Smallville Season 8 Finale Review & Discussion
May 15, 2009 by Bruce SimmonsDiscuss whether Smallville ended this season on a high note… or was a bust.
This season of Smallville was better than the last few – and yet the last few episodes were starting to force me to extend my patience bubble farther out than normal. Stilletto? It felt like it was trying to fall apart for me to some degree, yet I suppose what can you expect from a fantasy show that has inexplicable superpowered aliens?
This reflection on the Smallville season finale will have spoilers…
The Smallville season finale brought closure to some story lines, had some oddball hanging logic at spots, fulfilled some past tidbits on who was going to die and set us up for the next season.
Though I’m not sure what they intend to do with next season or if after this episode, they’ll have viewers coming back. I’ve already seen some comments about this finale and they haven’t been pretty.
Clark, You Are Going To Die
The episode starts out with Clark learning from Cosmic Boy that he’s going to die tomorrow. Cosmis Boy also gives Clark another time travel ring, asking Clark that he send Doomsday to their time where they are prepared to deal with him.
Meanwhile, back at the super large mansion, Tess Mercer loses her Kandor Orb. Here’s the issue with the Orb… if Doomsday dies, something worse is released from the Orb.
Clark’s big plan is to bury Doomsday but the Justice League double crosses Clark and dupes him into a trap where Green Arrow plugs Clark with a green arrow… really… a kyrptonite laced arrow. It really was green.
The Justice League Thinks They Can Take Doomsday
Then the Justice League of mortals (Note the fragility of that word?) goes off to do kill the invincible Doomsday. They walk away leaving Clark to lie in the street, subdued. Nice, real nice, and real odd.
The Justice League actually captures Davis but as they prepare to off him, Chloe gets in the way AGAIN and thrusts the black kryptonite at Davis, splitting him and Doomsday apart. It’s amazing how stupid this girl acts, and I mean it with the best intentions.
At one point Lois is snooping around Mercer’s mansion. How the hell do people keep getting in this place? Later on Mercer confronts Lois at the Daily Planet and accuses Lois of stealing her Orb.
They get into a cat fight. (This was probably the best part of the episode folks.) Finally Lois clocks Tess out cold. As this scuffle comes to an end, Clark’s time travel ring that he left on his desk, falls off his desk and as Lois picks it up, she vanishes in a flash. Obviously to the future.
The near iconic character of Jimmie Olsen finds Clark and pulls the arrow from his back. Suddenly it all begins to make sense as he pulls the arrow out of his back and watches Clark heal. Jimmie is cool with Clark’s secret.
Clark locates the Justice League battered and bruised by what was Doomsday, which really, they seemed less worse for wear considering they just went up against an unbridled, pissed off Kryptonian killing machine that had no human control.
It’s back to the original plan and Clark engages Doomsday.
As they come together, Doomsday clocks Clark, sending him flying through several buildings. As Doomsday comes after him, Clark does a leaping tackle where they land at the refinery where Clark had left the Justice League. As they land there, it would seem that Clark packed Doomsday in one of the tunnels that he had first planned to put him in, where then Black Canary would set off this multitude of explosions to bury Doomsday. There are big explosions but in no way were we shown that they were set off by Canary.
The next morning, Jimmy and Chloe have taken the humanity known as Davis to this loft Jimmy bought as a wedding present way back when. As Jimmy and Chloe start to make amends, the jealous Davis stabs Jimmy with a pipe. As Davis goes after Chloe in a jealous angry rage, Jimmy uses his last bit of energy to shove Davis into more pipes, killing him. Jimmy dies. JIMMY OLSEN DIES (what?). So the monster was Davis. Great.
After the funeral Clark and Chloe talk. Clark doesn’t know how he survived the explosion or seemingly what happened to Doomsday. Clark is mad at himself for not seeing that Oliver was right about killing Doomsday.
Clark said he tries to forget he’s an alien and yet, it’s his human side that makes poor decisions based on emotion. He decides that he is no longer going to be Clark Kent and declares that Clark Kent is dead and walks away.
