Oh, Smallville *smh*
I haven't been posting as frequently as I used to, and quite frankly, with the way this season seems to be shaping up so far, that doesn't look like it's going to change.
Honestly, I am having so many problems with this season that I don't know where to start. First of all, how is this show still "Smallville"? Because nothing I'm seeing is relating to the show I've been watching since mid-2004. And as anyone who's read my lj knows, I can handle not-so-good plot writing, but one thing that I absolutely cannot tolerate is character assassinations/360s/etc...
I'll start with Clark. I know that Clark is supposed to end up at the Daily Planet. I get it; I really do. However, I think they handled it in the worst way possible. Would it have killed them to let Clark first rekindle an interest in journalism by going back to college (hey, remember that?), start writing for either the college newspaper or Smallville Ledger, then have him finally progress to the Daily Planet? Granted, this all couldn't take place in season eight since it is hopefully their last, but they could've started this at the beginning of season seven. What, exactly, was stopping them from doing this? Were the writers not allowed to actually put some thought into giving Clark a storyline other than the non-human aspects of him? And don't tell me, "But, Pep, they didn't have time to do this!" because my reply to this is what was so pressing and necessary in season seven that they couldn't do this? Kara wasn't necessary, and I can think of a couple of episodes that could've been elimated from s7 that would've allowed time for this. Also, I just question a newspaper hiring someone who doesn't have a journalism degree (or is at least currently enrolled in college) and/or professional writing experience.That just came way too easy, and before anyone says that previous versions of Clark Kent (comics, TV, and movies) "didn't have a deep love of journalism," I want to say that if this show's goal was to show how the boy becomes the man, then one aspect of this is to show him finding a passion, struggling with it, and trying hard to succeed. This would've been a great way to make Clark relatable to the audience (especially me) because who hasn't had to find something they love in life and struggle to try and succeed? That's part of the journey from adolescence to adulthood. This show has completely forgotten that they need to make these characters relate to the audience.
Next, Chloe. I honestly don't know what is going on, and it's more than the Brainiac infection. Chloe has changed ever since she learned of her "meteor freak" status in season six, and it's just been going downhill. Let's start with the journalism thing. I do not believe, for one second, that there is anything organic about removing Chloe from the Daily Planet. Nothing. She worked so hard for this ever since season one, has shown talent in her field by earning an internship at the Daily Planet at the end of s1, being published in the Smallville Ledger, and then hired at the Daily Planet by Kahn, someone who gave her a hard enough time and had to actually prove herself to. After all of this build up from the past five seasons, I'm supposed to settle for Chloe just changing her mind? And before I hear, "People in real life change their minds about what they want to do as a career all the time", can I just say that when it comes to *writing* and *crafting a drama* it doesn't compute? This is one area where TV doesn't necessarily equal reality, and it shouldn't. It is just shitty storytelling, plain and simple. I could understand it if Chloe wasn't very passionate or lackluster in her writing, but someone who has been writing since she was eight, and then went on to being the Editor-in-Chief of a high school newspaper, which is no small feat, just couldn't stop writing all together. Maybe I'm just overly sensitive to this because I do see a lot of myself in Chloe, but I just can't imagine someone as talented as Chloe to just sit back and accept not writing. I want to see that she cares and is angry about not being at the Daily Planet any longer. Also, her personality isn't even the same. I miss the biting, sarcastic, slightly cynical, yet always hopeful about love Chloe, who would sometimes say the wrong thing and was proactive and passionate about things in her life. Speaking of love, I believe that she is just settling when it comes to Jimmy. To be frank, I think she deserves so much better than Jimmy. She deserves someone who wouldn't eyefuck another woman right in front of her or kiss another woman just because he found a six-year-old letter in a bookcase. I think Chloe is such a stronger woman than that.
Next, Lois. I don't know what to say. I think the writers are just trying way too hard to make her fit in at the Daily Planet with her hard-nosed reporter technique. One thing that I've never been able to tolerate, even in the past four seasons, is her treatment of Clark. She treats him as though he is stupid (see how she "has" to tell Clark in "Instinct" about another way that endorphins can be produced). I don't find it endearing or attractive. Also, her over-the-top reaction to Clark and Maxima in "Instinct" was absurd. Clark looked confused, and I can't blame him. I didn't understand why she was reacting that way, either. This sudden attraction from Lois is probably one of the most badly done romantic storylines I've ever since. It just doesn't mesh with what we've seen over the past few years. And from an acting standpoint, it looks like ED and TW just aren't on the same page about the Clois relationship. Is Clark supposed to be showing attraction? Because he's not. Is Lois supposed to come off as in love? I don't know.
Also, I know I was definitely looking forward to the "Fever" letter being addressed last night. I fine with what they were doing, even with Chloe's adamant denial of the letter since it seemed comical, but that final Clois scene was just too much. That letter is something special to all Chlarkers and the fact that they used it for Chimmy and Clois was just downright insulting and flat out cruel. I'd never advocate that they use something that is special to Clana, Clois, or Chimmy for Chlark, yet they found it appropriate to do this? It's maddening, really.
We're only four episodes in, so maybe this show can turn itself around. However, for right now, I don't recognize the show I'm watching.