They're Ruining Smallville

[galatians221]

Tonight made me want to puke. They are reducing Superman (Kal El) to just one of many freaks. I am not a fan of the comic books but grew up with the George Reeves TV series and it's time to let Clark Kent fight crime and be super. He's not super if there are a myriad of others from Mars or whatever that have superior powers. This show tonight had Clark Kent as a minor character and Lex and Lana were the stars. I think it's time to shut down Smallville. The writers have ruined it. I hear that we're going to have the Justice League re-appear. I don't like that. I want to see Superman. They are making a mockery of the beauty of the Man of Steel and turning it into a slimy soap opera. To think of a character that rips out peoples spines and eats their bone marrow is off of the deep end. I was offended by it and a Martian who eats Oreos and has light bulbs for eyes is over the top. I wish Lex and Lana would have died in the other frequency so we never have to hear from them again, and if they continue with this Martha and Lionel nonsense, then I hope they both perish and get them off of the show as well. It's time to shut it down.

[Thil_EL]

dont worry the writers of this episdoe will never write again..just like the writer who wrote "wither"

[aft06]

word.

When did Superman turn in to such a nancy boy.

He hasn't thrown ONE punch this season.

[Thil_EL]

plus JUSTICE is on its way! it will redeem for the sins of other episodes like Wither,static and rage

[galatians221]

Originally posted by Thil_EL
plus JUSTICE is on its way! it will redeem for the sins of other episodes like Wither,static and rage

How so? We'll just have a bunch of freaks that reduce the uniqueness of Superman. Is he really super? If he was, we wouldn't need the others. The show is being reduced to a cheap comic book instead of a sophisticated story of a unique individual who struggles with his dual identity and amazes people with his powers. We're going to have every freak from every comic book and Superman will just be a silly comic book character. We've seen the Green Arrow shoot an arrow at a bullet for crying out loud. How silly are they going to get? I've been wanting to see Clark become Superman and I'm told "no tights no flights" but now we are going to get treated to every weirdo that ever put on a pair of tights. Silly. They're killing the show and it's obvious to me that this is the last season and they're just giddy with silliness.

[xrayvision]

If that episode is about the Justice League, then I'm sorry, it will just continue the sins by not focusing mainly on Clark and instead on other heroes. Why not just make a Justice League spinoff show and leave SV alone?

This is BS and really pisses me off. If an amateur like me came up with so many ideas in the late spring based on the status of the show as of Vessel, then they have no excuse to say that they're running out of ideas and have to resort to sh-t like this.

[KryptoKnight]

I kind of agree. I get so upset sometimes when he doesn't do the things Superman can do or should do, but remember, this series is not about the man who has already grown up and makes decisions based on accelerated experiences. He is learning and life teaches him things most people his age do not experience.
Now I am not making excuses, and in fact I really do want him to "man-up" and kick some butt where butt should be kicked. When Batista had Clark in a death grip, and Clark lucks out thanks to MM, I just yelled, "You gotta be kidding!" But the end of the episode made me feel better about it. I have a feeling Clark will soon be kicking major butt but not for a couple months I'm afraid

[xrayvision]

Not kicking butt is only part of the problem. Demoting Clark to someone with less airtime than a guest star is very harmful for the show.

[smf1970]

I've stuck with this show since the pilot episode. I question some of the things the writers are doing, but at the same time welcome some fresh ideas. The freak of the week villians got boring after awhile, so the idea of "Zoners" added some interesting villians. I believe the writers are trying to show that Clark must face the fact that there are others with powers or gifts that accept the destiny of a Hero. Clark is realizing his destiny, but he has to learn to trust and work with other superheroes. Whether you like it or not, The Justice League is a big part of Superman's life in the DC universe. Remember, this show is about the journey of Clark Kent becoming Superman. When he becomes that, the show is over. I'm interested to see how he gets there, so I will keep watching. All of you malcontents go watch something else.

[xrayvision]

Originally posted by smf1970
I'm interested to see how he gets there, so I will keep watching. All of you malcontents go watch something else.

