Here are the voiceovers for my Lois & Clark "Shattered" video:
"Lois and Clark would be great together."
"You may not know it yet but believe me there's a bond."
"Yeah, you and Lois."
"Lois? She's bossy!"
"He's annoying."
"She uses all the hot water."
"And I can't seem to get within ten feet of him without getting sick."
"I can't stand her."
"The best ones always start that way."
"There are times when I think you don't know me at all..."
"Turn that frown upside down, Skippy."
"Aw, come on Smallville, you killed me."
"...and others when I think you know be better than anyone."
"Well that's what I'm here for, Smallville...one save at a time."
"If I lived under the same roof as such a beautiful woman I'd probably mask my feelings in sarcasm too."
"Feelings?"
"I must have really liked you."
"Feelings?"
"Why settle for hot, rich and famous when I can hang out with you."
"You're a good friend, Lois."
"It's like..."
"Do you love this man?"
"...I was going along and it just snuck up on me..."
"Yes."
"Looks like we're going to be neighbors, Lane."
"...and I try to ignore it but then there are these moments you can't."
"Things have been easy with Lois lately."
"I think we make a pretty good team."
"Talking to her just felt right."
"Yeah, we do."
"You've had feelings for Lois since like the 1930s."
"I've seen the way you two look at each other."
"All you have to do is ask yourself what do you want."
"You just need to jump his lily pad and plant one on him."
"Sometimes, in order to protect the ones we love, we keep secrets."
"You're amazing, Smallville. You always look for the best in people even when they walk all over you."
"I guess that explains why we're friends."
"I would be lucky to end up with someone as honorable as Clark someday."
"What if my soulmate comes along and I'm too blind to see it?"
"I don't want to be alone anymore."
"Lois, I promise you, someday you'll meet someone even more special."
"I've always known you were a hero."
"You really earned your stripes at your dad's bootcamp."
"Why should I think I'm special?"
"Because you are special."
"It's just sometimes I feel like I see a whole other side of you than anyone else."
"What's it going to be for us, Lois? Love or war?"
"I have done this dating thing wrong so many times."
"Then let's do it right...Let's take our time."
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Smallville, Season 9 Episode 4, 'Echo'
Show: Smallville
Episode: 9.04 'Echo'
Airdate: Friday, October 16, 2009 on the CW
Do you have ESP? Can you read my mind? Probably not but Clark Kent gets a temporary front row seat to our thoughts as he undergoes the first of Jor-El's trials. Saving a warehouse of people from being blown up by a bomb, Clark picks up his new [but temporary] ability. Gaining access to only Lois' thoughts at first, Clark is let in on Lois' secret thoughts about him - and his body. Soon after learning this is a trial set up by his father, Clark is able to read everyone's mind.
While he does use this new ability to get to the truth in the investigation of the warehouse explosion, our hero does use it to make a certain woman in his life feel better. Starting with stealing the last doughnut for a down-in-the-dumps Lois, Clark continues to read her thoughts and in turn asks her out to dinner - but not a date, just like a date. But of course, with his responsibilities of being the Blur, Clark is forced to stand up Lois on their plans when he learns that Toyman was behind the warehouse explosion and is out for revenge on Oliver Queen for framing him for the death of Lex Luthor.
Having tracked him down in Mexico, Tess ropes Oliver into addressing their shareholders because stocks for their company have fallen far below Oliver's ego. While giving his speech, Oliver is payed a visit by Toyman via a listening piece and a teleprompter. Told he is standing on a pressure plate over a bomb, Oliver is forced to read a speech confessing all his sins - ending on the truth behind Lex's murder. Just when Clark realizes what's going on, his ability is taken away and he must use what he's learned to find Toyman. Clark calls upon Chloe's help to get the people out of the room at which point he finds Toyman. Clark finally gains understanding of human behavior and reveals that Toyman didn't even attend the event and the bomb was not triggered by a pressure plate but a timer.
Not having confessed to murder, Oliver hits rock bottom as he steps off the supposed pressure plate after everyone had left the building. Seeing this, Clark realizes he should have given more attention to his friend and gives Oliver his word that he'll be there for him. So the danger is done, a friendship is on the mend, andToyman is in solitary with a new toy to work on courtesy of Tess Mercer...but will Clark Kent get a second chance at a date [or like a date] with Lois Lane after having messed things up so badly?
All sides of Tess Mercer were shown throughout this episode, from her soft-spot for Oliver to her scary-as-all-hell side confronting Toyman. Cassidy Freeman really stepped up her game and delivered a fearsomely good performance. All members of the cast, in fact, are giving some of their greatest performances in the show's history this season. Although, I personally wish that Allison Mack's talent would be foregrounded a little more in her role as Chloe Sullivan.
