(S08E15) The show that wouldn't die is back from its break, and so is Lois. Tori Spelling also returns as Linda Lake, the gossip reporter with the Joker smile and the meteor-induced ability to turn to water, like Zan from the Wonder Twins.Before I go all spoilery, I wanted to mention that I found the music of this episode distracting. It made the melodrama even moreso and was downright annoying.
Of Clark's two major female romantic interests, I've always preferred Lois. I particularly like Erica Durance's portrayal as tough to the point of ignorance, as opposed to the whiny Lana. In effect, she's the anti-Lana. I mention this because Lois went all Lana near the end of the episode, and I really hope that doesn't continue.
It's nice to see Lois is as dense in the Smallville universe as she has been in many others. Why couldn't she figure out that Clark is the red-blue blur? I do think the creators should consider having Clark expose his abilities to Lois in the future (for what would be the second time, although hopefully there would be no time-travel wiping of continuity the next time) because it would make an interesting change in dynamic if Lois was involved with the creation of his Superman identity. Smallville has played with the mythos ever since it started, such as when Kryptonite gave humans super-powers, and I don't see this particular one as a negative.
Once he was first exposed, why didn't the government immediately take Clark in for experimentation? Hell, why not just completely change the character and do away with the Superman identity altogether? It would make the show more interesting than it currently is. Suddenly we wouldn't know what Clark's future held.
Linda Lake wasn't really wrong about the danger of Clark's existence on Earth, given the damage he's caused. She isn't wrong about the invasion either. Why didn't she turn to water when she was fighting Lois and Clark near the end of the episode? It's tough to hit water. And how did Linda know that Davis was Doomsday near the end? Did I miss that part?
When the government agents were shooting Clark, why weren't any of them hit by the bouncing bullets?
When Chloe mentioned Clark's "latent power to turn back time," I couldn't help but think of the first Christopher Reeve Superman movie.
I figured someone would die in this alternate future (I don't think Chloe survived the experience with Doomsday). When Clark turned back the clock, shouldn't he have run into his earlier self? I'm not sure how time travel works in the Smallville universe.
Once again, the series proves insanely frustrating. Whenever they try to change the dynamic and make the characters interesting, the creators pull some magic trick out of their asses and make things the way they were before (in this case, it was the Legion time ring). This series could be so much more than it is, and I'm always saddened when I see it dumbed down like this. Plus, Clark is an utter wimp for not meeting Lois at the coffee shop.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-13-2009 @ 2:03AM
Joseph said...
God, Tori Spelling is the worst actor in the history of EVER.
On the other hand, Erica Durance (Lois Lane) practically stole every scene she was in. She was ON it tonight.
Episode sucked, though.
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3-13-2009 @ 3:30AM
Wii60 said...
I was surprised by Durance's performance too. I've never seen her perform anywhere near that well before. She seemed grown-up and believable. So much so that I was thinking they could really do a lois and clark based off of these two actors if she can keep it up.
3-13-2009 @ 2:09AM
ac said...
The Good
-No Lana
-Lois is back and I missed her.
-The you are special scene with Lois.
-Doomsday!
The Bad
-Tori Spelling couldnt act her way out of a paper bag.
-The convienent ring solving everything.
-Clark pussing out and not seeing Lois for coffee
-No widescreen the CW logo was half cut out for crissakes!
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3-13-2009 @ 3:29AM
Robert said...
My Widescreen was working, I saw the whole logo, maybe you have a setting wrong on your tv.
3-13-2009 @ 6:52AM
Michael said...
We had the same issue here in TX with no HD/widescreen. The Big 12 basketball tourney ran over and I guess they forgot to "flip the switch" back at our local CW affiliate. I'd forgotten what a pain in the butt it is to watch Smallville in SD. It definitely takes away from what was a decent show this week.
3-13-2009 @ 2:19AM
Jen said...
I love when people who enjoy the show actually review it...
Your barely contained disdain for the entire series is evident.
I give ya this - it was probably the worst episode of the season. Tons of holes in it, horrible special effects, Tori Spelling...it really had very little going for it.
But for the most part, this season has been pretty good ('cept when Lana was on it). I'll just pretend this epi didn't happen (hey, they hit the reset button...why can't I?)
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3-13-2009 @ 2:33AM
kay21 said...
I'm so happy that my beloved Tom Welling is back i missed him soooo much i dont care what anyone says every episode of Smallville is amazing and even tough lois sukcs i'm starting to like her a little.
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3-13-2009 @ 3:31AM
Gary said...
I have to agree with most everything said so far. This episode was poorly written and full of holes. It seemed rushed early on and the whole "Clark Kent is an Alien" breakout seemed to be on a small scale and the viewers never got the feeling that this story made it out as the global headline it should have been. The fight with Lake near the end made me think "Why is she staying solid?" but then again if she turned to water on a dirt floor she'd end up mud.
Question- When Linda Lake transformed to and from water where did her clothes and her "Clark Story" go?
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3-13-2009 @ 2:13PM
superrrguy said...
Don't be silly. When she was turned into water by being exposed to meteor rock or whatever reason they gave the last time she had a suitcase of clothes with her and that clothes can also turn into water. As for the paper she pulled out, that was just stupid!
