Why I Still Watch Smallville
Over the past couple of weeks there has been a “cold war” of sorts that has started between myself, Steve Glosson host of Starkville’s House of El, and some of the masses that post on other sites and forums concerning the venom that has been spewed on our beloved Smallville, based on the attacks of others.
The war has broken down into anger-filled rants against these people given by Derek and myself, and quite frankly, they’ve had some words about us too. I stand by my complaints against those who would tear down the honest work by the producers, directors, writers, actors, and crew of a television show that has made just about every night of the week something to look forward to at some point in history. (Remember Smallville started on Tuesdays, moved to Wednesdays, then Thursdays, and now Fridays…I think if the show does go to a tenth season it should be aired on Mondays to round out the weekday hat trick.)
However, there have been some good points made, though one has to sift through mounds of vulgarity and unfounded criticisms of an actor’s performance here or a story choice there to actually see the points.
Ultimately, as a fan of this show, if you don’t like the direction the show has taken or the direction taken with a certain character or relationship, that’s fine. Part of episodic television is that everyone can’t be pleased every week. There are going to be people who like a certain aspect of the show that may eventually go away, and this may cause the viewer to no longer enjoy the show. In this case, opinions are valid and, honestly, should be aired, albeit in a well thought out polite manner. Instead, what a rather vocal portion of fandom has chosen to do is to attack the show runners, writers, and actors who put in a lot of hard work just to entertain their viewers on a weekly basis. (I use the term “vocal” because I’m not sure how “large” this particular part of fandom is.)
As I stated, I stand by my rant on episode 128 of the show against the idiocy of some who have chosen to be rude and downright mean in their comments concerning those involved with the production of Smallville. However, I felt compelled to bring to you a response to those criticisms which I feel like have some sort of validity to them from a Smallville fan’s standpoint. Issues with the direction of the show in season nine, issues with direction of certain characters, primarily Chloe, and problems with the CHARACTER of Lois are all things that can be discussed calmly and politely, if not a little heatedly. That is what I am seeking to do here. What follows is my response to the critics.
This is why I still watch Smallville…
The direction of Smallville has changed decidedly in recent years. This season, the show has become, as Derek stated in his review of “Savior”, a decidedly more Superman show. I honestly can’t speak to whether or not this was the original intent of Al Gough and Miles Millar, though I feel pretty confident that they had a more short term vision in mind when they came to the Smallville table. However, as fate and ratings would have it, Smallville has lived beyond the teen angst of Clark and the gang’s high school years. It has remained one of the CW’s flagship shows. Indeed, it has grown into something that hasn’t been nearly this successful since George Reeves brought the Man of Steel to the masses over half a century ago. It’s true that no Superman related show has ever enjoyed the longevity of Smallville. To that end, there is destined to be a section of Smallville fans that are alienated by the turn to more comic bookish/sci-fi television.
However, the catch is this. Had Smallville remained the teen angsty show that it was in it’s first few years, it most likely would have ended somewhere around season 6. Why? Because most television fans won’t accept a television show where the characters in which they have invested hours of time don’t change. Most television fans won’t accept a television show that tries so hard to remain what it’s always been because it would get boring. If Clark were still running the farm pining after, hooking up with, and breaking up with Lana, even the most die hard fans would grow cold to the show. Even if Clark jumped from Chloe to Lana and back, fans would get bored with the same old same old. It stands to reason that Clark had to begin to get out of Smallville and find himself as a hero in Metropolis. The gang had to grow up.
If the problem is that this show is now more of a Superman show than it’s ever been, then I submit that it’s nowhere near enough of a Superman show to be considered a Superman show. The truth is that Clark, in the show, is at a point where we’ve never really seen the character before. He’s in his early twenties trying to get his life figured out. Comparably, the only time we’ve seen Clark at this age in other incarnations is the Superboy television series and a few pages of Superman: Birthright, a limited series written by Mark Waid about 7 years ago that gave us a new origin for the Man of Steel. In the silver age, there was a story where Superman recounted deciding that he was no longer a boy and was now SuperMAN. It was hokey and fun, but the transition from Boy of Steel to Man of Steel seemed a bit too easy. While on the subject, let’s face it, as great as Superman: The Movie is, Clark did spend TWELVE YEARS with Jor-El in the fortress and suddenly have the big blue suit at the end of things. So…no angst…no struggle…just…twelve years and here he is. Which worked in the movie, but no so much in episodic television.
What we have now is a young man struggling with the destiny he must accept. He still has a desire to cling to the values given to him by Jonathan and Martha, but also desires to be able to distance himself from those he loves to better be able to serve humanity as a whole. This isn’t the Superman we read about in comics. Why? Because Clark in Smallville isn’t there yet. He’s headed there though. That’s what makes this season of Smallville so compelling to me as a Superman fan…Clark is soooo close, I can see it, you can see it, but none of the people around Clark have any idea just how great he is going to be.
I have a Star Wars analogy to make, but I will refrain.
I’m now 32 years old. When I look back on my life, I realize that when I was 23 I wasn’t sure what I was gonna do with my life, much less what my destiny was. Honestly, I’m still not sure what I’m gonna do with my life. I have a career that I enjoy, I have the whole podcasting thing that is fun, and there are few signs pointing to the fact that there will be any drastic changes in my life anytime soon. However, I still don’t know if where I am now is my destiny or not. I still don’t know what I’m gonna do with my life. When I look back to almost ten years ago though, I was then only a shadow of who I am now. That’s where Clark and the gang are. Lois may be a reporter for the Daily Planet, but she’s not the STAR reporter. Clark may be wearing the \S/ – but he’s not Superman. Chloe may be Watchtower, but she’s not…well, Chloe is the X factor isn’t she? My point is things change. It’s part of the reality that the creators have striven to have at the center of a world where the fantastic is possible. I accept it, I enjoy it, and I move on. Do I have a few problems with the way things have progressed? I think I do. I think it makes me uncomfortable that Clark can’t snap his fingers and just be Superman. I think it makes me uncomfortable that I have loved Chloe so much for so long that she got married, became a widow, and now seems to be at odds with her lifelong best friend. Then I think back to my life. I think about how much has changed since I was a Freshman in high school. I think of the falling outs I’ve had, the fences I’ve mended, the mistakes I’ve made, and how those moments shaped my life today, and I start to buy into the direction Smallville has taken.
