Smallville Mid-Season Checkup: What We Love, What We Loath
We needn't have worried: This season rocks! Now that we're cooling our heels with no new episodes until the New Year, we've decided to look back on some of the things that have made the show so much fun -- plus the bits that we could have done without.
What we loved:
Doomsday delights: We were dubious when The Powers That Be announced Doomsday as the Big Bad, but we are more than happy to admit that we were wrong. Davis Bloom/Doomsday rocks, in large part because Sam Witwer is our new favorite man on TV. His Davis is a sweetheart -- smitten with Chloe (and wow, the chemistry between the two of them!), genial with Jimmy, sometimes prickly with Clark, and always a fully rounded character that we loved to watch. The slow build where we got more and more hints that something wasn't... quite...right about Mr. Bloom was terrific and heartbreaking. We can't wait to see what happens next.
Tess Mercer: There's a new leader at LexCorp, and no one seems to be able to get a bead on her. Is she a good guy? A bad guy? A formerly good guy gone bad? A good guy gone bad who can come back to being good? Whatever she is, Tess never fails to intrigue -- and we love that she's able to kick some serious ass. We hope Ollie enjoyed his stick fighting date -- and no, that's not a euphemism!Clark stepping up: The great hook for this show -- Clark Kent before he becomes Superman -- became its greatest problem over the last couple of seasons. After all, now that Clark is all grown up, how long can he put off becoming the superhero we know and love? He started sounding almost whiny -- It's not fair! I don't wanna be a superhero! Wahhh! -- and we were getting sick of it. So it's great to see Clark stepping up and realizing who it is he's going to become. No, he's not a fully formed Man of Steel yet, and he doesn't need to be. But he's going out into the wider world, focusing on more than just protecting his close circle of friends, and realizing that there's a greater purpose to his life. It's about time!
Lois Lane, girl reporter: Yes, we know, this is going to piss a fair number of people off, but hear us out. When Lois first came on the show, it seemed to us like the writers and producers didn't quite know what to do with her. Was she a sex bomb? An antagonist? Comic relief? What? But this season, we're starting to see a Lois we recognize. Again, she's not the Pulitzer-prize winning reporter yet, but her grit and determination are starting to show through. , Sure, she doesn't always make the best decisions -- that toast at Chloe and Jimmy's engagement party was memorably awful -- but we're seeing the heart beneath all that bluster. Plus, we're really buying that she is falling for Clark, and that she can't quite bring herself to believe it. And finally, how can you not love a girl who has this authoritative remedy for alcoholic overindulgence memorized on the tip of her tongue: "I need a sports drink, all the vitamin D you can carry, and a single dill pickle, stat!" Hee!
What we're unsure of
The return of Lana: This is a tricky one: The Lana who's appeared in the last few eps is totally floating our boat. She's intriguing, bad-ass, ambiguous... and her new hair is adorable. We have no idea whether she's a good guy or a bad guy, and we like it that way. But... look, we know Clark and Lana had an epic love, blah blah blah, but the Clark-and-Lana plotline was seriously dragging the show down. If Clark is obsessed with saving Lana, keeping his secret from Lana, or pining for Lana, he's not going out and saving the world or becoming Superman. So as long as Lana's return doesn't mean another decent into the Clark-and-Lana love quagmire, we're all for it.
What we're not buying
The Chloe Mindwipe: Clark, Clark, Clark... what the heck were you thinking erasing all of Chloe's memories relating to your powers? That's crazy! You basically took away several years of her life there! Plus, it's not really your decision to make -- and if or, more likely, when Chloe finds out, she's going to be pissed off. Finally, that mindwipe was most likely what infected Computer Jor El. All in all, it was a boneheaded move.The Strong Scent of Cheese: Doomsday is a comic-book villain who made a great transition to the show. Maxima? Not so much. The whole episode just reeked of cheese -- hey, look, it's an alien sex goddess who kills with a kiss! Yowza! -- and wasn't even all that fun. Plus, the whole episode seemed to be geared at banging us over the head with the Lois/Clark love story. Show, don't tell, folks. It's a lot better when you just let the relationship evolve!
That's our take -- what do you think of the season so far? What are your favorite parts, and what drives you crazy? What did we get right, and where are we totally wrong? Talk about it in the comments!
Comments
ok i was hopen chole could have become the black canary i am still hope casue it smallive and med rock / krypton rock can case magic or how abt wounder women i mean make chole a super hero or super side kick giver her power so she can be part of justic leg. an alway be in smallive
Posted by: Anonymous | January 1, 2009 2:08 PM
I want to give you a young guy’s opinion. I am 20 and in college and I can tell you nobody in my age group finds EDLois appealing or attractive. In the hands of a better actress, Lois may come across as sassy and sexy but in the hands of EDLois, Lois is a one obnoxious know-it-all, harping on docile Clark. Lois looks like Clark’s mother and watching Clark put up with Lois is an exercise in self-control. Most guys in my age group like women who are slim and athletic with toned arms and legs. Lois has large fake boobs. The trouble with that kind of look is that it looks matronly. Everybody is saying this is the last season of Smallville. They should just try to tell Clark’s story and leave Lois out as much as possible.
