Smallville, you shock me!

[Wolfie Gilmore]

Why does Smallville shock me? Because this season...bizarre as this might sound...it's really rather good! I've hardly been laughing at it at all. What's wrong? Is it me? Or has the show really got better?? I was genuinely afraid in the stalker ep. Ok, they've had enough Lana stalked eps in the past, not an original plot...but truly freaky! And I love the multiple deceptions and self deceptions involved in the Lexana relationship - layers going on there.

Loved the over the top Justice League episode, with them all walking in slo mo through the fire (cos where else can they turn?). Camp and delicious. Also enjoyed the red K stuff with Clark breaking up Lex's party, like some kind of crackhead Jesus in the temple (you know, when he overturns all the tables when people are selling stuff there). Lois looks ridiculously old compared to the other characters, but even she's growing on me.

Asylum ep...bit lame, but loved the Martian Manhunter appearance!

[Francy]

I agree! I love this season!
I was tempted to stop watching the show back during season 4, it was so lame and silly...and boring. But season 5 and later season 6 renewed my enthusiasm...especially season 6, which feels more adult to me (must be the Metropolis setting, the Lexana thing, and of course the fact that the characters are growing up LOL). The writing is more consistent and less lame...even the filler episodes feel less like filters, and except for Subterranean, there haven't been other really lame episodes. Overall the quality of the episodes has been really high, compared to other seasons.

I love the Clana relationship...not that it's a healthy relationship, or that it's going to end well...but it makes things more interesting. Lana is now a more edgy character, less sweet and whiny and more interesting to watch. Lex is great as always, it makes me feel bad to see him this evil (even though I know he is evil, and who he is going to become, I am upset everytime he does something dishonest/evil LOL I can't help myself), but it's who he is, and Michael is great to watch!

I love Lois...I can't really get over the fact that she shouldn't be in SV in the first place, but I love her character, so I'd like to see more of her...Her crush on Clark in crimson was hilarious! I loved that episode...red-kryp Clark is always entertaining.

I loved Oliver green, I hope to see more of him and of the Justice League in the future!
And now Chloe is a meteor freak..it will be interesting to see what they do with that.

[Wolfie Gilmore]

I agree! I love this season!
I was tempted to stop watching the show back during season 4, it was so lame and silly...and boring. But season 5 and later season 6 renewed my enthusiasm...especially season 6, which feels more adult to me (must be the Metropolis setting, the Lexana thing, and of course the fact that the characters are growing up LOL). The writing is more consistent and less lame...even the filler episodes feel less like filters, and except for Subterranean, there haven't been other really lame episodes. Overall the quality of the episodes has been really high, compared to other seasons.

The last two seasons have been building nicely after the terrible rotten awfulness that was season 4 (though I did love a few eps in that, Transference for eg). The dialogue no longer sounds quite so ridiculous though still has some silliness.

I love the Clana relationship...not that it's a healthy relationship, or that it's going to end well...but it makes things more interesting. Lana is now a more edgy character, less sweet and whiny and more interesting to watch. Lex is great as always, it makes me feel bad to see him this evil (even though I know he is evil, and who he is going to become, I am upset everytime he does something dishonest/evil LOL I can't help myself), but it's who he is, and Michael is great to watch!

He is that. I enjoy him evil, because there's still the emotion there when he's with Lana. If he was totally cold that wouldn't work for me, I like keeping that humanity there, that need for another person, even if he is lying through his teeth to her.

I love Lois...I can't really get over the fact that she shouldn't be in SV in the first place, but I love her character, so I'd like to see more of her...Her crush on Clark in crimson was hilarious! I loved that episode...red-kryp Clark is always entertaining.

I know. I almost wish he'd take it every other week...but it would get too much. I love how he ran away from Lois before the red K, like speedy gonzales!

I loved Oliver green, I hope to see more of him and of the Justice League in the future!

Olly was fun....oh, Queen, not green...and I love that he's an emotional retard (as a lot of superheroes are) when it comes to relationships.

And now Chloe is a meteor freak..it will be interesting to see what they do with that.

I can't believe I forgot to mention that, yes, I love that twist, it gave me real chills. It honestly hadn't occurred to me that she might have latent powers. I really really hope she turns into a superhero in the end (maybe Power Girl, what with the cleavage)

[Francy]

The last two seasons have been building nicely after the terrible rotten awfulness that was season 4 (though I did love a few eps in that, Transference for eg). The dialogue no longer sounds quite so ridiculous though still has some silliness.

We can't really get rid of all flaws, can we? otherwise, it's not SV!

