(S06E22) It's finale time! Were you ready for the wham-bam-in-your-face-here's-what's-basically-happened-on Smallville this year? There was a lot going on in those few minutes, holy moley. It's like a capsule-sized dose of Smallville, now with a Kryptonite coating and in a convenient gel form.
The one thing that impressed me most about the opening was ... damn, they should give Martian Manhunter his own show. It'd fit right in with the whole CW love for strange Supernatural goings on. Just picture it now, "Tonight, on a very special Manhunter Chronicles." I'd totally watch that. Before too long they'll have the entire DC slate on their network.
How good was it to see John Schneider back, even if it was just a photo? Ever since he left the show the whole story with Clark and his mom has just gone way downhill. I never bought the whole Martha Kent as a senator thing, and I still don't. Does anyone? Maybe if I saw her arguing a case on the senate floor, or doing something senatorial, but all she seems to do is pop up when Clark needs a pat on the back or some motherly wisdom.
So, just to try to balance out the record since the Titan episode: Lex apparently created both Titan and Ares from material (peptides? peptodes? pepto bismol?) found inside people who had been hosts to "phantoms" from the Phantom Zone. Am I missing something there? Now Lex wants a live phantom to serve as the source for his continuing Ares project ... still sound right? It's been puzzling to follow, but I think I have the gist of it. Although if I see one more shot of Lex opening up that window and gazing at his precious army like he's peeking through an Easy-Bake oven, who knows what I'll do.
Lionel Luthor, emissary of Jor-El? Martian Manhunter working with Lionel? That's about the point my head started to spin. Then when Lex smacked Lana, I kept waiting for her to bust out her karate moves and kick his ass. Instead she says, "That's the last time you'll ever touch me." Then she tries to leave and Lex ... touches her. Come ON Lana, you just gave him a pretty good threat. Now it's time to deliver. Hiiii-yah! Just pull a Benny Hill on that bald head of his and be done with it. You've let me down, girl. I thought you'd grown tough enough to go toe to toe with your jerk of a husband. Turns out I was wrong, very wrong.
Remember one of those "Someone's gonna die on Smallville?" rumors? Will, they did a really good job of keeping you guessing who it was gonna be. Lois = stabbed with a wicked huge knife (okay, we know it's not her), Lana = apparently blown up, Chloe = apparently the sacrificial lamb, Lionel = trapped under some rubble and possibly dead ... so who was it? Looks like we'll have a long time to speculate and find out between now and next year.
My take on it? Well, that mail truck mysteriously happened to pass in front of Lionel's view for a moment, giving someone or something plenty of time to get Lana out of there. Chloe? Well, I think we've found out what her mysterious power is: tears that heal things but kill yourself. What a power to have. That'd be like, a one-shot comic book. THE AMAZING CHLOE! Come and see her ... oh, she's dead. Yes, I don't really think she's dead, but I think The CW wants to keep us guessing. Plus like many of you readers out there, I too will be pretty cheesed if they kill off Allison Mack. As annoying as I used to find her, she won me over with her wisecracks, can-do attitude, and then sparkly smile. Damn you, Mack!
So, let's talk about the coolest thing in this episode, and the one that kicked it into 7 territory for me ... Bizarro Clark. Did you notice how his color scheme was the opposite of regular Clark's? He wore a blue jacket and had a red shirt on, how bizarre! Their super fight should have come a lot earlier in the episode, and been more spectacular. Now we'll have to wait until next season to see what happens in round two. Although it was fairly cool seeing Clark get punched out through the side of that dam (Reeves Dam, didja notice?). Ouch! I still don't know what made Clark's face turn into the "Bizarro" looking angular face sported in the comic books, think they'll tell us next season?So, we have quite awhile until Smallville graces the airwaves with new episodes. What are you hoping to see next year? Plus, are you ready for Smallville to come to an end yet? Does it feel like it's time? Let us know.
Quote of the show:
Clark to Bizarro Clark: "What are you?"
Bizarro-Clark: "I'm you. Just a little more ... bizarre."
Giveaways reminder: Office, Eli Stone, Supernatural, South Park
Giveaway Thursday: Tickets to the New York Television Festival ... all of it!
I miss the media-friendly John McCain - VIDEOS
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
5-17-2007 @ 11:01PM
brettrubenstein said...
