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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LOL Rob. It’s OK, we understand.
Foopher, you are right- this does not make sense.
“…to be about Clark Kent’s journey to becoming Superman, not SUPERMAN.” What do you mean by that? haha. i’m a little confused
I should have said that AL Gough & Miles Millar created a story about the adolescent Clark Kent’s journey to becoming Superman, instead of repeating the familiar Superboy. This is the main reason they said that throughout the series there would be “no flights, no tights.” But I don’t think they imagined that it would last so long. And the producers and writers now have to further the story along. They should give the fans what they want. The question is: WHEN? In the comics, when did Superman actually fly for the first time? I have no idea. In the movie, we see him fly- in the familiar costume- at around 30. Smallville Clark is only 23. Still has not completed his training at the fortress.
There were other interesting ways they made this retelling of the familiar story fresh and original: younger parents, showing Clark’s emerging super powers, letting us see the moment he finds out from his dad that he’s “not from around here” and seeing his ship for the first time, the original wonderful characters Lionel and Chloe, and last but not least, the friendship between Clark and Lex, who was a really nice guy. No wonder the show was successful.
As for the suit, I think some of you are in for a big disappointment- not sure you will ever see it. Maybe for a few seconds of the last finale. Tom did not want the part of Clark until he read the script and found out that there would be no costume and I don’t blame him. I’ll bet he still doesn’s want to wear it. Wonder what’s in the contract?
Lois and Clark’s relationship was launched in Stiletto. The Red-Blue Blur (AKA Superman) is on her radar and she at least now respects Clark (but gives him a hard time). He will always love Lana (in a way) but is already attracted to Lois. Kryptonians can love more than one person in a lifetime. As Lois becomes more, Lana will become less. Lois and Clark will get together sooner or later, before the series ends.
Foopher, I’d love to be proven wrong. My biggest wish for the series, would be for the last season of Smallville to serve as a sort of “Superman: Year One”. I just don’t think it’s going to happen. Tricia’s right, Gough and Millar very much wanted to make a coming of age story and were adamant about their “no flights/ no tights” rule, and their stuborness on the matter is one of the major factors that contributed to them leaving the show. The new showrunners seem to be eager to edge Clark further and further toward Superman, but unfortunately as Trica said, Tom Welling is still very much against the idea of wearing the costume. The producers admitted as much in the following interview:
http://uk.eonline.com/uberblog/b120356__lt_i_gt_Smallville_lt__i_gt___Will_Chloe_Survive_.html
I know it took a lot of effort on the CW’s part to persuade Welling to stay on board for two more seasons. I just hope they didn’t promise him he wouldn’t have to don the uniform as part of the deal. He seems like a pretty cool guy for the most part, but that’s really disappointing that he’s not willing to take one for his fans.
Tricia mentioned that, in the movie, he flies out from the fortress.
I think that’s the first time he ever flies, now that i think about it. Jor-El would’t let him fly because he knew how he could’ve turned out. Once Clark finishes his training with Jor-El in the fortress, he will grant Clark the ability to fly.
Also, Martha Kent makes him the suit.
I think when he gets it he should put it in the closet and let it sit there for a while, then one day take it to the fortress. Jor-El then uses his awesomeness to trick it out and make it bullet-proof and what not. There should be a flash of light, then a camera view of his feet slowly rising to reveal Superman standing in front of the crystal thingy and fly away, recreating the scene from the movie.
(There I go fantasizing again. haha
)
In case you haven’t heard,
Brian Austin Green (Derek from Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) has been cast as Metallo next season. They’re saying he’ll appear in at least two episodes. It’s not a rumor, it’s not speculation, it’s a done deal.
http://www.tvguide.com/News/Smallville-Brian-Austin-1007034.aspx
Hopefully this means we’ll be hearing even more casting news in the weeks to come (inevitably leading up to the Comic Con panel).
I did read about that last night. I had never heard of him, but people were talking him up and making him seem good. So i’m excited to see what he’ll do.
