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DVD Review: Smallville, Season 5

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It’s unbelievable that the last Smallville Review that I wrote was back in February. Seems like such a long time ago…

If I had to categorize Season 5, I would say that this was the “growing up” season of Smallville. One of the biggest complaints that I always hear about this show is that some of the show plots are high school-ish and juvenile. Well, I agree with that going back a few seasons – you can’t really deny it. However, Season 5 was really the season where the writers obviously had enough of being labeled a preteen show and wanted to prove that they could write stories at a more mature level.

So did they succeed?

Partly.

Sure the season was a lot more mature-minded, but I think that they forced themselves into growing up in areas where it wasn’t really necessary. The most obvious example was killing off Jonathon Kent. I don’t know if his contract was coming up and they needed him off the show or if something outside the “Smallville” world pulled him away, but his death was poorly written at best and leaves a gaping hole in the overall plot of the show.

Now, I’m not going to completely write off Daddy Kent’s death because the writers can prove that there is something bigger going on. They could continue to use him in the occasional episode and he can continue to be a positive influence in Clark’s life. However, if that doesn’t happen, then I see very little redeeming value in getting rid of Jonathon.

Almost as confusing was the beginning of the awkward relationship between Lana and Lex. And the way Season 5 ended left no clues about where any of that is going (which is a good thing). Actually, let me say that the final two episodes of Season 5 were fantastic. Oh, and good for the writers for not ending the season with a meteor shower or some other “bleh” scenario. The coming of Zod and the abolishment of Clark leave a nice opening for the first episode of Season 6…which started the other day and I missed!

As if you even were wondering…I highly suggest watching Smallville Season 5 and tuning in on Thursday nights to see Smallville on The CW.

DVD Review: Smallville, Season 4

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It’s obvious that I’m a Smallville fan now – thanks to Peetah for turning me on to the series. Season 4 was probably the best of the lot as far as I’m concerned (so far).

The storyline about Lana’s connection to the witch who was burned at the stake and how that witch was sentenced to death by Jason’s ancestors – really interesting stuff! Also, the interplay of how each of the main characters wants the stones of power is very well written. I’m not sure how I feel about the episode where Lex is split in two and thus turns his father back into his old, nasty self, but we’ll see how that plays out in Season 5.

I’m a big fan of Erica Durance and her Lois Lane character. Not just because she’s banging, but she does a good job of being a nuisance to Clark. I’m also a big fan of that crazy girl who transports showing Chloe Clark’s secrets and the episode where Clark loses his memory and Chloe protects him from the outside world. Is it just me or is Chloe getting progressively hotter as the seasons go on? Good for her!

As the rest of the Smallville freaks will tell you, it’s cool that the Flash was introduced to the storyline – there really is endless potential especially since his powers are not a result of the meteor shower. And speaking of meteor showers – what a great final episode, huh? As I said in the Season 3 Review, the Smallville writers have a way of ending each season by blowing up enough of the storyline to start fresh, yet keep some of the more important characters and stories going. Another good job.

I’m not sure I really enjoyed the whole feeling of Clark as a football player. I mean he’s Superman for Christ’s sake – I don’t know if he needed to be a football hero in the story, even if it was only a short-lived fling. I will also say kudos to the writers for handling Christopher Reeve’s death in a classy fashion and for bringing in one of the only guest stars that could have taken his place – Margot Kidder. For those of you that don’t know, Margot played Lois Lane opposite Reeve in the Superman movies.

Though I will say that I don’t think she had a big enough role on the series and I really don’t like how her character was killed off and how her death was only mentioned as a passing note in the Lionel vs. Genevieve dialogue. Oh – how sweet is it that Jane Seymour was brought in to play Genevieve? She’s an excellent actress and she did a hell of a job playing a really tough role.

Anyone else think that the episode where Lana, Lois, and Chloe get possessed by the medieval witches was REALLY hot? Those three are ridiculously gorgeous.

This season also had some stupid high school-ish drama with the weirdo who tried to recreate Smallville High and turned everyone into mannequins. I thought the China episode was good and really showed how great the series can be when it pulls away from these stupid high school storylines. There was also the obligatory tragic death this season with Alicia being killed off, which I guess had to happen since the only way her role in the story could progress is by her becoming more involved with Clark (which is a big no-no with Lana and Lois around).

Season 4 was sweet, but my only problem now is that we’re 7 months away from when Season 5 comes out on DVD…so what the “f” am I supposed to do now?! I can’t start watching the series on TV – they’re already into like the 12th or 13th episode! Maybe I can find a place to buy the episodes from Season 5 online somewhere. Any advice that you folks have is greatly appreciated!

DVD Review: Smallville, Season 3

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Sweet, dude.

I enjoyed Smallville Season 3. The whole Clark in Metropolis to begin the season was sorta cool, especially since he was in a “Fuck the world, I’ll kill you” type of mode. I thought that Michael McKean’s guest appearance was a great twist to the show, especially when he starts digging into what makes Clark so damn weird.

Did you know that he’s married to Annette O’Toole (the woman who plays Clark’s mom)? Just some interesting trivia that I thought you may enjoy!