Chloe has always had a story line in each season and now just seems to be there without any obvious purpose. She is WatchTower which holds an infinite amount of interesting plotlines but with the Justice League separated dealing with the guilt over the death of Jimmy Olsen, there is not much she can do as WatchTower. We have seen Chloe keeping tabs on them but until we see them pull out of their depressions, I fear Chloe's character might fade out. She may be the only non-comic book character of the show but that alone is why she is an interesting character - no one knows her fate. So I truly hope her story line picks up in the coming episodes because I would hate to see such a great character be put on the sidelines.
Alright, back to this episode. While I still think 'Rabid' is the best of the season so far, this episode had me smiling the whole time. Every episode so far has been fun to watch but this episode added depth to characters we haven't gotten much screentime with. 'Smallville' has the unique ability to find the balance of fun and drama while still pushing the narrative forward with each new episode. I don't know if it's because Tom Welling is now a co-executive producer but this season has a whole new feel to it and it's got me hooked more than ever. I give this episode a 5/5.
Preview for 9.05 'Roulette':
Episode: 9.04 'Echo'
Airdate: Friday, October 16, 2009 on the CW
Do you have ESP? Can you read my mind? Probably not but Clark Kent gets a temporary front row seat to our thoughts as he undergoes the first of Jor-El's trials. Saving a warehouse of people from being blown up by a bomb, Clark picks up his new [but temporary] ability. Gaining access to only Lois' thoughts at first, Clark is let in on Lois' secret thoughts about him - and his body. Soon after learning this is a trial set up by his father, Clark is able to read everyone's mind.
While he does use this new ability to get to the truth in the investigation of the warehouse explosion, our hero does use it to make a certain woman in his life feel better. Starting with stealing the last doughnut for a down-in-the-dumps Lois, Clark continues to read her thoughts and in turn asks her out to dinner - but not a date, just like a date. But of course, with his responsibilities of being the Blur, Clark is forced to stand up Lois on their plans when he learns that Toyman was behind the warehouse explosion and is out for revenge on Oliver Queen for framing him for the death of Lex Luthor.
Having tracked him down in Mexico, Tess ropes Oliver into addressing their shareholders because stocks for their company have fallen far below Oliver's ego. While giving his speech, Oliver is payed a visit by Toyman via a listening piece and a teleprompter. Told he is standing on a pressure plate over a bomb, Oliver is forced to read a speech confessing all his sins - ending on the truth behind Lex's murder. Just when Clark realizes what's going on, his ability is taken away and he must use what he's learned to find Toyman. Clark calls upon Chloe's help to get the people out of the room at which point he finds Toyman. Clark finally gains understanding of human behavior and reveals that Toyman didn't even attend the event and the bomb was not triggered by a pressure plate but a timer.
Not having confessed to murder, Oliver hits rock bottom as he steps off the supposed pressure plate after everyone had left the building. Seeing this, Clark realizes he should have given more attention to his friend and gives Oliver his word that he'll be there for him. So the danger is done, a friendship is on the mend, andToyman is in solitary with a new toy to work on courtesy of Tess Mercer...but will Clark Kent get a second chance at a date [or like a date] with Lois Lane after having messed things up so badly?
All sides of Tess Mercer were shown throughout this episode, from her soft-spot for Oliver to her scary-as-all-hell side confronting Toyman. Cassidy Freeman really stepped up her game and delivered a fearsomely good performance. All members of the cast, in fact, are giving some of their greatest performances in the show's history this season. Although, I personally wish that Allison Mack's talent would be foregrounded a little more in her role as Chloe Sullivan.
Chloe has always had a story line in each season and now just seems to be there without any obvious purpose. She is WatchTower which holds an infinite amount of interesting plotlines but with the Justice League separated dealing with the guilt over the death of Jimmy Olsen, there is not much she can do as WatchTower. We have seen Chloe keeping tabs on them but until we see them pull out of their depressions, I fear Chloe's character might fade out. She may be the only non-comic book character of the show but that alone is why she is an interesting character - no one knows her fate. So I truly hope her story line picks up in the coming episodes because I would hate to see such a great character be put on the sidelines.
Alright, back to this episode. While I still think 'Rabid' is the best of the season so far, this episode had me smiling the whole time. Every episode so far has been fun to watch but this episode added depth to characters we haven't gotten much screentime with. 'Smallville' has the unique ability to find the balance of fun and drama while still pushing the narrative forward with each new episode. I don't know if it's because Tom Welling is now a co-executive producer but this season has a whole new feel to it and it's got me hooked more than ever. I give this episode a 5/5.
