Smallville-Season 8-Odyssey
Here Is What You Need To Know:
“Here is what you need to know” is really appropriate here-Smallville has been on the air too long. The ratings are basically awful as the show sits near the bottom of all network shows and the formula has just been done to death. The season opener tries to “reboot” the series as numerous characters have fled, I mean left, the show. Gone are Lux Luther played by Michael Rosenbaum, Lionel Luthor played by John Glover, Kara (aka Supergirl) played by Laura Vandervoort and long time Smallville staple Lana Lang played by Kristen Kreuk. Additionally the show lost Martha Kent (Annette O’Toole), Jonathan Kent (John Schneider), Pete Ross (Sam Jones III-yes the third) in previous seasons to name but a few. The remaining and new characters just don’t seem to have the substance to keep the show on its feet. In particular the departure of Kara (Laura Vandervoort) seems the most illogical of all, as there was no firm reason for her departure. Apparently, there was talk about a Supergirl spin-off, but that did not materialize.
Season eight will focus on Clark’s transition out of Smallville and into the big city where he will work as a newspaper reporter with Lois (Erica Durance). This new phase of the Smallville story doesn’t look particularly promising as we all know the Superman-Lois stuff pretty well by now. The other major plot element of a young Justice League with Green Arrow, Aquaman and all, sounds like it could have potential, but is too low-budget and the casting feels all wrong. Truthfully, Oliver Queen/Green Arrow and his crew seem more like something out of a rejected Queer As Folk (great show, except the last season and the Rosie stuff) spin-off than they do The Justice League. In short, it just doesn’t work anymore. Smallville, has always been hot-cold, hit and miss, with some scripts being decent over the years and others being almost unbelievably bad. Now, we’re just left with what feels like awkward leftovers, such as the new villian, Tess Mercer’s (Cassidy Freeman) quest to find Lex and so forth. Move along people there is nothing left to see here-other than an inexplicably aging Tom Welling, I mean he is supposed to be Superman, right?
What Was Cool:
There isn’t too much left that is cool about Smallville anymore. There was no way to save this show. The only real option was to move the Smallville universe into a Justice League show and spend some real money. But, as the rating were already dead flat, that wasn’t going to happen. Smallville is the walking dead.
What Was Stupid:
Maybe you should keep some of your old cast in a situation such as this one. Supergirl gone. Lana gone. Lux gone. It just doesn’t make sense, but I don’t blame them for leaving. As far as Odyssey is concerned it just wasn’t that interesting as season openers go.
The Show's Real Genius or Geniuses:
The show’s real geniuses may have been all the folks that jumped ship before this last year (I am sure it will be the last year) of Smallville began filming.
Overlooked Performance/Accomplishment:
Some of the visual effects are good and Erica Durance has good stage presence.
Story D
Use of Science D
Acting C
Portrayal of Women B
Visuals-Visuals and Special Effects C+
Visuals-Set Design/Props C
Wardrobe/Costumes C
Style/Sex Appeal B-
Enjoyability Grade D
Home Theater/HD Factor C+
Gut Check (Level of Studio Executive Guts) D (The real guts would have been either ending the show or finding a larger budget.)
Overall Innovation D- (Not much innovation left in old Smallville.)
Overall Grade D (Season 8, doesn’t look very promising. Sorry fans, but I think the end is near.)
A Little Fact About Cherie:
This may come as a shocker, as if you cared that much, but Smallville was once one of my favorite shows. I have missed it for a couple of years now.
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