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quiet__tiger to post about nine reasons I keep watching Smallville. http://quiet--tiger.livejournal.com/498419.html I could actually be very shallow and just list my favorite Tom Welling body parts starting with his lips and that light-up-the-world smile, but I'll try to be more substantive.
I ultimately decided to choose nine reasons based on nine favorite episodes. So here goes!
1. Clark's powers and compassion, combined with his overdeveloped sense of responsibility (Pilot)
We see Clark at his youthful best in Pilot, from saving Lex to confronting Jeremy at the homecoming dance. Clark's always known what he wants to do with his powers: "to stop people like you." The problems always come when he swings too far to wanting to have a normal, loving life (hence the whole Clana obsession) or when people try to force him into their way of doing things (including but not limited to Jor-El and Ollie).
2. Clark's darker (and sometimes sexier) side (Red)
Clark on red K is a potent, heady brew. Some of the most overtly sexy moments in Smallville history occur while he's under the influence, including the masterful way he asks Lana for a date in Red, followed by his kissing her senseless. Unfortunately, the loss of control comes with a definite down side - why should he stick to the rules when his powers give him the ability to take what he wants, when he wants it? IMO, Clark fears his darker self, and thus fears that people would see him as a threat if they knew the truth about him. In S8, he's finally working himself beyond that fear and I look forward to his further progression. And let's see if they can come up with a Clois kiss to match his red K moments!
3. The Clex dynamic (Memoria)
Lex wants to know the truth about the missing weeks resulting from Lionel's electroshock "therapy" and resorts to treatment by Dr Garner (of Ryan and Delete infamy). Clark fears for Lex's life, not just because the treatment is inherently dangerous but because there's the risk of what will happen if Lionel discovers Lex is on to him - a fear born out by the events of Covenant. And perhaps there's an element of wanting to protect his own secret as well, though I don't think this is foremost in Clark's motivations. Regardless, it all comes to a boil when Clark foolishly goes to Lionel for help and winds up being handed over to Garner himself. Both men remember something about their mothers that has a fundamental affect on their lives going forward. IMO, Lex learning that Lillian murdered Julian and let him take the blame for it was one of the crucial blows on his descent to super villainy. Clark's memory is far more poignant, as Lara frets whether her son will find love. This memory is a crucial balance to the tyrannical actions of the Jor-El AI, reminding him that all Kryptonians may not be as bad as he fears.
4. Lionel's villainy (Transference)
In what may well be my favorite episode of all, Tom Welling puts on a masterful performance as Lionel. Lionel gets out of prison thanks to a body switch and quickly discovers Clark's powers, not to mention revelling in his super hot body. (How can you not love when he checks himself out in the mirror, then does a quick peek down at his equipment.) In only a few days, he also sabotages Clark's relationships with his nearest friends, though fortunately Lex sees through him. The moment that really caused me to shiver was when he talks to Chloe and stalks towards her in the chair, then stands up to lean in for a kiss. "Don't you wish." Yes, yes, I do wish!
5. Chlark, best friends forever (Blank)
In the show (as opposed to fanfic), I've never seen Chlark as much more than friends, but what friends they have been. One of many shining moment is in Blank when Clark has lost his memories and Chloe gently fills him in. I have to believe that if the Kents had been as delicate in their handling, Clark might not have had all the fears he had about fitting in while growing up. Then again, Chloe didn't know the full truth about his being alien back then - he has a lot more to fear than the average meteor freak.
6. Tragedy and triumph (Hidden)
Smallville is notorious for putting Clark in no win situations, or punishing him for doing the right thing. For example, he saves Chloe's life and then stops the Disciples of Zod in Arrival, but because he can't return to the Fortress in time, he gets stripped of his powers. Perhaps the Fortress thinks this will bring Clark running for forgiveness but Clark interprets matters differently and revels in the moments of being normal. Of course, he can't stop himself from trying to save the day and nearly pays the ultimate price when he is shot by Gabriel. The Fortress revives him, but at a terrible price - the life of someone he loves will be exchanged in his place. Clark returns to triumphantly save all of Smallville from a nuclear bomb, but can then barely face his loved ones. So sad!
