Clark Kent: Hopeless romantic or fickle playboy? Depending on which episode of Smallville you watch, either of these descriptors could ring true for the man of steel from Krypton.
Smallville continues the atrocity that is its schizophrenic eight season, one that has some serious problems with continuity. So far we’ve seen a bunch of disconnected storylines: the Justice League semi-reunite, Davis becoming Doomsday, Chloe getting re-eradicated of BRAINIAC, Clark and Lana falling for each other (yet again), Lana becoming a superhero and mannequin Lex continuing his maniacal ways while on life support.
So now, just one episode after the conclusion of said Clark and Lana love story arc, writers have returned us to the force-fed story of Lois and Clark’s adoration for each other. Oh I get it, we’re supposed to assume that Clark’s heart mends as quickly as a Wolverine papercut. And even if that was true, I’ve yet to believe any of the so-called chemistry between Tom Welling and Erica Durance as Lois. We all know that Superman ends up with Lois, but these two couldn’t have less chemistry if Durance was oil to Welling’s water.
This is also one of those Smallville episodes where everyone learns Clark’s secret and how great and ‘dangerous’ he is only to get some form of the Men In Black treatment. You know, some type of mind-wipee thingie that comes in and saves the day so that the show’s premise can continue.
At your own discretion, check out the teaser trailer for the show’s March 12th return, which will feature Tori Spelling reprising her role as Linda Lake.
I haven’t watched the show seriously since about Season 5, but I started to catch up on Season 8. So far I’ve watched the first 7 episodes - and they are great! I know that Lana returns in a couple episodes, which I’m dreading.
Anyway, put me in the camp of loving the Lois & Clark chemistry. I think ED’s Lois is the best one captured in movies or television.
I thought Lois’ confession in episode 5 was particularly compelling.
Great! Being an old romantic, fan of Superman, I appreciate Smallville. But, believe me, Lois & Clark with D.Cain and T.Hatcher is/was far better!! I hope to see TM/Superman and ED/Lois finally together before I die!
Sir Valda
I disagree I think clark and lois relationship is brilliant and the chemistry is real i.e. two friends who start realising they may have feelings for each other but in constant denial. Their sharp witty retorts to each other are brilliant and far more realistic than the over the top bs merry go round that was clark+lana in the last few seasons. The only thing that ruined this season was lana’s return just threw the whole story off.
I do agree with the overall season writing being quite terrible and jumping all over the place however each episode on its own has been really good. And the main storyline of doomsday is gathering pace and looks to be amazing. I do hope they can live up to it though and that it doesnt end up being a complete let down like the season 1 heroes finale!!
Having looked at some of the comments you’d think smallville was some kind of prequel to the Superman movie. Surely it is just another adaptation of the Superman story. I doubt it was ever intended to go on for so long, ie it is doubtful when Smallville was first created it’s writers had thought beyond the characters being in High School, but because of it’s success they have to make as much money as possible from it. They will keep going until more and more inconsistencies occur and ratings fail.
To be true to the Movie, Lois & Clark would not have met yet, Lana was not an actual girlfriend it was all one way and as far as the movie indicated Clark did not seem popular at school, although the movie did only offer a snapshot of his youth.
It’s fiction, inconsistencies are allowed in fiction, lets face it in the real world any one as careless with his secret as Clark is Smallville, he’d be found out in a minute. Excluding friends how many people know his secret. Virtually everyone in Belle Vue I should think LOL
Anyway if you stop making comparisons with the Movie and/or the “Adventures of Lois & Clark” series, you will learn to enjoy it more.
This is what we call a waste of an episode. We all know that in the end no one can remember Clark’s secret. So why even go that route with a story. This is a filler episode and nothing more, and convoluting it by raising the stakes on the Lois and Clark romance is just foolish and asinine.
I agree 100% with everything JENNIFER (below) said. Great post… especially the last line.
“She’s finally working at the Daily Planet alongside Clark Kent, which is WHERE SHE SHOULD BE.”- Lily, emphasis in caps is mine (not shouting though).
See, this is where I respectfully disagree. Lois Lane and Clark Kent, working together and falling in love at the DP, is the story I already know and I’ve seen many times. It’s how they GET THERE that “Smallville” is supposed to be showing; their journeys, especially Clark’s.
