Booster Screentime Minutes, and Deep-ish Thoughts

[jeannev]

 I really wonder if my feelings about this episode would've been different without the hyping out the wazoo.  Because I sort of think that maybe all these advanced reviewers actually got to see a different cut of the episode then me.  A better cut.  I mean, don't get me wrong, because I do understand that opinions vary, and the SV fandom is very

Comments

Fun Filler

[brijeana]

I enjoyed this episode and it's largely due to the guy playing Booster Gold. For some reason I thought Gold K would be in this episode. They talked about it so much in Kent. I'm sick of Clark losing his powers so I wasn't too disappointed about that

Re: Fun Filler

[jeannev]

Eric Martsoff was totally great. No doubt about it. Which is why, even though I didn't think Booster Gold had much depth of character, I would've welcomed more of him to correct that problem.

And... I don't get why Clark is so reluctant and Lois is so pushy about it. I just don't get it.

Well, yeah, exactly. Especially when it was his idea. Why did they need to put him back in the "must be pushed and prodded" position with this?

I think I would rather see Clark having fun with it and Lois amused while being focused on getting her promotion.Someone on K-Site had a great idea, where they suggested that it would've been fun to see Clark experimenting with this, and having Lois be the one who was trying to make the adjustments to the "new" Clark Kent. I sort of love that idea

[jeannev]

This was a hard review to write, because I found I had so much to say about it. In a lot of ways, this episode was indicative of a lot of the problems with SV writing in general. And yet, its also not a bad episode. So, its sort of hard to sum up in a review

[anonymous]

As nice as seeing Clark wear glasses and become mild-mannered and bumbling, it's way too little and way too late. You got a point in that Clark has been working at the Daily Planet for 2-3 seasons and this felt lightswitchy to me. Instead of Clark seeing for himself why he had to distinguish between himself and the Blur, he became mild mannered because Lois told him to. It felt like Clark didn't have a mind of his own and I doubt we will see this bumbling version of Clark again. It's nothing more than Geoff Johns' tribute to the Christopher Reeve Superman movies, along with the phone booth change

[jeannev]

Too late is really the big problem. They should've had this in mind from the moment Clark starting working at the DP, OR, they should've not had him working there until the final season.

They screwed the pooch.

Such short sighted writing.

I would be very surprised if Johns has watched every SV episode in S10.

I was a little surprised at Clark's screentime too, because it didn't feel like he was around that much. But, it is a little misleading, because there are a few scenes, like the confrontation betweeen Booster and Blue Beetle where Clark is just standing there and watching.

You could be right that they won't really address this new version of Clark Kent again. There certainly isnt much time to do so.

When all is said and done, I think my favorite Johns episode is probably Legion. But none of them strike me as anything overly special.

[costas22]

Thanks for the screentimes. Your review was right on the money I'd say. A good episode, but not what it was hyped up to be. I am going to take a guess here and say that this episode switched places with Kent in order to avoid any ratings decrease that hits the first episode after a long hiatus. Plus, the CGI stuff and all the promoting indicated to me that they had big plans for Booster. Were they looking for a spin off? Were they trying to protect Johns? Who knows?

What bothers me a bit, is that they are using all these Superman anvils, but they are not the iconic moments they should be. They are cop outs. We've heard "Up, up and away" about 3-4 times on this show and he hasn't flown in any of them. So what are you going to say when he actually does? Or the phonebooth change. That wasn't the first time it's happened by the way. We saw it in Turbulence too. But in both instances, it's not the same if he is not putting on the real costume. Just my pet peeve about this stuff.

(And I just resent the hell out of the conceit in the SV

[jeannev]

I do think there was probably a lot of catering to Johns in general.

What bothers me a bit, is that they are using all these Superman anvils, but they are not the iconic moments they should be. They are cop outs. We've heard "Up, up and away" about 3-4 times on this show and he hasn't flown in any of them. So what are you going to say when he actually does? Or the phonebooth change. That wasn't the first time it's happened by the way. We saw it in Turbulence too. But in both instances, it's not the same if he is not putting on the real costume. Just my pet peeve about this stuff.This is a good point. I think the anvils were fun in the beginning of the show, but now? It just seems to be a reminder that we still aren't there yet. And things definitely lose their effectiveness when they keep doing them over and over again

[costas22]

Wow. Funnily enough, I didn't notice all these chests when I watched the trailer. Lol. The PZ not only has plastic surgeons, but it has many humans too. I wonder when that happened. I have to give it to TPTB. They've become experts at diverting the fans'attention from the real issues an episode might have. Give them Clois or Chlollie in bed, Tom or Justin's chest and PZ chicks or Tess cleavage and no one will care how bad the plot is. ;)

One final thing that's staring to become a common joke among fans. There's too much talking. I realize that they may not have a sufficient budget to put together some cool action sequences, but it doesn't help that the dialogue is repetive and full of platitudes most of the time. It would be interesting if we ever found out how many lines Tom has now compared to past seasons.

[eeyore1017]

Hi, Val. I agree with pretty much everything in this post. A lot of the same things crossed my mind- like having no idea who Booster Gold & Blue Beetle were and being confused about their stories. I could have done research before the episode aired, but that's too much like work and TV is supposed to be for entertainment. Besides, what other TV show do you have to do research for in order to understand the plot?

I also thought the same thing about Clark not being a dork in high school- especially in his senior year.

If I start thinking about this stuff too much though, it makes me crazy! I guess that's why most episodes this season I've watched once (or watched again but only the Clark parts) and then moved on.

I know some people want a Season 11 and I would be okay with that IF we were getting episodes like we were a few years ago. But another year of this stuff? No, thank you.

[jeannev]

I don't know why I should have to research a character before he comes onto SV to feel like he makes sense. Thats idiotic. I don't have to research angels before I watch an episode of Supernatural.

Clark wasn't a dork in high school. Period. Just didn't happen.

Don't worry, there won't be any S11.

[foreverknightfa]

I honestly don't think there should be a S11. Frankly as a TW fan I think he should have the freedom to go on to other projects, either in front or behind the camera. Preferably in front but that is not my decision to make. Smallville seriously needs to end, good or bad.

[jeannev]

Oh, I totally agree!