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.
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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.