Ok, so far this review is ENTIRELY made of win, and dammit, I have a meeting to go to in 5 minutes so I can't comment extensively yet--I'm only about a third of the way through it--but this part struck me as completely brilliant:
In the earlier seasons, Clark is constantly saving Lex from one terrible disaster after another. I really like how this works metaphorically: Clark has to save Lex because Lex can't save himself (from his destiny, from his father, from his own demons). Asylum is the episode in which this starts to turn, quarter steps, one step at a time -- Clark unable to save Lex and then unintentionally perpetuating Lex's shock therapy by switching the lights back on. It's interesting to see how we're beyond that now, and moving more towards what will be true at the end of the story: that not even Superman could save Lex Luthor. Again, in Nemesis, we're not quite there. This is a story about how Clark and Lex save each other. They're on equal footing here, both of them confused about the other, each of them with his list
( ... )
I can't even tell you how much I loved this episode. I literally can't. It was such an effort to not keep this review from being a combination of exclamation points and entire passages in bold letters. Looking back, I was only moderately sucessful, but that is because it was SO FREAKING AWESOME!!!!
Stupid meetings! Don't they know you have SV episodes to squee about?
Fabulous meta! This episode was spot-on perfect, as far as I can see. I'm trying to find things that didn't satisfy me, and the closest they came was the noncommittal WTF? on Lionel and his motives.
I'm rewatching tonight, of course. Thanks ever so much for providing the transcription of that exchange between Clark and Lex - that whole sequence made my jaw drop, with the naked honesty they were displaying. Neither of them was denying a thing.
It's the beauty of Lex as a character that I want Clark to believe him, even when I know he shouldn't. This episode showed that so beautifully, with Clark having his doubts, and me just adoring him for having his doubts, swiftly juxtapposed with the confirmation of just how bad Lex is.
And that exchange between the two of them brought it out in me as well. I really felt for Lex when he lashed out at Clark for never sharing his secret, for not trusting Lex with the truth about having abilities. Clark's response - essentially, "Dude! You're locking up people with abilities and experimenting on
( ... )
Seriously, I GOT UP EARLY this morning because I had to rewatch. I am so in love with this show, I can't stand it.
I'm trying to find things that didn't satisfy me, and the closest they came was the noncommittal WTF? on Lionel and his motives.
Yeah, I guess his intentions are always going to be somewhat blurry. It's pretty frustrating but at the same time I suppose that revealing his cards would take the suspense out of it. On the other hand, we're pretty clear on what's motivating Lana and Lex (even if we don't know everything they have planned) and they're still loads of fun to watch.
that whole sequence made my jaw drop, with the naked honesty they were displaying. Neither of them was denying a thing. God, I know, right? SO AMAZING. I couldn't believe they were saying the things they were saying, and it was so great to have them lay it all out like that because you could make the argument that if these characters sat down and hashed things through, it might make a difference, but it doesn't, does it? It's terribly sad
( ... )
>I indulge in angst-ridden fantasies in which Lex and Lana (both of them dressed impeccably), shoot each other down and its just a blood bath with lots of low-voiced insults and recriminations and maybe some strangulation at the end.
ooh, i'd tune in for that!
i haven't seen the episode yet (will as soon as i can download it), but i find your writing on it lucid and persuasive, and very moving.
Damn. This review is made of win. Sounds like the episode is, too. I watched "Smallville" pretty dutifully in the first season, and other than that, the only eps I've ever seen are "Justice" and...whatever the one where Lana finds out she's pregnant is called.
Out of curiosity, have you ever read Te's "Butterfly Effect?" It's a really fabulous "Smallville" fic that your review reminded me of. Especially this part:
Oh, man. No, you can't go back, can you? Not to the other side of the tunnel and not to the beginning. I might have gotten a little teary-eyed here. Really great use of dialogue. Lex has always wanted things to be different than they were; if he could force Clark to tell him the truth, he would. And it's fitting that it's Clark who says no (again and again and again), who asks Lex to accept the truths as they are. The sense of inevitability is so heavy here.
Oh, and also:
The thing about a guy who would be willing to die for his obsession is that if the project is worth more to him than his *own* life, you better
( ... )
You know, Te's an amazing storyteller, but her writing style puts me off. I have no doubt that she's written reams and reams of amazing SV fic, though. And all of it deliciously dark, no doubt.
Please to be writing a fic that can be summarized with that sentence. OMG.
Heeeeeeee. No, *you*!
And you should watch SV again! IT'S SO GOOD. And we could do little dances of joy after each episode!
::facepalms:: I'm a moron, sorry--it's by The Spike. (I thought it was Te's 'cause Te hosted it) Before that, I was gonna say, "Te's not one of my favorites, either, but the fic was really good." (Being fair to Te, since she's always been really highly recommended to me and I haven't read much of her stuff, it's mostly that I'm still bitter about getting six frillion chapters a day for a month and a half of "Cicatrix" and "Cicatrices" when I was still active on UCSL) Anyway, it's here, if you wanna take a look.
Heeeeeeee. No, *you*!