Also, something to think about;
People have been posting things like, “Not more Zod, haven’t we had enough of him?” (not an actual quote) and stuff along those lines. But the truth is, we need him back.
When we first saw Zod on the show he inhabited Lex’s body and threw Clark into the phantom zone. Zod knows Clark’s secret. (Same with Lex) He can’t know that. When he comes to earth in Superman II, he is surprised that there is another kryptonian there trying to stop him.
Who’s even saying that he’ll be there all season. He was only around for 2 episodes last time.
Metallo? Come on, seriously this is just getting ridiculous..
Anyway Smallville lost lots of fans with this horrible season and being that it is on Fridays now it will probably ended up getting cancelled by the end of teh season.
Really a tragedy cause up until season 6 I would say the show was still pretty good.
I just cam across a video on http://www.supermanhomepage.com/news.php?readmore=6503 where Allison Mack is talking about her career on stage and she talks about all the other stuff she does. She says about how she plays Chloe on Smallville, but then lets out a little “i’m finishing… next year, season 9″.
Naturally i’m like “Say Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!”
Metallo will only be ther for a couple of episodes. Calm down. They’re trying to intruduce the not so well known characters.
Cloe pretty much let the bomb drop that next season will be the last (which we already knew)…at this point they just need to tie up all loose ends and finish up with him tryiong on the suit or something in teh last episode…
-I STILL DONT believe Lex is dead and I am sure there will something on him during teh season
-I ALSO DONT believe Bizarro is dead and we will see more of him
-The Zod thing shoudl be dissolved and teh Metallo thing will prob just be a couple of episodes
-The JLA thing needs to be further elaborated on
-And lets not forget the Dawson’s Creekish affair between Lana and Lois.
…cant believe i still watch this but i cant wait till it is over
I was pretty worries whhen I heard Brian Austin Green would be playing a badass tough guy type on Terminator, because the guy got his start on Beverly Hills 90210, and I never really liked him much. However, I’ll admit right nowthat I was wrong, he did an amazing job and ended up being one of the best parts of the show, and this is a show that had a lot going for it. So I think he’s great casting, though that’s just me.
As for Tasouli’s comment, I agree that they need to start tying up loose ends and working toward the inevtable conclusion of the seris. But is it really, that surprising that they’re using Metallo? I mean he’s a pretty big Superman villain. I mean he’s not like Brainiac or Doomsday big, but he’s probably just outside the top five. Popularity wise he’s probably like Hobgoblin or something to Spider-Man, not one of the REALLY big hitters, but still pretty big.
You never know, just because chloe won’t be there doesn’t meant he show’s ending. I mean people had been saying how they wish chloe was gone because she was never in the comics. Who’s to say the writers aren’t just trying to make fans happy by taking her out. I’ll be sad if that’s the case.
Yea I agree with Luke there really should be no surprise that we are going to be seeing Metallo next season on smallville…This WILL be the last season I believe whether they want another season or not. They already bumped it to fridays (for the vampire diaries cmon more twilight bandwagons) and I am sure the bump will show a DRASTIC decline to their alreday declining ratings…thsi show should have ended in season 6…
I do agree that it would have better better off if tehy killed of Cloe because she was never in the comics and she realy is just a pointless chracater…so she knows his secret woopti doo, give that honor to someone else
BTW watever happened to taht guy Pete his so called “best friend” from teh first few seasons…bring him back this season and he could help Clark see how he has changed and how he needs to get back to who he was (because in teh alst ep he said that he was too human and taht he had to leave his human side behind…yatty yatta)
In that same interview I linked to earlier, the showrunners mention how most of the major decisions they’re making now are to help bring the show as in-line with DC continuity as possible. They also talk about the fact that Chloe isn’t part of that continuity. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they killed her off and (if the ratings are good enough) had a Season 10 without her.
Interestingly enough, that means Tom Welling would be the only person to be part of the main cast through all 10 seasons.
Hey gang: I just want to pipe in for a moment and say that I think it’s cool that everyone is chiming in here in the comments to conversate (Not really a word, but heck, it seems appropriate) about the show.
