Bummer.
After a promising first half of Smallville‘s 8th season, including a pretty good cliffhanger that teased us with a Doomsday showdown, the January premiere was a huge letdown.
It wasn’t just that we STILL haven’t gotten the Doomsday/Clark Kent battle (maybe next week?), it was that the episode seemed to have dropped in quality back to the soap opera lameness of season 7.
The episode (Legion) opens and the first person we see is Lana walking through the wreckage from the previous episode – and my immediate thought was “Ugh, Lana is STILL on the damned show.” From there we cut to Clark getting almost literally slaughtered by a masked guy with an axe who looks like they borrowed the “Frankenstein” mask from the recent Death Race movie. It turns out he’s a villain from the 31st century, and the Legion of Superheroes shows up just in time to save Clark and send the baddie back to the future.
Let’s cut to the chase – they were awful.
Now I get it – maybe in the comic books this is how “Lightning Lad” (Calum Worthy) acts, but to have someone as a member of something called the “Legion of Superheroes” who acts like a 12 year old twit was frankly, beyond annoying and just plain stupid. You’d think that 1,000 years in the future teenagers with such responsibility would be more mature. 
I suppose the leader of the group (Rokk, played by Ryan Kennedy) was vaguely passable, but Imra (played by Alexz Johnson), the young lady in the group seemed like she got the job because she was related to a producer or some exec. Her acting was fairly awful in this episode. I see on IMDB that she’s actually won some awards for her performances so I suppose I’ll lay the blame at the foot of director Glen Winter and writer Geoff Johns.
And while Allison Mack is not exactly a performing tour de force, she was also terrible in this episode as a Brainiac-possessed Chloe. Maybe she just doesn’t know how to do “utterly evil.” It was almost a moustache-twirling performance.
Tom Welling was, well, Tom Welling.
The best things about the episode ironically came from Garth aka Lightning Lad – the writers gave him all the snarky lines about Clark not yet being able to fly, asking him where his cape was and those sorts of insider jokes aimed right at the fans.
Either this episode was a one-time down note in this season’s decent quality so far – or we’re in trouble.
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I agree this episode was weak. The Clark in this episode is not from this season, but rather from the 7th season where he distrusts people and puts one person’s needs over the entire world’s. He had Lana knock some sense into him in the Isis Foundation scene. The only thing Clark did was set the Legion on the right path of no-killing.
I thought the Legion was brought in to provide the needs of Clark instead of the other way around, which we got.
Geoff Johns gets Superman and the Legion, but he either doesn’t get SV Clark or doesn’t care much about him. That was shown in the writing of this episode.
The ones who shined were the Legion, Lana, and Chloe at the expense of both Clark and Davis/ Doomsday.
This is not a strong start to the second half of the season.
Almost everyone else loved it, if you didn’t then you need to start watching a different show because there are real fans who don’t complain everytime something doesn’t go exactly the way they thought it should. I bet tomorrow we find that Smallville had it’s best ratings of this year as well as universal acclaim for Legion. There wasn’t a wasted minute and if people’s first complaint is we didn’t get to see a lot of Doomsday then they need to get over it so they can enjoy a great episode. Smallville has been nothing but great this season and here’s hoping for a ninth season.
I agree with Scott. This was an excellent and amazing episode, which brought something new, exciting, unexpected, yet still makes sense for the storyline.
At first, I thought they may be trying to close out the series, and diving into the farthest reaches of the producers/directors desires before it was too late to use the ideas. But by the end of it, I see spin-off written all over this episode, and whatever additional franchises may result. A season 9 would be very welcome.
I for one, would actually like to see Clark visit 1000 years in the future, and get to know the Legion members. I bet it could help him form the Justice League, and with all he realizes and takes from the experience, it could contribute to why he is so successful throughout history and revered in the future.
I have never thought that the acting here was top level, so i have no reason to bash any character in this episode. But I like this series a lot, and the story is well done. Very few comic book superhero series have what it takes to accomplish what Smallville has. And with the exception of Heroes, I don’t see any superhero-type of competitor shows to Smallville.
Lastly, I’ll just add that I have always loved Lana’s character. At first I thought it was the way she looked, then I realized it was the whole package of Lana that makes it work for me. In this episode as in the last, she hasn’t quite had that “magic” look and feel that i have come to adore so much. In the early seasons, I loved her sweetness, softness, vulnerability, yet deep down modest and unassuming confidence and strength. Add the physical attractiveness that the show dresses her up to be, and I’m sold every time! Once she got close to Lex, I think it was all over for her special “magic”, but it could come back. This episode teased of the possibility of Lana + Clark again (but then what would we do with Lois? Delay her I guess). I’ve missed Lana being gone from the show. She is not in the opening credits, so i know we are lucky to get what little we have of her right now, because shes not back to full cast. Besides Clark’s Father, Clark and Lana really are my favorite characters – perhaps it was designed that way, but if so, then it works. Great. This was an excellent episode!