Meanwhile, back at the mansion the Kandor Orb shows up and hatches a man on the front lawn, carving out a big Z in the grass. Zod, has returned.
Where Do I Begin?
This episode had so many oddball illogical scenes that happenstance seemed more like logic than the situations that took place here.
Leaving a time travel ring on your desk at work. Fine. Clark has a lot on his mind.
A batch of humans with some powers, looking to take on Doomsday. Fine. They have to. Right?
The fight between Clark and Doomsday was incredibly short and lame. Two hits. Three at the most? This should have been the payoff for this whole season of waiting. And it was two hits. Gimme a break folks.
At Jimmy’s funeral, we find out that his middle name is Jimmy. Jimmy is not his real name. Chloe gives “Jimmies” camera to his younger brother. Head slap. So Jimmy Olsen did not die. Just a guy whose middle name was Jimmy.
Clark saying that Clark Kent is dead – Is this what the showrunners meant when they tried to tease the viewers into any sort of anticipation about character deaths and the season finale? You’ve lost your credibility with this critic because that was a hollow lie. On both counts. If it’s not really Jimmy, then you’ve lied to us all along. Clark “dies” by a decision. I’m so over this it’s not even funny.
Zod is back. Cool. Sure. Why not bring Darkseid in the action as some sort of midget horticulturist while you’re at it.
Did I forget something? I’m sure I did. Are you as agitated as I am? As a show goes and if you’ve put on a thick skin of anti-logic, the episode was fine but the convenient scenarios and situations that led to some of the story closures felt contrived. Did someone quit and you had to get a fill-in writer?
I liked the premise that Jimmy found out Clark’s secret. Learning that information made a lot of things make sense to Jimmy and why he could start to forgive Chloe. In fact, the forgiving had started and bam! OK, you had me there. Watching someone in a passionate make up kiss and hearing the shthunk sound of pipe going through their torso sucked.
Smallville Season 9 Spoilers
Erica Durance will be back for Season 9. Sam Witwer may be continuing with the show as he might be playing Zod. It’s noted that Faora did say that Davis Bloome resembled his father.
Your Turn
Ok folks. It’s your turn. You can either back me up and show me more moments of “huh?” or tell me why you thought this was OK in your book. I’m totally open to any thoughts.
Now gang, I’ve asked for opinions on both sides, so this is my fault if you see things you don’t like. Don’t take it out on each other. This is a safe place to express your thoughts.
Images and Season 9 Info Source: Krypton Site
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Just wanted to say that i dont think the scene after the funeral was a long time from the funeral like everyones saying..there was still a fresh puddle of blood on the floor..that makes it seem very recent
not saying it was like a week after, just enough for the JL to “disappear” as it were.
but it does seem weird that chloe would just leave the puddle of blood there though. you’d have thought she’d had cleaded that up by then, huh?
Foopher,
The JL disappearing was either a plot hole, or bad editing. If the Chloe/Clark scene was right after the funeral, it’s a hole. If that scene was long after the funeral, it’s bad editing (considering how many people are confused by how much time had passed). One week is not enough time for the JL to “disappear” IMO – it’s not like they made themselves apparent every night, just popped up once in a while. Doesn’t matter though, if this much of the audience questions it, it was poorly executed in the episode.
BTW, since when has young Bruce Wayne’s story been told more than Clark Kent?!?! Superboy had a comic decades ago. Granted, Smallville is a much different (and welcomed) take on Superboy, young Clark Kent has been done before. Other than his inspiration to become Batman and a few flashbacks throughout the years, young Bruce has barely been touched. I would have loved to see a searies about him growing into the Batman role, but now Batman Begins has covered it pretty well.
… or maybe, after the funeral, chloe cannot get in touch with any member of the JL and has no idea where they are and can’t find them anywhere. They’re not really new at the art of being sneeky. I mean i doubt that the writers would make that big of a writing flop. The JL (especially Oliver) seemed upset at the funeral. Which in my opinion would make them want to go somewhere they can’t be found.