Hey Kevin,
I really have to disagree with you on this episode. I actually thought it was pretty terrible, and I have seen every episode ever of Smallville. The whole Bizarro thing was just so forced. Oh and just to clarify, Lex didn't create Titan. Titan is from the phantom zone and was the "dead phantom" used to create the Ares project.
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5-17-2007 @ 11:15PM
Bill said...
I'm halfway between you guys. I thought it was a pretty awesome episode, but aside from a cool Clark/Bizarro fight, I'm left with absolutely no interest in what happens next season.
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5-17-2007 @ 11:17PM
Edward said...
Bizarro came from black kryptonite, I thought???
and wasn't Bizarro in all black?
I think Martha is gone and staying in Washington, Lionel will die at some point next season, Chloe dies in the series finale or near the end of the series, and Lana goes to find Pete, who returns after Chloe is killed off near the end of the series.
This season just had a different feel to it. Unlike each of the previous 5 finales, it didn't have that big of a pizzazz. Smallville should get some 2 hour episodes (seeing how weak the rest of the CW's lineup is) and especially for its series finale, 2 hours to end it, so it won't feel rushed...everything in the past two seasons seemed so rushed, if they only extended each story a bit more into the next episode, it would be so much better.
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5-17-2007 @ 11:50PM
vacelts said...
I think Lana faked her death and set Lex up to take the fall.
http://redlightnaps.wordpress.com/2007/05/18/smallville-season-6-finale/
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5-18-2007 @ 12:13AM
Tim said...
Edward, I think you are right. Bizarro Clarke was wearing all black. I hope we get to see more Manhunter next season!
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5-18-2007 @ 12:58AM
Chris said...
Lana's jeep blowing up/truck was either a tip-off to Arnold's "Eraser" ending, or inspired. It's very Eraser-like.
Overall I thought this finale was as tense as the ending of the 3rd season where Lex was poisoned, Lionel is in prison, the Sullivan's safe-house blowing up, the barn, the the the the the... yeah, it was like that cliffhanger.
The fight scene was great, the emergence of Bizarro, the twists/who-on-earth/Smallville-will-die?! I'm really torn, I was certain it was Chloe before the finale, now I'm not sure.
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5-18-2007 @ 4:09AM
Mel said...
Very nice effects. But pretty poor on plot. Should have been a two parter this. I think we got jibbed out of a death.
The way spoilers went, the death of a regular seemed pretty definitive. I didn't expect a cliffhanger. Lana's definitely not gone. Rule 101, always see a body.
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5-18-2007 @ 5:26AM
DudeBoyz said...
I like some of the statements made in the review and in this comment section. I agree with some of them.
First, Martha Kent goes to Washington. It is sad to see her leave the show as a regular character, but I do think it is time, especially given Jonathan's death. I would like to see Clark lease out the back 40, as he said last week, and not have to worry too much about running the farm on a day to day basis. Just keep it simple, do enough for upkeep and paying the bills, but let others work the land and pay the Kent family for it.
As for Lionel, I am finally glad that is all taken care of and we know that he is NOT evil, only playing a role to help thwart Lex. Though now that Lex demanded that Lionel get out of his life and knows that Lionel betrayed him, I think it may indeed be time for Lionel to "go" too. Perhaps have him be in a long-term coma or something.
As for Chloe, she is one of my fave characters. I never want to see her killed off. I would like it if the energy / or life-force she releases to "heal" puts her in a very weakened but recoverable state. Slowly she can regain her strength after a few weeks or something like that.
Lana? I agree that it is most likely she faked her death (good observation that "mysterious van" thing, by the way) and should hopefully be off the show. I'm very glad she knows Clark's secret and that Lex is being blamed for her murder. Clark's hatred for Lex as a result of thinking Lex killed her could really be used to help push Clark over the top and into full-on Superboy / Justice League mode. I think it is time for that.
I was stunned when Lex struck her, and was not happy with the dialog choice at all. Maybe if she had said "That's the last time I'll ever let you hurt me" or something like that, I would have been happier. I did not like the part where she walked out and he grabbed her arm - that also just felt "wrong" for the moment. If she had just walked past him and instead of physically touching her, he simply spoke up firmly, which would cause her to pause at the door and respond then walk away, I think that would have gone better.
Bizarro Clark? I think the whole bit where he gets hit by the wraith, that S symbol appeared and he hit the ground and then suddenly the bad guy shows up and says I took your DNA - that was not handled well. It was too fast and sudden - it needed more of an explanation. Perhaps a visual cue even. Where the wraith enters his body, Clark "rejects" it and forces it out and the wraith emerges and sort of "forms" into Bizarro Clark. That would have worked for me, I think. But it was too much like VENOM in the Spider Man series.