Yeah, well I'm also interested to see how he gets there. What I'm not interested in is seeing how Lana gets pregnant, gets proposed to by Lex, and all kinds of other garbage writing and scenes that can turn so many people off that I will never get to see how he gets there. The early seasons had a great plan the way they were taking the show, but now it's become a soap opera. The evil Lex Luthor from Onyx is a Phantom Zone cry away from the one we've seen lately. I want to see how Lex and Clark become enemies over their ideals, not some lovesick horny puppy who is heartbroken over Lana and becomes enemies with Clark over that.

If anyone should go watch something else, it's the johnny come lately's to this show who think this season is actually good and have no idea about how much superior storytelling the previous seasons had (which also broke away from the predictable comic mold in more interesting aspects). This show was so good that it made someone who had given up on current TV shows start watching it back during S1/S2 back in '02/'03. If they had the stories they do now back then, I guarantee the fan base of this show would have been so small that the show would have never lasted 6 seasons.

[Supermann]

I personally don't agree with cutting out other superheroes. First of all, I do want to see clark become Superman but at the same time the suspense is what keeps me watching every week. I don't want the show to go any faster cause then the show will end sooner. I actually love seeing other DC superheroes on the show. It gives the show a non-routine feel. I do wish however Clark would use his powers more than a couple of times every show.

[Son of Kal-El20]

Originally posted by galatians221
Tonight made me want to puke. They are reducing Superman (Kal El) to just one of many freaks. I am not a fan of the comic books but grew up with the George Reeves TV series and it's time to let Clark Kent fight crime and be super. He's not super if there are a myriad of others from Mars or whatever that have superior powers. This show tonight had Clark Kent as a minor character and Lex and Lana were the stars. I think it's time to shut down Smallville. The writers have ruined it. I hear that we're going to have the Justice League re-appear. I don't like that. I want to see Superman. They are making a mockery of the beauty of the Man of Steel and turning it into a slimy soap opera. To think of a character that rips out peoples spines and eats their bone marrow is off of the deep end. I was offended by it and a Martian who eats Oreos and has light bulbs for eyes is over the top. I wish Lex and Lana would have died in the other frequency so we never have to hear from them again, and if they continue with this Martha and Lionel nonsense, then I hope they both perish and get them off of the show as well. It's time to shut it down.

I kind of agree with everything you say. This show is going downhill and yeah, they are ruining Superman/Clark Kent.

[betty_d]

Uhm, word to about half of what's been said here.

It is indeed a problem that Clark is less than unique in his abilities and if that wasn't enough, other (aspiring) superheroes are way way more mature! Every time I hear or read something to that extent I think back to Oliver talking to Clark about who he is and who he could be. The sad but honest truth is, that people have been telling him that for years and he still doesn't get it. Today, Clark gets the crap kicked out of him like in the seasons before. Nothing's changed, asides from other characters growing out of him, growing up and moving on.

The only other constant on this show is Lois, but don't even get me started on that one.

I believe that a league of superheroes is not necessary a bad thing - if only they wouldn't overshadow Clark himself. In the end, this whole show was built upon the belief, that we would see the teenager Clark Kent learn to deal with his heritage and mature into a young man who will later become Superman. The only thing we've seen enough of is his constant moping, about Lana, about him being different, about wanting to be normal ... boohoo.

[Shadow116]

I can outwrite the worst writers and hey I'm only 16. At least my superhero drama I'm writing shall be better then SV's past few seasons. But I'm keeping up hope I don't want SV to end like my other favorite shows on a cliffhanger or something stupid. I want it finished I've been with it since 04 and bought all the dvds and such. I'm hoping and praying this season gets better.

Sorry had to get that rant out of my system.

[biggkoz]

I commented on this last week and people were ripping on me for commenting on it? Welcome to the bandwagon. No tights my A$$ give the guy some powers besides sneezing and this show may redeem itself. Yeah clark punch somebody already you wimp. Lionel killed your dad show him whos boss !

