Smallville - 11/3

[Truth Seeker]

Not having read any spoilers, I totally missed out how that was supposed to be Mxyzptlk. Now THAT's a transformation - looney alien to Slavic exchange student?!!?

I have especially enjoyed the tension between Johnathan and Clark. Every turn, John tries to get Clark to retreat back to the shadows, just like any father in that position would do. He knows, but still refuses to accept, that he will not lose his son to some villain, or to kryptonite, or to some team of scientists, but to adulthood. Much as I like Tom Schneider, I hope they kill off Johnathan in the last season they plan to run, because the emotional payoff of such a breaking point would be a good one.

Uhm...that was already done in the comics, I believe Clark went and rescued his father's spirit from some realm.

 

[Maerdwyn]

I thought the last two scenes saved the episode. It's not that I minded Mxy, I didn't. I just thought a lot of the writing was badly executed - Jonathan's "You sounding more an more like your father speech" for example. Clark's justification for wimping out of doing the right thing was BS, IMHO, and Jonathan basically congratualted him for it. I also didn't like Chloe selling out her ideals for "textbook money": it's not that that's not what a lot of people wouldn't do, just that It doesn't seem like Chloe would have, given her passion for journalism.

No krypto freak is good.

Lex doing something conniving and self serving using informatino he got from Clark, trying to pass it off as it being for Clark and Clark calling him on it is VERY good.
Lex basically starting the "Legion of Doom" in a basement somewhere nearby is even pretty good.

 

[jesseghfan]

What's really out of character to me? Supes playing football!

I realize suspension of disbelief for good of the story, yada, yada. But it's just not fair! Jonathan, as the character is portrayed (noble, former football player) would never allow it.

Clark: "I don't use my powers."
JK: "Son, three lines of dialogue ago you admitted that you have never tripped in your life if Kryptonite is not involved. Humans, including quarterbacks, trip. You have an unsportsmanlike advantage. No dice."
CK: "But Dad . . ."
JK: "Don't but Dad me. Son, how often are you going to throw interceptions? Even the best quarterbacks in the pros sometimes throw interceptions. Highschoolers do it all the time. I did. You never have to. So how are you going to simulate that? And fumbles? And incomplete passes?"
CK: "But Dad, the guys might get scholarships if I make the team look better than a human possibly could."
JK: "Bite me, son. What about that linebacker whose collar bone you broke in two places? Do you think making him look bad in front of scouts increased his chances of college ball? Think of all the money he had to spend on steroids alone to get as big as he was . . . How are you going to tell him it's fair?"
CK: "But Dad, I get a testosterone rush putting on the pads before the game . . . I feel invulnerable, a man's man."
JK: "Son, you know that was only so they could get some more songs on the sound track. You playing in highschool is like Johnny Unitas playing against 1st graders. No true man of substance would be interested past the first play of his first game. There, quite frankly, is no competition. Now fricken get off the field and see how you can do some good for the world rescuing small children from burning buildings instead of stroking your super-ego."

Instead, JK smiles and proclaims Clark a man when he is acting like a petulant child.

Otherwise, a pretty good episode.

 

[Datt]

What I found interesting was the floor of the "Legion of Doom". 33.1. I just want to know how he is hiding an entire floor of a building.

 

[Maerdwyn]

jesseghfan,

Agree 100%. I've hated the football angle since it started this season, regardless of its roots in the comic books.

In Smallville's universe, Clark knows about his powers - knows that on every single play he could score a touchdown if he simply chose to (not just offensive plays either - because he could force a fumble anytime he wanted and walk it into the endzone at 2mph, with 11 other players hanging on him desperately trying to drag him down, if he wanted.). How he can feel anything but boredom is beyond me.

But the fact that he is holding back (so he won't be found out and , using just enough of his power and strength to not only be competent, but to actually win the state championship is a calculating use of his powers for maximum personal gain, at the expense of others (who might have otherwise won, who might otherwise get a scholarship, had the chance to play quarterback, etc.) He should know it, his parents should know it, and even if Clark insists on doing the wrong thing for an ego burst, his parents should have put an end to it. Even if they, as Martha said, wanted to feel like he was normal for a little while, their son shattered an opposing player's collarbone. They almost snapped out of it, but he gave them a little song and dance - and they let him (no - they gave him their blessing) to go back out on the field even though he could just as well have injured more people, as at that point, Clark had no proof that their plan to neutralize Mxy was going to work.

