Kent Screentime Minutes, and some thoughts
God, it feels like this took me forever to get around to.
I guess I could blame a busy weekend, or a terrible on-again, off-again headache that has just been messing me up for 2 days.
But in reality? I expect its just more about my general feelings about the show this season, and the episodes. Which isn't to say that I didn't like Kent well enough. I did. Its just that even with stuff in the episode I liked, I'm not sure that its enough to shake me out of my general annoyance and lack of patience with the season overall.
In any case, here are the numbers
Kent running time 41m, 39s (50s previously on)
Clark: 19m, 2s
Lois: 11m, 22s
Tess: 11m, 16s
Emil : 2m, 42s
AU Clark: 16m, 26s
AU Lois: 2m, 27s
AU Jonathan: 7m, 33s
The most obvious thing to take away from this episode is just how great Tom Welling can be when he turns it on. In this episode, much like in the previous AU episode, Luthor, he's spectacular not only in his Clark Kent persona, but in his role as Clark Luthor. And unlike that previous episode, here Clark Luthor actually got some development.
But, my biggest problem with the episode is that it still wasn't enough development. Especially not when you factor in the ending he got. I like the idea that Clark Kent might be the one that could help to set Clark Luthor on the right path. But I think we needed to see some inkling of good in Clark Luthor along the way. As fascinating as the interplay between CL and Tess was (and it was!), I'm not it brought out enough insight. We did get confirmation that Lionel was an abusive bastard to CL, but I think we all already figured that out. But maybe if we had seen more genuine hurt at Tess, essentially, choosing Lionel over him. Or maybe if we had seen some longing, or envy, when he realized that Clark in this world was loved and admired as a hero. Or maybe if we had gotten more of the sense that CL felt genuinely afraid to lose the last possible place for him to go in this world, to the point of desperation. All, or any, of these things might've given some of the additional dimension that this character needed to believe in a possible redemption.
As it is, I guess we need to count of the AU's version of Jor-El, who is now unsilenced. Of course, how that happened is a big question mark.
But, aside from TW's great performance, this episode did have a lot of good scenes in it. All of the stuff between Clark and AU Jonathan was fun to watch, as Welling and Schneider have always had such a great vibe. And I have to admit that Clark being the one to turn AU Jonathan around was a lot more rewarding to watch then I expected.
The scene between Lois and Clark Luthor was also a blast, and so well played by both actors. I love how flat and insincere CL is with lines like "That will never happen, thats why we're together".
As a big fan of the chemistry between Tom and Cassidy Freeman, of course I loved seeing them working together so much in this episode. And crackle and spark still works for me. Unlike Luthor, there wasn't so much of the hotness here. There was just too much menace hanging in the air. But the actors brought a great intensity to all of their scenes.
And I enjoyed the scene between Tess and Emil. I don't much buy romance between these 2 characters, but I do buy friendship, and Alessandro Juliani just does a great job with any scene he's given. Not much escapes Emil's notice, and I like that about the character. It reminds me of his interactions with Chloe back in S9, when he knew about her Big Brother stalking of the JLA way before anyone else.
I do have to say though, I'm not at all comfortable with Emil and Tess going behind Clark's back and taking the remnants of a kryptonian artifact that Clark thought he had destroyed. Thats the kind of shit Chloe did, and I didn't like it then, and don't like it now. Sure, it was a plot device to bring Clark back, but still...the implication is uncomfortable.
Also, how is it that Clark Luthor was able to come through with the mirror box, when Clark didn't go through with the mirror box either time he got sent to the AU?
One of the things I had to ask myself with this episode was if I thought the point it was trying to make was enough to justify the whole revisit to the AU. And thats a point I'm still struggling with. I do think Tess' storyline has merit, and especially when we know who will be back for the finale. But I'm not sure a revisit from CL was necessary to show that pull in her towards her dark heritage.
And, as much as it was great to see our Clark be able to help AU Jonathan, I'm not sure how necessary it was. If felt like an excuse to bring back John Schneider (much like the original AU ep felt like an excuse to bring back John Glover). And I admit I feel a little ambivalent about that.
The first Clois scene was fun, but the last Clois scene just didn't quite click for me. I find Clois to be very sweet, and very comfortable, and very loving, and thats all nice. But I think I need a little spice and fire in my sweet and comfortable to remain engaged.
I'm sort of hoping that Clark doesn't sell the farm. It just wouldn't feel right to me (though I wouldn't hold it against him or Lois). I do like the idea of them moving to Metropolis though. Anyone think we might hear about the fate of Shelby? Nah, me either.
And I just end this with....Holy Cow Cassidy Freeman! Where ya been hiding that crazy body??
