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Apr. 30th, 2003 11:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fajrdrakoMy e-mail is misbehaving today: I'm not even sure it's worth trying to send messages. I will no doubt try in any case.
I was reading Shaw's Fanny's First Play and was amused to see that he mentions Lord Byron on the second page - the "Induction". At one time I was mad over Shaw; now I tend to find his style irritating. What happened?
A few thoughts on last nights Smallville episode
I was reading Shaw's Fanny's First Play and was amused to see that he mentions Lord Byron on the second page - the "Induction". At one time I was mad over Shaw; now I tend to find his style irritating. What happened?
A few thoughts on last nights Smallville episode
[Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<lj-cut="witness">') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.]
My e-mail is misbehaving today: I'm not even sure it's worth trying to send messages. I will no doubt try in any case.
I was reading Shaw's <i>Fanny's First Play</i> and was amused to see that he mentions Lord Byron on the second page - the "Induction". At one time I was mad over Shaw; now I tend to find his style irritating. What happened?
A few thoughts on last nights <i>Smallville</i> episode <lj-cut="Witness"> <b><i>Witness</b></i>
<b><i>Witness</b></i>
Lex was beautiful, and at his best. Lionel was beautiful in his own wolfish way, and I loved his inclusion in the plot. Chloe was smart and sad and feisty and is being set up for something evil: how could I not love that?
And though Helen was mentioned - in rather delightful fashion, with Lionel pretending he couldn't remember her name - she didn't even appear.
That made me realize how much I have disliked all Helen's scenes. I knew I didn't like them; I knew I resented it when her presence made Lex less than I think he should be, in terms of smart, interesting and sexy. I just didn't realize how much it annoyed me. In scenes with her, his charisma level diminishes.
I would rather see Lana scenes than Helen scenes. Why? Because when Lana Lang is with Lex Luthor, her performance rises to his levels, and she has her best scenes. Because when Lana Lang is with Clark Kent, she may well be annoyingly demanding, but that's part of a situation that I can accept, and it plays to some of Clark's strength. I don't like Lana's personality: I think she is self-centred, depressive, weak and unkind to those around her, but I don't mind there being characters in the show whom I don't like. I'd rather see someone with a personality I don't like that someone with no personality at all.
Helen is a cipher, and nothing else.
That being said, if I never see Lana Lang's trembling lower lip again, I would be most pleased.
Things I liked about the episode:
(1) The krypto-villains sniffing green kryptonite. That was creepy and scary and they were utterly nasty. I found them convincing both as echoes of the old comic book and as villains of our time. I also liked their links to the Luthors, plots within plots.
(2) The Chloe theme, starting with her fight with Clark, in her old pattern. She lays down an ultimatum, Clark calls her bluff, she's stuck feeling worse than ever. She can't even talk to Lana about this, she feels isolated, Lionel moves in and takes advantage of her vulnerability, dangling bait she could never possibly resist. I loved the moment when he looks at her wall of weird, and touches the article about that 'remarkable boy' Clark Kent. And oh - that evil Luthor smile, that evil Lionel hair.
This is where the Chloe theme overlaps with the Lionel Luthor theme. makes so much sense to me: that Lionel would find a source of information who has a potential weakness he can exploit and a link to Clark Kent. He finds it, he uses it - that in itself shows Luthor brains and Luthor strategy - but he doesn't overplay his hand. He doesn't even talk to Chloe about Clark.
And what is he doing with refined kryptonite? Is this more 'level 3' experimentation for a purpose (like creating super-athletes) or is it connected to his interest in Clark?
I wish Martha was still working for Lionel and I wish we were seeing more of Lionel these days.
(3) Lex was beautiful and sexy. This is new? Well sometimes (especially when Helen is around) he isn't up to par, but as usual, he shines in scenes with Lionel. I like it that he and Clark were in collusion. I liked it that they were in a few scenes together. I want more of that.
(4) I liked Clark's anger that the villains bested him - I personally really enjoyed the sheer <i>drama</i> of the 'walking out of the fire' scene. I liked his protectiveness with regards to his family and friends.
(5) Pete Ross said something funny! Do it again, Pete! The 'goofy Pete' of first season would have been more palatable if he'd occasionally been actually funny. His funny line: Clark said he'd quit from The Torch and Pete said "I didn't know that was an option." As it stands, Pete remains my second-least-liked character in the show. (Helen is my least-liked character, Lana comes third on that particular list.)
Things I didn't like:
(1) Lana's lower lip. She's such a wuss.
(2) Lana let Jennifer Small manipulate her into cutting ties with her father. I didn't like it that Mrs. Small did that with impunity; I didn't like it that Lana let her do it. Lana doesn't need martial arts lessons. She needs some common sense and good judgment.
</lj-cut>
I was reading Shaw's <i>Fanny's First Play</i> and was amused to see that he mentions Lord Byron on the second page - the "Induction". At one time I was mad over Shaw; now I tend to find his style irritating. What happened?
A few thoughts on last nights <i>Smallville</i> episode <lj-cut="Witness"> <b><i>Witness</b></i>
<b><i>Witness</b></i>
Lex was beautiful, and at his best. Lionel was beautiful in his own wolfish way, and I loved his inclusion in the plot. Chloe was smart and sad and feisty and is being set up for something evil: how could I not love that?
And though Helen was mentioned - in rather delightful fashion, with Lionel pretending he couldn't remember her name - she didn't even appear.
That made me realize how much I have disliked all Helen's scenes. I knew I didn't like them; I knew I resented it when her presence made Lex less than I think he should be, in terms of smart, interesting and sexy. I just didn't realize how much it annoyed me. In scenes with her, his charisma level diminishes.