And the batman thing; you pretty much just backed up what i had said. I meant that the sotry of young clark is not WELL KNOWN to many people (with the exception of those who read the comics), but most people know the story of bruce wayne becoming batman. Like you said “Batman Begins” covered that.
On the subject of different colors of kryptonite, anyone catch the silver kryptonite in the comics last year (I think Batman / Superman series) that makes Supes act like he’s stoned? That’ll show up in season 9, just watch
and isn’t questioning what happened and what will happen next the point of a season finale? to bait people into watching the next season?
Batman Begins wasn’t released until third or fourth season of Smallville. Before that, a young Bruce series could have easily been done and made sense, probably more sense than young Clark. That was the discussion wasn’t it? Whether a young Bruce series could have been done instead of Smallville?
And I disagree about Clark’s story being not well known… Comics, TV series in 80′s, the Donner movie, the cartoon of the 60′s (maybe even 70′s). Lot’s of source material, vs. young Bruce, ummm, not that much and definitely not much that had been explored in film or TV (pre Batman Begins). I’m not as familiar with all the Batman comic series, but the closest thing I can think of is Year One, which I would suspect a young Bruce seires would be prior to that.
They already had silver Kryptonite… in season 5
That’s probably why they shot down the idea for a batman show. They were more interested in making a movie about how “Batman Begins”
And i don’t know too many people who knew what went on in superman’s childhood, so sorry for thinking it wasn’t well known
“They already had silver Kryptonite… in season 5″
Awesome. I didn’t really start watching the show until last year so I missed that one. Thanks
Checked on Wiki, the one I was talking about was enchanted. Smallville’s silver kryptonite was little different, but same concept I guess in a non-humerous way
yeah. episode 7, i believe, SPLINTER. check it out. it’s big fun
Sorry if I sounded like I was trying to start an argument, I just disagreee on a couple points is all. I agree with you on much of what you said (particularly about the Doomsday fight and Jimmy). I don’t see Smallville as an action series so the fact that the fight was short didn’t surprise or disappoint me. And I thought the Jimmy switch was clever on a certain level (as in I didn’t see it coming) and a nice way to bring his character back to canon.
I find that a lot of episodes people hate I kinda like because they are what I expect from the show (Stiletto, Legion). Hokey but entertaining if you don’t over analyze
I understand what you were saying and agree with it, but that was just my first opinion and you helped fill me in on things and i thank you for that.
Also in my opinion i’m glad they didn’t make a batman show and made the movie instead. mainly because batman is alot cooler with a bigger budget. “Batman Begins” was sweet and “The Dark Knight” was amazing. But i’m also a big superman fan so that aids in my liking of smallville. haha
I liked LEGION because it introduced more characters, and it also showed that their future was different than what was being set up through the show. Lightning Lad says about how “one day you’ll be known as Su…” showing that he will indeed embrace his superman destiny. I also liked STILETTO because it was a very “super hero” episode. something i always love to see on smallville.
But yes, i definitely didn’t see anything that happened in the finale coming, that’s why the more i think about it, the more i like it
If we disagree on something then let’s talk about it and work it out so we are both on the same page. so what ever i said that you do disagree with, please let me know. after all this is a place of discussion.
also, one of the first comments mentions that chloe grabs her stomach after clark leaves her. pregnant? maybe. who knows. i did notice that though, but didn’t think much of it.
