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Further to a post by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
goodvibe, here's my ranking of the episodes of Season 8. Overall, the season grades out to a B+ for me, just about on par with Season 1 in the middle of my rankings by season. Some may cry heresy to rate these two seasons the same, but the ranking is calculated giving each episode the same weight. If I weighted the season premier and finale more heavily, a very different story would be told!
A+ = Wonderful
Identity - gets my nod as best episode of the year because everything worked for me. Clark of course was wonderful as he explored the pivotal idea of no longer hiding in the shadows, but acting as a beacon of hope. So many great moments, but the one that sticks in my head is Clark sorting his laundry (practically all red and blue) when Jimmy arrives with his theory that the Red Blue Blur comes from Smallville. Comedy gold! This is also the episode where Chloe's story took an irrevocable turn to the dark side: she killed Sebastien to protect Clark's secret identity.
Hex - so much fun! Again, lots of great scenes, but the one that sticks out is on the roof where reporter!Clark refuses to believe he has powers. As a result of their respective wishes, Clark learns that a life without responsibility is not enough for him, while Chloe moves away from that dead-end filler job at ISIS and becomes Watchtower for the nascent Justice League.
A(+) = Mostly wonderful
Abyss - I really did like this episode, despite the much maligned mind wipe (or more accurately, the failure to allow one AI to fully reverse the damage caused by another AI). Favorite scenes: seeing Chloe's memories of Clark get overwritten by Kryptonian code. Favorite line: "The best way I know to protect you is to let you go." It is a shame Chlark never got a chance to talk this issue fully, because if Clark had explained that he was gravely concerned that Chloe was loosing sight of her own needs by focussing so completely on him, a lot of grief at the end of the season might have been prevented.
Stiletto - Another episode I loved despite the more than slightly dubious ethics displayed by Lois in writing herself up as a superhero. But as far as errors of judgement go, this was chump change and Lois definitely learned from her mistake. And I adore how Clark, Lois and Jimmy combined to save each other's lives and eventually get the story of what will become Intergang. The Clois banter throughout was top notch, but my favorite scene was the morning after the shooting when Lois brings Clark breakfast by way of apology, then proceeds to eat it.
A = Excellent
Odyssey - Despite the A, IMO this was the weakest season opener ever - perhaps not surprising given where S7 left off and the absence of Michael Rosenbaum's Lex. There were lots of irritating jumps in the story - how for example did Ollie track down Clark in Russia? - and the timing for the rounding up of the JLA didn't make sense, but I've learned to ignore such details. Favorite scene off the top of my head is the one at the end where Clark squeaks away in the chair opposite Lois and eventually tells her he'll be joining her at the Planet. Yay! Interesting that Ollie started the season by shooting Clark through the heart and ended the season by shooting him in the back.
Bride - That's my idea of a wedding to remember! The standout scene for me is the Clois dance and near kiss, followed closely by the song montage to the tune of "Don't take your love away from me" by VAST. Proving the less is more theory, Doomsday looks much more impressive in the brief glimpses we get here than in the season finale.
Infamous - OK, I'll grant a lot of the dialogue is heavy handed and/or elliptical, especially in the Clois scene just before Clark goes back in time. And Clark's journey from superhero to public enemy number one takes place too fast for realism, but that's dramatic compression for you. I still loved it! Most memorable scene for me is when Clark reveals himself to Lois and she reacts first with laughter, then awe, then settles into friendship.
Turbulence - This episode is Clark light, but every second on screen counts! Highlights for me are the cat and mouse Cless scenes: Tess reveals Lex kept a diary, Clark proceeds to try to get her drunk to find out more, and she tries to create rapport by revealing a (quite possibly made up) story from her abused childhood. When Clark doesn't bite, Tess takes a gamble and has the pilot disable the plane to force Clark to reveal his powers. She partially succeeds, though by season end we wonder why she even thought it necessary to check seeing as she had the journals of Lex AND Lionel, not to mention a talking Kryptonian orb. Oh yes, and the A story also interested me - Jimmy finds out about Davis but Chloe doesn't believe him and they break up. I hate how the very real disagreement between Chimmy is essentially retconned away by the end of the season.