Then there’s Chloe. As I wrote earlier, Chloe is the X factor on this show. She is the one character for whom we have no precedent. We don’t know her ultimate fate, and no matter how much we like her, we can’t look at the creators and say, “THIS NEVER HAPPENED IN THE COMICS.” Some have said that Chloe turning away from journalism is a light switch. In other words, with no rhyme or reason Chloe left journalism. The truth is, that most of our life changing choices are light switch moments. We may have thought about things. We may have struggled with things, but the choices we make happen in a moment. Sometimes even those closest to us have no idea we were considering the change. I can only speak definitively for myself, but for years I was on course to do something fairly different with my life than what I am currently doing. The moment I decided to shift courses came in a light switch moment.
Chloe went from reporting on the amazing to being a part of it. Chloe could have said, “I love journalism, so I’m gonna stay at the Planet rather than become a part of a group of the most powerful people on Earth.” But she said, “I love journalism, but I found something I love more.” There’s nothing wrong with that, and it’s a very real turn of events in a person’s life.
Let’s not forget that the turn from journalism as Chloe knew it started the moment she found out about Clark’s abilities. In her desire to protect her friend, she started to pull back on the things she reported. Then, she found out she had meteor powers, and that sealed the deal on stepping back from “her style” of reporting.
Most people peg Chloe as an intelligent, passionate reporter. All of that is based on what the girl did in high school. This is a young lady that pushed for stories of meteor freaks and was on her own personal campaign to prove that kryptonite gave normal people incredible abilities. The very story that got her a job at The Daily Planet was a story on krypto-vampires. I’m not saying that Chloe was a one trick pony, but the closer things hit to home, the more she pulled away from those stories, and the more she pulled away from those stories and found out about this other side of life – the super hero side of life – she discovered she was more passionate about being a PART of the amazing rather than just reporting on it. I like that. It’s true growth. It makes sense to me. It should make sense to anyone who had one idea of themselves as a teenager and has since learned who they really are.
I submit that Chloe’s character has not been destroyed in the eight plus seasons of Smallville. Rather, Chloe’s character has taken a journey. Like most television shows, some of the changes may have seemed to come out of the blue, but I don’t feel like any of them have been unbelievable.
Of course, there’s the question of Chloe and Clark’s relationship. They had their two seconds way back at the end of season one. Frankly, for three years, I wanted more. I wanted Chloe and Clark to have their time in the sun. However, as happens all too often in life, it wasn’t meant to be. What an adult thing of Clark and Chloe to accept that and choose to keep their friendship in tact. Chloe has been Clark’s most loyal supporter and his biggest fan. Chloe has believed completely in Clark. Chloe has been there for Clark again and again and he has been there for her. Now, in the wake of personal tragedy, a wedge has been driven between them. This doesn’t make Chloe or Clark a villain. It makes them more realistic.
Honestly, we’ve seen Clark and Chloe at odds before. Think back to season two and three when a love-spurned Chloe agreed to investigate Clark for Lionel Luthor. Did this “destroy” Chloe’s character? It’s the closest to being a villain that she’s ever been on the show, outside of the Brainiac stuff, and it didn’t “destroy” her character. Ultimately, because she was trying to help Clark…at the expense of everyone else around her. How has that changed? it hasn’t. Clark is still the one person for whom she’d sacrifice everything. She still believes in Clark that much. The problem is the grief she is experiencing over the loss of Jimmy, coupled with a sense of confusion and (a little bit of) jealousy that Clark won’t break ties with Lois as seemingly easy as he did with her are causing the two to be at odds.
But why was it so easy for Clark to leave Chloe behind? Because Chloe knows Clark completely. To Lois, the Red Blue Blur was just a faceless hero. When he talks to Chloe, she knows all of the hurt, all of the failures, all of the weaknesses, that Clark has. To Lois, he’s perfect, impeccable, and can do no wrong. That’s hard to give up. It’s hard to leave the accolades and be left with reality sometimes. So, yeah, Clark said goodbye to Chloe pretty easily. He didn’t let go of Lois. I can buy it. I can also buy the ultimate repairs that will be made to Clark and Chloe’s friendship.
Oliver has been a sticking point for many as well. Here’s a guy who was seemingly altruistic with very few vices who woke Clark up to the need to be a hero for everyone, not just the people around him. Now he’s on a path of self destruction. Why? Guilt. If one follows the path of Oliver Queen from the time we were first introduced to him in season six to the point we now see him, we will see a man who was obsessed with a mission to take down Lex Luthor’s schemes, to a man who has some questions about his place among those with extraordinary powers, to a man who questions the loyalties of those he’s put his trust in when he found out the truth that Clark already knew about Ma and Pa Queen, to a man who was out for vengeance and didn’t care what that looked like – until he got some form of vengeance – to a man who was dealing with his actions, to feeling like a good, innocent person was put in harm’s way and killed because he failed to do what was needed. So, yeah, now he’s on a spiral of self destruction that will have to be resolved. It’s the nature of storytelling to introduce conflicts to a character whether they be external or internal, and Ollie’s conflicts have always been primarily internal. Season nine is no different for him.
Finally, there’s Lois. Lois Lane is a name that is as embedded in pop culture as Clark Kent and Superman. Lois and Clark go together like peanut butter and jelly. There are a few things that cannot be forgotten when discussing the character of Lois though.
