Smallville season 4 episodes 1-6
Sep. 2nd, 2013 08:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shallownessI’ve opened my season 4 DVD boxset of Smallville, which had been gathering dust for a couple of four years. I blame my reluctance for getting it out on rewatching season 3. I think I’m going to have to pace myself and manage my expectations. I’d seen the first episode of season 4 when it aired live and then didn’t watch the rest. Looking over my Smallville tag doesn’t offer an explanation as to why; I suspect scheduling was to blame. So, everything after that is new, although over the years, I have been spoiled for some big developments on the show, but I don’t know when.
Six things about the first six episodes of season 4
I can just imagine the note from the network for this season demanding it was sexed up. They probably promoted it as the ‘sexiest season ever’ or maybe ‘steamier’ would be more apt with all the gratuitous shower scenes with tenuous narrative reasons and the fig-leaf of equal opportunity ogling. However, the Lionel shower with the aria and the knifing did amuse me.
So far, I like the season arc episodes more than the kryptofreak of the week ones (shocker). I thought Facade was the weakest, even though maybe it’s heart was in the right place, but it did so much so wrong, and it was about a toxic mother-daughter relationship instead of fathers and sons. I liked the introduction of the Flash (BEAVER!) and I don't mind the idea of a longer interaction between Kreypton and Earth, although I hope that it all doesn't come down to Jor-El again. Sure, there was some manouvering in the opening two episodes, while the amount of time that passed really confused me. It was all never mind Clark being in a cave, Chloe being ‘dead’ and Lana being in Paris, they’re seniors now and so, for a bit, is Lois! And we’ve found ways of reusing the Talon set, phew!
And this is the season that introduces Lois Lane. Although I think Durance could stand to dial it down a notch or two, I do like her Lois because she’s Lois. I surprised myself by how much I liked their handling of Lois/Clark. The fact that the show were more concerned with establishing her as a character and beyond the typical WB attitude of ‘ogle how hot our actors are’, they weren’t rushing the romance. She’s not overly impressed, he’s not over Lana and finds Lois.
However, I wasn’t too upset that she’s only a guest so far, because I am a little anxious about Chloe’s role (although I do like that the final clips of the opening titles have expanded the big three to a big four). Chloe has been the Lois fill-in, narratively, for so long. Oh, she’s also been her own thing, but for a while, it was a plausible theory that Chloe was Lois, and as the go-getter reporter who had the brains to make impossible leaps, she filled a certain niche. With wee!Lois arriving in the flesh, though? She needed another role, because she was in danger of getting pushed aside and I was almost disappointed that they kept dangling the Chlark bait at us. I don’t think that’s the answer, but without Lois, for now, they’ll be able to give her more, I HOPE.
Because I love Mack. Her take on a kryptonited/besotted Chloe as cheerleader was the best thing about ‘Devoted'. Annette O’Toole always makes me feel for Martha, never mind how stupid the storyline is. Rosenbaum and Glover are very enjoyable, and when I realised ‘Transference’ was a Lionel-Clark bodyswap episode (genius, and they did a LOT with the premise) I thought we’d focus on Clark in Lionel’s body, but...Welling was a revelation. I’d forgotten how much fun he was as Red Kryptonite!Clark. Obviously tapes were involved to pick up the mannerisms, and the part must have been fun – I had Lionel/Chloe feelings, which I’ve never had before!!! Basically, I don’t understand why Welling isn’t being offered villain roles. I know it’s hardly a massive compliment, but he is a better actor than Brandon Routh. And Ackles is charming, funny and I couldn’t tell you whether he, Kreuk or Welling is the prettiest. (Please note which actors I’m not praising, although the writing is partly to blame. Jonathan Kent just makes me cross and the inconsistent writing of Lana is still a Rubicon.)
I could live without the American football and all the associated nonsense, which will include more father-son tensions.
Six things about the first six episodes of season 4
I can just imagine the note from the network for this season demanding it was sexed up. They probably promoted it as the ‘sexiest season ever’ or maybe ‘steamier’ would be more apt with all the gratuitous shower scenes with tenuous narrative reasons and the fig-leaf of equal opportunity ogling. However, the Lionel shower with the aria and the knifing did amuse me.
So far, I like the season arc episodes more than the kryptofreak of the week ones (shocker). I thought Facade was the weakest, even though maybe it’s heart was in the right place, but it did so much so wrong, and it was about a toxic mother-daughter relationship instead of fathers and sons. I liked the introduction of the Flash (BEAVER!) and I don't mind the idea of a longer interaction between Kreypton and Earth, although I hope that it all doesn't come down to Jor-El again. Sure, there was some manouvering in the opening two episodes, while the amount of time that passed really confused me. It was all never mind Clark being in a cave, Chloe being ‘dead’ and Lana being in Paris, they’re seniors now and so, for a bit, is Lois! And we’ve found ways of reusing the Talon set, phew!
And this is the season that introduces Lois Lane. Although I think Durance could stand to dial it down a notch or two, I do like her Lois because she’s Lois. I surprised myself by how much I liked their handling of Lois/Clark. The fact that the show were more concerned with establishing her as a character and beyond the typical WB attitude of ‘ogle how hot our actors are’, they weren’t rushing the romance. She’s not overly impressed, he’s not over Lana and finds Lois.
However, I wasn’t too upset that she’s only a guest so far, because I am a little anxious about Chloe’s role (although I do like that the final clips of the opening titles have expanded the big three to a big four). Chloe has been the Lois fill-in, narratively, for so long. Oh, she’s also been her own thing, but for a while, it was a plausible theory that Chloe was Lois, and as the go-getter reporter who had the brains to make impossible leaps, she filled a certain niche. With wee!Lois arriving in the flesh, though? She needed another role, because she was in danger of getting pushed aside and I was almost disappointed that they kept dangling the Chlark bait at us. I don’t think that’s the answer, but without Lois, for now, they’ll be able to give her more, I HOPE.
Because I love Mack. Her take on a kryptonited/besotted Chloe as cheerleader was the best thing about ‘Devoted'. Annette O’Toole always makes me feel for Martha, never mind how stupid the storyline is. Rosenbaum and Glover are very enjoyable, and when I realised ‘Transference’ was a Lionel-Clark bodyswap episode (genius, and they did a LOT with the premise) I thought we’d focus on Clark in Lionel’s body, but...Welling was a revelation. I’d forgotten how much fun he was as Red Kryptonite!Clark. Obviously tapes were involved to pick up the mannerisms, and the part must have been fun – I had Lionel/Chloe feelings, which I’ve never had before!!! Basically, I don’t understand why Welling isn’t being offered villain roles. I know it’s hardly a massive compliment, but he is a better actor than Brandon Routh. And Ackles is charming, funny and I couldn’t tell you whether he, Kreuk or Welling is the prettiest. (Please note which actors I’m not praising, although the writing is partly to blame. Jonathan Kent just makes me cross and the inconsistent writing of Lana is still a Rubicon.)
I could live without the American football and all the associated nonsense, which will include more father-son tensions.
