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Smallville 7.5 "Action"
Despite the
Things that were awesome--which pretty much encompasses the whole episode
Lana v. Lionel:
Dear producers, you really really don't need to pander to me in this very obvious way, because I think I've made it clear that I will see the good in this show no matter what. However, if you WANT to pander to me, you can keep up with this as long as you want to, really.
I had a hard time deciding who I wanted to win in the Lana v. Lionel smackdown. As you know, I've been Lionel's number one fangirl for a long time, and he only renewed that love by
On the other hand, if there ever was anyone who deserved the Misery treatment--not to mention a shovel to the face--it is Lionel, and I actually cheered when we saw it was Lana who was behind the captivity. (I'm slow, I know--I should have twigged to the fact that it was her earlier, but like Lois I suspected Lex all along.)
The Lionel-Lana confrontation in the barn was also fantastic because of course he figured out Lana was behind his captivity--but I think she did a great job holding her own in that scene. And Lionel bringing up her concern for Clark was a masterful bit of manipulation but also brought into sharp relief that parallel between Lionel's own actions last season--which he justified to Clark by saying he was trying to protect him--and Lana's actions this season.
I have to agree with Lionel, here: clearly imprisoning him was an act of revenge, not protection. Even though I sympathize a bit with Lana's actions--is there any fan of the show who hasn't wanted to, at the very least, hit Lionel in the face with a shovel?--I agree with Lionel: Lana's is on the edge of a moral precipice, if she hasn't already jumped off. (I actually think she's jumped, and though Clark can catch her when she physically falls, like in this episode, I don't think he can stop her ethical tumble. And even if she doesn't hit rock bottom, I can't imagine him looking at her in the same way when he discovers her methods have included kidnapping and assault).
Lois v. Lex
Can you say canonical Lois Lane, baby!!! Okay, she's not QUITE there, because Lex caught her before she was actually able to find anything, but still! Wonderful disguise, effective breaking and entering, going against her editors warnings, finding out stuff even Lex didn't know, and FACING OFF AGAINST LEX!! Oh, this made me so happy! They really need to have more Lex v. Lois scenes together; they really crackle.
I also liked Lois' scenes with new editor whose name is escaping me at the moment--though is he really protecting her by warning her off Luthors, or are we supposed to suspect he's in their pocket? I did love Lois' comment to him that he would be the arm candy if he went with her.
Warrior Angel and Devilicus
Aka Clark and Lex. Okay, I've always been a huge fan of this parallel, and even though they were a LITTLE anvilly, I still liked it. Didn't someone write a story where Lex had given up his Warrior Angel obsession as a direct reaction to his alienation from Clarked? Whoever that was just got inked in a major way. Though I love that despite Lex's protestations that he has given up his interest in Warrior Angel, he nevertheless has his entire comic collection right there in his office, and can immediately point to the issue that Clark needs. Oh yeah, he's totally over his superhero fetish.
And how cool was it that obsesso-fanboy actually CALLED Lex Devilicus in that scene in Belle Reve? (Devilicus in the movie had a very cool costume, btw). And everyone who's been saying Lex knows all about Clark, I think we basically got confirmation in that scene, didn't we?
This makes two episodes in a row where Clark and Lex had screentime together--and they weren't even fighting with each other. You'd think this was season five, or something.
Lex and Lionel
The show has toyed with Lex and Lionel switching places for a while, but I think this episode is supposed to signal that this shoft has definitively happened. Lionel was the powerless one who needed to be saved by Lex--and only his captor's goading allowed him to accept that help, given his deep suspicion about Lex's motives. Furthermore, Lionel, not Lex, was the one with the out-of-control emotions, beating that woman to death, while Lex remained calm.
The blocking of that scene, with Lionel crouched on the floor and Lex looming over him, seemed to me to be a clear sign that Lex has ascended and Lionel has fallen. My prediction is that Lionel is right to suspect Lex's intentions toward him, and that Lionel is not going to make it past the end of this season. Even though we saw Lionel's survival instincts in this episode, we also saw his weakness: he looked so old and weak in those opening shots, and I think that was significant beyond the fact that he's been captive for a long time.
