Smallville Review - "Fortune"
I haven't written a Smallville review in forever. This is how you know I really liked this episode.
It’s nice to be able to say I really, thoroughly enjoyed a Smallville episode for once. This season has been a vast improvement on the tripe that came before, but it’s only been small things I’ve enjoyed about each episode.
I felt satisfied after watching Fortune, something I haven’t felt for this show in a very long time. Sure, the plot was weak, but I think in this case, it was meant to be. As in the writers purposely went with something dorky and light and beyond ridiculous, because that was the whole point.
I actually laughed at moments in this episode. Ollie and Chloe are usually my only points of humour in this show, but there were some great little gems across the board this week. Chloe’s tumble from Clark’s closet, the easy-going, believable banter between Lois and Ollie, Emil and Tess singing, Ollie dressed as a show girl and quite clearly enjoying himself (I’m sorry, the big lipstick grin on stage was a big giveaway that not only was Ollie-the-character having a whale of a time, but so was Justin-the-actor), Ollie’s drunken, hiccup-filled speech to Clark, and Clark being a total dork on video (and is it me, or is that the first time in a long time that Tom Welling seemed to be having fun playing his character?).
It wasn’t just the fact that the whole cast brought the funny to this episode that I enjoyed it as much as I did. I think it was because this episode really acknowledged everything that the new producers have done for this show, the way they’ve turned it around despite the fact that it’s pretty much unsalvageable at this point. It’s only small things, but they’ve rectified some of the problems I’ve had with the show over the years. Sure, it feels much like retcon most of the time, but there’s little to be done about it when the show was that thoroughly butchered over that many years.
I actually like how they’re handling the relationships on this show now. I don’t find Lois and Clark grating together. I like that Tessa has finally found her feet and decided, once and for all, where she wants to be, even if they’re not using her character as much as they once did. We all know I love Chloe and Ollie’s relationship, anyway, and I’m glad that this episode granted it and them the respect they deserve.
Chloe got a lot of love in this episode, which I’m grateful for, because, erm, finally. We all knew she couldn’t really stick around because she’s not canon, but I’m totally happy with the direction the show wants to take her in. I felt like they were really paying homage to Chloe as a character when she talked about being a reporter by day and helping heroes by night, because that’s everything Chloe was and is and that’s just awesome.
And I love, love that they’ve finally given her friendship with Clark the respect it deserves. Maybe it’s too little, too late, because this show has butchered their characters and their friendship on more than one occasion, but I’m choosing to believe that new producers means a clean slate for some things on this show. I adored that Chloe has grown so much, has learned where she belongs to such a degree that she is proud and brave enough to claim rights for Clark’s growth as a superhero. Because yeah, she did make you way more awesome than you actually are, Clark.
I knew Chloe was leaving the show and I admit I was wary. After the Al and Mile years, in which Chloe was regularly and harshly shoved aside, ignored, bashed and treated with utter contempt at the time, I was expecting the worst for her by the end of it all. But the Chloe fangirls out there were finally rewarded and the character I adore, the character that kept me watching this show, got the respectful, believable, kick-ass ending she’s always deserved.
And as an added bonus, CHLOE AND OLLIE ARE FREAKIN’ MARRIED, PEOPLE. As soon as she mentioned leaving, I was full-on expecting the break-up scene that would leave me curled in a ball, weeping. I’ve always said that I wanted Chloe and Ollie to end on something of a high-note but part of me was really expecting something tragic. But they didn’t go there and it was totally unexpected that I kind of hiccupped with disbelief. I mean, I’m not delusional. They’re not going to last because it’s not canon, but that doesn’t mean that their relationship has to be regarded as any less genuine because of it.
The Black Canary haters scare the living hell out of me sometimes, I must admit. They’re so die-hard Chloe/Ollie that Black Canary is automatically Public Enemy No 1. I don’t share that view. For me Dinah isn’t a part of it. Just because Ollie will one day fall in love and marry her does very little to diminish the fact that on this show, on my screen, Allison Mack and Justin Hartley sell that relationship like nobody’s business. And their storyline, their relationship and their marriage might be skew-wiffy by canon standards, but I don’t mind. We make our own fun, right?
All-in-all, a really good episode for me. I liked it. And the main thing I learned? Tess and Emil are freakin’ hot, people.