First, there is the argument that Lois is more intelligent than she has been portrayed on the show. Really? Are we talking about a character that for over fifty years worked with Superman…right across the desk from him nonetheless and never knew it? Are we talking about a character that constantly put herself in danger only to have Superman bail her out? Yes.
Don’t get me wrong. Lois is intelligent. However, the defining characteristic of Lois in her 70 year history has never been the intelligence. Her defining characteristic (outside of her feelings toward Superman) has been her tenacity. Smallville’s Lois is nothing if not tenacious. Partier? Sure. Sleep around with various and sundry men? Ok. Ultimately, though, this is a more tenacious, yet compassionate Lois than we’ve been given in any incarnation of the character outside of the comic book panels.
In all of my years as a Superman fan, I never thought Lois received any of her accolades by being more intelligent than the next reporter. Rather, she gets to where she is by being strong, willful, courageous, and unstoppable when she is turned on to a story. Her instincts are unparalleled, and her drive is unstoppable.
In the past, when we’ve been introduced to Lois, she is Perry White’s top reporter, she’s an established journalistic force to be reckoned with, and in some instances, she’s a Pulitzer Prize winning writer. Smallville has given us a Lois that has yet to accomplish any of these things, but it’ll come one day. The things we see on Smallville are her learning to be what she will one day become. Lois has gone from no interest in journalism to a desire to seek out the truth at any cost. Is it completely altruistic? I don’t think so, but I honestly don’t know that Lois has ever been completely altruistic in her actions in any format we’ve seen her. Her motives have always been to prove herself, draw out Superman, or win that aforementioned Pulitzer. Will she go after her goals by any means possible? Any legal means, and some means that are a bit shadier than legal. That’s the Lois we all know from 70 years of comics, cartoons, movies, and other television shows. This Lois is the Lois that is becoming that Lois, and knowing where she ends up, I completely buy in to where she is now.
In the end, that’s the thing we can’t forget as viewers. We are in an untapped time in the lives of Clark, Lois, and of course Chloe. If a person is unhappy with the show, I have to believe it’s one of two reasons. Either the person doesn’t like where the characters are in relation to where they will one day be, or the person doesn’t like where the characters are based on where they began in the show. You know what? That’s ok. We can talk all day long about those things. However, when one trashes the cast and crew of the show, he or she negates any intelligent argument that he or she may have as it pertains to criticism of the show.
Fan fiction, speculation, and what if conversations all have their place in fandom. However, attacks on the people who have only sought to entertain us for an hour a week over the past eight years have no place in any discussion.
My conclusion is that if you don’t like Smallville, let’s talk about it. Let’s geek out about what we wish could be. Let’s talk about the possibilities of what could have been. Let’s celebrate the moments that made us cheer. Let’s discuss what is and why it may not be so bad. Let’s be entertained. Then, if you’re still not convinced, maybe it’s time to let it go. It’s what I would do…but that’s just me. For now though, I’m honestly hooked. I still watch Smallville because it still entertains me. It’s still a show about the rise of the greatest super hero of all time, and my favorite super hero of all time. It’s still a fun show, a surprising show, and I’m still invested in these characters after all these years. That’s why I still watch Smallville.
Finally, to quote so many of our great listeners in their e-mails, “sorry I went on so long.”
Another clarification…the idea of Lois “sleeping around” has been a joke that has been made on SHoE in the past, because it seems like every time a new male is introduced, Lois takes a liking to the guy…this started back in Aqua.
As to Choe’s story having very few spoilers leaked thus far, it gives me hope that her story is going to be so huge that the creative staff is doing their best to keep a lid on specific details. Allison has said that regardless of the show’s future, this season is the last for her, and I completely respect that. While I have been in fear of a Chloe death for years now, I can accept that if it’s a) a “good” death and/or b) it further pushes Clark to a place where he more fully embraces his future role as Superman, then it can be a really good thing. As I’ve said before, I wasn’t really on the Jimmy “fan”wagon until his story in Doomsday. It wasn’t because he died, but because of how readily he accepted Clark and was ready to be one of Clark’s biggest supporters, and the fact that in his dying breath he saved Chloe’s life.
Finally, I think the difference between myself and “Chloe fans” or “Lois fans” is that I’m a Smallville fan. For me, to completely devote myself to one character above all others and base my like or dislike of the show based on that takes away from my enjoyment of the show as whole…I guess that’s a point I didn’t make and really should have made.
Steve, this was such a great article. Thank you! ( I give it a choclate mole pie clap-clap-clap-clap-clap)
I am no doubt a die-hard fan of the show. I think the stories are very entertaining and keeps me tuning in every week. What annoys more than is the nit-picking. Like Derek said on his rant (which I loved BTW), if the direction of the show isn’t where THEY want it to be then they start throwing a hissy-fit and start bashing the cast, producers & writers.
What do I still watch Smallville? The journey. Not just Clark’s but that Of Lex, Lois, Chloe & even Oliver. Except for Chloe, we all know how these characters will end up. Its how they get there is what interests me. And the writers do a fantastic job in coming up with great stories from week to week.
Do I have some issues with the show? Sure. Now for every season there are going to be a couple of stinkers (i.e. Power, Fierce, Wither, Thirst, Forever..well u get the idea). That’s fine. But one thing I just couldn’t get over is the fact that the death of Jonathan Kent is Clark’s fault. It is. Clark Kent killed Jonathan. John Schneider said so in the famous SHoE interview. I have issues with that. I also had issues with the direction of Lana Lang’s character. I enjoyed her character for the first five seasons. Lana took a dark turn in season six which rolled into season 7. I thought Lana would get a chance to redeem herself in season eight. Instead we got Super-Lana. I have issues with that.
