Smallville - glory-bound or dreck with aspirations?

I can say more than this later -- I'm tired -- but this season, I've just been downloading episodes and watching those, taking the risk I might miss em as a result. Lost running against it was part of it, but a much bigger part was the season premiere, which was just all kinds of sloppy, and introduced Lois as the most annoying version of the character yet.

It has had some great moments, though, and the general slow burn of Clark's development of his powers/ethos is a good thing. The Luthors are the best part of the show, for my money.

I get any t.v. so I'm left with watching older seasons on DVD. This means I've only seen season one and two. When last I left Clark, he was leaving the farm on a motorcycle, high on red kryptonite. Season three should be out in a few weeks...

I like the show. I like Lex the best because he's the only one in town that's got an idea of what Clark might really be. Plus, that whole bald head thing is nice. The "freak a week" thing annoys me in that every week there's a new meteor-rock induced incident and NO ONE in the town really gives a shit. They keep growing their vegetables in glowing green soil, drinking their meteor rock juice, etc. You think there would have been a mass clean-up to get rid of it all.

And how can Clark even live there? I'm surprised he's not lethargic all the time.

The show's treatment of Lois Lane as a Nicorette-chomping His Girl Friday was ok to my tastes. The kryptonite-laced Gatorade plot and the kryptonite-infused plastic surgery rack that looked like something from Star Trek: Voyager totally sucked. Ditto what Tep and Vermont Girl said about the Luthors. Michael Rosenbaum is unbelievably good as Lex and steals the show every time he's on.

I'd like to discuss the show on a board that doesn't involve 3" signature lines. ILC's appeal revealed.

I've only seen the first 15 minutes of the first one and the last half hour of the one where the girl from MuchMusic was making all the boys fall in love with her. Luthor seems cool. Did you know that he also does the voice for the Flash on the Justice League cartoon?

Four seasons in, the slow build of the Lex / Clark relationship is starting to pay off, personally. The suspicion vs. trust plotlines were getting repetitive. Now it's nicely obvious that Lex knows Clark is a metahuman, and seems to enjoy asking leading questions, accepting Clark's evasiveness in order to keep him under closer observation. Spun around the line last season where Lex said anyone who prevented a super-powered being from potential world domination would be a hero, not a villain, Lex's character took on a new dimension for me. Everyone's right about Michael Rosenbaum's greatness in the role. I didn't know he did voicework, too, but did recognize him from the old Selma Blair sitcom.

Selma Blair sitcom?

ihttp://www.planete-series.com/media/promo/act0418-22.jpg

no "S", so sad.

Zoe, Duncan, Jack, and Jane -- short-lived WB sitcom. Selma Blair was Zoe, Michael Rosenbaum was Jack, whose sister Jane was played by ... the girl who dies in 7th season Buffy and comes back in the episode where all the dead folks come back to chat. She has some unlikely name like Azura Skye. Duncan was the dork of the group, played by the kid from Big.

Selma Blair appeals to the nerd quadrant of my libido.

(actually, if your libido is broken into quadrants, I'm pretty sure they all qualify as the "nerd quadrant")

Not to rain on your parade, Huck, by Rolling Stone described Selma as a "droopy eyed sack of shit."

Which, I think, is mean and not true. But's always stuck with me for some reason...

Well, Mick Jagger would know.

She was droopy eyed perfection in Hellboy. Can't vouch for the rest of her ouevre, though (like I'm going to admit I watched & vaguely enjoyed Cruel Intentions on an Internet board, sheesh).

xpost - Hellboy has surely made her the pin-up girl of choice for emo superhero fans.

All I've seen her in are Hellboy and that commercial where she takes a polygraph test. Is it for shampoo or something?

it's for polygraph tests

Ahhhh...

Third the "Hellboy" attractiveness. Rolling Stone actually said that? Wow, they've fallen even further than I thought, what with their teenage nymphet covers and all.

Don't call Jon Stewart a teenager!

or John Kerry!

Guess I missed those issues! Glad to be wrong. (Maybe their cover philosophy is valid, and I only notice the belly-shirt covers.)