At least football season is over now.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

In Smallville's universe, Clark knows about his powers - knows that on every single play he could score a touchdown if he simply chose to (not just offensive plays either - because he could force a fumble anytime he wanted and walk it into the endzone at 2mph, with 11 other players hanging on him desperately trying to drag him down, if he wanted.). How he can feel anything but boredom is beyond me.

Clark isn't playing football because he's thrilled by the competition of the sport. He's playing football because he wants to be part of a group, and he wants to follow in his father's footsteps. Winning or losing is beside the point. He wants to be part of the team, the same kind of team that was his father's entire high school life. I don't fault him for wanting those things.

But the fact that he is holding back (so he won't be found out and , using just enough of his power and strength to not only be competent, but to actually win the state championship is a calculating use of his powers for maximum personal gain, at the expense of others (who might have otherwise won, who might otherwise get a scholarship, had the chance to play quarterback, etc.) He should know it, his parents should know it, and even if Clark insists on doing the wrong thing for an ego burst, his parents should have put an end to it.

I disagree. Some players are always going to be stronger, faster, better than others. Is one player's success somehow wrong, because it robs the other players of having had that success instead?

It's the same issue Buffy had. Just because you're special, does that mean it's wrong to want the things normal people have? Relationships. Teammates. School dances. etc. etc. Clark is tired of denying himself a high school experience because of his powers. And I don't fault him for that at all.

 

[Eremite]

General question: I've missed the other episodes of the season, have I missed anything important?

You can find episode transcripts here:

http://www.twiztv.com/scripts/smallville/

 

[Orius]

I enjoyed it, especially the scene at the end with Clark and Lex. I have a feeling that Lex has a reason for not liking jockboy being with his young, hot protege.

I agree. It would seem that Lex is a lot more jealous of this guy than Clark is, and that maybe he's got ulterior motives where Lana is concerned.

 

[Orius]

What I found interesting was the floor of the "Legion of Doom". 33.1.

I'm not a big comics reader, so someone will have to clue me in here. Is that number somehow significant to the Superman comics, or is it another bit of Smallville wierdness?

 

[RC Hagy]

But the fact that he is holding back (so he won't be found out and , using just enough of his power and strength to not only be competent, but to actually win the state championship is a calculating use of his powers for maximum personal gain, at the expense of others (who might have otherwise won, who might otherwise get a scholarship, had the chance to play quarterback, etc.) He should know it, his parents should know it, and even if Clark insists on doing the wrong thing for an ego burst, his parents should have put an end to it. Even if they, as Martha said, wanted to feel like he was normal for a little while, their son shattered an opposing player's collarbone. They almost snapped out of it, but he gave them a little song and dance - and they let him (no - they gave him their blessing) to go back out on the field even though he could just as well have injured more people, as at that point, Clark had no proof that their plan to neutralize Mxy was going to work.
At least football season is over now.

Where else is is Clark going to learn to control that ego boost? The rush that makes even he move faster, a little stronger... all while, as he even admitted, trying not to kill someone.
The first person to realize Clark needed proper training, was Clark. They made a point of mentioning he has rarely lost his footing. He knows what kryptonite feels like so he can adjust to that.
This was unexpected. He learned from it. The next time his reflexes will turn that broken collar bone into a real bad bruise, the time after might kill someone. Better he learns now than later.
One day he is going to be tossing around buildings, starting fires... and losing control for one reason or another. Not with just a couple country high schools at a game, but millions of potential victims from his own powers.

Where did he learn these skills? The army? The storehouse of knowledge he will one day inherit?

His responsibilities are first to himself then his family, friends and on out from there. 'sides where else is he going to get the college money? This way he also gets to help some of his teammates who might not have otherwise been seen by a recruiter in any way shape or form.

Or the writers just put him in a fooball uniform because he was in the comics...


Hagy