For the Love of GOD...stop this! PLEASE!

[Supes4Ever]

This will be the one and ONLY time I pull myself into my "fanboy" (my Dad brought me up reading Superman comics as a way to learn morality, and that we are all meant for a greater purpose, so the idea of even a "fictional" hero saving the world means something to me) mode as some people call it; but will they PLEASE stop hurting Clark emotionally like this???!!

Superman wasn't a beacon of hope; a man who stood for truth, justice and the American way because he was so emotionally tested at a young age that he rushed himself into the Fortress for training just to escape it all. That is the only emotional state I see Clark honestly going to the Fortress for the final part of his training, because he has nothing left to believe in, and is torn with guilt. That is not the type of hero he is meant to become; always fearful of doing the wrong thing because someone may get hurt by his action or non-action, or distrusting of humans. You can't tell me after all that has happened- Jonathan's death, his realtionship(s) with Lana and now her "torturing" at the hands of Brainiac, Martha losing her baby because of his decision to put the key into his ship, the awkward friendship that exists between him and Pete, Chloe's trials and tribulations, his failure to save Lex from his dark side (or at least how he may eventually percieve his part in it), Raya's death, and now possibly Lionel's death while serving as Jor-El's vessel, that he will not be wracked with the guilt of what he could or should have done.

I am not a "shipper" as well, I don't care who he dates. But watching what was done to the woman he loves, all I saw was broken man. I didn't see the "God" that Chloe told Lionel he has met, I saw a tortured young man that has been given more by fate then ANY man should have to face. Has he done many things wrong? Yes. Could he have prevented much of what has happened by listening to Jor-El, or even Jonathan when he was alive? Yes. But this has been one pain too much. For everyone that talks about "well what if Darkseid comes, won't that be great?" NO, NO IT WON'T. Not unless you are ready to watch Clark die. How is he supposed to be prepared for this? How is he supposed to muster the strength needed to stop the threat that Darkseid will bring? Not only are his skills not up to the task, his heart couldn't possibly be in it.

The world needs a hero, and this one is broken and beaten down. That's not Superman; that is a Roman-tragedy.

[jazel]

:(
yeah, I agree :(

[smallvillerocks45]

I agree that Clark has had a great deal of pain to deal with, but I believe it will make him stronger in long run. After personally experiencing all of the evil in the world, and knowing that with his powers he has the capability to do something that can save millions, all of this pain will just be a reminder as to why he needs to be Superman... so that no one else experiences the types of horrors he has had to.

Come to think of it though, most superheroes are born because of the hardships they've experienced. Look at Bruce Wayne, even closer to home look at Oliver Queen. When you're intentions are good and your heart is in the right place - and it probably helps if your parents loved you, as was the case with Clark - , goodness is all that is left to fight for. That's what gives people hope.

[jazel]

I agree that Clark has had a great deal of pain to deal with, but I believe it will make him stronger in long run. After personally experiencing all of the evil in the world, and knowing that with his powers he has the capability to do something that can save millions, all of this pain will just be a reminder as to why he needs to be Superman... so that no one else experiences the types of horrors he has had to.

Come to think of it though, most superheroes are born because of the hardships they've experienced. Look at Bruce Wayne, even closer to home look at Oliver Queen. When you're intentions are good and your heart is in the right place - and it probably helps if your parents loved you, as was the case with Clark - , goodness is all that is left to fight for. That's what gives people hope.

I am So glad, I was aware of Superman, LONG before Smallville. They would have ruined things for me, if I left it up to them.:(

[hopeless]

Unfortunately this is what happens when the people in charge believe everybody needs to be dragged down to their level and then shown to be no better than they are.

A mite crude but explains the problem as I see it, to me Superman exemplifies the moral strength given to him by his adopted parents and had it been done that way we would have seen the Fortress revealed to have been corrupted by Brainiac, the crystals restoring an earlier version of AI ala the Eradicator and Zod would have been Zod and not depending on a fellow cast member because they couldn't shell out for another actor.

The best episodes to me have been when they're briefly showing hints of CK's future like Jordan touching Clark and then saying unlike others he doesn't seem to have an end and introducing other superheroes which have held up the entire season to cover some major plot holes like the witches arc, the phantoms and so on.

A rpg club I used to go to had one member whose an unabashed hack and slash roleplayer who decalred he loathed Superman because he was unrealistic and then Marvel killed off Captain America in a truly awful story arc that made no sense so the problem isn't just limited to just Smallville if that makes you feel better.

