(S08E14) Why did the creators of Smallville need to give us yet another melodramatic separation with Lana that was fundamentally no different than the first one? Couldn't they have done something different?So now we've meet the Smallville universe's version of the Toyman, who has appeared in several previous television versions of Superman (including the immortal Challenge of the Super Friends). This version of Winslow Schott is the overweight, hipster Toyman, with colored, circular glasses and sideburns.
Great Krypton! Lana and Clark had super-sex! They even broke the bed. At least now we know for certain that Clark won't be a virgin when he eventually gets together with Lois.
Yet another visit to the hospital for another cast member of Smallville (in this case, Oliver). I hope they have a frequent-visitor program or something. Perhaps with enough visits, patients get a free trip to Six Flags.
As mentioned last week, the creators figured out a way to return Lex without Michael Rosenbaum. It's actually kind of brilliant because they could simply say Lex was disfigured in the accident at the Fortress and hire another actor.
You just know already that Lex isn't dead. Perhaps he's even more disfigured from the explosion and will come back in another identity. Of course, the Luthor that comes back will know Clark's secret, but I guess that's just the way it rolls in the Smallville universe.
I don't like the bloodthirsty Oliver from this show. I yearn for the tree-hugging, hippie Oliver in the comic books. Using an explosive (and his emotional manipulation of Chloe) practically makes him a terrorist.
If there wasn't enough evidence to indicate that this was Lana's last episode, they broke out the necklace from the pilot episode that used to contain Kryptonite.
If Clark can give a name to the Toyman with an offhanded comment, can't someone name Clark something better than "The Red-Blue Blur"? Like, I don't know, Superman?
I didn't keep careful track of Winslow Schott's age based on Oliver's comments, but I think I would put him in his late 20's/early 30's. The actor playing Toyman looked older than that. And was there a significance to the use of the number 53 other than Schott's patents? The Toyman was created in 1943 (I looked it up on Wikipedia). It would have been more of a tribute to the character if it was 43 monkey cymbal hits.
How did Lana see the camera in the doll? Does she have X-Ray Vision, as well?
Regarding Lana's departure: it was crap. I'm sure, if they so desire, the writers can have her lose the epidermal suit and the Kryptonite poisoning that comes with it. But, the ending of Lana's last episode rang hollow and was a bad way to end the show before a break. It's pretty much a guarantee that Clark will take longer than Smallville has seasons to get over Lana and move on to Lois. He can then put on tights and a cape and end the damn series in a satisfying manner!
With Lana gone, my hopes for the series are elevated a little. For now, we have a little break until the next batch of episodes come along. See you then.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-06-2009 @ 1:52AM
Charlie said...
Nitpick: We know Clark isn't a virgin; Lana and Clark had sex in Season Five when he was without powers for a couple of episodes, and in Season Seven, when she had powers for one episode.
I enjoyed seeing the Toyman; he is someone I would like to see return. And the Clark/Lana seperation this time was much better. I mean, come on, their relationship has been at or near the center of the show for almost it's entire existance; it deserved a better sendoff than a videotape, and here, I think it got one. I didn't have the problems with it that you did.
I think I read somewhere that Michael Rosenbaum would be interested in coming back towards the end of the season, as a guest, so maybe we won't hear anything about Lex until the season finale? They did do a good job in Requiem of making the imposter Lex say what the real Lex would have.
All around, I thought it was a good episode, and the end was better than the rest of it. Still no Lois though; what is that, four episodes in a row without her?
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2-06-2009 @ 3:00AM
Ken said...
I just wish we had seen more of Oliver in the green leather costume. Man he is hot in that. I'm still waiting for an episode where some yet-undiscovered meteor rock makes Clark and Green Arrow make out while Chloe watches and then Jimmy joins in and they make him their slave boy while Chloe takes pictures of it all. Talk about your red-blue-blur.
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2-06-2009 @ 7:53AM
StillBash said...
So I guess the suit had built-in holes?
I feel sick...
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2-06-2009 @ 10:42AM
ac said...
