Smallville 9x10 Disciple
Well. Not exactly the ep I'd have brought the show back with from hiatus. Wasn't this supposed to the 2 hour movie event? Granted, I'm not up on any SV related news whatsoever, but that's honestly what I was expecting.
Anyway, not to say that this was a bad ep. Actually, it may just be the best of the Oliver centric eps, IMO. Because I feel like the stuff that I did enjoy? Was good. Very good, actually. And, plus. Clark was written well, for the most part. And it didn't feel like he was shoved aside just because it was an Oliver focused story. I appreciated that.
I liked how Clark was unwilling to accuse Oliver. And in this instance not only was he right, but I think it was the right thing to do. Not to go in all gun blazing with the jumping to conclusions. He was smart to still investigate it though, and I liked that. He also made the decision in this ep to confront Chloe about some of the fears / concerns he's having about her these days - and ultimately, if that isn't the sign of a true friend that still cares? I don't know what is. I also liked his approach with Zod, at the beginning of the ep. Zod was clearly all about the manipulation there, but Clark kept his resolve and was completely unflustered. It's only towards the end of the ep, in the last scene with Zod that the writing for Clark lost a few points with me. Because for the life of me, I couldn't figure out why he would put Lois even more on Zod' radar than she already is. It's moments like this that reiterate my concerns about Clark not having told Lois about his secret yet. Because the safest thing would have either been for him and Lois not to have been a couple right now, or, since that's out of the question, for Lois to at least be in the know now, IMO. The second thing that bothered me is the knowledge that the towers are seemingly built already, and we get no reaction from Clark about that. It just seemed wierd to me.
Having said all of this, like I mentioned earlier, on the whole, I appreciated the writing for Clark here. Especially when it came to his scenes with Lois. And the Clark / Lois scenes were adorable, I have to say. I like that their banter is still there. That's what makes them unique. And that they're obviously not only so comfortable with each other, but that we're also getting the pleasure of witnessing a Clark Kent who is confidently on his way to falling in love again - embracing it, in fact. The surprise kiss, and "we can go back to the farm and take a walk" were especially swoonworthy.
I also liked Lois' half of it all. Her PDA count sounds so much like me - it's not even funny. Yes, I'm wierd and nutso like that too. What? Some people find it endearing, heh. I think what I liked most was her "you're the one I want to get it right with." That was not only a declaration the relationship deserves, but Clark deserves too. I also liked the little nod to their messy path in getting here whatwith her questioning "right?" and Clark answering with a reassuring "right." Nice touch. I also appreciate that she not once, hassled him about supposedly abandoning her or some BS like that. I was half expecting, or rather, dreading it, when he whoosed away, but - nothing, thankfully. Which leads me to an interesting puzzlement. I actually got a feeling a couple of times in the ep that maybe, just maybe, Lois still has her suspicions, deep down about Clark, back from 'Idol.' It was her reaction to Clark whooshing away in the teaser, and then her "what I wouldn't give for some x-ray vision" line later on. I don't know though, I could clearly be wrong, or just imagining it.
As much as I enjoyed Lois in the Clois scenes though, and I liked the little touch of her working even in a sling, at the hospital, no less, heh. I have to say, I was a bit confused by her reactions to Zod. Because in the hospital scene with him, it looked as if she was slightly suspicious of him, but then when speaking to Clark about him, she's inexplicably cheery about him? Strange. And then, even in the scene with Zod himself, didn't she stop and think for a minute that exactly what history would a 30 something British man, seemingly well to do, have with Clark, a nice, down to earth guy, with salt of the Earth parents, working at the basement at the DP, and running the farm. I'm a bit disappointed her instincts didn't kick in there.
And speaking of Zod, it was a hit and miss ep for him. And for CB, actually. Who, I'm beginning to realize I may just appreciate the most in his scenes with CF / Tess. I really am enamored of their chemistry, obviously. I thought the obvious overtures towards Lois weren't the smartest move. He really ought to have been more discreet. But I did like him in his first scene with Clark though. He was so working every manipulative bone there, right down to the teary eyes of near-teariness.
Another aspect about the ep I appreciated were the Chlark scenes. Because, for once, they actually seemed to be communicating. And they need this right now, even if it isn't pretty. I like that Chloe came clean about her role in 'Roulette.' I was also pleasantly surprised with Clark' reaction, particularly his "I do what's right." I also liked that he shared his concerns about her with her, and even if Chloe can't see it right now, that's what she needs to be confronted with, IMO. Sure, I still don't like the air of condescension Chloe has towards Clark practically every time she speaks to him, or her "anytime you have to make a difficult decision you just walk away", but I do think it's about time that these two talked. Even if it isn't exactly sunshine n roses right now. I do have to give Chloe kudos for her help in the investigation. But on the wierd side of things, was I the only one who found her non plussed reaction to the security breach a little, well, wierd? Should'nt she she have been reaching for the gun or taser, or something?
As meh as I was on Mia in 'Crossfire', I thought she was alright here. I liked that she was the sort of consistent voice of reason / question with Oliver throughout.
But speaking of Oliver, and now here's the part where we come to the stuff that didn't work for me. It's not even so much Oliver. Who, I have to say, even got a nice moment in there at the end with his "you were wrong." But rather it's these repeated looks in to his past and the continuation of themes I thought that were long over with. I mean, hadn't we put Oliver' issues to bed just a few eps earlier? Wasn't that what the rooftop perch scene with Clark was all about? And then there's the longing looks of longing for Lois that just refuse to go away. Why? Honestly, why?! And especially glaring here was his "he knows out of all these women the only one I've cared about was you." Except, not. I refer to a certain Ms Tess Mercer, hello?!
And the Dark Archer was just terrible. I was completely and utterly bored throughout all those scenes. And there were one too many of them.
Though Oliver' pronunciation of his name from Mortigan to Vortigan and then back again was hilarious btw. As was the inadvertant chuckle I got from Clark' "there's only so much you could teach yourself on an island." Am I the the only who LOL'd at this? And I don't even even know why, but the imagery of the possibilities cracks me up I guess, heh. Oh, and when I heard "when he left that island" - all I could instantly think of was "mosquitoes!"
All in all, we're back. If nothing else we have Teh Pretty back on our screens again. And all is well this way, at least, heh.