I would rather see Lana scenes than Helen scenes. Why? Because when Lana Lang is with Lex Luthor, her performance rises to his levels, and she has her best scenes. Because when Lana Lang is with Clark Kent, she may well be annoyingly demanding, but that's part of a situation that I can accept, and it plays to some of Clark's strength. I don't like Lana's personality: I think she is self-centred, depressive, weak and unkind to those around her, but I don't mind there being characters in the show whom I don't like. I'd rather see someone with a personality I don't like that someone with no personality at all.
Helen is a cipher, and nothing else.
That being said, if I never see Lana Lang's trembling lower lip again, I would be most pleased.
Things I liked about the episode:
(1) The krypto-villains sniffing green kryptonite. That was creepy and scary and they were utterly nasty. I found them convincing both as echoes of the old comic book and as villains of our time. I also liked their links to the Luthors, plots within plots.
(2) The Chloe theme, starting with her fight with Clark, in her old pattern. She lays down an ultimatum, Clark calls her bluff, she's stuck feeling worse than ever. She can't even talk to Lana about this, she feels isolated, Lionel moves in and takes advantage of her vulnerability, dangling bait she could never possibly resist. I loved the moment when he looks at her wall of weird, and touches the article about that 'remarkable boy' Clark Kent. And oh - that evil Luthor smile, that evil Lionel hair.
This is where the Chloe theme overlaps with the Lionel Luthor theme. makes so much sense to me: that Lionel would find a source of information who has a potential weakness he can exploit and a link to Clark Kent. He finds it, he uses it - that in itself shows Luthor brains and Luthor strategy - but he doesn't overplay his hand. He doesn't even talk to Chloe about Clark.
And what is he doing with refined kryptonite? Is this more 'level 3' experimentation for a purpose (like creating super-athletes) or is it connected to his interest in Clark?
I wish Martha was still working for Lionel and I wish we were seeing more of Lionel these days.
(3) Lex was beautiful and sexy. This is new? Well sometimes (especially when Helen is around) he isn't up to par, but as usual, he shines in scenes with Lionel. I like it that he and Clark were in collusion. I liked it that they were in a few scenes together. I want more of that.
(4) I liked Clark's anger that the villains bested him - I personally really enjoyed the sheer <i>drama</i> of the 'walking out of the fire' scene. I liked his protectiveness with regards to his family and friends.
(5) Pete Ross said something funny! Do it again, Pete! The 'goofy Pete' of first season would have been more palatable if he'd occasionally been actually funny. His funny line: Clark said he'd quit from The Torch and Pete said "I didn't know that was an option." As it stands, Pete remains my second-least-liked character in the show. (Helen is my least-liked character, Lana comes third on that particular list.)
Things I didn't like:
(1) Lana's lower lip. She's such a wuss.
(2) Lana let Jennifer Small manipulate her into cutting ties with her father. I didn't like it that Mrs. Small did that with impunity; I didn't like it that Lana let her do it. Lana doesn't need martial arts lessons. She needs some common sense and good judgment.
</lj-cut>
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no subject
Date: 2003-04-30 09:33 am (UTC)I'm still thinking it was the worst ever. It seemed sloppy and without heart.
Often, my perception changes after I re-watch, though.
no subject
Date: 2003-04-30 10:04 am (UTC)I really did love the Lionel and Chloe theme: the rest would have needed to be much worse than it was to diminish my general enjoyment.
Re: Lionel & Chloe
Date: 2003-04-30 10:13 am (UTC)Re: Lionel & Chloe
Date: 2003-04-30 11:17 am (UTC)I can't believe how relieved I am not to have seen Helen.
Re: Lionel & Chloe
Date: 2003-04-30 11:28 am (UTC)It really ticked me that, the minute Clark & Lex had a scene together, Clark was yelling at him again. Can't he ever be nice?
And, then, he KNOCKED LEX OUT and left him lying there! and didn't even mention it when he saw him again, much less apologize for it.
I can't believe how relieved I am not to have seen Helen.
Yeah. Too bad they didn't make the most of her absence with some better Clex interaction.
(I repeat: what's wrong with me?)
Clark's had a real history of Lex abuse this season, and I'm getting tired of it!
(What's wrong with me? I know the rift has to happen! But not because Clark's a dork!)
It reminded me of "Kinetic" and "Redux" for some reason.
"Kinetic": because of the thug-band
"Redux": because they mentioned Clark's grandfather!
Forgive me. I'm obviously emotionally overwrought and incapable of applying sane judgement to this episode. I'll get ahold of myself. Really, I will....
Pros and cons of Wtiness
Date: 2003-04-30 11:59 am (UTC)Now, I don't like Clark's abuse of Lex any more than you do - I'm still annoyed with his treatment of Lex in
It really ticked me that, the minute Clark & Lex had a scene together, Clark was yelling at him again. Can't he ever be nice?
Maybe I'm getting so used to this, I don't notice any more? I thought they treated each other somewhat better than they had in some previous episodes.
no subject
Date: 2003-05-01 12:23 am (UTC)Just a question: When did Lionel get his vision back? I must have missed that episode. dammit.
no subject
Date: 2003-05-01 06:22 am (UTC)Eric was scary; I've never seen the actor in "Home Improvement" and I hope he wasn't quite as terrifying in those days!
no subject
Date: 2003-05-01 08:48 am (UTC)Zach played Brad, the eldest son in the show. He wasn't that great an actor, but he was young, so that may have had something to do with it. Hehe