Cliffhangers and Contract Issues

[oneal286]

Does it bother anyone that it seems the past couple of years that the Smallville writing team has left cliffhangers about the fates of major characters because they need flexibility in case they are not able to re-sign those actors? Apparently in the season 7 finale, Chloe will be left on a ventilator not because that is where the plot naturally was heading or because it makes the most sense in the story, but because Allison Mack is asking for more money and the CW might not be willing to pay up. And I am sure that the Lex role will not get resolved satisfactorily, that instead they will have to make up some excuse between the last episode of this year and the season 8 opener to explain Lex's absence from the show. Not because the writing team thought that Lex should have spent the next year behind bars, etc. but because the CW was not able to persuade Michael Rosenbaum to stay. And instead of figuring this out early on this year and creating a well-constructed way to write LEx off the show, they have to come in with some last-minute plot change. Last season, Lana was left in limbo and a whole "Lana clone" was written up because the CW had not re-signed Lana for a season 7. I am sorry, but the plot of a show should not be determined by contract issues. It is insulting to the viewers who expect the writing team to tell a story that is true to the characters, not related to who does and does not get signed to a new contract.
Finally, now that Lana and Lex are gone minus a few episodes next year, if the CW won't pay Allison Mack what she wants, and season 8 lacks Chloe, Lana, and Lex, I hope that fans who feel that this is a betrayal of the first seven seasons of Smallville will stand up and refuse to watch season 8.
Now let us pause and remember Whitney, Pete, Alicia, Oliver Queen, Lucy Lane (ha), General Lane, Shelby, Martha and Jonathan Kent, Sheriff Adams, Lionel Luthor, Lex, and Lana.

[berniepooh]

Essentially I agree with you. Why do people seem to think that once an actor portrays a character, no other actor can fill the part? Tom Welling isn't Christopher Reeve, but he has filled the role very well, thank you. Erica Durance isn't Margot Kidder but she has created a very good Lois Lane. I say, get over it people. Perhaps Allison really doesn't want to play Chloe any more. If it is only worth playing the part for considerably more money than she is currently making and that type of increase just isn't in the budget...well, she should move on. If it isn't worth it to her, than she shouldn't be pressured by the fans to go against her own hearts' desires.

If Allison Mack steps out of the role, someone very talented could step into it. I personally would have no problem with the role being recast. I would of had no problem if the role of Lana Lang had been recast for season 7. As long as the actors know who they are playing and relate to each other accordingly on screen, I don't care who plays the part so long as they tell the story well.

It's kind of like when a king in England dies, the traditional announcement is "The king is dead, long live the king!" It means the last monarch has died, may his successor see a long reign. "So long Chloe, it's been real; Hell-o Chloe, let's get to know you."

[SparkleforSmallville]

Yeah, well, I'm watching Smallville till the end:)

[Diego*Chloe]

Essentially I agree with you. Why do people seem to think that once an actor portrays a character, no other actor can fill the part? Tom Welling isn't Christopher Reeve, but he has filled the role very well, thank you. Erica Durance isn't Margot Kidder but she has created a very good Lois Lane. I say, get over it people. Perhaps Allison really doesn't want to play Chloe any more. If it is only worth playing the part for considerably more money than she is currently making and that type of increase just isn't in the budget...well, she should move on. If it isn't worth it to her, than she shouldn't be pressured by the fans to go against her own hearts' desires.

If Allison Mack steps out of the role, someone very talented could step into it. I personally would have no problem with the role being recast. I would of had no problem if the role of Lana Lang had been recast for season 7. As long as the actors know who they are playing and relate to each other accordingly on screen, I don't care who plays the part so long as they tell the story well.

It's kind of like when a king in England dies, the traditional announcement is "The king is dead, long live the king!" It means the last monarch has died, may his successor see a long reign. "So long Chloe, it's been real; Hell-o Chloe, let's get to know you."

