Smallville Season 9 Premiere: Review & Discussion
Sep 26, 2009 by Bruce SimmonsLast night’s premiere of Smallville started out with a recap of various scenes from season 8 to help catch up viewers to the big events …
Last night’s premiere of Smallville started out with a recap of various scenes from season 8 to help catch up viewers to the big events that concluded last season’s storylines.
It has felt like forever since we’ve seen Clark take down Doomsday, watched Jimmy die and saw Clark walk away from Chloe. So, it was quite a rush to watch the teaser lead into the 9th season of Smallville as we were treated to several details for the upcoming season.
Join us to recap and discuss the premiere of Season 9 of Smallville.
*** SPOILERS FROM HERE ON OUT***
It’s been 3 weeks since the events of last season’s finale when Lois (Erica Durance) returns to the present, showing up in a flash of light on a moving train. An unidentified female assassin who is pursuing her also shows up on the train in a similar flash of light. The train derails just after that and Clark shows up and catches it.
Clark (Tom Welling) has gone from the red-blue blur to just a blur in his new dark outfit. He’s also become compelled to burn his chest symbol into things when he makes a save, to leave his mark.
In these last 3 weeks, Clark has committed himself to training with Jor-El in the fortress of solitude. I found his conversation with Jor-El about his inability to fly interesting. Speaking of flying, did I miss it, or did they not show what happened after Clark jumped off the Statue of Liberty?
Meanwhile, it seems that Major Zod (Callum Blue) has been holed up in the Luthor mansion, having taken Tess Mercer (Cassidy Freeman) hostage, believing she has information he needs. He also has a number of soldiers from Kandor with him, but none of them have any powers under the yellow sun.
We’re also introduced to John Corben, the street reporter. It’s good to see Brian Austin Green on TV again, but John is a critic of “the blur’s” methods, questioning why he has to burn symbols at his rescue scenes. He openly calls him a vigilante.
Even though the female assassin who was pursuing Lois is never identified, she has the same powers as Clark and she brings some power-neutralizing blue kryptonite with her. It seems she wasn’t after Lois at all, but was just using her to lure Clark out since he is her true target. When she and Clark do deck it out, it seems to me that Clark’s training with Jor-El pays off as he stands his ground with her surprisingly well.
There were some interesting moments however, like the assassin telling Clark the world will end in a year and that she’s here to stop him, Chloe (Allison Mack) getting ticked at Clark for refusing her request to use the time-ring to save Jimmy, and the army of powerless Kryptonians at Zod’s command. That’s really befuddling me.
Lois hunting down Oliver/Green Arrow (Justin Hartley) and finding him in cage matches was interesting but dang, how quickly he sank to this new lifestyle. Jimmy’s death is having quite the impact on everyone, being as how everyone seems to be blaming themselves for it.
Was it me, or was Lois running around in tank tops in this episode more than usual? That wasn’t a complaint at all, just wondering out loud.
We also got to hear a new term for time travel: “Temporal Aperture Continuum” and I thought it was a nice cameo for the Statue of Liberty.
I’ve got to chime in about Oliver and the similarities between himself and Bruce Wayne / Batman has in his own mythos. Since we’ll never see Bats in Smallville, I find the parallels interesting. My final “ah-ha” moment pondering Oliver being the replacement Bats came when Oliver Queen’s money helped set up Chloe’s Watchtower. “Oliver may be AWOL, but his funds aren’t.” In the source material for this reimagination, Watchtower was funded by Bruce Wayne.
How’d We Feel About The New Episode?
This episode started out with the momentum from last season and different aspects of the upcoming season were introduced to us. I came away from the episode pleased but I have to wonder if they will be able to keep this up? They had a lot to feed us right away so they had material for us. Though the producers have said that this wasn’t going to be a dark season, there are a lot of story threads laced with overshadowing darkness to the characters.
If they can manage this momentum, it will be a good season but I think many of us are gun-shy after last seasons’ Doomsday buildup. Plus, if the show gets another season, will this affect what material they’ll deliver to us?