[SaturdaySaint]

OOOOKAY... I guess I have to be the voice of reason... Here goes! This is the thing with Smallville. It's not just playing to the people who only know about superman... And thats the thing. This show is called SMALLVILLE. I'm a longtime DC mythology follower. I read just about every comic that comes out, have seen the Reeves serials, have watched Lois & Clark, Superman the animated, the oldschool Superboy tv show... the Donner films, I even sat through that disgrace of a film Superman 4 (nuclear man? now THATS running out of ideas), the most recent relaunch of the Movie series... and of course.. Smallville. I've been with Smallville since the beginning. And yes it's had a few missteps here and there... But you guys have to realize... this is all about the BIG picture... a story as a whole... build up. Clark knows he has to train with Jor El... He doesn't understand the big picture. He doesn't know how to fight. He knows how to use his powers..but does he know how to effectively take out a foe? Not really... And to say that having other heroes in the superman universe makes him less unique...is TOTAL opposite! You have to realize that he ends up being the Leader of them all. They end up looking up to him. Superman lore actually has Martian Manhunter watching Clark as he grows up... There was actually one point in time where he was the first one to be at Kal El's crash site..BEFORE Jonathan and Martha got there... It would make sense that he's helping him. The Golden age of comics show that there were super heroes operating...even as a team WAY before Superman was even around... Wonder Woman has been referenced before, and now we have Ollie, Flash, Cyborg, etc. TPTB are writing this show for not just the ones that don't know about Smallville.... but the ones that have been fans of Superman, Clark Kent, and the whole DC universe. We've never had a quality show that actually includes this many DC Heroes. And again..I say "Quality" show... Clarks not going to do a heat vision, freeze breath, super punch combo on Batista's character because he doesn't know HOW to fight in combat! He's an untrained 19-20 year old. All he's ever wanted was a normal life. YES he's going to still pine for Lana... Have you ever had a "One that got away"? He still misses her... and to see someone that he once trusted with his life... who's double and triple crossed him, end up with the only girl he's ever loved? YES that's going to cause him to be depressed. And as for the show focusing on Lex and Lana. Clark doesn't have anything more on his mind than Lex is with Lana (which is also very similar to something that happened in the comics as well). Of course that's going to be the focus of the conflict between him and Lex. And that's going to bring all their other differences and anger to the surface. The show's not called "Clark Kent". It's called Smallville... yes the show is about Clark growing to be Superman... and the conflicts between him, Lex, Lana, Ollie, Lois, Chloe, Pete (We miss you!), Martha, Lionel, etc is all apart of it. You need episodes that focus on other characters to progress the story... it's the nature of a good story! And the last thing I'm gonna hit on is... Batista's character last night. Is anyone ever happy with this show? I mean..if he fights a freak of the week for too long... You guys complain... if he fights zoners... you guys complain... It's not like he can start carting Lex off to prison every other episode... wouldn't work...show would end too fast... Just trust TPTB... keep an open mind... This show is really really good! Okay I'm done.. Flame on!

[Kryptonian-Ronin]

The show is called Smallville, yes, But without Clark kent, there would be no Smallville.

For someone that saud he wasn't gonna rest till he caught all the escapees and make right the mess he caused, he is sure doing a lousy job of it.

Lots of innocents are paying the price for Clark's procrastination.

[SaturdaySaint]

How many more would die if he went to do his training and left all the zoners to run around on earth? He's got a leg up on every other Superhero thats out there... It's like sending a highschooler into Iraq without his training...just wouldn't work... he's trying... give em a break...

[superpal1]

I agree with some points being made. The main one is that Clark just does not use his powers. I don't mind at all that we are getting more and more superheroes coming. I even don't mind that MM saved Clark. What I don't like is Clark not doing a dang thing. First off, the Security officer who caught his spine ripped off was on the same dock as Clark. With Super hearing he should have heard him scream. Two-he has super speed. He could have zipped around the dock with no one seeing him, until he found the super huge freak looking man. Three-I can see how he got thrown-he expected the crystal to work-but when he jumped out of the crane and saw that the Zoner had left-again-super speed- find him. Why did it take into the night for someone with Superhearing and x-ray vision to find the Zoner -ON THE SAME DOCK. When he does find him, Clark wimps out. Does not punch him, superbreath his butt into a wall, hit him with heat vision. NOTHING. There could have at least been a little fight before MM saved the day. Also, I do not like that Lex and Lana had a better storyline than Clark. Don't get me wrong. I dont mind seeing a Lex and Lana story, but it should not over shadow a Clark story--ever.

