Pre-Order The Complete Ninth Season on DVD
Amazon.com has listed the complete ninth season of Smallville on DVD and BluRay for pre-order pricing. Expect this to street date around September 14th or 21st. Extras will include deleted scenes, commentaries, and new featurettes: most notebly (we believe) on Zod and about the JSA two-parter: Absolute Justice. We’ll keep you updated. Remember pre-ordering from Amazon through SHoE helps support this website and podcast to continue, so please – order now!
@Sarita Well, here’s my hope for the last three eps. of the series 10-20 should be a JLA focused ep. with Green Arrow, Cyborg, Black Canary, Cyborg, Martian Manhunter, Flash, Zantanna, Kara, Wonder Twins etc. with Kal-El taking down the Suicide Squad. 10-21 & 10-22 Should really be either a two part series finale or a two hour event. Now, I have no idea what that may entail but that you can’t end a genre series that has been on the air for a decade with just a one hour finale. Fellow Zune, Android, and iPod SHoEligans chime in…?
@Woo You have the right idea, wanting a JLA focused story (or story-line), but I think that that needs to be for the beginning of the season (before Allison Mack leaves) so that the end can be for Clark. The final episodes need to focus on Lex Luthor’s return and on Clark Kent’s rise to becoming Superman.
I’m all for the JLA, but this final season needs to be about Clark, nay, Superman. He is ready. God knows we are.
Here’s what I want in the tenth season. One big JLA team up with the heroes I just mentioned. Geoff Johns to write either another Legion ep. or JSA ep. Chloe and Clark returning to Smallville High it needs to happen in my opinion. I would be fine with it being a stand-alone ep. it doesn’t have to be the 200th ep. but it would be cool if it was because I have been told by Derek that the 200th ep. is the fourth ep. of the tenth season, correct so it is early enough on in the season where an ep. like that would make sense before they go into the season long story arcs. For that potential ep. it would be cool to at least get mentions of Pete Ross and Lana Lang. I’d really like Jeph Joeb to return to write an ep. if not the 200th the finale would be great.
But are we all in agreement iPod, Zune, and Android SHoEligans that the finale needs to be about Kal-El and Kal-El alone becoming “The Man of Tomorrow?” and it needs to be either a two part finale or a two hour event? For the record, the finale does need to be about Kal-El becoming “The Man of Tomorrow” I totally agree with @Michael J. Petty and @Tim and maybe 10-21 can be a backdoor pilot for a Green Arrow or JLA spin-off. Thoughts? Opinions? Please?
@Woo Though a JLA or Green Arrow spinoff COULD work, I’d say just let it be. A green Arrow show with Ollie,Dinah, Mia, ect. would be cool, but it would have to convince me. I would watch it, no doubt, but I just don’t know. Also, if season 10 gets 22 eps (this season did if you count Society/Legends as seperate) I would say have episodes 20-22 be a TV movie, bring back Rosenbaum, and have Clark embrace his destiny. It would also be cool if we got something to go along with the Smallville High thing would be for Clark to realize the decrease in meteor freaks is due to Lex torturing them in 33.1 abd Black Creek, and maybe even say he killed classic good freaks like Kyle Tippet from “Hug” or Kevin Grady from “Blank”. Maybe have Clark team up with a Torch reporter to get the story.
@Tim Totally agree with you on just having a Green Arrow spin off and have it be just a Green Arrow Spin off. As far as the TV Movie idea, exactly what I was thinking. At this point I’d be just fine if they just referenced Lex liked they did in the teaser for “Salavation” because for us Smallville fans we know for sure Lex does return we just don’t know how and of course, we all knew that Lex wasn’t deceased. I’m assuming what died in “Requiem” was a clone and Lex is out there hiding somewhere. As for the return to Smallville High in my mind, if Clark returned Meteor Freaks from years past similar to that one episode in the third season, (I can’t remember the title) band together to either take down Clark or expose him like Linda lake did. Android, Zune, and iPod SHoEligans your thoughts?
@Woo
I think that it actually could have been Lex that died in “Requiem”. His skin was all gross because of being stuck under ice. And remember that Zatanna still owes Oliver a wish. What better way to redeem himself than to wish that Lex was alive? The clone idea is very valid. But then how are the burns, Darth Vader voice, and all the tubes explained?
@Andrew I think on the podcast for “Absolute Justice” the SHoE Braintrust speculated that it may have been a botched clone in “Requiem” that was feed Lex’s thoughts through a computer like Wes Kennan in “Prototype” and that’s how the Lex clone knew about Kal-El and Lana. I mean that’s just how I can explain it. Fellow Zune, iPod, and Android SHoEligans chime in and tell me I’m full of horse crap. LOL.
I think it was a clone also,but maybe a defective one like the one that was in Gran Gabriel’s last ep. I do believe that Lex could have cloned himself just in case, maybe even the one in Arctic was a clone (this could bring lex back without him knowing the secret) maybe just to make everyone think he was dead when he can heal.
@Tim I never thought of that. What if the Lex Luthor that went to the Fortress of Solitude was a clone this whole time? That would really change things and explain away his knowing the secret. However, it would diminish the epicness of Lex finding out Clark’s secret during that ep. And whatever happened to the real Lex? If he was controlling the clone, then he should know Clark’s secret. What do you guys think, fellow SHoEligans?
