Smallville“Odyssey”
Original Air Date: Sept 18, 2008
Charles - TwoCents Reviewer
charles@thetwocentscorp.com
As Smallville begins its eighth season, the series faces one of its biggest challenges. In the wake of departing cast members, story arcs that seem to have left the Superman legend behind, and an aging Tom Welling, can the series retain its disgruntled fans and restore glory to the legend of Clark Kent? And if, as some suspect, this ends up being Smallville’s final season, will the series end with a bang or a whimper? Let’s see what kind of tone the season premiere sets.
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[photo: Michael Courtney/The CW]
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Smallville
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Original Air Date: Sept 18, 2008
Charles - TwoCents Reviewer
charles@thetwocentscorp.com
As Smallville begins its eighth season, the series faces one of its biggest challenges. In the wake of departing cast members, story arcs that seem to have left the Superman legend behind, and an aging Tom Welling, can the series retain its disgruntled fans and restore glory to the legend of Clark Kent? And if, as some suspect, this ends up being Smallville’s final season, will the series end with a bang or a whimper? Let’s see what kind of tone the season premiere sets.
The episode opens four weeks after the events in last season’s destructive finale, in which Kryptonian daddy Jor-El revoked Clark’s superpowers, leaving Clark and Lex seemingly helpless inside a collapsing Fortress of Solitude. Taking Lex’s place as acting CEO of LutherCorp is the far-from-bald Tess Mercer, who shows up in the Arctic to monitor how the search for Lex is progressing. We know she means business when she gives Regan, Lex’s loyal bodyguard, a dressing down while wearing the world’s largest parka hood. Regan reveals that unidentified human remains have been found. Meanwhile, a mini-Justice League (composed of Green Arrow, Black Canary, and Aquaman) discover Clark’s iconic red, er, jacket frozen in the ice, but no Clark. “Clark, where are you?” asks Green Arrow, and Season 8 is underway!
Back at Luthor Manor, Lois has adopted a dubiously functional maid’s outfit, and an even more dubious French accent, to infiltrate Lex’s domain and search for clues to the whereabouts of Chloe. In walks Tess and the catfighting begins. Smallville’s game plan seems to be to distract the audience from wondering about missing cast members with attractive bickering females. So far, so good! Tess plays the Luthor party line, telling Lois that if Lex wanted Chloe arrested, it must have been for a good reason. Chloe, we soon discover, is penned up with the Department of Domestic Security in Montana, hooked up to some kind of cognitive tester that looks like something The Others from Lost may have left on the mainland. Chloe is now thinking faster than a super computer and claims to be feeling “different,” probably as a result of reaching second billing in the opening credits.
The mini-JL continue their search for Clark, and we’re told that the unseen Cyborg and Flash are busy looking in the Southern Hemisphere. But Clark is actually holed up in a Russian work camp, in debt to the Russkies and being beaten up by some graduate of Boris Badanov’s Spy Camp.
As Act Two begins, we once again see Tess handing Regan a verbal beatdown, complete with steely-eyed stare. Tess, we learn, is some kind of prodigy: a self-taught reader, Harvard grad at 15, and a deep-sea diver! Meanwhile, the equally gifted Chloe is now being put to work unscrambling coded transmissions for hidden cell phone numbers. As she completes each number, we see Canary and Aquaman on their global search getting shot with tranq darts. Chloe realizes that this is not the DDS she’s working for, but LuthorCorp itself. Regan’s entrance into Chloe’s cell confirms this, and our intrepid investigator decides to hold out on the final number.
Clark, still resisting Badanov’s commands, is surprised to see Oliver show up in the camp, demanding black market caviar and calling out Clark for a smackdown. Ollie’s just being clever, fooling the Russkies into thinking that they’re better off handing over Clark for Ollie to beat down while he enjoys his caviar. On the flight back to the USA, Clark wonders how his Fortress disappeared, and reminds us that Lex knows everything about Clark and probably managed to survive, as the powerless Clark did.
Back in Montana, Aquaman and Canary have been chained up, and Regan figures out that they must be looking for the mysterious Traveler, about whom Lex often obsessed. Down the hall, the re-Greened Ollie, with Clark in tow, runs into Lois, who has dropped her French maid outfit (sigh) and is now playing prison guard. While Arrow goes off to fight the bad guys, Clark and Lois banter like they’re on an episode of Moonlighting. Could this be love?
Since Chloe is continuing to resist, Regan whips out his secret weapon, a persuasion serum derived from Chloe’s mom’s spinal fluid. Chloe completes the third cellular number just as Arrow busts in, only to be injected himself and told to find Lex at all costs. Lois and Clark (catchy!) also come to Chloe’s rescue, leading Arrow to shoot Clark through the chest. Twice! Cue Chloe’s healing hands! But Chloe’s powers seem to have left her, too, and Clark falls into a near-death flashback through all of the departed cast members. But before Clark’s death ends the season abruptly, Manhunter arrives to spirit Clark into space and closer to the sun that gives him his powers (but, we later learn, takes away all of Manhunter’s!).
Now back at the farm, the newly-restored Clark realizes that he has a greater destiny, and that Tom Welling is starting to show his age. With no Jor-El, no Fortress, and no adoptive parents close at hand, Clark decides it’s time to say goodbye to his old life. Manhunter tosses Clark his iconic red, er, jacket, and the heroic music swells. Tess sets up shop in Lex’s office with his old briefcase, Chloe decides to accept Jimmy’s proposal from last season, the Justice League tease Clark about his lack of either costume or secret identity, and Clark surprises Lois with news of his new reporting job at the Planet. The episode closes with Lois smiling as her latest co-worker walks away.
But will you be as sweet on Smallville as Lois seems to be? Is this episode an indication of greatness to come, or has the series lost its healing hands? Are you prepared to embark with Clark on his odyssey as a god among mortals? What other costumes would you like to see Lois in this season? Form a league with your comments!
I would like to see a reappearance of Lois's red body suit from the season 6 episode about underground death fighting.
ReplyDeleteHer totally believable kick-boxing skills (just like Lana's) might otherwise go to waste!
I can't believe I'm about to say this in regards to a television show about a humanoid alien from outerspace, but it is all getting to be too ridiculous. I know the lack of Lex--the actual *villian* of the show--is due to Michael Rosenbaum moving on, but to introduce a poor (but presumably equally clever and EEEVIL) substitute just rings a little hollow.
ReplyDeleteNice recap though. Hopefully the season can settle down into a pattern of either good storytelling or awesomely mockable fantasy.