It’s nice to be able to say I really, thoroughly enjoyed a Smallville episode for once. This season has been a vast improvement on the tripe that came before, but it’s only been small things I’ve enjoyed about each episode.
I felt satisfied after watching Fortune, something I haven’t felt for this show in a very long time. Sure, the plot was weak, but I think in this case, it was meant to be. As in the writers purposely went with something dorky and light and beyond ridiculous, because that was the whole point.
I actually laughed at moments in this episode. Ollie and Chloe are usually my only points of humour in this show, but there were some great little gems across the board this week. Chloe’s tumble from Clark’s closet, the easy-going, believable banter between Lois and Ollie, Emil and Tess singing, Ollie dressed as a show girl and quite clearly enjoying himself (I’m sorry, the big lipstick grin on stage was a big giveaway that not only was Ollie-the-character having a whale of a time, but so was Justin-the-actor), Ollie’s drunken, hiccup-filled speech to Clark, and Clark being a total dork on video (and is it me, or is that the first time in a long time that Tom Welling seemed to be having fun playing his character?).
It wasn’t just the fact that the whole cast brought the funny to this episode that I enjoyed it as much as I did. I think it was because this episode really acknowledged everything that the new producers have done for this show, the way they’ve turned it around despite the fact that it’s pretty much unsalvageable at this point. It’s only small things, but they’ve rectified some of the problems I’ve had with the show over the years. Sure, it feels much like retcon most of the time, but there’s little to be done about it when the show was that thoroughly butchered over that many years.
I actually like how they’re handling the relationships on this show now. I don’t find Lois and Clark grating together. I like that Tessa has finally found her feet and decided, once and for all, where she wants to be, even if they’re not using her character as much as they once did. We all know I love Chloe and Ollie’s relationship, anyway, and I’m glad that this episode granted it and them the respect they deserve.
Chloe got a lot of love in this episode, which I’m grateful for, because, erm, finally. We all knew she couldn’t really stick around because she’s not canon, but I’m totally happy with the direction the show wants to take her in. I felt like they were really paying homage to Chloe as a character when she talked about being a reporter by day and helping heroes by night, because that’s everything Chloe was and is and that’s just awesome.
And I love, love that they’ve finally given her friendship with Clark the respect it deserves. Maybe it’s too little, too late, because this show has butchered their characters and their friendship on more than one occasion, but I’m choosing to believe that new producers means a clean slate for some things on this show. I adored that Chloe has grown so much, has learned where she belongs to such a degree that she is proud and brave enough to claim rights for Clark’s growth as a superhero. Because yeah, she did make you way more awesome than you actually are, Clark.
I knew Chloe was leaving the show and I admit I was wary. After the Al and Mile years, in which Chloe was regularly and harshly shoved aside, ignored, bashed and treated with utter contempt at the time, I was expecting the worst for her by the end of it all. But the Chloe fangirls out there were finally rewarded and the character I adore, the character that kept me watching this show, got the respectful, believable, kick-ass ending she’s always deserved.
And as an added bonus, CHLOE AND OLLIE ARE FREAKIN’ MARRIED, PEOPLE. As soon as she mentioned leaving, I was full-on expecting the break-up scene that would leave me curled in a ball, weeping. I’ve always said that I wanted Chloe and Ollie to end on something of a high-note but part of me was really expecting something tragic. But they didn’t go there and it was totally unexpected that I kind of hiccupped with disbelief. I mean, I’m not delusional. They’re not going to last because it’s not canon, but that doesn’t mean that their relationship has to be regarded as any less genuine because of it.
The Black Canary haters scare the living hell out of me sometimes, I must admit. They’re so die-hard Chloe/Ollie that Black Canary is automatically Public Enemy No 1. I don’t share that view. For me Dinah isn’t a part of it. Just because Ollie will one day fall in love and marry her does very little to diminish the fact that on this show, on my screen, Allison Mack and Justin Hartley sell that relationship like nobody’s business. And their storyline, their relationship and their marriage might be skew-wiffy by canon standards, but I don’t mind. We make our own fun, right?
All-in-all, a really good episode for me. I liked it. And the main thing I learned? Tess and Emil are freakin’ hot, people.