norwich36 | Smallville: Arctic

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Smallville: Arctic

Spoilers, obviously. Brief reactions

Things that drove me batshit insane:

The entire Jimmy plot. For Pete's sake! We could have had at least 5 more minutes of Clark-Lex climactic confrontation if they had cut that out. And I guess they had the marriage proposal in case AM decided not to come back (??? maybe???), but it really seemed out of the blue and DUMB, considering the anticlimactic Clark-Lana scene. I mean, Chloe and Jimmy are ok in their place, but I hated the fact that we got this taking away time from the ending of the two most significant canon relationships on the show.

Things that made me go WTF?

Um, if Brainiac was using electricity to recharge himself after Chloe drained him (or whatever it was she inadvertantly did), how the hell did electricity kill him?

Things that could have gone better:

I have mixed feelings about Lana's final tape for Clark. Part of me thinks they needed to have that conversation in person--couldn't they have taped an actual conversation before KK went off to film her movie? It's not like they didn't know what she was going to say; it was pretty much word for word what fandom (at least the non-Clana hating part of fandom) has expected forever, and I really wanted them to really get to say goodbye. Regardless of the fact that a significant chunk of fandom hated Clana, for the last seven years it's been presented as the most significant relationship of the show, and I don't know that a video goodbye did it justice. (Plus: is that really the first thing Lana would think of after waking up from a month or so of being under painful mind control?)

On the other hand, Lois being there to comfort Clark? Absolutely perfect.

Things I really, really loved:

I actually really enjoyed how long they left the "is Kara Brainiac" question hanging. Ok, we all pretty much had guessed, I assume, and yet they left it open to the interpretation that Kara was just protecting Clark in her own wrongheaded way.

And damn, that scene where she revealed herself as a Kryptonian to Lex? That was so much fun to watch. Especially that first hint of awe in his expression, quickly tamped down but still there. It reminded me of that scene in Shattered (or was it Asylum? Those two run together in my head) where he saw Clark stop the car. And yet, Lex clearly has that reaction fully under his control; he's willing to leave Kara behind, and his confrontation with Clark makes clear that he's not letting emotion stand in the way from what he sees as necessary.

And speaking of that scene: ok, it was too short for THE climactic scene of the entire series, but it was still pretty damn awesome. I loved Clark's argument that no one was controlling Lex at that very moment, that he was free to make a choice; and I also loved Lex's line "I love you like a brother, Clark, but it has to be this way"--because we've seen exactly how Lex treats his brothers, even when he does really love them.

That ending, though? Sucked monkey balls. Because Lex isn't going to BE THERE next season, so how will find out what happened to him? *Sobs*

Ok, now to watch the other show that's going to break my heart.

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I think the problem with the video is that it reminds me way too much of how she dumped Whitney the second he was out of town and went after Clark. It just makes me think Whitney=Jason=Clark in terms of how interchangeable her love interests are. I don't consider it progress if she can't do it in person. I've never warmed up to her so I don't understand any sort of squee about the message itself considering HOW she delivers it. It stinks too much of cowardice and weakness.

And I'm pissed that they did a Pete with Lex. They only spent a few minutes on Pete's farewell back in S3 and devoted so much time to other stuff and they did the same with Lex.

We obviously have very different perspectives on Lana, and I doubt we're going to change each other's minds, so I'll just leave it at that.

SV's season finales have always had a problem with pacing. They try to cram so much in, the big moments inevitably feel rushed. They should have allowed more time for the final Clex scene, especially since they knew it was Lex's swan song.

Yeah, seriously. They could have plotted this episode a lot more tightly.

Especially that first hint of awe in his expression, quickly tamped down but still there. It reminded me of that scene in Shattered (or was it Asylum?

Oh hell yeah, I was thinking the exact same thing! It really was the same look, wasn't it? For one brief second. *sigh* I think Baby Lex was waiting for the Aliens to come rescue him.

Oh, Lex. If only you hadn't locked your heart away in a strongbox somewhere, along with your capacity for hope and awe.

Though really, Lex (and MR) seriously kicked butt in this episode and the last. Too bad it wasn't enough to convince MR to sign for at least a few episodes next season.

I couldn't agree more, they spend too much time on Jimmy, it would have been better to have the last Clex scene longer.
Because what a scene that was. As a Clex fan I'm completely emotionally satisfied.
Clark was trying to reason with Lex until the end, and Lex actually believed he was doing the right thing. And wasn't able to leave Clark behind. It was the destroyer and threat to the human race Lex was destroying, but it was Clark, his once best friend and only person who believed in him, that he stayed with. Oh boys. ♥

As for Clana, I actually liked the video. Kristin did a wonderful job.
I didn't see the break up coming, but I'm happy they did it because now we can start fresh next year. It's a shame Kristin wasn't here to end the relationship properly though, I do hope we'll see them find mutual peace and acceptance about the end of their relationship and move on as friends without any heartache next season.