A- = Very Good
Committed - This missed the mark for me because the whole lie detector set up was a ridiculous plot device, especially when you consider that Chloe, who lies practically every minute of her life (granted on Clark's behalf), is let off so easily. But the episode still works on the whole because of the wonderful Clois scenes: in the jewellry store (their nicknames for each other! Clark shoving the ring on her finger! Ollie's expression!), down in the dungeon, and then later on the elevator. These two are so much fun together!
Bloodline - The return of Kara didn't quite work for me, mainly because I expected the tone to be a bit lighter in keeping with most of the first half of the season. Oh well. Most memorable scene is a tie between Faora revealing all to a bemused Davis - "That which kills you makes you stronger." *stab* - and the goodbye scene between Kara and Clark where she shows him the "S" shield she will wear next to her heart in memory of him.
Legion - Loved the Legion, hated the Lana worship by Imra. The dialogue was a little ham fisted but overall quite enjoyable. This episode is the start of what becomes a near deluge of people trying to get Clark to kill someone to "save the world". Problem is, these people jump to the killing solution without considering other alternatives, and also overlook the consequences of making the "easy" decision. I would have prefered if Clark had a more direct involvement in Chloe's exorcism but it did illustrate a critical aspect of Clark's character: that he inspires others to become better people.
Injustice - If you were expecting a whiz bang Injustice League battle, this was bound to dissapoint. I didn't, and I wasn't. Instead, this is my favorite of all the Doomsday arc stories mainly because Clark is giving the opportunity to speak his mind. “Like it or not we stand for something, we set an example for others to follow and if we don’t then we’re not better than the people we fight!” Not to mention the "alien Jesus" line to Tess!
B+ - Quite Good
Plastique - I remember this episode fondly because of Clark's first day at work (showing up in his best plaid!), Clark saving the folks from the bus explosion and the first meeting between Davis and Clark ("I'm getting married?"). The FOTW is a bit ho hum, but I liked how Tess recruited her. Too bad they let 19 episodes go before mentioning Tess's team again, or Injustice would probably have been more favourably viewed.
Bulletproof - Loved the cop scenes with Danny Turpin, was ambivalent about Ollie, and hated most of the Lana stuff. Great scene where Tess bids farewell to Lex, shuts down the implant then says "I loved you, you son of a bitch."
B = Good
Instinct - Maxima was fun, but the Chimmy bored me to tears, as did the revival of the Fever letter. Most memorable scene - Clark and Maxima making out in the elevator. Darn Lois for interrupting when she did!
Prey - Clark is too late to stop a grisly murder and suspects a meteor freak, then Davis. After some investigative techniques that raise Chloe's hackles (despite the fact that she has hacked confidential records any number of times), Clark is proved right but wrong (but really right). And I love the part where Jimmy picks up on the mystery of the secret saviour, which then leads into Identity.
Doomsday - I know I've said epic fail about this episode several times, but some parts of it still really worked for me. Dark and depressing isn't necessarily bad, in small doses, and assuming we can trust the show runners to make it better in S9. So I'm intrigued at the thought of Clark abandoning his "humanity" and trying to live by Kryptonian logic. Its been done many times in the comics and often proves quite interesting. Best scene was when Jimmy finds Clark with an arrow in his back and puts the pieces together. Such delight and awe when Clark admits the truth! And I love how Jimmy is almost caught in Clark's slip stream when he zooms off, prompting Jimmy to comment, "So cool!" But this scene is sad too, because its essentially the death knell of a character who was wasted as Chloe's love interest but shone when given the chance to work with Lois and Clark. Honourable mention also to a part of the episode that was only on screen for a few seconds - the letter from the Red Blue Blur to the people of Metropolis. Thank goodness for screen caps!
C+ = Barely OK
Requiem - The Lana arc ends in a way that makes no one happy, but at least its over. (Please god no guest performance in S9.) This episode is about as dark as it gets, with Clana forced to part when she becomes infected by kryptonite and Ollie "killing" Lex. (I put killing in quotes because we all know the real Lex isn't really dead, but that still doesn't let Ollie off the hook.) My favorite part was the brief scene where Clark combed through the wreckage of the Luthor mobile HQ and let the ashes fall through his fingers, a clear call back to the graveyard scenes in Reckoning and Descent. Clark's face is contorted by sorrow at this tragic ending to a relationship that began with such promise on Loeb bridge. As a Clexer, I share that sorrow, and say bring on the fanfic to make it better!
