How good was Tom's directing?

[OkiyaShuichi]

How good was Tom's directing?

[superspider02]

I hope he does well again tonight, he has done very good work in his past episodes.

[Baron Karza]

I was actually thinking this was one of the better episodes. Not that he had a very good script to work with.

[warriorrenegade]

I believe Tom was heavily influenced by CSI...or any of it's directors. It had alot of similar CSI shots.

[beatles4]

Very good, I thought! He was actually in it a lot which I didn't quite expect since he was directing. Must be hard to direct yourself. :D

[prodigykane]

It was pretty good. That moment when Clark and Oliver looked at each other when he was walking out of the room was great.

[Tatiana]

i think he was awesome, too bad the injustice league was a bit boring but for me this episode shined more because of how Clark acted and showed his relationship with Oliver and Tess, and left us with a good cliffhanger, and continuation from previous seasons

[davidbrenton]

I gave it a 7. It was better than a lot of episodes, but my main issue was the overuse of the steady cam...it was not steadying as a viewer.

[Tatiana]

i also liked the doctor, he is cool

----- Added 37 Seconds later -----

i loved that they at least mentioned MM too

[dru-zod2501]

pretty good

[haydenclaireheroes]

he always does a good job

[Tebow15]

I gave him a 10

[mr lane]

I usually love TW as a director

but im saddened that he didn't have more say in the writing of this episode

they killed livewire and totally changed the mythos of parasite?

among other bad writing patches

i would have to give him a 6

[SGuthrie27]

I thought it was above average, so I gave it a 7. Not as amazing as some episodes, but the directing quality was still pretty good.

--SGuthrie ><>' :)--

[melissan02]

Oh I wish I could rate TW better on this episode, but sadly I can't. His directing might have been superb on set, but the episode was just not good IMO.
*yawns*:\

[mr lane]

Oh I wish I could rate TW better on this episode, but sadly I can't. His directing might have been superb on set, but the episode was just not good IMO.
*yawns*:\

i agree Mel

this ep did not make me excited like his other eps

[Shadowlord367]

Not as good as some of his other outings like "Hydro" which was spectacular, but much like Allison's lackluster episode during the Lana arc, it suffered from a script that didn't quite flow.

[amandaa125]

I thought it was pretty good. Definitely above average but it wasnt superb. I think he does have talent in directing though

[yomama]

Good pacing, atmospheric shots without going too overboard, nice use of special effects in appropriate places, and for once no one is telling Clark what to think. The scene with Oliver? FINALLY! I didn't expect to enjoy this episode as much as I did (Hello? No Lois!), but there you have it.

Kudos to TW!

[latingirl]

f he was great and also he is doing it better and better.. Good JOB TW!!!:)

[BadToad]

I love Tom madly, and I think he's shown tremendous promise as a director, but IMO, this was his weakest effort. Unfortunately, the episodes script wasn't helping him much. But I just wasn't wowed by the direction in this episode. There were some very pretty scenes, like Clark and Tess in the barn, but there were also some very awkward scenes, like the "Chloe", Plastique and Parasite scene.

Of Tom's 4 efforts, I'd have to rate this one in 4th place.

[superspider02]

i thought tom did another good job. I have enjoyed is past outings as a director and i think each time he gets better and better. i can see him moving into directing world if he doesnt want to act after smallville is over. As others said the story had a few weak parts but overall was a good episode.

[ginnyfan]

I'm not good at judging this sort of thing... but I love the way all Tom's episodes have lots of movement. They are never static. I like that. I always feel like I'm seeing all the old sets from a different angle or something.

[Dominicus]

I love Tom madly, and I think he's shown tremendous promise as a director, but IMO, this was his weakest effort. Unfortunately, the episodes script wasn't helping him much. But I just wasn't wowed by the direction in this episode. There were some very pretty scenes, like Clark and Tess in the barn, but there were also some very awkward scenes, like the "Chloe", Plastique and Parasite scene.

Of Tom's 4 efforts, I'd have to rate this one in 4th place.ITA with everything, TW is one of the main reasons I watch SW. However, the script was horrible and all over the place, but the directing was sloppy as well especially since we know what TW is capable of. I thought some of Tess's scenes came of as awkward and silly, as in her mischieveious expressions, it not supposed to be that obvious. (smirk here)

[SnowBird]

I enjoyed the episode. There are many hands involved in producing an episode from beginning to end and Tom did a great job with his part in directing and acting.

[Saber]

I gave him a very low rating and I love this guy.
I thought some of the scenes with Oliver were over indulgent. It was too much over the top sexual heavy handed just to get a finger print and a rock from Tess. The episode just felt very erratic, it didn’t have those little clues that allowed you to fellow along and hint to other possibilities. I just kept thinking, “did I miss something”, because of that I got frustrated and didn’t enjoy the episode.
That aside I still think TW is cool with loads of talent.