That’s the problem with Smallville it’s always predictable! I gave up on it a long time ago, there such a great oportunity with this show and it’s toally missed every time.
Lana has been great in the last 2 episodes coming back. I wish these writers were here during the first 6 years. We would had great Lana and Pete Ross stories. Its depressing how much a mess the show become with too many characters and piegeonholding castmembers.
sigh..
Have to disagree with Scott and Ariccougar. As an avid watcher of SV since s1 never missed an episode in fact watched each episode more than once. We left Lana in hospital, leg injured we pick up with her back in her dress in the barn walking without even a fraction of a limp? Continuity lacking. All the hype of Geoff Johns writing stories of the Legionaires and with the recent series Legion of Superheroes, they were nothing little like their animated counterparts, until roughly the last 20 min of the episode when it actually became watchable. Cudos to the the costume designers for at least dressing Lighting lad and Cosmic boy fairly accurately and finally giving us the iconic braniac brand as it absorbs knowledge from each infected terminal.
Maybe a 9th season isnt such a good idea after all.
The episode wasn’t terrible. It was, like roughly 90% of Smallville episodes, merely mediocre. What’s disappointing is the opportunity here to really cut lose and they completely missed it.
And I have to disagree with AricCougar on one point – Clark going to the future would be rubbish. The show’s meant to be grounded, essentially, in reality. A time travel episode might be fun with plenty of “hur hur inside joke” moments but they lack that identifiable edge.
The legion seemed out of place. it was almost as if they were being introduced just to intro them so if we see them later, we’re not surprised. Maybe they’re star trek red shirts! Meaning they’ll come back later on in the big fight with Doomsday because in the comic, Doomsie fatally thinned out the superhero crowd by a few folks…
Lana… can’t she talk with a normal voice or has this distressed wavery voice been hers all along? I can take her or leave her.
Chloe: It looked like Mack was having fun playing the bad guy. It was fun to see her be something different. But kicking Clark’s butt in a wedding dress? Is this what a Bridezilla truly capable of?
So where was the critically injured Jimmy in this epi? Did I miss something?
I wish they would have tossed brainiac into the sun. They totally left an out for his coming back… crap!
Oh yea, the end scene with the pounding to get out of his little cell, (just like when Doomsie spent a number of episodes doing the same thing in the comic book to get out of his underground cell) and there he was… again… it would be nice to see him in full light. The looks seems good… then again it’s like restaurants with low lighting. I always wonder if they don’t really want you to see the food!
Everyone has the right to their own opinion but if you hate Smallville why make the effort to watch it or just come post every week just to say you hate Smallville. IF you have watched Smallville for it’s eight years then there’s is something you like and for the rest of you complainers please take your remote and change the channel because we don’s want to read you negative comments everyweek. If there are people who want to hear a very rational disscussion with true fans of the show you should go and listen to SMALLVILLEPODCAST.com.
@scott
Did I say I hated Smallville? I like the show and I want it to be GOOD. Even good shows sometimes put out lousy episodes, or actually “jump the shark” and should quite while they’re ahead.
Search the site and read my other posts about how I thought this season was much better than the last.
Vic
If you want to be negative then don’t watch the show. I thought it was a great episode, it is going to help guide Clark into the Superman transition.
I’m surprised that some fans were expecting a final showdown between Clark and Doomsday this early in the season. The actor playing Doomsday is a regular on the show. Chances are there won’t be a final showdown until the end of the season.
The only thing I disliked about “Legion” were the three future superheroes. They were a bit annoying.
Oh so you only disliked about 80% of the episode then. Cool man. :p
Folks, folks folks… it’s only an opinion of one episode in a show… don’t take it so seriously.
It’s like pizza. Sometimes you have fantastic pizza, sometimes you don’t, but you still like pizza even if the shop down the street screwed one up. Right?
Right. Pizza is good.
Relax folks.
Perfect script, awesome writing. Great episode. The only way people could think differently is if they have their panties in a bunch and like to hate, or they arent true fans. Fans dont diss the show, the writing, or acting. Its very misleading posting things like Smallville ‘Legion’ Mid-Season Return = Weak. People will read that and believe it without knowing any better. On Kryptonsite which is the website for Smallville almost all the forums are filled with, “Favorite episode ever”, “One of the best”. Everything in this episode was needed and portrayed effectively. Their will be a showdown. Just at the end of the season, and it’s worth waiting for. There is no need to nit pick every actor and every single episode. Just watch it. If you enjoy it, than watch it. If not, leave it at that. Dont try and turn others away. Smallville is one of a kind
@Aaron
Not a big fan of free speech, are we?
