Now was that so hard Smallville? For the first time since their extended Christmas break, the creative team over at the CW gave us an episode worthy of the characters they are portraying. Not to say the episode was perfect – I’ve long given up on hoping for flawless entertainment from this squad, but this was not just a very good episode by Smallville standards, and it was fine escapist television as well.
Of course any time John Glover pitches in with the heavy lifting (and not the tractor above one’s head kind) there’s always a chance of worthwhile entertainment. Once again Glover does not disappoint. His scenes with Cassidy Freeman are always charged, and Glover’s confident malevolence causes Tom Welling’s at times wooden acting to feel much more earnest. Glover makes everyone around him better, and that includes the writers.
And while we’re on the subject of the writers, I’d like to congratulate Turi Myer and Al Septien for giving us a tight script this week. Lately there has been more than enough to complain about from commercial break to commercial break, but at least for this week, things were well thought out, the dialogue didn’t get too cute, and there was a surprising but welcome lack of gaps in logic.
If I had one complaint about this week’s effort, “Scion,” it’s just that I’d have preferred Lionel to believe Alexander/Connor was actually dead for at least a week – maybe two. That would have given Glover the chance to stew drunkenly in his own grief before violently coming at Tess and Clark with a ruthless and self-justified anger when he discovered the ashen remains Tess pointed him to were actually just those of one of the many already deceased Lex clones. As it was Lionel was duped into thinking his son was dead for exactly 13 minutes of viewing time.
Of course there isn’t much time to play around with nowadays as the series draws to an end, so the need for Lionel to find out in the exact same episode is understood. Then again, had they not decided to give us last week’s abomination, “Fortune,” or showed Lionel being fooled by Lutessa’s ruse, even briefly, a few weeks back then perhaps the emotional catharsis I was hoping for would have played out. But why quibble and regret the past. It’s not like I can fly around the world at super speed in a counterclockwise motion and undo what’s already been done. (Because believe me, if I could things would be different on this show – and I’d be a 20 time lottery winner.) This episode is exactly as good as this show should be every week. This should be the average episode, not the exceptional one. “Scion” gave us a legitimate bad guy, a competent good guy, a cool visual fight scene, some double-crossing and manipulation, a nice cliffhanger and Lois in bondage. What else do we need?
It’s been rumored and suspected for a few weeks now in these comment boxes as well as all over the internet that Lil Lex may in fact turn out to become the current version of Superboy in DC comics. Congratulations to those who guessed correctly. It was nice to see Clark gladly accept and embrace his role as big brother/mentor to Connor.
I wasn’t aware heat vision could blow up Kryptonite, and I have to say I immediately wondered if it were that simple to destroy to the dangerous element in the first place; why wouldn’t Clark have just focused his heat vision on the ring to begin with, instead of smashing it against a wall after being smacked around a few times? And speaking of dangerous elements, looks like puberty hit young Connor all of the sudden, and his super boner almost contributed to the untimely frying of the shapely object of his teenage desires. Luckily Clark sussed out the situation quickly because it’s a fair bet Connor Kent isn’t the only one on Smallville who gets a meta-rection when Ms. Lane sashays around the barn in her skirt and heels.
Kudos again to the writers for the scene in which Connor steals furs and jewels for his ladylove. We’ve seen Smallville make those writing choices an over-the-top corny groan-fest, but this time it felt believable.
I would be curious to see the trial when Tess tells the court than the man who poses now as Lionel Luthor is not the real Luthor. Even if her prosecution team doesn’t bring up the fact that Lionel comes from an alternate reality, I’m betting a halfway decent attorney could get Lionel off on the flimsy “reverse fingerprint” evidence. I also suspect that Lionel would have a very good team of lawyers – and most of them would be more evil than Lionel himself. But that’s just simply because they’re lawyers. Hey, I didn’t say this episode was airtight in the logic department, it was just finally much more entertaining than frustrating.
Keeping with form, the final few minutes of even a good episode proved to be possibly better than everything that came before. As the now deposed Lionel stood in the midnight mist at the grave of his alternate world son, from out of the hallowed ground arose a smoky form with glowing red eyes which teasingly stopped manifesting itself before it took the physical presence of possibly the mightiest being in the galaxy – Darkseid.
