Smallville 9.01 "Savior"

[emeraldstag]

It feels nice to have new episodes of Smallville back on TV and being able to talk about them. :D

I've been staying in the dark for the most part about the new season, only knowing a few things about the early couple of episodes as I want to keep myself fresh and unsuspecting with what is coming. I found it interesting that only 3 weeks had passed since the "Doomsday" finale. And with how the episode ended with the next following right after, I think this might be the first time in the series where there isn't a sizable passage of time between either the finale/premiere or from the premiere/2nd episode. Here's my thoughts on the season 9 premiere:

• Clark. This is the first episode I can remember in a long time where we didn't see Clark once living as Clark Kent for any period of time. It's a little funny that the reemergence of Lois can bring Clark back into inner-conflict and back out of hiding, but when it comes time to say goodbye he doesn't. I do find interesting the Kryptonian assassin girl and wonder how she'll end up knowing Clark - having seen her as part of Major Zod's army - and why she was attacking Lois.
• Lois. This coming back from the future angle I had no high expectations of and so far it seems that way. I don't know what will come of her flashes, but it still feels like just a convenient way to get Lois out of the way by sending her to the future especially since she has no memory. The dark hair seems to work better on her this season than before, but I still miss the lighter look she carried when she first arrived 5 seasons ago. I'm also not fond of the whole tricking Chloe to sneak out or finding Oliver so quickly after Chloe having no finds in her searching.
• Chloe. I feel bad for her right now, barely weeks after losing her husband and having to be hostage to a monster she finds herself alone except for creepy Doctor Hamilton. I should of expected her to beg Clark to rescue Jimmy, but it did feel a little forced for her to continue on it after Clark had said how he lost his father the last time he tried to change the past and why he wouldn't. There really seems to be a push to create a tension between the big three of Smallville (Clark, Chloe, Lois) and right now it feels like Chloe is on the losing end (Lois finding Oliver when she couldn't, and Clark not having trouble being the blur without her).
• Zod. For the most part I like the characterization of Zod, but I have to say he just doesn't seem as authoritative as I picture him being. Too much compassion and righteousness oozing out of him, but I am interested in finding out why they don't have their typical powers (I'm predicting it has something to do with the fact they are from the past or figments of who they were) and what role the Kryptonian girl has.

The preview for next week pretty much spelled the end for John Corben, and I was a little surprised he didn't get a little more time in "Savior" outside of annoying Lois because I have no attachment to him at all. I'm sure the next episode will be pretty much on him, and the reason why he doesn't care for the Blur.