Eternal - I hate retcons, especially ones that serve no real purpose. Anything to do with Veritas is fair game since that was already a retcon (and a bad one), but why mess with the legend of Numan and Segeeth? IMO, Tess is just plain wrong - scarcely the first fanatic to twist a legend to suit her purposes. So much in this episode just doesn't make sense! But still, it is bearable thanks to superb acting all around. Favorite scene is the one between Clark and Tess at the end, where she tries to get him to admit who he is and then, after his denial, calls him Kal-El.
C- = Poor
Toxic - I'll admit flat out that Justin Hartley just isn't my type. Something about his looks and charm just rubs me the wrong way, perhaps a ghost of boyfriends past. Anyways, I was bored, bored, bored by the backstory presented here and just didn't feel the chemistry between Ollie and Tess. But what really made me hate this episode was the scene at the end between Clark and Ollie, where Ollie is utterly insulting and Clark just takes it all in without reply. Alas, a dynamic that became the default for their interactions this season. Can S9 possibly bring these two back together in a way that doesn't just gloss over the issues between them? I have my doubts.
Beast - This left me seething. Clark comes up with a plan (a great plan mind you, especially in hindsight) for dealing with Davis/Doomie but Chloe derails it. I honestly don't blame Clark too much for being too stunned to react right away, since he's always counted on Chloe for help and is used to trusting her input. Anyways, Chloe's brilliant counter solution is to run away with Davis because if he's near her, the monster doesn't come out - ignoring that she's already had to bury one body for him and would have lost Ollie if Clark had been a few seconds slower to return from the wild goose chase she sent him on. And she ladles the guilt on Clark's head by telling him its all for him, even as she tells Davis she'll do anything for him. The seeds of disaster are sown by her actions, but somehow it all winds up being Clark's fault. Grrrr.
D- = Awful
Power - This isn't the worst episode ever by my ratings - I reserve that for garbage like Hero, Static and Ageless. Here, I give the show some credit for trying something different, and points to Allison Mack for her debut directorial effort. But I knew that the story I was seeing as a viewer - a tale of hubris, with Lana reaching for power that she was never suited for - was not the story the writers intended to tell. Apparently, they wrote this episode intending to empower Lana, turning her away from the victimhood attitude with which she started the series. Sorry, I'm not seeing it. If she had stopped after going through the training with her sensei and become a great martial artist, or actually started taking ISIS seriously as a way to help the meteor infected - that's what I would have called empowered. By going the step beyond and aspiring to Clark's power, she set herself up for tragedy and I really can't spare her any sympathy.
Quite the season, no? PS3 took over the show and started out with promise but then IMO lost track of the characters. Clark was largely shut out, meaning you had to guess his feelings in most situations and use some judgement and common sense to see where he was coming from. Sadly, many fanboys couldn't be bothered and the tide of Clark bashing at places like Kryptonsite continues to be sickening to me. We didn't get to see much of Clark's exciting rise as the Red Blue Blur onscreen, but I had to enjoy the steadfast heroism and intelligence he displayed throughout most of the season. Yay Clark, but boo to the writers! PS3 also succeeded in taking my 3rd favorite character (after Clex) and distorting her so beyond belief that I can barely watch some of the episodes she features in. I'm talking about Chloe of course, and I really hope the show restores some balance and common sense to her life next season. Ollie has never been a character of interest to me and by now I positively detest him - good job show. Jimmy was treated very unevenly all season long, then gets killed off just as he was getting interesting again, and winds up not being the real Jimmy - grrrr. I was never all that interested in Davis since I saw him as just a mask for a killing machine, and he's gone now too (good riddance). IMO, Tess was this season's most welcome addition, even though she's crazy as a Loon and apparently got bamboozled by Zod. And that leaves Lois, who benefitted strangely by being left out of so many episodes. Can't wait to find out where the Legion ring took her and how she'll get back, and I definitely look forward to seeing her and the Kryptonian interact next season. Fingers crossed for a great year!