[KryptoKnight]

Great job as a director and he is greatly improving as an actor too.
Get the cape ready because here he comes

[smallvillerocks45]

I thought TW's direction was just fine. The casting choice for Plastique, I have finally decided, was weak, and the "Injustice" script was a bit flat, but shots looked nice, the lighting was good, Clark (Tom Welling's acting as Clark, that is) was fantastic as was his position with regard to the Doomsday situation, and Oliver (Justin Hartley) was fun to watch too.

I blame the script for its flatness, not Welling. It was a solid episode, but there was so much going on that we never got closure; the episode just was. Then again, I think that was the point. Next week, presumably, the whole season is going to come full circle... and it's not like the events in this episode weren't useful. The Lex "murder" revelation (that I'm still not convinced even happened), and Clark's independence were definite high points that will likely be revisited (I can't imagine that they wouldn't be). Plus Tess' connection to the orb, and its talk about Kandor is very interesting - it must mean something big.

I'm going to watch this episode again. I think upon repeat viewers, I am definitely going to appreciate this episode more.

I guess I'd give his direction a 9.5 this time around - but since there aren't halves, it rounds to a 10. :) I am very happy that he is able to spread his wings on this show. He's an amazing talent, and I hope he gets to direct again next season.

[crazy4clois]

I'm not good at judging this sort of thing... but I love the way all Tom's episodes have lots of movement. They are never static. I like that. I always feel like I'm seeing all the old sets from a different angle or something.

I completely agree. I think it was a shot in the barn that made me think "Cool angle, I've never seen that used before." I also think his time behind the camera has helped his acting improve. He has gotten so much better with his expressions and dialogue delivery.

I think Tom is a fantastic director and I always love his episodes. The only thing, I blame the writers for this, the episode didn't feel as big as I thought it was gonna be. I thought those kids were a sorry excuse for the Injustice League. Still, I gave Tom's directing a 10!

And the fact that he's beautiful didn't influence my final rating...:p

[Lilah]

He really knows how to capture the tension on camera.... I really like when he directs alot. Maybe its because no other director with the exception of like Beeman and the guy directing the finale knows the characters better than he does right now having been around since the beginning.

[Supsfan]

I thought it was good for the most part but there was one scene where he was going around in circles during a conversation that was just terrible

[susangail]

He does better with every episode. This one was tough.

[smallvillerocks45]

He really knows how to capture the tension on camera.... I really like when he directs alot. Maybe its because no other director with the exception of like Beeman and the guy directing the finale knows the characters better than he does right now having been around since the beginning.


That's exactly what I love about Tom Welling's direction as well. Every time I see his work from behind the camera, I am consistently impressed with his understanding of each character's complexity. He's very good at his job.

...Unfortunately - and this may come off as mean, I know I'm not a professional actress so who am I to judge- but, the girl who played Plastique was just not very good, and somehow, I don't think that was Welling's fault. :\

[davidbrenton]

ITA with everything, TW is one of the main reasons I watch SW. However, the script was horrible and all over the place, but the directing was sloppy as well especially since we know what TW is capable of. I thought some of Tess's scenes came of as awkward and silly, as in her mischieveious expressions, it not supposed to be that obvious. (smirk here)

Her smirk was cute, and impactful with just the slightest head tilt first to recognize he's gone without even turning around. I don't generally like her as an actress, but that worked for me. I thought Tom did make good use of the windows and looking in from them, which I think he did at the end of that scene as well as with him and Oliver.

Also, that scene was interesting in that he used slightly upward angles on both Tess and Clark in an almost competing way...upward angle shots on a character give the perception of power. So, to show those angles on both characters as they're talking was very subtle and impressive because he was telling us they are basically on the same playing field of "power" given the circumstance of the scene, despite Clark being "Super." He couldn't "one-up" her into believing he's not who she thinks he is.

[cksidekick]

I thought it was really good. The script has some fantastic quotes in there. I'll visit that thread soon enough! The Jesus line at the Planet with Tess, and don't get me started on the Superman Speech he gave to Oliver.

Tom always gets great barn shots. He gave us more locations shots in this episode than I think we have seen all season. Clark never fails to act like Superman when Tom directs. I have no doubt he makes it happen regardless of the script. (Not that i want to imply he changed many lines in this episode)


I also think this episode was meant to be left sort of hanging out there. It brought a lot of story lines together and set up the next and last episode quite well. It wasn't meant to resolve much of anything. There were very few lines I thought were stale.

The Tess/Oliver stuff was a bit old school soap opera Smallville and made me :mad:::\ on the inside, but that's to be expected. :lol: I thought those scenes were acted quite well.