I like the show – I want it to be great. Another example: I’m a HUGE Star Trek fan, probably for longer than you’ve been alive and I bagged on Star Trek: Enterprise big time because it was AWFUL.
A true fan doesn’t just swallow what is handed to them but exhorts the producers to make the best show possible. Accept crap and that’s what you’ll continue to get.
Of course considering the general lack of discernment among TV fans I’m not surprised some people are fawning all over this while great shows like Jericho and Journeyman get CANCELLED.
Vic
Being a fan of Star Trek doesnt mean that you have to like every show. But with Smallville there is just 1 show. There hasn’t been any crap accepting, mostly because there hasn’t been crap to accept. It’s just sometimes people remind me of someone I know who also says he likes the show, but all he does when he watches it is pick out every detail he hates and tries to disprove everything. At some point you just have to keep NEGATIVE opinions to yourself instead of ruining it for people.
Aaron ,
you like Smallvlle? GREAT!
but dont insult others just because they are exercising their First Ammendment rights.
My personal feeling is that the core of the show was the relatioinship between Lex and,Clark .
They were drifting away from that long before Rosenbaum left .
They have had a lot good episodes this year, but I miss the focus on that relationship.
and if somebody says that Smallville is CRAP?
They have just as much right to say that ,
as you do to say that Smallvile is GREAT!
True, I just think that there should be some kind of overall opinion when writing about something such as an episode of a show. Maybe talk about how the majority of Smallville fans thought it was good. While still keeping your own opinion. It’s just, that way, people who haven’t seen the show aren’t turned away from because of 1 opinion. I just like it when people have the option to know as much as possible about the topic. thanks
This was by far one of Smallville’s best episodes to date (next to Justice). Geoff Johns was the perfect writer for this episode, since he’s been writing Action Comics for almost the past year. His run with Superman and the Legion was great. With him writing this episode he was able to bring the elements from his run into the show with nods such as the baseball Johnathan Kent found. All the actors did a fantastic job for bringing in the first live-action Legion to the small screen. The person who reviewed this episode must have not been familiar with the Legion or Geoff Johns work because it was excellent.
I think that the show is great. It’s not important if there is some crap episode because I agree with Aaron Being a fan of Star Trek or Smallville or what ever show you are watchig doesn’t mean that you have to like every episode. For the record I have continued to watch SV without Kristin (I agree once more with Aaron I have always loved Lana’s character) because I wanted to see Clark’s destiny being followed. I love his character. However, do not have the stomach watching Clark and Lois making nauseating googily eyes at each other when Lana has been stated by many to be the love of his life. This show hasn’t followed the comics, from what I’ve been told, so what is the problem with giving SV’s Clark a happy ever after with the love of his life. But that is only my opinion.
Thanks
Ok Vic, you are getting a lot of crap for you opinion. I am over here and Korea and I have 4 friends and we watching this show religously and have been stoked about season 8 until this past episode. Mind you I LOVE THIS SHOW!!
First off Lana is annoying as crap, this whole love triangle crap needs to stop.
I like the playful banter between clark and louis and stuff but the lana thing needs to end.
Second of the Legion was cheezy as hell, all my friends agree with me. I really felt I was watching B movie actors.
Third Chole does not pull of a bad guy at all they should have done a voice over.
I am still excited to see how this show turns out, I still can’t wait to see next weeks episode.
So your whole theory Aaron that
“Fans dont diss the show, the writing, or acting”.
Is bull what you should have said is Fanboys dont diss the show, the writing, or acting.
Once again Vic I agree with everything you have. Keep doing what your doing.
i think this epsiode rocked and alexz johnson was the best in the show. she is such a great actress and singer
this was one of the best episodes for the show and i for one think it was great and therefore agree with scott, its because of the rest of you that the shows we the propper fans love that they get cancelled, keep your opinions to yourselves and leave the rest of us in peace with what we know was great and love.
I find it beyond amusing that some are actually whining at Vic for giving his own personal opinion…in his opinion piece…on his website.
DAMN YOU, OPINIONS! ! !
*Rolls eyes*
Jamie.
I have watched since the pilot and I enjoy it for what it is. We aren’t talking the second coming of thespian theater here. I have seen the show completely suck and watched as it blew me away. I find it hilarious that people are telling a writer how to write because they are afraid that one article will turn people from the show. People will make their own judgements no matter what Vic says. If the show is indeed as good as some of you say, then shouldn’t Vic’s take not matter in the grand scope of things?
“pizza”
For a person who stopped watching the show in early season 7, I thought this episode was awesome. I am a bit biased towards Alexz Johnson because her other work, especially her music, is amazing. I thought she, and the rest of the Legion, were awesome.
Lana was Lana, boring and there too much. While Lois was barely mentioned.