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Hi all, I'm back! Well, I actually got back on Friday but I promptly got sick and have spent most of my time sleeping. Still trying to catch up on my flist - I do love all the amazing stories and meta and art you've been creating!
I had a great birthday in Smiths Falls. We actually spread out the celebration over nearly a week so my diet was pretty much smashed to shreds. The highlight was going into Ottawa to see the Senators play what turned out to be an absolute thriller of a game that clinched their playoff berth. We also saw several movies including Clash of the Titans, which wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be.
Many thanks to my flist for the birthday wishes and pics and V-gifts and the lovely story by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
twinsarein. I'd like to thank you all individually but I lost the list I was keeping from Smiths Falls. I'm such an idiot!
I just realized that thanks to all my recent travels, I haven't reviewed any Smallville episodes since Absolute Justice. So for the record, here are some mini reviews.
9-13 - Warrior - A. This was a fun episode although I was finding it hard to swallow that Chloe was so impressed by the latest superhero on the block. And yes, I found it rather creepy when she was obviously expecting a little more than video games when they went back to her apartment. Not that she's to be blamed for that - it's just one of those cases where the extra information the audience has (Stephen/Alec's true age) leads us to question actions that make sense from the POV of the character lacking that information. Anyways, loved Lois at the convention, loved Clark and Zatanna even if she crossed the line with that spell, and enjoyed Clark's interactions with the boy at the end.
9-14 - Persuasion - A+. Although I can understand negative reactions to the final scene, I thought it was a visually powerful end to a terrific episode. The writing was a little awkward in parts because of the need for Clark to say to people "I wish" - something he never does - but the reactions to his commands were very revealing. I loved the blend of comedy and drama - I laughed my head off at Lois's joyous reaction to what she thought was a marriage proposal, while I was intrigued by the way Zod seemed to realize what was happening and used the spell to his own advantage. Add in the visually stunning funeral scene and you've got one great episode.
9-15 - Conspiracy - A. A very powerful conclusion to a strong series of mid-season episodes. The villain was as crazy as a loon but still somewhat sympathetic given the fact he was experimented on so callously. It's one of those classic situations where the fears of one party (the Kandorians) leads to a situation that provokes an ever growing spiral of anger and injustice. Of course I worry that Clark will be blamed for saving Zod, but he had no reason to predict that doing so would give Zod powers. The major downer of the episode for me was actually seeing Zod fly at the end - enough with rubbing it in our face that Clark still can't do that! And I'm kind of on the fence about Chloe and Ollie's actions here until I see how the season plays out. I'm hoping my disgust towards them will be validated by having the weapons fall into the wrong hands and sparking the very events their actions are trying to prevent.
9-16 - Escape - B. Although there were some fun bits, everyone felt somewhat out of character and the Silver Banshee looked ridiculous when she was finally set free. I hated Clark being sidelined so easily at the end leaving the save in Chloe's hands, but that's kind of typical for this writer. Not being a shipper, I don't give a hoot about Chloe and Oliver. The Clois was significantly more entertaining but I really just want to shake TBTB for their cowardice on the sex side. Either go there, or don't but enough with the teasing. Oh wait, I take that back if you'll give us more shower scenes with Tom. Man, was he looking fine!
9-17 - Checkmate - C. A tough episode to rate because although it had some great moments, the script was very heavy handed and the direction was mixed. The slow motion for example in the teaser didn't work at all for me, but I thought the freeze frames for the save of Chloe near the end were a fantastic comic book-like visual. I loved all the Checkmate intrigue but my enjoyment was nearly ruined by Clark's apology to Chloe for a situation that is more than a little her own fault*. Oliver's reaction to Tess's plea for help at the end filled me with disgust - as if his own hands were remotely clean in the betrayal department. But some hope returned with the scene between Clark and J'Onn, which seemed to validate that Clark is on the right course this year by refusing to be pushed to the extremes that everyone else sees as the only option. Only time will tell if my interpretation of the scene is correct or whether my Pollyanna blinders have taken over.
* On the topic of Chloe, here's something that jumped out at me while I was reading shortly after watching Checkmate.
I had a great birthday in Smiths Falls. We actually spread out the celebration over nearly a week so my diet was pretty much smashed to shreds. The highlight was going into Ottawa to see the Senators play what turned out to be an absolute thriller of a game that clinched their playoff berth. We also saw several movies including Clash of the Titans, which wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be.