Clark, Lana, and destiny
Very, very anvilly, yes--but this episode did make me wonder if they're actually foreshadowing Lana's death. I know she lives in canon, but the parallel between Warrior Angel's girlfriend and Lana was too direct to overlook, especially given the fact that Lex and Lionel now apparently know she's acting against them. And the fact that they already have Lana acknowledging she's going to have to let Clark go seems kind of ominous to me.
Clark catching Lana as she tumbled off the balcony was a clear homage to Superman I, but it was bittersweet given the heavy foreshadowing that Clark and Lana can never have a future together. I do have to agree now, though, with everyone who last week commented on the sexlessness of the Clana. There was one sort of veiled reference to sex at the beginning of the ep, with Lana suggesting that there were other ways Clark could work off his energy--but did they even kiss at all in this episode? It's really kind of weird. You would have at least expected them to kiss after he rescued her. WTF is up with that?
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I didnt read that as Lana is actually going to die, but this episode was full of shout outs to online fandom, and there's a good majority of the fandom out there who want Lana to die. So I think that whole set up within the Warrior Angel storyline was directed at that particular fan group.
It was the anvils that were happening in the real world of Smallville that left me thinking that this is where they are going with the story.
And did you notice Lois's Clark Kent glasses. Too funny!!
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Oh, sure, that was obvious (and a little annoying)--but I'm not sure it isn't also foreshadowing.
And did you notice Lois's Clark Kent glasses?
I *loved* that she was wearing Clark Kent's glasses.
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I did love Lois' comment to him that he would be the arm candy if he went with her.
That was just made of all sorts of win. In one comment, she asserts her superiority — looks and intelligence — while giving him a nod that he too is all that. It’s a crafty way of bringing herself up while bringing him up as well. :-)
And everyone who's been saying Lex knows all about Clark, I think we basically got confirmation in that scene, didn't we?
Clark and Lex have dropped all pretenses that Clark is different, as shown by last week’s hospital scene where Clark’s presence there is just par for the course. Though, I’ve always wondered how much Lex suspects of Clark. I think this week’s episode is the audience’s confirmation regarding how much Lex knows about Clark.
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Yes, they really, really do. And they also need to have sex. Though maybe my focus is a bot narrow of late.
Though I love that despite Lex's protestations that he has given up his interest in Warrior Angel, he nevertheless has his entire comic collection right there in his office, and can immediately point to the issue that Clark needs. Oh yeah, he's totally over his superhero fetish.
*snort* Yeah, I understand why they needed to have it there from the real world perspective, but following Lex's statement that he wasn't a comic junkie anymore just made me laugh and laugh.
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She's off, baby. Her actions in this episode are pretty irredeemable IMO, especially given the woman working for her got *murdered*. And while seeing Lionel kill someone with his bare hands was pretty fucked up, I couldn't stop thinking that Lana is the one who drove him to that extreme. Added to that, Lana seems to feel no guilt for what she did. Anyway, whatever is going on with her, she's the most interesting character on the show at the moment. ♥
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Wasn't it wonderful! While I winced in sympathy, I also squeed at seeing more Suicide Slums survivor!Lionel. (Still love the fact that during the riot, he had no problem wading in, picking up a crowbar(?), and using it to smash people.)
The Lionel-Lana confrontation in the barn... but I think she did a great job holding her own in that scene.
It was extremely well done. Not only in her responses, but in the way she responded. Even if we hadn't seen her earlier, from the way she acted, it was obvious that she was lying.
seemed to me to be a clear sign that Lex has ascended and Lionel has fallen
Nothing to say to this but Yes! I completely agree.
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I know you've been predicting this for a while, and it looks like you were right--which is SO completely made of win. *Bounces*
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I completely agree with this comment.
And there is no way Lex has given up on Warrior Angel--I'm just not buying it.
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*Doh* How did I miss that obvious and extremely important point? Damn, she's only had minions for a month or so and already she's getting them killed.
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I actually think she's jumped, and though Clark can catch her when she physically falls, like in this episode,
How dense was I not to notice that bit of symbolism? Yay show!
Wonderful disguise I agree. Lois was hawt with the glasses.
Devilicus in the movie had a very cool costume, He did! Much cooler than Warrior Angel.
