Triplet's "Commencement" Review

[KSiteTV]

Talk about it here!

http://www.kryptonsite.com/commencementreview.htm

:)

[Superdan13]

Ohhhh, I liked that, especialy the Superman the mooovie comparasions. Although the review lacked a true analysis, and description , yet it was powdered with facts. Average.

[margroks]

I always love the Superman mythos stuff; that's why I watch. The similarities to the movie were obvious and exciting and I was hoping we might get a glimpse of what Clark was seeing when he threw the crystal even if most of us knew quite well what was going to happen.

As for Lana-I can only hope Isobel is gone for good since I found that whole business of her turning into a superwitch boring and annoying. The scene in the barn made no sense at all since Lana has barely been civil to Clark all year, has jumped on him for things without thinking such as blaming him for Jason getting fired and is supposedly still with Jason since she never, that I recall, ever told him officially they were no longer a couple. Perhaps Clark should give that some thought, since it makes Lana appear to be using him as back-up boyfriend again.

How did Lana sneak away from the mansion then make it back without anyone knowing since it is, I believe on the opposite end of town? Why would Clark still care for someone who has treated him so shabily, is, of course, on the minds of many viewrs. I've seen enough of this silly nonsense to last a lifetime and it has no place in this story.

I would rather seen have Clark come to and see Chloe has rescued him and maybe have a few words with her about it because he has to know she's fully aware of everything except that final piece of evidence -that he's not from around here and after all this time and the hinting-that's what we need to see and what the writers have been leading up to. TO make us wait for that is shameful since the moment when someone discovers the hero's secret is always a pivotal moment which nbeeds to be explored. It was terribly cool for Chloe to see Clark in the light and, apparently disappearing into the wall. Was Lex not stunned/unconscious at that moment? I was under the impression that only Chloe actually saw him in the light. I wonder if she'll try to slip into it and follow.

Again, I wished for some actual tears from Lois in what was supposed to be a very emotional scene. I also thingk, really, that everyone should have been left in jeapardy, Lana in the falling helicopter, the red VWW seemingly in the path of a meteor hit and only the audience left to see the evil black ship. All that crawling around on the part of Lana and Lois was dull and pointless. Why would Lana have to see the ship? Some of the drama of the finale was lost because we saw Lana and Lois okay. It would have been more in keeping with cliffhangers had it been otherwise.

I was hoping we might even see Clark fly again since it is now the time when he traditionally learned he could fly. THeir insistence on his not flying is getting old and they're missing a golden opportunity to have him trying and failing for the most part; that would be comedy gold and still keep more in line with the mythos. But even though that disappointed me, the parts that were good were great!

Also, as others have pointed out, when Clark spoke to his parents he didn't exactly fully explain what was going on with the caves and Jor-El. A more lucid explanation of the crystals part in all this might have been good at this point.

[ckfan]

I liked Triplet's review and it made me appreciate and like the episode more. I'm glad she was positive and upbeat about it. I agree with a lot of people out there that it could have been better with just a few tweaks of the script, most notably more explanation of Lana's decision to give Clark the stone, a few more words between GT and Isobel to resolve what was going on there, a better explanation by Clark to his parents about the urgency of his mission, and a few more. But overall, they accomplished a TON of storyline in only 50 minutes.

I think Tom did a good job of showing how scared Clark was about putting the stones together. He has always been afraid of his destiny and feared letting go to the familiar comfort of Smallville. He's still not sure that he can "do it alone," and I think it's neat that they really emphasized his hesitation and fear in finding the stones and putting them together. It made you feel the weight of his responsibility and the courage that he had to muster up. For me, it humanized a super-hero, which is very cool. Good job, Tom (but you look tired - get some rest this summer!)

[rumpuso]

Fabulous review once again Triplet!

[triplet]

Thanks....

;)

[~*Lois & Clark Fan*~]

Great review I agreed with all of it :) I agree, I think Kristin kicked butt and took names in this episode, first time she has ever genuinely impressed me(and she's never ever done that). :)

[WillTheBrave]

Always a pleasure to read your reviews. Great job again.

[beatles4]

Enjoyed the review as I did your previous ones. Well thought out and expressed! I chuckled at the geek remark. You seem to love the show just as much as I do :D. :) :) :) And you're right about it going to be a long summer!

[globalbudd3]

This is the first time I've read anything by Triplet and I must say that her review is great and informative. I agree with everything she'd said especially on the whole cast commendable performances on this episode. It was a good reminder why fans had stood by this show for so long.

However, the Grinch side of me would like to add a few comments/criticism to this episode and on season 4.

Personally I was a little dissappointed with the witch storyline. I have to say that I was one of the few who thought it was interesting in the beginning. It really had potential but they (writers) merely flirted with it.
Now Genevieve is dead and Isobel had "left" and at the end the only question on my mind was, what was the whole point of the witch thing? I thought the writers missed a great opportunity with this storyline-it could be written on a grander scale and all we've got was "phoof"!
I was looking forward to an epic battle with Isobel and her enemy who burned her at the stake. Ofcourse, it would be interesting to see what had happened in the past in connection to the stone. After all the Genevieve look alike seemed to be a witch as well. But all we've got was.......nothing?!
It seemed to me that the writers dropped the storyline after some negative criticism from some viewers. What a waste of talent from a great supporting cast of Miss Seymour and Mr. Ackles.