goodvibe, here's my ranking of the episodes of Season 8. Overall, the season grades out to a B+ for me, just about on par with Season 1 in the middle of my rankings by season. Some may cry heresy to rate these two seasons the same, but the ranking is calculated giving each episode the same weight. If I weighted the season premier and finale more heavily, a very different story would be told! A+ = Wonderful
Identity - gets my nod as best episode of the year because everything worked for me. Clark of course was wonderful as he explored the pivotal idea of no longer hiding in the shadows, but acting as a beacon of hope. So many great moments, but the one that sticks in my head is Clark sorting his laundry (practically all red and blue) when Jimmy arrives with his theory that the Red Blue Blur comes from Smallville. Comedy gold! This is also the episode where Chloe's story took an irrevocable turn to the dark side: she killed Sebastien to protect Clark's secret identity. Hex - so much fun! Again, lots of great scenes, but the one that sticks out is on the roof where reporter!Clark refuses to believe he has powers. As a result of their respective wishes, Clark learns that a life without responsibility is not enough for him, while Chloe moves away from that dead-end filler job at ISIS and becomes Watchtower for the nascent Justice League.
A(+) = Mostly wonderful
Abyss - I really did like this episode, despite the much maligned mind wipe (or more accurately, the failure to allow one AI to fully reverse the damage caused by another AI). Favorite scenes: seeing Chloe's memories of Clark get overwritten by Kryptonian code. Favorite line: "The best way I know to protect you is to let you go." It is a shame Chlark never got a chance to talk this issue fully, because if Clark had explained that he was gravely concerned that Chloe was loosing sight of her own needs by focussing so completely on him, a lot of grief at the end of the season might have been prevented. Stiletto - Another episode I loved despite the more than slightly dubious ethics displayed by Lois in writing herself up as a superhero. But as far as errors of judgement go, this was chump change and Lois definitely learned from her mistake. And I adore how Clark, Lois and Jimmy combined to save each other's lives and eventually get the story of what will become Intergang. The Clois banter throughout was top notch, but my favorite scene was the morning after the shooting when Lois brings Clark breakfast by way of apology, then proceeds to eat it.
A = Excellent
Odyssey - Despite the A, IMO this was the weakest season opener ever - perhaps not surprising given where S7 left off and the absence of Michael Rosenbaum's Lex. There were lots of irritating jumps in the story - how for example did Ollie track down Clark in Russia? - and the timing for the rounding up of the JLA didn't make sense, but I've learned to ignore such details. Favorite scene off the top of my head is the one at the end where Clark squeaks away in the chair opposite Lois and eventually tells her he'll be joining her at the Planet. Yay! Interesting that Ollie started the season by shooting Clark through the heart and ended the season by shooting him in the back.
Bride - That's my idea of a wedding to remember! The standout scene for me is the Clois dance and near kiss, followed closely by the song montage to the tune of "Don't take your love away from me" by VAST. Proving the less is more theory, Doomsday looks much more impressive in the brief glimpses we get here than in the season finale. Infamous - OK, I'll grant a lot of the dialogue is heavy handed and/or elliptical, especially in the Clois scene just before Clark goes back in time. And Clark's journey from superhero to public enemy number one takes place too fast for realism, but that's dramatic compression for you. I still loved it! Most memorable scene for me is when Clark reveals himself to Lois and she reacts first with laughter, then awe, then settles into friendship.
Turbulence - This episode is Clark light, but every second on screen counts! Highlights for me are the cat and mouse Cless scenes: Tess reveals Lex kept a diary, Clark proceeds to try to get her drunk to find out more, and she tries to create rapport by revealing a (quite possibly made up) story from her abused childhood. When Clark doesn't bite, Tess takes a gamble and has the pilot disable the plane to force Clark to reveal his powers. She partially succeeds, though by season end we wonder why she even thought it necessary to check seeing as she had the journals of Lex AND Lionel, not to mention a talking Kryptonian orb. Oh yes, and the A story also interested me - Jimmy finds out about Davis but Chloe doesn't believe him and they break up. I hate how the very real disagreement between Chimmy is essentially retconned away by the end of the season.
