Smallville 9x03 Rabid
I think this was at par with last week's ep. I enjoyed most parts of both - a fair bit. But the aggravating aspects of both keep me from completely all-out loving either ep. I'm still waiting for the ep this season whose enjoyability factor far outweighs any other shortcomings - the way last season's first half streak began with 'instinct' and 'Committed.'
It's a shame about the parts I didn't happen to enjoy, because otherwise there's a lot that this ep did get right. But when I think of Ollie in the ep, and particularly the Clark/Ollie scenes, I tend to fume.
Because not only was Ollie, IMO, fairly incompetent this ep, but his utter jackass-ness, in particular towards Clark, grated, and big time. I know that by now, as a long term viewer of this show, and Clark fan, I should be used to my favorite character being made to apologize for non-existent wrong-doings and that too to characters who in fact, do happen to be in the wrong. But here's the thing. It's not that easy to just get used to it. I mean, a part of me is, the part who says that this is par for the course, try to ignore it. But then there's the other part that even knowing this, can't help but get irritated everytime it occurs. How can I not? There was So Much Fail in that Clark/Ollie scene, I don't know where to begin. It's nonsense that Clark aplogizes and tries to get Oliver to open up and talk to him, while all he gets in response are not so thinly veiled insults and barbs. And absolutely no acknowledgement of his own role in the mess from last season.
For Oliver as a character too, while I get where the writers feel they're probably going with this - hitting rock bottom so he can rediscover his inner hero again, I have to say nothing worked for me in this ep. The pill popping and (what I assume to be) random chicks aside even, what was up with the picture of Lois he seems to be carrying around? Didn't that ship safely sail ages ago? If this had been coming right off of S7' 'Siren', for instance - sure. I'd buy it. But coming off of S8? Where Oliver was all about Tess and ironically all he and Lois shared was what is probably this shows best example of closure - their wonderful scene in 'Bride.' Yeah, I'm not buying. It just feels so ridiculously contrived to me. And then there's his general lack of competence this ep. He couldn't even watch over Lois. And then there was the snippiness with Clark again in the elevator scene, where jealousy seemed to be rearing its ugly head in the most unpleasant of ways. All in all, the Oliver scenes really contributed in diminishing the enjoyability factor of this ep for me.
But this wasn't the only thing than didn't appeal to me. I also had a problem with Lois' talk with Clark about the Blur. In fact, I hate to say this, but I admit to flat out hating the scene. Again, it felt so shoehorned in and contrived. When and where did all this saving and working with the Blur occur that Lois was going on about? Also, while I understand Lois' insecurities about not wanting to end up alone, I didn't appreciate her trying to coax Clark' secrets out like that. It felt a little like emotional manipulation to me, even though I am willing to concede that it may not have been her intention - but on the whole, it just didn't feel right to me. This was Lois' weakest characterization moment of the ep, and it's a shame because otherwise she did OK.
Now, moving on the stuff that I did like. Front and centre of which is the technical department this time, right from the makeup and sound to cinematography and direction - all departmemts deserve kudo's. Because not only were the zombies handled decidedly non-cheesily, but there were certain sequences that were just beautifully composed and shot.
The zombie storyline definitely worked for me, even though I remain fuzzy on the specifics. All I know is that I'm still not sensing any woobification whatsoever with Zod, which is huge relief.
The Tess/zombies fight sequences was a real highlight for me because I happen to have a thing for sword fights. I've been hooked ever since that gorgeously executed Buffy/Angelus sword fight from BtVS' 'Becoming II.' What I also liked about this scene, on a character level, was what it did for Tess. Which was IMO giving her a layer. By instilling real, palpable fear in Tess, we were reminded ultimately that she is human. And then it's offset quite brilliantly the next second with her holding her own and combating with them.
I think this was, for me, Chloe' best ep thus far. She seemed to very much be gelling in her WT role and I liked seeing the ease of it. Yes, there's the ambiguity with her monitoring the JL, but I'll take that as a storyline if there are actual POV' involved, and its handled well. I also liked that we were reminded of Clark and Chloe' long standing relationship in the scene where she's worried about Clark and the blood/needle. It goes to show that these ties can't just be severed so easily. I may have my fair share of problems with Chloe' character these days but I won't hesitate to appreciate a moment I actually liked. Because God knows they're few and far between.
I'm continuing to love Dr Emil' place in the show. He's such a fantastic addition - enhancing every scene he's in and really adding something to the show and not taking away from it. Not only were his scenes with Clark terrific, but I'm loving his interactions with Chloe. They seem to make a great team and in fact, I'd almost 'ship them - if I wasn't sort of aware of where Emil eventually winds up as a character in canon. Still, perhaps SV can forge their own way wrt this. They certainly have with other things, so it gives me hope.
Finally, I enjoyed the bulk of the Clark/Lois scenes, tremendously so in fact. They just reminded me actually, that this - them, are what the audience is invested in, a history of 5 plus years. Not Blur/Lois, which frankly, pales in comparison even further when compared to the the likes of the Clark/Lois scenes we got in this one. It's like, the show very clearly seems to be telling me, through things like Lois' gushing to Clark about the Blur - that Blur/Lois really means something. And yet, IMO, it contradicts itself by clearly showing Clois interaction that really does in fact mean something. I think SV needs to tread a fine line here. Because, for me? Blur/Lois works fine, so long as it is in context. And that context is Lois admiring the Blur, respecting him, staunchly defending him, even having a crush on him, but remembering that at the heart of it - it's all about Clark. Because it is. And the show somewhere knows this, otherwise we wouldn;t have scenes such as the ones in the DP, or the Kent farm or the glorious one in the rain. But having said all of this, this is SV. So I tread with caution. And then some.
But this is taking nothing away from the strength of some of the Clark/Lois scenes in the ep, because I really did enjoy most of them. The early DP scene, with the all-nighter, and coffee was very cute and relaxed. The DP scene of them fighting off the zombies together was conversely as charged as the former one was relaxed, but it still worked. And what really made that scene was Lois' obvious swooning at being carried by Clark in his arms. And understandeably so, heh. Then there's the final Kent farm scene, where, for the first time in perhaps, ever, I actually noticed some UST. This is not to say there haven't been fun, affectionate, even sexy Clois scenes in earlier seasons, because there have been, but I always hesitated to say UST because I think that's a whole other ball game. But here, with the chemistry and the looks, and the hand grabbing. Very well played. But I think my favorite was probably the scene in the rain. So wonderfully shot and acted. Clark was strong throughout, both physically and emotionally, and never let go. And then at the end of it Lois so very clearly found peace and comfort in Clark' arms.
All in all, not a bad effort at all. And I could probably rewatch several scenes. But this would have ranked so much higher in my book, had it not been for my frustration mainly with Oliver and then to a lesser extent the Blur/Lois angle that was shoved down my throat.