Smallville – Episode 8-10 Review

To quote Chandler Bing, “Could that beginning BE any more Cloverfield-esque?”

So I have to apologize for my absence last week. Truth is, I didn’t know there was anything to be absent over. For whatever reason, my local WPIX affiliate didn’t air last week’s episode of Smallville. I figured that it wasn’t on, because the previous week’s episode (the one with Kara’s return) aired a preview for “Bride” (this week’s episode). Sounds like a conspiracy to me.

So anyway, let me just say “sorry” now, because certain things might be just a bit confusing. For example, apparently Chloe had amnesia (on Smallville? Never) and now no longer remembers that Clark has abilities. And Davis and Chloe kissed. That’s a pretty huge plot device, so I’m a bit disappointed that I missed it. Anyway, on with this week’s episode review….

I really love the storytelling method, but how many times in the past year or two has a Smallville episode kicked off with the climax, only to follow up with the back story, with the rest of the episode leading up to that point? I may be wrong, but I feel like they’ve done it already this season alone.

Along those same lines, how many times this season have we heard one character force, quite awkwardly, the line “Lois and Clark”? Off the top of my head, I remember Lois, Clark, and Jimmy saying it. It really isn’t one of their finer examples of Superman allusions, and it really stops the scene cold. I’d much prefer they actually go forward with the relationship (for real this time) instead of all these cutesy, wink-wink references to the fact that they will eventually end up together.

That being said, I still love these two together. I gotta admit, I laughed out loud when Lois gave Clark his tutorial on how to put on his cufflinks: “You just have to make sure this part stands up, and then it just slides right in.” I’m a little shocked that made it past the censors.

And aside from the Lana interruption, I thought their almost-kiss was incredible. Both actors did a wonderful job with their facial expressions, particularly Erica Durance. I also thought the talk between Lois and Oliver was sweet, notably the last line, with Oliver revealing that he knows she’s got the hots for Clark.

I thought the Clark and Lana scene was relatively inoffensive, but I honestly wish that their lines were reversed. I wish Clark had been the one to say everything that Lana said. Above all else, I wish it was Clark that finally made the decision to end things permanently, and to come to the realization that they really weren’t meant to be together. I have to admit, though, that when Lana got knocked over, I was sorta hoping something similar would have happened to Lois, forcing Clark to choose between them (which, of course, would have never happened due to Doomsday-ference). And since I’ve been rough on Lana for the past few years, I will say, quite sincerely, that Kristin Kreuk looks absolutely beautiful.

Like many viewers, I was slightly skeptical with how they were going to handle the whole Doomsday character. And, like many others, I was a little nervous when it was revealed that he’d be some measly human (an EMT no less! What a random shot for me to take….) But I was quite impressed with the “monster” version of the character. Very cool looking.

I also have no problem with them re-introducing a kidna/sorta Lex. He’s such an incredible and integral character that the show has suffered without him. I just PRAY that they can convince Michael Rosenbaum to return for the final few episodes.

Oh, and if I’m not mistaken, isn’t it bad luck to see the bride in her dress before the wedding? I think its okay to actually see the bride. She just can’t be wearing the dress. Am I wrong?

And now I have to wait until mid-January for a new episode. Really? A little excessive, don’t you think CW?

Matt Basilo has been writing for Inside Pulse since April 2005, providing his insight into popular television shows such as Lost, Heroes, Prison Break, and Smallville. You can visit his blog at A Case of the Blog.

Matt Basilo has been writing for Inside Pulse since April 2005, providing his insight into various popular television shows. Be sure to visit his blog at [a case of the blog] and follow him on Twitter.