Foopher, I disagreed with your apparently negative opinion of Lana. I am a Kristin/Lana fan and enjoyed every minute she was on the show this season, knowing that it would soon be over for them. It was far-fetched, but the writers had to come up with a way to end it for them since they obviously couldn’t. You see, Tom and Kristin completely sold me on their loving relationship. For some reason, fans think that he could not and should not have EVER loved anyone other than Lois. Rediculous. I did not think that I could ever see Smallville’s Clark and Lois together until I saw Stiletto. I liked her saying that he needed a new nickname and him saying that he would let her work on it. Isn’t she the one who first calls him Superman? I’ve never read a comic book, so my info comes from the movies and other sources, including this one. Thanks.
ok- I just rewatched the season finale (third or fourth time) and listened to the last conversation between Chloe and Clark. She said “You were there today Clark. Why didn’t you come to me?” So there was not too much time between the funeral and the meeting in the Watchtower. She also asked how he survived the geothermal explosion- he said he did not know, he got out in time, but not fast enough to save anyone else.
I also noticed that in the funeral, Chloe does not even look at any of the JL, like they were not even there- very “Sixth Sense”-ish. I know, far-fetched, but come on, we are talking about a show based on a comic book.
Anyway, keeping my eye on Kryptonsite spoilers and excited for Season 9!
SSF..I was about to say everything you said..i agree..i really think its an afterlife kinda scene, chloe didnt acknowelege any of the JL…clark doesnt know what happend to them..he didnt have time to save them, so he thinks but doesnt really know.. I’m still with what i said earlier that clark is dead because the guy from the future said he’d died if he didnt change the past..he didnt..so why would his future change?
and chloe grabbing her stomach.. i think thats was more of that sick feeling of being dumped by someone you gave everything (including your marrage)for.. cuz clark said goodbye for good..don’t think she’s pregnant
I just read that the show will be on Friday nights this upcoming season-
.
Re: my last comment- I think it would be an interesting twist if the JL was not necessarily dead, but in a separate reality from Chloe (like that episode of Buffy where Willow exists in one dimension and the rest of the crew exists in another, and only Spike sees them both). If Lois went into the past to do a little time travel clean up, this could be a possibility.
Maybe Chloe simply meant they disappeared after the funeral (like they disbanded in “Odyssey”)- but that does not synch up with Clark’s comment that he was not “fast enough to save anyone else.”
Either way, I do not think (as some have written) that there were glaring plot holes in this episode. The more I watch it, the more I am convinced there were some very intentional loose ends and ambiguous scenes that were meant to intrigue and bring back the viewers for season 9- where more will be explained.
And flat out, as much as Chloe is an integral part of the show (and I have nothing against her, although she was very annoying in Season 2), she is not part of canon. I have read DC bought the rights to her character, but they have yet to use her in any of the comics.
If I remember correctly, from the beginning, whatever steps away from DC Smallville takes, they have to clean up and get back in line with the comics before the end of the show, which means one way or the other, no Chloe. They have started the clean up with Henry “not the real Jimmy” Olsen.
I suspect that the move to Friday nights is an indicator that season 9 is probably the last season. If that is the case, we will see more and more of the non-DC stuff retconned or scrubbed out.
Thanks ssf for clearing up that whole post-funeral scene. That’s really weird that none of us could remember it, but I rewatched it and you’re right. In which case I think it really boils down to only three options: 1) They went into hiding immediately after the funeral (or maybe even temporarily disbanded), like ssf suggested 2) Chloe is , for whatever reason, lying to Clark. I know she seems like she’s being completely sincere in that scene, but maybe she picked up on the fact that this isn’t the real Clark, or maybe Oliver swore her to secrecy or something. 3) There is indeed some sort of supernatural / metaphorical element at work. Personaly, I think this is less likely than the other two, but I suppose it is a possibility.
As far as the whole young Bruce Wayne series goes, it really is a weird situation. At first Foopher’s comment seems right on the money, I mean that’d make sense if WB wanted to save Batman’s origin story for a film instead. However, around the time Smallville WB was planning Batman and Superman origin films (the latter was tentiatively called Superman Flyby and was eventually scrapped in favor of Superman Returns). So apparently the origin film wasn’t the issue. I think what it really comes down to, is that the WB, for whatever strange reason, is fine with simultaneous live-action film and TV versions of Superman but not Batman. In fact, the Smallville producers have stated in interviews before that they’d like to include Bruce Wayne in the series, but they’ve been flat out told by the studio that they can’t (there have been rumors that they’ve been told the same thing about Green Lantern and Wonder Woman but I haven’t seen anything solid yet that back it up).
