Smallville: Requiem

[norwich36]

Warning: I liked it. So if you're looking for episode-bashing, look elsewhere.



I feel like I need a lot more time to process everything that happened in this episode in order to say something coherent--but given how hectic my RL is these days, I know if I don't write this review right now it will never get written.

End of an Era

This episode was, of course, about giving closure to the Clana storyline. What surprised and pleased me was the way it also served as a resolution to the Clexana triangle. To be sure, the execution was a little clunky (I will confess I laughed for a few minutes after "Lex" told Clark and Lana his evil plot--a little because his voice distorter made the lines sound even more melodramatic than they were, and a little because the particular dilemma the writers designed to ensure the Clana can never come back seemed pretty soap operatic), but nevertheless I liked the fact that Lex was there for the resolution of this, because it always has been a triangle between the three of them.

And I don't for a minute believe Lex is really dead (and not just for DC canon reasons). Before the Oliver reveal, I was certain that Lex was allowing himself to be tracked and had planted a cloned body in the truck and blown it up himself; the fact that Ollie was the one who blew it up doesn't change my opinion that it was part of Lex's scheme. He must have known Clark (or Lana) would come after him, and this was his plan to get them to leave them alone.

But it seemed somehow appropriate to me that the episode with the departure of Lana would be accompanied by the final departure of Lex. I really wish they could have at least got MR to do the voice, but I did love the shot of the portrait of Lex covered with shattered glass. "Killing" Lex--and doing it in a way that means Ollie has taken a step over to the dark side, and brought Chloe along with him--is a really interesting reboot of the show, especially if they do get a ninth season. (Was that actually a Kryptonite ring Ollie was clutching at the end there? So: Batman Lite or the new Lex? Because Batman, of course, doesn't kill, and Ollie *did* just take over Luthorcorp. I am *very* intrigued by the potential of this plotline, I have to say, especially because Chloe and Ollie both have good intentions--but so did Lex, at the beginning of his descent.)

Clark and Lana

So Lana is now Kryptonite for Clark. At first, like I mentioned above, it made me laugh--but in other ways it's appropriate, as they reminded us very clearly by bringing back Lana's formerly-kryptonite necklace.
And I'm not gonna lie, I bawled like a baby in their final scene. It reminded me quite a bit of "Hidden," an episode that also began with really playful Clana sex and ended with the heartbreaking destruction of their relationship. Still I was *so* happy that Clark and Lana got to be together again, especially with the deatroying-the-bed jokes, even though I knew how it had to end. And I enjoyed the fact that, brief as their partnership was, Clark *did* accept Lana as an equal working partner. (A good lesson to learn for the future!) And I'm also glad they got to have their last kiss in the loft, even if it did make Clark's mouth turn green.

Lana

I was really, really, really surprised that they let her keep the powers. I'm still a little O.O about that.
But I do love Lana's newfound joy in saving people--that scene right after she got out of bed where she asks Clark to let her patrol with him was so great, and she seemed so self-confident and energized, that I guess I'm willing to just go for it. I also love her speech to Clark at the end, about how they both would make the same decision if they were faced with it again, and how they both want to save people.

And then she told him that she wasn't as strong as him, she couldn't see him everyday and not touch him, and OH LANA. OH CLARK. Your epic doomed love has never been so epic or doomed. (I'm actually tearing up again just remembering that scene). So all in all, great send-off for Lana, show!

And then my overpowering emotion over the end of Clark and Lana (and wow, for the first 4 years of this show I never thought I'd say that) sort of shorts out my ability to say anything else coherent about the episode

I feel like there are other things to be said, about Clark sometimes being a moral compass for his wavering friends (e.g. Chloe) and yet at other times inspiring a dangerous protectiveness in them (Chloe, Ollie) just like Lana has often inspired a dangerous protectiveness in him--but he had Lana to stop him before he fell, where Chloe wasn't able to do that for Ollie; or more shallow comments, like how we saw the return of special guest-star Oliver's chest, or how cool I thought Ollie's escape from the Toyman was; or several other observations that escape me now, but I think the tragedy of Clark/Lana has made me too verklempt for any deep thoughts.

Comments

[serenography.livejournal.com]

I love your point about the triangle being in place for the closure. I also totally agree that there's no way Lex is really dead. None.

As much as I was involved with the Clark and Lana story, I also found the Ollie/Chloe stuff really interesting. I love how they are opening up these characters a bit, and not in necessarily happy fuzzy ways.

[miss-tress.livejournal.com]

like how we saw the return of special guest-star Oliver's chest

I think Oliver's chest has to at least be on the same level as Jimmy and Lois. I mean, it is in the opening credits. ;)

[theclexfactor.livejournal.com]

I felt like a traitor while watching the episode because I too enjoyed it. I think this is the very first time ever that I enjoyed the Clana. It started out as cute with the post coital scene (I thought the shot of them under the covers was very beautiful), and I even enjoyed watching them work together, and it was probably because it wasn't Lana coming up with all the answers, but the two of them working together equally. And that final Loft scene...I was like you and I actually cried A LOT. It wasn't necessarily how I wanted my Clana closure, but the circular symmetry from the Pilot to this episode with their relationship was too good to pass up.

I loved all the mentions of the Pilot episode including the crash on the bridge (and I loved that Clark mimicked his "scattering the dust" actions from Reckoning and Descent that he did for "Lex" in the burned truck, and his expression in the very short scene as well). Kristen was working it in the final scene, though. She sold me and I think I'm finally convinced on the Clana. Don't want it to happen, obviously, but I'm finally at the point where I don't want to vomit when it's mentioned.

And my poor Clark. I don't care what anyone says anymore, I. Love. You. I will defend any criticisms to my last breath.

[clarkscherry.livejournal.com]

Its nice to see others that liked Requiem. I too really liked it. I'm a die-hard Clark fan. I'm really enjoying this season except for last weeks episode - now THATS a different story which I won't go into. I thought it was good closure, and I agree that there was no way that was actually Lex.
I thought the acting was stellar.

[jlvsclrk.livejournal.com]

Its so nice to find other people who liked the episode: I was feeling a bit isolated given the vehemance of some peoples' rejection. Now I can understand the Ollie fans being upset cause their hero just killed. But they have been setting up this character arc for him and I for one am interested to see where its taking him. This arc didn't play out at all like I expected and that's a pretty good thing for a show in its 8th season looking to open up room for a ninth.

And then she told him that she wasn't as strong as him, she couldn't see him everyday and not touch him, and OH LANA. OH CLARK. Your epic doomed love has never been so epic or doomed.
Yeah, I loved this part of that goodbye scene, although I was a little grossed out by the kiss itself since it was literally killing Clark. I give the producers points for their ambitions here if not exactly on their execution. And kudos to TW and KK for delivering the scene so movingly.

[jude-judith82.livejournal.com]

You are the first entry I have read the episode that has made me feel ok about my feelings about the episode. Because of your post I think I am going to actually post what I've written. Thank you so much.