All said and done, i gave it a 9. Great job as usual, Tom!

[jwm]

All I can say is I wish he'd been able to direct Hex as originally planned. Not only was the script just so-so the show just no longer has the budget needed to pull off an episode like this anymore.

[cygnusx1]

i thought the scenes with him and oliver were very well done. i thought he did a good job of showing the contrast between him and oliver as they try to reach the same goal. as the director, could he of cut of the secrets and lies routine? good grief i thought that ended with the lana arc

[davidbrenton]

All I can say is I wish he'd been able to direct Hex as originally planned. Not only was the script just so-so the show just no longer has the budget needed to pull off an episode like this anymore.

It's really getting depressing how unimpressive the effects are. And this episode had the most there have been in a while....but they all looked like the wierd color-agraphy that comes up on my computer when music plays.

----- Added 58 Seconds later -----


i thought the scenes with him and oliver were very well done. i thought he did a good job of showing the contrast between him and oliver as they try to reach the same goal. as the director, could he of cut of the secrets and lies routine? good grief i thought that ended with the lana arc

That scene where Oliver came in and "saved" Clark and ESPECIALLY the end where Oliver walked out ominously with Tess was awesome.

[Billy Jor-El]

I guess I compare too much to AM's directing, and it's not just because I think Chloe is soooo cool, it's that I thought AM was more creative in camera angles and general visual style than here in "Injustice." That's not to say TW was bad by any stretch, I gave it an "8". I'll have to watch the ep again to fully assess the whole story, at first watch for the next to final ep of the season I felt a little shallow....

[Lilah]

That's exactly what I love about Tom Welling's direction as well. Every time I see his work from behind the camera, I am consistently impressed with his understanding of each character's complexity. He's very good at his job.

...Unfortunately - and this may come off as mean, I know I'm not a professional actress so who am I to judge- but, the girl who played Plastique was just not very good, and somehow, I don't think that was Welling's fault. :\

Really? I thought she was better than the last time we saw her... I definitely loved her look lol. I so wanna put purple streaks in my hair now lol:rotfl:

[Dominicus]

Her smirk was cute, and impactful with just the slightest head tilt first to recognize he's gone without even turning around. I don't generally like her as an actress, but that worked for me. I thought Tom did make good use of the windows and looking in from them, which I think he did at the end of that scene as well as with him and Oliver.

Also, that scene was interesting in that he used slightly upward angles on both Tess and Clark in an almost competing way...upward angle shots on a character give the perception of power. So, to show those angles on both characters as they're talking was very subtle and impressive because he was telling us they are basically on the same playing field of "power" given the circumstance of the scene, despite Clark being "Super." He couldn't "one-up" her into believing he's not who she thinks he is.That's your opinion, and view. I like not knowing what Tess is thinking, the expression showed too much of the snake in Tess, which is out of her character, at least compared to previous episodes. There's no double-edged sword, you know exactly what she's thinking, taking away the mystique of the snaky character. Is she good, bad, Lex's successor or has a whole other agenda in mind? There was no speculation, and apparent. Whether it was "cute" or not is irrelevant. But I agree with the camera angles, have to give credit for that, there were a lot of interesting and unique shots in the episode I simply forgot to mention, perhaps because there were too many negatives out weighing the good IMO. But that's not really on TW's shoulders, the writers however botched this one up, and as a result reflected on the direction. But I'm not going to say something is great when it lacks.

[HowardFilms]

Wasn't nearly as good as Apocalypse.

[jpfort1957]

Tom did an excellent job!!!

[davidbrenton]

That's your opinion, and view. I like not knowing what Tess is thinking, the expression showed too much of the snake in Tess, which is out of her character, at least compared to previous episodes. There's no double-edged sword, you know exactly what she's thinking, taking away the mystique of the snaky character. Is she good, bad, Lex's successor or has a whole other agenda in mind? There was no speculation, and apparent. Whether it was "cute" or not is irrelevant. But I agree with the camera angles, have to give credit for that, there were a lot of great and unique shots in the episode I simply forgot to mention, perhaps because there were too many negatives out weighing the good IMO. But that's not really on TW's shoulders, the writers however botched this one up, and as a result reflected on the direction. But I'm not going to say something is great when it lacks.

It was my opinion. And I can see how it illuminated her thoughts a little, but her motivations were still unknown (Her showing private contentment that she's right about him doesn't make her motivations or good/evil any less or more apparent---especially given the fact it was revealed she murdered members of her league in cold blood). Since this is the episode that leads to the big reveal she's working under a kryptonians orders under the promise of glory, I also think it's the right time to start unraveling what her thoughts/motivations are more directly. It is the end of the season...and maybe the end of the line for her. Just another opinion.

