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Smallville 7.03 "Fierce"
I was skeptical going into this episode, but damn. I'm going to LOVE this season.
I really don't think there is a single thing I didn't like about this episode.
I know I was kind of skeptical about the whole "Clark mentoring Kara" last week, but I completely and totally retract that. Those opening Kara-Clark scenes were PURE COMEDY GOLD. First of all, he’s dressing her in plaid flannel? Hahahahahaha. I about fell out of my chair as ten thousand fanfic clichés about Kents and plaid flannel got canonized. Second, I just love Clark in exasperated olderbrothercousin mode, or helpful older cousin mode, or in general just channeling his inner Jonathan Kent while she channels Clark at his most exasperating. Bop, I took that whole slam at Clark-the-football-captain as a shoutout to you.
Oh, and if Kara’s comment is anything to go on, Jonathan Kent and Jor-El have a lot in common. Hee!
And OMG. That mutual masturbation thing was simultaneously disturbing and even more hilarious than the Jonathan-training-Clark scene from “Heat.” I mean, a smiley face? Oh, Clark. And does the fact that Kara exploded her melon just prove that women’s orgasms are better, or what?
[And should we all start leaving “you totally made my watermelon explode” as feedback on erotic stories now?]
Honestly, though, I feel like Kara just recapitulated Clark's entire season 4 arc in one episode. (Which just goes to show the girls really do mature faster than boys). But to be fair to Clark, he seems to be overcoming the Jonathan Kent party line a little faster than Jonathan ever did. And he's right that she needs to learn to blend in and hide her powers--thank goodness she seemed to have learned that before her conversation with Lex.
I think what I liked most, though, was the learning goes both ways--I really liked what Kara reminded Clark about how his immortality, if nothing else, makes him different than humans.
That awareness of his difference--that they would grow old and he never would--really made that last scene with Lana, where he seems to finally be getting every single thing he's ever wanted, wonderfully bittersweet. Oh, wow. I am totally on *this* Clana train, if they're going to let the true, organic things that keep them apart be what breaks apart the relationship. And in the meantime, I am really enjoying their scenes together. I actually was a little verklempt at that opening scene where they reconnected and said so much to each other with very few words.
Yet interestingly--ironically--the Lexana relationship is actually more interesting now that it's over. I know it was anvilly, but I really loved that shot of Lana in the sun facing off to Lex in the shadows, and I continue to enjoy the Luthorian steel in her spine now, refusing to let Lex apologize and standing up to protect Clark and Kara. They actually seem to be continuing the parallel they introduced last season, where Lex is to Lana what season 1 Lionel was to season 1 Lex: a kind of twisted combination of love, challenge, threat, and mentor in the ways of evil. And that’s reinforced by the fact that Lana has moved herself firmly into Clark’s space, just as Lex repeatedly tried to do in season 1.
And Lex! OMG, writers, I was beginning to think you were incapable of writing Lex as subtlely and effectively evil, but tonight you really proved me wrong. First of all, I thought he was masterfully manipulative in his interactions with Lana. He seems like he's making concessions--coming into "her" space, assisting her with the D.A., even attempting once again to fauxpologize--and yet he's clearly the one in control, pulling the strings, making the subtle threats (Clark wouldn't be happy to hear about the $10 million Lana stole). Rowr! THAT'S Lex Luthor--even when obsessed, he's the one in control.
The Kara subplot was another masterful example of that. My god, the way he deflected Agent Carter by suggesting that his obsession with that girl he drew was some sort of whacked-out religious experience was fucking brilliant--and yet at the same time, I'm sure every single thing he said in that scene was absolutely true. He does think she saved his soul, he does know that she was more than human. And then the scene with Kara herself? I have to give kudos to whoever wrote this episode, because that was essence of Lex, distilled into one scene: I deserve the truth because I protected you; tell me the truth because I'll find out anyway; there must be meaning in the fact that the Kents saved my life; are you a savior or are you a warning.
I also love that we finally got textual confirmation that Lex fears an alien invasion and really thinks the country needs to be prepared for it. It's also cool that he's finally teaming up with the government to do so.
I really, really loved this episode. Even the dippy beauty queen subplot turned out to be more complex and less intrusive than I was expected. (It felt, tonally, like an homage to season 4 --like an awful lot of this episode, actually).
I really don't think there is a single thing I didn't like about this episode.
I know I was kind of skeptical about the whole "Clark mentoring Kara" last week, but I completely and totally retract that. Those opening Kara-Clark scenes were PURE COMEDY GOLD. First of all, he’s dressing her in plaid flannel? Hahahahahaha. I about fell out of my chair as ten thousand fanfic clichés about Kents and plaid flannel got canonized. Second, I just love Clark in exasperated older
Oh, and if Kara’s comment is anything to go on, Jonathan Kent and Jor-El have a lot in common. Hee!