I think what they'll try and pull is show CK beaten down to the very limit and then have Chloe pull him back from the brink like they did with Iron Man after Stane blew up Stark's new business to destroy him.

I hope this was clear enough but I would have expected CK to have demolished Brainiac when he attacked Lana not stay earthbound that sounds like they really are dragging out the season.

[MidgardDragon]

It's funny that there are people who believe Superman has never been emotionally tested to this level before. Especially people who call themselves comic fans.

It's not about "dragging him down". It's about making him a relateable and interesting character. They've been doing it in Superman for ages. Nothing new, but people like to pick Smallville to nitpick and whine about, so it's the target of everyone's hate.

[Supes4Ever]

I am not really nitpicking Smallville; I have been here since Season 1, Episode One, and I love the show. I agree that they have been testing Superman for ages, but I will disagree and say that the only time I really thought he was showing the type of "broken" spirit was right after he returned from his "death" at the hands of Doomsday. There was a lot of emotion there, running the gamut of fear to anger.

It's just lately, what has been happening to Clark has been getting to me for some reason on an emotional level (and I am not an emotional person, normally. Kinda hard when Mom and Dad said the only "weak" thing, as in "emotional", I was allowed was to be a "geeky fan of Superman" like my old man). His character has been through a lot, and tonight was the first night where I honestly thought- "Maybe he doesn't believe there is any good in this world left to fight for?" On the level of the characters on the show, you could even see it in Chloe's eyes at the end. She had just come back from the confrontation with Lionel, talking about the "Godly" nature of Clark and her anger for his preying on Clark's strongest emotions, and when she walked in and saw him crying over Lana her face just smacked to me of "this is too much, he has been tested too much."

[Theshadow129x]

I agree with the original poster. they put Clark through too much emotional pain to make us believe he has the heart to be the great superman. At this point the only way he can become superman is by him feeling guilt for the role.its not the way a hero should become a hero. even when raya died and he said he was going to the fortress to do training, he was being guilted into the role and its not right to the legendary character.

While i did like the episode, i hated the way Clark was because him doing what is necessary comes at the expense of everyone else and he jut doesnt grow up. he only wants to do what is necessary when something f'ed up has happened!!

[Este]

It's just lately, what has been happening to Clark has been getting to me for some reason on an emotional level (and I am not an emotional person, normally.

It's the opposite that's happening with me. I cared about Clark, his emotions, sadness, despair for all those seasons, but I'm starting to have too much of it. I guess I want to see Tom Welling portray something different than sadness. I want Clark to change as a character. I just want some progression and this never-ending drama just doesn't move me anymore.

Maybe the show is heading towards a change in dynamics. Hope so.

[herolee10]

I am not really nitpicking Smallville; I have been here since Season 1, Episode One, and I love the show. I agree that they have been testing Superman for ages, but I will disagree and say that the only time I really thought he was showing the type of "broken" spirit was right after he returned from his "death" at the hands of Doomsday. There was a lot of emotion there, running the gamut of fear to anger.

It's just lately, what has been happening to Clark has been getting to me for some reason on an emotional level (and I am not an emotional person, normally. Kinda hard when Mom and Dad said the only "weak" thing I was allowed was to be a "geeky fan of Superman" like my old man). His character has been through a lot, and tonight was the first night where I honestly thought- "Maybe he doesn't believe there is any good in this world left to fight for?" On the level of the characters on the show, you could even see it in Chloe's eyes at the end. She had just come back from the confrontation with Lionel, talking about the "Godly" nature of Clark and her anger for his preying on Clark's strongest emotions, and when she walked in and saw him crying over Lana her face just smacked to me of "this is too much, he has been tested too much."


didn't Martha say in "Crusade" about when Clark was talking about how he admired how she was able to overcome all the emotional stress that she was dealing with at that time (husband being in a coma for 3 months, Clark missing) that "the good lord only gives us what we can handle". I believe that really also matches Clark's situations. Although Clark in SV still has many faults, he's also proven that he has the capacity to step right back up whenever he's been dealt a blow to him emotionally. Plus, if you think what he faces now is harsh, then damn are you in for a surprise once you hear about the things he'll most likely face in the future as Superman. I think all of these obstacles are just molding him to be the man that he his; to the point where instead of being forced and persuaded to his accept his destiny, he wants to embrace it to help better the lives of those who can't fend for themselves.