Man, I hope they keep up in the direction they just headed, because if that’s true things can only get better. I won’t wager on it at Fortune’s Casino, but I will keep my fingers crossed.
Follow Joe Oesterle’s book, “Weird Hollywood” on FaceBook. Lots of deleted and unedited stories from the book, but also plenty of genre discussions and some like-minded people. Daily updates.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Weird-Hollywood/129515117077132
Page, thanks, and you no dout mean to say "Darkseid" and not "Apokolips." It's certainly a fogivable mistake because they haven't really brought this character's name all that much since he was introduced. Darkseid is the new god, Apokolips is the planet from which he hails.... and yes, it would have been glorious if this were Chloe's gravesite instead, but come on... as I said, we can't expect perfection from these guys. ;)
Ha, glad you finally found some consistent enjoyment out of Smallville this week, Joe. See how things get so much better when the show gets its focus back from unnecessary filler? COUGH COUGH..Chloe!
I was really apprehensive about them introducing Superboy so early in the game (especially since Clark isn't even SuperMAN yet), but it actually did work well. With regards to your Heat Vision-Kryptonite question: I think WAY back in season 4, they established that heating up Green Kryptonite turns it into Black Kryptonite which, essentially, splits Kryptonians (and humans) into physical manifestations of their good and evil personalities (happened to both Clark and Lex), so there's a little continuity flub right there from this week. But I'm willing to let it go 'cause that was a good few years ago and frankly this episode was just too good to get hung up on it.
I got the feeling that Clark was hoping Connor would remove the ring on his own and that he wouldn't have to force him. Red Kryptonite essentially makes Kryptonians uninhibited and blatantly honest about their emotional state, so maybe he was hoping to get the kid to confront some truths about himself and his double heritage. Letting Connor toss him around was obviously not harming Clark too much based on his reactions and he obviously had the power to stop him the whole time, so he probably thought it'd be good therapy.
I had a feeling that either Darkseid or the original Lex (at least a body double until Rosenbaum shows up in the finale) was going to show up at the end. Curious to see if Lionel does a "deal with the Devil" scenario with 'Seid to resurrect the original Lex Luthor. Guess we gotta wait a month or so to find out...shoot...just when it was getting good...
The funeral is Ted Kord's (aka The Blue Beetle). It was announced that the Blue Beetle 1 (Ted Kord), Blue Beetle 2 (Jaime Reyes) and Booster Gold will be in an episode directed by Jeoff Jones. No, it's not a spoiler to anyone who has picked up a comic book in the last 8 years.
As for the heat vision/puberty thing, we saw that way back when the whole Clark/Lana storyline was happening, and when Clark got his heat vision powers. His dad helped him back then. Also, as to why Clark didn't use his heat vision to hit the red K ring, it's a small target moving at super-speed, duh. We saw in the episode how hard it was for Connor to light a candle that wasn't even moving.
Finally, at least we now know how Lex will come back from the dead.
Oh, yeah, while I'm playing "Smallville Historian/Nerd," just thought I throw something else out:
The whole Clark/Connor fight paralleled an earlier fight from (I think) season 3: Clark was wearing a Red Kryptonite ring and causing havoc, so Jor-El gave Jonathan Kent superpowers in order to reel him in and they had a similar fight (except I think Clark got rid of the ring of his own free will). Nice to see the series kind of bookending like that a little with Clark now essentially stepping into the "father" role and dealing with his "son."
Duckbeaver, yeah it was nice to sit back and enjoy one, and I too noticed the correlation between a good show and the fact it was Chloe-free. I wasn't aware of the Black K tidbit you shared, and I'm glad I wasn't because there really should be a "bible" for all the writers to consult so these things don't happen, but regardless, it was a nice program.
As for the season 3 parallel, I actually did see that one and yes, it is a nice call back. I don't recall if I liked or didn't like that ep, but I did see it years ago.
