Lois & Clark Forums Forums General Discussion Off Topic Calling The Smallville Girls

Oh yay - new Smallville episode tonight.

Oh horror - it was awful!

I just can't believe I'm saying this, but I absolutely HATED Asylum. And it is even more of a tragedy after what they left us with back in November - hopes for something really great. I've never ever before felt so negative about a Smallville episode, so I'm simply beside myself.

What precisely did I hate? Well, where should I begin...

First, that whole Belle Reve Sanitorium. Oh. My. God. In what universe - even Tim Burton's darkest imaginings of Gotham - would anyone ever believe that a place so hellish existed? And in what way, shape or form are we supposed to believe that a place such as that would cause anything other than permanent mental derangement? What's sad is that they could have put poor Lex in a realistic-type of asylum and I would have stayed along for the ride. They didn't need to stylize so harshly to get me to buy into Lex's situation. What was that he was sleeping on, anyway? A stainless steel slab? This set was a scene snatched out of Stephen King's worst nightmare.

Secondly, bringing back the defeated Freaks of the Week. Not necessary - there was plenty of drama inherent in Lex's peril and Clark's struggle to get him out. Didn't need any extra obstacles to muck up the whole thing. Just plain stupid.

Third, the overall grisly nature of the whole episode. I don't mind violence or gore in context, but this was really over the top. It became gratuitous, so very disappointing.

What can I say about Lana. Lana Lana Lana Lana. For the first time since my viewing of Smallville began, I really, really REALLY wanted Clark to meet his Lois. I can't stand to see Clark so sad and lonely. I'm so sick of the angst between these two. For a while, I actually thought they were kind of cute, and I was kind of rooting for them to hook up. Now? Oh where oh where is Lois? Pleeeeeaase!

And how 'bout those whacky teenagers - Chloe and Clark - going to see that evil doctor and persuading her to turn back to the light. Come on. What? Is that Scooby I hear?

I'm not a Lionel Luther fan. Never have been. I don't find him "magnificent" at all, not even in his evilness. Now, he simply disgusts me. I like it so much better when there's a villain I love to hate or hate to love (like Lex). This guy - just makes me queazy.

What can I say that was good about this epi? Hmmmm. Thinking. Well, it was new. I guess that's...something.

I so much want to love this show. I love Tom Welling. I love Michael Rosenbaum. So now I'm just feeling so sad.

Lynn

When I saw this thread, I had a momentary attack of "Oh no! Smallville started up again last night and I completely forgot!" And then I read your post and I'm relieved I didn't set my VCR. <g>

I'll be curious to see what the rest of the Smallville fans here think of this one, if you are all in agreement. But while I'm waiting, I won't lament the fact that I missed it! I don't do 'disturbing' as a general rule, whether in fanfic or TV, so this sounds like it was a good one for me to miss.

Kathy

Poor Lynn. So sad, so disappointed, and so very, very WRONG!

Well I was glued to it. My kids ran wild, no teeth were brushed, no one tucked in... When it was over I was very surprised to find them all still standing there. Go figure. They hadn't jsut magically put themselves to bed.

Where to start? Perhaps with how wrong Lynn is. I enjoy that.(hee)

I love it when they put in a call to continuity. They didn't have to put the Freaks of the Week in, but I think they went the extra step. Layered it a bit more. We see Clark "putting on the cape" and defeating bad guy after bad guy. It makes sense that they all go somewhere- here in particular. And that they talk. And that they have a bit of an axe to grind with our square-jawed hero.

(I'll digress. I know Dean Cain is handsome, I get that. But I dare you to examine TW's jawline and not...sigh...nevermind.)

Back on track-

And our savy Lex. Love seeing him standing mindlessly in line with all the others waiting to take his meds. And then seeing that our smart anti-hero is still inside, as he spat them into the paint. He is so aware. So sharp. I love how MR conveys this with just that glance at the camera.

And the institution itself. I love its sterility, its blues and greys. This is state run, and of course exaggerated, but I think if you were inside one of those hell holes, that is exactly how it would *feel*. Call the steel cage a metaphor. The isolation, the helplessness. Lex tied down underneath- no one to save him but Clark.