A- = Very Good
Committed - This missed the mark for me because the whole lie detector set up was a ridiculous plot device, especially when you consider that Chloe, who lies practically every minute of her life (granted on Clark's behalf), is let off so easily. But the episode still works on the whole because of the wonderful Clois scenes: in the jewellry store (their nicknames for each other! Clark shoving the ring on her finger! Ollie's expression!), down in the dungeon, and then later on the elevator. These two are so much fun together!
Bloodline - The return of Kara didn't quite work for me, mainly because I expected the tone to be a bit lighter in keeping with most of the first half of the season. Oh well. Most memorable scene is a tie between Faora revealing all to a bemused Davis - "That which kills you makes you stronger." *stab* - and the goodbye scene between Kara and Clark where she shows him the "S" shield she will wear next to her heart in memory of him.
Legion - Loved the Legion, hated the Lana worship by Imra. The dialogue was a little ham fisted but overall quite enjoyable. This episode is the start of what becomes a near deluge of people trying to get Clark to kill someone to "save the world". Problem is, these people jump to the killing solution without considering other alternatives, and also overlook the consequences of making the "easy" decision. I would have prefered if Clark had a more direct involvement in Chloe's exorcism but it did illustrate a critical aspect of Clark's character: that he inspires others to become better people.
Injustice - If you were expecting a whiz bang Injustice League battle, this was bound to dissapoint. I didn't, and I wasn't. Instead, this is my favorite of all the Doomsday arc stories mainly because Clark is giving the opportunity to speak his mind. “Like it or not we stand for something, we set an example for others to follow and if we don’t then we’re not better than the people we fight!” Not to mention the "alien Jesus" line to Tess!
B+ - Quite Good
Plastique - I remember this episode fondly because of Clark's first day at work (showing up in his best plaid!), Clark saving the folks from the bus explosion and the first meeting between Davis and Clark ("I'm getting married?"). The FOTW is a bit ho hum, but I liked how Tess recruited her. Too bad they let 19 episodes go before mentioning Tess's team again, or Injustice would probably have been more favourably viewed.
Bulletproof - Loved the cop scenes with Danny Turpin, was ambivalent about Ollie, and hated most of the Lana stuff. Great scene where Tess bids farewell to Lex, shuts down the implant then says "I loved you, you son of a bitch."
B = Good
Instinct - Maxima was fun, but the Chimmy bored me to tears, as did the revival of the Fever letter. Most memorable scene - Clark and Maxima making out in the elevator. Darn Lois for interrupting when she did!
Prey - Clark is too late to stop a grisly murder and suspects a meteor freak, then Davis. After some investigative techniques that raise Chloe's hackles (despite the fact that she has hacked confidential records any number of times), Clark is proved right but wrong (but really right). And I love the part where Jimmy picks up on the mystery of the secret saviour, which then leads into Identity.
Doomsday - I know I've said epic fail about this episode several times, but some parts of it still really worked for me. Dark and depressing isn't necessarily bad, in small doses, and assuming we can trust the show runners to make it better in S9. So I'm intrigued at the thought of Clark abandoning his "humanity" and trying to live by Kryptonian logic. Its been done many times in the comics and often proves quite interesting. Best scene was when Jimmy finds Clark with an arrow in his back and puts the pieces together. Such delight and awe when Clark admits the truth! And I love how Jimmy is almost caught in Clark's slip stream when he zooms off, prompting Jimmy to comment, "So cool!" But this scene is sad too, because its essentially the death knell of a character who was wasted as Chloe's love interest but shone when given the chance to work with Lois and Clark. Honourable mention also to a part of the episode that was only on screen for a few seconds - the letter from the Red Blue Blur to the people of Metropolis. Thank goodness for screen caps!
C+ = Barely OK
Requiem - The Lana arc ends in a way that makes no one happy, but at least its over. (Please god no guest performance in S9.) This episode is about as dark as it gets, with Clana forced to part when she becomes infected by kryptonite and Ollie "killing" Lex. (I put killing in quotes because we all know the real Lex isn't really dead, but that still doesn't let Ollie off the hook.) My favorite part was the brief scene where Clark combed through the wreckage of the Luthor mobile HQ and let the ashes fall through his fingers, a clear call back to the graveyard scenes in Reckoning and Descent. Clark's face is contorted by sorrow at this tragic ending to a relationship that began with such promise on Loeb bridge. As a Clexer, I share that sorrow, and say bring on the fanfic to make it better!