7. The inner battle (Labyrinth)
Because Clark is so strong, his toughest battles are often with himself. I find the struggle in Labyrinth particularly compelling, as the phantom seizes on Clark's yearning for Lana as the prize for allowing the phantom to take control. Clark tries to conjure Chloe, Martha and even Lex to counter the phantom's influence, but the phantom twists these in various ways to undermine Clark's belief in himself. J'Onn tries to help but he too is easily sidelined. Ultimately, it's something as prosaic as Shelby's barking that saves the day.
8. The pros and cons of Clark's existence (Apocalypse)
It's no secret that being friends with Clark puts you in harms way. Or maybe it's that being in harm's way gives you a chance to become Clark's friend - hard to say! Regardless, it's an undeniable fact that Clark's friends get battered around a lot, and one of the most poignant things about the Apocalypse AU is seeing how happy some of them would be without him. The Kents have a seemingly normal son, Jonathan is still alive and prosperous enough to go on a cruise with Martha, Lana has a husband and kids in France, Chloe has a hot fiancée and Lois has a Pullitzer prize.
But the down side is that the world they're living in is a dangerous place about to be changed forever. Without Clark's earlier influence, Lex seems a soulless shell of a man, completely devoted to power and complicit in Brainiac's plan to destroy the world. Of course, he doesn't know of Brainiac's plan to make him the Vessel of Zod, but I wouldn't be surprised if he has his own counter plan in place. Neither of them cares about the billions of lives about to be sacrificed in their power games. *shiver*
9. Clark's coming of age (Identity)
It all comes to a head in Identity when Clark realizes that he has the potential to be so much more than a secret saviour - that he can become a symbol of hope. I love how he instantly abandons the plan to protect his secret identity when Lois calls him for help. He zooms in for a super save, then zooms back to find Jimmy more convinced than ever of his super status. Fortunately, Ollie stayed around to pose heroically on the roof top, giving Clark the chance to absorb the crowd's reaction. Chills! Combined with his ever increasing attraction to Lois, the seeds of the future are in place.
quiet__tiger to post about nine reasons I keep watching Smallville. http://quiet--tiger.livejournal.com/498419.html I could actually be very shallow and just list my favorite Tom Welling body parts starting with his lips and that light-up-the-world smile, but I'll try to be more substantive.I ultimately decided to choose nine reasons based on nine favorite episodes. So here goes!
1. Clark's powers and compassion, combined with his overdeveloped sense of responsibility (Pilot)We see Clark at his youthful best in Pilot, from saving Lex to confronting Jeremy at the homecoming dance. Clark's always known what he wants to do with his powers: "to stop people like you." The problems always come when he swings too far to wanting to have a normal, loving life (hence the whole Clana obsession) or when people try to force him into their way of doing things (including but not limited to Jor-El and Ollie).
2. Clark's darker (and sometimes sexier) side (Red)
Clark on red K is a potent, heady brew. Some of the most overtly sexy moments in Smallville history occur while he's under the influence, including the masterful way he asks Lana for a date in Red, followed by his kissing her senseless. Unfortunately, the loss of control comes with a definite down side - why should he stick to the rules when his powers give him the ability to take what he wants, when he wants it? IMO, Clark fears his darker self, and thus fears that people would see him as a threat if they knew the truth about him. In S8, he's finally working himself beyond that fear and I look forward to his further progression. And let's see if they can come up with a Clois kiss to match his red K moments!3. The Clex dynamic (Memoria)
Lex wants to know the truth about the missing weeks resulting from Lionel's electroshock "therapy" and resorts to treatment by Dr Garner (of Ryan and Delete infamy). Clark fears for Lex's life, not just because the treatment is inherently dangerous but because there's the risk of what will happen if Lionel discovers Lex is on to him - a fear born out by the events of Covenant. And perhaps there's an element of wanting to protect his own secret as well, though I don't think this is foremost in Clark's motivations. Regardless, it all comes to a boil when Clark foolishly goes to Lionel for help and winds up being handed over to Garner himself. Both men remember something about their mothers that has a fundamental affect on their lives going forward. IMO, Lex learning that Lillian murdered Julian and let him take the blame for it was one of the crucial blows on his descent to super villainy. Clark's memory is far more poignant, as Lara frets whether her son will find love. This memory is a crucial balance to the tyrannical actions of the Jor-El AI, reminding him that all Kryptonians may not be as bad as he fears.