Sure our Clark is somewhat of a slow learner, and by no means am i defending tptb, but if i'm correct, history has proven that it's usually the slow learners that end of being the best out of the best. Just look at how Oliver thinks of Clark. Sure he admires him, but he still thinks that Clark is too lazy to ever make the difference in the world that he knows he's capable off, but who's the hero that ends up "changing" the world someday??..."cough" "cough" Clark...haha, but yea. NO hero, no matter how iconic they are; are without problems, because everyone goes through problems, without problems they'd be considered dull and boring.

[AlwaysRight]

It's the opposite that's happening with me. I cared about Clark, his emotions, sadness, despair for all those seasons, but I'm starting to have too much of it. I guess I want to see Tom Welling portray something different than sadness. I want Clark to change as a character. I just want some progression and this never-ending drama just doesn't move me anymore.

Maybe the show is heading towards a change in dynamics. Hope so.

I agree Clark needs more Lois time, maybe they can do and episode called Shelby, those 3 make a good team.

[smallvillerocks45]

Originally Posted by Este
It's the opposite that's happening with me. I cared about Clark, his emotions, sadness, despair for all those seasons, but I'm starting to have too much of it. I guess I want to see Tom Welling portray something different than sadness. I want Clark to change as a character. I just want some progression and this never-ending drama just doesn't move me anymore.

Maybe the show is heading towards a change in dynamics. Hope so.


I hope so too. I don't want to see another tear drop fall from Clark Kent's eyes. I want him to stand tall, and kick the bad guys' hind parts into the next solar system... baby steps, that's been Smallville's game plan all along, I suppose.

[Yasise]

I agree that Clark has had a great deal of pain to deal with, but I believe it will make him stronger in long run. After personally experiencing all of the evil in the world, and knowing that with his powers he has the capability to do something that can save millions, all of this pain will just be a reminder as to why he needs to be Superman... so that no one else experiences the types of horrors he has had to.

Come to think of it though, most superheroes are born because of the hardships they've experienced. Look at Bruce Wayne, even closer to home look at Oliver Queen. When you're intentions are good and your heart is in the right place - and it probably helps if your parents loved you, as was the case with Clark - , goodness is all that is left to fight for. That's what gives people hope.

I totally agree!


didn't Martha say in "Crusade" about when Clark was talking about how he admired how she was able to overcome all the emotional stress that she was dealing with at that time (husband being in a coma for 3 months, Clark missing) that "the good lord only gives us what we can handle". I believe that really also matches Clark's situations. Although Clark in SV still has many faults, he's also proven that he has the capacity to step right back up whenever he's been dealt a blow to him emotionally. Plus, if you think what he faces now is harsh, then damn are you in for a surprise once you hear about the things he'll most likely face in the future as Superman. I think all of these obstacles are just molding him to be the man that he his; to the point where instead of being forced and persuaded to his accept his destiny, he wants to embrace it to help better the lives of those who can't fend for themselves.

Sure our Clark is somewhat of a slow learner, and by no means am i defending tptb, but if i'm correct, history has proven that it's usually the slow learners that end of being the best out of the best. Just look at how Oliver thinks of Clark. Sure he admires him, but he still thinks that Clark is too lazy to ever make the difference in the world that he knows he's capable off, but who's the hero that ends up "changing" the world someday??..."cough" "cough" Clark...haha, but yea. NO hero, no matter how iconic they are; are without problems, because everyone goes through problems, without problems they'd be considered dull and boring.

Couldn't have explained it better! Thank you :)

[TheANIMAL (marcus)]

Everyone has stuff happen to them that makes them sad, he will grow out of his pan and be stronger, or atleast that is how it will be written. If it were realistic, everyone would need therapy by now.

[petitemimi]

I understand all this, but there's too much pain, suffering and torture this season. Enough is enough. I would like to enjoy more exciting action episodes and IMO, Clark has to develop through many kind of experiences, not only negative ones. There have been very few positive things in Clark's life this season and even a future superhero need happiness from time to time. I know I do, as a viewer.

[Timester]

Everyone has stuff happen to them that makes them sad, he will grow out of his pan and be stronger, or atleast that is how it will be written. If it were realistic, everyone would need therapy by now.

This. The only realistic character right now on the show is Lex, because he is embracing all the crap he endured all his life and he stopped caring about it.