So I understand there's been a Flash cameo, and Lois has shown up. Anyone else? Also, I know Jeph Loeb (about whom I'm conflicted) writes/produces, any other comicsland people?

Perry White is a tabloid reporter who rediscovers his faith in real news because of Clark. Morgan Edge -- played by Rutger Hauer -- is a gang boss with ties to Lionel Luthor. Bruce Wayne was rumored to make an appearance last season, but it was a red herring. I'm pretty sure Oliver Queen has been namechecked.

Oh, and Christopher Reeve played Dr Swann (not a comics character, but y'know), a Hawking-like scientist who helped Clark figure out his origins somewhat; Margot Kidder showed up as his assistant/lover, and they played a bar or two from the Superman score during a couple dramatic moments.

Rutger Hauer is in the Batman movie too!!!

And a while ago there was a callsheet somewhere for Batman Begins that listed a T. Welling in the role of "Kent"

xpost,

Swann, as in Curt Swan, perhaps???

Yep, definitely named for Curt Swan -- first name Virgil, I'm not sure who if anyone that's a reference to.

He was a Roman poet.

Or Ted "The Million Dollar Man" Dibiase's valet.

If he was a Roman poet, I'll bet he was also an Eternal and/or connected to the Fourth World somehow.

Virgil = Orion's dog, obviously.

Mxypltyk (sp?) shows up next Wednesday, as a kid with suggestive/fate-altering powers.

Oliver Queen, I think he was on a newspaper someone was reading.

Kara showed up last season's finale, but they haven't solidified what her story is yet - she appears Kryptonian, but is she Kal-El's cousin? And where is she now?

When the kid Flash leaves, he says he'll try to find others like him and Clark, "maybe start a club, or a league", so there might be further JLA versions coming. Bruce was nixed because of "Batman Begins", to avoid confusion (?).

SPOILERS FOR THIRD SEASON'S FINAL ARC

Kara is a regular Earth girl who was injured or something in the meteor shower and was basically imprinted with powers and "Kryptonian identity" by Jor-El.

Oh, and it's worth noting, in case it isn't common knowledge: Jor-El is voiced by Terence "General Zod" Stamp.

(x-post) Ah, thanks, Tep - I spaced that out. According to the KryptonSite spoilers, she might return this year.

I'm enjoying the Jor-El / Clark / Kal-El conflict, after an initial aversion at the show's change from Jor-El being a benevolent scientist. Not yet sure how this'll play out. Is that actually Jor-El? Why did he seem kind during Clark's flashback to being placed in the rocket, while now he's stern and autocratic? Is he molding Kal-El's character through tough love? And why is Kal-El played as a separate personality? Looking forward to learning the answers.

Why are you guys making me want to watch this show? I'm not buying the DVDs, I swear to God. I'm not. Maybe I can rent 'em or the library will have them.

Yeah, it's interesting the way they're separating themselves from the "canonical" stuff -- you really can't play this as a prequel to a Superman movie or the ongoing Superman comics. (Bart Allen as the Flash is a cosmetic difference, but since there was no reason not to call him Barry instead of Bart, I think it's a deliberate one.) I'd like to see more focus on that instead of the "meteor rock incident of the week" (which seems to be replacing the more specific "freak of the week") -- one of the strengths of the show is that the general public knows a lot about Superman, and will pick up on things.

xpost; if Gmail didn't have the file size limit, I could email you some of the better episodes, but I don't see an easy way to do that

I wouldn't be able to watch them anyway.

Also, since Lex has been mentioned so much, I gotta big up John Glover -- one of my favorite character actors, from Scrooged, Ed and His Dead Mother, Gremlins 2, and probably stuff I'm forgetting -- as Lionel Luthor, especially since he's the most important character who has next to nothing to work with as far as comics/movies/etc.

Lionel's another I'm enjoying more lately. Shorn, his ruthless image has increased. Plus, with the hair, I kept flashing to his Devil character on that short-lived Peter Horton "Brimstone" series.

I remember that Brimstone! It was basically Hellblazer. Now I'm depressed about Keanu Reeves.

Oh yeah, I totally forgot he was in that! I only saw one episode, I think it was on opposite something else I watched.

