Rants, Raves, and Reviews--Supergirl
Rants, Raves, and Reviews--Smallville "Supergirl"
My take on Season 10 Episode 3. And what an episode it was.
P.S. In case you're slow on the uptake, yes this is full of spoiler after spoiler. So much so that it's ridiculous.
Ladies and Gentleman: The Man
In case any of you is wondering why Oliver/Justin made it to the photo for this review, no it is not just because he is pretty. It is because he has in fact, succeeded in doing what no other episode of Smallville in all ten seasons has ever actually accomplished: I am crying. I almost broke during the season opener, and Jonathan Kent's death hit me pretty hard, but this was officially my limit. I am still choking them back.
But we'll get around to all that fun stuff in a minute. I'm going to try to be chronological and maybe even coherent for once. Exciting, I know.
First off, I am excited about Darkseid. Talk about a cool villain. And the nice little Edgar Allan Poe meets Alfred Hitchcock scene with Godfrey? How eerie. I happen to hate Poe. But that was still a really cool scene. Michael Daingerfield...wow. Just wow. What an incredibly well-done casting choice. Daingerfield's previous credits looked a little sketchy to me, I have to admit. With things like Ace Ventura and The Mask in his past, I wasn't sure what to expect. But he has also since been involved with Supernatural and he's done a lot of voice overs for comic-book related series, which butters me up a bit. I like it when they use people who have been involved in the DC history (such as seeing Deen Cain or Lynda Carter in season 7 or Jane Seymour [a former leading lady to Christopher Reeve] in season 4). So while Daingerfield is no icon like those folks, he's still part of the saga in a way. Really, though, I thought he just nailed the part. Subtle facials and so-steady-and-calm-it's-creepy vocal quality gave me chills. As his publicist said, "Take it easy, Gordon, you sounded a little scary there." Yep. That about sums it up.
Next: Oh, Lois. I missed you. "Break out the marshmallows, Clark. I'm gonna roast this turkey." Much as I enjoyed Cat Grant's little escapade last week, there really is no replacement for the one and only Lois Lane.
Speaking of people I missed: LAURA VANDERVOOT! Excuse me while I do a little jig of happiness at your return. Kara, I admit I harbored some ill-will toward you for once attempting to split up my precious Chloe and Jimmy, but I forgive you. Out of the goodness of my heart. What a beautiful debut for her as --ahem-- "Maiden of Might." cough. I am a bit sorry that she's getting a grasp on the Supergirl thing before Clark has even put on his glasses. I am tired of waiting on Clark to get his act together on days like this, and I am even more tired of everyone else telling Clark he can't do it. Kara, I was about ready to tell you to shut the bleep up when you were going through your whole "Jor-El loves me better than you" speech. Not Laura's fault of course. Just a massive injustice in the overall story arc if you ask me. Once again, where does the ice fortress get off passing judgement. "He says you're no longer his son." What? WHAT? So irritating. Somebody please point out to the writers of Smallville that the fortress is not an actual human.
But aside from that, I loved having Supergirl back. Her big entrance was phenomenal. Wardrobe crew, I commend you. Loved every minute of primary colors in this episode. Plus, it was just nice to see Clark realizing how nice it would be not to hide his face from watching Kara. Lois, I rarely say this to you, but shut up.
The church scenes...I kept wondering if that was the same church that Lois and Godfrey had their pow-wow in when Oliver showd up there. It thought that was...strange, though I have no real concrete reason for why...I just thought it was weird. Otherwise, the confrontation Lois and Godfrey had was great. Loved the dramatic tension of knowing that Godfrey was possessed by Darkseid and Lois was in way over her head. Not that she would have cared either way. More reasons I love her.
My heart started racing when he let on about Oliver's identity.
Leading me to: HOLY UNSEEN FOOTAGE, BATMAN! We finally saw the unused scene from Warrior. I about died. I can't believe what we've been missing out on all this time. Five seconds of amazingness. That's what that was. Meanwhile, Hartley is really pulling out all the stops. His inner turmoil is so tangible I could feel it in the air around me. Considering this isn't live theatre, I thought that was a pretty darn impressive accomplishment.