And Clois scene, it was beyond wonderful. It was such a good parallel to Siren, and it was fantastic to see Clark open up to someone and let someone comfort him and share his pain.

Oh, I completely agree with you that KK did a wonderful job with that video--it was heartbreaking. I think I'm just having "it was better when I imagined it in my head" syndrome, because although I really *did* like the video and also the last Clex scene, I still feel a little...unsatisfied or something.

The Clois scene, though, carried no weight of expectation for me, since I hadn't anticipated it, so I could just enjoy it as it was.

I've been to a couple of places around LJ and everyone is sharing the same opinions about the last Clex scene and ALL the Jimmy scenes.

Why oh why?? You do wonder what goes on some times.

And boo hoo, the Fortress is broken. :(

Other than that all the key emotional points of this episode were off the chart for me. It was wonderful.

Oh, and with the Brainiac and electricity thing, I thought the same as you the first time I watched it. The second time I noticed you can see that Brainiac is only drawing power from the grid, he doesnt actually touch it, so I guess he's absorbing it at a slow flow. When Clark destroys him, he's actually giving him a power overload which is what causes him to explode.

Yeah, some people in comments below made similar arguments about Brainiac, and they make sense. It just seemed odd the first time I watched it.

I've noticed the consensus about Jimmy. It does worry me, a bit, for next season, since there are going to be a lot fewer characters; I'm not sure I'm looking forward to them expanding his role. Though maybe if he stops acting like such a dunderhead I'll remember that I generally like him.

I've noticed the consensus about Jimmy. It does worry me, a bit, for next season, since there are going to be a lot fewer characters; I'm not sure I'm looking forward to them expanding his role. Though maybe if he stops acting like such a dunderhead I'll remember that I generally like him.

In my opinion he would be more tolerable if the writers didnt try to force a story between him and Chloe, and just allowed his story to take its natural course at the Daily Planet.

The entire Jimmy plot. For Pete's sake! We could have had at least 5 more minutes of Clark-Lex climactic confrontation if they had cut that out.

I think they needed to have something left, just to set the stage for Chloe's arrest at the end of the ep. But they didn't need to drag it out the way they did, when they had so much more ground to cover.

Plus: is that really the first thing Lana would think of after waking up from a month or so of being under painful mind control?

Well, to be fair, they did say that she was aware, just trapped inside a body that she couldn't control. So to some extent, she's basically been locked inside her own head for all that time, aware of Clark coming to visit her, so she may very well have had the time to reach a decision (you know, amid all the excruciating pain) — and then act on it when she woke up.

On the other hand, Lois being there to comfort Clark? Absolutely perfect.

God, my love for Lois in this episode, and in that scene especially, knows no bounds.

I actually really enjoyed how long they left the "is Kara Brainiac" question hanging. Ok, we all pretty much had guessed, I assume, and yet they left it open to the interpretation that Kara was just protecting Clark in her own wrongheaded way.

Yes, definitely. This was a case where the characters didn't know anything that the characters shouldn't know. And paradoxically, the way it was played had the effect of making the characters look smarter, even while they were being fooled, specifically because Brainiac didn't slip back into his James Marsters form.

And damn, that scene where she revealed herself as a Kryptonian to Lex? That was so much fun to watch.

It really, really was. I loved how completely Brainiac played him — talk about pure evil. The line about the Traveller thinking he was a force for good was perfect, because it covered the bases beautifully... no matter how much animosity has built up between them, there's no way Lex would believe that Clark was knowingly evil. And it was beautiful, to me, that in the end, even in the reveal, Brainiac still didn't tell Lex. He never actually got to hear the words.

I loved Clark's argument that no one was controlling Lex at that very moment, that he was free to make a choice

I loved this because Clark was urging Lex to exercise his freedom even while Lex was seeking to take Clark's away.

I also loved Lex's line "I love you like a brother, Clark, but it has to be this way"--because we've seen exactly how Lex treats his brothers, even when he does really love them.

Okay, this made me giggle. :-)

That ending, though? Sucked monkey balls. Because Lex isn't going to BE THERE next season, so how will find out what happened to him? *Sobs*

I have to admit, I'm at a loss as to how they're going to resolve this cliffhanger without Michael Rosenbaum. Unless they filmed extra footage of the "rescue" to use next season, I'm seriously worried about dodgy uses of body doubles.

Well, to be fair, they did say that she was aware, just trapped inside a body that she couldn't control. So to some extent, she's basically been locked inside her own head for all that time, aware of Clark coming to visit her, so she may very well have had the time to reach a decision (you know, amid all the excruciating pain) — and then act on it when she woke up.

Well, if she really *was* aware and in pain that whole time, I honestly can see why she wants to get the hell away from Clark, and I wouldn't blame her. It's one thing to know the hypothetical cost of having a superpowered alien as a boyfriend, and another thing to pay them. From that perspective, her farewell was actually quite gracious. My main issue wasn't even the video, it was more the finale pacing question, and the fact that they (as usual) were trying to pack too much into an hour.