I love Smallville, love SHoE. I hope both have another season left in them.
I have to agree with your assesment of Chloe. She is the X-factor. Pete Ross was supposed to fill her role, but Allison Mack took the role and made it sing, so much so that it resonated with the fans.
And while I might not agree with every decision of the producers, Super Lana in particular, I still look at this and say, yep, this is so much better than Melrose Place, Law and Order, Etc……
Totally agree on the Super Lana thing. While the ending of that little arc was a great emotional scene…I don’t like the idea of Super Lana being somewhere out there doing her thing..
Steve
I hope that you’re right and the reason for there being no spoilers on Chloe is because of a great storyline coming up. I think that a Chloe death now won’t have the emotional punch that it would’ve in the earlier seasons. I remember when the safe house exploded (best season finale ever) I was shocked, I couldn’t believe they had killed Chloe. Now it’s expected. I mean, they had the Legion allude to her death, they’ve shown her die in 3 AU’s (including Lois’ dream) would anyone be surprised, or upset now? I don’t want her death to spur Clark on, he’s not Batman, and I don’t want her to sacrifice herself. I’d like for Chloe to forge her own path.
Amazing article.
Gotta say I agree with -most of- it, I hate when shows have their leads going to school for AGES, or when theres no character development. Its not believable.
Like you pointed out, all these characters are turning into what they will become, and aside from Chloe, we all know who theyll be.
I think the fun of SV is to see how they get there, and since
Chloes future is the only uncertain one -unless they pull another Jimmy, which I doubt since it was so obviously stupid- I get that their fans are a bit scared about it.
I have always liked Chloe, that is, till season 8. She didnt begin this season any better, but after reading this I remembered why was it that I like her. And Ive always be willing to give her a chance, but when Jimmy died I just thought that was it for me and Chloe. Now, reading you put things in perspective, I may get her more, I still dont like her, but isnt that suppost to happen as well?
Why are we suppost to like everyone? Why is only the bad guys that are suppost to be hated? Why cant we like not liking someone?
I do not like how Chloe is behaving, but I think this season is taking her to a different place, hopefully away from its season 8 annoying self, and into a more likable and suiting spot, as it should have been all along.
That said though, I on purpose wrote before that “I get that their fans are a bit scared about it”. I think those people youre mainly adressing here arent her fans at all.
They arent Superman/Smallville/ Clark fans, and they sure as heck arent Chloe fans either.
From my POV, they are just haters.
They wanted Chloe to be who Lois be. When it came down to the fact that it wasnt going to happen, their hate took over.
Theres no more being happy for Chloe for them, its all about hating Lois now.
Its not about what Chloe is, its about whats shes not, and what Lois is.
I, as the Chloe fan I was, was thrilled when she began her relation with Jimmy, they instead hated on Jimmy since day one because he wasnt Clark. And I think that Chloe was at her happiest ever.
They hate everything Chloe is, because of who shes not, they dont care if the character is happy, not when they arent happy.
I wouldnt care much if it were just that, because its simply resentment and denial behind it, but when I started hearing how they were treating Erica because of this… I just cant write how angry it made me.
They’ve been bashing Mack herself because of what shes told in Comic Con this year, further proof that they do not care a bit about SV. They are obsessed, with something that wont happen, so they are like little kids, kicking and screaming trying to get the anger out cause they dont know any other way around it.
I agree with many about not agreeing with two Lois’s point, even more now after you said:
“I feel like I need to make a point about something above…the “sleep around” comment was made to be a bit tongue-in-cheek and to be somewhat conciliatory to the Lois naysayers.”
I dont think you have to include any conciliatory comment towards them, specially not when its something untrue and one of the many arguments they use agains that character.
I think that if anything, they wont even care for this entry, they wont care enough to read it, just as they dont care enough to actually watch Smallville as they should and as it is.
I love the podcasts, and I want them to keep coming, Im not very informed of what transpired between you and that part of the fandom, but I think that as you said of SV, it cant please everyone, and neither can you.
If they dont like or agree with your POV, then they should stop listening to you, and they should stop watching SV.
Instead, they rather continue a pointless war, thats based on nothing. So they try and kick and scream real hard to be noticed, because at the end they know that all those things they want, wont happen.
Great article. I disagree with a few things you’ve said – like Lois and the sleeping around comment – but overall I appreciated the earnest and mature tone of the article. We’re all Smallville fans, and we come to the show for different reasons, but at the end of the day we should repsect each other and enjoy the ride.
Great article Steve. I never understood people who would watch a show every week just to complain about it. If you don’t like a show you can always change the channel. Many people hated the season 8 finale because of the short fight between Clark and Doomsday, but I just accept things I don’t like will happen, and just move on.
Excellent article! I haven’t watches Smallville in a few years since I gave it up when I got a little tired of it not moving forward (in my opinion), but I think I may pick it up again!
Awesome article!
I’m not a big fan of Superman, he is not my favourite superhero, and neither of Smallville, but I enjoy watching it, even after 8 seasons and hateful moments and storyline choices.
The most frustrating thing regarding some fans reaction is that they are insulting the cast and all the other people who work on it, mainly just for some personal disappointment regarding their favourite characters and not for the show quality.
I read a lot of fans comments who said to hate an episode just because focused on other less important characters and not their favourite ones, and that, even before watching the episode… the only thing I can say to them: if you watch a show just for your shippers club, please turn off your tv and let us watch them freely without absurd complains!
Really nice article with some great points, Steve.
As a long time Lana fan, I admit finding it just the teensiest amusing that so many fans are acting like the latest escalation of character and actor bashing is anything new for the fans of this show. It makes sense that people tend to not really pay a lot of mind to this stuff until it affects them directly.
