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Spoilers for Smallville behind the cut
I'm posting this before I read anyone's responses to the episode, since my guess is that most of my flist (the few who still watch Smallville) hated this because of the Clana sex and the breakup with Lex.
I didn't hate it. In the first and second seasons I dreaded the Clana, and I still dislike it enough that I'm very glad I didn't end up watching this particular episode with my coworkers who are big Clana people, but it was better than I was expecting. Really, Kristin and Tom are pretty to watch getting naked and making out--in fact, it's much more enjoyable to watch them making out than them talking, so as far as I'm concerned, they can just stick to fucking onscreen in the now inevitable tag scenes, rather than mooning at each other lamely.
And besides, it allows Lex to play jealous boyfriend. That scene with Chloe in the cave was right out of fanfiction, I swear: Chloe telling jealous Lex (as she reminds herself) that they should be happy since Clark is happy.
And Clark and Lex's breakup scene was also better than I thought it would be, because I think they made it ambiguous enough that Clark could be misreading Lex's intention. (In fact, that might be definite, if Lex wasn't watching the footage until afterwards--we could, I suppose, read the whole thing as Lex's Machiavellianism, but I think it is easier read as just Lex's backup system, and that releasing electro guy was really just an accident, and Lex didn't find out about it until afterwards.) Somehow that makes it better for me, reading it that way, because it means they are continuing to show Lex's descent into evil--we haven't already arrived there--and that he's being pushed along the way by Clark's asshattery and his willingness to jump to conclusions.
(Which is not to say Lex is innocent at this point! I didn't realize Clark was going to accuse him of setting up the whole thing--I thought he was going to legitimately accuse Lex of creating the general situation that put Clark's family in danger by testing people on Level Three. )
One thing I do love about the whole "Clark losing his powers" scenario is that it makes him have to learn to think and solve problems, which is not something he has been good at up to this point. I like the fact that he did actually come up with a decent plan in the end, even without his powers.
And the Chloe-Clark banter was priceless. "Pete got to see your spaceship?" Oh Chloe, I love you so much. I hope you get a good boyfriend in Metropolis, because you deserve one. I can't tell you how much I worship research!Chloe, computerwhiz!Chloe, and lotsoffunsecretgadgetsinmycartrunk!Chloe. Though my favorite part was when she was reminding Lex that she can be a dangerous enemy, too, so stop pestering her.
This is also the very first episode when I haven't hated the sheriff. I love that she was able to figure out there was a hostage situation, and that Lana and Clark's parents actually tried to escape, not just waiting to be rescued. I wish Martha had been able to be more than a victim--but on the other hand, she did notice Clark's shirt was on inside out, which was great.
So overall, I'd say I enjoyed it. And if the fight scene showed anything, it showed that you don't lose the slashiness at ALL when Lex and Clark become enemies--quite the contrary. So maybe this season will be fun to watch after all!
Oh, I almost forgot to mention how much I loved that scene with Lex in Belle Reve looking at his dad through the glass. Sweet vindication! Now if he only had the opportunity to apply some electroshock....
I'm posting this before I read anyone's responses to the episode, since my guess is that most of my flist (the few who still watch Smallville) hated this because of the Clana sex and the breakup with Lex.
I didn't hate it. In the first and second seasons I dreaded the Clana, and I still dislike it enough that I'm very glad I didn't end up watching this particular episode with my coworkers who are big Clana people, but it was better than I was expecting. Really, Kristin and Tom are pretty to watch getting naked and making out--in fact, it's much more enjoyable to watch them making out than them talking, so as far as I'm concerned, they can just stick to fucking onscreen in the now inevitable tag scenes, rather than mooning at each other lamely.
And besides, it allows Lex to play jealous boyfriend. That scene with Chloe in the cave was right out of fanfiction, I swear: Chloe telling jealous Lex (as she reminds herself) that they should be happy since Clark is happy.
And Clark and Lex's breakup scene was also better than I thought it would be, because I think they made it ambiguous enough that Clark could be misreading Lex's intention. (In fact, that might be definite, if Lex wasn't watching the footage until afterwards--we could, I suppose, read the whole thing as Lex's Machiavellianism, but I think it is easier read as just Lex's backup system, and that releasing electro guy was really just an accident, and Lex didn't find out about it until afterwards.) Somehow that makes it better for me, reading it that way, because it means they are continuing to show Lex's descent into evil--we haven't already arrived there--and that he's being pushed along the way by Clark's asshattery and his willingness to jump to conclusions.
(Which is not to say Lex is innocent at this point! I didn't realize Clark was going to accuse him of setting up the whole thing--I thought he was going to legitimately accuse Lex of creating the general situation that put Clark's family in danger by testing people on Level Three. )
One thing I do love about the whole "Clark losing his powers" scenario is that it makes him have to learn to think and solve problems, which is not something he has been good at up to this point. I like the fact that he did actually come up with a decent plan in the end, even without his powers.
And the Chloe-Clark banter was priceless. "Pete got to see your spaceship?" Oh Chloe, I love you so much. I hope you get a good boyfriend in Metropolis, because you deserve one. I can't tell you how much I worship research!Chloe, computerwhiz!Chloe, and lotsoffunsecretgadgetsinmycartrunk!Chloe. Though my favorite part was when she was reminding Lex that she can be a dangerous enemy, too, so stop pestering her.
This is also the very first episode when I haven't hated the sheriff. I love that she was able to figure out there was a hostage situation, and that Lana and Clark's parents actually tried to escape, not just waiting to be rescued. I wish Martha had been able to be more than a victim--but on the other hand, she did notice Clark's shirt was on inside out, which was great.
So overall, I'd say I enjoyed it. And if the fight scene showed anything, it showed that you don't lose the slashiness at ALL when Lex and Clark become enemies--quite the contrary. So maybe this season will be fun to watch after all!
Oh, I almost forgot to mention how much I loved that scene with Lex in Belle Reve looking at his dad through the glass. Sweet vindication! Now if he only had the opportunity to apply some electroshock....