Would this ever be possible?

[xrayvision]

I've been thinking about this for a while. Would it ever be possible to have 2 versions of the same Smallville episode every week where one would be focused on 'ships and the other would be focused on action & mythos?

What I mean is having Smallville take up 2 of CW's timeslots of the 5 day week; perhaps one on Tuesday & the other on Thursday. The way they would do it is by filming a variety of scenes for every episode and rather than discarding so many scenes (deleted scenes) they would use a wide array of extra 'shipper scenes for the 'shipper version of the episode while using the extra, unused action/fight & mythos scenes for the version that would be slanted towards action/mythos fans.

Of course there would have to be some scenes common to both versions, but would it be possible to make them different enough that they would be able to please fans of each segment? Shows like American Idol have results shows, which always seemed like BS to me. Wouldn't an extra version of Smallville every week help the CW's ratings?

If this would be possible, then I'm guessing they could get double the budget and pay the actors more money. My guess is that with all the scenes they film and never use, of which several don't even end up on the DVD sets, they would have enough to create 2 different versions of each episode without straining the actors any more (or at least not considerably more).

What do you think?

[Saber]

Interesting idea:

Unfortunately since Michael Rosenbaum is leaving the show and therefore ending his character as Lex Luthor. I would have thought a Lex Luthor spin-off would have been a good idea. Especially since the writers seem to find it easier writing a bad guy breaking the rules as oppose to theoretically a good guy breaking the rules (Clark Kent). They seem to have trouble keeping the good guy on the straight and narrow in order to keep him up to date.
So if they could focus on a Lex Luthor spin-off, keeping him bad to the bone, then maybe Clark can come in and save the day without all the angst baggage that he carries on Smallville.
Just good old-fashioned good vs bad, conventional & traditional, a show role reversal may bring about better story telling.

[hassenmorad]

I don't like this idea. The show does a good job of striking a balance between these two aspects of a drama (action & relationships) and there's no reason to split the show up into 2 separate ones.

[xrayvision]

Not in my opinion. The fight scenes suck mostly and the show barely focuses on Clark anymore. Had they done something like this in season 6, they could have focused on Lexana in the shipper version of the 22 episodes (which would have minimal action for the shippers out there) while giving our main hero Clark the time he deserves in the action/mythos version of the 22 episodes (which would have minimal shipping for the mythos/action fans out there).

[Absolute Kingdom]

I have to hand it to you xrayvision, you always come up with the most brilliant ideas. The idea reminds me of what the comics are doing with the separate titles for their characters. For instance, Clark Kent in Action Comics and Clark Kent in Superman.

I like the idea a lot, (not to sound rude or anything) but I can't see it happening.

[krewsaider]

I'm sorry to say but I don't think it's that good of an idea. You need both 'ships and mythos/action to make a decent episode.

[Insight]

Exactly, krew.

I think a lot of people don't understand that balance is what makes a good show. You need to be invested in the characters( and their relationships) to care about their situations. Even the action situations.

[cksidekick]

Originally posted by xrayvision
Not in my opinion. The fight scenes suck mostly and the show barely focuses on Clark anymore. Had they done something like this in season 6, they could have focused on Lexana in the shipper version of the 22 episodes (which would have minimal action for the shippers out there) while giving our main hero Clark the time he deserves in the action/mythos version of the 22 episodes (which would have minimal shipping for the mythos/action fans out there).

they do allmost exactly what you are saying...they dont make duel episodes, but they make a few mythos then a few ships, then a few action, and back around again...they break the season down...this is why different directors are prefered over the same one all season long...the diversity in styles is how you please MOST...you can never please ALL...

[xrayvision]

^^I know. But there are times where it's just too much of one and too little of another (like in season 4, the first half of season 6, and the Lexana part of season 5).

I was thinking dual episodes could also have both aspects, but the ratio would always be 75% action 25% ships in one version and vice versa in the other. I honestly think that true fans like the ones here would watch both versions. And it could be a cool way of doubling the budget.

[thedean123]

Originally posted by krewsaider
I'm sorry to say but I don't think it's that good of an idea. You need both 'ships and mythos/action to make a decent episode.
Totally agree, if you dragged out either one of those ideas over a hour each in to two seperate shows it would be really dull. Its the blend of the two that make the show great.

[Alexius]

I think is a bad idea, it doesn't make sense at all. Is like doing a schizophrenic show, which one is the real SV?
Xray, sometimes you have some real good ideas, but this one is not one of them, you need to be more realistic. ;)

[Saber]

It's not so much the idea of two shows but maybe the frustration by many fans that wish for a better balance between shipping and some action packed story telling. I’m all for any idea that cuts down on the shipper aspect and more of Clark’s growth as a person.
I want to see diversity, growth, a forward movement in the story plots and end the love triangles. Everyone and their mother hooks up on this show. They even had sparks between Martha/ Lionel (very uncouth).
At least it was an idea that was out of the box, better than some of the plots of past seasons. I still think it’s an interesting thought. ;)

[j_sundude]

I don't think it would work well on television, but it could make a great dvd special feature to choose different versions of episodes.

