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Smallville 7.6 "Lara"
Overall I liked it, though I don't think I loved it. Oddly enough, I was more interested in some of the future plotlines the episode seems to be setting up than the revelations about Lara, which really surprised me.
Things I liked
--Lana's plotline, which continues to thicken. I wonder if the Isis foundation is doing any good whatsoever, or is it just a front for Lana's spygames? Even though the the Chloe-Lana interaction made me a little fearful about the future of the Chlana doomed! doomed by secrets and lies and obsession, alas! , I was very happy that Chloe was smart enough not to reveal her secret to Lana, and that she was able to tell that Lana was concealing the truth about something. And Lana has gotten very deft with the "I can't tell Clark, he's so overprotective" excuse.
--Kara's attempts at being stealthy. What can I say, I was amused by her attempt to seduce the information out of the Homeland Security guy, even though in the end she was not particularly subtle.
--Kara and Jimmy, who continue to be very cute. Though Kara really has to stop using Clark's signature vanishing move (just like she really has to stop moping in midair and putting planes at risk).
--Chloe, for being brave and trying to get help with her meteor affliction. And I don't blame her at all for not telling Lana why she was really there; it may have been a failure of courage on her part, but it's going to turn out to be a very wise decision, I'm sure.
--Lex, who was pretty convincingly badass in that opening scene with Agent Carter. Apparently he does have real power; not only is he effectively hiding his projects from Lionel, but he can waltz into highly secured Homeland Security sites without permission, and have agents fired at will. Well, that won't be necessary now, but it was still very Luthorian. And I liked his attempt to come to Kara's rescue, not only with Carter but in his lies to his dad.
--Agent Carter. Sure, he was doomed once he found out Clark's secret, but damn! Those Kryptonite cuffs (and his eagerness to use them) were pretty impressive, and even more so was his acquisition and improvement of Summerholt technology. It's really too bad he's dead, because he was a great villain.
Things that made me go "huh?"
--What's with all the weird platitudes Lionel is spouting to everyone? "In its darkest hour the soul is replenished?" Come on, Lionel, you can do better than that. And that scene with Lex again makes me wonder what the hell his true motives are. His schizophrenic attitude about Lex (cautioning him at the same time he condemns him) seems to make even less sense than normal, if his goal is to worm his way into Lex's confidences again.
I did like that he pointed out the obvious, though, that everyone Lex goes after is connected somehow to Clark. It's like they remembered some people watch this show for the subtext, ro something.
--The whole Lara plotline. Um, yes, it makes sense that we find out more about her because Kara knew her, and it was interesting to get the backstory about why exactly Zor-El hated Jor-El, but a love triangle? SERIOUSLY? Could they possibly come up with something more cliched? Oh, yeah, how about having Lara visit the Kent farm. Because honestly, ALL OF KRYPTON visited the Kent farm at some point--and soon we will get flashbacks of that, too.
Ok, despite my totally inability to suspend disbelief on that point, I did think Lara was lovely, and I kind of sort of even liked the idea that she knew the plan and wanted to see where her son would grow up--but honestly? This seemed like so much overkill it kind of spoiled the Lara memories from "Memoria" from me. It was better, for me, just having hints of her. The only thing that may redeem this plotline for me is the "Lara's DNA" plotline. My God, the fact that CLARK STOLE IT and HE TALKED ABOUT WANTING TO SEE HER AGAIN SOMEDAY makes me think of really crazy but fun plotlines--is Clark going to try to clone his mom? That would of course be
--Lionel gets Clarkhugs? Seriously? I was very glad, though, that Clark didn't spill Kara's secret to Lionel. At least he still has a little caution.
--Kara gets to name Kal-El? Oh, please.
--I really didn't like the CGI for Krypton. It reminded me of bad early Star Trek sets, sorry.
So basically, I probably hated all the things we were supposed to like most about this episode, because it seemed like way too much retcon for one episode. If they had spread out the Lara revelations over a longer period, maybe I wouldn't have had such a negative reaction?
no subject
Is it just me, or does Lionel seem to be stepping into Jonathan Kent's place (and wouldn't he be horrified?). I mean, platitudes, condemnation of Lex, protection of Clark... and did I see Clark hugging him? Surely I was hallucinating that?
Oh, yeah, how about having Lara visit the Kent farm. Because honestly, ALL OF KRYPTON visited the Kent farm at some point--and soon we will get flashbacks of that, too.
This, I still do not understand in the slightest. How did they all just pop over there, when ... wasn't it in the first scene of the ep where Kara and Zor-El are talking about how it takes three years to get to Earth? Or am I misremembering? WTF?
Also, I'm not liking the Clark lying to Kara/stealing the crystal revelation. It just feels off.
All that makes it sound like I didn't like the episode. I did like some things; I liked Kara & Jimmy, I liked Chloe being smart, and Lana continuing to be morally dubious, and I liked the Lex and Clark scene, and Lex trying to protect Kara. But there was some major weirdness in this episode.
no subject
Unfortunately you were not hallucinating. And yeah, the idea of Lionel taking Jonathan's place is the creepiest thing ever.
How did they all just pop over there, when ... wasn't it in the first scene of the ep where Kara and Zor-El are talking about how it takes three years to get to Earth?
No, they mentioned that there were portals, just that all but one of them had been closed off.
Honestly, considering the crystal has his mom's DNA, I think Clark has more of a right to it than Kara, but him stealing it still is a little disturbing.