This show is in its 9TH season. That’s a whole lotta journey to write for our hero. The show is making logical progress with these characters based on the established canon that they are now trying to align with. Lois’ character has very believably evolved towards the reporter we know she’s going to be. This isn’t a lightswitch, it’s us (the viewers) getting to know her more. Having Erica for more episodes this season is one of the smartest things TPTB did in order to continue our familiarity with our Ms. Lane, and to see why she ends up with Superman.
As you said, Chloe is the wild card that they have the most flexibility with in regards to her endgame. I’ve never been a huge fan of the character, but I do hope that whatever they ultimately do with her character makes sense in light of where she is now, and isn’t done simply to cater to a vocal fanbase. Even though I am a Lana fan, I do think there was a bit of that done in her case, and I don’t believe it was necessarily the best option for her character’s exit.
I still love the show, primarily for Clark Kent and his continued effort to embrace and reconcile both his Kryptonian heritage with his humanity. Tom Welling manages to bring us a Clark Kent so full of heart and honor, no matter where the storyline tends to wander. I think that some people tend to forget exactly who the star (character and actor) of this show is and always will be. Granted, the supporting characters are integral to the story as well, but to watch primarily for one of them is going to be a lesson in frustration.
“Totally agree on the Super Lana thing. While the ending of that little arc was a great emotional scene…I don’t like the idea of Super Lana being somewhere out there doing her thing.’
The whole problem with the Super Lana storyline was it basically left stuff unresolved, while the show was moving forward. It was like the producers didn’t even care about the next 1 1/2 – 2 1/2 seasons and just wrote an ending that would satisfy people who most likely weren’t going to watch anymore.
What makes it even worse is the ending has many plotholes. Why didn’t they explore options to fix the issue for instance? The show has already given 2 easy ways to fix the problem(The Legion ring in Infamous and Blue K showing up in Savior)
While I appreciate your article as a peacekeeping tool and applaud it for its good intention and sincerity, the fact that you added conciliatory comments was counterproductive. Like others have said, these kinds of comments feed the flames you’re trying to put out in the first place.
Your words are your own. I disagree on some points but I do agree with the sentiment. I don’t know if it’ll help, though. When people can’t see things beyond their own perspective and accept their differences, harmony is unlikely. Hatred is an ugly thing and it reflects on people. I hope it ends.
I watch Smallville because I love Superman. I admire his ideals. His story is an example to strive in doing right. He is a symbol of hope and I love that. If people take away something positive from his story, then we’d be all right.
“As a long time Lana fan, I admit finding it just the teensiest amusing that so many fans are acting like the latest escalation of character and actor bashing is anything new for the fans of this show. It makes sense that people tend to not really pay a lot of mind to this stuff until it affects them directly”
While I agree that Lana has been dragged through the mud alot, for the most part I find the fans respective towards the actress on boards I go to. While I haven’t really cared for the character since about S3, I know the line between a fiction character and the actress who plays her, and would never see need to bash KK because I dislike that character.
All that being said yeah I do see a handful of posts from bozo’s who feel the need to bash the actress as it somehow makes a difference to the character she plays.
“All that being said yeah I do see a handful of posts from bozo’s who feel the need to bash the actress as it somehow makes a difference to the character she plays.”
I think there are far too many who blur the line between fiction and reality. The actors get attacked as if they are responsible for the direction of the show.
Personally, I don’t get continuing to watch a show you profess to hate just so you can complain about it. But then again, I watch television to have fun. Not to pick it apart to find everything I hate, and I certainly don’t see the point in bringing down people who ARE enjoying a show just because I don’t.
This was a wonderful read. Thank you for such much needed perspective. I’ve been a fan of Smallville since it made its debut, and while I had my ups and down in terms of my experience with the show, it still has this ability to engage me on an intellectual and emotional level.
I’ve only been a part of the online fandom for a little over a year now and sometimes it has made me want to cheer or tear my hair out. The worst part is that you so eloquently touched upon: attacking the professionals who work hard to deliver this show to us every year.
I can understand being dissatisfied with the direction of a particular story or character, but to take it out on others like that goes too far. That’s why I really appreciate the spirit with which this essay was written and while I join others in disagreeing with some of the finer points with regards to Lois, the other points about going along with the journey this show has taken us on, ring all too true.
As I’ve gone grown from the teenager I was when I first started watching, so has Smallville. I have enjoyed the journey for the most part, and at the core of that enjoyment has been my love for some of the show’s key characters and themes. As it heads more towards Superman, I feel like the investment I made in the show years ago is finally paying off. Discovering podcasts like SHoE, fans like those who put it together, and who have commented here, have enriched my viewing experience. I can’t wait to go on the rest of this journey with my fellow fans, so thank you for addressing some of the discord that has crept up amongst us. Hopefully things will get better as we go forward.
Great work by Steve. What I’m about to say may get me hung by Chlois and Chlark shippers via Microsoft Zune and Apple iPod sync cables. One of each. But I really don’t see Chloe making it out of this season alive and after reading this article (Not that big honkin said this in the article) but just put a thought in my mind. Allison Mack has said IF there is a tenth season she will not return. They may (meaning Kelly and Brian sign her to do another season) but short of that happening how great (storyline wise) for Kal-El’s character would Chloe’s passing be? Maybe that would help him realize him putting on blue, yellow, and red and inspiring hope in humanity like Kal-El did for Chloe for so many years would help him become Superman. Maybe even the design of the suit could be Chloe’s idea. Just thoughts, just a class act for Miss Sullivan potentially bowing out of Smallville.