Da Force, did you just "duh" me? Who the hell are you, Charlie Sheen? First of all that target wasn't always moving at superspeed, and secondly I'd imagine Clark has a much better handle on his heat vision as a weapon than Connor, so it is a legitimate question. Not one worth groaning about, but one worth bringing up in a review. Don't mess with me bro, I'm a Vatican Assasin. .... ahhhh forget it... Charlie Sheen references are old already.
Joe: Ha! Yeah, I'd hate to see what that "series bible" looks like now (if one even existed). Pages torn or whited-out from all of the retcons they've done most likely (Doomsday and Kara coming to Earth with Clark, Lionel fully aware of Clark's origins since day one all of a sudden, "Jimmy" Olsen)...gaahhh, I'll stop now. Good episode this week...done! :)
This weeks episode was pretty darn good. I was glad to see Lionel and Lex. and the birth of superboy! fun good episode,something original. (Lol but ,lionel saying "Iam your father")
Wow Joe. Maybe you should be writing for Smallville. Your reviews are staggeringly inconsistent. You hated Icarus but you liked this 'tightly' written episode? Let's deconstruct the 'surprising but welcome lack of gaps in logic':
1. Clark finds out Lois has been taken by Conner and goes looking for her acitng all worried. He sees the 'lovenest' and fur coat, and Conner even tells him that Lois isn't his anymore. So what does he do after Conner has been stripped of his red K infection? He smiles and takes Conner home with, forgetting all about Lois - the reason he went to the mansion in the first place. As long as Conner’s Ok there’s no need to look for Lois – she can take care of herself!
2. He still lets Conner live with Lois and him after all the unpleasantness that has happened. He even gives Lois' attempted rapist a pat on the back in the end. So Conner is no attracted to Lois? All the red K in Smallville has been destroyed?
3. Nothing is mentioned about the abuse toward Lois. And it's not Conner doing the apologizing for what happened, it's Lois. It her fault that she put herself in a position that led her to be molested by Conner? Sweeping everything under the rug, acting like it never happened and letting the victim rationalize that she's really the one to blame? The red K defense is a defendant's wet dream!
4. Once again Clark lets Lionel walk away scot free. Why? To be able to do more evil things in future episodes of course! Silly me.
The logic in Icarus wiped the floor with this steaming pile of doggie doo. But it didn't have John Glover in it, so it automatically stunk, right?!
Ahhhhh... it was so nice to sit back and enjoy the show without being slapped in the face every five minutes with a WTF moment. And my rule is I'll give them a couple mulligans on plot inconsistencies. And I don't even think they used all their mulligans this week.
Jinx99, its so nice to be back on Smallville's side. I ansswer you thusly:
1. Since Lois was in peril at the hands of Conner, once that threat is extinguished, all is well. And Clark has been learning this year, that Lois can take care of herself to a certain extent.
2. Lois is aware of red k and understands its properties and effects. The future Lois from homecoming established that pretty well with the impromptu kryptonite examination she gave Clark.
3. Clark did some pretty questionable things under the influence. I remember a bank robbery in particular.
4. He's going to be Superman. He stands for truth justice and the American way. And he doesn't kill people. Actually your last point is well taken. Lionel should get some justice.
And I liked Icarus better than this one too. On the other hand Joe liked Supergirl which I was just lukewarm on, so hey everybody has an opinion. Joe just gets to see his in print.
LOGIN
REGISTER
RSS
HOME
Nice review Joe. This epsisode was by far the best episode since episode 4 when we got a glimpse of future Clark. We even got a peek at Apokolips at the end of the episode! I gotta admit I didn't see that one coming and it was a nice surprise. So since Alexander is now Conner Kent, I suppose that means he won't be aging quickly anymore. Would be nice to get an official explanation though. In any case, whith Lionel saying he would do anything to get his son back and then Apokolips showing up tells me that the real Lex Luthor will rise from his grave. He should have never been really killed off in the first place but at least it will be the REAL Lex and not a clone. Looking forward to April 15th. Looks like a funeral will take place in that episode. Would be nice if it were Choloe's funeral but I fear it may be someone else.