I think I am going to pretend these last few episodes never happened.
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2-06-2009 @ 8:58AM
AmyW1205 said...
I was appalled by this episode. Same old story, same old breakup. Nothing new here. Since Lana's character came back the storyline has done nothing but move backwards. Clark is no closer to becoming the Man of Steel that he was several seasons ago. This is Smallville at it's worst.
I got up and walked out of the room towards the end of the show. It was just that bad. I have been a die hard Smallville fan for many years now but I don't think I want to stick around unless something drastic happens. There are many other shows that I could watch during this time slot that I would enjoy much more. Stop wasting my time Smallville writers. Remember that your fans make Smallville successful. The vast majority of your fans aren't happy right now. This is your clue. I hope you can pull Smallville out of the crapper and save this show before it goes down the toilet. It is one flush away gang.
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2-06-2009 @ 9:32AM
0megapart!cle said...
I'm sorry, Amy, but you are so unbelievably wrong. Smallville has been getting better and better the last couple of episodes, and the return of Lana was a big part of it. Like it or not, Kristin Kreuk is probably the best actor on the show now, and the writers write great material for her. And Welling and Kreuk have fantastic chemistry (they should after all these years). I loved how they brought her back. And I am sad that they had her leave, but it had to happen eventually unfortunately, and I liked how they did it.
So count me as one fan who is not disappointed with the recent turn of the show (and I have been many times over the years)
2-09-2009 @ 4:53PM
Jesse said...
I agree with you Amy. I almost couldn't watch this episode. This show needs to die and if it doesn't I'll just stop watching.
2-06-2009 @ 9:31AM
Nick said...
Actually, I can't help but disagree with most of you. I think this season of Smallville has been the best in years.
Don't get me wrong, I wanted to hate it when I first heard what they wanted to do. I'm a long time comic book reader (still am), and when I heard their plans to introduce Doomsday, the absence of Lex, I was dreading this season. But you know what?
It works.
It really works.
The storyline they came up for Doomsday fits beautifully into the world of Smallville. Everyone must remember that the Smallville universe is different then the comic universe, so the same rules don't apply to the show.
The drama has been played up, and the stories have been phenomanal.
My only nitpick is at this point they need to change the name of the show to "Metropolis" since 98% of the action takes place there.
This show has grown up, and contrary to what some of you may think, it's for the better.
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2-06-2009 @ 9:36AM
0megapart!cle said...
I absolutely agree. Glad I'm not the only one.
I hope that they get back to the story of Doomsday soon, though, because I want that plot to develop.
I have been so disappointed with this show over the last couple years (so much so that I stopped watching several years ago and missed out on the initial Brainiac arc). But it is nearly as good as it was in the beginning, so far this season, and I hope it keeps it up.
2-06-2009 @ 10:18AM
Will said...
This episode was better than the previous 2, which were pretty zzzzz to me. The ending with Lana was pretty terrible.
The actor that played the Toyman is also on the show Eureka. He's in his early 30s.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0310240/
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2-06-2009 @ 10:46AM
Natalie said...
I think Requiem was a great episode. Lana is finally gone and we are moving into the Clark and Lois couple. I think they did a great job getting Lana out of Smallville the way they did. Lana can't get close to Clark now and I think that's pretty interesting.
I would love Michael Rosenbaum back, he is a great actor and plays Lex Luthor very well.
I am 100% fan of smallville no matter what. So far I like everything they are doing with the show. I'm not really interested in seen clark with the "Superman uniform" this is smallville not superman movies. Smallville is about superman's early life and I think it's fantastic.
THANKS SMALLVILLE WRITERS.
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2-06-2009 @ 12:09PM
superrrguy said...
I miss real Lex and Lois' breasts. The writing for Lex has been kick ass for years. I root for the good guys but I always liked how Lex presented himself and how he said things. Besides that I think this show has been lame for years with completely ridiculous story lines even in a superman/boy universe. I'm waiting for Clark to fly. I hate the running. Does he get dressed at super speed as well? They don't even have him float in his sleep anymore.