I loved how completely Brainiac played him — talk about pure evil. The line about the Traveller thinking he was a force for good was perfect, because it covered the bases beautifully... no matter how much animosity has built up between them, there's no way Lex would believe that Clark was knowingly evil. And it was beautiful, to me, that in the end, even in the reveal, Brainiac still didn't tell Lex. He never actually got to hear the words.

Oh, yeah--Brainiac was really masterful in that scene, and you're right, convincing Lex that the Traveller had good intentions and didn't know what a threat he was was a brilliant choice.

I agree with you that Lois really rocked the house in this episode.

The entire Jimmy plot. For Pete's sake!

I honestly can't understand why this particular creative team seems to think Jimmy's more than a secondary, supporting character. The past handful of episodes, he's been treated like another male lead, and I just don't get it. Maybe if I actually found him charming or appealing, I wouldn't mind how much time they spend on him, but since I think he's kind of a dick, I do mind.

Um, if Brainiac was using electricity to recharge himself after Chloe drained him (or whatever it was she inadvertantly did), how the hell did electricity kill him?

They could have elided this much better than they did, but at the end of the day, Brainiac is still a computer. And all electrical equipment can be irrevocably damaged by unexpected and massive power surges.

Especially that first hint of awe in his expression, quickly tamped down but still there. It reminded me of that scene in Shattered (or was it Asylum? Those two run together in my head) where he saw Clark stop the car. And yet, Lex clearly has that reaction fully under his control; he's willing to leave Kara behind, and his confrontation with Clark makes clear that he's not letting emotion stand in the way from what he sees as necessary.

I also liked it because it showed that for all that Kara was allegedly a Clark-substitute this season, she still never mattered to Lex in the way Clark does; she never replaced Clark for him. As soon as Lex realized that he did know who the Traveler was, he also knew Kara wasn't even close to being part of the equation.

And speaking of that scene: ok, it was too short for THE climactic scene of the entire series, but it was still pretty damn awesome. I loved Clark's argument that no one was controlling Lex at that very moment, that he was free to make a choice; and I also loved Lex's line "I love you like a brother, Clark, but it has to be this way"--because we've seen exactly how Lex treats his brothers, even when he does really love them.

ITA. 100%

As for Lana's farewell, I'm okay with it because that's not the end of Clark/Lana. KK is coming back for a handful of episodes next year, so they'll actually get their face-to-face closure.

I honestly can't understand why this particular creative team seems to think Jimmy's more than a secondary, supporting character. The past handful of episodes, he's been treated like another male lead, and I just don't get it. Maybe if I actually found him charming or appealing, I wouldn't mind how much time they spend on him, but since I think he's kind of a dick, I do mind.

I liked him at first, but I really only like him in the background (or helping Lois). I'm a little worried that they're going to expand his role next season, with Lex & Lionel gone and Lana mostly gone.

at the end of the day, Brainiac is still a computer. And all electrical equipment can be irrevocably damaged by unexpected and massive power surges.

I guess that makes sense, it just seemed weird to me as I was watching.

I hope you're right about the Clark/Lana closure.

I hear you on the electricity and the Jimmy, and you've outlined some of the reasons I think the taped ending wasn't quite right for Lana. However, I actually totally loved it emotionally and sobbed like a baby. I think I'll be alone in that reaction and I'm not without my own criticisms of it--but the moment worked for me.

, it was too short for THE climactic scene of the entire series
It was, or I just wish there'd been more path-crossing between them before that.

we've seen exactly how Lex treats his brothers, even when he does really love them.
Gah. Yes. This is true.

Awww, heartbreaky shows all round.

I did think as season finales go this was probably the weakest ever for Smallville. But the bits it got right for me, it got REALLY right.

I think, sometime when my life is less crazy, I need to rewatch this, because I think when I'm not watching with seven years of expectation, I will enjoy the episode more as itself rather than being disappointed by the things I was hoping for that it wasn't. Plus I can fastforward through all of Jimmy's scenes.

Oh, I teared up at Lana's message, too--and I've seen a few responses like that as I collected reviews (though of course that's not universal).

And I did love Clark and Lex's confrontation. It just needed to last longer.

Yeah, I think the fact that I was seriously underwhelmed by the previous ep meant I'd lowered my expectations. And then I was also kinda focussed on/obsessed about the vid. So I was kinda zen about the ep though I think it was a flaky season finale.

Just joining in on this little discussion about the strength of this finale. I think it was kind of weird for a Smallville finale. It didnt seem to reach alot of the usual big climatic moments that Smallville finales always do.

There was closure (sort of) for Lex and Clark. There was closure (sort of) for Lana and Clark. Lois didnt have a big finale moment. Chloe was arrested, and nobody seems to care very much about Jimmy proposing. Brainiac was destroyed. We know that Clark is going to crawl out of the ice some how. So all in all it just didnt finish with any big moments.

It was just .... weird. :/

It almost felt like the last chapter of a book, but you know that there is going to be another book coming out soon that continues the story.

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