[shadow4486]

Originally posted by SaturdaySaint
OOOOKAY... I guess I have to be the voice of reason... Here goes! This is the thing with Smallville. It's not just playing to the people who only know about superman... And thats the thing. This show is called SMALLVILLE. I'm a longtime DC mythology follower. I read just about every comic that comes out, have seen the Reeves serials, have watched Lois & Clark, Superman the animated, the oldschool Superboy tv show... the Donner films, I even sat through that disgrace of a film Superman 4 (nuclear man? now THATS running out of ideas), the most recent relaunch of the Movie series... and of course.. Smallville. I've been with Smallville since the beginning. And yes it's had a few missteps here and there... But you guys have to realize... this is all about the BIG picture... a story as a whole... build up. Clark knows he has to train with Jor El... He doesn't understand the big picture. He doesn't know how to fight. He knows how to use his powers..but does he know how to effectively take out a foe? Not really... And to say that having other heroes in the superman universe makes him less unique...is TOTAL opposite! You have to realize that he ends up being the Leader of them all. They end up looking up to him. Superman lore actually has Martian Manhunter watching Clark as he grows up... There was actually one point in time where he was the first one to be at Kal El's crash site..BEFORE Jonathan and Martha got there... It would make sense that he's helping him. The Golden age of comics show that there were super heroes operating...even as a team WAY before Superman was even around... Wonder Woman has been referenced before, and now we have Ollie, Flash, Cyborg, etc. TPTB are writing this show for not just the ones that don't know about Smallville.... but the ones that have been fans of Superman, Clark Kent, and the whole DC universe. We've never had a quality show that actually includes this many DC Heroes. And again..I say "Quality" show... Clarks not going to do a heat vision, freeze breath, super punch combo on Batista's character because he doesn't know HOW to fight in combat! He's an untrained 19-20 year old. All he's ever wanted was a normal life. YES he's going to still pine for Lana... Have you ever had a "One that got away"? He still misses her... and to see someone that he once trusted with his life... who's double and triple crossed him, end up with the only girl he's ever loved? YES that's going to cause him to be depressed. And as for the show focusing on Lex and Lana. Clark doesn't have anything more on his mind than Lex is with Lana (which is also very similar to something that happened in the comics as well). Of course that's going to be the focus of the conflict between him and Lex. And that's going to bring all their other differences and anger to the surface. The show's not called "Clark Kent". It's called Smallville... yes the show is about Clark growing to be Superman... and the conflicts between him, Lex, Lana, Ollie, Lois, Chloe, Pete (We miss you!), Martha, Lionel, etc is all apart of it. You need episodes that focus on other characters to progress the story... it's the nature of a good story! And the last thing I'm gonna hit on is... Batista's character last night. Is anyone ever happy with this show? I mean..if he fights a freak of the week for too long... You guys complain... if he fights zoners... you guys complain... It's not like he can start carting Lex off to prison every other episode... wouldn't work...show would end too fast... Just trust TPTB... keep an open mind... This show is really really good! Okay I'm done.. Flame on!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I want to post your words on every thread on this site. If we had more people who saw this show for what it is, as you say,---The Big picture, the world would be a better place. I get more frustrated at the "whiners" on this forum than at the writers of the show.

I love this show more than any other I have watched. I enjoy the fact that we get a healthy dose of "DC" rather than Marvel all the time. I hope they cram as many DC characters in as they can (while keeping with continuity). Smallville is Fantastic!

SO WHETHER YOU LIKE IT, OR YOU DON'T LIKE IT, SIT BACK AND ENJOY IT CAUSE IT'S THE BEST GOING TODAY.....WHOOOOOOOO!!!!!

[biggkoz]

Wheres pete?