Thank you so much for this Wonderful article. I truly appreciate your ‘responsibly’ objective analyses of Why you still watch Smallville. I thought that you were honest as well as Fair. It was also obvious that you’re a ‘true’ fan of the Superman Mythos, but you appreciate the ‘re-envisioning’ that Smallville has entertained us with over the past 8+ years with minor objections to the expected missteps in serialized TV and you gave valid examples of what some of those were. I always hope that there will be new fans or more fans who have the ability to reach a broader audience and defend Smallville to those who might fall prey to those so-called fans who disrespect the SV Production Team in their misguided attempts at crude and unproductice criticism. It’s Always refreshing and encouraging when someone chooses to stand up for Fairness and a sense of Decorum even when or Especially when it involves Fannish Activities, IMO.
Great article. You know, I am like some others that don’t quite agree with every point you made, but agree with the article as a whole, and in some ways I think this actually makes your point stronger. It’s easy to blame bashing on a particular group or fandom (I’ve been guilty of this myself), but the fact is, all groups are guilty of it, just like (as the comments here have shown) many people from all groups need it to end. It’s pointless, it’s ridiculous, and it makes ALL Smallville fans look bad to outside sources.
I’m excited for this season, and I’m excited to discuss it with fans who also love the show, whether they agree with me or not. I know a lot of us have been saying this lately, but I’m glad that you said so distinctly to your readers what should be clear to us all. Nice job.
I think the fact that we are all talking about Smallville, in addition to watching it, is a testament to the great job people connected with the show are doing. If a show doesn’t get some kind of emotional response from us, I think it’s not going to last very long. Nine years is rare in TV land, and it speaks to the fact Smallville creators, producers, actors, writers & crew are doing something right. If we disagree, fine. I just think those who unfairly criticize the show and those who work on it should make their own TV show where the characters do exactly what they want. It’s much easier for whiners to complain.
Great article. I read the bitterness on some sites and I think, do you just like to be unhappy, or are you insane, or do you just like to argue? Maybe all of the above.
I LOVE what you said about Lois. She is one of my favorite characters, both on SV and in the “canon.”
As for Chloe, she has been the placeholder and sometimes the voice of the audience, but lately, as the mother figure, she bores. I also like how you explained Chloe’s journey from high school. Crap, I have a master’s degree in Literature, a BA in Philosophy and now I am an accountant. Talk about your light switch moments.
great article Steve you and Derek know my biggest beef with SV is Kara i love that charater to death. i feel sv is still a good show i still want to see the end of Clarks journey. i still think killing Jonathan to soon was a bad idea. i think the missing family dynamic that Clark had with the Kents and Kara were the best but now we don”t have that anymore. iam hopeing with this Kryptonian stuff this season that they will try to bring back Kara or hopefully if they make it to season 10 Laura will be a regular again. idk if i like the Batman/Superman/Clark Kent there going this season with the suit ik it is a prototype but still it feels more Batman then Superman.
I think you guys should just turn ur heads the other way now with all this said and done, no reason to keep raising the blood pressure or recycle the anger from show to show – don’t care about what they say, b/c in this next year (or 2 hopefully :D) we’ll enjoy the best show out on TV and they won’t – who cares. Great article tho!
Great review!
I, for one, feel that one of the main reasons why the show has lasted so long is because it is detailing the journey of Superman; while there might be some objections as to how such journey is being manipulated, bashing should not be used as a tool to express one’s issues with the show or characters, or even take it as far as the actors themselves. Such “fans” have failed to realize that this is not Junior High (even then it would unacceptable).
I, too, have been to enough sites to know the main female characters, be it Lana, Chloe, Lois have had their equal share of attacks. Maybe it has become more apparent now that Lana is no longer in the picture and it is down to Lois and Chloe.
The individuals who participate in such vile acts are not fans, but extremists. At the same time, pointing fingers towards one specific fandom as the trouble makers is not realistic; it is ignoring the fact that the problem lies across the board.
Hi there. I can’t remember how I found this site, but hey! Just wanted to let you know I found this a well thought out and presented argument in Smallville’s favour. Some of it I disagree with, some of it actually made me see character developments I’d previously written off in anger in a new light, so thanks for that.
I wanted to point out something you’re missing, though, in regards to those of us no longer watching the show (of which I am one), and that is the portrayal of Lex. Everything you mention about Chloe, Lois and Oliver’s developments HAVE effected my viewing opinions at some point, but it was what the show did with Lex that really drew the line for me. I won’t lay out all the details here because that would be boring! But the crux of the matter for me, and ex-fans like me, is a moral one as opposed to a canonical one. We feel Lex has been portrayed as a morally upright character for a great deal of the show and that his transformation into a villain is NOT clearly documented and therefore highly debatable. Moreover, as the show went on (esp. in season 6 and 7), it seemed the ‘heroes’ started labelling Lex as ‘evil’ for no reason while they (Clark, Ollie, Chloe etc.) seemed, to us, to be the ones who were actually acting immorally. Clark’s treatment of Lex is a particular sore point in this regard. Not that that in itself was terrible as a plot – if Clark had inadvertantly ‘turned Lex evil’ as it were, this would have fine (something similar happened in a Superboy comic, I believe, where Lex blamed a lab accident on Superboy). But it felt more like Clark was treating Lex poorly throughout the show and this fact was never acknowledged. That Clark’s immoral acts towards Lex were, in fact, heralded by the majority of other characters as ‘heroic,’ as thus in a nutshell, the show seemed to be promoting immoral acts (not a good message for the younger viewers! :p)
So, yes. Just dropping by to represent my section of the fandom and say the direction taken in regards to LEX was my reason for dropping the show. Even if every other character DOES develop perfectly, since Lex is such a vital part of the Superman mythos I just can’t continue to enjoy the show knowing that his story was not presented satisfactorily for me. I’d be interested to know if you have a response for this issue as I’m always interested to know other interpretations of the show :)
Oh, and I think criticising the cast and crew about these matters is just ridiculous. This isn’t about them at all. I MAY go as far as criticising specific writers if I find myself continually disagreeing with their work, but constructive criticism and bashing are two very different things. Sorry to hear such things are still a problem for this show.
