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I fear this episode is destined to be damned with faint praise, if that. There were parts I liked but overall, and especially considering it was supposed to pay off several episodes of questions, the episode left me flat and expecting more. So I give it a B, far and away the lowest mark I've ever given to a season finale.
The good parts, as always, surrounded Clark - even though there were points when I just wanted to shout at him to stop being so, well, Clark. And I guess he listened, because by the end, he'd reached the erroneous but understandable conclusion that he'd been putting too much trust into humanity. His stated reason for the change is because listening to his compassionate "human" side resulted in Davis killing Jimmy. Emotionally though, it's because he listened to Chloe back in the Fortress and didn't exile Davis when he had the chance. Sure he might have second guessed that decision, but never as much as he will regret not having made it. Add to that the toll from the betrayal of the Justice League and Lois's disappearance and I totally understand his walking away and recommending that Chloe do the same.
Before Clark's faith in humanity and himself was shattered, there were some lovely moments to savour, although they were frequently mixed with bizarre statements that made me wonder if the writers had ever watched their own show. We start with Rokk's warning, which Clark accepts solemnly but resolutely, since he could never regret the decision to save Chloe even though Rokk clearly identifies how her actions changed Clark's fate. Then there's a strange statement by Clark about how his father always told him his fate was to save humanity - oh really?? And from this, Clark jumps to a bizarre statement about how maybe it was always his destiny to die now. Now where on Earth did THAT come from. Doesn't he remember what he said to Tess just a week ago on this very topic? Aghh!
Next we move to the Daily Planet and Clark typing a goodbye letter from the RBB just in case. Although I love the conversation that follows between Lois and the Blur, my hackles really went up at how Lois treated Clark here. He was acting in a manner completely unlike himself and she just kicked him when he was down. It's nice that as least as the Blur, he had a chance to open up a bit to her, but the switch in her loyalties is completely inconsistent with the dynamic we've seen all season long, especially in Stiletto.
Then we have Clark's dealings with the League. Word's cannot express my rage at how, after Clark comes up with yet another perfectly workable plan, Ollie sees fit to shoot Clark in the back and leave him abandoned in the middle of nowhere at anyone's mercy. By standing by, Bart and Dinah earned my lasting contempt. I have no idea why Ollie thought it necessary to stop Clark's plan - and what exactly was his own? I guess it was Clark's minus the splitting off of Davis bit, although he seemed to think that one of his handy arrows would do the trick. Ollie, you were in so far over your head, its a miracle your team and Metropolis are still standing. By all rights, Ollie and company should have been eviscerated by the Beast, and frankly I would have had to say serve you right. As it is, Clark arrives to save the day and Ollie gets a mini shot of redemption by agreeing not to screw around any more with Clark's plan. I did enjoy the shot of the three Leaguers looking like chastened children under Clark's steely gaze.
The scene with Jimmy was good but didn't fill me with girlish glee. That's mainly because I knew that Jimmy was going to be death #2 once Clark admitted he was the Red Blue Blur. So all subsequent attempts to make me bond with Jimmy and remember just how awesome he's "always" been just fell flat, especially in the subsequent Chimmy scene. But how can you not love Jimmy's reaction at Clark's confirmation he was right all along, and his joy in watching Clark blur away.
The whole season has been building to the climatic fight with Doomsday and I don't think they let Clark get in a single blow. Talk about anti-climatic! I must say I was thrilled at the sequence involving the child's rescue, Clark taking Doomie's punch and then his super leap to the geothermal plant. I expected much much much more on the other end, but all I got was an explosion and a puzzled "I don't know what happened" from Clark. I have to guess the writers decided to save the explanation to next season's premier, and it will somehow involve Lois, but I'm sorry, that's just god awful screenwriting. Epic fail!
I haven't touched on the other characters that much because those I liked failed to engage me and those I disliked made me wish the death toll hadn't stopped at just two. The final scene between Chloe and Jimmy was absolutely excruciating for me. There was never much in the relationship IMO and certainly after the wedding, we never saw any attempt by either to make the marriage work. Their marriage was so dysfunctional that Jimmy never even presented his rather extravagant wedding present. And I HATE the way Jimmy was so forgiving and spewing out nonsense about Chloe's sacrifice and heroism, and Chloe responding about how he always does the right thing. Again, were the writers not watching the last half of this season? And because Chloe can't stop from trying to justify her actions, she winds up waking the beast in Davis, who responds by stabbing Jimmy, who responds in kind before dying in Chloe's arms. So Chloe's "sacrifice" for trying to save Davis is Jimmy - who we then learn isn't even Jimmy. Grrrr.
In summary, what a dreary end to a season that began with such promise. The reveal that Zod is the voice in the Orb leaves me distinctly unimpressed for the season ahead. I'm not looking forward to seeing Chloe playing the martyr next year in the Watchtower while Clark beats himself up for listening to her advice. I'm not looking forward to seeing Ollie and his self-justifying vigilantism. Still, I will be tuning in to see Clark work his way out of the darkness. I still believe a man can fly.