Many thanks to my flist for the birthday wishes and pics and V-gifts and the lovely story by
twinsarein. I'd like to thank you all individually but I lost the list I was keeping from Smiths Falls. I'm such an idiot! I just realized that thanks to all my recent travels, I haven't reviewed any Smallville episodes since Absolute Justice. So for the record, here are some mini reviews.
9-13 - Warrior - A. This was a fun episode although I was finding it hard to swallow that Chloe was so impressed by the latest superhero on the block. And yes, I found it rather creepy when she was obviously expecting a little more than video games when they went back to her apartment. Not that she's to be blamed for that - it's just one of those cases where the extra information the audience has (Stephen/Alec's true age) leads us to question actions that make sense from the POV of the character lacking that information. Anyways, loved Lois at the convention, loved Clark and Zatanna even if she crossed the line with that spell, and enjoyed Clark's interactions with the boy at the end.
9-14 - Persuasion - A+. Although I can understand negative reactions to the final scene, I thought it was a visually powerful end to a terrific episode. The writing was a little awkward in parts because of the need for Clark to say to people "I wish" - something he never does - but the reactions to his commands were very revealing. I loved the blend of comedy and drama - I laughed my head off at Lois's joyous reaction to what she thought was a marriage proposal, while I was intrigued by the way Zod seemed to realize what was happening and used the spell to his own advantage. Add in the visually stunning funeral scene and you've got one great episode.
9-15 - Conspiracy - A. A very powerful conclusion to a strong series of mid-season episodes. The villain was as crazy as a loon but still somewhat sympathetic given the fact he was experimented on so callously. It's one of those classic situations where the fears of one party (the Kandorians) leads to a situation that provokes an ever growing spiral of anger and injustice. Of course I worry that Clark will be blamed for saving Zod, but he had no reason to predict that doing so would give Zod powers. The major downer of the episode for me was actually seeing Zod fly at the end - enough with rubbing it in our face that Clark still can't do that! And I'm kind of on the fence about Chloe and Ollie's actions here until I see how the season plays out. I'm hoping my disgust towards them will be validated by having the weapons fall into the wrong hands and sparking the very events their actions are trying to prevent.
9-16 - Escape - B. Although there were some fun bits, everyone felt somewhat out of character and the Silver Banshee looked ridiculous when she was finally set free. I hated Clark being sidelined so easily at the end leaving the save in Chloe's hands, but that's kind of typical for this writer. Not being a shipper, I don't give a hoot about Chloe and Oliver. The Clois was significantly more entertaining but I really just want to shake TBTB for their cowardice on the sex side. Either go there, or don't but enough with the teasing. Oh wait, I take that back if you'll give us more shower scenes with Tom. Man, was he looking fine!
9-17 - Checkmate - C. A tough episode to rate because although it had some great moments, the script was very heavy handed and the direction was mixed. The slow motion for example in the teaser didn't work at all for me, but I thought the freeze frames for the save of Chloe near the end were a fantastic comic book-like visual. I loved all the Checkmate intrigue but my enjoyment was nearly ruined by Clark's apology to Chloe for a situation that is more than a little her own fault*. Oliver's reaction to Tess's plea for help at the end filled me with disgust - as if his own hands were remotely clean in the betrayal department. But some hope returned with the scene between Clark and J'Onn, which seemed to validate that Clark is on the right course this year by refusing to be pushed to the extremes that everyone else sees as the only option. Only time will tell if my interpretation of the scene is correct or whether my Pollyanna blinders have taken over.
* On the topic of Chloe, here's something that jumped out at me while I was reading shortly after watching Checkmate.
"The truth is that very few understand the truth about forgiveness. It is not the culprits who need to be forgiven, rather it is the victims because they are the ones who cause all the trouble. If they were only less weak and careless, and more foresightful, and if they would keep from blundering into difficulties, think of all the sorrows in the world that would be spared." - from Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood.
This line reminds me of Chloe, who like the character that wrote these lines is both victim and culpirt, although she does not acknowledge the latter. Discuss! In any case, I thought it was hysterical that Chloe chides Clark, one of the strongest people in existence, for failure to follow protocol when she herself does not. Strongest asset? I think not!