I thought I had commented when I first read this, but I didn’t. However, let me fix that by saying, Steve, this was probably the best defence of the show’s existence that I have read in a very long time. I loved it so much I printed it off and stuck it on my wall beside the letter Clark wrote to the city of Metropolis in ‘Doomsday’. This show gets me excited and has done so ever since I started watching it, and it irks me that there are STILL people who seem to have nothing better to do with their time than rag on something they claim to dislike and no longer watch.
I have watched every episode many times on TV and DVD and still find things to enjoy, even about the episodes that I maybe didn’t like as much, and the first two episodes of this season have blown me away. How Clark has developed character-wise just makes my little fangirl heart sing for joy. He’s on his way to becoming Superman, because let’s face it, isn’t that what Smallville is about? HIS origin story? I watch the show for Clark and want to see him getting lots of screentime and things happening that affect HIM. Having said that, I am also a dyed-in-the-wool Lois Lane fan, because she’s amazing and is the only woman equal to Clark, and what Smallville has done so effectively is show WHY she is the best and only woman for Clark.
So I say, yay for the show and the showrunners and the cast and all the other people who work on it, and double yay for people like you, Steve, who care about the show and love it enough to talk about it every week. I’m looking forward to Friday already.
This Clark Kent is not merely someone who has not decided on his life goals. He is someone morally corrupt enough to betray one friend to his greatest enemy, to mindrape him and then to mindwipe another friend. He uses his friends and steals from them and lies about it. This is not a great hero in the making. He’s someone who thinks he’s lily white, who thinks he can do whatever he wants because he has great powers, who thinks he’s worthy of being a great hero. But he’s wrong. And the show never admits this. It has the other characters praise Clark and call him a hero, and let him get away with betrayal and mindwiping and other horrible offenses.
Oliver Queen is a bully and a terrorist. He’s not some great hero who feels guilt and is quietly destroying himself. He was always a bully and a terrorist. Lana lies and steals and fakes her own death to have Lex accused of murder, and gets away with it.
And if any viewers point these things out, they’re accused of character bashing. Well, in my opinion, this bunch of characters deserve some bashing. They’re not just young people who are a little confused about their course in life.
Nice post. Gotta say I enjoyed the rant in episode 128– sometimes we just gotta let loose and vent. I like Smallville, have liked it since the beginning, and I also enjoy the fan wars. (There– I said it!) Now, I’m not big on name-calling or rudeness… mostly because it’s counter-productive… but I do love an impassioned argument. I have had more fun than I can say at ‘a certain website’ arguing against the Chlois theory (myth? conspiracy theory?). I know perfectly well that I’ll never convince the die-hards there, no matter how much evidence the show provides me that Chloe is Chloe and Lois is Lois. But that’s not really the point. I do it for my pleasure.
How could Smallville possibly be regarded as a failure, when it has provoked this much passion, this much debate?
Jen, Who did Clark betray to his greatest enemy, who did he “mindrape” and who did he mindwipe? What friend did he steal from and as to lieing to friends, Sueprman has always lied about himself to keep the people around him from knowing his secret. Please let us know where Clark did these things…let’s talk about it…I’m thinking this is gonna be a good conversation.
Steve, Clark betrayed Lex to Lionel. He told him that Lex was trying to regain his memories. Lionel had killed his own parents — Lex’s grandparents — and Lex was working with the FBI to have him charged with the murder. Lionel not only tried to kill Lex, but mindwiped him to erase all his memories of the case. Out of cowardice, Clark waited too long to rescue Lex, and Lex lost his memories of a number of weeks. Later, Lex tried to regain those memories, and Clark went to Lionel to stop him, telling him what Lex was trying to do. When Lex remonstrated with Clark over this, Clark told Lex what Lionel had done without any sympathy whatsoever, and that he, Clark, trusted Lionel more than he did Lex, even though Lionel had just stuck Clark in a vat of kryptonite from which Lex had rescued him, at some risk to his own life.
Clark stole Lex’s car, and lied about it when Lex asked him and told him there would be no trouble if he confessed.
Clark mindraped Lex to find out where Kara was, invading his mind with a machine invented by Lionel’s LuthorCorp team to interrogate terrorists. His only concern about this was that Lex not remember after, not the ethical considerations.
Clark mindwiped Chloe, even though she was begging him not to remove her memories. He never confessed this or asked her pardon. She gets her memories back, but doesn’t seem to recall what Clark did, and that’s all that Clark cares about — that he doesn’t get caught.
And yes, Superman doesn’t tell people what his civilian identity is, but that’s the only thing he lies about. Clark lies and lies and lies. He only recently starting creating an identity as the stupid Red Blue Blur. Before that, he’s rescue people as Clark Kent, and then lie, telling them nothing happened. He even told Lex that he was crazy over all this. He allowed him to be mindwiped to protect himself. I can’t see Superman behaving in such a way. This… character isn’t Superman, and never will be.
I was posting on my break at work, and my break was over, so I didn’t have time to say everything I wanted to say about Clark on SV.
All the time he was treating Lex like crap, by lying to him and pretending to be his friend, he was using Lex for favours, for himself as well as others. He brings fugitives to Lex’s house, and asks for help, and Lex gives that help, rescuing Ryan from Summerholt. The very next year, when Lex needs the same kind of help, suddenly Clark, who was so brave the year before, can’t possibly help Lex the same way. But Clark continues to ask for favours, even though he didn’t grant one of the few favours Lex ever asked of him.
The show never haves anyone criticize Clark for this sort of behaviour. In fact, most of the other characters, at one time or another, treat Lex the same way.
Fans of Clark say this is merely the process of growing up, and that young people make mistakes. This is true, but making mistakes only helps you to learn and to grow up if you admit to your mistakes, learn from them, and vow not to make them again. How often does Clark ever do that? How often does he even seem to know he’s made a mistake? His friends and family rarely point these mistakes out to him. In fact, they encourage him to go on being a user.