Preview for 9.05 'Roulette':
Friday, October 16, 2009
Smallville, Season 9 Episode 3, 'Rabid'
Show: Smallville
Episode: 9.03 'Rabid'
Air Date: Friday, October 9, 2009 on the CW
"Boys and girls of every age, wouldn't you like to see something strange?" This may not be Halloween but strange definitely describes the ghoulish zombies roaming the streets of Metropolis after an alien airborne virus strikes. Clark [Kent] wakes up to an abandoned Metropolis and finds Lois [Lane] in the Daily Planet - only this Lois is a zombie. As was done in episodes like 'Bride,' the story is scrolled back 12 hours where we find Clark and a normal Lois getting ready to fly "the red-eye on this paper airplane." With some clever play on words and a classic Clark Kent disappearance, Clark manages to put out a fire in 2 seconds flat while bringing Lois her coffee and keeping her in awe of the Blur's actions. Clark then has to cool her coffee so he can make another escape to confront a reckless Oliver [Queen] who's cruising for a bruising on his motorcycle.
Sitting in the Luther Mansion, Tess [Mercer] examines the alien marks across the world when she is attacked by two zombies. Pulling out one of Lex's old samurai swords, Tess manages to defeat her attackers but is next seen laying in a hospital bed with the same rabid behavior and appearance as the zombies. Getting Lois & Clark's attention with her attack at the hospital, Lois heads back to the Daily Planet to start writing the story while Clark rushes to WatchTower to get Chloe [Sullivan] to run a blood test on Tess' blood. Hacking into the Luther Mansion's security footage, they are able to view the zombie attack which grabs Dr. [Emil] Hamilton's interest. Clark rushes Hamilton to Metropolis General to discuss the findings with the DCA [Disease Control Agency] representative.
The DCA representative reveals that the virus infecting Tess is airborne and that Tess got it after being at the Daily Planet alerting Clark to the danger Lois could be in. Attempting to wake a sleeping co-worker, Lois comes face to face with an infected zombie and has to fight her way out as more corner in on her. Swinging blindly to fight her way out, Lois stops just as she realizes Clark is there. The two fight off the zombies and realizing Lois had gotten hurt, Clark carries her away to safety.
Meanwhile Oliver is found fooling around with a cop who had pulled him over for speeding. Noting the picture of Lois in his wallet, the officer and Oliver proceed to make out when the officer discovers a camera in Oliver's belt buckle. Ruining the mood combined with Oliver's snarky remarks, the officer leaves as Oliver takes a closer look at the camera and discovers it was Tess who put it there. Back at WatchTower, Hamilton and Chloe examine the bloodtest results and discover the infection is induced by sleep and the only bloodtype matched to cure it was last seen in Davis Bloom.
In Tess' office in the Daily Planet, Clark patches up Lois' wound while a scared Lois reveals one of her deepest darkest secrets. She didn't just talk to the Blur to help people and that she did it for her because she doesn't want to be alone anymore. After a text from WatchTower breaks up the heartfelt moment, Oliver bursts in holding a rifle. Clark has Oliver look after Lois in an elevator and instructs him not to let her fall asleep. Rushing to WatchTower, Clark reveals to Hamilton that he has the alien bloodtype they need for the anecdote. Using a Kryptonite lined needle, Hamilton draws Clark's blood. Leaving Clark unconscious, Hamilton and a reluctant Chloe go to put together the anecdote while Oliver tells Lois he misses her and their time together not realizing she had fallen asleep.
Back at the start of the episode, we find Clark waking up and finding a zombie Lois at the Daily Planet. Up in the air, Chloe and Hamilton have a discussion on trust and her "spying" on the Justice League members while preparing to release the anecdote into the weather system. With a pretty mean left hook, Lois knocks Clark straight through the window and out onto the street. Wrestling to keep her safe, Clark holds Lois as the rain containing the anecdote pours down. Relieved to know she's okay, Clark continues to hold Lois in a beautifully shot scene.
With the danger being over, Clark once again confronts a drinking Oliver who tells him that he knows who he has to be now before burning his Green Arrow outfit. Back at the farm, Lois shows up at just the right time as Clark is closing his scrapbook and thanks him for being her hero. Admitting they make a good team, Lois tells Clark to keep his secret cause he's going to have to work every ounce of mystery he's got. Proceeding to leave the Kent farm, Lois is haunted by more flashbacks which catches Clark's attention. Cutting to the next scene, the DCA representative turns out to be one of Major Zod's men and is killed by Zod himself for having disobeyed orders by releasing the virus.