(x-post) I've seen the preview for Hellblazer - it looked not bad! Imagery seems similar to that Barker / Bakula movie.

I read that as Barker/Blackula movie and shuddered.

Barker being worse than his bite?

I just watched the Bart Allen episode, and it's actually pretty good -- much better than the season opener.

Currently the show is in the midst of a five to six episode arc dealing with Clark's vulnerability to magic (exchange student Mxyzptlk was able to control Clark's mind with magic), featuring old dead witches possessing The Girls, and Jane Seymour as both Lana's boyfriend's mother and a witch from her dreams.

Lois has gotten hotter, but only slightly less annoying.

Interesting aspect of the show: the past ongoing interaction between Krypton and Earth, as yet unexplained (Kryptonian symbols in the caves, local Native American beliefs about them, Kryptonian symbols in 17th century witchcraft books ...)

The Bart Allen and Clark/Lionel bodyswitch episodes were both good.

Shame that last week's "Spell" was more on the weaker side. Struck me like a WB studio exec's demand to put the females in scanty clothing, "and get Welling shirtless, while you're at it!". "Plotlines" best left with "Charmed". The best part, besides the back & forth Lois/Clark banter, was Clark's realization that magic can hurt him. The ending was too convenient, too. The number of times amnesia conveniently enters the picture is staggering.

The Mxyzptlk episode was interesting, in that he was defeated not by saying his name backwards. Didn't they allude to that in the "we can Google anything!" research section? Maybe that's for an upcoming show.

Besides the Native American tie-in, there are also Egyptian and French connections to Krypton. Wonder if they'll go for an African link next? Or South American, more likely.

I've warmed up to Lois at pretty much the same rate I've gotten tired of Lana ... which works really well, if that's what they want me to do, especially if Lois signs on as a regular next season. (I mean, that's perfect: it's like I'm looking over Clark's shoulder, digging his high school sweetheart, whose charm wears off as he gets older, until she's finally just a pretty annoyance. None of this "Buffy and Angel are meant to be together FOREVA &heart; &heart; &heart;" crap.)

But dude, Krypto as a lab dog injected with a combination of steroids and the everpresent meteor rock ... !

Not to mention the previews for next week's "We've seen 'Hero' and we're doing some Chinese wire work!" episode - GROAN. The Krypto episode tonight was pretty bad. The only good points (besides the great dog acting) were the growing aggression in the Lex/Clark interaction, the Chloe bit (now that she *knows*), and the "Clarky" Lois dialogue. She cracks me up.

I've borrowed the DVD sets from the library - Seasons 1 & 3 under my belt, 2 still to arrive. Seeing them in rapid succession highlights both the flaws and the strengths. You see the Clark/Lex relationship build, but you also deal with the rapid-fire "I love you" "Now I don't" back and forth between Clark & Lana. She comes off as seriously affected by her parents' death, endlessly needy (aside from her kung-fu skillz), and indecisive. I'm guessing the Krypto ep was filmed post-"Earthsea", just because Kreuk seemed a little harder in her role, after getting that outside air.

Every now and then, they hit the right note, and restore the faith. Hopefully, they'll advance the Jor-El storyline before the season cliffhanger, and work out this whole "witch reincarnated in Lana" storyline. I fear for next week, though.

and we'll see how long this stays up, once this thread leeches from his site: http://www.rexandhazel.com/images/spanksig.jpg

Looks like Superman shares a spanking fetish with Batman.

Who doesn't share a spanking fetish with Batman?

I've said too much.

Needy, yeah -- that's a large chunk of what I don't like about Lana, I think. Whatever permutation her life and relationship with Clark take, that's a constant.

It has kind of felt that they aren't sure what to do with her, especially after the Clark-and-Lana story basically peaked with "we're together, we're in love, oh but now we can't be, sorry." The witch thing better pay off, because I'm not sure she really needed to be a regular this season.

Oh -- Chloe has been the best thing about this season, I think. Or Chloe and Lois both -- after the first few episodes (mostly seeing them together), Lois has become very believable as Chloe's cousin, and "kind of like Chloe, but different" is a good description of Clark's ideal future love match.