Not to go off topic here but I thought that the other waste of talent was that of Margot Kidder. I was really dissappointed with her death considering that she was "unofficially" continuing Dr. Swann guidance of Clark. So much of that idea and again, the writers missed that opportunity as well.

In my opinion season four was just okay for me! There were some
really good episodes but I found that there were more "okay" than good ones. The storylines were all over the place and continuation of themes were not smooth; the previous seasons were better in this regard. In my opinion, "commencement" was more of a continuation of season 3 and the first two episodes of season 4 than the rest of season 4. I know that Miles and Gough wanted to focus less on Jor-El and the caves but almost for an entire season is really hard to believe. After all Jor-El was so adamant in the previous seasons and he went tyrannically on Clark and suddenly he went "hibernating" for most of season 4.

Anyways, the good things of this season was Lois. Yes, I was and still am against Lois making such an early appearance but I really enjoyed Erica Durance performance. She really grew on me. The other pluses is Chloe knowing Clark secret and ofcourse Clana.

Things to look forward to next season is Lex crossing the "other" side. I fear for Miss Sullivan after she went kung fu on the guy and almost knocked him unconscious. I don't know....after the audience enjoyed a great solilique of Lex telling his father that he was indeed the son he always wanted....yikes Miss Sullivan. Hmm, another damsel in distress ofcourse may be Miss Lang as well. After all, junior have the "hots" for her....poor Clana....I see some basic instinct male version coming up. Ofcourse as Triplet mentioned in her article, looking forward to the fortress of Solitute and every good promise the next season will bring....

Again, thanks for a great finale as so eloquently written by Miss Triplet !

[triplet]

Originally posted by beatles4
Enjoyed the review as I did your previous ones. Well thought out and expressed!

Thanks... I actually wasn't sure it was as good as some of my earlier ones, so I appreciate that.


Originally posted by beatles4
I chuckled at the geek remark.

I am a Smallville geek, why not admit it? :D



Originally posted by beatles4
You seem to love the show just as much as I do :D. :) :) :)

Yeah, I do. I really love this show.

I think one thing that has frustrated me about reviewers on other sites, and one other site in particular, is that they don't really seem to love the show.

Me, I was a huge Superman comic book fan when I was a teen and.... I dunno... I grew out of it, I guess. Well, I fell in love with Smallville when I saw the Pilot. Also, Tom Welling's gentle, sincere and honest portrayal of Clark Kent made me fall in love with Superman all over again.

I've even gotten back into the comics a bit, as my budget allows, and I've picked up quite a few compilations.... I've really enjoyed that, actually.

Birthright was wonderful and I loved Jeph Leob's Batman/Superman book. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

The show gave me that childhood love back and I will always forgive Smallville's little foibles and missteps because of that. (But forgiving them disasters like Lucy will be harder to do... :D )

Yeah. I do love this show and I'm unashamed to admit that.



Originally posted by beatles4
And you're right about it going to be a long summer!

Yes, it will be. It really will be....

:sigh:

[avidreader]

Great reviewTriplet.

You and I sound like we could be of about the same vintage, something I struggle with on these boards as most posters seem to be quite young, sometimes I feel a bit out of place, so I tend to read alot more than I say.

I honestly think alot of people try to match this scifi fantasy show with too much reality tv. TPTB wanted Clark to have a "fun" year this year, as it was his last year in High School, and I guess that means that other things have to be compromised, remember guys they only have 42 minutes.

Re the continuity of the show. There are some holes, but remember the series isnt done with yet, and I read recently in the Smallville Magazine that they are very conscious of continuity but they will only bring something back into a story line if it has relevance to the story they are telling.

(Having said that I cant explain the "Lucas" situation) but this show is great at playing on words, so maybe the way the wording was structured regarding Lucas gives us more insight than we realise.

Anyway, for me it will also be a long summer and I look forward to reading more of your reviews for Season 5.

[ckfan]

Avidreader - I think I of the same "vintage" as you also - what a nice way to put it. Glad I'm not the only one of my "vintage" that is buying Smallville magazines!

[triplet]

Yeah, I'm of a certain vintage too (I'm old enough to have seen the oringal Chris Reeve Superman film and the original Star Wars film in the theatre during their first runs as a teen) and I love the Smallville magazines.

Great articles....

And I am looking forward to writing reviews for the Fifth season, I'm so glad everyone seems to like them.

[ckfan]

I used to watch the first Superman TV series with George Reeves, but it was in sindication on the old UHF channels. This was back in the 70's. I'd like to see that old show again. It would probably look so funny now that we're used to such cool special effects.

Come to think of it...I might have had a little crush on George Reeves when I was a kid! There's just something about Clark Kent!

[DarkJustice]

Triplet I enjoyed your review a lot as well. I usually don't like reading people's review's unless its short and to the point heh but I enjoyed yours and actually couldn't take my eyes off until I finished reading all of it. I think you got the same impressions of the season and finale as I did for the most part.

[triplet]

Thanks for reading it, I know it was long but there was so much going on in that episode....

[Grand_Sophy]

I always enjoy your reviews Triplet, and think they're enhanced by your hard earned knowledge and experience (i.e. age!). Remember, a synonym for "vintage" is "superior."