And Lionel.We know he loves his son in a twisted sort of way, but he can't let the son overtake the father no matter what the cost. So he does what he feels he has no other choice to do. Ruthless.

And our Clark? The most burdened man in the world. Blaming himself for not saving Lex, looking to Lana for comfort and getting the cold shoulder. All these powers and so much loneliness? What's worse, being in the steel cage, or being...you know...caged in the Man of Steel? (I know. Eeesh...couldn't resist it.)

All the stuff I love best about growing up super. Angsty in all caps.

I like that we saw some of Lex's real rage, as well. Shades of what's to come. And hope, too, that Clark will seek out Chloe, who is Lois Lane, I swear!

To sum up: Wrong, Lynn!<g> That is really my whole point.

CC (I know. I rambled. Have I mentioned I love this subject?)

Kathy, hate to tell you but I think you're going to have to watch this one. I have a feeling it's going to be fodder for a whole lot of future episodes.

Oh, CC, my wonderful, delusional friend. I, too, experienced the bliss that is total Smallville-emersion, forgoing 8 o'clock bedtime while I warped my small children, allowing them glimpses of the horror playing out on the screen. But beyond that, I think you and I had completely polar experiences.

Now, not to say you are completely on crack <g>. There are some things on which I have to begrudgingly agree with you.

I do have to agree with the most critical point that you made:
Don't get me started on the absolute perfection in a male specimen that can be found there...

And I also agree with you on this...
both on the point that Lex is pure future-evil genius and MR plays him to perfection.

And true, they did set up a whole lot of repressed Lex-rage and a giant passle of reasons why these two friends will become the bitterest of enemies. Of course, how they will have all of that bubble back to the surface is yet to be seen. Sadly, this positive does hold some backlash because it chucked another log onto my gigantic bon fire of "any one who knows Clark now and can't figure out that he's Superman in the future is either stupid or living in a sensory deprivation tank." I can now add "or had eloctro-shock therapy that wiped out their memory" to that list.

As for the rest, well, yes, the stylized version of Hell known as Belle Reve might indeed feel to its inmates like the place portrayed in Smallville, but it was so over the top as to be unbelievable. The one thing I've always like about this show, as well as Lois and Clark for that matter, is the creators' ability to take a totally fictitious and sci-fi premise - an alien arrives on earth with superpowers to become the champion of all men - and actually put it in the "real" world. When they use cartoon-ish sets, as they did in Asylum, I'm snapped out of my fantasy that Tom Welling and/or Dean Clark is actually out there somewhere, flying around in tight spandex, saving the world.

And their nod to continuity - a good effort, but they could have simply stopped after the pass through the asylum and acknowledgment that these Freaks do still exist somewhere after their episode credits had rolled. They didn't need to have the three concoct some whacky scheme to get even with Clark. I mean, the orderly delivers the chunk of Kryptonite? Come on, CC. You have to admit that was just...come on!

And you know, in my previous post, I didn't even go into the whole "I think maybe Jonathan Kent is actually evil" thing that I was thinking all the while he was platituding to Clark. He is supposed to be this morally upstanding man, but wow, when push comes to shove, it's all about him and his. And what was with Mamma Kent? Trying to pimp Clark back into his dysfunctional...thing...with Lana. She should be setting him up with a nice girl. I know one who lives in the suburbs of Chicago, for that matter.

If they would have cut out the Freaks, put Lex in an asylum with pristine white walls and actual cloth bedsheets, and completely eradicated any images of Lana, I would have been raving about this episode. The acting was top notch. The set up for future angst was all that. And, well, damn, Tom just looked great. I don't ask for much more than that.

So, CC, while you and I will continue to fight over which one of us gets to be Tom's date for the Prom, you can keep the tape of this episode <g>.

Lynn

PS - Don't worry about rambling in here. It's just us Smallville Freaks that wander round these parts anyway, and we all love to just go on and on and on...

Lynn! More wrongness!

And I felt so happy that I had shown you the light, set you free from your narrow-minded viewpoint. But here you are again.

(Heavy, heartfelt sigh.)

And you're right, we are the only people in this particular corner of the sandbox, so we may as well...

First, on a positive note, the jaw-line thing. Yeah....good that we see eye to eye on this, the most critical part of any epi. It gets better and better I think. I, also, want to hang my bathrobe on the knob on the back of MR's head. That's wrong, isn't it?

