I was planning to discuss “Smallville” anyway; just didn’t want to do it the same time as “Buffy.” But a Smallville discussion seems to have broken out over there anyway. Maybe I should just start doing double BLOG entries after Tuesday nights. (Hey, Glenn, any way to move the “Smallville” related posts over here?)
Anyway…one hëll of an episode. Spoilers to follow…
PAD
Mythic. That’s what this episode was. Mythic. And what made it work so well is that we’ve had a season and a half of a young, “earthy” Clark Kent trying to comprehend a series of adolescence-related changes that make zits and voice cracking look sick in comparison. The producers brought Superman down to our level. And now, for the first time, Clark gets a big heaping glimpse of his potential. To truly comprehend where you’re going in life, you have to know where you’ve been. Clark now has an inkling, and the future is beginning to open up. Except teens don’t live or for the future; they tend to dwell in the “now.” The fact that he was staggeringly overwhelmed just from the slightest inkling of the truly stupendous destiny that awaits him rang incredibly true.
People keep comparing best moments. Was it the brilliant concept of having Chris Reeve effectively pass the torch in a role that I personally would love to see recurring? Was it the wholly unexpected and deft use of key Superman signature music–the Krypton fanfare when the Kryptonian lettering is revealed, the echo of the main Man of Steel theme minutes later?
For me, no. For me, the best moment is Clark’s concern that he might succumb to the precept of power tending to corrupt, and absolutely power corrupting absolutely…his father’s subsequently embracing him…and then the look on Jonathan’s face as it becomes clear that he is thinking, “What if this kid really IS supposed to conquer the world? Am I the equivalent of Hitler’s father?”
A daunting prospect indeed.
PAD
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I might have said this before… but what a completely evil twist it would be to have us watching Earth 2(?) where Superman is the villian and Lex the hero. I know it’s not going to happen *smiles* but it would certainly put a different spin on the Lex/clark relationship dynamic.
The purpose of Chole is to introduce Clark to her Cousin, Lois Lane. I was just waiting for that name to show up on her family tree. Especialy since Alfred Gough confirmed at the Comic-Con International in San Diego that Chloe Sullivan is Lois Lane’s cousin.
Don’t want to take credit for seeing that coming when I read it on the web.
You know, I always thought that Christopher Reeve would make a kick ášš Jor-El. Shame . . .
But regardless, he rocks in this episode. I knew that there would be theme music, but it never occured to me they’d use that haunting Krypton flute bit.
Ðámņ. I still got shivers . . .
Generally, SMALLVILLE is pretty hit or miss with me. On the one hand, they’ve got a pretty good cast and production values and they’re adapting good material.
On the other hand, this is a show where people can neutralize a dangerous radioactive element by hitting it with a hammer… 🙂
Anyway, I wasn’t able to see all of the Reeve episode, but I liked the bits I did watch. I also plan to catch the repeat on Sunday.
But as for the “Am I the equivalent of Hitler’s father?” issue — I feel compelled to point out that the opening sequences of Elliot Maggin’s novel SUPERMAN: MIRACLE MONDAY featured Jonathan Kent facing this exact same question.
Those sequences kind of stick in my memory because they really creeped me out when I was younger.
(My night for Silver Age Superman references, I guess. Just got through talking about it on the SUPERGIRL thread.)
Oh, and while I have no way of checking — John Williams sure better have received credit for such extensive use of his music. I don’t know if its use was illegal, but if un-credited, it’s way too close to plagiarism for my taste.
– DB Bennett
Let’s see…
Kryptonians have been here
before…
Could it be…
Doomsday?
On a more serious note,
This episode rocked!
The Superman theme…
Christopher Reeve…
The writing…
The acting…
And I bet they don’t even get a nod from the Emmys.
Dale
Chloe being Lois’ cousin actually makes me think that it’s more likely that they’ll kill her off once Clark meets Lois. Her death may even be the catalyst that brings them together.
It would be a shame. I like Chloe as character, but we know she has no future with Clark. Neither does Lana, of course.
Tom had some questions about the cave, how the paintings got there, how Clark would find it, etc.
Well, it was my impression that the destruction of Krypton must have happened quite a long while ago, since when Clark looked at the star chart, there was no star there. For light from that star to have already dissipated, it must have happened a very long time ago. Perhaps some signal was sent to the local Native Americans that subliminally made them make the cave paintings and such.
Also, if Clark arrived at the same time as the meteors, it must have taken him quite a while to get here, so that helps the, “it’s been a while since the Big Boom” theory. I’m just guessing the ship put him in some form of suspended animation,
Finally, while Clark accidentally stumbled across the cave, I wonder if, given time and he hadn’t found it, it would have just called to him anyway. That’s the impression I got from this episode.