Based on what we’ve seen Lois and Clark should not be at the DP. They are unqualified, inexperienced (and no, the Intruder and Torch as sole experiences do not count for a newspaper with the reputation of the Daily Planet), uneducated, and I’m not even convinced of any natural writing talent (of the calibre needed for professional journalism) for either of them because I haven’t seen any evidence. Lois keeps doing unethical things and getting away with it too.
They walked in off the streets and, bam! Writing positions at the top media outlet in the country? Where’s the journey? Where’s the storytelling? Where’s the feeling like “Yes! Our heroes have worked hard and now they’re finally reaping the benefits!” In contrast, Chloe’s entrance to the DP might have been in a silly themed episode, but those moments when she was interviewing with a Pulitzer-winning editor, advocating for herself, writing, and finally getting the job and walking into the DP, elated? It felt earned and right based on the character’s journey to that point. Throw in the Superman references and the music and it even felt epic.
Partly because we’ve seen so little of Clois’ journalism journey, and partly because Chloe’s entrance to the DP seemed so earned, the Lois and Clark at the DP storyline feels very contrived, forced, and unrealistic to the point of being a joke. I shouldn’t have to root for these two just because canon tells me they will get together in the future. I should want to root for them because Smallville has shown me two people who grow, struggle, work hard, are moral, bring out the best in each other, respect each other, and are falling in love. I have not seen this with Clois on Smallville. I want to see the JOURNEY, a journey I can actually believe, not the crap they’re feeding us.
I think ED is the worst Lois I’ve seen (25% acting, 75% writing IMO), second only to Kate Bosworth.
Are you kidding me??
Are you even watching the same show?? Because I always thought as a reviewer you should at least watch the show.
The ratings this year have been higher than ever, since season 3! It’s actually the only show keeping The CW afloat, other than Supernatural.
As for Tom’s Clark not having chemistry with Erica’s Lois, I beg to differ. The two characters are being written completely different from the past films. Personally, I used to wish they’d left Lois out of the show before, because they just had her character jumping for place to place and not stable at all. Now the show has finally let go of AlMiles, and it’s like they’re giving Lois credit. She’s finally working at the Daily Planet alongside Clark Kent, which is where she should be.
The reason why their chemistry is different, is because they’re background is not the same as the Clois in the original storylines. Where Christopher Reeve’s and Margot Kidder’s Lois and Clark met at the Daily Planet and fell in love, these two met when one of them was still in high school hung up on his ex girlfriend. Their relationship started out differently, in that way of sibling rivalry.
Now that they’re both growing up, they’re starting to see each other in a new light. They’ve opened their eyes, mind and heart to the possibilities of them actually being in an adult relationship and what the future holds.
But you can not say they don’t have chemistry. Most of the snarky tongue-in-cheek humor that’s played out on the show is saved for TW and ED. They work very well together. And if you asked Tom Welling, which he has been asked, he only has great things to say about Erica and her interpetation of Lois Lane.
I think she’s more Lois Lane than Kate Bosworth, by a mile!
“ED and TW not having chemistry? Do you even get how big their fanbase is? Get your eyes checked!”
Lol. This show has been on a rather steady ratings decline since the Season Lois got introduced. If their fan base is so huge then how come numbers for the first half of this Season aren’t up around where they were in Season 1? Where is this giant influx of ratings when Lois and Clark have a big episode?
In fact, the last 4 episodes (yeah the ones WITHOUT Lois) are the first of Season 8 to score better ratings than their corresponding episodes from last year.
Talk about someone needing an eye check. Or maybe a reality check is more like it.
SV Lois + Clark are like carbonized bread - unpalatable.
So much word to this article. Watching Erica Durance alone is already painful, but watching her with Tom Welling is just… unbearable. They expect me to believe that I’m watching some epic love story between Clark and Lois when all I see is a superficial, undeveloped, and totally annoying pairing. Clark needs to see that the one woman he should be in love with is the one woman who has saved him time and time again–Chloe Sullivan.
Funny how I’m rooting for a woman that’s not Lois Lane. SV’s Lois is just that shallow, terrible, and annoying.