He is that. I enjoy him evil, because there's still the emotion there when he's with Lana. If he was totally cold that wouldn't work for me, I like keeping that humanity there, that need for another person, even if he is lying through his teeth to her.

Yeah. I think he loves Lana as much as he can love someone...which is not to amazing depth!

Olly was fun....oh, Queen, not green...and I love that he's an emotional retard (as a lot of superheroes are) when it comes to relationships.

ROFL! Freudian lapsus here...Oliver Queen/Green Arrow!

I can't believe I forgot to mention that, yes, I love that twist, it gave me real chills. It honestly hadn't occurred to me that she might have latent powers. I really really hope she turns into a superhero in the end (maybe Power Girl, what with the cleavage)

Yeah, it's exciting...in the comics doesn't Superman have a blond super-girl as best friend? Only her name is not Chloe, and I don't think the writers will be allowed to mess with that. Anyway, it finally gives Chloe a good storyline....now, if only they got rid of Jimmy... He annoys me. Oh, well...can't have everything!

And also, we need more Lionel...he seems to be disappeared!

[Wolfie Gilmore]

We can't really get rid of all flaws, can we? otherwise, it's not SV!

No, if it didn't have moments so ludicrous that I want to throw a cushion at the screen, it would lose its identity

Yeah. I think he loves Lana as much as he can love someone...which is not to amazing depth!

Apart from Clark, he loved him Once upon a time...sniff.

ROFL! Freudian lapsus here...Oliver Queen/Green Arrow!

Oliver seems to have some freudian issues of his own...something to make up for with all those phallic objects?

Yeah, it's exciting...in the comics doesn't Superman have a blond super-girl as best friend? Only her name is not Chloe, and I don't think the writers will be allowed to mess with that.

Supergirl has various names and aliases - she's quite a shifting character - but I don't think they'd turn Chloe into her, since she's from krypton (in most of her versions anyway!). But Power Girl, she's even more unstable in terms of character continuity, so anything goes perhaps? Except that apparently they're going to write Chlloe into some of the comics so that might spoil my theory a little!

Anyway, it finally gives Chloe a good storyline....now, if only they got rid of Jimmy... He annoys me. Oh, well...can't have everything!

Aww, I like Jimmy. He's a sweetie. And, finally, chloe gets a boyfriend instead of mooning over Clark, which is a plus.

And also, we need more Lionel...he seems to be disappeared!

I know! More Lionel, more Martha, please!

[Wolfie Gilmore]

Re Nemesis...what do people think about Clark's line to Lex: "Were we ever really friends?"

Do you think they ever really were?

[Cori]

Lou, you mentioned in the VIP chat thread that Lex had always ulterior motives in his friendship with Clark and therefore it was not a pure friendship. While this might very well be, I think Clark is also to blame for the downfall of their friendship. Just like with Lana, Clark felt he could never tell Lex the truth about himself and let's be honest, knowning Lex, that was probably a smart decision. However, it also meant that Clark always had to hold something back in his friendship to Lex and Lex just as clearly felt that as Lana. I just rewatched a season 3 ep last night where Lex saves Pete from an evil FBI agent who wanted to torture Clark's secret out of Pete. After Lex has saved Pete, he says to Pete: "Clark was probably right to trust you, Pete, and not me. You are a good friend." (or something along these lines). It just broke my heart hearing Lex say that. You clearly hear the hurt in Lex's voice (kudos to Michael Rosenbaum's excellent acting), he knew exactly that Clark never really trusted him with the big stuff in his life.

So I don't know if they were ever really true friends but they certainly had a connection and that was a thing of beauty to me in the first 3 seasons!

[Ehlwyen]

I think they were friends. They have each come to each other's aid out or goodwill or even risk of their own selves countless times. I think Clark was really being vindictive in this episode because of his jealously of losing Lana. Clark lost Lana because he kept secrets. However, Lex kept secrets too, but Lana accepted or was blind to that. It's really unfair. Clark's usual openness really hurt his chances because Lana saw keeping secrets as against his nature and felt hurt that he would go against his nature to keep her from knowing. However Lex appeared open and sharing to Lana when he shared smaller things about himself, because he was usually so closed off.

I agree Cori, the blame is Clark's as well as Lex's. There is no way that Lex could have ever realized how truly big Clark's secret was. Therefore Lex must constantly question himself as to why he failed Clark as a friend and dwell upon that doubt.

I know Clark is afraid to share his secret for fear of being exploited, betrayed and hurt. How do you think that Lex would have reacted if Clark had shared his secret early on? Do you think that Clark's trust in Lex could have changed Lex's gradual descent into evilness?