[SaturdaySaint]

Thats funny biggkoz... Does anyone realize that in Comic book cannon... Pete marries Lana..and they have a son called Clark... and Pete ends up vice president to President LEX?!??!? People would complain about that as well...I'm sure :P

[superpal1]

Clark not really knowing the extent of his powers in defeating a foe like Batista's character is not the same as him not even using them at all. I wouldn't have minded Clark needing MM to save him as long as Clark put up an effort first. We didn't even get to see him try to fight and lose. We got to see him get thrown, then almost busted over his knee. I just want to see him try. If he fails, then he fails. He is not officially trained by Jorel yet, but at least try.

[HalJordan4184]

This show isn't a quality show about the DC universe. From looking a the "big picture", i see no plausible, rational, reasonable way this Clark Kent will ever be the DCU Superman. He just doesn't care enough, doesn't want it enough, and is too outright disgusted by his own heritage to be that.

The point of this show, hasn't been about Clark becoming Superman, or even the man that would choose to be that. This show, is about a reluctant, whiny, immature kid, who by every available hand in the UNIVERSE, will be shoved into a mold he doesn't want, and won't fit into to. THis show is all about making Clark's transformation into something seem spectacular, and amazing, when, as a fan of the DC universe should know, it was anything but. Clark's decision to become Superman, and travel the world, and do all the related things, was so unceremonious, and natural, everyone kind of shrugged and went, that makes sense. This show isn't about Clark Kent, it's about a kid they gave Clark Kent's powers to, and Spider-Mans attitude. And at least Spider-Man only saw one innocent die before dedicating himself to stopping that whenever he could. Clark's going on six years, hundreds, if not thousands of deaths he KNOWS he could have prevented, and he's still whining about how he hates himself, and doesn't know why people keep pushing him.

[SaturdaySaint]

I AM a fan of the DCU...but also remember that Clark trains in the fortress for YEARS.... the Donner film..he was in there for like 10 years or so... He has to find himself...

[Davlok]

Blame Martha and the black kryptonite. Clark would have completed this training by episode 6 of season 4, assembled the crystal, stabbed Lex and Lana with it, then built the fortress over Lex's Mansion, added a garage and porch, then figured out a fertile kryptonian female was trapped in the Phantom Zone and gone and rescued her. Oh, then he destroys Gotham just for kicks before ruling Earth with strength or something :rotfl:

[tokenblackguy]

The point you missed here is that lexana sux that is all. Rest of the show is fine. Its lexana that sux.

[Kryptonian-Ronin]

Originally posted by Davlok
Blame Martha and the black kryptonite. Clark would have completed this training by episode 6 of season 4, assembled the crystal, stabbed Lex and Lana with it, then built the fortress over Lex's Mansion, added a garage and porch, then figured out a fertile kryptonian female was trapped in the Phantom Zone and gone and rescued her. Oh, then he destroys Gotham just for kicks before ruling Earth with strength or something :rotfl:

I like the way you think.


Originally posted by HalJordan4184
This show isn't a quality show about the DC universe. From looking a the "big picture", i see no plausible, rational, reasonable way this Clark Kent will ever be the DCU Superman. He just doesn't care enough, doesn't want it enough, and is too outright disgusted by his own heritage to be that.

The point of this show, hasn't been about Clark becoming Superman, or even the man that would choose to be that. This show, is about a reluctant, whiny, immature kid, who by every available hand in the UNIVERSE, will be shoved into a mold he doesn't want, and won't fit into to. THis show is all about making Clark's transformation into something seem spectacular, and amazing, when, as a fan of the DC universe should know, it was anything but. Clark's decision to become Superman, and travel the world, and do all the related things, was so unceremonious, and natural, everyone kind of shrugged and went, that makes sense. This show isn't about Clark Kent, it's about a kid they gave Clark Kent's powers to, and Spider-Mans attitude. And at least Spider-Man only saw one innocent die before dedicating himself to stopping that whenever he could. Clark's going on six years, hundreds, if not thousands of deaths he KNOWS he could have prevented, and he's still whining about how he hates himself, and doesn't know why people keep pushing him.

And that, along with Lexana, is the biggest issue that there is about Smallville.

[betty_d]

With all due respect SaturdaySaint, Smallville is not a show about the DC universe and it definitely didn't start out that way. What has been done is to once every now and then insert some hints about Clark's future and destiny (see "Run" in 2004, "Aqua" in 2005) but what's happened in season 6 so far (and is rumored to keep happening) is overkill!

