This Episode Too Cartoony

[Super EJ]

Is it me or was this episode a bit too cartoony, in terms like, not smallville at all? I mean there are key points where it adds up to Smallville, but really, it was too comic book type. But lets just hope that the next episode is more interesting.

[Iluvgreen]

It was susposed to be comic book type.

[Ginx]

I didn't think so - I liked how it was and liked the dialogue.

[galatians221]

Is it me or was this episode a bit too cartoony, in terms like, not smallville at all? I mean there are key points where it adds up to Smallville, but really, it was too comic book type. But lets just hope that the next episode is more interesting.

I hate the cartoon stuff but liked this episode. It's better than freaks of the week and the reason I liked it is they lifted up Superman. We saw him revered and it gave some gravitas to CK instead of what we've been exposed to; Clark hanging around the barn staring at Lana's picture or Lois calling him "flannelboy". I like anything that elevates the Man of Steel and gets him out of the barn. If only they had put the barn in that ball and taken it with them.

[kaam]

There are mixed feelings everywhere, and for different reasons.

[thehenry89]

It felt kinda like a comic book here and there, it was very refreshing.

[Krypto~Luan]

Pshhhh i liked it:D

[Liquid-Prince]

Okay WHAT...? Oh god you lost me...

[pizzahead2490]

i loved this episode!!!! it was diff and fantastic. really the only thing i didnt like was the clana staring contest scenes. :(

[fuchsiaRose]

Is it me or was this episode a bit too cartoony, in terms like, not smallville at all? I mean there are key points where it adds up to Smallville, but really, it was too comic book type. But lets just hope that the next episode is more interesting.

The episode had some good moments but overall was mediocre.

[redkryptoniteisthebest]

It was based off a comic-book team and all...:p

[MAN-of-STEEL]

A comic book writer wrote this episode.....But it still was good

[latingirl]

There are mixed feelings everywhere, and for different reasons.

Me too

to me was fan the legion participation, except the Saturn girl and Lana interaction, Clark with the legion was a real leader, I love the part of the #1 ruler of LoSH's code.. No Kill... He was strong and confidecen by himself, also when the loSH does know how eliminated braniac Clark FINALLY!!!! shows that he is a SMART guy, that he does't need some else to fix his mess

In general a LOVE it

[Loisdragon]

I dont care. i love this episode

[sithius]

I'd rather have a comic type storyline than a FOTW plot.

'oh, I have some super powers because of the meteor rocks. I also happen to be a raging psychopath and am going to kill everyone now. Oh darn, Clark will stop me just in the nick of time though, but usually kryptonite will be around to prevent him from doing it straight away. Eventually he'll stop me though, but oh well, let's get on it!'

This was an original episode, and I loved all the referencing to the mythos.

[Fly by guy]

It was more kiddish and less mature than we've seen since season 5. I kept waiting for the voice over and the "that's all folks". It was a good story, it just didn't have much depth or emotion, even with Chloe near death.

[sithius]

It was more kiddish and less mature than we've seen since season 5. I kept waiting for the voice over and the "that's all folks". It was a good story, it just didn't have much depth or emotion, even with Chloe near death.

You're kidding aren't you? What on Earth was kiddish about it? There was plenty of depth there, we found out that Clark won't kill under any circumstances which tells us a lot about his character.

Are you saying that unless there is a very emotional scene, an episode will be kiddish? I guess then the Doomsday v Superman comic is kiddish, as there isn't really any emotional parts apart from the very end where he dies, and even then its only a page or so long.

Season 6 and 7 were pretty damn awful. I suppose episodes like Static were full of depth and emotion though, compared to this supposed travesty...

[biggkoz]

Cartoony maybe ,dorky forsure.

[sithius]

Cartoony maybe ,dorky forsure.

How is it dorky? Seriously, if you think the LoSH is dorky, why are you even watching a show that has 'meteor freaks' in it? If they aren't dorky then I don't know what is... (I seem to recall an episode where a girl eats a deer for crying out loud, not to mention that they all happen to be psychopaths pretty much).