[myankskent]

I have no problem with Clark having to deal with so much pain. If TPTB are going to have a villain like Brainiac around, I don't expect to see Clark smiling while doing his farm chores. I would like to see Clark take more action rather than do nothing, like not even attempting to fly, but having all of this pain in his life is a product of having a major villain on this show, at least for the moment, IMO.

[eas]

The world needs a hero, and this one is broken and beaten down. That's not Superman; that is a Roman-tragedy.

I agree. And it is unfortunate.

----- Added 57 Seconds later -----


I have no problem with Clark having to deal with so much pain. If TPTB are going to have a villain like Brainiac around, I don't expect to see Clark smiling while doing his farm chores. I would like to see Clark take more action rather than do nothing, like not even attempting to fly, but having all of this pain in his life is a product of having a major villain on this show, at least for the moment, IMO.

Yeah, but I don't think that a lot of the stuff they force him to endure has to do with Brainiac.

Like the whole tortured "romantic triangle" with Lexana. That was just making him brood for the sake of brooding. Nothing Superman about it.

[BadToad]

The world needs a hero, and this one is broken and beaten down. That's not Superman; that is a Roman-tragedy.

I agree. I love Clark, and I feel so terrible for him most of the time. Yes, he's made mistakes, as has every single character on the show. But he's also been faced with no-win situation, after no-win situation, where the outcome is going to be bad no matter which way he steps. And that just sucks! He's also made to endure guilt from events he has no control over, like the people infected by the meteor rocks from the meteor shower that brought him to this planet. Of course thats not his fault, but of course he is going to feel the weight of that responsibility. And now this Veritas stuff is more along the same lines. Its not his fault these people were killed in a power struggle for control over him, but how does he not feel like he's the cause? I HATE that the show keeps doing this.

And yeah, Clark should be challenged when dealing with a big villian like Brainiac, but wouldn't that be much more effective if we had these moments in contrast to the more hopeful, joyous moments in his life? As opposed to just more extreme suckage to heap onto the more mundane suckage?

Just to create an example, an episode where Clark's best childhood friend comes back isn't used as a way for fond rememberance, or happy experiances, or a reaffirmation of friendship. No, Pete comes back and blasts Clark with more guilt and blame, and then we get a half-hearted apology at the end. Ugh!

I understand having Clark face adversity to make him more relateable. I get that, and agree. I also understand and agree with having Clark be a non-perfect character that makes mistakes. But all this does seem to have been taken to a ludicrous degree. There is such a thing as balance.

[Krpyto]

We are heading into Season 8. Time for Clark to move from whiney boy to Superman.

And Fly for goodness sake. It's time. It's been said before "no flights, no tights" made sense when he was in high school and the creators thought it was going to be a 4 or 5 season deal at most but look Season 8 is upcoming. We got heat vision in season 2 but here it is 6 years later and he still cant fly? What sense does that make?

[litew8]

This will be the one and ONLY time I pull myself into my "fanboy" (my Dad brought me up reading Superman comics as a way to learn morality, and that we are all meant for a greater purpose, so the idea of even a "fictional" hero saving the world means something to me) mode as some people call it; but will they PLEASE stop hurting Clark emotionally like this???!!

Superman wasn't a beacon of hope; a man who stood for truth, justice and the American way because he was so emotionally tested at a young age that he rushed himself into the Fortress for training just to escape it all. That is the only emotional state I see Clark honestly going to the Fortress for the final part of his training, because he has nothing left to believe in, and is torn with guilt. That is not the type of hero he is meant to become; always fearful of doing the wrong thing because someone may get hurt by his action or non-action, or distrusting of humans. You can't tell me after all that has happened- Jonathan's death, his realtionship(s) with Lana and now her "torturing" at the hands of Brainiac, Martha losing her baby because of his decision to put the key into his ship, the awkward friendship that exists between him and Pete, Chloe's trials and tribulations, his failure to save Lex from his dark side (or at least how he may eventually percieve his part in it), Raya's death, and now possibly Lionel's death while serving as Jor-El's vessel, that he will not be wracked with the guilt of what he could or should have done.

I am not a "shipper" as well, I don't care who he dates. But watching what was done to the woman he loves, all I saw was broken man. I didn't see the "God" that Chloe told Lionel he has met, I saw a tortured young man that has been given more by fate then ANY man should have to face. Has he done many things wrong? Yes. Could he have prevented much of what has happened by listening to Jor-El, or even Jonathan when he was alive? Yes. But this has been one pain too much. For everyone that talks about "well what if Darkseid comes, won't that be great?" NO, NO IT WON'T. Not unless you are ready to watch Clark die. How is he supposed to be prepared for this? How is he supposed to muster the strength needed to stop the threat that Darkseid will bring? Not only are his skills not up to the task, his heart couldn't possibly be in it.

