Smallville - Season 7 thread

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

Tonight's premiere just flew by, I was shocked when Clark punched Biz into outer space and there was only one segment left.

This show is so melodramatic, but it's so much fun to watch. There was a little too much self-loathing by Clark, but otherwise a good start to this season, and we'll have to see if Supergirl's addition has a positive impact to the show.

They must have blew the special effect budget for 2-3 episodes for the opening segment at the dam and surrounding areas. Did they use a stunt butt for Lois?

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

Overall I liked it. I'm usually glad when they drop most of the angst for some good ol' Superman action and stories. The Clark "You know, I learned something today" denouments are getting tiring, but it's just part of the show so I just grin and bear it.

They should just break the 'No Flights' rule and let him fly already. It would have been far more satisfying for Clark to fly Bizarro to the sun instead of his cousin. It's a bit embarrassing that Supergirl can do it and he can't. Talk about emasculating.

The bit at the end with Lana in China was laughable. For someone wanting to lay low, even if it's in a communist country, a bright blonde wig and red dress isn't the best way to go about it. With her decidedly exotic features her regular appearance would blend better than her "disguise."

Does anyone know why "Smallville" doesn't boradcast in Dolby 5.1? It only ever shows up as 2 channel stereo, but "Reaper" started right after it in full multi-channel surround, so it doesn't seem like it's the local channel not passing the signal.

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

Plugging ears for a couple more episodes. Progeny is playing right now.

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

There was a lot to like about the season opener. I think Patrick nailed it when he said Smallville is melodramatic but it is still fun to watch. After six seasons, the writers have this show down to a science, but not in a bad way... unless, of course, they resort to the incredibly tired "freak of the week" storylines.

That being said, I guess I am a bit dense here, but I still don't fully understand how Chloe's power works. I "get" that she transferred a life-saving essence to Lois to heal her. The result of which, she apparently kills herself in the process. But, why exactly does she wake from the dead, so to speak? Did I miss something or are we to assume that she regenerates herself back to life after a period of time? Or, does it have something to do with her vitals going haywire in the ER in response to whatever treatment they were giving her?

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

It was the Martian Manhunter (the red streak) that helped Biz escape earth's gravitational pull. Of course, Clark didn't seemed to worried as to where exactly Biz ended up...

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

I think he probably knew, since the Martian Manhunter is the one who helped Clark "realize" how to defeat him (the yellow sun.) Didn't Clark see Johnn Jones swoop in and grab Biz? At least I thought we were seeing it from his perspective. I'll have to go back and check...

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

It was one of the stronger episodes the later seasons of the series have had. At some point around season four the show became a pale imitation of itself and stopped even shooting for plausibility. The show it's evolved into remains consistently a lot of fun on a weekly basis.

The scene just before the credits when he boils the oncoming surge of water and then winks at the kid, he WAS Superman. I mean, that's trademark Superman stuff in trademark Superman fashion. It made me long for what could be done with the real character on today's TV budget. I also loved how the Bizarro Clark sucking up the green from the kryptonite was mirrored by the beautifully evocative shot of the sun rays healing Clark. It really emphasized that Clark was made of deeper stuff. For the first time, Clark's really grappling with his destiny as a whole. He's not running from it any more, he's giving it serious contemplation. It feels like things are starting to move towards a conclusion now. I thought that was rather well-executed, considering her face has been splashed across tabloids worldwide. I also liked that she picked China to hide in; it's nice for the show to acknowledge that Kristin has a little Asian in her. I'm also glad that, as Greg mentioned, they didn't drag out the melodrama of what happened to her. Having both Clark and Lana staring at the moon from opposite sides of day and night worked really well, even if it's probably not strictly possible.

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

crap I forgot about smallville...do they replay on internet or elsewhere?
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Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

elsewhere

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

Regarding Clark flying. Chloe said it best when Clark told her Bizarro flew.

"He can fly too. You really need to work on that." Or something to that effect.

Seriously, its getting kinda of stupid that he doesn't fly or at least try.

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

An update from the producers, have said when he'll fly

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

As far as the Season 7 premiere went.

I liked it and enjoyed it very much.
That opening shot of Clark boiling the water into nothing was great.

I also enjoyed the new opening segment with Jimmy and Supergirl.

But I did cringe at that putting Lana into the Shanghai crowd CGI segment.

I already know the secret behind Lana, and I'm wondering how well it's going to be received

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

Agreed.

I am really starting to get tired of every Kryptonian or semi-Kryptonian being able to fly like it's nothing, and Clark is standing there clueless.

At least Chloe finally told him that he needs to get on top of that...

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

Greg,

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

I enjoyed the season opener, it was almost refreshing to have a season open where the town doesn't have to recover from some huge catastrophy from the previous season finale.

I was almost sad to see Bizarro defeated so soon and so easily.

Greg, the show will return for season 8 i'm almost 100% sure, each season has done well enough to grant another season so I don't see why it's fans would abandon it now.

Sad to see Annette O'Toole gone from the opening credits and missing from the episode, Clark seems so alone on the farm now, almost like a super powered shut-in lol.

Okay, we've got a time frame now, Clark will take to the skies next year! You know who else I miss? Terance Stamp. I wish they'd bring back Jor El, his voice brought a comforting and authorative presence to the show, when he spoke it felt as though a warm blanket had been placed around my body. I don't know whow to explain it better than that.

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

When I saw Clark vaporize the water, I thought "Tom Welling can do this character at least as well as anyone else has ever done it, and has the potential to be the best."