I really don't believe Lex would have sold Clark out. I believe Lex would have held that secret in confidence, at least for years, until their personalities and desires began to clash.

I haven't seen or remember much of the first 3 seasons so I really can't do a character study of Lex. Is this desire for power something they have shown Lex could have shrugged off because it was only something he learned and was forced into by his father? Or is it just in his nature to make such decisions?

Trust implies respect and I think if Clark had shared with Lex, then it could have changed things. Having that positive factor in his life would have at least made Lex reconsider some of his actions, choices, and desires. And maybe Clark should feel some regret that he couldn't share everything with Lex.

[Wolfie Gilmore]

Lou, you mentioned in the VIP chat thread that Lex had always ulterior motives in his friendship with Clark and therefore it was not a pure friendship. While this might very well be, I think Clark is also to blame for the downfall of their friendship.

Absolutely, yes! What I was trying to say but not quite putting my finger on about Lex is that...well, it's like he's a little bit autistic, and doesn't quite understand that secretly investigating someone while being their friend is wrong. He's so screwed up about human relationships (thank you Papa Luthor!) that he tries to be a good friend, but he just can't quite manage the whole package. So, he makes grand gestures (of love ) and swoops in to help Clark in dramatic ways, but he's missing some of the fundamentals - he's not just seeing Clark as a person, he's also seeing him as someone who can help him get answers, uncover mysteries.

However....if on a smaller scale...who doesn't do that with their friends sometimes? I mean, I'm sure we all try to get things from our friends, without in any way being malicious, it's just human nature to want people to give you more than they can perhaps?

And as you say abou Clark, that goes both ways. Lex wants more from Clark partly because he's holding back and lying himself. I do wonder what would've happened if Clark had been (ahem) straight with Lex from the beginning.

Trust implies respect and I think if Clark had shared with Lex, then it could have changed things. Having that positive factor in his life would have at least made Lex reconsider some of his actions, choices, and desires. And maybe Clark should feel some regret that he couldn't share everything with Lex.

I like to think this might be the case. Lex has definitely shown himself capable of good - of self-sacrifice, eg going into the factory where the terrorist guy was going to blow up the kids, I forget which season - and perhaps (though it's not definite) having Clark as an honest, postiive force might have changed things. I can't help feeling that Lionel's influence would be more powerful though. But perhaps Lex would have reached some kind of middle ground re evil! He would've just been kinda naughty instead of the big bad


Perhaps we should investigate Clark's track record. Clark doesn't seem to be very good at having male friends. They either go evil (Lex) or leave town (Pete, Ollie (Olly?), Flash). It seems the only people who can be around Clark for any length of time are women who are in love with him (Lana, Chloe). Oh, and Lois, cos she's as thick-skinned as a rhino!

There is certainly fault on both sides with Clark and Lex - both in the downfall of their friendship, and the cracks that are there to begin with. Does that mean they were never friends?

Hmm...I think friendship can be as complicated as romantic love (and the smallville slasher in me says that this was a bit of both, at least on Lex's part) and it would be too simplistic to say that their whole friendship was a lie. They both cared about one another, even if it was in twisted or confused ways. They helped each other - even if Clark was very quick to blame Lex, and Lex was helping Clark some of the time to get at his secret - and they put themselves in danger for one other.

I'd say they were never "simply" friends - there was always a lot going on under the surface, and a lot of mixed motives, mixed messages, anger and distrust. But human - or alien - relationships are never easy, and the kind of simple friendship that Clark was hoping for...well, he's never had that with anyone else either, really. So perhaps it shouldn't be Lex who's saying he's got nothing to compare it to? After all, he did have that friend at school (erm...who ended up a crazy kryptofreak trying to kill him).


Just like with Lana, Clark felt he could never tell Lex the truth about himself and let's be honest, knowning Lex, that was probably a smart decision. However, it also meant that Clark always had to hold something back in his friendship to Lex and Lex just as clearly felt that as Lana. I just rewatched a season 3 ep last night where Lex saves Pete from an evil FBI agent who wanted to torture Clark's secret out of Pete. After Lex has saved Pete, he says to Pete: "Clark was probably right to trust you, Pete, and not me. You are a good friend." (or something along these lines). It just broke my heart hearing Lex say that. You clearly hear the hurt in Lex's voice (kudos to Michael Rosenbaum's excellent acting), he knew exactly that Clark never really trusted him with the big stuff in his life.

So I don't know if they were ever really true friends but they certainly had a connection and that was a thing of beauty to me in the first 3 seasons![/QUOTE]