I do have to interrupt the raving for a brief rant, however. Shouldn't Oliver have a scar on his chest from when Zod scorched him last season? A really expensive, difficult to apply, I expected Oliver to have a shirt on for the rest of my life, scar? Not that I would dare to complain about seeing an attractive man with his shirt off, of course, but...continuity-wise, I felt like this was a bit of a stretch for him to be totally unscathed like that.
Naturally, I was immediately distracted from the lack of scar by the footage from Warrior and the sexy board-smashing and the rippling muscles and my desperate need for a man in my life. Just kidding. About the last part, I mean. Moving on, wonderful writing in this scene. The dry wit and harsh sarcasm volleyball game between Lois and Oliver holds so true to their characters. It was aces in my book.
The flying scene was anti-climactic. I got all excited--and shocked--and then, like my hopes and dreams, Clark fell. Splat. How lame. Major let down. I did, however, like the explanation for why he can't fly a bit. His inability to relax, clear his mind because he constantly worries about everyone else make sense and fits. But still. That barn roof has seen enough damage over the last ten years, don't you think? Leave it alone.
The scene on the rooftop with Kara and Clark was very powerful. Very ominous. Good writing. Nice background music, too.
And, my favorite, which is about to make me cry again just watching it. Oliver talking to his parents. Oh god. Yep. The tears are coming back. Considering both my parents are alive and well, I related to this moment in unfathomable ways, and it just shattered my heart. It was a beautiful moment of stillness when everything else is so on edge in this episode. The juxtaposition of this scene followed by Lois entering a regular "den of iniquity" was pretty fantastic.
Cool costume, Lo. I liked the mask. Daingerfield you creeped me out in these next couple of scenes beyond words. You just kept...smiling. ick. If it makes you feel any better, I think that's a compliment.
"Tork-wrench." LMAO
This was definitely one of the raciest scenes I've ever seen on Smallville. Considering that includes the ridiculous Weird Sister moments we were having in Season Four, and of course, Lois's unforgettable Salute to the Flag, that's a real statement. It was interesting to see how much the show took things up a notch for the Darkseid plot.
Lois's bedsheet-bind? Holy...unholy things. I was really quite terrified for Lois, and quite frankly, for Erica Durance. Theatrically speaking, it's a very fine line that actors and directors and choreographers tread in scenes like these. When the danger feels so real that I'm actually no longer concerned for the character's safety, but for the actor's...I don't like it. I may just be a whimp, but that scene unhinged me. As a performer myself, I'm not sure I would have been willing to do a scene like that. But then again, I may just not be giving the crew enough credit. Obviously Durance was unharmed, and it may have been far less terrifying in real life that it was in the show. Still. That scared me, and not in the good way.
Confrontation between Godfrey/Darkseid and Clark? That was epic. Daingerfield was hypnotic, and Tom was on his A-game here. A little more Hitchcock with the ravens, and hooray for Kara saving the day and then Clark/Kara saving Lois.
Lois/Erica. I am glad you're not dead. Try to keep it that way. Thanks.
The scene between Lois and Kara was heartwarming. Very honest and I think easy for everyone watching to relate to on some personal level.
And Kara got her mild-mannered look down before Clark. Sigh. I'm still very resentful about that. Clark, Costume Crew, all I'm asking for is a pair of glasses. Please? Pretty please? (Vandervoot did look really cute, though.....[she admitted grudgingly]).
And finally, Ollie goes public. Ack. I foresee immeasurable repercussions. It was still a great scene though. Was I the only one who laughed awkwardly about the fact that he was wearing a green suit? Ha. Nice touch for Lois to be present for the press meeting.
I cannot, however, help but express disgust with the fact that even now Oliver (and apparently everyone else in Lois's life) has not been totally honest with Lois about Chloe. A vacation? She went away? What the heck? Lois deserves better than such pitiful lies, and she knows better than to fall for them. If Chloe were on vacation, Lois would be calling to check in on her at least once a day if not more. What a serious insult to Lois's character. And really, Chloe's as well.
Overall, though it was a very powerful, resonant final scene, and it's got me itching to know what's going to happen next. Looking forward to next week, and hoping that I don't completely lose myself to depression because of all the Chlollie angst in the meantime.
200th episode, here we come!