My thought is that if they feel that this is the last season, I presume they’ll be wrapping up a lot of things for us. But if they get another season, will the production team pull back and pace themselves, saving some of the plot points and issues for next season?
I have to admit; at the end of the episode when Lois laid down to go to sleep, she sure had one heck of a recall/dream sequence from her alternate time trip… I mean her temporal aperture continuum trip!
Your turn!
Time to chime in Screen Rant readers. We want to hear your thoughts on what you saw, what you felt while watching the start of the 9th season of Smallville!
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Loved it!!!! Cant wait 4 more woooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope they like dont put 2 much chloe in it cuz thts wat made last season suck. I kinda dislike Chloe 4 trying 2 guilt clarkin2 doing wat she wants him 2 dono matter the consequenceas to anyone else. She got selfish.I totally hope clark goes Superman not the Blur. Or would they not do that cuz of the Curse of Superman?
I thought the mark he leaves was cool looking. The way it was burned in just looked bad @$$!
The girl with Zod said the last thing remembers was getting blood taken in Kandor. That means the orb held their DNA and just released carbon copies (clones per se) of themselves into the world. It’s the DNA of younger “Major” Zod. That’s why he’s not old.
I liked the episode only because I loved season 8. The worst in my opinion was the Zod part. Also, these producers seem to have a “personality disorder”.They always change the personalities of some of the characters; I have seen this in all of the seasons. This season, apparently, it’s Chloe’s and Clark’s turn.
The “mark” is cheesy, Zod is british (no rascism intended, just that I don’t think he fits in Smallville with his accent), the reporter is already head over heels for Lois and the assasin chick is a big messup; pretty much a big conglomerate of not so important info and stuff that shouldn’t be there.Not the best start for a season in my opinion.
sorry Tom Welling I love you but…. watched the premiere and it sucked. I think this is the last season for smallville.
the curse of superman right now is too many damned women in his life. if they could back off the romance for a season the show may still have a chance.
B.A.G IS annoying. in anything.
@allyanha
“Zod is british (no rascism intended, just that I don’t think he fits in Smallville with his accent)”
Dude, that’s got to be one of the worst reasons ever for not liking someone. Terence Stamp (Zod in the movies) is British. Julian Sands is British, will you slate him for playing Jor-El? They all play Kryptonians NOT Americans! How can you say an alien character doesn’t fit in an American show because he doesn’t have an American accent! Maybe not racist but ignorant then? (Notice how British, American and Kryptonian all have capitals btw). COAB!
I thought this was an amazing episode. Its realy pulling it together as a series.
To me smallville season 6 and 7 didnt happen, they had no plot, and can practically be forgotten about, the scripts were rubbish and ignorant of the comics. Season 8 was a new beggining, with real character development, and hopefully lead the way to an amazing season 9.
Keep up the good work
It was horrible. Best show on tv just went to WORST. Bring Lana back. NOW, DOOO EEEET
It was horrible. Best show on tv, just became the WORST. Bring Lana back. Right now, DOOOO EEEET
I sure wish they would bring Martha back. His mother needs to be on the show at least once a year and she hasn’t been seen except in flashbacks in 2 years or is it 3?
Smallville is great! Tom Welling and Erica Durance should be involved in the next Superman project!
i need to know how clark manged to outsmart destiny and survive the doomsday battle. they didnt clear that up did they?
i mean cosmic boy told him “today is the day you die”
wtf?
So if ANYONE has watched Smallville from Season 1, it is obvious that there has been some major changes in the writing room. OMG, Smallville used to be an amazing show!,
They used differently filming techniques, actual locations to film outdoor scenes, and a logical interesting storyline. NOW the show is filmed entirely ON SET, using the same camera technique, same lackluster custome design. And the special effects are so gosh damm chessy.
Up to season 4 is where the show reached its highest poitn poossible and declined towards the middle of season 5. Season 6 okay where is this show going. Season 7 Why the frack isnt he in the air yet? Season 8 wow Season 9, why is this show still on the air… It makes sense since it has been moved to FRIDAY!! lol
Bullet point thoughts:
What happened to Clark during the explosion at the end of the previous season finale? He doesn’t remember so we don’t know what happened.