Lana should just get over herself and/or hook up with Lex. I know he wants her.

What I like about the show is:

CLARK: I think there's something weird about that guy.
EVERYONE ELSE: Oh Clark, don't be crazy. You're just imagining things.

And you're like, "Hel-lo. Has everyone forgotten about the girl who could make herself invisible? Or the guy that can breathe under water? Or the fact that everyone in town has some kind of mutation due to the meteor rocks?"

I just watch Season 3 on DVD. And Season 4 probably won't be out for ages. I can't wait for Lois...

BTW - you folks know that Mark Verdehein (sic) (Smallville writer) is going to hop on board as writer of the actual Superman comic in a few months?

Didn't he used to write comics?

Yeah - he did some stuff for Dark Horse (including various Aliens minis).

And he did the late 80s DC Phantom series (which is why I thought I knew his name), that I and I alone bought.

If a Smallville writer's taking over the comic, expect people to discover Clark's secret, then perish later in the issue. They'll be the comic version of Star Trek's red-shirted ensigns.

I'm all for a Lex/Lana hookup. Dark Lana!

Well, just about everyone knows anyway - Pete Ross knows, Lex knows, Lois knows (oh does she!), Lana knows (I think). I think Lance LeGree and Lewis Largent know, too.

Don't forget former heavyweight champeen Lennox Lewis!

And Lori Lemaris! (I think she knew.) (And I think she's still in continuity.)

But what about Lori Loughlin of Full House and Summerland?

Summerland, the Chabon book?

Summerland, the would-be O.C. dramedy (on one of those them there American broadcast networks that's not NBC or CBS or ABC or FOX).

OMG what about LING LING!?!?

What about LINDSAY LOHAN? She's not to be trusted with secrets!

Lucky Luke!
Lucy Liu
Lisa Ling

Don't forget Lena Lovich and Lyle Lovett. I sense a convention soon.

So if Lex knows, why hasn't he killed Superman's loved ones? Is he more about the world domination, less about the angsty killing?

Lyle Lovett! Superman had to use his super-ventriloquism and Kryptonian Cyrano de Bergerac hijinx to give LLovett the Julia Roberts hookup in order to keep him quiet. Now he's just a ticking identity-revealing timebomb!

dammmmn, xpost!

hahahahahahahaha mr. mxylptlk was on it tonight! i've seen maybe three episodes of this and none in like three years (i think) and tonight i get mxylptlk - SCORE!

this thread has totally made me want to watch this show! i wish somebody could just make me a "mix dvd" of good episodes!

Oh man, Mxylptlk! (doesn't he post on ILX?)

4/13 - 5/18 = all new episodes. Time flies. Season finale is their high school graduation.

Maybe they'll turn Lana into a vampire.

any particularly good episodes a guy should torrent?

Hmmm. This site has descriptions/pics of each, so you can d/l whichever ones sound good. The "freak of the week" tends to dominate the early seasons, less so as the series gains its legs, and the whole Krypton mytharc begins.

I'd say start with the pilot, and if you don't mind jumping ahead, the Season 3/4 transition episodes. Looking over the site above, these were the eps that stood out to me.

Season 1, ep. 1 - the pilot.
Season 1, ep. 16 - "Stray", w/ Telekenetic Ryan.
Season 1, ep. 21 / Season 2, ep. 1 - tornados attack Smallville.

Season 2, ep. 2 - Clark gets heat vision, plus Emmanue11e in Space guest stars.
Season 2, ep. 3 - Pete Ross learns about Clark.
Season 2, ep. 8 - "Ryan", Telekenetic Ryan returns, simple and sappy, but still poignant.
Season 2, ep. 17 - Chris Reeve!
Season 2, ep. 22, 23, Season 3, ep. 1 & 2 - Clark rebels against Jor-El's wishes.

Season 3, ep. 4 - Smallville's version of "Dreamscape"
Season 3, ep. 5 - Perry White!
Season 3, ep. 14 - Transporting Alicia stalks Clark.
Season 3, ep. 17 - Chris Reeve returns.
Season 3, ep. 22 / Season 4, ep. 1, 2 - Clark continues to defy his "destiny", plus fantastic flying f/x and Lois Lane comes to town.