The only valid reasons I've heard for people disliking this episode have to do with Lana. All of these other complaints like 'it's CRAP' or 'too kiddish', 'dorky!!!', 'worst of the worst!!' have absolutely no logical points to back them up, they are entirely void of reasoning.

[biggkoz]

This whole episode made me feel like Im too old to be watching this show.

[sithius]

This whole episode made me feel like Im too old to be watching this show.

And why is that? Because the show is about superheroes? Great, that's your opinion, though why on Earth you would continue to watch it knowing the premise of the show I have no idea.

I mean if you find the concept of Superman childish... then why watch a show about his journey to becoming something which you deem childish, and presumably for that matter unbelievable? It makes absolutely no sense.

[galatians221]

And why is that? Because the show is about superheroes? Great, that's your opinion, though why on Earth you would continue to watch it knowing the premise of the show I have no idea.

I mean if you find the concept of Superman childish... then why watch a show about his journey to becoming something which you deem childish, and presumably for that matter unbelievable? It makes absolutely no sense.


Please take into account the fact that Superman is a comic book character but for many of us he is a television character that had nothing to do with the comics. George Reeves didn't fight intergalactic lizards who morph at the FOS. He worked at the DP and fought crime and paired with Inspector Henderson and Lois, Jimmy and Perry. Superman is for that reason a hard character to portray. Do you play it campy and silly like the Chris Reeve movies (yuck) or Lois and Clark where they crack jokes and have more campiness and HG Wells appearing to time travel etc. or do you do what Smallville has done and play it as a serious drama? I like SV's approach the best but because of poor writers they have lapsed into FOTW junk like Amy Adams trying to eat Pete to stay alive and now we get cartoon characters galore. They're trying to please the comic and cartoon crowd as well as the Lois and Clark devotees. My opinion is that anything that takes away from the uniqueness of Superman is wrong. He is "a strange visitor from an unknown planet with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men" not "one of many visitors from unknown planets yada yada yada. It's a problem and you can't please all of the groups all of the time.

[2shae]

How is it dorky? Seriously, if you think the LoSH is dorky, why are you even watching a show that has 'meteor freaks' in it? If they aren't dorky then I don't know what is... (I seem to recall an episode where a girl eats a deer for crying out loud, not to mention that they all happen to be psychopaths pretty much).

The only valid reasons I've heard for people disliking this episode have to do with Lana. All of these other complaints like 'it's CRAP' or 'too kiddish', 'dorky!!!', 'worst of the worst!!' have absolutely no logical points to back them up, they are entirely void of reasoning.

Even though the episode wasn't bad, it far and I mean FAAAAAAARRRRR away from what Smallville used to be.

All this justice league stuff and the "Justice League forever" crap is kiddy and dorky.
It might be fun for the comic book geeks but for the average person this is just as cool as Star Trek.

Normally I hate teen drama shows, but Smallville was always able to do it really good with excitement, interesting plots and cliffhangers.
I might be the only one here, but I actually like the High school style with the "freak of the week" episodes and the cheesy songs they always added. I like it much more than the current comic book style.
I miss the simpler times :P

[Timester]

All this justice league stuff and the "Justice League forever" crap is kiddy and dorky.

The JLA was on the episode? Where? :eek:


It might be fun for the comic book geeks but for the average person this is just as cool as Star Trek.

The thing is the episode WAS written for comic book fans, Geoff and Swimmer (one of the PS3) said it so. The same fans that watch Smallville since day 1.

[Super EJ]

Above all i liked this episode because of the fact that somebody at least told Clark what he was going to do in the future. This episode made Clark's life turn up a notch. I said it was cartoony because of the way they made the characters, but the story line was awsome. I love the whole fact that the Legion was trying to find out why in the world Clark couldnt fly. And hopefully Clarks starts to leave the ground. I also liked this episode because of the fact that we see how Braniac-5 was truly made and how he ended up to be. Although, i also loved the fact that they said that Chloe doesnt really exist or is even known in the future. Thats just somthin to think about for the up comin episodes. Plus they also said that Chloe is the reason why Clark has been able to control his abilities.