'Smallville' is good at time inconsistency. Sure it was last year that we first saw Lois talk with the Blur in 'Stiletto' but in the show's internal timeline it was merely months ago. An observation that is, in most likelihood, overlooked by the average viewer but still amusing for the avid fan. One must not take these inconsistencies to heart as they can be found all throughout the series, although they have gotten better in the recent seasons. But on that note, it is nice to know that while the show does have its inconsistencies, it is consistent with its characters. Seeing Lana's picture being taken out of Clark's wallet and placed into his scrapbook was very well executed in acknowledging simultaneously that Clark has not forgotten Lana and is now ready to move on. With the symbolism employed in that gesture one cannot deny the symbolism of Lois' appearance just as he's closing the scrapbook as well as that in Clark catching her arm as she is about to punch him as she has done so many times before. This moment, for me, serves as a metaphor of Clark growing past the brother-sister relationship he's had with Lois all these years and his way of stepping up his game in their growing romance but interpret it as you may... This last scene at the Kent farm is nicely phrased and visualized in this video:
Thanks to Starkville's House of El Podcast: http://www.smallvillepodcast.com/ and luvtheheaven on youtube :)
For the first time in a while, 'Smallville' has provided its viewers with a nice action-packed episode. There was little to no downtime and all the events kept a nice moving pace. With raving reviews on Twitter hours before I could see this episode, I was pumped up and this episode exceeded my expectations if nothing else. While the episode does have its flaws with minor inconsistencies, it sure makes for some good television. Rating this 5/5 and probably the best episode so far of the season, season 9 is proving to be one of the best seasons yet and I can hardly wait for more :)
Preview for 9.04 'Echo':
Episode: 9.03 'Rabid'
Air Date: Friday, October 9, 2009 on the CW
"Boys and girls of every age, wouldn't you like to see something strange?" This may not be Halloween but strange definitely describes the ghoulish zombies roaming the streets of Metropolis after an alien airborne virus strikes. Clark [Kent] wakes up to an abandoned Metropolis and finds Lois [Lane] in the Daily Planet - only this Lois is a zombie. As was done in episodes like 'Bride,' the story is scrolled back 12 hours where we find Clark and a normal Lois getting ready to fly "the red-eye on this paper airplane." With some clever play on words and a classic Clark Kent disappearance, Clark manages to put out a fire in 2 seconds flat while bringing Lois her coffee and keeping her in awe of the Blur's actions. Clark then has to cool her coffee so he can make another escape to confront a reckless Oliver [Queen] who's cruising for a bruising on his motorcycle.
Sitting in the Luther Mansion, Tess [Mercer] examines the alien marks across the world when she is attacked by two zombies. Pulling out one of Lex's old samurai swords, Tess manages to defeat her attackers but is next seen laying in a hospital bed with the same rabid behavior and appearance as the zombies. Getting Lois & Clark's attention with her attack at the hospital, Lois heads back to the Daily Planet to start writing the story while Clark rushes to WatchTower to get Chloe [Sullivan] to run a blood test on Tess' blood. Hacking into the Luther Mansion's security footage, they are able to view the zombie attack which grabs Dr. [Emil] Hamilton's interest. Clark rushes Hamilton to Metropolis General to discuss the findings with the DCA [Disease Control Agency] representative.
The DCA representative reveals that the virus infecting Tess is airborne and that Tess got it after being at the Daily Planet alerting Clark to the danger Lois could be in. Attempting to wake a sleeping co-worker, Lois comes face to face with an infected zombie and has to fight her way out as more corner in on her. Swinging blindly to fight her way out, Lois stops just as she realizes Clark is there. The two fight off the zombies and realizing Lois had gotten hurt, Clark carries her away to safety.
Meanwhile Oliver is found fooling around with a cop who had pulled him over for speeding. Noting the picture of Lois in his wallet, the officer and Oliver proceed to make out when the officer discovers a camera in Oliver's belt buckle. Ruining the mood combined with Oliver's snarky remarks, the officer leaves as Oliver takes a closer look at the camera and discovers it was Tess who put it there. Back at WatchTower, Hamilton and Chloe examine the bloodtest results and discover the infection is induced by sleep and the only bloodtype matched to cure it was last seen in Davis Bloom.
In Tess' office in the Daily Planet, Clark patches up Lois' wound while a scared Lois reveals one of her deepest darkest secrets. She didn't just talk to the Blur to help people and that she did it for her because she doesn't want to be alone anymore. After a text from WatchTower breaks up the heartfelt moment, Oliver bursts in holding a rifle. Clark has Oliver look after Lois in an elevator and instructs him not to let her fall asleep. Rushing to WatchTower, Clark reveals to Hamilton that he has the alien bloodtype they need for the anecdote. Using a Kryptonite lined needle, Hamilton draws Clark's blood. Leaving Clark unconscious, Hamilton and a reluctant Chloe go to put together the anecdote while Oliver tells Lois he misses her and their time together not realizing she had fallen asleep.