Everyone has some pretty interesting ideas for S10. To be honest all I really care about is keeping Lois in the know, glasses, flight and Lex. I also think that there should be a JLA centered episode but I think that should be Geoff Johns contribution to the season. That way we’re kinda killing two birds w/ one stone and leave more for the Clark donning the cape and tights storyline.
My Season 10 wishlist
1.Lois knows and they don’t break up at all throughout the season
2.Lex
3.Glasses
4..Flight (in episode 200)
5.Perry and Martha featured throughout
6.JLA featured without
7. Geoff Johns to write an episode with Orion and Mr. Miracle, with New Gods backstory
8.Bruce Wayne, Diana Prince, or Billy Batson (They screwed the pooch, as Warrior SHOULD have been called “Shazam” Turn the kid into Billy, Warrior Angel into Marvel, and Zatanna into the wizard and it would have been a kick-@$$ Captain Marvel episode, Clark vs Marvel in an epic kingdom come fashion?)
9. Return of B.A.G. as Metallo, James Marsters as Brainiac, and Tom Welling as Bizarro (I believe Tom is available, no? and they can say the Blue K that defeated him actually left him mentally handicapped and make him more sympathetic like the comics/cartoons)
10.The final episode must be at 3 parter TV movie with the titles Destiny, Metropolis, and Superman.
@Tim
That’s a nice wish list that you came up with. Most of the things that you listed were ones that I also would like to see for the 10th season. However, the chances of Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince are slim to none as it has been stated more than once that’s it’s unlikely that either character will appear.
Unlikely also to see Lex return as Michael Rosenbaum has stated that he won’t be returning for the upcoming season. Hopefully he’ll at least return in some sort of fashion. Maybe in the epilogue of the series.
Having Clark actually fly would be a great way to make the 200th episode more epic but it’s likely not going to be happening until near the end of the series. As for the end, doing a TV movie of sorts would be a good way to wrap up things. Whether that’d be in a three partner or even four partner I wouldn’t mind.
Whatever does happen for the 10th season, I just hope that we don’t end up being disappointed and end Smallville on a downer.
@Tim I was totally thinking botched clone Grant Gabriel but omitted it because I couldn’t think of the ep. title. You bring up an interesting point after “Descent” it could be at all possible Lex decided to create a clone of himself to complete this Vertias journey for him, because he might have deduced “hey, I just murdered my Dad it isn’t too far out there other people knowing our awful relationship it wouldn’t be too much of stretch for other people to believe I pushed him out that window.” and just download the information from the clone’s mind and learn Clark’s secret that way. But when the clone got crushed by the Fortress, Lex went into hiding, the clone still thinking he is in fact Lex Luthor survived, put Mercy in place as acting CEO of Luthorcorp and the rest of the eighth season is history.
Think about it my fellow Android, iPod, and Zune SHoEligans this could be a way to bring Lex back into the series (even though I still think we will never seen Rosenbaum on the series again, if only in stock pictures or hear his voice.) It’s not far out there to think that the true Lex Luthor just allowed all what happened in the eighth season to take place like Tim alluded to, what better way for Lex to get rid of all who stayed in his way (for the time being anyway) then to think he is deceased? And as an added bonus rip Clark and Lana apart and guilt rid his other enemy in Ollie/Green Arrow. What do my fellow Android, iPod, and Zune SHoEligans think?
I believe M<ichael Rosenbaum may be back at some point because although he said he would not return, he also stated when he first left that he would return for the series finale if allowed to wear a bald cap. So, fans might hold him to that, or at least make enough noise about it.
@ Tim
YES TO ALL! Especially # 10
Something I was just thinking about in regards to Lois & Clark on Smallville was the fact that Lois & Clark were oblivious to their feelings towards each other but everyone else could see it, every since Lois showed up in the fourth season. I site Lana back in “Gone” when Lana and Clark are in the caves and Lana mentions that there is potentially something there between Lois & Clark. And I loved Clark’s reaction being that of stun and distain and outrageousness to the thought that this rude, crass, bossy woman could be the love of his life. You seen it again with Chloe watching Lois dunk Clark in the dunk tank in the ep. “Devoted,” she sees something there. Same thing with Ollie in “Arrow”.
But my favorite harbinger of Lois & Clark on Smallville is a tie between “Arctic” when they hug. Or in “Pariah” when Clark is choking the meteor freak Sandman that murdered Alicia and Lois is the one that convinces Clark to let him go. “Oh, My Lanta” One of their best early scenes together because I agree with Derek in the fourth season Lois was a real awkward addition to eps. especially in the fourth season. But that scene in “Pariah” was when I bought Miss Durance as Lois Lane. Thoughts? Fellow Android, Zune, and iPod SHoEligans?
I love how their feelings and relationship progressed gradually enough that it is very difficult to pinpoint when it turned from friendship to attraction, or at least when it became obvious to them. But that was the exciting part, seeing that world famous love build and grow and be born from a friendship filled with playful animosity and hidden feelings for one another to one of love and care for one another, a desire and need for one another that nobody else could satisfy and one they had never experience before.
I was wondering if anyone knows has Lois always punched Clark in the arm. I have seen her do it a few times in other media but is this something she’s known for doing outside of Smallville?
@ Domingo, I don’t know if it’s a uber-canon fact that Lois punches Clark in the arm, but I do know that since Devoted, it’s been her way of diffusing the UST between them and bring them back to just-barely-friends mode. It’s what made the fact that Clark caught her punch in Rabid so significant. He wasn’t going to let her put them back in the just-friends category anymore.
@Woo, you brought up some great points.
