Lower Decks

“Savior” represents the start of the ninth season of Smallville.  It’s hard to believe that the show has been on that long, but one look at the opening credits will show that, indeed, a lot of time has passed.  Tom Welling (Clark) and Allison Mack (Chloe) are the only ones left from the first season, and the show is starting to rely on some former guest stars (Erica Durance and Justin Hartley, to name two) as former members of the main cast continue to leave.  But after last year’s awful season finale, can a younger Zod save the day?

Here’s the thing about Zod, though.  I don’t understand it.  Unlike with the other shows that I review, I actually read Smallville spoilers, and I knew that Zod would be making an appearance.  I’ve read a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff, and I know how things are supposed to play out the first half of the season.

But I was expecting some kind of explanation in the episode of how a younger Zod can appear on the show, and one never came.  I suppose the Kandor Kryptonians aren’t really sure what’s happening (why they’re on Earth or why they’re powerless) either, but I was hoping to know what was going on before the premiere ended.  No such luck.

As for the idea?  I suppose it’s okay.  If you can’t have Luthor or Doomsday, I suppose Zod is the big villain to get.  And on the CW, a younger “Hot Zod” is the way to go.  But I’m just not really confident that the writers can do a year-long arc correctly.  Last year’s Doomsday arc started out well, but the finale was just terrible in my opinion.  Why should I expect a Zod arc to be a whole lot different?

I think the solution is just to get Michael Rosenbaum back.  I don’t know what it would take, and from the sounds of things, it isn’t very likely.  But the show does better, I think, with smaller villains and Lex in the background.

One of the few things that interested me about last season’s finale was the cliffhanger involving Lois.  She disappeared into the future with the Legion ring, and it set up some interesting things.  Lois visiting the Legion time could’ve led her deeper into the Red-Blue Blur obsession as she realizes who he will eventually be.  It also would’ve given her the confidence to know that she’ll know Superman very closely, although hopefully enough information would be withheld that she wouldn’t learn the secret.

Instead, it seems she was simply sent a year into the future to experience some sort of End of the World scenario where Zod and Clark destroy the world.  Reminds me too much of Heroes, and that’s not a good thing.

The episode also introduces “Dark Clark” – a brooding version of the character who has devoted himself entirely to being the Red-Blue Blur (although now sporting a black T-shirt with the Superman logo).  It could’ve been really cool, but they didn’t really focus on that too much.  We got a lot of Batman-like images of Clark standing on rooftops, overlooking the city.  I would’ve preferred to get a few more scenes of Clark saving people.  I’ve had a montage in my head of Clark going around town saving people, and I think this could’ve been a great place to use it.

And then there’s this “training” that we’ve heard about for the last seven years that Clark has finally committed himself to.  But here’s my question…outside of some words in Kryptonian…what in the heck is Clark supposed to be learning?  Jor-El makes it clear that flying isn’t on the agenda until Clark says goodbye to Lois, and Clark seems to have a pretty good grasp of the rest of his powers.  So what’s he learning?  Kryptonian algebra?

Hopefully it will mean that he can actually hold his own in a super-fight for once.  But, of course, that would mean the producers/writers would actually give us one.

And speaking of getting passed Lois, you have to think that Jor-El is tired of the girl drama.  It took Clark eight years to fully get over Lana, and that was only because Lana turned herself into a kryptonite-based superheroine.  Now that she’s gone, Clark is stuck on Lois?  Maybe “how to not be emo” needs to be on Jor-El’s training.

You have to give it to Lois, though.  Chloe and Dr. Hamilton claim that Oliver is “off the grid,” but Lois is able to find him the day after she returns.  So has Chloe lost her touch, or is Lois just that good?

Speaking of Oliver, I’m a bit tired of his sob story.  I know that comic Oliver has a problem with alcohol, but isn’t it about time that we got Green Arrow back?  I was happy about Oliver joining the main cast because it meant more comic-like stories.  But how often have we seen him in costume in the past couple of seasons?  We realize he’s distraught, but now we have two brooding superheroes.  That seems like too much.

All that being said, I actually thought the episode was entertaining.  There’s a lot to worry about, but there’s also some bright spots.

I’m really excited about Brian Austin Greene’s appearance on the show as John Corben (people interested in spoilers can check out who his comic counterpart is).  Greene was my favorite actor on Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and I’m glad that he’s landed on Smallville.

I also thought that the episode was well-acted.  Allison and Tom had a great scene where Clark has to tell Chloe that he won’t save Jimmy, and I really liked the fact that Clark used Jonathan’s death as an explanation.  I read on another site that Clark’s guilt was a long-time coming, and I have to agree.

But I thought Erica Durance was good, as well.  She gets a lot of criticism, but I completely buy her as Lois now.  And, for some reason, I thought the scene outside the phone booth was acted well.  Yes, I agree that she’s very CW, but I feel like she’s making an effort to improve her acting skills.

So there you have it.  I feel like the show has lost a step, but it seems like they’re making an effort to make things better.  My one piece of advice to the writers is this: Smallville is at its best when its fun.  “Justice” was one of the best episodes of the series because it was fun.  The comic book crossovers are fun.  Dark superheroes are nice every once in a while, but that’s more Batman’s territory.  Superman is supposed to be bright and happy, and that’s what Smallville needs to be.