Back at the start of the episode, we find Clark waking up and finding a zombie Lois at the Daily Planet. Up in the air, Chloe and Hamilton have a discussion on trust and her "spying" on the Justice League members while preparing to release the anecdote into the weather system. With a pretty mean left hook, Lois knocks Clark straight through the window and out onto the street. Wrestling to keep her safe, Clark holds Lois as the rain containing the anecdote pours down. Relieved to know she's okay, Clark continues to hold Lois in a beautifully shot scene.
With the danger being over, Clark once again confronts a drinking Oliver who tells him that he knows who he has to be now before burning his Green Arrow outfit. Back at the farm, Lois shows up at just the right time as Clark is closing his scrapbook and thanks him for being her hero. Admitting they make a good team, Lois tells Clark to keep his secret cause he's going to have to work every ounce of mystery he's got. Proceeding to leave the Kent farm, Lois is haunted by more flashbacks which catches Clark's attention. Cutting to the next scene, the DCA representative turns out to be one of Major Zod's men and is killed by Zod himself for having disobeyed orders by releasing the virus.
'Smallville' is good at time inconsistency. Sure it was last year that we first saw Lois talk with the Blur in 'Stiletto' but in the show's internal timeline it was merely months ago. An observation that is, in most likelihood, overlooked by the average viewer but still amusing for the avid fan. One must not take these inconsistencies to heart as they can be found all throughout the series, although they have gotten better in the recent seasons. But on that note, it is nice to know that while the show does have its inconsistencies, it is consistent with its characters. Seeing Lana's picture being taken out of Clark's wallet and placed into his scrapbook was very well executed in acknowledging simultaneously that Clark has not forgotten Lana and is now ready to move on. With the symbolism employed in that gesture one cannot deny the symbolism of Lois' appearance just as he's closing the scrapbook as well as that in Clark catching her arm as she is about to punch him as she has done so many times before. This moment, for me, serves as a metaphor of Clark growing past the brother-sister relationship he's had with Lois all these years and his way of stepping up his game in their growing romance but interpret it as you may... This last scene at the Kent farm is nicely phrased and visualized in this video:
Thanks to Starkville's House of El Podcast: http://www.smallvillepodcast.com/ and luvtheheaven on youtube :)
For the first time in a while, 'Smallville' has provided its viewers with a nice action-packed episode. There was little to no downtime and all the events kept a nice moving pace. With raving reviews on Twitter hours before I could see this episode, I was pumped up and this episode exceeded my expectations if nothing else. While the episode does have its flaws with minor inconsistencies, it sure makes for some good television. Rating this 5/5 and probably the best episode so far of the season, season 9 is proving to be one of the best seasons yet and I can hardly wait for more :)
Preview for 9.04 'Echo':
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Smallville, Season 9 Episode 2, 'Metallo'
Show: Smallville
Episode: 9.02 'Metallo'
Air Date: Friday, October 2, 2009 on the CW
Alien technology and Kryptonite, with a little dose of vengeance, make for a powerful weapon against our growing superhero. John Corben has a super-sized grudge against the Blur and when he is run over by a truck which should have killed him, he wakes up with a Kryptonite heart and super-strength. Realizing his new abilities, Corben sets his sights on killing the Blur but not without killing someone close to him.
We find Lois inviting herself into Clark Kent's seemingly unlocked home only to find dust covered counters and a thought to be abandoned Shelby. Taking Shelby to the Talon with her, where she has another dark dream, Lois speaks out her concern for the Blur's loneliness to Chloe who is hurt to learn he's still reaching out to Lois. While Lois faces Tess to get her job back, Chloe calls Clark out on lyingn to Jor-El about his chats with Lois as the Blur.
Disregarding Chloe's feelings on the matter, Clark reaches out to Lois at the Daily Planet after discovering the person causing super-strength havoc at Metropolis General [Hospital] works there. Lois, being only too willing to play sidekick to her favorite superhero, jumps in headfirst to investigate. But acting before thinking lands her face to face with the vengeful John Corben.