[Dominicus]

It was my opinion. And I can see how it illuminated her thoughts a little, but her motivations were still unknown (Her showing private contentment that she's right about him doesn't make her motivations or good/evil any less or more apparent). Since this is the episode that leads to the big reveal she's working under a kryptonians orders under the promise of glory, I also think it's the right time to start unraveling what her thoughts/motivations are more directly. It is the end of the season...and maybe the end of the line for her. Just another opinion.I actually agree with that opinion... though, (insert cynical condescension here;)) I don't think I 'll be surprised.

[davidbrenton]

I actually agree with that opinion... though, (insert cynical condescension here;)) I don't think I 'll be surprised.

Thanks. :D Now that I'm less of the defensive and had small discussion victory, I'll reread with more open mind....


The script was horrible and all over the place, but the directing was sloppy as well especially since we know what TW is capable of. [QUOTE]

Agreed. The directing (For a large portion of the time) was sloppy. There were some great moments and choices, but all-in-all in was sub par (for Tom).


[QUOTE=Dominicus;4816940]there were too many negatives out weighing the good IMO. But that's not really on TW's shoulders, the writers however botched this one up, and as a result reflected on the direction. But I'm not going to say something is great when it lacks.

Yeah, agreed.

[skylar]

It wasn't his best out of the four he's directed it was about an 8.

[costas22]

Tom gets an 8 from me. Solid work and the barn scene is one of his best ever.

[stenochick]

The question really should be: "Is there anything about Tom Welling that is not awesome?" My answer would be an unequivocal "no."

[BadaBingBadaBoomsday]

I totally forgot he was to direct that episode.

I knew there was something better about it. 10/10 Tom boy great job.

[Joelito]

Nothing speacial...the episode itself was a filler to the season finale...

[LuckyLois]

There was some really good scenes. I love the way Tom acts when he directs. He looks and acts the most Supermanly! The doctor has been a nice addition. The problem with the episode I think is the writing and no money in the bidget for special effects. It would have been nice to see Doomsday or Neutron but that I don't think is Tom's fault.

Loved Tom's and Justin's scenes. Tom gives Justin a few nasty looks which I appreciated.

Overall, Tom did great, the script and budget, not so great.

[FlashInSV]

This episode surpassed my expectations. TW did a magnificent job as a director. The shots were acurate, not over the top, and taken with extreme care. However, there's always room for improvement, though. I give it an 8.

[Mad Madam Mimm]

I thought Tom did a wonderful job, but then, I usually do, especially when it comes to directing. Now mind you, I am no LA film student so I have no great insights to share, but I like the way he uses lighting and I think he does some very unique framing of shots, and agree with someone else who said he uses unique angles (citing the barn as a particular example). I disagree with comments about the script itself being bad. At various points throughout the season, we get these episodes that quietly link pieces of plotline together so that we can experience a Dun-Dun-DUNNNN (like music cue, get it?) moment in a later episode. Since this ep is right before the finale, I expected it, and was not disappointed. Certainly, this script was not designed to be the ultimate WOW episode, but I believe it is one of those scripts we fail to appreciate fully until we see what happens in the next episode.

I give Tommy-O a 9 - I think that he is fabulous!

[marcella]

He was awesome:)

[alejandrita439]

i like how he directed this episode... i love him :D

[kal-el_Girl]

I liked him a lot! I like that Tom acknowledged that us girls like Justin as much as we like him and he gave us a little bit of shirtless action... *sighs* also I liked how he held chloe when "she" fainted

[Bizarrolover]

I really disliked this episode though I don't think it's TW's his fault. The dialogue was crappy and the kids that played the injustice league were really bad actors. I liked Clark and Tess, especially her, I thought she was brilliant in this episde, but as for the rest, I didn't like it at all.

[rebecavaldez]

I think it was pretty good.

[Liquid-Prince]

It was awesome.

[Jaderoyale]

Well i liked it.
I think TW is an awesome director, though the script wasn't the best to work with; i still think he did well.

[Tompouce]

i think he was awesome, too bad the injustice league was a bit boring but for me this episode shined more because of how Clark acted and showed his relationship with Oliver and Tess, and left us with a good cliffhanger, and continuation from previous seasons
Exactly, it was a very good episode, Clark was strong and self confident, he has already made his decision about how he wants to manage DD/Davis story. And I know it is not what make the episode but his hairstyle was ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh:D:p

[Welling_is_pretty]

I think Tom did an amazing job with what he was given (I do wish they would have let him direct the season finale as I once heard rumors he would!).

Loved the shots of Ollie vs. Clark, and Ollie's whupping of Parasite onto the pool table (the surprise slow-mo) was also well done. Tom also really seems to have a good handle on the classic "Smallville close ups". Course they've been doing that since day one and who would know better than Clark? :D ;)