I’ve always loved having Lois on the show. I think Erica Durance plays such a great modern day Lois Lane. Lois is my favorite female character in the DC comics canon so of course I was thrilled to see her when she showed up in Season 4. Now, that being said, as much as I LOVED seeing her on the show, I’m not always sure that Al and Miles really took the time to explore her presence in Smallville and her character in a way that was worthy of her character in the early days. But I never ever blame that on Erica. I think she was dead on right from the start. But after a while I think Al and Miles basically just put her on the backburner which was frustrating.
I thought Lois’s first 4 episode arc from “Crusade” through “Devoted” was really really good. I know that originally those 4 episodes were the only ones Lois was contracted for and they only brought her back for more because people responded in a positive way to the character and the humor that she brought to the show.
I actually think it’s pretty clear that there is a physical attraction right away. And I don’t think it’s subjective either. In “Crusade” Lois clearly likes the view when she sees Clark naked. If you listen to the commentary for the episode Erica talks about how Lois takes that moment to say “Look at his face” and then of course, she looks down and has that little smile and gets out of breath. LOL. Erica also talks about that moment in the hospital when Clark picks her up and moves her aside and she said that Lois was impressed by Clark’s physicality. Then in “Gone” there is that moment where Lois walks in on Clark when he’s in the shower and he looks through the curtain and gets all flustered when he sees her bare legs. So, I think there was a clear physical attraction there right from the get go.
You almost get the sense that everything between Clark and Lois might have been different from the beginning IF that conversation in the graveyard had gone a bit differently. But it was almost as if a challenge was issued in that last scene in “Crusade” and whatever attraction they had for each other was buried underneath their overwhelming desire to tell each other off. You could almost see both of them say, “Yeah, you’re hot but there is no way in hell I’d ever let you have the satisfaction of knowing that.”
I think the key for Clark is that Lois got under his skin. She riled him up. So there was definately something about her that did something to him because she just bothered him a little bit TOO much. (And obviously Lana picked up on it in “Gone.”)
Woo, you already mentioned that scene at the end of “Facade” when Lois dunked him. That was such a great moment and wasn’t that the happiest we had seen Clark in a long, long time??? He was so happy and care-free and having fun. It was a nice reminder to the audience that Lois had the ability to just help Clark let loose and enjoy his life. It was also a cool moment that showed that Lois was able to stand on Clark’s level. She was a match for him. And now fast forward to Season 9 and that’s STILL the way Clark is around Lois. He’s just completely happy and smiling and at peace.
I also really love that scene at the end of “Devoted” which yes, is where we get the first arm punch. I love that moment when Lois says that she’ll come back and visit and Clark says, “Is that a promise or a threat?” And then Lois punches him and says, “See ya around….Smallville.”
Notice that Clark never outright denies that he has feelings for Lois when Lana mentions it in “Gone.” Even later, when Oliver makes a joke about it or Chloe makes a joke about it….he laughs it off but never seriously denies it. Clark never had a true moment on the show where he outright said that he didn’t have feelings for Lois or only saw her as a friend.
After “Devoted” I felt as though Al and Miles sort of lost track with what they wanted to do with Lois. But they seemed to get back on track with her later on in the season with “Pariah” when she was the one to help Clark calm down after Alicia was murdered. And I still really love that scene at the end of “Lucy” when Lois told Clark that he was “amazing” because he “always sees the best in people” even when people walk all over him. (It’s still true in Season 9.)
Other favorite early Lois and Clark moments? Hmmmm….
I think that last scene in “Exposed” is pretty hilarious. Lois admits that it’s hard for her to be open with her feelings and she thanks Clark for being there for her again. Then she tells him that if he tells anyone about the lap dance she’ll tell everyone about his Elmer Fudd nightlight. LOL. And Clark has that very flirty moment where he says, “Eye Eye….Sailor.” That was a funny scene and sort of a hint of flirtiness there from Clark.
I also like that scene at the end of “Oracle” where Lois comforts Clark about Lana dating Lex and tells him that he needs to try and tuck his feelings away for the right time and preserve his good relationship with Lana. She has that great line where she says that it’s like putting your money in a piggybank for a bike you can’t quite afford and that maybe one day Clark will release he wasn’t saving for a bike….he was saving for a Harley. Clark tells her that sometimes he thinks that she knows him better than anyone. It was a nice moment that showed that underneath all the bickering these two truly were friends and cared about each other. (When no one was looking. haha.)
I love that moment in “Zod” where Clark goes to visit Lois in the hospital and he grabs her hand without thinking. And Lois gives him this look like, “What the hell are you doing?” LOL And Clark doesn’t even realize that he has grabbed her hand and so it gets all awkward. Very funny and cute.
I love that scene in “Hydro” after Clark kisses Lois dressed as the Green Arrow and the camera zooms in on Clark’s face as he rips the hood off and we see him totally unexpectedly excited and riled up from the kiss. haha. (Great direction there by Welling.) It was like he had no idea he was going to get turned on from kisssing Lois. haha. I also love that scene later on in the episode with Lois, Chloe and Clark where Lois admits that that Green Arrow “could teach Ollie a thing or two” and Clark is standing there looking very proud of himself. haha. So great.
Woo, I really love the mirroring in both “Siren” and “Arctic” where Clark held Lois while she cried about Oliver and then Lois held Clark when he cried about Lana. It was a moment where you saw that underneath all their snarkiness they were able to let their guards down and just be very vulnerable with each other. And you knew that neither of them would EVER use that moment to their advantage either or make fun of the other about it. You knew that the crying and that emotional outburst was going to stay private between them.