But...but...I have over 4,500 words of Connor/Fred and Connor/Illyria I need to finish! And about 500 of Sponnor that I owe Kita! And also, I know almost nothing about "Smallville." Maybe Christmas?
And you should watch SV again! IT'S SO GOOD. And we could do little dances of joy after each episode!
Oh, now, it's cheating to promise the Fod Dance of Joy. In a cuteness arsenal, it's classified as a deadly weapon!
I have over 4,500 words of Connor/Fred and Connor/Illyria I need to finish! And about 500 of Sponnor that I owe Kita! And also, I know almost nothing about "Smallville." Maybe Christmas?
Dude. I don't know which of these things is more squee-worthy! ROCK ON.
Thanks for the link, lovely. I will check it out for sure.
Comments 37
In the earlier seasons, Clark is constantly saving Lex from one terrible disaster after another. I really like how this works metaphorically: Clark has to save Lex because Lex can't save himself (from his destiny, from his father, from his own demons). Asylum is the episode in which this starts to turn, quarter steps, one step at a time -- Clark unable to save Lex and then unintentionally perpetuating Lex's shock therapy by switching the lights back on. It's interesting to see how we're beyond that now, and moving more towards what will be true at the end of the story: that not even Superman could save Lex Luthor. Again, in Nemesis, we're not quite there. This is a story about how Clark and Lex save each other. They're on equal footing here, both of them confused about the other, each of them with his list ( ... )
Reply
I can't even tell you how much I loved this episode. I literally can't. It was such an effort to not keep this review from being a combination of exclamation points and entire passages in bold letters. Looking back, I was only moderately sucessful, but that is because it was SO FREAKING AWESOME!!!!
Stupid meetings! Don't they know you have SV episodes to squee about?
*sits at your feet and plays with your toes*
Reply
I'm rewatching tonight, of course. Thanks ever so much for providing the transcription of that exchange between Clark and Lex - that whole sequence made my jaw drop, with the naked honesty they were displaying. Neither of them was denying a thing.
It's the beauty of Lex as a character that I want Clark to believe him, even when I know he shouldn't. This episode showed that so beautifully, with Clark having his doubts, and me just adoring him for having his doubts, swiftly juxtapposed with the confirmation of just how bad Lex is.
And that exchange between the two of them brought it out in me as well. I really felt for Lex when he lashed out at Clark for never sharing his secret, for not trusting Lex with the truth about having abilities. Clark's response - essentially, "Dude! You're locking up people with abilities and experimenting on ( ... )
Reply
I'm trying to find things that didn't satisfy me, and the closest they came was the noncommittal WTF? on Lionel and his motives.
Yeah, I guess his intentions are always going to be somewhat blurry. It's pretty frustrating but at the same time I suppose that revealing his cards would take the suspense out of it. On the other hand, we're pretty clear on what's motivating Lana and Lex (even if we don't know everything they have planned) and they're still loads of fun to watch.
that whole sequence made my jaw drop, with the naked honesty they were displaying. Neither of them was denying a thing. God, I know, right? SO AMAZING. I couldn't believe they were saying the things they were saying, and it was so great to have them lay it all out like that because you could make the argument that if these characters sat down and hashed things through, it might make a difference, but it doesn't, does it? It's terribly sad ( ... )
Reply
>I indulge in angst-ridden fantasies in which Lex and Lana (both of them dressed impeccably), shoot each other down and its just a blood bath with lots of low-voiced insults and recriminations and maybe some strangulation at the end.
ooh, i'd tune in for that!
i haven't seen the episode yet (will as soon as i can download it), but i find your writing on it lucid and persuasive, and very moving.
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Reply
Do you need a download link? I've got one handy...
Reply
Reply
Out of curiosity, have you ever read Te's "Butterfly Effect?" It's a really fabulous "Smallville" fic that your review reminded me of. Especially this part:
Oh, man. No, you can't go back, can you? Not to the other side of the tunnel and not to the beginning. I might have gotten a little teary-eyed here. Really great use of dialogue. Lex has always wanted things to be different than they were; if he could force Clark to tell him the truth, he would. And it's fitting that it's Clark who says no (again and again and again), who asks Lex to accept the truths as they are. The sense of inevitability is so heavy here.
Oh, and also:
The thing about a guy who would be willing to die for his obsession is that if the project is worth more to him than his *own* life, you better ( ... )
Reply
Please to be writing a fic that can be summarized with that sentence. OMG.
Heeeeeeee. No, *you*!
And you should watch SV again! IT'S SO GOOD. And we could do little dances of joy after each episode!
Reply
Heeeeeeee. No, *you*!
But...but...I have over 4,500 words of Connor/Fred and Connor/Illyria I need to finish! And about 500 of Sponnor that I owe Kita! And also, I know almost nothing about "Smallville." Maybe Christmas?
And you should watch SV again! IT'S SO GOOD. And we could do little dances of joy after each episode!
Oh, now, it's cheating to promise the Fod Dance of Joy. In a cuteness arsenal, it's classified as a deadly weapon!
Reply
Dude. I don't know which of these things is more squee-worthy! ROCK ON.
Thanks for the link, lovely. I will check it out for sure.
*grabs your hands to shimmy*
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