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2-06-2009 @ 5:13PM
salero said...
I agree this season has been better for everyone except clark. Im tired of seeing him be whiny and defiant of what he can do. always looking to the past, always whining that he can't be super cause his friends will get hurt, even though time after time, its because he refuses that they get hurt. Grow up already. This show should be called Metropolis, just like clark they dont know how to let the old crap go and bring in the new. A drastic change is exactly what this show needs to be great again. I've put too many years to just stop watching. at least its somewhat interesting right now, but if they dont make him start acting more like the BIG S then im bailing. he shouldn't be this stupid.
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2-06-2009 @ 10:33PM
La-Di-Dah said...
I didn't even watch this episode because I was terrified they were dragging out Clark-and-Lana-sitting-in-a-tree-k-i-s-s-i-n-g. But now that the aforementioned horror show is over, we can possibly move on to leaping over a building in a single bound, Lois&Clark, and Superman. Pretty pleeeease.
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2-07-2009 @ 2:38AM
Brian said...
I agree with omegapart!cle's response, I liked Lana's return. Maybe it's just cuz I had a crush on since the show started when I was in highschool...but I really like them together, and the breakup was so sad. That last scene was really touching I thought. Oh well, I guess we can't all agree. I will admit it was sorta like it jumped back a few seasons...but it didn't bother me. Fall finale, now that was more 8th season material.
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2-07-2009 @ 11:46AM
InStim said...
If anything I feel they are setting up Lana to save Clark from Doomsday, possibly sacrificing herself in the process. Making Doomsday come from a Kryptonian source in the Smallville mythos he may be vulnerable to Kryptonite also.
I've been enjoying this season much more then some of the recent ones. There have been some mis-steps but overall I've found it engaging again at least.
This episode in particular was a good character driven story for me. Though I have to admit the wrap up with Clark and Lana dragged on some compared tot he rest of the story.
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2-08-2009 @ 4:37AM
Lois said...
For me, these last 4 episodes ruined all hope I had for Smallville. And now this so called last epi of The Lang, (cough-hack-gag) I'll believe that when I see it.
Well, they officially did it, Lois Lane will always be remembered to this generation who grew up watching Smallville, as the woman that Superman and Clark Kent settled for. She will always be known as the one who got Superman by default and rebound.
I do NOT want to see this Lois Lane ever get with this pitiful, pathetic, prideless, spineless, emasculated Clark Kent or Red and Blue Blur. There is in no way enough time for the show to allow time to pass to where he will ever be over The Lang in order to be at peace with himself and then to eventually fall in love with another.
I NEVER imagined me saying this after the stellar first half of season 8 but they need to officially now end the show. I am so disgusted at how they spat all over these characters all for their obsession with KK. I no longer have any interest in seeing what they plan to do to redeem themselves with how they ended those two last night. It's time to remove it from my DVR schedule of recordings. I think I may even change my IMDb signature to...How could DC and WB allow the writers of Smallville to spat all over these characters and their iconic history?
I can hear it already in years to come...
Hey, you are not going to believe this.
What?! What is it?
Guess who the heck Superman is with and ends up marrying!?
Who?
That chick from the Daily Planet that he works with!
No! Are you serious?!
I shet you not!
Her??? Dang man, that's beat.
Well, I guess we can't have it all. He might as well settle for her. But that's okay, we all know she's sloppy seconds, second choice and he got with her by default, you know, the rebound chick since he can't be with his true love.
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2-22-2009 @ 11:52PM
Daniel said...
I liked smallville when it started..but around season four i fell asleep.. woke up and started watching great character drivern shows like supernatural , doctor who,torchwood, lipstick jugle and moonlight.. but sadly they rather cancel those good shows and show crap that has become smallville!! why oh why i ask? moonlight was way better! in the romance department.. they should kill off all the characters in smallville and start over with a brand new series like say metroplis where the gay tom welling is replaced with a great actor ...to be superman ... a man of action and thought like what you see in the batman films!!
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