What happened to Doomsday?
Why isn’t he wearing red and blue now that he’s a full time superhero, when he concluded last season that as a symbol he was bringing hope to people?
At least they addressed the stupid lack of flying thing head on.
What was up with the weird lighting at the Luthor mansion while the Kryptonians were there?
What’s up with a young Zod?
Finally, I retract me “Clark is now the Eradicator” theory – it seems he’s just himself.
Vic
What watch shows the year? Seemed a bit confused and I just hope they know where they are going. Jumped the shark I am afraid.
Overall I think the season premier deserves about a B rating. The feel of the show is definitely darker than it has been in the past. There are scenes of Clark dressed in all black standing on top of buildings that reminded me very much of scenes from “Batman Begins” or “The Dark Knight”. Even the music seemed to mimic the musical score from the new Batman movies.
If there is weakness in the show it is the lack of a credible villain. The show has been lacking this villain ever since Michael Rosembaum (Lex) left the show in season 8. Last year Smallville introduced Davis Bloome (Doomsday), but he was more of a victim than a villain. Clark and Lex had such a history together, that scenes involving the two of them were very powerful. I doubt the new Zod will come anywhere near the rivalry Lex and Clark had established.
As far as Clark’s relationship with Lois, this has never come close to the relationship Clark had with Lana. I find myself watching old episodes of the show and remembering how good the last 5 minutes of the show would be because it would feature an important scene with Clark and Lana. Season 9 will try to develop the Clark and Lois relationship, but it feels forced and somewhat fake knowing how much Clark cared/cares for Lana.
Regardless, I’ll be tuning in to the end
ive watched it since day one – and its been one roller coaster of a ride every season. some episodes are just amazing and intense and others are just plain garbage. with that said i will watch it to its very end, although somewhere around season 4 or 5 it just keeps getting worse and worse. i am not a fan of the horrible acting by mack – i wish they would kill her off. im really tired of clark being “oh so close” to being the man of steel. olsen was a terrible story line. now we get bag from terminator. if this is indeed the last season – i wish they would amp up each episode to the very last one. the stupid continuity, story arcs and the even garbage linear ones just make me cringe. if you want story lines that give meaning from beginning to middle to the end, just watch supernatural. that is a show that can leave the linear line but still remain relevant when it skips off the path. at this point i hope the boy scout never learns to fly – because in my opinion the show has already flown, crashed and burned.
i should have added this. i believe that clark will alter time to bring jimmy back and in doing so, chloe will be sacrificed (thank god) and its at this point that clark will become the clark that we know (glasses and all) and everyone’s opinion will be altered as well. he will then take off to do his kryptonian training at his fortress of solitude – and when he’s done – just like in the superman movie, you will see him in the tights and leaping into the air with the accompanying john williams music.
Yup, terrible terrible terrible… Chloe to Lois: “Wait, I’ve got a big bomb to drop on you” And then she leaves, allowing Lois to go after Red Blue Blur. Why not just explain every from the start. But no, let’s have a useless emotional scene with Lois in it. The writing is sub standard in my opinion. Sorry, I was a fan, but things dropped since Season 5, and it’s going to get worse from here onwards. Eurgh.
@jordi
sorry to tell you but I adore british people, their accent, everything.But Callum’s accent is way too obvious, it’s poignant so to say. Jor-el has just this calm flow of words that are clear- you barely notice an accent.
ok I know everyone has their own opinion but you all need to stop saying the story, casting and plot was bad cause A director,B script writer and C your not a producer.
I loved it! I reckon the writers did a good job, loved the tension in Clark and Chloe’s relationship. I agree with the comment about Chloe getting sacrificed for bringing Jimmy back to life – that’s the first thing I thought of too when watching it. I think it would be better if he doesn’t do it though – but I am convinced that the legion ring/time travel has got something to do with him wearing glasses / not being recognised by people.
I’m already a bit irritated by the new Zod character, but hope his on screen presence gets better.