Posted by: John T. | January 1, 2009 1:30 PM
ok, let c . how abt a chole an oliver hook up i mean green arrow had a sidekick/gf in comic mm black canere . or how abt wounder women i love chole she best part of smallive . o and love wen somebody suggested in seson 6 dvd that chole changes her name 2 lois that would be kool i mean she is better write than lois . lois could not even spell weather in seson 6 lol. chole n clark should alway be freind or more ,and she should alway rem him no matter what ,as coupple they have great cem i love wen she kissed him seson 6 before jimmy ; jimmy an chole is so lame let her forgte she even now jimmy or jimmy forgit her an leaves forever marry someone else
Posted by: rehana | January 1, 2009 11:42 AM
In almost every Lois scene, she is wearing a push up bra with her silicone implants hanging out. There must be a large segment of the prison population who considers this middle aged skank with a nose and boob job sexy and fit for Clark Kent. The rest of us have exhausted our gag reflex.
Posted by: jen | December 31, 2008 10:22 PM
I'm enjoying the show more than ever now. Love EDLois. It's about time! I could care less whether or not all these teenage and younger female viewers dislike her.
Guess what maybe you should step out of your female centric world and look at this from a MALE'S perspective for once.
Us 30 something males love her to death. Guess that's why she owns KK and AM in the top 100 sexiest women. APPROVED by us!
Please do continue to show her in the light you have. I'm enjoying her portrayal.
She's sassy. She's sexy. She knows how to have fun and relax. She's assertive and it rubs off on Clark. He becomes more proactive and actually THINKS on his own around her rather than running to Chloe for everything.
Whenever she's with Clark he's enjoying himself rather than pining. She gets him off his butt working a REAL job unlike the other two! And best of all she loosens him up. Yes, even superman needs a beer from time to time. THANK YOU, Lois!
Look Tom Welling is a 30 something male. Put him with the right woman for once and quit trying to placate these young females who have NO clue whatsoever what a MAN desires in a woman.
Us older males know better which of these woman more accurately reflects a good mate FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW!
Oh and by the way Tom prefers acting with Erica young ladies! He always directs the episodes with Lois and Clark moments. Hello, "Hydro", "Apocalypse", and now upcoming "Hex"
Oh and one more thing QUIT having Clark refer to Chloe as his BFF! That is feminine! and GAY! Guys don't have BFF's, women do. Guys have friends and we NEVER call our friend our BFF. OMG!
Posted by: LexismyHero | December 30, 2008 6:18 PM
You write like a blathering fool. The producers have no confidence in Lois being the iconic Lois. Every scene is staged with Lois’s fake silicone implants hanging out, presumably to distract the viewers from noticing that she has limited acting range and how she ruins the scenes for the other characters.
Posted by: tiara | December 30, 2008 2:56 PM
I agree with a lot of what you said, especially what’s working and the mindwipe.
One thing you missed in the not working or unsure of, is the underuse of the Green Arrow/Oliver. Why bring him back if you're not going to do something with him? He's so in need of a storyline. They have been spending way too much time on Jimmy and not enough on Oliver.
One thing that has been bugging me more this season than past seasons, is how everyone works in Metropolis but still lives in Smallville. Aren’t they suppose to be like 3 hours apart?
And my last grip: while I can somewhat believe Lois is starting to fall for Clark, I'm not buying him falling for her. He pined and whined about Lana for 7 seasons and now he's suddenly falling for Lois? It’s a little too quite for me and I also miss their teasing banter.
Past that I’m loving the season.
Posted by: SG | December 30, 2008 12:35 AM
Are your guys really that stupid that you don't know that Lana centric episodes have received the highest ratings in each season for the past 8 years of Smallville. Do you know that Kristin Kruck has a huge fanbase? Why insult her character when she is reponsible for the high ratings and high dvd sales. A new staff is needed to understand the viewers watching the series and how to write an article that doesn't piss off so many people.
Posted by: deena | December 29, 2008 11:34 AM
There are alot of Lana fans out there and your article is an insult. Every season Lana episodes have had the highest ratings for the season. Season 1 Nicodemus was the highest rated show for that year. Even in Season 7, the highest rated episode was Wrath. Sarah,these are all Lana centric episodes. you wouldn't have a job writing for CW if it weren't for the ratings that Lana brings to the show so shut up.
Posted by: de | December 28, 2008 6:15 PM
Hey Sarah, Why don't you shut up about Lana. Smallville wouldn't have an eight season if it weren't for the Clark-Lana-Lex narrative. You wouldn't even have a job to write your crappy article about what is good and bad about Smallville. You are way off the mark because you are not a fan or a viewer of the show so just shut up!
Posted by: deena | December 28, 2008 5:37 PM
It seems like season8 can beat season4 as THE LOWEST RATED season ever in sv history! the story is too predictable and cliche..