Sorry for the short and shallow review. Its about all I could muster.
I guess I could blame a busy weekend, or a terrible on-again, off-again headache that has just been messing me up for 2 days.
But in reality? I expect its just more about my general feelings about the show this season, and the episodes. Which isn't to say that I didn't like Kent well enough. I did. Its just that even with stuff in the episode I liked, I'm not sure that its enough to shake me out of my general annoyance and lack of patience with the season overall.
In any case, here are the numbers
Kent running time 41m, 39s (50s previously on)
Clark: 19m, 2s
Lois: 11m, 22s
Tess: 11m, 16s
Emil : 2m, 42s
AU Clark: 16m, 26s
AU Lois: 2m, 27s
AU Jonathan: 7m, 33s
The most obvious thing to take away from this episode is just how great Tom Welling can be when he turns it on. In this episode, much like in the previous AU episode, Luthor, he's spectacular not only in his Clark Kent persona, but in his role as Clark Luthor. And unlike that previous episode, here Clark Luthor actually got some development.
But, my biggest problem with the episode is that it still wasn't enough development. Especially not when you factor in the ending he got. I like the idea that Clark Kent might be the one that could help to set Clark Luthor on the right path. But I think we needed to see some inkling of good in Clark Luthor along the way. As fascinating as the interplay between CL and Tess was (and it was!), I'm not it brought out enough insight. We did get confirmation that Lionel was an abusive bastard to CL, but I think we all already figured that out. But maybe if we had seen more genuine hurt at Tess, essentially, choosing Lionel over him. Or maybe if we had seen some longing, or envy, when he realized that Clark in this world was loved and admired as a hero. Or maybe if we had gotten more of the sense that CL felt genuinely afraid to lose the last possible place for him to go in this world, to the point of desperation. All, or any, of these things might've given some of the additional dimension that this character needed to believe in a possible redemption.
As it is, I guess we need to count of the AU's version of Jor-El, who is now unsilenced. Of course, how that happened is a big question mark.
But, aside from TW's great performance, this episode did have a lot of good scenes in it. All of the stuff between Clark and AU Jonathan was fun to watch, as Welling and Schneider have always had such a great vibe. And I have to admit that Clark being the one to turn AU Jonathan around was a lot more rewarding to watch then I expected.
The scene between Lois and Clark Luthor was also a blast, and so well played by both actors. I love how flat and insincere CL is with lines like "That will never happen, thats why we're together".
As a big fan of the chemistry between Tom and Cassidy Freeman, of course I loved seeing them working together so much in this episode. And crackle and spark still works for me. Unlike Luthor, there wasn't so much of the hotness here. There was just too much menace hanging in the air. But the actors brought a great intensity to all of their scenes.
And I enjoyed the scene between Tess and Emil. I don't much buy romance between these 2 characters, but I do buy friendship, and Alessandro Juliani just does a great job with any scene he's given. Not much escapes Emil's notice, and I like that about the character. It reminds me of his interactions with Chloe back in S9, when he knew about her Big Brother stalking of the JLA way before anyone else.
I do have to say though, I'm not at all comfortable with Emil and Tess going behind Clark's back and taking the remnants of a kryptonian artifact that Clark thought he had destroyed. Thats the kind of shit Chloe did, and I didn't like it then, and don't like it now. Sure, it was a plot device to bring Clark back, but still...the implication is uncomfortable.
Also, how is it that Clark Luthor was able to come through with the mirror box, when Clark didn't go through with the mirror box either time he got sent to the AU?
One of the things I had to ask myself with this episode was if I thought the point it was trying to make was enough to justify the whole revisit to the AU. And thats a point I'm still struggling with. I do think Tess' storyline has merit, and especially when we know who will be back for the finale. But I'm not sure a revisit from CL was necessary to show that pull in her towards her dark heritage.
And, as much as it was great to see our Clark be able to help AU Jonathan, I'm not sure how necessary it was. If felt like an excuse to bring back John Schneider (much like the original AU ep felt like an excuse to bring back John Glover). And I admit I feel a little ambivalent about that.
The first Clois scene was fun, but the last Clois scene just didn't quite click for me. I find Clois to be very sweet, and very comfortable, and very loving, and thats all nice. But I think I need a little spice and fire in my sweet and comfortable to remain engaged.
I'm sort of hoping that Clark doesn't sell the farm. It just wouldn't feel right to me (though I wouldn't hold it against him or Lois). I do like the idea of them moving to Metropolis though. Anyone think we might hear about the fate of Shelby? Nah, me either.
And I just end this with....Holy Cow Cassidy Freeman! Where ya been hiding that crazy body??
Sorry for the short and shallow review. Its about all I could muster.