Well....i rader Chloe death than some other actres plays Chloe i mean it is imposible after 7 years?? it will be more likley see her death or jail than put other actres plays the part of chloe who we been seen her from S1-7

[Rhaspodel]

I always feel the season finale cliffhangers give us big clues on what each character will be doing in most of the next season. For example: the s6 finale left us as Clark was battling his evil clone, Bizarro, and it lasted almost like three episodes of season 7; Lana supposedly die in car bomb, but in season 7 she hides in China while her 33.1 clone was the one who died in the crash beginning her step of retribution in season 7 from a super-powered vengful woman to a meteor-infected helper to a cantonic zombie; Chloe discovers her power as in healing Lois back at the dam, but she suffers Lois's illness in season 7 she recover but her power has been a big issue of her life; Lex was left arested by the police, but in season 7 Kara saved him resulting in a pretended step to renew his life but instead lead to the person all comic book lores have adored him to be in the end by killing his brother, his father, and his good self.


I can't say anything cliffhanger-wise to Lois because she kind of leave a end of a season to her each season. Season 4, she landed in a field and see the devesation from the 2nd meteor shower; in s5, she and Martha's plane was hijacked by Brainiac and sent to the Fortress where Jor-El saved both of them; in s6 she and Chole was left in a collapsing dam. It just summarize that there is no cliffhanger that really give Lois a season storyline; maybe it might change this finale.

[timbojill]

half the people in the list that got written off the show were guest stars to begin with.

Now let us pause and remember Whitney, Pete, Alicia, Oliver Queen, Lucy Lane (ha), General Lane, Shelby, Martha and Jonathan Kent, Sheriff Adams, Lionel Luthor, Lex, and Lana.

[RepairmanBob]

You know Lana's coming back, right?

[oneal286]

lanas cliffhanger at the end of season 6 was because the writers were not sure if she was going to be back, so they left off with her in an exploding car in order that season 7 would work with or without her.

[puddinpiester]

Essentially I agree with you. Why do people seem to think that once an actor portrays a character, no other actor can fill the part? Tom Welling isn't Christopher Reeve, but he has filled the role very well, thank you. Erica Durance isn't Margot Kidder but she has created a very good Lois Lane.


I actually prefer TW's Clark to Christopher Reeve and I actually liked Terri Hatcher best as Lois, but ED is growing on me albeit slowly.

[colonyofcells]

I prefer a new Lex actor for season 8 rather than no Lex in season 8.

[WookieeBoy]

Does it bother anyone that it seems the past couple of years that the Smallville writing team has left cliffhangers about the fates of major characters because they need flexibility in case they are not able to re-sign those actors? Apparently in the season 7 finale, Chloe will be left on a ventilator not because that is where the plot naturally was heading or because it makes the most sense in the story, but because Allison Mack is asking for more money and the CW might not be willing to pay up. And I am sure that the Lex role will not get resolved satisfactorily, that instead they will have to make up some excuse between the last episode of this year and the season 8 opener to explain Lex's absence from the show. Not because the writing team thought that Lex should have spent the next year behind bars, etc. but because the CW was not able to persuade Michael Rosenbaum to stay. And instead of figuring this out early on this year and creating a well-constructed way to write LEx off the show, they have to come in with some last-minute plot change. Last season, Lana was left in limbo and a whole "Lana clone" was written up because the CW had not re-signed Lana for a season 7. I am sorry, but the plot of a show should not be determined by contract issues. It is insulting to the viewers who expect the writing team to tell a story that is true to the characters, not related to who does and does not get signed to a new contract.

Agreed. I am OK with getting in new actors/actresses to take over roles.

[Skybound]

I prefer a new Lex actor for season 8 rather than no Lex in season 8.

Are you out of your mind that would just be insulting if they did that!

Also the writers should pay more attention to story rather then all the contracts, STUPID WRITERS!!!

[RepairmanBob]

I prefer a new Lex actor for season 8 rather than no Lex in season 8.
Wow, someone else take over for MR after seven years? I could not disagree more.

[jpoeling]

I love MR's portrayal o Lex as much as the next person but like I have been told by other people i the president were to die tonight they would have a replacement for him by morning, anyone can be replaced. Also after seeing this cliffhanger I rather see someone come in do his role for 1 or 2 eps and end this story arc properly, not some bs 3 month later "I can't believe Jor El intervened too bad I couldn't ind Lex in the debris". I want this story to end properly not some last minute hash to continue the series.

[Dor el]

I actually didn't think Lex's portrayal was all that on last night. Seemed flat to me like he was just going through the motions. Or was he just trying to display a flat affect? If so, he did well.