Eternal - I hate retcons, especially ones that serve no real purpose. Anything to do with Veritas is fair game since that was already a retcon (and a bad one), but why mess with the legend of Numan and Segeeth? IMO, Tess is just plain wrong - scarcely the first fanatic to twist a legend to suit her purposes. So much in this episode just doesn't make sense! But still, it is bearable thanks to superb acting all around. Favorite scene is the one between Clark and Tess at the end, where she tries to get him to admit who he is and then, after his denial, calls him Kal-El.
C- = Poor
Toxic - I'll admit flat out that Justin Hartley just isn't my type. Something about his looks and charm just rubs me the wrong way, perhaps a ghost of boyfriends past. Anyways, I was bored, bored, bored by the backstory presented here and just didn't feel the chemistry between Ollie and Tess. But what really made me hate this episode was the scene at the end between Clark and Ollie, where Ollie is utterly insulting and Clark just takes it all in without reply. Alas, a dynamic that became the default for their interactions this season. Can S9 possibly bring these two back together in a way that doesn't just gloss over the issues between them? I have my doubts.
Beast - This left me seething. Clark comes up with a plan (a great plan mind you, especially in hindsight) for dealing with Davis/Doomie but Chloe derails it. I honestly don't blame Clark too much for being too stunned to react right away, since he's always counted on Chloe for help and is used to trusting her input. Anyways, Chloe's brilliant counter solution is to run away with Davis because if he's near her, the monster doesn't come out - ignoring that she's already had to bury one body for him and would have lost Ollie if Clark had been a few seconds slower to return from the wild goose chase she sent him on. And she ladles the guilt on Clark's head by telling him its all for him, even as she tells Davis she'll do anything for him. The seeds of disaster are sown by her actions, but somehow it all winds up being Clark's fault. Grrrr.
D- = Awful
Power - This isn't the worst episode ever by my ratings - I reserve that for garbage like Hero, Static and Ageless. Here, I give the show some credit for trying something different, and points to Allison Mack for her debut directorial effort. But I knew that the story I was seeing as a viewer - a tale of hubris, with Lana reaching for power that she was never suited for - was not the story the writers intended to tell. Apparently, they wrote this episode intending to empower Lana, turning her away from the victimhood attitude with which she started the series. Sorry, I'm not seeing it. If she had stopped after going through the training with her sensei and become a great martial artist, or actually started taking ISIS seriously as a way to help the meteor infected - that's what I would have called empowered. By going the step beyond and aspiring to Clark's power, she set herself up for tragedy and I really can't spare her any sympathy.
Quite the season, no? PS3 took over the show and started out with promise but then IMO lost track of the characters. Clark was largely shut out, meaning you had to guess his feelings in most situations and use some judgement and common sense to see where he was coming from. Sadly, many fanboys couldn't be bothered and the tide of Clark bashing at places like Kryptonsite continues to be sickening to me. We didn't get to see much of Clark's exciting rise as the Red Blue Blur onscreen, but I had to enjoy the steadfast heroism and intelligence he displayed throughout most of the season. Yay Clark, but boo to the writers! PS3 also succeeded in taking my 3rd favorite character (after Clex) and distorting her so beyond belief that I can barely watch some of the episodes she features in. I'm talking about Chloe of course, and I really hope the show restores some balance and common sense to her life next season. Ollie has never been a character of interest to me and by now I positively detest him - good job show. Jimmy was treated very unevenly all season long, then gets killed off just as he was getting interesting again, and winds up not being the real Jimmy - grrrr. I was never all that interested in Davis since I saw him as just a mask for a killing machine, and he's gone now too (good riddance). IMO, Tess was this season's most welcome addition, even though she's crazy as a Loon and apparently got bamboozled by Zod. And that leaves Lois, who benefitted strangely by being left out of so many episodes. Can't wait to find out where the Legion ring took her and how she'll get back, and I definitely look forward to seeing her and the Kryptonian interact next season. Fingers crossed for a great year!