I like your thoughts on the Lionel-Lex reversal, and on Lionel in general, although I wish Lex had had more of a hand in his fall (for dramatic purposes, although in a way it's nice that his hands remain strangely clean where Lionel is concerned.)
I really hope they're not killing Lana. I want her to *be* that person she has become, because she's finally close to being a strong female character (still motivated by the men in her life, though.)
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Yeah, and he did all right in prison, too, at least when Clark wasn't in his body. Lex may be overtaking him, but he still has those sharp survival instincts.
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It's possible I might have a slight glasses fetish, but DAMN she looked good in them.
I really hope they're not killing Lana. I want her to *be* that person she has become, because she's finally close to being a strong female character (still motivated by the men in her life, though.)
Well, canonically Lana Lang lives, so they probably won't kill her off. And I agree with you that it would be great if Lana got to be a strong person, not defined by the men in her life. Of course, in my head she and Chloe end up going off together to New York City or Paris or something and having their own version of happily ever after.
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But I agree - at least she's interesting this way. :D
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To be fair, though, that guy didn't die because he was in jail; he had a terminal disease, which is how Lionel persuaded him to take the fall. Still, I agree with your overall point that Lana doesn't seem to be very concerned about who gets hurt as a consequence of her revenge plot.
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That scene was so disturbing, he didn't make a sound.
Can you say canonical Lois Lane, baby!!! Okay, she's not QUITE there, because Lex caught her before she was actually able to find anything, but still!
Oh yeah. The fake ID card, the costume, glasses (very Clark Kent!), everything was excellent.
And I think Grant is definitely one of Lex's minions. He tried twice in this episode to kill the story about Luthors. If he continues I'll start to wonder if he's sending Lois to NY, LA and other places on purpose to get her out of Smallville.
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I really adored her disguise, and her competence in general.
And I think Grant is definitely one of Lex's minions. He tried twice in this episode to kill the story about Luthors. If he continues I'll start to wonder if he's sending Lois to NY, LA and other places on purpose to get her out of Smallville.
I think that would actually be a good storyline, just to demonstrate that (a) some Lexian minions are actually good at their job, as he clearly is and (b) because it would give a good reason for Lois to be missing in the eps she isn't contracted for.
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I'm not sure who revealed that info, to be honest. You're right that if Lana didn't know that it made it doubly cold.
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And Lex! *squees* There was that brief shot, after Lois leaves Lex alone in his office, where Lex realizes where Lionel is, and his expression then.
On a side note, has anyone mentioned how Lois' pretty editor looks like a younger version of Tom Cruise?
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I'm not sure it's a widely-shared opinion in the fandom, but I actually think KK's acting has been fantastic since season 5--and last year, when she was given a meaty storyline, she really shone. I wouldn't blame all of the early seasons Lana blandness on Gough and Millar, though; I think that just as TW has, KK has grown a lot as an actress over the past few seasons, and she also seems to bring her A game more when Lana is allowed to be more complicated.
On a side note, has anyone mentioned how Lois' pretty editor looks like a younger version of Tom Cruise?
Huh, no, I hadn't noticed that.
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You know, I don't really think it was that critical of online fans? Or only playfully so. Only on the surface--and you didn't have to dig too deep to see that they were secretly nudging us and saying 'yeah you guys are right to a certain extent, but this is why we CAN'T do this yet' and also: 'stop blaming Lana'. Both of which messages I was fine with. *G*
clearly imprisoning him was an act of revenge, not protection. Even though I sympathize a bit with Lana's actions--is there any fan of the show who hasn't wanted to, at the very least, hit Lionel in the face with a shovel?
Hee! Yes, definitely. It's hard not to remain sympathetic to her despite the cruelty. She's so similar to Lex in this regard it's uncanny.
I actually think she's jumped, and though Clark can catch her when she physically falls, like in this episode, I don't think he can stop her ethical tumble.
Ohh, lovely way of expressing it. I so agree!
They really need to have more Lex v. Lois scenes together; they really crackle.