I’m in the camp against WB making Superman a darker charcater on the success of the new Batman movies BUT I think it works well for Smallville in the current point in Clark’s life. Clark has always tried not to be Kal-el and now he’s Kal-el trying not to be Clark. I think at the end of this darker stage of his life (season 9) we’ll see him embrace both sides of himself (probably in the final episode) and then fly off.
I hope this season, right at the end he turn into Superman and then next season we get a whole season of him as Superman on a world stage.
Anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself. Great 1st episode.
Umm, yes. I’m the viewer, which means the show was meant for me. And I’ve been a follower since season 1, but unfortunately the quality of the show has gone down drastically, and they’re milking it.
I agree with some of you that the premiere was not fantastic. But I thought it was pretty well done. I feel they do a good job with the previews and trailers, but then when you finally see the episode it is alittle disappointing. I hope they move forward quickly into him flying and there being more action between him and Zod…..good question though…why is Zod young….must have something to do with the whole time travel thing….he must go back to krypton first and age and become the criminal we know before breaking out of the phantom zone and going to earth……
@GuyverXT9
Yeah, that scene between Chloe and Lois annoyed the heck out of me, ESPECIALLY when Chloe bought into the “oh, you’re right, get me a sedative” bit. Duh.
Vic
I had a chance to talk to someone last night who has been a fan of Smallville since season 1 and I was surprised to hear from her that she felt that:
-The episode was all over the place
-What’s up with the cheesy, cartoonish affects (train)
-If it doesn’t straighten out and focus, I’m done with the show.
I was like wow, because I’ve always trusted her opinion and take on most of our favored television shows.
Just thought I’d add her op’s since she won’t do it herself.
With the commercials and advertisemenst looking so good for the season, I actually thought that this season’s premiere fell short of expectations; at least mine. Not to sau taht it was bad, I mean it was 10 times better than last seasons but still not quite as good as season 1-5. I feel the the producers just decided to add a bunch of new characters and themes into the show and see how it unfolds. I do definately like the new suit, very good job with that. I like the whole ZOD thing but as people have said the best villain we will have seen has come and gone in Michael ROsenbaum’s Lex. I dont buy the chemistry between Lois and Clark. Lois just doesnt come off as that girl you fall in love with and they really have not had any expierences quite like Lana and Clark. The producers need to find a way to make Clark move on form Lana because when they were last together Clark was still crazy for her. You cannot just switch off feelings like that it doesn’t work.
I also thing Chloe has overstayed her welcome on the show and needs to be eliminated. She is just a pain now and we dont need her in the show anymore if we want the show to progress.
One way or the other this season looks better than teh last seaosn’s but keep in mind that they are now using time travel as a major plot point and when that happens it rarely works..
I really hate that the producers are still trying to persevere with the Lois/Clark storyline. They have zero chemistry. I think they set a trap for themselves by making Clark and Lana’s relationship so intense, now they’re gonna have a problem with fans resistance to the idea of him and Lois. They just don’t fit. Lois and Oliver makes more sense.
Plus Clark and Chloe have way more chemistry anyway.
BTW Can anybody tell me why Lex and Lana have left the show?
@karen- i agree with you. I think Clark should just go stag for awhile & let the story develop without the romantic aspect right now. I can’t buy into him not being able to stay away from Lois when his love with Lana was so intense. They have written themselves into a corner.
Im glad Lana is gone but every time she comes back for a cameo clark goes right back to pining over her.
I prefer Lois and Oliver as well. It’s more believable.
Lex must be “out getting eviled up” somewhere. LOL!
iv always liked smallvill but the preimer is dissapointing like it didnt explain anything unless im missing somthing. like why are there kryptonians in tess’s house, wered they come from why is there a young zod sense when is clark trying to be Kryptonian. i do think that he will go back for jimmy. well actually he has to becuese jimmys alive in superman. when he does i think chloe will die to tho i dont want her to becuese she is a good character and is the only one other one besieds clark that has been in it sense day one. the producers or writers need to pick it up tho becuese its too dark, story line is all over the place, and things are getting confussing and complete off from previouse seasons.