Just saying high and happy Friday everyone.
-Bruce
“watever happened to taht guy Pete”; he came back in season 7 for an episode (guess you missed that one)
Hello, Bruce! haha
Why should they have ended it after 6? season 7 was pretty cool, same with most of 8
Season 9, big whoop. I’d say ban this tv show! It’s going nowhere with CK not being able to fly (it’s been 8 dull season now, guys) yet. Make changes and make them fast! Give him (Clark Kent) flight ability already, change his hairstyle, stop making new characters appear breaking the age-old canon of the Superman legend!
To answer tasouli’s question about Pete, he moved away to Wachita in Season 3, explaining why he hasn’t been around in recent years. Foopher’s correct though, he guest starred in the Season 7 episode “Hero”.
Yongkykun, a lot of people are frustrated that Clark still isn’t flying, however I don’t know how successful you’ll be in getting people here to boycott the show. I’d assume that if people care enough to take the time and write about Smallville, most of them are also going to care enough to watch it, even if they find it frustrating at times. Also, while they have introduced some original characters in recent seasons, most of the major new characters have actually come from the comics.
And, Foopher, while I’m glad you enjoyed Season 7, I personally thought it was one of the weakest in the series. Maybe the writer’s strike had something to do with it, but it just felt like it had a less cohesive narrative arc, less character development (especially in Clark) and overall weaker writing in most seasons.
I actually think that’d be a pretty interesting discussion, which seasons are people’s favorite/ least favorite and why?
you know what Luke? You’re right.
Anyway, my favorite season would be the 3rd season, cause we get to see Lex Luthor’s transformation from good to evil. The psychological drama throughout the season got me hooked to it. Plus Michael Rosenbaum really showed much of his acting talent back then. Somehow the writers decided to dumb him down a lot on the later seasons (maybe they are afraid that we, the audience, sympathize more on his character than to Tom Welling’s).
My least favorite would be season 5, 6, and 7. They are just dumb and forgetable.
I do agree that season 7 was somewhat weak. the 20 episodes was because of the writers strike (at least that’s what i heard). But i liked it because it was really lex’s complete dive into the lake of evil.
In the episode FRACTURE (season 7 episode 12), when clark goes in to lex’s mind you truly see lex for what he really is. Close to the end when clark’s punching him in the face while alexander is getting away, lex is lying there, mouth full of blood, laughing at him. (kind of a joker interigation scene moment)
I also liked how they brought in the concept of “Veritas”. I thought that was a neat idea of having the Luthor, Swann, Queen, and Teague families all together trying to find clark.
APOCALYPSE; we see clark in the glasses… again. (we first see him with them in season 3, WHISPER, and then in season 6, NOIR)
The part that got me wasn’t even that big of a thing. I’m talking about when lex is looking for the orb at the end of QUEST and he breaks the fire place open and finds it. I was like “that’s crazy. it was there all along”. i don’t know why i just thought that part was a really good plot twist, thing-a-ma-jig.
And i mean i guess i must be wrong, but doesn’t the fact that it’s going into a “9th” season prove that it’s a good..no… great show?
If clark would learn to fly then the show would be done. There would be no suspense or anything. He would never have to think about how to save anyone. He’d have all his powers and would be able to do everything. It would be a very bad decision on the writers part to make him fly.
“Season 9, big whoop:” Yeah it is!
What do you mean “change his hair style”?
Yay! I’m the 400th post!!!
“change his hair style”
His hair right now is still too wavy, while in the comics and in the movies, his hair is a bit shorter and more combed up. Dude looks like he’s living the 90s or something.
they have been making more “super” lately though. Look at how it’s changed since season 5
His hair i mean
i need to start proof reading
I just hope they bring their A game this season because the last few have probably been the worst of all. I think Seasons 4 and 6 were my favs because they brought in some of the better characters from the comics and actually gave them good story lines.
Let’s just face it, Smallville’s amazing and that’s that