Ok, moving on...

Well, the guy knew he could get Clark's powers with the kryptonite and a bit of electricity! Of course he wanted it. If Clark is coming for Lex, and they are banking on it, then they need it. And let's face it, kryptonite is not so very hard to come by in that town.

This was great. The know Clark can't resist the rescue, this is his weakness. And they wait with the one thing they know defeats him.

And Jonathan Kent...Jonathan Kent...(oh, Lynn, so wrong, so wrong) is perfectly and rightly ferocious as the father of a man who needs protecting- mostly from his own good intentions and his adorable "but I can help make this right" sort of outlook. I love how JK is portrayed. Hard and yet so loving.

The part I've always found so poignant? How much Lex really loves Jonathan Kent. Really wishes for just a crumb of his affection, respect. And how you could argue that if he had gotten it, he wouldn't have become Lex Luthor.

Martha. Yeah. Here's my pet issue.They need to give that woman something to do besides wrinkle her brow and looked worried. The Lana-thing. Sheesh. She needs to be pushing him towards Chloe who, say it with me, is Lois Lane!!

(the Smallville fanfic supports me on this, btw)

((I know. I read Smallville fanfic, and in fact...looks over her shoulder...am considering, you know, giving it a tiny try.))

CC

/me chokes on her laughter as diet Coke sprays all over the computer monitor and keyboard.

Yes!! I say. Every single time I look at MR I.just.can't.look.away.

And I love me some ferocious protective Big Daddy stuff - I am a sucker for all things "saaaaave me," but for some reason, Jonathan just strikes me as paranoid. I'd be a hella more concerned that my son was confronting evil psychiatrists in full view of other people than breaking into sanitoriums.

Sorry - I like Chloe. I really do. But I guess Teri has ruined me for all other incarnations of Lois and I just can't get over the blondness of Allison Mack. Also <ducking for cover>, I don't feel any chemistry between AM and TW in the s-e-x department. They just seem like really good buddies. Dean and Teri on the other hand? Smoking!

So nope, still not a convert yet.

Lynn

/me whispers to CC - OK, tell me where you get your Smallville fanfic stash? And I only want the really good stuff, none of that crap they mix up in a bathtub in Tijuana. And I swear...I only need a little bit...just a tiny fix. I promise I won't get hooked. And I definitely won't...honest...really...won't even think of writing...would I lie to you?

I gave up on watching Smallville eons ago (shut up Kathy ) and certainly didn't watch last nights, but I HAVE to ask something. Has anyone who reads Smallville fan fiction read WHERE I BELONG: A SMALLVILLE ALTERNATE UNIVERSE by Aelora. I haven't but my son absolutely raves about it. (It can be found at http://www.aeloralane.com/smallvilleau.html)

Here's the catch. It's set in the Smallville universe but Clark is a girl called Hudson. Hudson Clark Kent. And you guessed it, there's an ongoing romance between . . . I'm not even sure I can manage to type this so bear with me . . . the Hudson Clark character and . . . my fingers are already cramping . . . LEX LUTHOR . . .

(Hiss, spit.)

And my poor son raves about this story even though he doesn't even like the series either. Go figure. So, anyone else heard of that fan fiction?

Beverly

Beverly -

In all seriousness here...

I've not read this particular fanfic, but I can see how it exists and why people would really like it if it is well written.

Part of the appeal of the show that I've heard many say (and have to admit I can understand) is the odd attraction between Lex and Clark - or perhaps between Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum - the "ho-yay" if you will. Two good looking men, strong feelings toward each other, an almost unnatural obsession for Clark by Lex. It all adds up to something that could be portrayed as gothically romantic. And if you aren't offended by homosexuality (which doesn't bother me - I'm a big fan of Queer as Folk where I've seen some relationships as romantic as any heterosexual ones), really puts a new spin on the whole story.

But for those who can't swallow anything of that nature, changing Clark into a female solves that problem neatly. You can maintain that electricity and great chemistry between these two characters without moving into slash fic and other areas that even I - as a person who has no problem with homosexuality as a rule - would rather not go into. I don't like to imagine Lex and Clark as a couple in that respect. It's not the Lex-is-a-future-evil-villain problem - I really like Smallville's Lex and hate knowing that he will be turning to the dark side. It's more the canon of knowing who Superman is and that he can't be gay.