Meeting at their phonebooth as planned, Lois is able to talk to the Blur on the phone long enough to tell him Corben's name before she is taken. Clark enlists Chloe's help to find Corben meanwhile explaining that talking to Lois has been easy for him and just feels right. Finding his location, Clark rushes to save Lois. Clark arrives just in time as Lois is conveniently knocked unconscious. Corben turns his focus to the Blur, blaming him for the murder of his sister when he had saved prisoner's on a bus from dying thereby changing fate. Calling him out on his watching from the shadows behavior, Corben has decided to take the life of someone the Blur loves - Lois. Activating an EMP Grenade Dr. Emil Hamilton had given him , Clark manages to shut down all power within 50 feet of him, including the device keeping Corben's Kryptonite heart beating, and get to Lois. But running out of time to get her to safety, the power comes back on and Corben proceeds in his plan to kill Lois. Distracting him by the call of his name, Clark, having found a block of lead, super-heats it and shoves it on Corben thereby eliminating the Kryptonite threat. Corben, not realizing the physics of the situation, takes off the lead only to discover the lead caught hold of his heart. And so the villain has managed to cause his self-destruction. Waking up moments after Clark assures her safety, Lois sees the Blur in person for the first time. When asked to see his face, Clark thinks for a moment but super-speeds out of sight.
Back at Chloe's headquarters, Clark realizes he cannot completely cut ties with his human life while he does his training with Jor-El. And after Chloe fills him in on Tess' motivations to find out where Lois has been the past three weeks, Clark decides to go back to his life at the Daily Planet. There he finds Lois who lets her guard down long enough to let him know how much she missed him.
Meanwhile, at the Luthor Mansion, Tess is informed of several Kryptonian spottings with the markings of family crests but a mysterious man laying in the Clark's crest catches her eye...
'Smallville' would not be 'Smallville' without it regular doses of the meteor-infected. The first few seasons had large doses of them but as the series progressed, the theme was toned down. While the show was created to portray the origins of Superman, it is nice to see the origins of his enemies. For the first 7 seasons, the relationship between the Man of Steel and his arch nemesis, Lex Luthor, was firmly established. But without Michael Rosenbaum, the show has progressed to show other villains our hero will one day defeat. Season 8 had the evolution of the Doomsday character, who will one day cause the death of our hero. And in this episode, we have Metallo. While he may have been put to pasture by episode's end, we are presented with the possibility of his return.
While this episode follows the basic recipe of Clark saving someone without revealing his identity, it is fun to see how close he will get to exposing himself. Cleverly written phrases tying to the comics and the convenience of Lois being knocked out and a block of lead laying right in front of Clark just in time lighten up what is looking to be a dark season.
I will admit to having liked 'Savior' a bit more than 'Metallo' but that is not to say I didn't enjoy this episode. The characters are all growing and with every episode I can feel them getting closer and closer to the characters I grew up watching in movies and on TV. I give this episode a 5/5.
Preview for 9.03 'Rabid':
Episode: 9.02 'Metallo'
Air Date: Friday, October 2, 2009 on the CW
Alien technology and Kryptonite, with a little dose of vengeance, make for a powerful weapon against our growing superhero. John Corben has a super-sized grudge against the Blur and when he is run over by a truck which should have killed him, he wakes up with a Kryptonite heart and super-strength. Realizing his new abilities, Corben sets his sights on killing the Blur but not without killing someone close to him.
We find Lois inviting herself into Clark Kent's seemingly unlocked home only to find dust covered counters and a thought to be abandoned Shelby. Taking Shelby to the Talon with her, where she has another dark dream, Lois speaks out her concern for the Blur's loneliness to Chloe who is hurt to learn he's still reaching out to Lois. While Lois faces Tess to get her job back, Chloe calls Clark out on lyingn to Jor-El about his chats with Lois as the Blur.
Disregarding Chloe's feelings on the matter, Clark reaches out to Lois at the Daily Planet after discovering the person causing super-strength havoc at Metropolis General [Hospital] works there. Lois, being only too willing to play sidekick to her favorite superhero, jumps in headfirst to investigate. But acting before thinking lands her face to face with the vengeful John Corben.
Meeting at their phonebooth as planned, Lois is able to talk to the Blur on the phone long enough to tell him Corben's name before she is taken. Clark enlists Chloe's help to find Corben meanwhile explaining that talking to Lois has been easy for him and just feels right. Finding his location, Clark rushes to save Lois. Clark arrives just in time as Lois is conveniently knocked unconscious. Corben turns his focus to the Blur, blaming him for the murder of his sister when he had saved prisoner's on a bus from dying thereby changing fate. Calling him out on his watching from the shadows behavior, Corben has decided to take the life of someone the Blur loves - Lois. Activating an EMP Grenade Dr. Emil Hamilton had given him , Clark manages to shut down all power within 50 feet of him, including the device keeping Corben's Kryptonite heart beating, and get to Lois. But running out of time to get her to safety, the power comes back on and Corben proceeds in his plan to kill Lois. Distracting him by the call of his name, Clark, having found a block of lead, super-heats it and shoves it on Corben thereby eliminating the Kryptonite threat. Corben, not realizing the physics of the situation, takes off the lead only to discover the lead caught hold of his heart. And so the villain has managed to cause his self-destruction. Waking up moments after Clark assures her safety, Lois sees the Blur in person for the first time. When asked to see his face, Clark thinks for a moment but super-speeds out of sight.