The world needs a hero, and this one is broken and beaten down. That's not Superman; that is a Roman-tragedy.
The fact is - they've intentionally made him a big fat sissy.
It is downright deplorable. Disgusting.

- - - - - -
Truth, Justice and the American Way -
They don't have any idea/understanding or intentions of attempting to portray those qualities.
They've done everything possible to do the exact opposite, and quite frankly, it makes me sick to think these people consider themselves worthy enough to portray an iconic American superhero. They've done a rotten job. There's so much more that could have been done in a positive light - yet they constantly focus on the sissy/coward aspect. I don't know who it is they are mirroring. It isn't me, that's for sure.

Perhaps it has something to do with the actors not growing up American.
Perhaps some of it has to do with TW not liking Superman.
Perhaps it has something to do with Hollywood and their disgusting liberal ways.
Perhaps it is a combination of all of the above.

[curiosity]

I agree with the OP on this one. He shouldn't have been so broken that Lana was in that state. Lionel has been in that state. At the hospital they could give Lana pain meds so she won't suffer.

His attitude should be to solve the problem and fix things. Get rid of Lana because they no longer belong together. lol, I just had to add that last sentence.

[BadToad]

Strangely enough, I don't think the OP started this thread with the intention of turning it into another Clark bashing thread. I think the idea was to discuss the amount of misery and guilt they heap on Clark. :\

[curiosity]

Strangely enough, I don't think the OP started this thread with the intention of turning it into another Clark bashing thread. I think the idea was to discuss the amount of misery and guilt they heap on Clark. :\

My post isn't bashing Clark either, it's more about how he's written. They are heaping too much sorrow on him, I agree, and they are also making him too sad. If they're going to give him so much sorrow, they should make him not so sad about it. I've always loved Clark's character. They just won't give him a good story or let him progress.

They've always given Superman sorrow. Lois died in Superman I. In Lois and Clark, Lois had to be frozen and almost died. She actually almost got killed 80 times, she almost married Lex Luther. I just don't remember him acting so sad over it all. His parents were kidnapped, threatened to be killed. Lots of stuff happens to him, so writing him so sad and unable to solve problems is part of it, and also heaping too much on him is another part. IMO.

[litew8]

Strangely enough, I don't think the OP started this thread with the intention of turning it into another Clark bashing thread. I think the idea was to discuss the amount of misery and guilt they heap on Clark. :\And when you say "they", you are inferring the writer's and producer's abilitiy to portray the character.

----- Added 3 Minutes later -----

The worst part of "Veritas" for me was them giving Kara Superman's phrase "Up, up and away". That wasn't meant to be uttered by Supergirl. That was created and designed soley for Superman. Nobody else. But yet, they stripped that away and gave it to someone else. They even had the nerve to have the character (Kara) smile after saying it - It is disgusting/idiotic.

[Mars Investigations]

This will be the one and ONLY time I pull myself into my "fanboy" (my Dad brought me up reading Superman comics as a way to learn morality, and that we are all meant for a greater purpose, so the idea of even a "fictional" hero saving the world means something to me) mode as some people call it; but will they PLEASE stop hurting Clark emotionally like this???!!

Superman wasn't a beacon of hope; a man who stood for truth, justice and the American way because he was so emotionally tested at a young age that he rushed himself into the Fortress for training just to escape it all. That is the only emotional state I see Clark honestly going to the Fortress for the final part of his training, because he has nothing left to believe in, and is torn with guilt. That is not the type of hero he is meant to become; always fearful of doing the wrong thing because someone may get hurt by his action or non-action, or distrusting of humans. You can't tell me after all that has happened- Jonathan's death, his realtionship(s) with Lana and now her "torturing" at the hands of Brainiac, Martha losing her baby because of his decision to put the key into his ship, the awkward friendship that exists between him and Pete, Chloe's trials and tribulations, his failure to save Lex from his dark side (or at least how he may eventually percieve his part in it), Raya's death, and now possibly Lionel's death while serving as Jor-El's vessel, that he will not be wracked with the guilt of what he could or should have done.

