Smallville 9.09 "Pandora"
Nov. 20th, 2009 10:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
emeraldstagThe last episode of the first run of season 9 arrived much more quickly than I expected it to. Last season's "Bride" left the show at a great cliffhanger, and would "Pandora" create similar feelings of anticipation that will get fans through the 2 months of hiatus? I didn't think it would going in, but the end surprised me. Some mid-season talk thrown in with the episode review.
It already feels like the first nine episodes were merely the warm up for the true conflict of the season and when new episodes return Smallville will hit the ground running through the final 13. If there's one thing the producers have definitely gotten down this season is how much different the show feels from not only early Smallville seasons but also even just from last season. I thought last season's first run of episodes up to "Bride" had a lot of Lois & Clark interaction and focus, but compared to this season's run up to "Pandora", it pales in comparison. This season so far feels more of a Lois, Clark and everyone else show even more than the old Lois & Clark: the New Adventures of Superman series did. It feels like a completely different show and I'm sure it's no coincidence that the feeling is aided with how much of a backseat Chloe has taken this season as her and Clark are what have made Smallville the show it's been.
This mid-season finale "Pandora" leaves a few interesting questions about the rest of season 9. First up is Alia, who when the solar tower was destroyed still had powers. Does this mean she's not a clone? Does it mean she has her powers right now and is just hiding them? And didn't she say something in the premiere about Clark sending her back? Secondly, Zod. I thought that last scene with Clark showing up where the Kandorians are (How did he know where they were?) and Zod stopping his rallying to have everyone "Kneel before Kal-El" was easily the best moment of Season 9 so far. I'm wondering how Zod knows his name is "Kal-El" (did Tess tell him?) because I would've loved to have Zod say instead "Son of Jor-El". Either way I can't wait to see how the interaction between the two go (maybe Alia too?) and how it falls apart or how Clark saves Zod. Lastly, they showed a preview for the big JSA 2 hour event that they'll be bringing (courtesy of Geoff Johns) in Feb and it looks amazing! I can't wait to see these older heroes thrown into the Smallville universe and how exactly they look. Truly feels like business is about to pick up in the Smallville universe and I have a feeling the next two months won't go as fast as the last two with Smallville around did.
- Lois. Continuing from the end of last week's episode, "Idol", Lois is hospitalized and then kidnapped by Tess to examine her head. The episode takes place for the most part in what Lois is remembering, and that's about when the good parts end. Her memory reveals that she only goes 1 year into the future! How incredibly convenient for season 9's storyline. Please explain to me how a Legion ring, configured by Rokk to bring Doomsday 1000 years into the future where the Legion is waiting, only takes Lois who finds the ring in her Daily Planet tussle with Tess 1 year into the future? I'm pretty disappointed with this plot decision as my mind had gone crazy imagining Lois so far into the future. And adding to my disappointment was a second consecutive episode with a typical Smallville tease job, with Lois having her memories of the future erased so that she will not remember the truth and keep her in the dark but because Clark saw her memory her job to save the future still happened. With how many head knocks and lies Lois is given, I seriously think she'd be in a mental institution by season 10.
- Tess. Up to the very end of "Doomsday" last season, I was truly enjoying the characterization of Tess, and eagerly anticipating a season 9 where she would interact more with Clark ala "Turbulence" and instead, they've taken Tess and turned her into a crazy fanatical who will do anything to "save the Earth". This seems pretty drastic change from wanting Clark to be who he's supposed to become, and with "Pandora" showing just how far she takes her alliance with Zod and basically turns on humanity ... well they've clearly shoved her to the villain side and I feel sad about that. Too bad she can't even be a villain right and didn't kill that needless Stuart with that gunshot.
- Zod. If there was one thing I doubted about this season was the idea of having Zod as a character that would sustain for the entire season. I'm happy that I was proven wrong about this and now with "Pandora" we get a peak at exactly what these cloned Kandorians are up to and how they intend to gain powers using the solar tower they intend to build with LexCorp's help. Callum Blue's portrayal of Zod has been nothing short of amazing, and I am eagerly anticipating the time when Zod and Clark interact on a more regular basis.
It already feels like the first nine episodes were merely the warm up for the true conflict of the season and when new episodes return Smallville will hit the ground running through the final 13. If there's one thing the producers have definitely gotten down this season is how much different the show feels from not only early Smallville seasons but also even just from last season. I thought last season's first run of episodes up to "Bride" had a lot of Lois & Clark interaction and focus, but compared to this season's run up to "Pandora", it pales in comparison. This season so far feels more of a Lois, Clark and everyone else show even more than the old Lois & Clark: the New Adventures of Superman series did. It feels like a completely different show and I'm sure it's no coincidence that the feeling is aided with how much of a backseat Chloe has taken this season as her and Clark are what have made Smallville the show it's been.