4. Lionel's villainy (Transference)In what may well be my favorite episode of all, Tom Welling puts on a masterful performance as Lionel. Lionel gets out of prison thanks to a body switch and quickly discovers Clark's powers, not to mention revelling in his super hot body. (How can you not love when he checks himself out in the mirror, then does a quick peek down at his equipment.) In only a few days, he also sabotages Clark's relationships with his nearest friends, though fortunately Lex sees through him. The moment that really caused me to shiver was when he talks to Chloe and stalks towards her in the chair, then stands up to lean in for a kiss. "Don't you wish." Yes, yes, I do wish!
5. Chlark, best friends forever (Blank)
In the show (as opposed to fanfic), I've never seen Chlark as much more than friends, but what friends they have been. One of many shining moment is in Blank when Clark has lost his memories and Chloe gently fills him in. I have to believe that if the Kents had been as delicate in their handling, Clark might not have had all the fears he had about fitting in while growing up. Then again, Chloe didn't know the full truth about his being alien back then - he has a lot more to fear than the average meteor freak.
6. Tragedy and triumph (Hidden)
Smallville is notorious for putting Clark in no win situations, or punishing him for doing the right thing. For example, he saves Chloe's life and then stops the Disciples of Zod in Arrival, but because he can't return to the Fortress in time, he gets stripped of his powers. Perhaps the Fortress thinks this will bring Clark running for forgiveness but Clark interprets matters differently and revels in the moments of being normal. Of course, he can't stop himself from trying to save the day and nearly pays the ultimate price when he is shot by Gabriel. The Fortress revives him, but at a terrible price - the life of someone he loves will be exchanged in his place. Clark returns to triumphantly save all of Smallville from a nuclear bomb, but can then barely face his loved ones. So sad!
7. The inner battle (Labyrinth)
Because Clark is so strong, his toughest battles are often with himself. I find the struggle in Labyrinth particularly compelling, as the phantom seizes on Clark's yearning for Lana as the prize for allowing the phantom to take control. Clark tries to conjure Chloe, Martha and even Lex to counter the phantom's influence, but the phantom twists these in various ways to undermine Clark's belief in himself. J'Onn tries to help but he too is easily sidelined. Ultimately, it's something as prosaic as Shelby's barking that saves the day.
8. The pros and cons of Clark's existence (Apocalypse)It's no secret that being friends with Clark puts you in harms way. Or maybe it's that being in harm's way gives you a chance to become Clark's friend - hard to say! Regardless, it's an undeniable fact that Clark's friends get battered around a lot, and one of the most poignant things about the Apocalypse AU is seeing how happy some of them would be without him. The Kents have a seemingly normal son, Jonathan is still alive and prosperous enough to go on a cruise with Martha, Lana has a husband and kids in France, Chloe has a hot fiancée and Lois has a Pullitzer prize.
But the down side is that the world they're living in is a dangerous place about to be changed forever. Without Clark's earlier influence, Lex seems a soulless shell of a man, completely devoted to power and complicit in Brainiac's plan to destroy the world. Of course, he doesn't know of Brainiac's plan to make him the Vessel of Zod, but I wouldn't be surprised if he has his own counter plan in place. Neither of them cares about the billions of lives about to be sacrificed in their power games. *shiver*
9. Clark's coming of age (Identity)It all comes to a head in Identity when Clark realizes that he has the potential to be so much more than a secret saviour - that he can become a symbol of hope. I love how he instantly abandons the plan to protect his secret identity when Lois calls him for help. He zooms in for a super save, then zooms back to find Jimmy more convinced than ever of his super status. Fortunately, Ollie stayed around to pose heroically on the roof top, giving Clark the chance to absorb the crowd's reaction. Chills! Combined with his ever increasing attraction to Lois, the seeds of the future are in place.