It’s weird because in some respects I feel like Lois got a little lost over the middle seasons amongst all the Clana drama, the Lexana triangle etc. She was sort of always that person there in the background. But you know what’s weird? When you go back and watch Clark and Lois’s scenes together from the early seasons you can totally see the progression. It’s such a cool thing to watch. It really is difficult to figure out where things started to change. And yet, when you watch them together over the course of the seasons I can totally understand how by the time Season 8 rolled around Lois was beginning to realize that she actually loved Clark.
That’s why I vehemently disagree whenever anyone tries to argue that Clark and Lois falling in love was something that happened fast or some kind of lightswitch. Honestly, sometimes I think “lightswitch” is just a word that fans use when something is happening onscreen that they don’t like.
I absolutely agree that there were times over the course of the earlier seasons where the writers didn’t use Lois well so she wound up in the background without a ton to do. I also think that because she was in the background her story sometimes got lost in the middle of all the Lana drama or whatever else was going on at the time on the show. But the foundation for this love was built really beautifully over the last 6 years. To the point where you can sit down and watch videos of only the Clark and Lois scenes and you can really see the subtle changes in their relationship until you finally get to the point in the most recent season where it just all boils over and neither of them can deny anymore that there is love between them.
I actually think that Clark and Lois’s portrayl on Smallville is probably the most realistic version of the love story ever told because we finally go to see WHY he fell in love with her as opposed to just watching him fall in love with her at first sight.
A present for Woo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlm4sEAu0Rc&feature=related
One of the best scenes in early Smallville. Clark is so damn happy and it’s just nice to see Clark smiling and happy. For that moment, all was right in his world.
Even to this day, I still think that the shot at Chloe at the end was just un-necessary. It just seemed cruel. Yet, it made the scene powerful because sadly, it just reiterated that Clark’s eye was always going to be drawn to someone else over Chloe. And she KNEW it. That was what made it sad. I think Chloe knew, even then, that Clark was never truly going to love her in the way she loved him. There was always going to be someone else. And she was right.
On a happier note, it was such a joyful scene for Clark and it was a glimpse at what Clark and Lois ::could:: have had right from the beginning if they had let go of their animosity with each other and just given in to the chemistry that was between them. They were clearly flirting. There was clear attraction but neither of them were mature enough to do anything about it for a long time. The lyrics are pretty ironic becuase they say “We were meant to be, supposed to be….but we lost it.” Cause they did lose it. They lost that moment and they had to work to get it back for like 5 years.
Great scene though.
Poor Chloe! That last scene is one of my favorites!
@MJ, Wow it really did take 5 years.
hopefully we won’t get as the final scene a blank scene like the sopranoes
@MJ, That is the longest comment entry I have ever seen. It must have taken a while.
Actually…it didn’t. I’m a very fast typer and I write even faster. Haha
@MJ I never thought about it really being unnecessary to hang on Chloe’s reaction but you’re correct it wasn’t necessary. I guess the reason why I was kind of against Clois in the ninth season was because I didn’t enjoy that it was such a large story-line in the ninth season. Also, I agree with something Derek said during the “Persuasion” podcast that Clark & Lois were kind of forced on us, very early on during the ninth season. But this maybe because Clois was so subtly done when Clana was such the forefront of the series for seven seasons. I believe that is why I got caught off guard by Clois in the eighth and ninth season because Clois was so subtle when Clana was anything but.
I believe this is the reason why my fellow Zune, iPod, and Android SHoEligans had and still have problems with Clana first of all because we original Man of Steel fans knew that it would never work out. The other reason was Miles and Al seemed to forced feed Clana to us. No disrespect to Miles and Al but I think it’s correct. What do my fellow my fellow Zune, iPod, and Android think?
Not to disrespect Al and Miles, but I disagreed with many of their choices, and I think Brian and Kelly actually care about the show and it’s fans.
@Woo, I just felt as though there were times when Al and Miles purposely made Chloe look pathetic. And I felt it was unnecessary. The truth is that many times in life we love someone who just doesn’t return our feelings. It didn’t make Clark a bad person or wrong in any way because he didn’t return Chloe’s feelings. He was under no obligation to return her feelings and he wasn’t “missing out” on anything because he didn’t love Chloe. Love is what it is. In real life, when we are hurt in relationships….the best thing to do is learn from it and move on. In the early seasons, it just seemed like Al and Miles wanted to dwell in Chloe getting rejected. Which quite frankly…I think was stupid. That moment at the dunk tank between Clark and Lois was joyful and flirtatious and it was a huge clue that these two just really were able to have fun together and make each other happy. In a weird way, I understand the poetry of having Chloe see it because it was her realization AGAIN that Clark was always going to look at someone else. If it wasn’t Lana….it was going to be Lois. Which ironically, is how things wound up shaking out. But still to this day, I think it was an unnecessary jab. Clark so rarely gets to be happy on his own show and it would have been nice for the writers to just let him be happy in that moment with Lois as opposed to making it at Chloe’s expense.