Clark hasn’t become a better person over the course of the show, just more judgemental, hypocritical, and self righteous. He thinks his physical powers give him the right to treat people however he pleases. This is a repulsive concept for a TV show — to say that such behaviour is heroic and good.
Interesting points. I disagree with them as your choice of wording seems to be a little overly harsh for what went on. i.e. you seem to forget that Clark stood by Lex when no one else would when he was going crazy. He did go to break Lex out of Belle Reve only to be almost killed by some of the inmates. (Ryan was being experimented on by the way…he needed safe haven…Lex was really having a psychotic breakdown)
I will try to respond more completely later.
Steve, I don’t think my choice of wording is overly harsh for what I was complaining about, which was Clark’s betrayal of Lex to Lionel. I didn’t forget that Clark stood by Lex at first, merely I left it out of my essay, along with a lot of other examples of Clark’s bad behaviour, because I was attempting to avoid writing a book. :-)))
Yes, Clark did stand by Lex when he was first incarcerated by Lionel, but he turned on him later. Lex was having a psychotic breakdown because Lionel was poisoning him with psychotropic drugs. Then Lionel wiped his mind with ‘electrotherapy’. At first Clark was on his side, but then he became paranoid about Lex regaining his memories, in case he remembered that Clark was an alien — even though it was Clark who had revealed this fact to him. He went to Lionel and said, ‘Oh, Lionel, you know your son who was working to get you sent to prison for murdering your parents, and whom you poisoned and mindwiped? Well, he’s trying to regain his memories. You have to stop him.’ (That’s a paraphrase, by the way, not the exact wording.) And Lionel said, ‘Oh, yes and he’ll remember your secret, too.’
It’s beyond belief to me, that anyone would act that way. But he might have regained my respect if he’d realized what he’d done, and tried to make up for it. But no, he went right over to Lionel’s side, even telling Lex that Lionel was more trustworthy. Why do you think such a betrayal deserves to be treated like an adolescent mistake, or a mere confusion about his role in life? I don’t think I was being overly harsh at all. I think the fans of this character either ignore his behaviour, or brush it off as unimportant because he’s Clark Kent. If it had been Lex who treated Clark that way, it would have been proof he was evil. But because he’s Clark, who is a good person no matter what he does, and he’s doing this to Lex, who is evil no matter what he does, it’s all okay.
Superman is supposed to stand for truth and justice. Justice should apply to everyone equally. In other words, if it’s wrong for me to betray a friend, it’s wrong for Clark to betray a friend — even if that friend is Lex Luthor. To say, as some people have said to me, that it’s okay for Clark to betray Lex because Lex is going to turn evil is just — I can’t find the words to describe that concept, because it is totally outside my concept of justice. How can Superman stand for justice, when he behaves so unjustly and never admitted to his error, even to himself? In order for him to truly grow up and become Superman, he needs to admit that he went wrong, and atone for it somehow, not just forget it and sweep it under that carpet. I don’t see him admitting to anything, let alone atoning for it.
Hi, can I join this discussion about Clark and Lex? Or is this not the kind of forum for that? If it’s not pls ignore this or tell me to go away!
But I just wanted to say – Steve, you say Clark spoke out in Lex’s favour, and this is true. I admired Clark greatly in the early seasons when he was fighting the Luthor-prejudice in Smallville. But then, some time around season 4/5 he stopped and started speaking against Lex instead.
Why? What did Lex do?
If it was the secret chamber where Lex was keeping all that meteor rock info that hardly seems fair. Sure, Clark should have been freaked about that, but while that room seemed obsessive it never seemed malicious to me and it was never even solely about Clark, it was about the meteor rock and unexplained happenings in Smallville in general – ie. a swanky version of Chloe’s Wall of Weird, which Clark was never bothered about in the slightest. Plus Lex dismantled it as soon as he realised how upsetting it was to Clark. The room might have proved Lex was eccentric, but not evil/untrustworthy. Where Clark got the idea that it proved Lex had betrayed him by still investigating him (and thus breaking his promise to stop) I don’t know. The only stuff in there about Clark was stuff Clark knew Lex already knew.
If it was Lex’s dealings with Milton Fine then that’s completely unfair, because Lex was trying to STOP Fine from starting what Lex assumed was to be an alien invasion using biological warfare (hence why he made a antidote to the virus Fine told him to produce).
If it was because of what Lex did as Zod then that is irrational and hypocritical, because Lex wasn’t in control of himself over Dark Thursday, Zod had taken him over. And you don’t see Clark blaming Lana for what she did as Isobel or himself for what he did when body-swapped with Lionel.
Plus, when it comes to the latter two points, if at any moment during his dealings with Fine Lex had been told that there weren’t any Kryptonians getting ready to invade (which is how Fine got Lex working with him in the first place, playing on fears created by Zod’s disciples and Lex’s assumption that because one ship of them had landed on earth more must be on the way), the whole thing could have been prevented. Lex would have known he DIDN’T need to work with Fine to try and stop a future alien invasion and Zod would never have been released.
So see, it just seems to me that the way Clark continued to lie to Lex (not just about being an alien, but about the existence of aliens in general) was both UNNECESSARY and DETRIMENTAL to all concerned. I personally don’t get the impression that Lex would have been anything other than supportive and helpful to and for Clark should he have been told truth and there are a couple of times (Red is the only example I can remember off hand) when Clark himself admits he wants to tell Lex everything. Ergo, I genuinely DON’T UNDERSTAND why this changed and what made Clark think Lex couldn’t be trusted with his secret and was someone he start speaking out against.
I hope you do find the time to respond, either to me or Jen, because I’m very interested to know your understanding of these issues :)
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