Anyway, just my two cents.
Dale, actually with the Christopher Reeve factor, there’s a good chance he could get something from the Emmys.
I’m surprised nobody mentioned the line where Chole says Dr. Swann is called (nicknamed?) “The man of tomorrow”.
With all the talk about Clark being meant to conquer the earth, you have to remember, the caves are HUNDREDS of years old, and the guy who did land on earth then, probably was worshipped as a god by the indians. Remember that episode a few weeks back when the cave was introduced? When the indian chick, who can turn into wolf, tells clark about some legend, it includes a guy who has the strength of 10 men, can shoot fire from his eyes (yet no freezing breath?) and whatnot came, and returned to, a star that isn’t there anymore….
It makes sense for Jor-El to think humans haven’t advanced too far since that time… and I guess the message sent out with the ship (asking to protect lil Kal) was just incase some “higher” species found him first.
The phrasing of the message (at least as Clark read it) makes me wonder if he read it right or if the message was somehow corrupted (accidentally or intentionally):
“On this third planet from this star Sol, you be god among men…” Doesn’t the grammar seem a bit off? Might just be a nitpick, but it could be a sign something isn’t entirely right.
It’s a rough translation. Clark’s reading it like it’s said. I’m sure Kryptonian and English aren’t that compatible.
While I was thrilled to see Christopher Reeve in the episode (loved that “Man of Tomorrow” reference), I was also surprised to see no mention of John Williams’ name in the credits (after Music By Mark Snow, it should have said, “Original Superman Movie themes by John Williams”), especially since nearly 10 minutes of his music was used in the episode.
And, as far as the ever-mysterious cave paintings go, has anyone considered the (unfortunately cliched, but hardly beyond the reach of this show)possibility that at some point Clark will be thrown back in time and become the hero that the paintings refer to?
I found it interesting that the translation used such Biblical language. Kind of subliminally ties this into the second coming of the savior (in this timeline, the first coming would be whoever showed up to the indians).
Okay, my take on the ending of this series that kicks off Superman, Lex Luthor, and sets up Lois is…
The last episode has Lex or Lionel going over the edge completely and destroying all of Smallville (as was seen in the precog’s vision). Clark has time to save only one person. Only one. And he chooses Lana, not Chloe, or Pete or Ma or Pa. He does this by flying for the first time.
The guilt drives Lex to ultimate evil; the guilt prevents Clark from ever being able to get it together with Lana… but when Lois comes along, Cloe’s cousin, he can’t help be drawn to her. And he dedicates himself to the protection of the world. As a result, no one knows Clark is Superman except Lana and Lex, because they are all dead. Superman/Clark has the complexity of teenage angst replaced with the complexity of guilt, fear of corrupt power, and a really good reason to both kill Lex and not kill Lex (that would be a long road to walk down if he did).
It would also be the setup of a great feature movie or television movie that doesn’t have to detail the origin and lose precious screen time.
Ah well, in for a penny, in for a pound, I guess.
I was sitting there watching Smallville with my 6 year old grandson on my lap, and my wife by my side. When the Krypton theme started playing, tears began to fall down my face. I didn’t even notice at first until Nate (aforementioned grandson) patted me on the cheek and said, “It’s ok, grampa. He’s gonna help Clark.”
I couldn’t explain my feelings to the munchin, but my wife understood.
Well, unfortunately, I missed the episode last Tuesday. Also, I stupidly forgot to tune in on Sunday until the last 10 minutes. So I saw Clark talking to Swann (the Reeves character right?) and him opening the ship with his dad.
Can someone give me a 411 on the whole episode?
My thoughts on Chloe are that she is going to die at the end of the series and it is going to be a defining moment for Clark, sort of like the death of Uncle Ben was for Peter Parker. Her death will cause Clark to realize that he has an amazing power and that he should use it to help the innocent.
Just my two cents.
–Michael
Does anyone else think that Lana is boring and wish Clark hooks up with Chloe?
Someone had the great idea of holding off on any movie till Smallville ends with Clark flying hopefully and then start the movie with Tom Welling already in costume hence not having to re-hash the origin in the movie.
Guys and gals, John Williams lifted the musical themes from the old Fleischer cartoons. And non-original music is used in teevee soundtracks quite a bit.
My thoughts on this are that Cloe is killed by Lex, which would drive Clark to the edge. Clark finally realizes the feelings he had for her after her death; and his attraction for Lois is not whole (where it reminds him of Cloe in a way but it’s not Cloe). And Clark dates Lois but it never gets any further than that ( as if he’s missing something). Like Clark said in the episode on Smallville “Maybe I’m just meant to be alone.”