Comments | jeannev: Beacon Screentime Totals, and Thoughts

jeannev

Beacon Screentime Totals, and Thoughts

Feb 13, 2011 02:04

Well now, that was a big improvement over last week. Of course, I'm not sure how much that says considering what a flaming pile of poop I thought last weeks episode was.

Overall, I'd say Beacon was a solid episode that had some very good moments, and scenes, and performances, but also had a few problems.

Anyway, we'll get to that, first we make ( Read more... )

screentime minutes, beacon, deep thoughts, smallville

Comments 52

huzzlewhat February 13 2011, 13:39:43 UTC

Alexander seems to buy into it, but not before uttering one of my favorite lines of the episode..."I watched your body fall 40 stories...it was the greatest moment of my life"

This was a great line, not only in the context of the episode, but because it really underscores just what that moment was for Lex - the real Lex. That he killed his father, and watched him die, could just be run-of-the-mill angst, and even (in the context of the show) forgivable, because of what Lionel put him through. But that he enjoyed it so damn much? That is the final transformation point, and I love that they put it into words, even if Michael Rosenbaum wasn't there to actually say them. :-)

Where this episode really seemed to hit its stride for me was a series of scenes that all played out back-to-back. First was the scene between Oliver-Lionel-Alexander. Followed by the scene of Clark-Tess-Oliver at the DP. And culminating in the Lionel/Alexander/Martha scene at the Mansion.What I really enjoyed about those scenes is seeing actors and characters ( ... )

jeannev February 13 2011, 20:26:23 UTC

I was very, very glad that they didn't go for Alexander being overcome with the warm fuzzies for Lionel. The idea that killing his father is something Lex considers a triumph feels far more right to me.

What I really enjoyed about those scenes is seeing actors and characters play out of the expected - and by now, almost rote - combinations. It makes everything feel fresh.

Yes, exactly, thats how I felt too. It was mixing it up a bit, and the actors in those scenes all really got to shine. I didn't really notice it the first time I watched, but upon the rewatch it really hit me how successful those back-to-back scenes were.

miss_tress February 13 2011, 14:07:56 UTC

I also had a big problem with the implication that Clark had no time for his mother, and apparently little awareness of what she was doing (as opposed to Lois).
And he works at a newspaper for cripes sake! Does he never read the blasted thing?

Did anyone wonder why Chloe felt she had to walk around in disguise? Is she wanted for anything?
That was my question. She didn't go incognito to the hospital and I think just as many people would be able to recognize her there.

jeannev February 13 2011, 20:28:07 UTC

Does Clark still work at the newspaper? It feels like the show has forgotten that. I never expected them to spend a ton of time on that aspect of Clark's character, but I think they've shoved it way too far into the background.

Chloe is...*sigh* I just don't get it.

miss_tress February 13 2011, 21:40:47 UTC

Does Clark still work at the newspaper?
I know. Clark goes to the Planet and wears shirts and ties. But I really can't remember the last time he did anything there that I would give him a paycheck for. Before he Lois and go sucked into the village of the damned they were on their way to do something work related but I'm coming up empty other than that. I guess it's a good thing Tess is/was the boss.

awehla February 13 2011, 16:29:10 UTC

I liked this ep a lot more than last week. Perry could have had some old stuff stored at the Planet from when he worked there but more likely Martha probably gave it to Lois ( ... )

jeannev February 13 2011, 20:31:57 UTC

I guess that Martha could've given her the stuff, but Lois suddenly having the box felt a bit contrived. But, it was minor and forgiveable. Just one of those little SV-isms one needs to deal with.

Smallville is doing too much telling and not enough showing which is poor writing - I learnt in creative writing at uni that showing not telling is pretty basic.

WORD! Its really a puzzlement to me over the last few years when it comes to what they deem important enough to show, and what they deem not important enough to bother with. Like, how the hell was Harvest a necessary ep? But Clark out there as a The Blur, saving random citizens, making a difference in their lives? Offscreensivlle. Amazing.

I really do wonder if Clark being so underwritten so often this season is connected to him just being so busy, he doesn't have time to learn a ton of lines.

awehla February 14 2011, 12:39:30 UTC

I'm going with the practical reason for lack of Tom as I'm hoping the writers aren't so stupid/apathetic they wouldn't be writing much Clark in the final series when the show is about him on purpose.

Lisa
x

gildinwen February 13 2011, 20:55:07 UTC

I did like that Clark tried to reach out to Alexander and thought that though the emphasis was on Tess, ( Because y'know Clark was in pain from the Kryptonite) her reaching out to Alexander, seemed to be an extention of Clark's reaching out to her.

If that makes any sence.

Chloe still bugs me, I was ready to throw something at the t.v in that scene with Martha, but I was glad that the Beacon reference wasn't all about her.

I really hope that the signs of her hubris will have a payoff. There are hints (small as they may be) the writers know that she's shady but don't write that into the script for fear of alienating a "large" contingent of fans.

jeannev February 13 2011, 21:41:42 UTC

That makes a lot of sense, and I'm sure thats what they were going for. I think I've just gotten to a point where my tolerance for these things is at a all time low.

Chloe bugs me a lot too, but I knew this was how it was going to be.

Honestly, I really have no sense where the writers are coming from, or what they believe. I find their writing so uneven and contradictory. I just don't understand why you spend so much time writing a character, or a relationship, a certain way, and then turn around and try to say "Nope, nothing to see here, forget you saw it, it wasn't what you thought..."

ladygawain February 14 2011, 00:04:11 UTC

Fantastic review. Last week I took a holiday from sanity and literally only watched Collateral for the shipping, no critical faculties employed at all because it WOULD. BE. TOO. FRUSTRATING. I just kind of gave up taking it seriously at all. But this week, my feelings pretty much echo yours. It's a case of Smallville doing some interesting things, even great things but the end-product is just kind of disappointing - whelming and nothing more ( ... )

jeannev February 14 2011, 02:36:54 UTC

It's a case of Smallville doing some interesting things, even great things but the end-product is just kind of disappointing - whelming and nothing more.Yeah, thats a pretty good way of summing it up. But how sad is it that I'll take it, because I don't expect anything much better ( ... )