[cksidekick]

Originally posted by j_sundude
I don't think it would work well on television, but it could make a great dvd special feature to choose different versions of episodes.

this same thought hit me last night...cudos for beating me to the forums...:) ...they could realy get away with it, if its to bring a (meanwhile.........)type of story to show what Clark was up to...which i think gets more to the heart of what xrayvision is saying...they could make it part of the options menu...

[vyperman7]

Originally posted by hassenmorad
I don't like this idea. The show does a good job of striking a balance between these two aspects of a drama (action & relationships) and there's no reason to split the show up into 2 separate ones.

That used to be the case in earlier seasons. They used to be able to have a nice balance. But in later seasons, I couldn't disagree with you more. Especially with S6. The main focus with S6 was the Clexana triangle. The arc for the season with the Zoners came an extremely distant second. Smallville has unfortunately turned to soap opera style drama. Also, the fights on Smallville have been terrible in my opinion. Especially with fights like the one in Arrival. But I will say this. The fight in Combat with Titan was good, and I also thought the fight with Bizzaro was pretty decent.

[closetclana]

Maybe TW could join the Friday Night smackdown. He could wear the blue t-shirt and red jacket and everything. Than some fans could get all the fighting they wanted and Clark would have some very interesting FOTW's to fight.

[Alexius]

Originally posted by closetclana
Maybe TW could join the Friday Night smackdown. He could wear the blue t-shirt and red jacket and everything. Than some fans could get all the fighting they wanted and Clark would have some very interesting FOTW's to fight.

Hey, don't be so sarcastic, we just want some decent fights, Clark's superpowers are there for a reason, but TPTB seem to prefer soap drama than good technical fights, but not WWE style please! :D :D

[Honey45]

Originally posted by xrayvision
I've been thinking about this for a while. Would it ever be possible to have 2 versions of the same Smallville episode every week where one would be focused on 'ships and the other would be focused on action & mythos?

What I mean is having Smallville take up 2 of CW's timeslots of the 5 day week; perhaps one on Tuesday & the other on Thursday. The way they would do it is by filming a variety of scenes for every episode and rather than discarding so many scenes (deleted scenes) they would use a wide array of extra 'shipper scenes for the 'shipper version of the episode while using the extra, unused action/fight & mythos scenes for the version that would be slanted towards action/mythos fans.

Of course there would have to be some scenes common to both versions, but would it be possible to make them different enough that they would be able to please fans of each segment? Shows like American Idol have results shows, which always seemed like BS to me. Wouldn't an extra version of Smallville every week help the CW's ratings?

If this would be possible, then I'm guessing they could get double the budget and pay the actors more money. My guess is that with all the scenes they film and never use, of which several don't even end up on the DVD sets, they would have enough to create 2 different versions of each episode without straining the actors any more (or at least not considerably more).

What do you think?

I don't particularly like the idea. I like the show how it is.

I don't think it would work for two reasons:
1. a lot of people enjoy the show because of the mix of mythos & relationships. I know I wouldn't want to have to watch two different shows for the same thing I could get from watching only one
2. competition will eventually fail both shows. Like if you put a McDonalds and a Burger King right next to each other, they would compete with each other, and both stores would eventually loose money

[xrayvision]

Originally posted by vyperman7
and I also thought the fight with Bizzaro was pretty decent.

But way too short. I think the episode spent too much time on some things, like the opening. This finale was like Covenant in some ways (a slow episode with an explosive ending). Though Covenant's ending was just too much. It was the only ending to a finale that left me completely speechless.

[Spirit Detective]

Originally posted by xrayvision
But way too short. I think the episode spent too much time on some things, like the opening. This finale was like Covenant in some ways (a slow episode with an explosive ending). Though Covenant's ending was just too much. It was the only ending to a finale that left me completely speechless.

I have to agree with you on Covenant. It was probably the only finale that left every character in peril AND made it believable. Vessel tried, but the characters were left in such extreme circumstances that it was unbelievable. I still haven't forgiven Lois and Martha going on an airplane only for Brainiac to hiijack it (it was SO obvious and just a way to get rid of those characters for the majority of the episode).

The only slow thing on Phantom was the Clana in the barn. It just felt too long and hindered certain aspects of the episode. Maybe if it was shortened, the Bizarro fight would be longer. I was honestly expecting Clark to win (I should've known better when it comes to finales).

[xrayvision]

I still say this would be a very smart move for the CW.

[Vergon6]

While its an interesting idea, I don't think it's logistically possible. Also, it's not financially viable especially in light of the CW wanting to treat Smallville that a Season 1 show.

In addition, I don't personally like the idea of shipper version vs. action version of episodes. I think there should be a certain degree of romance and relationships in a show but the problem with Smallville some of the time is that they over-emphasize the relationship aspect of the show, upping the angst and including love triangle after love triangle. I think the key is increasing the amount of action and other forms of drama in comparison to the use of romantic relationships, while still maintaining a mix. I am personally not an active 'shipper' of any kind in terms of Smallville.