Smallville: Descent
Apr. 19th, 2008 10:25 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bofoddityToday, I was searching for info about a Finnish voice actress and found a site about Disney's Snow White, including a section about stuff that didn't make it to the movie. Prince's role would have been.. interesting. (You don't even have to read anything. Just check the pictures.)
As for Smallville, I'm a little ranty.
This is the episode I've been waiting for ever since the beginning of Smallville: the one where Lex finally embraces his iconic self for good. Mostly, it was successful. It's very clear now that Lex is a threat now, and MR did a great job thorough the episode. The scene between him and Lionel in the beginning suffered only from lousy execution, but in the end was the Oedipal confrontation that Lionel has had coming for him for years.
However, despite very excellent moments and fine acting, I found myself thinking: Is this it?
Lionel has been one of my favorite characters from the beginning of the series, and while there was nothing wrong with the writing of his last scene, I found it rather anti-climatic in the end. And although I think he had more human side (twisted one, but still), it was unbelievable how his effect on how Lex turned out was minimized over and over again. Lets not be ridiculous here; Lionel had ulterior motive for everything and did nothing out of the goodness of his heart. Being devoted to Clark doesn't change that.
Despite this, I also can't believe how many people out there demonize Clark for not being fair to Lex. Yes, the claims about how Lex failed Lionel as a son was crap. But Clark wasn't wrong that Lex could have made the difference himself. And no matter how badly Lionel fucked Lex up, that doesn't change the fact that Lex has done plenty of evil deeds all on his own. Remember his imprisonment of AC and Victor in season five and what he almost did to them? Remember how he might have been responsible for endangering Clark's parents in Mortal? Remember how he tricked Lana into marrying him by making her believe she was pregnant and then having her miscarry? Lex has been walking down the villain path for a long time, and putting the blame on Clark is not going to change that.
(Though, while I guess some people wouldn't get it otherwise, having Lex push his conscience in the fireplace was way over the top for me. I had seen a spoiler about it, but I didn't think it was actually going to happen.)
Meanwhile, while Lois and Jimmy had more ties to the main plot this time, I didn't care much for their presence (Lois in particular was disappointingly ineffective) and while I appreciated Chloe not cowering in front of Lex, having her as the voice of the humanity once again didn't work for me. And although it was very obvious from her first scene on that Gina was not going to survive this episode, how she was killed still made me comfortable. Here's a smart and competent women, see how she dies a slow, painful death? Smallville had been doing so well with their female characters this season, too.
The worst thing about this episode, however, is that this is what I imagined was going to be the season finale. When Lex becomes the arch nemesis, Clark becomes the hero, destiny locks in the place. And honestly, why wasn't it? With the season wrapping up the way it is, I see no need for one more season. Smallville was always about both Clark and Lex to me, and with the other half possibly gone, I just don't see the point. I have the habit of sticking to my shows no matter how bad they get, but in Smallville's case I have to consider whether it's worth it to linger around for what's likely to be an inferior season.
As for Smallville, I'm a little ranty.
This is the episode I've been waiting for ever since the beginning of Smallville: the one where Lex finally embraces his iconic self for good. Mostly, it was successful. It's very clear now that Lex is a threat now, and MR did a great job thorough the episode. The scene between him and Lionel in the beginning suffered only from lousy execution, but in the end was the Oedipal confrontation that Lionel has had coming for him for years.
However, despite very excellent moments and fine acting, I found myself thinking: Is this it?
Lionel has been one of my favorite characters from the beginning of the series, and while there was nothing wrong with the writing of his last scene, I found it rather anti-climatic in the end. And although I think he had more human side (twisted one, but still), it was unbelievable how his effect on how Lex turned out was minimized over and over again. Lets not be ridiculous here; Lionel had ulterior motive for everything and did nothing out of the goodness of his heart. Being devoted to Clark doesn't change that.
Despite this, I also can't believe how many people out there demonize Clark for not being fair to Lex. Yes, the claims about how Lex failed Lionel as a son was crap. But Clark wasn't wrong that Lex could have made the difference himself. And no matter how badly Lionel fucked Lex up, that doesn't change the fact that Lex has done plenty of evil deeds all on his own. Remember his imprisonment of AC and Victor in season five and what he almost did to them? Remember how he might have been responsible for endangering Clark's parents in Mortal? Remember how he tricked Lana into marrying him by making her believe she was pregnant and then having her miscarry? Lex has been walking down the villain path for a long time, and putting the blame on Clark is not going to change that.
(Though, while I guess some people wouldn't get it otherwise, having Lex push his conscience in the fireplace was way over the top for me. I had seen a spoiler about it, but I didn't think it was actually going to happen.)
Meanwhile, while Lois and Jimmy had more ties to the main plot this time, I didn't care much for their presence (Lois in particular was disappointingly ineffective) and while I appreciated Chloe not cowering in front of Lex, having her as the voice of the humanity once again didn't work for me. And although it was very obvious from her first scene on that Gina was not going to survive this episode, how she was killed still made me comfortable. Here's a smart and competent women, see how she dies a slow, painful death? Smallville had been doing so well with their female characters this season, too.
The worst thing about this episode, however, is that this is what I imagined was going to be the season finale. When Lex becomes the arch nemesis, Clark becomes the hero, destiny locks in the place. And honestly, why wasn't it? With the season wrapping up the way it is, I see no need for one more season. Smallville was always about both Clark and Lex to me, and with the other half possibly gone, I just don't see the point. I have the habit of sticking to my shows no matter how bad they get, but in Smallville's case I have to consider whether it's worth it to linger around for what's likely to be an inferior season.
