Autumn
04-18-2008, 01:16 AM
After watching this episode, I've become convinced that the writers are using the stock characters of old from Greek and Roman theater to drive their plot.
IE:
The adulescens is the hero. This is Clark. Often, he is brave, love-struck and young. But this stock character is always known for complaining, and needing back up to help him save the day. Sometimes another character has to actually come in and take over for the hero in order to get what needs to be done. (In Smallville this would be Chloe).
The virgo (the young maiden) is meant to be Lana. She's supposed to be the love interest of the hero, but usually has no personality, and is virtuous. She's supposed to be seen as a prize rather than as a person. Kind of sounds like the Lana Clark pictures her to be, rather than who she is. She's kind of a pointless character in the plays.
The meretrix is Chloe. This can be a prostitute, a mercenary, or the devoted one. In SV, she is the devoted one. In the plays, the devoted one would be in love with the hero.
Then there's the servi (or the slaves). In Smallville they would be Lois and Jimmy. They are the comic relief. In SV, Lois and Jimmy are being written as a mix between the stock characters of the slaves in Greek and Roman theater, as well as being written as more developed version of the servi (the comedy duo). One of the slaves is usually a little smarter than the other one. In SV, Jimmy would be the smarter one. Like in tonight's episode. He shows Lois the picture he found, and then they work together as a team. The slaves are usually loyal to the hero and help move the plot forward.
What I find interesting is that they are writing the characters this way. I mean why write Lois Lane as a stock slave? In the episode, she does numerous foolish things. She looks at the picture of the murdered Lionel as if she's looking at the ring of power in Lord of the Rings. Both Lois and Jimmy are after fame more than truth. And almost every bit of dialogue between them is meant to be funny (up until they are in the freezer).
Besides being written as the servi, they are also written as the comedy duo (which is actually similar). Some examples of comedy duos in some films would be Pintel/Ragetti in POTC, Timon/Pumba in Lion King, etc...Pintel is the foolish fool (this is Lois in Smallville), and Ragetti is the eloquent fool (this is Jimmy).
I just couldn't help but see how they were writing the characters as stock characters in this episode, or every episode for that matter. I think some of the characters have gone beyond the stock characterization on this show (Lionel, Lex, Chloe, etc...)
But they really need to work on developing Lois and Jimmy as more than just comic relief. Because really their endeavors as reporters are quite laughable. Also, Clark needs to step up, and stop being this stock hero.
Other than the Lois and Jimmy comedy duo routine, I did think the episode was the best one of the season. Although, I'm sad to see Lionel go.
IE:
The adulescens is the hero. This is Clark. Often, he is brave, love-struck and young. But this stock character is always known for complaining, and needing back up to help him save the day. Sometimes another character has to actually come in and take over for the hero in order to get what needs to be done. (In Smallville this would be Chloe).
The virgo (the young maiden) is meant to be Lana. She's supposed to be the love interest of the hero, but usually has no personality, and is virtuous. She's supposed to be seen as a prize rather than as a person. Kind of sounds like the Lana Clark pictures her to be, rather than who she is. She's kind of a pointless character in the plays.
The meretrix is Chloe. This can be a prostitute, a mercenary, or the devoted one. In SV, she is the devoted one. In the plays, the devoted one would be in love with the hero.
Then there's the servi (or the slaves). In Smallville they would be Lois and Jimmy. They are the comic relief. In SV, Lois and Jimmy are being written as a mix between the stock characters of the slaves in Greek and Roman theater, as well as being written as more developed version of the servi (the comedy duo). One of the slaves is usually a little smarter than the other one. In SV, Jimmy would be the smarter one. Like in tonight's episode. He shows Lois the picture he found, and then they work together as a team. The slaves are usually loyal to the hero and help move the plot forward.
What I find interesting is that they are writing the characters this way. I mean why write Lois Lane as a stock slave? In the episode, she does numerous foolish things. She looks at the picture of the murdered Lionel as if she's looking at the ring of power in Lord of the Rings. Both Lois and Jimmy are after fame more than truth. And almost every bit of dialogue between them is meant to be funny (up until they are in the freezer).
Besides being written as the servi, they are also written as the comedy duo (which is actually similar). Some examples of comedy duos in some films would be Pintel/Ragetti in POTC, Timon/Pumba in Lion King, etc...Pintel is the foolish fool (this is Lois in Smallville), and Ragetti is the eloquent fool (this is Jimmy).
I just couldn't help but see how they were writing the characters as stock characters in this episode, or every episode for that matter. I think some of the characters have gone beyond the stock characterization on this show (Lionel, Lex, Chloe, etc...)
But they really need to work on developing Lois and Jimmy as more than just comic relief. Because really their endeavors as reporters are quite laughable. Also, Clark needs to step up, and stop being this stock hero.
Other than the Lois and Jimmy comedy duo routine, I did think the episode was the best one of the season. Although, I'm sad to see Lionel go.