[2shae]

The JLA was on the episode? Where? :eek:


Justice League....Legion....who cares!!?
They both don't interest me. They only good thing about them is that they bring good special effects with them in the episodes.

[One-Winged-Angel]

Is it me or was this episode a bit too cartoony, in terms like, not smallville at all? I mean there are key points where it adds up to Smallville, but really, it was too comic book type. But lets just hope that the next episode is more interesting.

Agree!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3d/Legion_of_Super_Heroes_promo.jpg

[kal-el_Girl]

How is it dorky? Seriously, if you think the LoSH is dorky, why are you even watching a show that has 'meteor freaks' in it? If they aren't dorky then I don't know what is... (I seem to recall an episode where a girl eats a deer for crying out loud, not to mention that they all happen to be psychopaths pretty much).

The only valid reasons I've heard for people disliking this episode have to do with Lana. All of these other complaints like 'it's CRAP' or 'too kiddish', 'dorky!!!', 'worst of the worst!!' have absolutely no logical points to back them up, they are entirely void of reasoning.

absolutely!! I agree you, the only problem I've got w/ this eppy is that's too much lana in the present and in the future, c'mon!! that is just crazy. Lana was a love interest and nothing more she didn't help clark become superman. THIS lana is more of a HANDICAP than help or inspiration to clark.

[biggkoz]

And why is that? Because the show is about superheroes? Great, that's your opinion, though why on Earth you would continue to watch it knowing the premise of the show I have no idea.

I mean if you find the concept of Superman childish... then why watch a show about his journey to becoming something which you deem childish, and presumably for that matter unbelievable? It makes absolutely no sense.

No it was the bad acting and corny story line.

[superhippie2000]

might of been a bit comic booky but not much. only thing i found too comic booky was brainiacs logo on the screen. ya it was brainiac logo and worked but it just seemed animated and not like a real program as he used when he was releasing zod. but i still liked it.

[neoblackdragon]

I wish they keep this writing up. It seems cartoony because thats the way superman is supposed to be. He isnt supposed to be a soap opera.

[1000GreenSun]

I don't think it was cartoony. It wasn't normal SV-style, but not cartoony. The Legion rocked the episode and I really, really, wish Imra didn't have any scenes with Lana. Better yet, Lana shouldn't have even been in the episode.... What was with the clana stare-a-rama?

[sithius]

Agree!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3d/Legion_of_Super_Heroes_promo.jpg

At what point did he put on a superman suit? Please, do tell.

I just cannot fathom how people are talking about corniness/kiddiness after seeing so many truly dreadful FOTW episodes... seriously, some of them are so stupid that their only purpose was to fill the episode up. Some of them are like something you'd see in a cheap teen horror flick. 'I'm just super pumped for prom!'

On the other hand the LoSH and the JL characters have depth/emotion. They aren't just pointless psychopaths with something to prove, they actually have a mission and real place in the world.

Some people I guess are just never happy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JLA25_solicit.png

[Black Panda]

I enjoyed it, but the ball of Brainiac being pulled out of Chloe was a pretty cheesy scene.
I do love that they mad a point of him being a big silver ball though... heh.

The telepathy scenes made my eight year old giggle uncontrollably. I think when it's cheesy to the child, I can safely say it was big time cheese.

Mmmm cheese. Nom nom nom...

[sithius]

I enjoyed it, but the ball of Brainiac being pulled out of Chloe was a pretty cheesy scene.
I do love that they mad a point of him being a big silver ball though... heh.

The telepathy scenes made my eight year old giggle uncontrollably. I think when it's cheesy to the child, I can safely say it was big time cheese.

Mmmm cheese. Nom nom nom...

How is that cheesy? I don't know, but I didn't find anything cheesy.