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

LOL, I think it's the booming thing they do with his voice, even when he's threatening he sounds soothing.

And hell yes! I liked Routh but I always go back to that doctored picture of Welling from last year...

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

I will spoilerize the following even though it is not directly releated to Smallville. It is however, pretty fascinating, and may ultimately impact on the series...
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

I'm pretty sure that George Miller nixed Tom Welling as Supes.

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

If I may vent here for a moment, I mean if I can't vent to you guys the fans of Smallville than who can I vent to?

I'm actually getting a little tired of everyone not recognizing Welling for the fine Clark Kent/Superman (and yes to me he is both) that he is. Everytime there's a new movie proposed (granted this is only the second one but still) everyone passes on him almost without even considering him because they feel that he's somehow "beneath" their project becaise he's on a television show, and that the show isn't "really" the real story of Superman.

This show is as valid as any movie or comic and everyone on it and involved with it does a fine job, especially Welling...the best darn pre-Metropolis Clark ever put on screen and i'm certain would be one of the greatest post-Metropolis Clarks as well if someone would give the god damn man a shot.

They act like the show is either meaningless or doesn't exist and as a fan of both Superman and this show it's beginning to irritate me to no end. I beat a dead horse every year it seems that Welling could be one of the best Supermen ever if given a shot. It seems like an agent calls a director up to direct a new Supes movie and the conversation goes something like this...

Agent/producer whatever...
"Hello, Mr. Singer, we're going ahead with another Superman movie and we'd like you to be our director."

Singer...
"I would love to do another Superman movie, who do you see as Supes?"

Agent/producer whatever...
"Well the fans really like Tom Welling from Smallv..."

And before he even finishes the sentence...

Singer...
"NO!! Next."

Why? Does he not look the part? Do you think he wouldn't be any good? I've never heard anyone give me a good answer as to why they passed on him or never even considered him except for their apparent predjudice against television. Is it because Welling himself doesn't want to? I know he's expressed negative feelings about wearing the suit on the show but surely he wouldn't pass on a chance to play Superman in a major film would he?

It's shallow, lame and it's depriving us of a great Superman IMO. And please don't start in with "Tom Welling's acting is wooden..." etc because one can't say how good or bad a job he would do as Supes because he's never been given that opprotunity, including me, I have no clue if he'd live up to my expectations but he's an actor and i'm sure he'd rise to the occasion.

But we'll never know.

Sorry, guys, i'm not angry at you i'm angry at the system and you don't even have to respond to anything i've said if you don't want to, just needed to get it off my chest and in typed form, not really intended to be a subject of disection and discussion, I said pretty much the same things last year, maybe not all at once like I did here but pretty much and i'll probably say the same things again next year lol...it's my routine for coping with a non-theatrical Welling Superman.

Rant over, i'm feeling better already.

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

I wouldn't say his acting is wooden, but he does seem to have a very limited range - he's pretty good as teenaged Clark Kent, but whenever he's had to get outside that comfort zone (red K, "Bizarro", shapeshifters), he's been fairly awful. Playing Superman with the dual identity seems like it would be a recipe for disaster. He's gotten better in the past few years, but I still don't think he's close to being capable of something like that moment in the first movie where Reeve changes from being perceived as Clark to being perceived as Superman.

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

I have to agree with you. Welling does well and has come a long way from when he was a Jeans Model. But he is somewhat limited. Look at Bizarro, was it really played any differently from Clark on Red K.. not really, some of that is the writers fault for distancing themselves from the "Frankenstein" Bizzaro from the comics, but some of it has to be placed on the shoulders of welling. But, IMHO Routh isn't much better and welling certainly would'nt be worse. As far as Justice League I heard it was to be a CGI Film. But I think the Biggest inhibitor is Welling himself he's fine being Clark, but he's been rather reluctant to Don the costume and be Supes.

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

I think Routh is a much better Superman than he is a Clark Kent. His Kent comes across to me like a bad impression of Christopher Reeve as Clark. Is this something you read somewhere or is it a comment attributed to Welling? I never heard about this and would like to know more.

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

won't be tackling the rest of the season until the DVD (or HD media) comes out. 2busy, but i did catch season premiere just so i can see the conclusion from last year. as i predicted the bizarro thread pretty much resolved itself in the first ep... in fact, by 15min. in you felt as if you were "back to normal".

re: welling's performance. i think human beings can stretch and grow when given the opportunity. i really believe that the producers of this series hasn't given most of the actors a chance to stretch and grow unless the actors really push for it. out of the entire cast i believe only chloe+lana really pushed their performances... but clark and lex hasn't really tried as much. most of them just kinda' going with the flow, status quo. you almost feel as if they know what the show is and they're going to stick to their acting mold. the producers are also sticking with the 'fun factor' not really pushing the series into serious modes... much. i know this is sacrilege, but even lois+clark pushed further into the drama more than this series ever attempted. that's why i believe you don't see a lot of good performances except for some of the guest stars sometimes.

anyway, it was a very entertaining season opener. the superchic is pretty hot. i have always liked how the casting/producers picked their hot chix for this series. they are definitely experts in how hot chix can be =P

Re: Smallville - Season 7 premiere 9/27/07

I've gotta disagree with at least some of that. Michael Rosenbaum delivered great performances throughout the third season (I know, kinda old now) when he was committed to Belle Reave. Crazy is easy to play as over the top and outlandish, but he didn't.