfit but I'll take it.
Oliver loses his shirt: Figuratively, when his banking account is cleaned out. (What? I’m taking it!)
Oliver too caught up in himself to effectively play hero: And so drunk he can barely walk.
Someone kneeled before Zod: no Zod to kneel before.
Zod quotes earth literature: no Zod to quote.
Tess physically abused: No Tess.
Tess schemes: No Tess.
Supporting character gets more screen time than Clark: Yeah.
Comic book character appearance: Roulette
Roulette level of authenticity: 90% (9 of 10) the highest yet!
Compared to prior episodes:
Savior: 86% (12 of 14)
Metallo: 70% (7 of 10 Zod/Oliver stuff excluded)
Rabid: 50% (7 of 14)
Echo: 58% (7 of 12)