To me, cheesy would have been something like:

LoSH appear:
'Oh hey Clark, we are the Legion of Super Heroes! Yeah! We've come to help you, and we're really excited to be here! :)'
'Gee, this is really strange.'
'Hehe, yeah it is! :D But we're here to help you defeat Brainiac'
'Oh man, I just don't know how to defeat that crazy computer. :('
'Don't worry. We can work together to defeat it.'
'Thanks guys :)'
~They all laugh and hug.

The FoS scene could've been like:

'I am the Brain Interactive Construct, and I will absorb all of the memories around this planet! Thus making me super powerful! Stop me now Clark!'
'I will stop you, you underestimate my friends. I have powerful friends from a super cool legion in the future who will help me stop you and your evil ways Brainiac!'
'I doubt it Clark!' (picks Clark up)
'Chloe I know you are in there, please you are my friend!' (hurls Clark across the FoS)
'Chloeeeeeeeee'

Seriously though, this was definitely not cheesy. But so far we've got people complaining that it was either:

- kiddish
- too comic book like
- cheesy

I still haven't heard of any good reasons for these opinions.

[ForzaItalia]

I didn't think so - I liked how it was and liked the dialogue.


ditto

[Hopefulsuicide]

there was a lot that made this episode feel cartoony too me, but mostly for the unintelligent writing... felt like i was right back in season 7, repeatedly yelling 'duh, you idiots!' at the screen

it could have been taken much more seriously, but just like season 7 used to do, they used the cameo of the legion as a 'stunt' more than an actual plot developing storyline... even the writer was just a 'stunt'...

i felt nothing that the legion said, did or hinted towards helped move the show forwards... it was just an excuse for legion fans and younger audiences to go 'COOL!'

[galatians221]

there was a lot that made this episode feel cartoony too me, but mostly for the unintelligent writing... felt like i was right back in season 7, repeatedly yelling 'duh, you idiots!' at the screen

it could have been taken much more seriously, but just like season 7 used to do, they used the cameo of the legion as a 'stunt' more than an actual plot developing storyline... even the writer was just a 'stunt'...

i felt nothing that the legion said, did or hinted towards helped move the show forwards... it was just an excuse for legion fans and younger audiences to go 'COOL!'

and of course, CK and Lana were in the barn again. Nothing good happens in that barn. They need to burn it down.

[mistaguitarmasta]

This was the best episode of the season thus far, beating out Abyss by a hair. Was it cartoony? Sure, the whole series is. It's a show about an alien with super powers!

[ZODisGOD]

Episodes like legion is why i adore this show.

[galatians221]

This was the best episode of the season thus far, beating out Abyss by a hair. Was it cartoony? Sure, the whole series is. It's a show about an alien with super powers!

"AN" alien with Superpowers. Singular. Adding the other cartoon characters diminishes the uniqueness of Superman. We had six seasons of the freaks of the week and now we're getting intergalactic lizards and silly people in suits with lightning bolts on them. It's about Superman. We don't need this other stuff.

[jimmyolsenblues]

Is it me or was this episode a bit too cartoony, in terms like, not smallville at all? I mean there are key points where it adds up to Smallville, but really, it was too comic book type. But lets just hope that the next episode is more interesting.

superman is a comic book and i happen to love superfriends as a cartoon...and i also loved this episode...so i guess...bring on the cartoonsy

[luthorian]

I don't know was it too cartoony but I felt like something was off, maybe that was it.

[justme_007]

i love the epi and all the clana momentos too jejjee

[2shae]

How is that cheesy? I don't know, but I didn't find anything cheesy.

To me, cheesy would have been something like:

.....

Seriously though, this was definitely not cheesy. But so far we've got people complaining that it was either:

- kiddish
- too comic book like
- cheesy

I still haven't heard of any good reasons for these opinions.

You don't get it!
It's not only the dialog.