And OMG. That mutual masturbation thing was simultaneously disturbing and even more hilarious than the Jonathan-training-Clark scene from “Heat.” I mean, a smiley face? Oh, Clark. And does the fact that Kara exploded her melon just prove that women’s orgasms are better, or what?
[And should we all start leaving “you totally made my watermelon explode” as feedback on erotic stories now?]
Honestly, though, I feel like Kara just recapitulated Clark's entire season 4 arc in one episode. (Which just goes to show the girls really do mature faster than boys). But to be fair to Clark, he seems to be overcoming the Jonathan Kent party line a little faster than Jonathan ever did. And he's right that she needs to learn to blend in and hide her powers--thank goodness she seemed to have learned that before her conversation with Lex.
I think what I liked most, though, was the learning goes both ways--I really liked what Kara reminded Clark about how his immortality, if nothing else, makes him different than humans.
That awareness of his difference--that they would grow old and he never would--really made that last scene with Lana, where he seems to finally be getting every single thing he's ever wanted, wonderfully bittersweet. Oh, wow. I am totally on *this* Clana train, if they're going to let the true, organic things that keep them apart be what breaks apart the relationship. And in the meantime, I am really enjoying their scenes together. I actually was a little verklempt at that opening scene where they reconnected and said so much to each other with very few words.
Yet interestingly--ironically--the Lexana relationship is actually more interesting now that it's over. I know it was anvilly, but I really loved that shot of Lana in the sun facing off to Lex in the shadows, and I continue to enjoy the Luthorian steel in her spine now, refusing to let Lex apologize and standing up to protect Clark and Kara. They actually seem to be continuing the parallel they introduced last season, where Lex is to Lana what season 1 Lionel was to season 1 Lex: a kind of twisted combination of love, challenge, threat, and mentor in the ways of evil. And that’s reinforced by the fact that Lana has moved herself firmly into Clark’s space, just as Lex repeatedly tried to do in season 1.
And Lex! OMG, writers, I was beginning to think you were incapable of writing Lex as subtlely and effectively evil, but tonight you really proved me wrong. First of all, I thought he was masterfully manipulative in his interactions with Lana. He seems like he's making concessions--coming into "her" space, assisting her with the D.A., even attempting once again to fauxpologize--and yet he's clearly the one in control, pulling the strings, making the subtle threats (Clark wouldn't be happy to hear about the $10 million Lana stole). Rowr! THAT'S Lex Luthor--even when obsessed, he's the one in control.
The Kara subplot was another masterful example of that. My god, the way he deflected Agent Carter by suggesting that his obsession with that girl he drew was some sort of whacked-out religious experience was fucking brilliant--and yet at the same time, I'm sure every single thing he said in that scene was absolutely true. He does think she saved his soul, he does know that she was more than human. And then the scene with Kara herself? I have to give kudos to whoever wrote this episode, because that was essence of Lex, distilled into one scene: I deserve the truth because I protected you; tell me the truth because I'll find out anyway; there must be meaning in the fact that the Kents saved my life; are you a savior or are you a warning.
I also love that we finally got textual confirmation that Lex fears an alien invasion and really thinks the country needs to be prepared for it. It's also cool that he's finally teaming up with the government to do so.
I really, really loved this episode. Even the dippy beauty queen subplot turned out to be more complex and less intrusive than I was expected. (It felt, tonally, like an homage to season 4 --like an awful lot of this episode, actually).
no subject
Jor-el might have been a leader and Jonathan might have been a mere farmer but, they both seem to have high expectations for their children — Jor-el expecting high leadership skills and Jonathan having high expectations for keeping principles. That’s actually a good combo for the future Superman, I think.
And does the fact that Kara exploded her melon just prove that women’s orgasms are better, or what?
That smiley face, how adorkable. It just means that, like in all things, Clark likes things controlled while Kara isn’t afraid to let loose and let fireworks (or watermelon seeds) fly. O:-)
And should we all start leaving “you totally made my watermelon explode” as feedback on erotic stories now?
Yes. it’s a whole lot more exciting than “popped popcorn” and “toasted bread.”
And Lex!
Word. He is masterful the way he insinuates he is the best harbor or worst snitch that anyone will ever encounter. One clearly needs/wants this man on their side — even if for the wrong reasons.
no subject
That smiley face, how adorkable. It just means that, like in all things, Clark likes things controlled while Kara isn’t afraid to let loose and let fireworks (or watermelon seeds) fly. O:-)
It was tremendously adorkable, wasn't it? But good point about Clark's control and Kara's current lack of control.
And I really agree with you about Lex's mastery.