The good parts, as always, surrounded Clark - even though there were points when I just wanted to shout at him to stop being so, well, Clark. And I guess he listened, because by the end, he'd reached the erroneous but understandable conclusion that he'd been putting too much trust into humanity. His stated reason for the change is because listening to his compassionate "human" side resulted in Davis killing Jimmy. Emotionally though, it's because he listened to Chloe back in the Fortress and didn't exile Davis when he had the chance. Sure he might have second guessed that decision, but never as much as he will regret not having made it. Add to that the toll from the betrayal of the Justice League and Lois's disappearance and I totally understand his walking away and recommending that Chloe do the same.
Before Clark's faith in humanity and himself was shattered, there were some lovely moments to savour, although they were frequently mixed with bizarre statements that made me wonder if the writers had ever watched their own show. We start with Rokk's warning, which Clark accepts solemnly but resolutely, since he could never regret the decision to save Chloe even though Rokk clearly identifies how her actions changed Clark's fate. Then there's a strange statement by Clark about how his father always told him his fate was to save humanity - oh really?? And from this, Clark jumps to a bizarre statement about how maybe it was always his destiny to die now. Now where on Earth did THAT come from. Doesn't he remember what he said to Tess just a week ago on this very topic? Aghh!
Next we move to the Daily Planet and Clark typing a goodbye letter from the RBB just in case. Although I love the conversation that follows between Lois and the Blur, my hackles really went up at how Lois treated Clark here. He was acting in a manner completely unlike himself and she just kicked him when he was down. It's nice that as least as the Blur, he had a chance to open up a bit to her, but the switch in her loyalties is completely inconsistent with the dynamic we've seen all season long, especially in Stiletto.
Then we have Clark's dealings with the League. Word's cannot express my rage at how, after Clark comes up with yet another perfectly workable plan, Ollie sees fit to shoot Clark in the back and leave him abandoned in the middle of nowhere at anyone's mercy. By standing by, Bart and Dinah earned my lasting contempt. I have no idea why Ollie thought it necessary to stop Clark's plan - and what exactly was his own? I guess it was Clark's minus the splitting off of Davis bit, although he seemed to think that one of his handy arrows would do the trick. Ollie, you were in so far over your head, its a miracle your team and Metropolis are still standing. By all rights, Ollie and company should have been eviscerated by the Beast, and frankly I would have had to say serve you right. As it is, Clark arrives to save the day and Ollie gets a mini shot of redemption by agreeing not to screw around any more with Clark's plan. I did enjoy the shot of the three Leaguers looking like chastened children under Clark's steely gaze.
The scene with Jimmy was good but didn't fill me with girlish glee. That's mainly because I knew that Jimmy was going to be death #2 once Clark admitted he was the Red Blue Blur. So all subsequent attempts to make me bond with Jimmy and remember just how awesome he's "always" been just fell flat, especially in the subsequent Chimmy scene. But how can you not love Jimmy's reaction at Clark's confirmation he was right all along, and his joy in watching Clark blur away.
The whole season has been building to the climatic fight with Doomsday and I don't think they let Clark get in a single blow. Talk about anti-climatic! I must say I was thrilled at the sequence involving the child's rescue, Clark taking Doomie's punch and then his super leap to the geothermal plant. I expected much much much more on the other end, but all I got was an explosion and a puzzled "I don't know what happened" from Clark. I have to guess the writers decided to save the explanation to next season's premier, and it will somehow involve Lois, but I'm sorry, that's just god awful screenwriting. Epic fail!
I haven't touched on the other characters that much because those I liked failed to engage me and those I disliked made me wish the death toll hadn't stopped at just two. The final scene between Chloe and Jimmy was absolutely excruciating for me. There was never much in the relationship IMO and certainly after the wedding, we never saw any attempt by either to make the marriage work. Their marriage was so dysfunctional that Jimmy never even presented his rather extravagant wedding present. And I HATE the way Jimmy was so forgiving and spewing out nonsense about Chloe's sacrifice and heroism, and Chloe responding about how he always does the right thing. Again, were the writers not watching the last half of this season? And because Chloe can't stop from trying to justify her actions, she winds up waking the beast in Davis, who responds by stabbing Jimmy, who responds in kind before dying in Chloe's arms. So Chloe's "sacrifice" for trying to save Davis is Jimmy - who we then learn isn't even Jimmy. Grrrr.
In summary, what a dreary end to a season that began with such promise. The reveal that Zod is the voice in the Orb leaves me distinctly unimpressed for the season ahead. I'm not looking forward to seeing Chloe playing the martyr next year in the Watchtower while Clark beats himself up for listening to her advice. I'm not looking forward to seeing Ollie and his self-justifying vigilantism. Still, I will be tuning in to see Clark work his way out of the darkness. I still believe a man can fly.