Back at Chloe's headquarters, Clark realizes he cannot completely cut ties with his human life while he does his training with Jor-El. And after Chloe fills him in on Tess' motivations to find out where Lois has been the past three weeks, Clark decides to go back to his life at the Daily Planet. There he finds Lois who lets her guard down long enough to let him know how much she missed him.
Meanwhile, at the Luthor Mansion, Tess is informed of several Kryptonian spottings with the markings of family crests but a mysterious man laying in the Clark's crest catches her eye...
'Smallville' would not be 'Smallville' without it regular doses of the meteor-infected. The first few seasons had large doses of them but as the series progressed, the theme was toned down. While the show was created to portray the origins of Superman, it is nice to see the origins of his enemies. For the first 7 seasons, the relationship between the Man of Steel and his arch nemesis, Lex Luthor, was firmly established. But without Michael Rosenbaum, the show has progressed to show other villains our hero will one day defeat. Season 8 had the evolution of the Doomsday character, who will one day cause the death of our hero. And in this episode, we have Metallo. While he may have been put to pasture by episode's end, we are presented with the possibility of his return.
While this episode follows the basic recipe of Clark saving someone without revealing his identity, it is fun to see how close he will get to exposing himself. Cleverly written phrases tying to the comics and the convenience of Lois being knocked out and a block of lead laying right in front of Clark just in time lighten up what is looking to be a dark season.
I will admit to having liked 'Savior' a bit more than 'Metallo' but that is not to say I didn't enjoy this episode. The characters are all growing and with every episode I can feel them getting closer and closer to the characters I grew up watching in movies and on TV. I give this episode a 5/5.
Preview for 9.03 'Rabid':
Friday, October 2, 2009
Smallville, Season 9 Episode 1, 'Savior'
Show: Smallville
Episode: 9.01 'Savior'
Air Date: Friday, September 25, 2009 on the CW
The long running show of the origins of Superman enters its ninth season with yet another change to its storyline and characters. Clark Kent is dead and the Red Blue Blur, now known just as The Blur, has transitioned from a few modest saves to leaving his mark at the site of every save. Embracing his destiny, we find Clark has been making camp in the Fortress and starting the training Jor-El wanted him to do back in season 3. We are shown a side of Clark that has never been explored before - his dark side and not only in his new fashion choice. Every hero has a dark side and while Clark has chosen to let go of his hold on humanity, there is something - or should we say someone - keeping him from completely letting go.
Lois Lane, the growing intrepid reporter, has returned after having been MIA for three weeks with no recollection of where she's been and determined to meet The Blur. Unaware of the tragic death of [Henry] James Olsen, Lois brushes off a grieving Chloe [Sullivan] at the hospital and tracks down a guilt-ridden Oliver Queen cage fighting.
Chloe Sullivan has been hiding out in the home Jimmy bought for her trying to keep the Justice League together with her part as Watchtower. She meets with Dr. Emil Hamilton who eventually agrees to help Chloe. With his help, Chloe discovers two rips in the space-time-continuum and realizes that Lois was not the only one to have come from the future.
A mysterious woman is after her and Lois needs a hero's help to figure out why. Just as her hitwoman catches up to her The Blur appears and speedily takes her to the barn where, with the help of Blue Kryptonite, Clark defeats his apparent enemy but before doing so Clark is told he will be the cause of the end their world in one year's time.
Meanwhile Tess Mercer is being held hostage in the Luthor Mansion by Major Zod. Just when you think they're going to repeat a storyline, we discover this is not the General Zod we met in season 5. While he is ruthless as ever, it is quickly made evident he does not know exactly what his purpose is yet in this world. With a doubting team of Kryptonians, Zod manages to regain their allegiance with a powerful speech after which is revealed that the mysterious woman from the future Clark defeated is among Zod's army in present time.
While some may think this show should have ended years ago, Smallville has rejuvinated its purpose - telling the story leading up to that of the Man of Steel. We are no longer being shown a struggling outsider running from his destiny trying to fit in among the human race. Now we see an outsider embracing his destiny struggling to balance humanity and heroism. Clark has grown up and learned from his mistakes as is evident when he refuses Chloe's request that he use the Legion ring to go back in time and save Jimmy. He altered time before in season 5 and paid a steep price. It is refreshing to see characters that are moving forward and who aren't trapped in a cycle doomed to repeat their mistakes.
