norwich36 | Smallville: Bride

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Smallville: Bride

Obligatory shallowness

Holy Mary Mother of GOD the cast all looked hot tonight. I mean, I know that on a normal day it is the most beautiful cast on television, but DAYUM. I can't remember Clark *ever* looking hotter than in that scene when he pulled Lois to dance with him. And she was completely rocking that dress. And I've heard that some people didn't like Lana's wig or extensions or whatever, but I thought it was a very cute hairdo, and she looked drop dead gorgeous in that black dress. And Chloe looked positively incandescent!! Even Oliver was looking hotter than normal--in that scene where he was giving Lois advice and using his trust-me puppy-dog eyes, I have *never* wanted to jump him more.

Things I did not like, at least at first

I have to say, my first reaction to the videotape was not "OMG, Doomsday has interrupted Chloe and Jimmy's perfect day," it was "Chloe's wedding is taking place in the BARN? SERIOUSLY? Seriously? She lives above the Talon--they couldn't have at least rented the downstairs?" Though I suppose it was to (a) show Clark's generosity? Or something like that? and (b) allow a more rebuildable place be destroyed when Doomsday showed up? Still, I am a little dubious about this choice of locale--though I suspect one of the great ladies of meta may write something very smart about the symbolism of Chloe getting married from Clark's barn as he gives her away.

The videotape itself I went back and forth on. At first I liked it, until I realized we were going to see all those scenes again in real time, and then I thought it was an overly melodramatic piece of staging, and then in the end when it looked like LEX--was that supposed to be Lex in the last scene?--was watching it, I liked it again.

Things I loved

EVERYTHING ELSE. So I will break it down character by character:

Lois
Lois, you HAVE to stop being so fucking awesome, because I can't keep writing reviews in which I say you have never been more awesome than in this specific episode, because I will lose all credibility. But seriously, your emotional range in this episode was amazing to watch: from the absolute hilariousness of your opening quote on the wedding video ("The General always said, 'Marriage is the only war where you get to sleep with the enemy'"), to your fabulous wedding-planning skillz, to that amazing blend of hope and vulnerability you showed when you thought Clark was saying Jimmy's wedding vows to you, to that wonderful scene of you opening up to Oliver. Damn. You have never been more awesome. I especially loved how you realized the best thing you could do for Chloe right now is to stay with Jimmy when he needs someone.

Ollie

I do give you negative marks for being a little too obsessed with killing Lex, but since that obsession (a) allowed you and Lana to bond over Clark's moral compass and (b) got Lana back for the wedding, I'll let that go for now. I was also a little distressed that you weren't even going to Chloe's wedding because of said obsession--aren't you guys friends, after all she's done to help you?--but better late than never. And, um, the INCREDIBLY slashiness of your scene on the plane with Clark makes up for a lot--it was so slashy your henchdude even commented on it as a "lover's spat." But really, it was how incredibly sweet you were to Lois when she was freaking out over the return of Lana that made me forgive all. Aww! You're such a sweet ex-boyfriend.

Lana

Oh, LANA! I love the idea of you out in the world tracking down Lex to protect Clark. Um, and you look amazing. I'm sorry for repeating the shallow when I thought I got it all out above, but I haven't gotten to rave about your gorgeousness for a long time, so welcome back! I would, um, yell at you for your timing and interrupting the first real Clois kiss, but I'm going to blame it on the writers and their love of triangles instead. Considering you aren't sending any mixed signals to Clark at all--you're being very firm about your boundaries, actually--I'm not going to hold you responsible for the melodrama. And I was really glad that you pointed out to Clark that knowing his secret can be a good thing, not just a burden.

Jimmy
You actually had surprisingly little screentime considering it was your wedding and all--and most of it was sort of lameass superstition/foreshadowing--but you were still absolutely adorable. I loved your matchmaking attempts with Lois, and I loved your vows. I'm just glad you're in DC canon, or I'd be worried about your survival.

Clark
Yay for you, insisting that Ollie could wait a day to pursue Lex because Chloe's wedding was important to you. And yay in general for trying to persuade him to be his better self, and not use protecting you as an excuse. And yay once again for almost kissing Lois. P.S. Stop getting hotter in every episode because (a) it is a violation of the laws of physics and (b) you are causing your fangirls to spontaneously combust, and that is never a good thing. Oh, who am I kidding, you violate the laws of physics all the time, and your fangirls report that it is a happy death. (Unlike poor Chloe's may be. Meep!!)

