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« Smallville
December 7, 2006: Subterranean
Just a note: If you're not the type to watch the previews for upcoming episodes, you may want to skip the first paragraph and the last sentence of this column.
I love Smallville, I really do, but that was just painful. From beginning to end. OK, not to "end," not by a long shot. The best parts of "Subterranean" were: 1) Lex's evil strut of doom set to that AFI song; that was just badass, 2) Clark's continuing to think about the world as a whole, not just the precious few he saves here and there, and 3) the sneak peek to what's coming up in the second half of the season especially that last shot of what I guess is the fledgling Justice League of America (I believe we saw Flash, Cyborg, Green Arrow, Clark and Aquaman). I'm not sure when the next new "Smallville" airs, but it needs to be sooner rather than later.
We haven't had a new episode in about three weeks. So I really thought the show was going to reward us for our patience; especially since this may be the last fresh (oops that's so WB), the last new one for quite some time. What we got turned out to be the equivalent of a "very special episode of Blossom." I don't mean to put down the issues the writers were presenting, but there had to have been a more exciting way to tell the story. And don't get me started on the overgrown gopher burrowing underneath the earth, preying on migrant workers. And I implore you, don't even try to tell me that was an actual showdown between McNally and Clark. I know the guy was just a test subject, but I almost feel stupid for complaining about the "tame" smackdowns from earlier episodes.
I'm digging the fact that we're seeing Lex relish the dark side. I'm loving Michael Rosenbaum's take on it, too. Lex is lying his butt off to Lana, getting her conveniently out of town on cute little art trips. I was really hoping that when she realized money wasn't just luxury, that it was power, too, she was going to ask her not-yet-fiancé to give her the million-dollar tour of the dark side. Guess not. Doesn't matter, Lex is playing evil mastermind, and I'm loving every bit of it. When the camera showed the 33.1 on the door, that was great.
What I didn't love was Lana telling Clark yet again how much Lex doesn't lie to her blah, blah, blah. And how much Clark did lie to her blah, blah, blah. Then there was Jimmy and Chloe, who were trying too hard to be cutesy again. Just dial it down a thousand, Jimmy "James" Olsen, and maybe I'll start believing she really is "your girl." Although, I did like him bringing up the fact that he thinks Clark is totally in love with Chloe. The Martha speech at the end about Javier being extraordinary was just too corny for words and really a waste of Annette O'Toole's talents. Can you tell that I was not a fan of "Subterranean?" Having said that, it's only the first episode this season that had me wanting to hit the delete button on my DVR; I've really been enjoying Season 6, and I'm looking forward to what we're going to get in 2007. Please tell me I'm not the only one who kept rewinding that last shot of Clark and his slo-mo walking superfriends?
Topics to Discuss:
What are your thoughts on "Subterranean?"
What did you think about the sneak preview?
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TVGuide Links:
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Dec 8, 2006 2:52 AM
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I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either. It was okay.
I'm really looking forward to the upcoming JLA episode.
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Dec 8, 2006 3:54 AM
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The episode was in deed dreadful. But the clip at the end was awesome, except they alluded to Lana and Clark getting back together. Boo to that.
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Dec 8, 2006 6:10 AM
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I liked it actually.
Anything new is good to me. I love the Lana Lex doesn't lie to me shtick. Makes the crash and burn even more satisfying when it comes and you know it's coming.
I didn't rewind and review the last moments of Smallville but I may have been one of the only 48 year old women to stand up in her living room loudly cheering "OMG it's the Justice League"!
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Dec 8, 2006 8:37 AM
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The episode wasn't one of my favorites either...however it was saved by Lex's strut at the end...and the awesome preview of what's coming up this season. And Tina, no, you weren't the only one to rewind the JLA strolling at the end. As Borat would say, "Wa Wa Wee Wa!" I hope the rest of the season lives up to the promise of that promo. Whoever put that together should get a raise! That was truly awesome!