Just to be clear, I don’t agree at all that Clark and Lois were “forced” on us this year at all and I didn’t agree with Derek when he said it either. I believe that the relationship came to the forefront because that was the natural progression of the storyline. Plotlines rise and fall in importance depending on what is going on with Clark and with the storyline at the time. In the beginning of the season, it was important to highlight his changing feelings for Lois and after Erica Durance was COMPLETELY sidelined in the second half of Season 8 (with only 4 episodes) that meant that time had to be devoted to making that relationship real and developed. Personally, I didn’t want to see the greatest love story ever told in comic books slapped together in 1 episode. So I was glad they took their time in the first half of the season to build it up week per week. The fact is that Lois is an important person in Superman’s story and it was time for their love story to be a huge factor in the overall arc.
My issue with Clark and Lana had nothing to do with the Superman canon. My issue was that it wasn’t a healthy relationship and neither of them were their best selves with each other. In real life, when a relationship makes you that miserable you don’t stick around for 7 years going back and forth…you leave. So it was really never about it being “forced” on it us for me. For me, it was more–”this is so unhealthy and Clarlk is miserable.” I hate seeing Clark miserable. He’s my hero in the story—I want to see him happy. Hence why I like him with Lois.
@MJ If my fellow iPod, Zune, and Android SHoEligans go back as far as I do when Derek mentioned on the “Abyss/Bride” podcast during the eighth season he said something to the effect that if Lana had left when she went to Paris at the end of the third season and just never returned until like the seventh, eighth, or ninth season it would have been made closer to the canon and MJ you’re correct it is closer to reality if they did do it that way. I totally agree with you MJ I had a kind of Lana and Clark type relationship (no she did not marry my best friend and fake a pregnancy with my best friend…) But we went back and forth to the point where I no longer converse with her at all. And you’re correct hardly no one would let something like that go for nearly a decade, I sure didn’t.
Here’s another idea have Lana leave at the end of the fourth season because remember when she gives Kal-El the finally element to the fortress. She says something to the effect of I have a feeling it was meant for you. Have him tell her the truth about himself it’s too much for her to handle so she gets into helicopter and goes to the airport and she goes to Star City or Gotham and again she reads about a mysterious Blur like she said she did in “Bride.”
@ Woo, I think the only people that Clois was “forced” on were the people that a) wanted to focus on Clark and Clark only, or b) didn’t care about that relationship in the first place. On the one hand, I agree with wanting to focus on Clark’s journey to being Superman, but on the other BIGGER hand, if you’re going to introduce Lois Lane so early in his development, then the relationship deserves to be done justice. And I’ve already written an essay about the subtlety of the development of Clois (the more realistic development, IMO), but MJ beat me to it.
@Natasha Yeah, I guess I’m in group A. I don’t know, I never wasn’t interested in Kal-El’s love life in this series. Now in “Lois & Clark” it wasn’t just his story it was Lois’ too and he was already “The Man of Tomorrow.” Now, what attracted to me to Smallville (other than Kristen Kruek, LOL.) was Clark’s journey in becoming “The Man of Tomorrow” and Lex becoming the iconic villain. Just to be clear fellow Android, Zune, and iPod SHoEligans if you’re watching this series for something other than that. Perfectly fine. I do not despise Clois, I love Clois especially Tom and Erica because they have played the most realistic version of the iconic “Triangle” ever. Right up there with Teri Hatcher and Dean Cain. Speaking of Teri Hatcher if Kelly and Brian could get her to do an ep. next season would it be awesome for her to play Chloe & Lois’ aunt? Or would she be better playing a villain like Dean Cain did? Throwing that out my Android, Zune, and iPod SHoEligans.
I could actually see her as one of Granny Goodness’ Female Furies, most likely Lashina. It has been suggested @ superman homepage Noell Neil (George Reeves Lois) but I think she is too nice, Granny should be nasty like Umbridge from Harry Potter (Ed Asner voiced her in the Animated Series for God’s Sake!) I am a Captain Marvel fan, as my above posts imply, and I wouldn’t mind one of the actors that played him in the SHAZAM show from the 70’s as the Wizard. I also am disappointed they showed Jay Garrick in Society/Legends, as John Wesley Shipp would have been a nice homage. Also, I wouldn’t mind Adam West appearing as one of Checkmate’s “Dark Knights”, as that may be the closest thing we ever get to a batman reference.
If we speaking of cameos, and they are doing Apokalips, then I think that Orion and Mister Miracle need to make an appearance because those two could directed explain the situation between Apokalips and New Genesis and the pact that they made and why Darkseid is targeting Earth. So if GJ was writing any episode, I would want it to be that one.
Ditto, explicitly stated on my list ^
@Natasha and you can do a whole arc with that and possibly bring in other JLA members like Cyborg, J’onn J’onzz, Impluse, Canary, Zantanna, etc. along with Orion and Mister Miracle with the whole Darkseid story-line (if we actually see Darkseid, if they go that route.) That would be Justice, Legion, and Absolute Justice all roll into one with a dallop of “epic” if Johns or Loeb were two write a two or three part ep. like that.
Here’s something to discuss Zune, iPod, and Android SHoEligans for those of you who were fans of the series Angel and saw how that fourth season ended not with a huge battle, because that was the second to last ep. It ended with a grace note with Team Angel taking over Wolfram & Hart and wrapping up the Connor/Angel arc. Now how this relates to Smallville do we really need to end this series with a huge “Man of Steel”/JLA battle with the last few mins. of Kal-El and someone talking about his future and what the last decade has meant to him and what he has learned. Or can we just have the finale ep. or the last second half of a two parter of just Clark at the crossroads or the last moment of him finally fully embracing “The Man of Steel” persona. And have the finale ep. be more of a grace note than a finale battle. My point and question do we really NEED a huge Armageddon battle to end this series? Is that necessary?
