Smallville: "Warrior" Review
"Warrior" was the first episode this season I wasn't exactly thrilled about. There was some great moments I really liked, and Carlo Marks was adoreable in the whole episode. However, this whole episode had problems from the directing, song soundtrack, and some inconsistent writing. I haven't done "bad" and "good" categories in a quite a long time, but for this episode it's a must for me.
The Bad
Gotta start off somewhere, and I rather get the badness over with first to end on a positive note.
Chlollie (Chloe/Oliver) - I knew the moment was coming, and I was seriously hoping the writers would lead up to this moment. It's just the problem is there wasn't a foundation for this ending scene of these two. There simply haven't been enough scenes socially with these two since we know Chloe has been Big Brother Watchtower all season. I know many people see the romantic chemistry between these two, but I sadly don't. That's not to say Justin and Chloe don't have chemistry because they do but I sadly only see the friendship part of it. I think I am an open-minded person on many things (though honestly I'm a stubborn headed person on many things too lol), but these two romantically aren't doing it for me. Maybe because the chemistry between Allison and Sam Witwer was just off the charts amazing, and they were at least led up to since their characters' first meeting. With Chlollie I only see the friendship, and I know back in my mind Oliver is destined to be with his soulmate Black Canary/Dinah. I wish I could feel it, but it's one of the few Smallville ships I simply do not.
Inconsistent Writing - When did Clark keep Lois at an arm's length? I'm kinda confused on this. For the past season Clark has been the one that is eager to go the next step (i.e. first kiss, Clark's galaxy, and etc.). I only remembered one mention by Lois that there was a mutually agreement between Clois to take it slow, but nothing in regards that would both have Clark and Lois point out that Clark is at arm's length. Already mentioned Chlollie's writing so not going to repeat it.
Directing Missteps - Prior to the airing of this episode Allison Mack did several interviews for the promotion of this episode and directing her second episode. The only interview I have read this week was the TV Guide Online interview, and the quotes Allison said sadly looked like she was watching another show all season. It was merely interpretative from Allison's point of view because there are specific episode quotes that contradict what Mack said in this interview. Maybe it was due to my hectic work week, but the thought never occured to me that perhaps the quotes Mack said in the interview would happen on my tv screen. Alas, it did and let's just say I wasn't exactly impressed. When one has inconsistent writing on top of the directing missteps it makes for an iffy episode. There were scenes Clois was very Clois-like, but then there were moments that just seemed off. The atmosphere and the flow of one scene to another just didn't flow. This bad flow occured throughout the episode. Sometimes the bad flow occured with Clois moments, another was right before Warrior Angel flew, or how they transitioned the last Clois scene to the last scene of the episode. In sum what I saw on "Warrior" doesn't exactly mesh with the rest of the season. It was like a puzzle piece to another puzzle that just didn't fit to our season's puzzle.
I hope this episode isn't a sign of what is to come, and it was just a one time event 'cause this season is definitely one of the best I seen on Smallville.
The Good
Now the episode wasn't entirely horrid because there were many things I did enjoy.
Alec aka Warrior Angel - Carlo Marks did a great job at a young boy in an adult male's body. Carlo was utterly adoreable in this role from the cute little boy dialogue to his Warrior Angel costume. I really liked the scene between little Alec and Clark in the Kent Farm loft about what is to be a true hero and Superman picture Alec drew for The Blur. It was great to see the "S" shirt-rip even though it was in The Blur colors.
Metropolis Comic-Con - The little nods to comic-con were cute from all the Star Wars shout-outs to Alec constantly talking about the standard superhero formula. It was cute seeing all the Red Blue Blurs and Robin Hood Green Arrows in the crowd.
Clois - The make-up scene at the end, and Clark's reaction to Lois' Amazon Wonder Woman costume was priceless. I would have liked to see or at least hear what Clois was going to be at the ball. Loved the callbacks to Lois' previous costumes, and that Clark was able to break Zatanna's spell due to his love for Lois. Sidenote I love that Lois has XBOX 360 Project Natal, and it hasn't been released yet lol.
Zatanna - For the most part I enjoyed Zatanna's appearence in this episode due in large part to the casting, but I am wondering about some writing and directorial moments *shrugs*. I would like to see her return again, and become more of a figure in JLA since it's hard to get Black Canary these days.
Overall, the episode had it's good moments but it's my least favorite episode of the season.