Chloe
You were so radiant! And so happy! And this is Smallville, so we know it couldn't end well. But god, I really don't know what to make of that last uber-creepy scene with Doomsday, when your eyes opened and you had the silver eyes of Brainiac and that uber-creepy smile. I'm worried for you, Chloe. Are you still there at all? Who could restore your mind, now that Jor-El is infected? Yikes! I can't believe we have to wait until January to find out!!

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

I know, our show has the hottest cast on TV! They all looked so good. ♥
I'm one of the people who didn't like Lana's wig, it looked fake. :( But her dress was hot.

(b) allow a more rebuildable place be destroyed when Doomsday showed up?

Ha! I forgot to mention this in my review, and it bugged me *a lot*.
But yeah, I figured they went with the barn because it's easiest to destroy, and then to rebuild. This way Clark can do it on his own. It would be harder to explain with Talon, especially now when Chloe doesn't know about his powers.

was that supposed to be Lex in the last scene?

I thought that was Lex. *nods*
Not Michael obviously, so that is why we only got to see the back of his head.

I could quote te whole paragraph you wrote about Lois, but I'll just say - HELL YEAH!!
She is so fantastic! Definitely one of my favorite character on TV at the moment.

I'm still shocked they had Ollie try to kill Lex in cold blood. Just WTH? :(

Stop getting hotter in every episode because (a) it is a violation of the laws of physics and (b) you are causing your fangirls to spontaneously combust, and that is never a good thing.

Ha ha.
♥

I thought it was a very cute hairdo, and she looked drop dead gorgeous in that black dress
Yes, I agree! I liked it. I'm just worried it signified Evil.

I have to say, my first reaction to the videotape was not "OMG, Doomsday has interrupted Chloe and Jimmy's perfect day," it was "Chloe's wedding is taking place in the BARN? SERIOUSLY?
Oh I am so glad I was not alone in that!! It took me quite a bit to get over that!

I especially loved how you realized the best thing you could do for Chloe right now is to stay with Jimmy when he needs someone.
Yes, that was beautiful... though I curse the going-to-Star-City-ness of it!

Aww! You're such a sweet ex-boyfriend.
He really is! Everyone should have an ex like that! (Why oh why aren't mine like that?!)

The ending for Chloe was all ambiguous and weird. I am confused! And I am pretty sure that WAS meant to be Lex, but it worries me greatly that Lana may be embroiled in some Machiavellian Luthor plot... There is too much suspense! I absolutely REFUSE to wait until January. *stomps foot powerlessly*

I think that you and I may be the only people to like Lana's new haircut! And I thought she was very awesome the entire ep.

Aww! You're such a sweet ex-boyfriend.

I suspect that Oliver makes a much better ex than he does boyfriend.

I really enjoyed the episode and I'm very intrigued at what'll happen next with Chloe. That was such a totally creepy smile at the end!

i couldn't get past the barn, turned away to olbermann within minutes. now that i'm reading people's reactions, though, i'll make sure to see it somehow. maybe it won't embarrass me on the laptop screen!

Can I just so-sign this review? Because really, you hit everything I loved about the episode (and the one thing that made me go, "Oh, Smallville," in that way one regards an adorable but slightly retarded puppy -- a wedding in a barn, show? *seriously*?)!! I was so satisfied and intrigued last night and so happy with all the actors (each of whom got at least one moment to really shine) and EEEEEEE!!!! Lana! And LEX!!

I figured they went with the barn because it's easiest to destroy, and then to rebuild. This way Clark can do it on his own. It would be harder to explain with Talon, especially now when Chloe doesn't know about his powers.

I can totally see why they made that decision from a production standpoint, but it really makes no sense from a *character* standpoint.

I'm still shocked they had Ollie try to kill Lex in cold blood. Just WTH? :(

Yeah, as far as we know Lex hasn't been doing anything dastardly since his disappearance, so it really seems ooc for Ollie. I mean, killing Lex for Lionel's sins? Really? And if he's really trying to kill Lex to protect Clark, I wonder if that makes him next in line for the Chloe mindwipe club.

Yes, I agree! I liked it. I'm just worried it signified Evil.

Ah, yes, I remember thinking about the "black dress of potential evil" when I was looking at some of the stills from Bride someone had posted, but in the ep itself I was too taken with how hot she was looking to think about that.