When a TV show with real people starts to look like an animated cartoon, then it's cartoony.
Dude, I'm 20 years old...I don't want to see a freakin' Power Ranger style show with people in bizar suits!!
I want a show that's a little more grown up than that. I know it sounds weird, but Smallville just isn't realistic anymore.
Even though Smallville is about Superman, to me it never really seemed to be about the superman story like in the cartoons. Up until Season 4 it was more about the teenage life and real life experiences with a little twist.

It's like Smallville has shifted it's target audience from teenager & adolescence --> 10-14 year olds.

By the way, I was completely cool with the old "Freak of the Week" style. Those were some of the best times in Smallville.

The show Supernatural does that too most of the time and that show is still awesome.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate the show, but I now just watch it out of habit.

[Nitrous]

You don't get it!
It's not only the dialog.

When a TV show with real people starts to look like an animated cartoon, then it's cartoony.
Dude, I'm 20 years old...I don't want to see a freakin' Power Ranger style show with people in bizar suits!!
I want a show that's a little more grown up than that. I know it sounds weird, but Smallville just isn't realistic anymore.
Even though Smallville is about Superman, to me it never really seemed to be about the superman story like in the cartoons. Up until Season 4 it was more about the teenage life and real life experiences with a little twist.

It's like Smallville has shifted it's target audience from teenager & adolescence --> 10-14 year olds.

By the way, I was completely cool with the old "Freak of the Week" style. Those were some of the best times in Smallville.

The show Supernatural does that too most of the time and that show is still awesome.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate the show, but I now just watch it out of habit.

I think this post hit the nail on the head. The show is normally more about the interaction between the characters (which is why its a drama) and the development of Clark than it is about a super hero having powers. A little sci-fi twist (like Clark being an alien) is one thing, but when you bring in a whole group of "superheroes from the future" who have all these super powers (like reading minds and shooting electricity or whatever it was) it starts to get ridiculous. Like the previous poster said, this episode was like watching an episode of power rangers or some other show that I am too old to be watching.

I realize that technically this show is based off a comic book, but it has always been more of a sci-fi drama similiar to a show like Lost. I hope the show isn't going to degenerate into a big comic book style "super hero fest" where its all about people using their "super awesome powers."

I could just imagine all the 12 year-olds going "OMG THIS IS SO TOTALLY COOL" while watching this episode. Seriously, I watched this episode by myself and I was still embarassed.

[mysticalweather]

The episode did have more of a comic book feel to it, but to be honest that's just fine with me. I guess since the Superman story is rooted in comic books, I rather enjoy it when Smallville does occasionally incorporate that into their stories.

Someone mentioned FotW episodes, so here's my take on those. I think they were useful in helping Clark discover and hone his abilities...to me that was some of the best part of Smallville. But yeah, after so many seasons of the same formula: meteor rock + unlikely circumstance + mentally or emotionally unbalanced person (and usually a healthy dose of Lana Lang Lust for good measure) = FotW ...it got repetitive. And I like that the show has moved away from that particular format.

Really though, I guess I just don't expect Smallville to be a 100% serious drama. Yes, it deals with dramatic themes, but it also has aliens, and super powers, and villains, and all of that as well.

As far as Legion goes... actually I think it's good of Smallville to go back and pay a little homage to where Superman mythos came from in the beginning. And Superman fans incompass lots of different folks with different backgrounds, some hard core comic fans, some comic fans just in passing, some who couldn't care less about the comics... and all that's fine. But it's nice to spread the love and give each group of fan something they can enjoy.

YMMV

Talking about embarassment at watching the show... the worst has got to be the girl who ate the deer she'd hit with her car...or maybe Sorority Vampires... tough choice... but either way, give me the LOSH any day of the week!

[curiosity]

I liked it. It seemed like the terminator. A bad guy goes back in time to try and stop Clark from killing Brainiac to change the future. Then protectors from the future show up to stop him and save Clark. It was very Terminator. I didn't think of it like a cartoon because of that.