Tricia, i like Kristen Kreuk, i just don’t really like where the character of lana is going. i guess that’s just my opinion.
I didn’t really think chloe was pregnant either, just throwing that possibility out there.
But i could’ve sworn that Black Canary puts her hand on chloe’s back as they start to walk away. maybe i just remember it wrong. so i think chloe’s just too sad to acknowelege anyone
and yes lois is the one who calls him superman
i think i would like a batman/bruce wayne show, but i think it would only be interesting for the first, maybe second, season. after that it would get boring and the plot would lack.
or they would make it really sweet and it would be the best show ever. i really don’t know. haha. oh well.
something about doomsday and where he is now: (i’ve said this before but oh well) in the beginning of the episode when chloe and davis are laying on the car, davis is telling her a story about (i think they were greek gods or whatever) people, and how the one had to “LIVE UNDERGROUND”. those words stuck out to me. i think that was a clue by the writers that doomsday isn’t dead; he’s just trapped underground, and won’t break out until clark’s superman (like he did in the comics).
i read someone’s post a couple weeks ago and he/she said that in the comics, doomsday comes out of the ground with all these pipes and stuff all over him. if that’s so, then the writers put doomsday right where he needs to be.
also, something i just thought of, i was reading the posts that the JL are in a “diffrent reality” and “chloe was lying to clark”. i just thought; remember when chloe puts the black kryptonite on davis? there were many people in the room with him when it effected him. What if, (a big what if) everyone in the room was effected by it and now they all have doubles running around somewhere? if that’s the case then maybe it wasn’t the same chloe (and JL) at the funeral than in the watchtower. (i know chloe was the only one in the watchtower). the chloe and JL at the funeral could be the real ones, and the chloe in the watchtower could be a “lying” imposter.
then again, maybe not. i was just thinking about what was going on there and went through a couple of ideas.
and yes, the “pot holes” are there for a reason. it was a season finale. it’s supposed to be full of unanswered questions so that you watch the next season.
I do hope they bring back Lana to clear up her story though. I don’t like the idea of having a krypto-lana running around somewhere.
as for the clark/lana romance; as much as i would love to see clark falling for lois (which was starting to happen in “BRIDE”, but was ruined by, who else, haha, ooooooh lana), i do think it’s good for clark to have a strong relationship before so that when he does start to like lois, he really thinks about how he feels and doesn’t want to make the same mistake again, and in turn finds out that he really is in love with lois. and then lois will reject him and it’ll get a laugh, haha.
I know you said what if but the black kryptonite and all other kryptonite only effects other Kryptonians
About doomsday living underground…Foopher..Is that the Geothermal thing was said to be 1 mile underground…In the Superman/Doomsday cartoon movie.. they found doomsday 1 mile underground.
Also the question of where, when lois went to.. i was thinking that she is in the future where the Legion is waiting for doomsday..cuz how else would clark send doomsday to that point unless the ring was programed to go to that exact point. so maybe they will think its doomsday an beat the crap outta lois..just a thought
“black kryptonite and all other kryptonite only effects other Kryptonians”: meteor freaks, that’s green kryptonite effecting humans. in season 4 black kryptonite effects lex and makes a good and bad him.
Louis D: so are you saying i was right? or am i reading that wrong? haha
and about lois getting beaten up; i like it muhahaha
foopher: I’m not sure. it makes sense but overall i’m thinking clark is dead, cuz what i said in earlier posts about the guy from the future saying he would die unless he changed the past…cuz he made doomsday invincible with the green kryptonite…n since clark never changed that i dont see how he changed his fate of being killed
so just saying the 1 mile underground thing lined up with the only version of superman/Doomsday i know of.