@ Woo, I…would prefer if it was just Clark and maybe Oliver dealing with that. I know there are people that want a big blow-out JLA episode, but this show is about Clark’s journey. All of those other heroes are unnecessary. Clark can learn this information on his own and share with the other heroes at a later date (preferrably offscreen so it can devote more time to Clark journey and what makes him decide to wear the suit). I can fill in the blanks just fine without a thousand other heroes taking away from Clark’s screentime.
And now that you bring it up, I don’t think a battle should take up the last few minutes of the finale because I would prefer something from Clark’s POV about why he’s finally going public (preferrably this conversation is with Lois) and then something like how Steve described a while ago about showing scenes of the secondary charcters watching something in the sky with a VO by either Lois (reading outloud her article on “Superman”), or perhaps Jonathan (speaking about responsibility and what Superman means to the world, but what Clark means to the people he loves).
@Natasha We may disagree on the JLA thing and I’m sorry second to last ep. needs to be that in my opinion against Darkseid (again if the writers choose to go that route.) But are we agreement Natasha and fellow Zune, Android, and iPod SHoEligans that the finale needs to be introspective ep. for Kal-El looking back at what The Blur has been and what the potential it has for Earth and him finally showing the world has face? And look at it this way that’s the ep. where Kal-El begins seeing Intergang forming in its’ early stages and maybe we can see Bruno Mannhiem return it’s also a good point to acknowledge that Lex is alive and well and taken control of LuthorCorp again. This is what pushes Clark to think “I need to reveal myself to the world, I have too.” Thoughts?
@Woo Manheim seerns possible since in the comics, intergang is tied into apokolips. However, the actor is busy with a major storyline on the soap opera General Hospital (I only know this cause my girlfriend watches it) And if Rosenbaum won’t wear a baldcap, you can take steve’s voice over idea by showing a bald headed figure, back to the camera watching clark save the day with Rosenbaum’s voiceover. This way even if Rosenbaum doesn’t want to return, we still know it’s Lex.
@Tim Sure, Tim we all know you have your DVR set to record “General Hospital.” It’s all right, I used to watch “Passions” back in the day and that’s where I first saw Justin Hartley. And his VERY attractive wife Lindsay.
Here’s the thing with Mannhiem you can do without him and still have Inter-gang much like Lex, you can have a subordinate in Inter-gang just mention that “Mannhiem the boss wants it done like this…”
And I have always thought if they can’t physically get Rosenbaum you can just Lex’s voice say on a TV report or online “I’m sorry to report the death of Tess Mercer, and I guarantee you Green Arrow will be brought to justice. However, I am happy to report that I am alive and well and I’m once again CEO and Chairman of LuthorCorp.” Reason being I have always thought Lex would use Green Arrow’s crossbow instead of a pistol to pin Mercy’s murder on Ollie because whether or not it was a clone or actually Lex that died in “Requiem” Oliver did murder Lex and this would be perfect vengeance for Lex to “kill two birds with one stone” get rid of two enemies at once, totally a classic Lex move.
@Woo and Natasha, I’m really torn with my feelings on the JLA. on the one hand, I really liked how they handled the JLA in “Salvation.” I know that there were some fans who were dissapointed that the appearances were mere cameos and I do understand that perspective. However, from my perspective, that was Clark’s moment to shine. It was a moment where we really got to see his maturity, grace, leadership and heroism and I was glad that the other characters were in the background to support HIS journey and his story. I really do enjoy the JLA characters on Smallville and I would welcome them back. But I’d like to see them used as backup for Clark’s story. I would love to see Clark truly act as their leader and for Clark to be the one coming up with strategy and acting as the true hero. Now, if Bruce were able to come on the show for an episode or two….that might be different. But Bruce and Clark’s friendship is an important part of Clark’s story in the overall Superman mythos. So that would be a different story because their friendship is so heavily tied to his future. My motto with Clark usually is….if something is heavily tied to his future and is important to his journey then I want to see it one justice on Smallville. Natasha sort of summed this up regarding Lois. If you are going to have Lois as part of a Superman show (ANY Superman show) then you have to take the time to do that relationship justice because it’s just THAT important to Clark’s overall story. For me, Bruce and Diana are really the only JLA members where the individual friendships and development is important enough to Clark’s story that I would feel it was justified to get attention at this point when we have only 22 episodes left. If the other JLA or JSA members are brought back I want it to be for backup only. And I was quite happy with the way that was handled in “Salvation.”
@Woo, I totally agree that Tom and Erica are right up there with Dean and Teri. But you know…I actually put them above them now. Which believe me…is a tough thing to say!! But I think that they are actually better because it’s just a more realistic portrayl of the love story. And I totally understand just not being interested in the relationships. That’s totally valid. Personally, I think that what people consider to be the ::most:: important thing in Clark’s journey and life is going to vary depending on who you ask and that I totally get that. I will tell you that one of the reasons I really like Clois on Smallville is because I like who Clark IS when he’s with Lois. There have been many times where I have felt like Clark was the most like Superman when he was with Lois. I was even watching some old Season 8 episodes like “Committede” and ” Bride” the other day and the way he knocked out that crazy jeweler and saved the day in that scene or even the way he was really aggressive and grabbed Lois’s hand to dance during Chloe’s wedding. He’s just very Supermanly around her. And I really like any chance where Clark really gets to act confidant and happy. Superman is at his core a happy hero who inspires hope and peace. Yes, he has his broody days and yes, even in the comics he has a guilt complex. But ultimately, he is this inspiring and hopeful person. I just really love seeing Smallville’s version of Clark Kent embrace that happiness and joyfulness in his life and I find that he tends to showcase that the most when he’s with Lois.