I must admit I had my suspicions about a season 9 in Smallville. Season 8 pushed Clark so close to breaking flight [which we get a glimpse of in this episode] and dawning that red and blue spandex suit that another season could ruin the purpose of the show. But with a brilliant writing staff, 'Savior' has proved to me that season 9 will be just as good, if not better, than season 8. As stated at Comic Con 2009, there are many sides to Clark Kent still to explore. As a loyal viewer of this series, I am excited to see how this season plays out. This premiere, possibly the show's best premiere yet, has set up for exciting story arcs from the possible Nazi-like regime of Major Zod to the growing love [triangle] between Clark, Lois and the Blur. And with the introduction to more comic book villains, such as John Corben [soon to be Metallo based on the next episode's title], the show keeps that side of the story interesting for its viewers. So in the end, I give this episode a 5/5 and personally cannot wait for the next episode.
Preview for 9.02 'Metallo':
Episode: 9.01 'Savior'
Air Date: Friday, September 25, 2009 on the CW
The long running show of the origins of Superman enters its ninth season with yet another change to its storyline and characters. Clark Kent is dead and the Red Blue Blur, now known just as The Blur, has transitioned from a few modest saves to leaving his mark at the site of every save. Embracing his destiny, we find Clark has been making camp in the Fortress and starting the training Jor-El wanted him to do back in season 3. We are shown a side of Clark that has never been explored before - his dark side and not only in his new fashion choice. Every hero has a dark side and while Clark has chosen to let go of his hold on humanity, there is something - or should we say someone - keeping him from completely letting go.
Lois Lane, the growing intrepid reporter, has returned after having been MIA for three weeks with no recollection of where she's been and determined to meet The Blur. Unaware of the tragic death of [Henry] James Olsen, Lois brushes off a grieving Chloe [Sullivan] at the hospital and tracks down a guilt-ridden Oliver Queen cage fighting.
Chloe Sullivan has been hiding out in the home Jimmy bought for her trying to keep the Justice League together with her part as Watchtower. She meets with Dr. Emil Hamilton who eventually agrees to help Chloe. With his help, Chloe discovers two rips in the space-time-continuum and realizes that Lois was not the only one to have come from the future.
A mysterious woman is after her and Lois needs a hero's help to figure out why. Just as her hitwoman catches up to her The Blur appears and speedily takes her to the barn where, with the help of Blue Kryptonite, Clark defeats his apparent enemy but before doing so Clark is told he will be the cause of the end their world in one year's time.
Meanwhile Tess Mercer is being held hostage in the Luthor Mansion by Major Zod. Just when you think they're going to repeat a storyline, we discover this is not the General Zod we met in season 5. While he is ruthless as ever, it is quickly made evident he does not know exactly what his purpose is yet in this world. With a doubting team of Kryptonians, Zod manages to regain their allegiance with a powerful speech after which is revealed that the mysterious woman from the future Clark defeated is among Zod's army in present time.
While some may think this show should have ended years ago, Smallville has rejuvinated its purpose - telling the story leading up to that of the Man of Steel. We are no longer being shown a struggling outsider running from his destiny trying to fit in among the human race. Now we see an outsider embracing his destiny struggling to balance humanity and heroism. Clark has grown up and learned from his mistakes as is evident when he refuses Chloe's request that he use the Legion ring to go back in time and save Jimmy. He altered time before in season 5 and paid a steep price. It is refreshing to see characters that are moving forward and who aren't trapped in a cycle doomed to repeat their mistakes.
I must admit I had my suspicions about a season 9 in Smallville. Season 8 pushed Clark so close to breaking flight [which we get a glimpse of in this episode] and dawning that red and blue spandex suit that another season could ruin the purpose of the show. But with a brilliant writing staff, 'Savior' has proved to me that season 9 will be just as good, if not better, than season 8. As stated at Comic Con 2009, there are many sides to Clark Kent still to explore. As a loyal viewer of this series, I am excited to see how this season plays out. This premiere, possibly the show's best premiere yet, has set up for exciting story arcs from the possible Nazi-like regime of Major Zod to the growing love [triangle] between Clark, Lois and the Blur. And with the introduction to more comic book villains, such as John Corben [soon to be Metallo based on the next episode's title], the show keeps that side of the story interesting for its viewers. So in the end, I give this episode a 5/5 and personally cannot wait for the next episode.
Preview for 9.02 'Metallo':
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