This mid-season finale "Pandora" leaves a few interesting questions about the rest of season 9. First up is Alia, who when the solar tower was destroyed still had powers. Does this mean she's not a clone? Does it mean she has her powers right now and is just hiding them? And didn't she say something in the premiere about Clark sending her back? Secondly, Zod. I thought that last scene with Clark showing up where the Kandorians are (How did he know where they were?) and Zod stopping his rallying to have everyone "Kneel before Kal-El" was easily the best moment of Season 9 so far. I'm wondering how Zod knows his name is "Kal-El" (did Tess tell him?) because I would've loved to have Zod say instead "Son of Jor-El". Either way I can't wait to see how the interaction between the two go (maybe Alia too?) and how it falls apart or how Clark saves Zod. Lastly, they showed a preview for the big JSA 2 hour event that they'll be bringing (courtesy of Geoff Johns) in Feb and it looks amazing! I can't wait to see these older heroes thrown into the Smallville universe and how exactly they look. Truly feels like business is about to pick up in the Smallville universe and I have a feeling the next two months won't go as fast as the last two with Smallville around did.
no subject
on 2010-01-12 09:45 pm (UTC)Pandora was my favourite episode so far - I've just caught up - but you picked up on so many things I didn't and now I'm very excited for the come back.
I was hoping for the future leap to be further forward too but let's face it, keeping cannon has never seemed too important to the writers... I must admit I'm not a Lois fan, mainly because in comparasion Chloe always seems more Lois-like than Lois. That, and my patience broke when Lois!Chloe got her coffee *brought to her* doing the body swap, but anyway...
I feel for Tess, something obviously got to her and I liked her in earlier flashbacks. This season seems to be redemption themed, so maybe there's hope. Her power play with Zod is a lot more interesting than I expected and getting more Callum Blue is never a bad thing. I may even be developing a Zod/Lois crush...
I'm not looking forward to the eviatable Chloe/Clark/Lois moment - At some point Lois is going to find out about Clark, that Chloe knew and set her up and that Clark went along with it. It's going to be messy and I think Chloe is going to be taking the fall :(
Perhaps, that's why I've been flinching and the Clark/Lois all season because, as you said, it's becoming the Clark/Lois show and the great thing about 'the adventures of' was that the relationship always developed but that it never overpowered the show or the other characters. Now with Smallville (IMO) the Clark/Lois seems to repeat a lot of past couple development and dictate a lot of the other character plot/conflict... I mean I really don't want to go through Clark's trust issues again - and I can't invest in a ship that doesn't trust each other (again). The 'epicness' just seems forced, especially when there's 9 years of investment in Clark/Chloe, where the drama in plot centered, which is taking a backseat.
You're right when you say SV feels different, the sudden shifts and somewhat forgotten backstories are what made me stop watching passed episode 3... As much as I want the show to evolve, the variations from the comic are what I think a lot of people tuned in for and it's hard to watch them being moved out in favour of things you don't actually need to watch... Now I just want to rewatch 'the adventures of' lol.
no subject
on 2010-01-18 09:25 am (UTC)The writers and their liberal use of staying true to canon is what kills me. They decide they have to stay true to the character's roots and change it so that Smallville's Jimmy isn't the real Jimmy Olsen, but Lana can have super powers and that's fine? They've had a lot of miscues this season when referencing the past, especially around Lois, for example her talking about something her mom said on 'prom night', when she had died when Lois was younger. It's just weird, but I let it go because if I ignore it I can still enjoy the spirit of the show. But I do think the writers agree with you in Chloe being like Lois because I've really felt that they don't know how to write the two characters in an episode with both having important roles. Instead of trying to develop Chloe into her own character worthy of screen time alongside Lois, they have reduced her in the last two seasons while increasing Lois. They clearly feel they fill the same role in Clark's life, especially once the Daily Planet came into the equation a few seasons ago. I think the only real season those two were seen on the same level was probably season 4 when Lois was introduced and not a reporter yet and barely on the show. It's been a gradual shift since.
I'll admit I was a bit hard on Tess but I just so wanted to see a season where the villain wasn't technically a villain and the lines were blurred. Much like Tess seemed to be in S8 and Lex in the very early seasons of the show. She at least showed some of her former compassion in "Rhoulette" when she went to bring back Oliver. Probably the only part of that episode that I really liked.
As much as I'd like Lois to find out, I think that's one pony that is staying in the barn - much like Clark ever flying. There will be plenty of teases I'm sure but an actual reveal I doubt it. Especially if they're trying to go for season 10, and besides the last few seasons Smallville has been more about the secrets the characters have with or from each other and that is too big of a one for them to let out that easily. So more knocked out Lois moments in the near future I'm betting. Although I'm with you, they probably would make the reveal cause problems for Chloe most of all. I read a review on one of the fansites saying that this tension between Chloe and Clark this season is something new and well needed for the characters, and all I can think is that they already had their problems back in S2/S3 when Chloe agreed to dig into Clark's past for Lionel when she was pissed at him for getting with Lana.