Definitely! :)
Lex has ascended and Lionel has fallen. My prediction is that Lionel is right to suspect Lex's intentions toward him, and that Lionel is not going to make it past the end of this season. Even though we saw Lionel's survival instincts in this episode, we also saw his weakness: he looked so old and weak in those opening shots, and I think that was significant beyond the fact that he's been captive for a long time.
Interesting. I don't doubt you're right but I wonder what the path to that will be? Because for now Lex is a reformed man. It's actually really SCARY watching him in this holding pattern, because we're sure he'll break out the evil again but we don't know when. I'm finding it very suspenseful.
did make me wonder if they're actually foreshadowing Lana's death
I wondered that too. I certainly wouldn't put it past them.
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Well, the fanboy *was* actually trying to murder someone because he disapproved of the plotline, and then he tried to murder someone *else* in an "Unbreakable" ripoff to try to get someone else to become a comic-book like hero. Regardless of whether or not he reformed at the end, the fact that he tried to kill two people reads as actual criticism to me.
nteresting. I don't doubt you're right but I wonder what the path to that will be? Because for now Lex is a reformed man. It's actually really SCARY watching him in this holding pattern, because we're sure he'll break out the evil again but we don't know when. I'm finding it very suspenseful.
Hmm, I guess I am not taking Lex's "reformation" as a real one so much as a break between acts, or something. (I guess that's what you mean by him being in a holding pattern). I do wonder what his longterm arc is going to be this season; we haven't really seen any hints of it yet, because I find it hard to believe his obsession with Kara will play out for a whole season. Well, maybe Kara's Kryptonian McGuffin and the other Kryptonian that she mentioned may play a role?
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I do buy his redemption to a certain extent, but I think it's clear that it relies on him actually getting Kara to be open with him--that's not going to happen so I suspect we'll see him slide into nefarious activities again fairly fast.
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On the other hand, if there ever was anyone who deserved the Misery treatment--not to mention a shovel to the face--it is Lionel ...
Yeah, I was on the fence about it, too. My affection for Lana has grown steadily since S5 and I've never loved to hate a character as much as I love to hate Lionel. But I'm me, so in the end, I had to come down on the side of the person who wasn't actively committing crime the entire episode, so Lionel won this round.
Lana did hold her own nicely in that final scene between them, but I actually found her confidence that Clark wasn't likely to believe Lionel a little unsettling. I don't doubt that Lana loves Clark, but I also think she's willing to use his idolization of her to her advantage. The way she smiled to herself when Lionel brought Clark up was kind of chilling to me, as if she was thinking, "Oh, of course Clark would never believe you over me." But we know from last week that Clark won't blindly assume Lana's the truthful one, as evidenced by him questioning her on the $10 million. Something about seeing that Lana knows she's manipulating Clark -- not just keeping things from him, but manipulating him -- drove home Lionel's point about how far she's fallen.
I agree with Lionel: Lana's is on the edge of a moral precipice, if she hasn't already jumped off. (I actually think she's jumped ...
I agree. Like I said, I think she'll eventually redeem herself, but I think there are a few more rungs on the ethical ladder for her to slip before she heeds Lionel's warning.
Though I love that despite Lex's protestations that he has given up his interest in Warrior Angel, he nevertheless has his entire comic collection right there in his office, and can immediately point to the issue that Clark needs.
I loved that so much precisely because it's the Fannish Way. Even when you (general 'you') move on from fandoms, it takes a long time to forget the lore you once knew about the fandom(s) you left, or to let go of the DVDs/VCR tapes/comics issues. Three years after I'd moved on from due SOUTH, I could still name an episode based on the first 30 seconds of its teaser, and I held on to my video tapes for a long time.
And how cool was it that obsesso-fanboy actually CALLED Lex Devilicus in that scene in Belle Reve?
I loved that so much.
(Devilicus in the movie had a very cool costume, btw).
Purple, black and silver, as Bop noted. Lex's signature colors and a shiny version of the color grey. How perfect.
And everyone who's been saying Lex knows all about Clark, I think we basically got confirmation in that scene, didn't we?
Yeah, I think so. I think Lex really just needs to see the Big Moment, like Chloe did in Pariah or Lana did in Promise.