I think fandom has universally expressed a big WTF about locating the wedding in the barn.

There is too much suspense! I absolutely REFUSE to wait until January. *stomps foot powerlessly*

VERY frustrating, isn't it? Damn hiatuses! I at least knew it was coming and so was prepared for a big cliffhanger of doom.

We'll have to band together and form a Lana's hair club solidarity league, or something. :D

I suspect that Oliver makes a much better ex than he does boyfriend.

I suspect you are very right about that--especially considering what we've learned about his relationship with Tess.

Hee! If you can get past that, the episode itself has lots of charming moments.

I think fandom has universally expressed a big WTF about locating the wedding in the barn.
Hee! Go fandom. They can't pull one over on us! ;)

I did not know the hiatus was coming and am officially cranky about it. Sure it will allow me extra vidding time but still... BIG cliffhanger and a long wait... and with True Blood finishing next week it's a double blow for me.

in that way one regards an adorable but slightly retarded puppy
*Snorfle* Yeah, the barn wedding was the one off thing about the ep--I have seen universal complaint over that. WTF were the writers smoking? Actually, I wonder if it all really was budget constraints, as the set that was cheapest to rebuild, but they needed a better internal reason for having it there.

But everything else was shiny (in the Firefly sense of the word), and BOTH Lana and Lex in one episode. YAY!!

I can totally see why they made that decision from a production standpoint, but it really makes no sense from a *character* standpoint.

I fanwank it as neither Jimmy or Chloe being exactly rich (I still don't get why they are getting married so young), so Clark offered them the barn to save costs. He is determined for Chloe to live her happy life with Jimmy after all

My first reaction was mixed because at first based on the trailer, I was just waiting for Doomsday to show up. So the episode seemed to drag by. It took a rewatch for me to watch the episode on its own merits and fall in love. You're right about how good everyone was: my only quibble being Lois giving up too early on Clark.

I have to say, my first reaction to the videotape was not "OMG, Doomsday has interrupted Chloe and Jimmy's perfect day," it was "Chloe's wedding is taking place in the BARN? SERIOUSLY? Seriously? She lives above the Talon--they couldn't have at least rented the downstairs?" Though I suppose it was to (a) show Clark's generosity? Or something like that? and (b) allow a more rebuildable place be destroyed when Doomsday showed up? Still, I am a little dubious about this choice of locale--though I suspect one of the great ladies of meta may write something very smart about the symbolism of Chloe getting married from Clark's barn as he gives her away.

The only thing I can think of, apart from the practical reasons of set rebuilding, is that Chloe's 18th Birthday was held in the barn, so they hold important events of hers there and the Engagement Party was at the Talon so they wanted the wedding somewhere different. Other than that, I got nothing.

But yeah, I loved this episode too.

Hee! I love all your mock-warnings to characters about the dangers of growing exponentially more awesome;)

ITA with you. Bride kicked ass.

Well, to be fair, Lois was there for a good part of the epic Clana rollercoaster, so it's not surprising to me that she just assumed that Clark would go to Lana when she came back.

Chloe's 18th Birthday was held in the barn, so they hold important events of hers there and the Engagement Party was at the Talon so they wanted the wedding somewhere different. Other than that, I got nothing.

Hmm. That actually almost makes sense!

*Bows* Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I think that you and I may be the only people to like Lana's new haircut! And I thought she was very awesome the entire ep.

Not the only one! *waves flag* I liked it a lot. I don't know what people's problem with it - or Lana - is. I thought she was great. I was quite worried about her coming back, but I am very much reassured now.

I love this happy review very much and I completely agree with you. ♥

I'm glad to hear there are more people who are happy with Lana's return.

Thanks! ♥ ♥ ♥

I was very, very pleasantly surprised with this episode. Mostly because of Clois, because to me it's one HUGE step for them to actually acknowledge their feelings to each other like that. The Lois/Oliver scene was great stuff too, I wasn't expecting that. It's just good to see Ollie being a stand up guy. Wanting to kill Lex and actually going for it is a complete WTF moment for me though -- I've come to expect better from him.

Wanting to kill Lex and actually going for it is a complete WTF moment for me though -- I've come to expect better from him.

Yeah, it was pretty surprising considering Lex hasn't done anything lately, so the argument that he's a threat is pretty weak.

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Smallville: Bride

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