I was REALLY torqued that Bizarro Clark knew how to fly, but again, Clark himself just can't seem to get over the hump, as it were. Come on, man! Let the dude FLY already, k?
I did like the episode, but am also frustrated by so many loose ends. I would have liked some more closure, I think. Still, it's good stuff and I'm looking forward to Season 7, which I do think should be the final year. All they need to do is build the Clark into Superboy / Superman thing up, and show the hateful bitterness between Lex and Clark solidify over what happened with Lana (the "death" and Lex being told she loved Clark and not him) and end with Clark finishing college, getting a job at the Planet and finally turning into Super dude after he does the Jor-El training thing at the Fortress. That would ROCK!
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5-18-2007 @ 9:30AM
Ras Thavas said...
Lex did not make Titan. Titan escaped from the phantom zone. They used genetic material from Titan to make Aires. The scientist said Aires was not working properly because they only had genetic material from the dead Titan. That is why they needed a live donor for the peptides.
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5-18-2007 @ 9:33AM
jason Blosser said...
Smallville should have ended with Season 5. It has become preposterous and oh-so-soap-opera-like this season.
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5-18-2007 @ 10:12AM
David said...
Lana isn't dead. They blew up the house Chloe was in before. That's when I stopped watching the show. Ithink it would be great if they did kill her off, would make the final season amazing and Clark would have a reason to hate Lex even more.
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5-18-2007 @ 10:21AM
Mel said...
Smallville has said it does not follow the comics. I do wish they'd kill off Lana. I don't want any romance to be rekindled there.
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5-18-2007 @ 10:30AM
Brenda said...
Nice call about Lana and the whole mail truck thing. I didn't notice it passed right when she was apparently getting into her car. I taped it so I went back and watched that part and it could go either way. I was hoping she was out but maybe not. As for Bizarro's clothing, I rewatched that part, too. His clothing looked all black in the dim light but when the light hit just right his shirt looked dark red or burgundy and his jacket was a very dark blue. I thought this was a good episode and left it in the air who really died. I agree with the posting about Chloe's power and hopefully it just weakened her. I'd hate to see her leave the show.
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5-18-2007 @ 11:14AM
Cold Chilli said...
Lana, still alive, she's in the truck
Cloe
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5-18-2007 @ 11:19AM
Cold Chilli said...
Lana, still alive, she's in the truck
Chloe, if she is dead, thats the weakest krypto power ever! Tear on a person, bam! your dead? Keep away from funerals.
Lionel... dead. he's served his purpose
Martian Manhunter.. can an alien be a good guy an not have link krypton? What happens when(IF) they introduce Green Lantern Corps or Hawkman or Hawkgirl? (Please do!)
Martha... Not a senatorial type, but it gives a reason to do a "very special episode"
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5-18-2007 @ 11:27AM
Edward said...
Next season should be the last. Time for it to go and not overstay its welcome.
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5-18-2007 @ 12:13PM
David said...
The actor that plays Lex is leaving the show after next season so the show will most likely end.
And the show has long overdone it's welcome.
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5-18-2007 @ 1:26PM
Heather said...
Bizarro Clark wasn't wearing black. He's wearing darker shades of red and blue just like the comic version of Bizarro does.
And I'm pretty sure the angular face came from the fact since he's the opposite of Clark sunlight will be detrimental to him just like the Green Kryptonite made him stronger.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bizarro
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5-18-2007 @ 1:29PM
Ron said...
It looked to me like Lionel brought the kryptonite to stop Clark from killing Lex..but then, when confronted with two Clarks, he realized the dark one was the fake Clark, and tried to use the kryptonite to stop him, but the unexpected result was the Bizarro crystal face thing, instead of killing him (because, he isn't pure Kryptonian, just has a piece of Clark's DNA)
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5-18-2007 @ 2:38PM
ac said...
I think it should end next season, 7 years is a good run.
And like everyone else I'm saying Lana is alive and in the truck. If you were in a truck and a car blew up, you would stop and look, the truck kept going though.
Chloe looked rather pale which is why she is my guess for being the one who dies. My cable was going to shit last night however so it could have been that too. I hope Lionel is dead though so Chloe can come back. If she is dead, so is the show because it would piss off a large chunk of viewers. So writers: BRING CHLOE BACK!
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