@MJ I totally agree if they were to bring back whatever JLA members, I would want Kal-El to be leading not following. That is one of my major problems with “Justice” from the sixth season is that Clark very much is following and Oliver is leading. I think one of the reasons I want to see the JLA return (is for one I have a huge Zantanna/Serinda Swan crush) and I would like to see Clark in a leadership role SHoEligans saw a little bit of it in “Salavation” and “Legion.” But I would love to see him lead the JLA (Zantanna, Impulse, Canary, Cyborg, Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter, etc.) against Darkseid and have an epic WatchTower speech similar to the one in “Salvation” because like the “SHoE Braintrust” has spoken about over and over on podcasts is Welling has really embraced “The Man of Tomorrow” in terms of his speech patterns especially over the eighth and ninth seasons.
I also hope Christopher Nolan takes notice of how they do the Clois relationship on Smallville because I wouldn’t mind seeing that type of portrayal in theaters. Reason being MJ I agree with you, it is the most reality based Clois portrayal ever and Erica and Tom’s portrayal is right up there with Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher’s Lois and Clark. Opinions, iPod, Zune, and Android SHoEligans?
I never got the appeal of Teri Hatcher and Dean Cain could only pull of Clark, not Superman. Erica Durance is THE BEST Lois Lane, and although I love Christopher Reeve’s work, I was never one for the bumbling Clark. Tom Welling combines the farmboy, reporter, and kryptonian aspects of the Superman character. Brandon Routh was okay, not great, but okay (my complaint was that we never got to see CLARK in Returns). No offense to Margot Kidder, but she was not a good Lois. Kate Boswoth= Horrible. Tom and Erica are the best representations of Clark and Lois. Christopher Reeve is Superman, but Tom Welling is Clark Kent. Erica Durance is the perfect Lois, though my TV crush on her may make me biased. What say you, my fellow iPod, Zune, and Android SHoEligans?
@Tim Well, maybe the reason I like Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher is because it is the first version of Lois & Clark I had ever seen. I totally agree with you like when Prof. Bailey said it on the podcast for “Idol” that Dean Cain was a very good Clark but not a very good “Man of Steel.” I think Welling not having seen the animated series, the previous TV series, and the comics and only seeing maybe a couple of Christopher Reeves’ films has these last two seasons found his own interpretation of the character. I have a new found respect for him doing so, because really Welling has a challenge that only Rosenbaum and Durance could relate to in terms of living up to a character. I mean Kristen could play Lana anyway she interpreted the character just because they are no set character traits that other actress’ have done in the past other than knowing Lana is Clark’s first love. If that makes any sense. Same thing with Hartley, there were no live action of Oliver Queen’s before him. So other than a character breakdown and maybe looking at some comics. He had some range and a fresh canvas acting wise. Not the same with Welling, Durance, and Rosenbaum. However more so with Welling because finding his own interpretation of the character of all three Clark Kent’s really four if one were to count his relationship with Lois. Made his playing of the character seem all the more real, a great balance between Clark Kent (Farmboy/Teenager), Clark Kent (Love interest and a significant other to Lois), Clark Kent (Reporter at The Daily Planet), and finally Clark Kent (”The Man of Tomorrow”), and when he switched between all four roles it didn’t seem out of place. Also, every single one he played you believed.
Same thing with Durance. You could totally buy this woman as sensitive, neurotic, intelligent, hot, driven, tough, loving, and loyal. But the audience still can buy the fact she is into Van Halen, and playing Guitar Hero Van Halen on the XBOX 360, Monster Trucks, MMA, and Pro Wrestling.
I believe the interpretations of Lois & Clark are very dependent on the time frame that they were produced. Margot Kidder and she even said on the featurette for Lois Lane on the fourth season DVD set that her Lois was based on what women were going through in the 1970’s. Dana Delany and Teri Hatcher’s respective Lois’ were very much women of the 1990’s. Phyllis Coates and Noel Neill’s Lois were very much a reflection of what working women were in the 1950’s. So it’s very much predicated on the time period Lois & Clark are in. But same key things remain. Opinions? Zune, iPod, and Android SHoEligans?
@Woo Lois likes Van Halen, but prefers Whitesnake, lol. I agree with all your points, but I agree with Steve and Derek that TW & ED are the most likable and most loyal to the comics.
@Woo, you have made some excellent points.
@Tim, I think the important thing to remember is that each version of Clark and Lois is not only based on the time period in which the story is being told (as Woo touched on) but also on which version of the Superman myth you are talking about.
Dean Cain was playing the John Byrne “Man of Steel” version of Clark Kent where Superman was a true disguise and Clark was the true personality. His version of Clark didn’t have strong ties to his alien heritage and felt as though he was a human. He didn’t identify with being “alien.” When you put that into perspective, I truly think that Dean Cain nailed his version of the character. His version of Superman was supposed to seem a bit nervous because it was a disguise. As the series wore on, he became more and more comfortable in the role of Superman as he matured and grew in his role with the public. Make no mistake, Tom Welling is my favorite version of this character. But I have to give credit where credit is due because I do think that Dean Cain is highly underrated when it comes to just how well he played Clark Kent. I also think that his performance has influenced Tom Welling and our overall perception of the modern day Clark Kent. There have been times on Smallville where I’ve seen shades of Dean Cain in Tom Welling’s performance at the Daily Planet with Lois.