Either way, it's pretty obvious that the writers are pushing the idea that even though Chloe has been a close part of Clark's life longer, the "epic love" of Lois makes her the new priority to Clark. I had to role my eyes at the fact that Chloe losing her husband, having to go hostage to a monster all to save Clark, yet he disappears and bails on her, but when Lois reappears all of a sudden HE NEEDS to be back. At least there was some buildup to the Clark/Lois pairing in the early part of S8 or else this new focus of Clark's would be even more ridiculous.
My worry is the show's cast is just way too small lately, and all of them are pretty much involved in the good vs evil battle, there's no more side characters like the Kents who don't have to be in the action but are there for character moments. That's what kills me about Chloe in S9, her appearances are pretty much left to whatever the episode is about or what Clark needs from her, there's no more casual scenes between her and Clark or her and Lois. I think the only casual scenes left in the show are between Clark and Lois, and I think that's only because Lois doesn't know the secret.
Haha. Look at me, you made me ramble. Hope I didn't overwhelm you in my response. New episodes are back in just under 2 weeks, I'm just hoping the stories make up for how the characters are being treated. Hope you don't mind if I friend you, you can never know enough Smallville fans. :)
no subject
on 2010-01-19 10:48 pm (UTC)I agree with you on everything - don't even get me started on Lana... The character had potential to grew independantly when they went with Lex/Lana, and personally that dynamic with the whole Lex vs Clark arch would have been interesting to see. Alas, they threw that away.
This is way Chloe v Lois annoys me - the writers obviously wrote Chloe as SV's Lois then lost the bottle to follow it through. Then they bring in 'Lois' who's core line is to 'be Lois Lane'. I don't pretend to have read the comics but in TV/Movie-Land Lois was always independant of Clark - she brought her own attrabutes to the table. I feel like Lois is only there to be a girlfriend. Countless times Clark has shows how much he distrusts her with his secret(s), all this while he's suppose to be 'in love' with her. The result seems to be 'Lois the prop'. I seriously think that it's down to the writers room - two halves going in different directions.
Clark's leaving suddenly went from being because of the guilt of Jimmy's dead and (more so) hurting Chloe in the process, to Lois?! Really...
I wish they'd kept Chloe as the reporter who actually worked for the job, and made Lois a valued member of the team - allowing her relationship with Oliver that could grow and link to more JL stuff. Sometimes I wish Lois would stay in a coma... or fly off with Zod :P
Although if Jimmy isn't Jimmy then Lois isn't Lois - Unless the team gets together in her late 40's at least... Thus everything is void.
Even if they did keep or bring in new cast, considering what they'redoing with what they have it would only make things worst. I wouldn't blame allison for leaving at this point as the show is just writing itself into a ever shrinking box.
At some point I'll just have to make a AU chlark vid, just to ease the onscreen car crash lol.
no subject
on 2010-01-27 10:22 am (UTC)I keep telling myself I won't watch S10 if they don't bring back Allison but I probably still will because I've reconciled with the fact that even though the name of the show is still Smallville, it hasn't been the same show it started out as for a long time (which is probably the only way the show could survive this long). I mean I never thought I'd watch a show without Lex or the Kents or Lionel but still watching. I just don't want them to compromise Chloe's character (or kill her) as a way to explain her not being on the show if that does happen.
The Clark/Lana romance was really the stumbling block of the early seasons, I understand they had to be together eventually since she was his highschool sweetheart but the whole on/off thing got tedious as did Clark's focus always being on her. Outside of the tiny Alicia arc (which was refreshing to see his attention actually go to another girl for once) it was all Lana all the time, even when she was with others (Whitney, Jason, Lex). Killed me that they shut down Chloe so quickly and left it as mostly a one-sided infatuation. I think if Lois wasn't introduced yet, that the kiss in "Vessel" (I think?) might have led to something but instead oh "Hi Jimmy!"
I do agree with you that for the most part Lois is more of an accessory than a focus, but I think that's the fault of the direction of the show. Clark is the center of the show and he's not really one for the investigative side, that was Chloe, and without that it's more of a routine of a)getting Lois in Danger b) Clark saving the day c)Lois doesn't have a clue what really happened.
I'd love to have seen Chloe as part of the Daily Planet, in fact I'd rather see her and Lois teaming together and getting into trouble putting their noses where it doesn't belong and Clark comes to save the day. And Tess interacting with Clark on a closer level - something I was expecting after S8.
I'm sure they could come up with "superman stories" for another season if they wanted, but I just fear the show is just going to become more and more unrecognizable from what it once was. And the compromising of characters might continue (Pete moving away, Lana running off with her kryptonite-laced body, Martha Kent in DC, Jonathan/Lionel/Lex are dead)
I'm desperate to find time to start writing again and get back in touch with the Chloe and Clark I enjoy to see. lol. I'll still be watching S9 when it starts back up Friday, there are some aspects that I do enjoy still and I like to focus on those good things when watching Smallville these days.