I'm not about to go into detail about the true history of Clark Kent from the comic books, also because I couldn't hold a candle against the knowledge I believe you have ;) Nevertheless, I can't accept parts of your opinion. Trusting the producers and writers of Smallville would guarantee me a quality show of Clark Kent and his pretty strange life as a teenager, no doubt. There are some parts I do enjoy even in episodes like Static but this is NOT the show I wanted when I started watching back in the first season at all. And in that regard I'm reasonably disappointed.

Something that has always bugged me are Clark's super powers or rather the episodes that introduce them. Al Gough once said in an interview back in 2001 that TPTB intended to show a Clark Kent who's more humanized than ever, who is just as vulnerable as your ordinary teenager while growing up and struggling with his heritage and powers. What's come of that grand announcement? Some special episodes where he gets a new power that is introduced to the millions of people watching the show. And that's all it was, isn't it? I'm disappointed in the way growing up for Clark Kent was cut into a few pieces that got repetitive very soon.

Also - and one simply cannot deny that - after over five years, Clark still is the bumbling and insecure idiot he's been in the beginning. In all those years we see character after character grow up or move on, only Clark is still in that limbo despite his many nudges to finally grow up. I'm not even talking about his Lana fixation, that is something I quickly got used to and while it has never been my favorite part of the show, you learn to tolerate it ;) In so many ways I see a Clark who relies on others because he doesn't trust in himself. Now that Jonathan is dead and Raya also died saving his life, he has lost his footing more than ever before. Lana is definitely a very hostile Lexana, Chloe has also somewhat moved on to Jimmy and his mother is a possibly overworked state senator.

And aside from that, after five years of superhuman powers, he does not use them wisely. To me it looks like he isn't comfortable using them, like he'd like to wish them away and only uses them hesitantly out of guilt. These previously mentioned episodes of his new powers only showed him to control a power, not train them or use them beyond a single use or two. People are bothered by the fight between Clark and the bone-eater because this could be a scene from season one just as well. His first show of arrogance was just holding out Jor-El's stone of power or whatever only to be thrown off balance when it doesn't work. The sum of his powers is amazing but how often have we seen Clark getting beat up when he didn't need to be? How often have we seen someone getting the better of him just because he cannot quit the stupid farmboy act?

I have really enjoyed watching Smallville for the past seasons (definitely not for the great stories and more definitely not because of Clark Kent) but TPTB have not done anything to earn my trust at all. Isn't 5 1/2 seasons enough to expect some progress in Clark Kent? Aside from getting new powers or people dying around him/moving on from him, there has been not a single lasting indication, that he would be different from the 15 year old boy who wanted a girlfriend called Lana and be a normal guy without ever having heard of Krypton or Jor-El, not to speak of the obstacle of his powers. One can only hope that his birth father's training is something great because he's going to need it.

[AJ80]

Originally posted by SaturdaySaint
I AM a fan of the DCU...but also remember that Clark trains in the fortress for YEARS.... the Donner film..he was in there for like 10 years or so... He has to find himself...

With all due respect, this show is NOT about the DC universe. This show is about Clark Kent and how and why he becomes Superman. Lex is also the star of the show, because he's Superman's biggest rival.

No one gives a rats ass about Lana, Chloe, etc. The only reason why they have even a little relevance is about of their ties to Clark, and that's it. The writers shouldn't even try to make them more important than what they should be or more important than Clark or Lex, the true stars of the show. Even when they try, it has always looked bad and will always look bad.

Having guest stars on the show is fine, but they shouldn't have them outshine the main character and they shouldn't overstay their welcome, either. Clark needs to learn to be a hero on his own. He shouldn't need Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter, or Chloe to show him at all. The comics have shown that Superman is Superman because of the person he is and how he was raised. Him being a hero should be something that's always been inside him, not because of circumstances and not because he has to, but because he is.

Sorry, but its hard to deny that AlMiles simply do not get Superman at all and are utterly clueless. The writing is a clear example of this.

Regardless if you are fan of the show or not, the fact that SV is not a good TV show right now is just hard to ignore.