Chris Reeve was playing the Silver Age version of Superman where Clark Kent was nothing more than a disguise and Superman was the real person. He had a god-like presence that Dean Cain lacked. I believe that Tom Welling is the only other man to play the character that also has this other worldly presence about him.
Tom Welling is really playing the most modern version of the character where Clark + Kal-El = Superman. He is equally human and alien and to try and deny either side of himself would be equally detrimental to his overall happiness and ability to fulfill his desinty. The show explored this brilliantly over the last two seasons as we saw Clark struggle between trying to just be human or just be the Blur and ultimately realizing that he has to be BOTH. This all culminated in “Charade” where we watched his relationship with Lois start to crumble around him because he tried to cut off ties with Lois as the “Blur” and it was extremely painful for both of them.
Tom Welling’s version of Clark Kent is, in my opinion, the most complex and most fully realized version of the character in live action.
It’s the same thing with Lois Lane. Lois’s role tends to be influenced by the times. Teri Hatcher’s Lois was a true woman of the 90’s. Her Lois was a mixture of Silver Age Lois and of modern day Lois. She fell in love with Superman and ignored Clark….even though Clark was the true persona. That was more Silver Age. But then she eventually fell in love with Clark and respected Superman as a friend. That was more modern age. Teri Hatcher’s Lois was a beautiful woman who was comfortable with her sexuality. She wasn’t afraid to use her body or her sex appeal to get what she wanted. If she had to wear a short skirt or a low cut blouse in order to get information out of someone….she did it. If she had to wear a costume to break in somewhere…she did it. But underneath it all she still had that toughness that we’ve come to associate with Lois LAne. I thought she did a beautiful job in the role.
Like Tom Welling, Erica Durance’s Lois is probably the most fully realized and complex version of the character. Sometimes I feel like she’s a mixture of Margot Kidder and Teri Hatcher with a little Dana Delany through in. She has the brash toughness of Margot Kidder but she also has the over the top sexuality and confidance of Teri Hatcher’s version. She has the snarky sarcasm of Dana Delany and she calls Clark, “Smallville” as an endearment. Then on top of it she combines some of the traits from the comics such as being an army brat and having quirky interests. She’s extremely complex and has so many layers. As Woo said, you can easily believe that this woman was an army brat, has a complicated relationship with her father, is totally sexy but also totally neurotic and nutty at the same time.
But no matter what every version of Lois Lane has some things that never change. These are the things that define the character time and time again. She’s always stubborn with an insatiable curiosity. She’s always a “well-intentioned trouble maker.” She always has the ability to drive Clark a little bit (or alot) crazy. She’s always flawed but with a good heart. She always talks too much and is slightly crazy. She usually can’t cook or spell. And most importantly, she always believes in the goodness of Superman.
Smallville has done a pretty amazing thing with these characters. Tom and Erica are absolutely my favorites. But I think it’s important and cool to look back and remember why these characters were written in different ways depending on the time period.
@MJ Have you noticed as the years have gone on in Smallville that Lois especially since they have become lovers and been in a relationship that Lois calls Clark “Smallville” less often? In regards to Lois not knowing how to cook one of my favorite moments of this ninth season was “Persuasion” even under a spell Lois cannot cook if her life depended on it.
Speaking of Clois. We saw in “Salvation” that Lois pretty much knows that Clark and “The Blur” are one in the same. Should the writers have Lois say in 10×01 (it is so odd to write that BTW) that Lois knows and lets Clark know that. Or should it be like Chloe when she found out and have Lois tell Clark she knows at the Christmas mid-season break and have that tension ride until that break? Fellow, iPod, Android and Zune SHoEligans Opinions please?
@Woo, I think she still uses “Smallville” as a term of endearment when they are at the Daily Planet or goofing around. But in more serious moments, she calls him “Clark.” When she’s treating him more like a man or lover she calls him by his name which I think is appropriate. An example of this is in “Disciple.” After Clark gives her that “I could give you Clark Kent’s tour of the galaxy” line (snicker) she smiles and starts to make light of the situation. So she says, “Smallville, the only planet you know is the one you read at the breakfast table.” But then of course he stopped her joking with a passionate kiss….so she was forced to stop the kidding around. I still think she’ll call him “Smallville” in lighter moments. But something tells me that “Smallville” is not something that a man wants to be called when he is, for example, in bed with his lover. haha.
Clark trying to feed Lois’s pot roast to Shelby and watching even the dog reject her food is one of the funniest moments of the season.
I really have no idea how they are going to play her letting him know that she knows. I sort of feel as though I can just let it play out and I’ll be happy however they do it. Either way, it will be totally different from Chloe. Clark never had any intention of telling Chloe his secret. She found out by accident when Alicia revealed it to her. With Lois, Clark was actively discussing how much he wanted to tell her and how much it was killing him to lie to her. So it should make for an interesting scenerio either way.
If they go the Chloe-redux route with Lois and the secret, I hope they don’t drag it out that long. Because they would miss a lot of opportunities with the 200th episode if by then the two of them STILL haven’t acknowledged that Lois knows who Clark really is.
But, for selfish reasons, I hope they don’t go that route at all because I’d hate for a certain fanbase to have fuel for fanwanking.