Posted by: Tom | December 27, 2008 6:50 AM
The ratings for Clanacentric episodes last season such as fioerce,cure,wrath,still topped anyepisodes`s this downhill season!KK have the biggest FANBASE!
Posted by: Zach | December 26, 2008 7:55 PM
Kate: "she slepted with her boss"
Oh c'mon! It was the one time when she passed out on the plane with Martha at the end of season 5.
Are you haters really gonna hold that against her forever? *rolls eyes*
Posted by: Mel | December 26, 2008 5:45 PM
Chloe's mindwipe is terrible for multiple reasons. It wasn't a gift, unless she was supposed to enjoy getting the one thing she had specifically said she'd never want. The idea that Lois Lane is the only one who can handle Clark's secret is a joke. Knowing Clark's secret wasn't Chloe's problem and not knowing certainly didn't protect her from Doomsday. She's handled Clark's secret without breaking a sweat for 4 years. The idea that this LL can handle knowing is laughable. This is the Lois that can't handle broken dates or coming in 2nd even when it is for a very good reason, the one who has already decided she can't date a hero. Fate must be quite the little witch.
Speaking of cruel jokes. Chimmy anyone? Yeah, perfect, righhhht.
Go Dooms!
Posted by: Bkwurm1 | December 26, 2008 4:13 PM
"Plus, we're really buying that she is falling for Clark, and that she can't quite bring herself to believe it." I buy that she's supposed to have fallen for Clark, but I have no idea WHY I am supposed to believe it. We went right from her weeping over Oliver and wondering if she should not have let him go to believing a space ho and confessing to a psycho jewler her love for Clark. (LOVE! Not just her starting to fall) Sorry, I won't buy what the show won't even put up for sale.
Now the Davis & Doomsday story has been excellent so far.
Tess I worry has gotten too watered down. We need more of her and we need her to be evil. Love that she is collecting her own bad guys (sadly a few directly from Chloe, girl should have kept her day job)
Oliver too has been underused.
The Chloe Mindwipe is so terrible that I won't even touch upon it.
Posted by: bkwurm1 | December 26, 2008 2:23 PM
the Chloe mindwipe was an act of love! Clark lift a huge weigh off her shoulders by doing that.Plus the only woman that can handle his secret is Lois Lane!
Posted by: rosalba | December 26, 2008 11:54 AM
CLANA sell the rating!afterall,its about the journey,not the conclusion,besides clois is awkward!
Posted by: lanarules | December 26, 2008 3:43 AM
I agree with almost everything you wrote.
Sam Witwer is great and Davis truly is my favorite character this year and damn,the chemistry between AM and SW is so good I'm rooting for them even though he's the bad guy! Can't they separate Davis from Dooms?
Clark also made progress this year : he's much less whiny, let's keep it like that but God, how Chloe's going to kick his ass when she'll learn about the mindwipe.
I also enjoy Tess Mercer and expecting to see if Lana's return is a good thing.
The only thing I disagree with is Lois. I've been a fan of iconic Lois Lane since I first saw a Superman story (mostly with the Lois and Clark show with Dean Cain and Tery Hatcher). Lois was very smart, funny without being a joke, sexy without using it to get a job. This Lois they created is the opposite to me. She's been shown to be incompetent, she slept with her boss and got great interviews because of and maybe her job too... Even now, when they try to make her look better, I can't forgot what they made with her character before and many times, I'm even more reminded of hr because of all the stupid things she's making or saying. And that's so bad cause I truly want to like Lois Lane and I can't!
Posted by: Kate | December 25, 2008 6:31 PM
definately one of the show's best seasons...
Posted by: Isha | December 25, 2008 1:02 PM
CLANA SELL clois not!
Posted by: Trey | December 25, 2008 2:05 AM
LANA `s RETURN BRING SMALLVILLE TO BIG RATING!!!!!who the f** care about lois lame when you have lana!smallville is not "lois and clark" anyway.The ratings for episodes other than the two when KRISTIN and Laura gueststared were barely made it to 4!PEOPLE WANT LANA and CLARK!
Posted by: Carter | December 25, 2008 12:22 AM
You just summed up the things that made the show great and things that made the show look bad. Right on the money. The problem with Clark on the show is how to transition into Superman, but yet they clung on to his relationship with Lana for so long that it wasn't going to make that transition into the mythos.
Posted by: Van Banoovong | December 24, 2008 11:42 PM
I thought this season was rocking.....until they took away Chloe's memories. I know Chloe is a tricky character in that she never existed in the comic book universe, but I absolutely adored Clark and Chloe's friendship.
Personally, if the Powers that Be don't fix this soon, I'm out. Their friendship is what has sustained me for a while now and without it, I don't much care about the series as a whole.
Posted by: Maria | December 24, 2008 5:33 PM
Your mid-season reviews are helping me remember everything that has happened thus far for the season and I have to say are pretty much 'on-the-nose.'
Posted by: Charstin | December 24, 2008 5:26 PM