There isn’t enough grape koolaid on the planet to make me think TW and KK had any better chemistry than TW and ED, and certainly AM is as awkward as it gets for a character (talk about having things FORCED on you - has her storyline been natural since season 4???)
I’ve enjoy seeing Clark step up to his destiny this season - up until the trainwreck of the SuperLana arc - and the interactions with Lois were for the most part a lot of fun. And if there’s anything forced in their relationship, it’s the forced attempts to try to slow down the Clois train!! WOO HOO!!!
Here’s hoping they do at least one more wipe and eradicate the steaming pile left by Lana’s exit, and get back on track!
As for Chloe and Doomsday, there’s forced for ya. Egods.
Thanks for being a media outlet that speaks the truth about this show.
Obviously you actually watch the episodes rather than just comment on the blurbs and interviews that say “Clark and Lois grow closer…”.
Smallville had such enormous potential when it started. The early years of Clark Kent, future superhero.
Instead Lana is just so “awesome” now that she’s super-enhanced, Clark can mind-rape people without consequence, in fact there are rarely any consequences for anyone on this show, plotlines are dropped, wonderful old moments from the show are brought back only to be spat on (continuity at its’ worst), “Lois” is a dumbshit with way more balls than brains, and I agree with the writer that Clois is being forced down our throats. Yes, I know Clark Kent/Superman is supposed to end up with Lois according to canon. Usually I love that. But this Clois has not developed organically. They’re barely civil to one another for years, each has had deep relationships with others, and all of a sudden Lois has the hots for Clark?! Where did that come from exactly? How did the light get switched on? It’s crap storytelling. It’s rushed, contrived and I don’t care how the story is supposed to end! I’ve seen that story several times. I want to see the journey of how Clark gets to be Superman.
I also agree that usually TW and ED lack chemistry. The only people Clark has had great chemistry with is Alicia, Chloe and Lex. Sometimes Ollie. Clark usually looks like he has a bad taste in his mouth when Lois flirts with him.
Go Chlois and Chlark or Go Dooms!
LOL! What a ridiculous article! The most enjoyable aspect of Smallville is the interaction between Lois and Clark, and TW and ED are doing a fantastic job. Erica’s probably the best Lois Lane yet.
PS Chloe Sullivan will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER become Lois Lane. Move on.
THANK YOU!! I was wondering if it was just me who thought that Tom/Clark and Erica/Lois had absolutely NO chemistry. I’m a huge Superman fan from the movies and TV, but this Lois? Meh. She’s pretty much a joke, imo. I should have listened to my friends who gave up on this show a lot sooner.
And yeah, another “Men in Black”-style mindwipe sounds lame, too. It’s sad, this show had SO much potential, but it looks as if all it’s about now is phony ’ships.
Great review. Spot on.
I agree that Smallville’s quality in general has been very poor recently. It has been declining for years, but especially this year it has been insulting to our intelligence.
The over focus on Clark’s secret, the perpetual stalling and moping are tiresome. The habit of having the subtext undermine the text has reached the point of absurdity.
The Lois and Clark interactions are especially tiresome. What makes them downright is they read like rehashes of seasons of a better show. Not a good show, but a watchable show with a little heart.
It’s time to put the wreck to bed. I’m done waiting for it to end well.
You pretty much nailed Season 8. It’s been a schizophrenic mess, and the absolute lack of chemistry between Durance and Welling makes it nauseating to watch anymore.
Both of them have better chemistry with *every other actor on the show* than they do with each other. The writers should quit trying to force what’s just not there before they tear down the last shreds of the iconic pairing.
I miss the days when watching this show was entertaining.
Nice summary of everything wrong about this show. And hey, what can be expected when lightswitches are offered–which really started back in Season Six with a falling barn door. At least PS3 is smart enough to keep using Chloe as the epicenter for Clark’s hero work. I’ll start seeing Clois once I start seeing Lois do relevant thing to the plot of this season. As it is, she’s at best Plot C, with Clana Plot B and Dooms Plot A.
I wonder if the Injustice League will make a reappearance? Probably not.
I am however looking forward to this episode. It will be nice to see just how Clark rebounds from Lana and break Lois’s heart in the process. It will be nice to see Davis come forward as Doomsday.
Wow, upset Chlarker, much? What a worthless piece of shit article.
I agree with the article completely.