I am not a "shipper" as well, I don't care who he dates. But watching what was done to the woman he loves, all I saw was broken man. I didn't see the "God" that Chloe told Lionel he has met, I saw a tortured young man that has been given more by fate then ANY man should have to face. Has he done many things wrong? Yes. Could he have prevented much of what has happened by listening to Jor-El, or even Jonathan when he was alive? Yes. But this has been one pain too much. For everyone that talks about "well what if Darkseid comes, won't that be great?" NO, NO IT WON'T. Not unless you are ready to watch Clark die. How is he supposed to be prepared for this? How is he supposed to muster the strength needed to stop the threat that Darkseid will bring? Not only are his skills not up to the task, his heart couldn't possibly be in it.

The world needs a hero, and this one is broken and beaten down. That's not Superman; that is a Roman-tragedy.

But you can't expect him to be Superman or even Superman-like yet...the whole point of the show is to show the tragedies and trials that led him onto that path. Although I do agree with you about Darkseid...I don't think he'd be a good idea.

[margroks]

The very idea that he wants to be with Lana so he can be normal has always sucked and Goughlar are totally to blame on that one. Lana is suppsoed to hold him back and she does, with Clark being a weenie and too afraid to even attempt flight because...why? SO he can pretend to be normal with Lana or because his fear of heights is too great...stupid, stupid, stupid. Smalvile shouldn't be this kind of angsty nonsense with Lanaville at the core of every frigging thing that happens. Clark shouldn't be so reluctant to become a hero in all ways and he certainly shouldn't be clinging to this nasty girl who kidnaps and tortures people and lets them die when she's done embezzling money form her ex. Clark's first failign is that he IS too forgiving when it comes to Lana's constant mistreatment of him and everyone else around her. He should have kicked her ass out the door long ago.

I personally was sickened to hear Clark claim it was his fault when it wasn't and to see KAra want to sacrifice herself for Lana when it would mean the entire world would be screwed in return. That was wrong and dumb. Clark isn't broken, he's a moron for caring for this horrible girl to the point he lost his own father to bring her back to life no matter how aewful she is. IT wasn't his fault. Everything is not his fault.

And frankly, I had no sympathy for Lana when Brainiac said she was suffering. She let a woman suffer in her care until she died, she tortured Lionel for months by holding him captive in a beartrap, she framed Lex for murder adn plotted to kill him so if it takes the Evil Brainiac to finally punish Lana for her many sins then I'm all for it. Someone should have punished her long ago and Clark should have come to his senses. Brainiac probably followed Biz to ISIS previously where, I might add, Clark shoudl not be okay with sending her since he knows what she has done there and should have demanded she close it down after learning she let a woman die there. So I have no sympathy for Clark or Lana either one and I'm sickened by more Lanaville and Calrk now moping over her Zombie asas and never ever moving on while she is in this condition. And all becasue KK had to film a movie and they needed a crap idea to excuse her from SV. This ep sucked for the most part with only a few moments of good, with TW's performance being great despite the stupid circumstances and Chloe's firm support always great to see and of course JG and MR right on the money. Everything else was awful. They are gutting Clark's character for Lanaville again.

[myankskent]

Yeah, but I don't think that a lot of the stuff they force him to endure has to do with Brainiac.

Like the whole tortured "romantic triangle" with Lexana. That was just making him brood for the sake of brooding. Nothing Superman about it.

In complete agreement. I was just saying that with this recent turn of events, it's mainly Brainiac that is the problem. But I did hate the Clexana love triangle. Nothing good was ever going to come out of that one, IMO.

----- Added 5 Minutes later -----



And yeah, Clark should be challenged when dealing with a big villian like Brainiac, but wouldn't that be much more effective if we had these moments in contrast to the more hopeful, joyous moments in his life? As opposed to just more extreme suckage to heap onto the more mundane suckage?

Just to create an example, an episode where Clark's best childhood friend comes back isn't used as a way for fond rememberance, or happy experiances, or a reaffirmation of friendship. No, Pete comes back and blasts Clark with more guilt and blame, and then we get a half-hearted apology at the end. Ugh!


I think that you are hitting on a much larger problem here, a problem that impacts all of the characters on this show and that is, there's just not enough comedy anymore. Everything is doom and gloom and I felt that this all started after "Reckoning". The tone of the show became very dark and it just hasn't gotten better. IMO, the show, overall, would be far more enjoyable if there was some kind of a balance between drama and comedy, but TPTB have lost virtually all of the comedy/light-hearted moments when it's really needed.