~ŠL
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Dec 8, 2006 9:09 AM
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The episode was not the greatest, but I was also screaming JL at the preview. Yeah I love the bad azz walk from Lex at the end. Need the song for my own background music! Can't hardly contain myself until next year....
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Dec 8, 2006 10:03 AM
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Nice recap Tina! This ep bored the crap out of me. No big showdown with the farmer dude. It was all underground. While I appreciate them tackling the illegal alien route, I thought this whole ep ewas just boring and stiff. The best part I agree was the end, Lex strutting down the hall with the music. Brilliant shot.
I love Annette O'Toole but some of her lines were just over the top boring and delivered awkwardly.
Jimmy is a bright spot, as dimwitted as he may be. You can see Chloe almost feels sorry for him. She and Clark need to jsut hook up and be done with it.
Javier speaking such perfect English with hardly any accent? Don't think so. Esp if he learned it watching tv.
Lana. I hate her. So sick ofher telling Clark off for lying to her and being so naive about Lex. They need to get ridof her.
Previews for Justice. HOW FREAKIN' AWESOME was that preview!!! Now THAT'S gonna be a kick ass ep!
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Dec 8, 2006 10:15 AM
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This had to be the worst Smallville ever. Every minute was excruiating until the final minute. Just so boring, and so unbelieveably preachy. (Which Smallville rarely is.) I thought they had moved away from monster-of-the-week episodes, but I guess they needed a filler episode to air in December.
I have to agree, though, that the teaser at the end was really cool. Although I hate that they brought back that American Idol non-actor for Aquaman. It ought to be interesting!
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Dec 8, 2006 10:23 AM
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I didn't like this episode. And tired of Lana being so naive. Her character has become almost unbearable to watch.
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Dec 8, 2006 10:39 AM
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I'm also a huge Smallville fan, and this was by far the worst episode ever. I agree that it was too preachy. However, I also agree that Lex's strut and the preview (which I did keep rewinding & using slow-mo) were the best part.
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Dec 8, 2006 11:19 AM
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Does anyone know when this episode might be rebroadcast? Our DVD went out with our electricity (storm) and I didn't get it taped. I want to see it just for that ending. Can't wait to see JAL!!!
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Dec 8, 2006 11:44 AM
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I too thought the episode itself was "meh" with the whole immigrant thing being played SO cheesy. I did like that we saw lots of Clark rather than too much Lex/Lana and we got a break from the Lois/Oliver action.
The Lex strut to AFI was priceless! He looked so hot and reveling in all his evil glory. I admit I rewound it a few times. The previews look fantastic! I cannot wait for the "Justice" episode.
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Dec 8, 2006 1:24 PM
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I agree that this was not a good episode of Smallville. We finally get a whole episode with just Clark and it is this? It did have a few good points - one being the ending shot of Lex. The other (which I am surprised nobody has mentioned) was the scene with Jimmy, Clark, and Chloe at the Daily Planet. Tom Welling played the scene so well with his bewildered expressions especially when Jimmy gave Clark knuckles!
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Dec 8, 2006 1:34 PM
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Man, that was a horrible episode. Absolutely painful. The whole illegal immigrant deal was painful, and Javier's acting was worse than that of a dead log. His mother was no better either.
The scene with Lex at the end was cool, but alas it was not enough to salvage this horrendous episode.
The preview was by far the best part, seeing the beginnings of the JL, but they did not mention how long we will have to wait for these episodes. That's important to know, because I certainly don't want to miss out...
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Dec 8, 2006 1:58 PM
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I've been really pleased with Season 6 so far, but this one took me back to episodes last year like the cheesy vampire sorority episode.
I really started feeling sorry for Lana last night, although she's always gotten the guy, unlike Chloe, she's also always been rather unlucky in love. She's just going to get burned once more by Lex here. I actually found myself hoping that she'd go dark and join him in his supervillianness.
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Dec 8, 2006 2:40 PM
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