One of my favorite episodes was the one that takes place in the 1960’s where Lana and Clark’s families crossed paths once before. Interesting little mythology that they’re building there – that has potential for future storylines. Good creativity by the writers. Oh, and another good creative streak with the entire end of the season/Lionel’s trial. Excellent final episode.

Some good things came out of this season, such as the removal of Pete (the episode where he was a speed racer was pretty much when he started to be a useless character). I also enjoyed how – in true Smallville fashion – they ended the season by blowing up all of the previous storylines just enough so that they can almost start completely fresh in the next season. Sure, there may be some continuity problems with that, but the writers have pulled it off pretty well so far.

The season also had some really creepy moments…like when Clark’s blood was bringing people back to life. That was ridiculous. I mean, it was just weird. This isn’t really a bad thing, but I didn’t like that Dr. Swann was even contemplating talking with Lionel in the episode where they met up. That was just a bit of an awkward scene, I thought.

Overall I obviously recommend this season. As a new Smallville freak, I have to say that this season really did a lot to push aside some of the corny first and second season dialogue and storylines (anyone remember the coach who made things burn when he got mad?). And as I said earlier, the season ends with a cliffhanger that really makes you want to see the fourth season.

DVD Review: Smallville, Season 2

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I enjoyed Smallville, Season 2 a bit better than I enjoyed the first season. I guess that’s to be expected since some of the questions from the first season are answered in the second season. I was a big fan of the introduction of Christopher Reeve into the series – nice touch acknowledging one of the previous and most well-known Superman actors in recent history. Hehehe – maybe they’ll have Dean Cain on a future season!

Sorry for that stupid diversion…

Season 1 ended with a very interesting twist, having the storm completely mess up then entire town. I will say that some of the stupid high school drama parts of the first season re-entered during the second season, but that’s also to be expected…especially when young adults is the primary audience of this series. I’m not sure how I feel about the introduction of “red meteor rocks” into the storyline, but I guess we’ll see how that goes. Seems like it might just be a waste of time in the long run – or it could act as one of the only things that turns Clark into a “bad guy” for a little while.

The episode where Lionel’s ex-mistress claims that Clark is her son was a little weird. I don’t know if I even like introducing that into the storyline. I’m sure the writers have it all figured out, though.

The part of season two that I hated the absolute worst was the death of Ryan – that’s ridiculous. There was no reason to have him die. Ooooo…an incurable brain tumor…oooooo, real original! What is this? A weekday soap opera? Weak storyline, really. Oh, but on the other hand – I did enjoy the final removal of Whitney. That guy was a punk and a crappy character. The kid seemed like a decent actor, but what a shit-tastic story he was given, huh?

I liked the ending of the season, with Clark going apeshit and moving to Metropolis. They could really have a good extension on that with the beginning of Season 3 – so we’ll see how they do with it.

Good job, Smallville writers!

DVD Review: Smallville, Season 1

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A few people told me that this Smallville TV show was pretty good and that I should check it out if I ever had the chance. So, I did.

I purchased the Season 1 DVD Box Set and I’ve been watching it over the past weekend. Not a bad series. I give it two thumbs up. I do have some questions/issues with the show, though.

One of my roommates mentioned to me before I started watching the box set that a big problem with the series is that it has an underlying teenage love story that goes along with the “Superman as an awkward teenager” plot. He said that this distracts from the episodes sometimes and I would agree with that. There are a few times when you just want to smack Lana Lang (Superman’s love interest) for being a complete idiot and there are other times when you want to hit Superman for not getting with his hot friend Chloe. But I am able to overlook those underlying plots so it doesn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the series (so far).

Another thing that I have a problem with is the believability of the setting. Let me explain. First, isn’t it sorta weird that all of these odd things are taking place in one small town in the middle of nowhere? Yeah, I get the whole “meteor landing twelve years ago causing everyone in town to be messed up” sub-plot and I get how Clark thinks that it’s all his fault and he feels the need to apologize to everyone, but come on. I mean after you have all of these weird kids coming out of that high school, wouldn’t someone in the federal government get wise to it?

Then again, I haven’t seen the entire collection of episodes out there yet so who knows?

The other “believability” problem that I have is a two-part criticism. First, I played high school football in a primarily white-bred, upper class school that wasn’t too far in the middle of nowhere, but wasn’t in the middle of the city, either. So to see all of these typical “jocks” who hate anything that is not-jock is just false. People aren’t really like that in high school these days and if they are like that, then it’s certainly not the entire football team like it is in Smallville! However, this is a TV show, so I can deal with it!

The second part of this particular problem is the characteristics of the kids that make up Smallville High School. No fat kids? At all? In the entire school? Are you serious?

How does a football team not have big, fat, bulky linemen? Come on – this is a farm town! What’s worse about this point is that not only do they not have “big” people in their high school or football team, but they have all jacked up guys and hot girls in the school! Even the episode that dealt with the fat girl who became not fat…she was hot when she was fat! And I find it funny that every guy in Smallville High School has a six-pack and a ridiculously defined torso…and that goes for everyone from Superman to his nerdy friend! Believable? Ha! I think not…

But those are petty criticisms. I really like the show and I think I’ll be purchasing the other box sets that are out (in due time). I’m looking for some of your critiques on the show – be sure to pass them along! Oh, I put a button on the bottom of the righthand sidebar that links to the official Smallville website in case anyone wanted to check it out!