[Hopefulsuicide]

I think this post hit the nail on the head. The show is normally more about the interaction between the characters (which is why its a drama) and the development of Clark than it is about a super hero having powers. A little sci-fi twist (like Clark being an alien) is one thing, but when you bring in a whole group of "superheroes from the future" who have all these super powers (like reading minds and shooting electricity or whatever it was) it starts to get ridiculous. Like the previous poster said, this episode was like watching an episode of power rangers or some other show that I am too old to be watching.

I realize that technically this show is based off a comic book, but it has always been more of a sci-fi drama similiar to a show like Lost. I hope the show isn't going to degenerate into a big comic book style "super hero fest" where its all about people using their "super awesome powers."

I could just imagine all the 12 year-olds going "OMG THIS IS SO TOTALLY COOL" while watching this episode. Seriously, I watched this episode by myself and I was still embarassed.

yup, i think power rangers is a good example of the immature storytelling we are getting... in fact i can think of more complicated stories than that on power rangers...

i know that a lot of younger people watch the show, but it's not a kids show, it's a family show...

[Cogito17]

I don't think the episode was necessarily too cartoony in and of itself (though it was a bit on the cartoony side), but it was too cartoony as a follow up to Bride. I watched Bride right before watching Legion and it certainly gave off a dark, foreboding feel at the end. Coupled with the whole "Cloverfield-esque" camera at times, there were MUCH different vibes from Bride and Legion which caused a little bit of a disconnect for me.

I'm torn becuase I don't really think Legion was bad, but I think they brought them in at the wrong time. At the end of Bride, I was worried about what was happening with Chloe, how was Jimmy, where would the Clark/Lois/Lana triangle lead, how would Clark react to Doomsday, and what was Lex up to. Bringing in three characters, who, though they are comic book characters, were used somewhat like freaks of the week (brought in without any forewarning, then gone by the end of the episode) ended up diluting the drama created in Bride regarding characters who are more integral to the show.

[ZODisGOD]

I just wish Smallville had more episodes like this. More superheroes, more superpowers, more action, less soap opera.

[Hopefulsuicide]

if you want superheros, superpowers and less character issues and relationships and coming of age stories... then i'd suggest watching cartoons, old batman tv show, or the spiderman movies franchise

Smallville has never seen anything like this episode... even Justice avoided being cartoony, possibly because we had already gotten to know each of the league individually and so we felt more connected with them

this was literally springing superheroes from the future into the plot, for about 30 seconds... it felt disjointed and not really needed in the plot whatsoever

[mmikeyred]

if you want superheros, superpowers and less character issues and relationships and coming of age stories... Then i'd suggest watching cartoons, old batman tv show, or the spiderman movies franchise

smallville has never seen anything like this episode... Even justice avoided being cartoony, possibly because we had already gotten to know each of the league individually and so we felt more connected with them

this was literally springing superheroes from the future into the plot, for about 30 seconds... It felt disjointed and not really needed in the plot whatsoever

[mod edit]

[Estro-gen X]

if you want superheros, superpowers and less character issues and relationships and coming of age stories... then i'd suggest watching cartoons, old batman tv show, or the spiderman movies franchise

I guess I should not expect superheroes and superpowers in a superman show, If I'd known that Smallville took its cues from Days of Our Lives or Gossip Girl I would have steered clear. Maybe Clark should not use his powers and just be a normal human rather than one of the last survivors of a dead alien race. That way it would be less 'cartoony'. In fact maybe he shouldn't even be a hero. Clark Kent, reporter and his hilarious love life. I'm sure Dawn Ostroff would LOVE IT!!

I guess I'll just go watch the academy award nominated Batman movie or the academy award nominated Iron Man movie..you know frivolus cartoony superhero action with no substance because ships are secondary;)

[Hopefulsuicide]

see the word AND

if you want superheroes, superpowers AND less characters issues and relationships...

however, if you want a show that incorporates both in a mature and thought provoking way, watch Smallville... up until Legion...