joe- the diehards already know the flaws, it's just this episode for me was one of the worst of the season.  Every week you harp on the writers and after some time you just gotta except that they aint gonna change.  You gotta remember when this show came out there was no 24 or Lost to compare it too.  They just kinda made their own PG show with minimal thought and the rest of us have stuck around to see how it ends( i stick around for Lois and the occasional good heroic deeds that better mankind ;p) 

Madmardegan, I definitely hold this show to high expectations because of the main character they have been entrusted with.

You're partially correct that every week I harp on the writers. "Checkmate" was a great episode, no complaints at all. There were a couple of other shows I enjoyed, "Metallo" was fine. But it's my job to report what I see and how I see it. I am forced to watch this show in the same way I am forced to watch LOST. The difference being I'd watch LOST regardless. I complain when LOST makes a goof, but to be honest, they so rarely do, that's it's not even worth comparing. More impressively, LOST is juggling a few thousand extra balls, and rarely does one drop.

That's what kills me about Smallville. Not a lot of balls.... and still problems handling them.
 

I contest if this show were better written it would also benefit mankind.   ;)

Great review, Joe (as usual).  A C minus is about right; there were parts I liked but overall there were story holes big enough to drive a truck through.  Martha Kent has gone from mild-mannered housewife to Senator to now the Red Queen?!?  And she uses kryptonite on her own son, leaving him weak and vulnerable on the street (only to spill the beans with no problem when they're home later)?  It's bad enough to have to stomach the horrid dialogue for Chloe and Lois every week, but it gets more and more difficult to deal with the major plot holes and convoluted mess these writers inflict on their audience.

My family started watching this show about season 4 or 5, I think.  We discovered the reruns on ABC Family and watched the first few years worth of episodes nearly every night.  My wife was the first to bail, then one-by-one my kids peeled off as the years went on and the stories got sillier and the plots worse.  Now I'm the only one left watching it, and if I miss an episode it's no big deal.

I hope the writers are listening and they make some changes for Season 10.  The introduction of the Justice League players have been promising; hopefully they'll decide to appeal more to the fanboys and comics fans than the soap opera drivel that they've chosen to embrace lately.

Joe - thats alot of ball juggling you have going on there!...might want to get Lois to help you out with some of those balls. 

You also make a viable point in this being the longest lasting, worst written show.  I honestly can't think of any other show i've ever watched that had consistently bad writing throughtout its history, and lasted as long.  Sure, there were shows that had bad years, several bad years, or bad endings.  X-Files and its final 2 seasons comes to mind.  But honestly, this show has never been stellar.  It's had its good moments, and good episodes scattered around.  But never consistent.  I think a vast majority probably fall into the "i have watched this show from the beginning and I keep expecting it to end year after year, yet it keeps gettign renewed so I keep watching until the end finally comes" category.  This is where I fall.  I do enjoy certain aspects of the show, but I most likely won't miss it when it is gone, other than there being no other Supes show around.  Other shows I watch on the other hand will leave an empty hole i'll be looking to fill.  LOST...hell, even 24 despite how predictable it's gotten. 

Tonight's The Season Finale! I Will Miss Smallville! THis Is My  Show! Oh, Clark Just Opened A Box With The Superman Cape!

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