I'm happy she morphes with clothes and make up on. I don't want to see Tori Spelling's blue penis.
3-13-2009 @ 6:00AM
chris said...
Let me be clear, I have watched this show since the very first Wednesday it aired and I hate it. I feel like I am married to someone who is in a coma and they just won't die. The show was sooooo good at first and now its terrible. Occasionally, there is an okay episode that seems great because all of the other episodes are bad. I am too invested to walk away, but I'd like to put a pillow over Smallville's face and watch it die.
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3-13-2009 @ 10:43AM
JPN said...
I have a lot of friends who feel this way...I walked away from it after the fourth season and never looked back :) Sometimes I read reviews like these to catch up on the plot but never regret it...I guess some people have an easier time getting out of abusive relationships than others...
3-13-2009 @ 8:06PM
Riley Freeman said...
annoyance number 1
clark not letting lois finish what she was saying and put on the ring. it was uncalled for. at least if they made her line sound like she was still trying to convince clark. no she clearly said ull never believe what chloe said. it doesnt even make sense for him to ignore than and put on the ring.
2 smallville stupidness which is always knocking people out or making them forget.
to answer you brad tori's character she said shes been watching u know her being water and all so shes kinda been spying on everyone including davis.
lI dont get these shows or movies. the cops shoot at clark or someone that they clearly see is invincible and they spend about 20 more seconds running.
im sorry if i shoot someone and i see bullets bouncing off ill take one more attempt at the head if the result is the same im getting my usain bolt on and im goneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
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3-13-2009 @ 11:38AM
mel said...
Linda didn't turn into water because Chloe told Clark she is kept in tact molecularly by electricity and so he shocked her with volts.
I like the Lois/Clark relationship SO MUCH Better than Lana... she has real insecurities and hang ups related to his ambivalence. It’s a more mature dynamic.
….and I'm not hating Brad, I’m glad someone at TV squad reviews Smallville, but seriously, as Jen said - try to acknowledge that the folks who read your post are obviously fans (or obligated spouses) so maybe take a deep breath and not be so pessimistic.
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3-13-2009 @ 12:42PM
Vince said...
Brad,
I agree with most of your review but its a bit late to critisize this show for its plot holes and bad acting. Yes, it had lots of promise wasted but there are still some momenets that true Superman fands will enjoy. I for one liked the scene where Lois finally learns the truth and as many have alreadty stated the actress Erica gets better each show.
If you want a more realistic version of the Superman story and I truly hope someone tries to film this version, try the new book "It's Superman" by Tom De Haven.
http://www.amazon.com/Its-Superman-Tom-Haven/dp/0811844358/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3G1SDO2YCS8U9&colid=14W9WVY3HLNVM#
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3-13-2009 @ 6:32PM
Tom said...
SL. Blues preempted the show
when will it be on again?
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3-13-2009 @ 11:58PM
Oscar Solis said...
I don't know about you guys but I have hated the beginning song since the second season and have hoped for them to change the song at least every 2 seasons or something but they never did, it's just really annoying!! They should just change the stupid song for the ninth and hopefully last season.
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3-22-2009 @ 3:45PM
Joel said...
I wasn't all that excited seeing Linda Lake return in the first place. Coming from "Hydro" the second worst episode of Season Six, I just was not excited. While I liked what they did with her character this time around the episode itself had some weaknesses.
Continuity- Clark says to Linda "I've stopped you before." When? When did this happen? It sure as hell wasn't Clark. If any one stopped Linda Lake, it was the combination of Chloe, with Lana who happened to just be driving down the street during that struggle. So that to me was at the very least a continuity error the editors of the script should have picked up.
The Department of Domestic Security, a.k.a. Lex's goons, or subsidiary of 33.1 probably should've attempted to take in Clark near the begining. Should they have suceeded? Are you kidding? A government agency opens fire on a unarmed civilian, even in this day and age wouldn't have flown, even with Lake's distortions, and Clark's heritage. Testing? Um okay even if it's in the interest of National security this issue was addressed during the Death of Superman with the Cadmus Project, and didn't go very far. As far as bouncing bullets, well I can see your point, but those DDS dudes were probably dressed tactically save Mr. Rick Flagg Jr. But I digress.
As far as Lois figuring it out, 70 years came and went and it wasn't until after he proposed to Lois as Clark opening the shirt to reveal the S, that she figured it out. Which even in the comics makes Lois completely blind, and not as good a reporter as she is suppose to be. Given the retconned context established from the Donner Superman movie, yeah I can see Clark in time coming up with that daily planet Clark we all know and pulling the disguise off, but I am curious to see how the writers will eventually spin this by the series end. I mean they have hinted and homaged it in the last couple of Seasons. So who knows? On the other hand, these are also the same people who couldn't figure out how to get rid of Lana and finally after countless not sure what to do with Lana stories have that chapter close by turning her into a super-powered kryptonite sponge, sort of mixing her into both Metallo/Parasite. That is sort of the problem when taking a story that every one knows the ending to and trying to go in different directions, however they have done some really cool and unique turns, so I can them a bit of slack.
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