The blocking of that scene, with Lionel crouched on the floor and Lex looming over him, seemed to me to be a clear sign that Lex has ascended and Lionel has fallen. My prediction is that Lionel is right to suspect Lex's intentions toward him, and that Lionel is not going to make it past the end of this season.
*nod* I thought Lex's comment, "but it seems you've given up on me," sealed Lionel's future fate. As long as Lex thought he had some chance of impressing Lionel/winning his love, he would care about what happened to Lionel. But now that he knows Lionel's always going to think the worst of him, is never going to give him the benefit of the doubt, all bets are off.
part II
Oh, definitely. That was the first thing I thought during the Clark/Lex scene when Lex got to that part of WA's mythology, and Al Gough has been quoted in the past as saying that really, only Clark, Lex and Lois are safe for making it to the end of the series alive (I think it was a Kryptonsite interview). I can't really imagine SV killing Lana and letting it stick, but the series has certainly raised it as a distinct possibility that she could die by Lex's hand.
but did they even kiss at all in this episode?
No. Not even after he saved her from a horrible death by catching her in mid-fall. That was a classic heroine-kisses-the-hero moment right there, but the most they did was rub noses? It's deeply weird.
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Yeah, I agree with this. I think the show could have gone the route of Lana simply being unsuited to being partnered with someone who regularly risks themselves for the sake of others. I've talked about it elsewhere, but it's basically the idea that there are some people who should never marry a cop or a firefighter, because they're not suited to handling the stress of always worrying about their loved ones' well-being and they get resentful of the fact that complete strangers are often a priority because of their loved ones line of work. The series could have drawn the eventual Clana dissolution in those terms, but they've clearly decided to show that Lana is supportive of Clark's heroic tendencies, that she doesn't seem to mind them.
So. Something has to come between them, since we know they don't end up together. I'm not crazy about the idea of Clark and Lana Don't Work Out because Lana, like, fell down a well and died or something. I think it works better if it turns out that they're not suited to one another. Because then, they get a real chance to make it work and they both learn that it won't. And they can then both move on. I absolutely think Clark needs to get the "what if ..." of life with Lana out of his system and I think Lana needs someone who can always put her first and who sees her as she really is, flaws and all.
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I don’t like the trope (http://www.tvtropes.org) of “boy and his x” and “death by newberry medal” which are usually combined into “boy and the death of his x” to propel the boy into maturity. So I don’t like the concept of the girlfriend dying to propel the hero towards his journey. I actually hope that Lana lives in the end so that, as you say, Clark will have meaningfully moved on. And obviously, Lois won’t die because he’ll align himself with her in the future. I actually think this aspect of SV is a very mature telling of a hero’s journey because it shows that having the right support network alive and kicking and talking to be helpful are just as important even to a hero.
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And really, up until he beat that woman to death, they did a good job making his plight seem horrifying enough that the viewer sympathized with him.
The way she smiled to herself when Lionel brought Clark up was kind of chilling to me, as if she was thinking, "Oh, of course Clark would never believe you over me."
I kind of loved that, though. And I think in this she might be right--I can see Clark believing Lex about the money, but I don't know he'd believe anyone about her more nefarious acts unless he witnessed them himself.
I loved that so much precisely because it's the Fannish Way. Even when you (general 'you') move on from fandoms, it takes a long time to forget the lore you once knew about the fandom(s) you left, or to let go of the DVDs/VCR tapes/comics issues. Three years after I'd moved on from due SOUTH, I could still name an episode based on the first 30 seconds of its teaser, and I held on to my video tapes for a long time.
What, you don't *still* have them? I'm shocked, I tell you. Shocked.
Seriously, though, Lex is also a huge fanboy in that he is only persuaded to move from his old obsession (Clark) when he gets a new one (Kara).
As long as Lex thought he had some chance of impressing Lionel/winning his love, he would care about what happened to Lionel. But now that he knows Lionel's always going to think the worst of him, is never going to give him the benefit of the doubt, all bets are off.
I agree. And yet, in some (very small) way I feel bad for Lionel here, because I think if I were him I would have suspected Lex set the whole thing up, too.
Re: part II
I can see why they're not having sex--I assume DC wants Clark to save his alien virginity for Lois--but the lack of even kissing really strains credulity.