Season 4, ep. 5 - Clark meets a kid Flash.
Season 4, ep. 8 - witches possess the younger female cast, bad accents are a side-effect.
Season 4, ep. 11, 12 - return of Transporting Alicia. Chloe learns
about Clark.
Season 4, ep. 17 - Lex split into good Lex / evil Lex.
Season 4, ep. 19 - Clark loses his memory, Chloe helps him recover. Pretty funny ep.
Season 4, ep. 22, Season 5, ep. 1 - meteor shower hits Smallville again, plus more Kryptonians arrive.

Season 5, ep. 5 - LANA BECOMES A VAMPIRE. (backpat, see above)
Season 5, ep. 6 - Lois Lane, exposed. Rrrow!

wow! what a helpful response.

the one where Clark and Luthor Senior switch branes is fun (it's the only one I've watched nearly the whole thing of) because it shows that T. Welling has range, he just doesn't need it to play a mopey teen from outer space.

I've been watching it the past two or three weeks, I'm not sure why. It is deeply goofy, but I guess I'm easily amused.

Huk's ep is Season 4, ep. 6. (not sure how torrent works or is organized, hence the ep listing). Agreed on Welling. Clark's played for wide-eyed innocence, but that ep and the few where he's Kal-El (who the show's portraying as almost a split personality) do show some acting chops.

The show's doing well enough on Thursday, due in part apparently to James Marsters (Spike from the Buffyverse) now being a semi-regular.

who does spike play?!

should i just start with season 3 and work my way forward from there? or mid-season 3?

(Spoilers, so don't read if you want to be surprised).

Spike plays Professor Fine, teacher/mentor to college freshman Clark. He arrived as a black metallic goo that came from the second Kryptonian ship (Season 5 opener), which then shapeshifted into human form. The site above says he's the show's version of Brainiac. This Thursday, 11/17, reads like the kickoff fight between Clark and him.

When will Smallville have a version of Superman's greatest foe?

http://www.postersonline.com.sg/itemDetail/showImage.jsp?id=P177

And yup, anywhere in Season 3 is fine. You'll figure out the characters & their backstories easily.

Huk, that's also the single episode that I've seen in full. But Welling and range? From one-note pretty boy to one-note creep.

That's weirdly the only episode I've seen, either. Cute, but it's not Buffy, is it?

well no. i think i liked the one with the witches best, thought the mxylpltk one was good if only for 'hey - mxylpltk!', pity they had some young dude to play him - mickey rooney woulda been perfect. i only see this show when for some reason i'm staying in on thursday and i'm not watching the oc, it used to be on another night though didn't it?

haha mickey rooney as mxylpltk... genius!

i know he's the obvious punchline to many jokes but don knotts would be kinda awesome too

Ain't It Cool News says that tonight's Smallville episode will have a "Superman Returns" teaser during the broadcast.

Here is the teaser. I'm teased.

I would rather see a tickler than a teaser.

i am SO teased! and SO pleased! that singer is using the original music! god, i was really hoping he'd do that. and... the brando stuff! this better be as good as i hope it's gonna be (and i really really REALLY hope he doesn't screw up a good thing x2 style)

Wow! I had forgetton how overtly Jor-Brando cribbed from GOD.

yeah, that trailer looks fabulous... although slocki, if you didn't like x2, i think that bodes poorly for this one, which i bet will have that same restrained feel (i liked the x-men movies, but they never quite cut loose)... certainly nothing as giddy as the eiffel tower stuff in superman 2

Is Superman Jesus or Isaac?

Or Moses, or possibly even Abraham?

esther!

Superman as Hero of the Old Testament (in Space):
http://www.comics.org/graphics/covers/3386/200/3386_2_00000032.jpg

where the hell is tep nowadays?

EsTEPan Buttez?

hahaha - i'm thinking not

I discussed Infinite Crisis #1 with him via email, I guess that was 6 weeks ago already. I want to ask him to come back, but I'm sure he knows he's welcome any time he feels like it. I bet he lurks. I would.

he's in the thread!

in the past though, like barry allen