I do have to say, though, that changing Clark into a woman might just tip the Alt reality so much for me that it is no longer "Superman" fanfic but "original" fanfic. Kind of a new twist on an old mythological story.

I may just have to check that fanfic site out.

Lynn

I cannot believe I am posting in this thread.

I am *not* a Smallville girl. In fact, the mere thought that someone will see my name in this thread and think that I am a Smallville girl is distressing to me. Because I do not like the show. I tried watching it, and it just didn't work for me.

Nonetheless, I pop into threads from time to time to see what is happening, because every once in a while I actually will turn on an episode to see where they are taking things...to see if there is anything that I can identify with. Maybe I'm just desperate for a new "Clark Kent"-fix. But it doesn't work.

And I'm enjoying the bantering going back and forth here, but I thought I would stick my nose in and just throw in a couple of comments. It's blatantly obvious that Lynn and CC won't agree with me on this first point...

No. Definitely not. Maybe I'm just too old here, but for me, Tom Welling doesn't come even *remotely* close. No chance. Dean, on the other hand...

I can, however, see the attraction here. And that was one of the things that creeped me out a bit about Smallville when I was trying so hard to watch it: that here I was so much more fascinated by the Lex Luthor character than the Clark Kent character. And yes, I loved John Shea's portrayal of Lex and did find him fascinating, but to be so much "more" intrigued by Lex than Clark...well, that's just plain wrong...

But I know that I'm not alone in being intrigued by Lex as portrayed here; I've heard there is a large slash component to Smallville fic, as well as this alternate universe story that Beverly mentioned (which is an interesting way around it...)

And to end this post-that-really-said-nothing on a pleading note: please, Lynn and CC, if you do make these forays into writing Smallville fanfic, don't desert us here in L&Cdom, please??

Kathy
{Hey, CC, did you notice my semi-colon? Wendy and Yvonne aren't the only ones who know how to use those, you know. I even threw in a couple of colons for good measure...}

Kathy -

Please, don't let the title of this thread scare you off! I just wrote "Smallville Girls" cause it seems only a small handful of women ever reply to my appeals to discuss Smallville <g>. I certainly would hate to have my name lumped in with any kind of teeny-bopper fan-freak fest. Like you, I actually first tuned into Smallville because TBS took away my LnC reruns and I was desperate for some Clark. I did end up liking the show, though, enough that I tune in every week but not enough that I post on fan forums, etc.

As for the Tom Welling versus Dean Cain debate. I don't know if you've ever seen my "impossible choice post", but in case you haven't, I openly admit that if Tom Welling and Dean Cain were to arrive on my doorstep (tonight preferably because my husband's out of town) and told me to choose one of them to be my devoted love slave, I'd never be able to choose. Dean is buff and beautiful and just...yum...and exactly my age. Tom is about ten years too young, but then he's also tall and dark and dreamy. Especially when he's tripped up on Red K. Oy. Glad I won't be having to make that choice any time soon.

And I totally agree with you - Lex Luthor is the number two reason why I watch Smallville, #1 being the Tom-drool-fest. He is just fascinating - so three dimensional. I love watching an evil-genius in the making. And Michael Rosenbaum deserves ten kinds of Emmy for his acting. He is just awesome. John Glover/Lionel Luther on the other hand <squig>.

I won't speak for CC, but me writing Smallville fic is a pretty bad bet, at least until both of my kids have hit full-time school. I have negative time as it is now trying to keep up with LnC. If I bite off anymore projects or obsessions, I'm going to have to look into cloning.

Now that I've hijacked this thread as my own personal Smallville forum...

Lynn

Great discussion! I'll speak up and say that I'm another one who likes Smallville, Lynn and CC. Sorry else. Just can't help it. If you step back and look at it as it was meant to be, (not constantly compare it to LnC, which can be hard for some) it has a certain appeal that has me hooked.

I can't get in on this particular ep. discussion yet because I haven't watched it. Yesterday was my anniversary so I went out with my real life Clark Kent last night. My daughter graciously taped Smallville for me, happily telling me that it was good. Guess I'll see for myself. As soon as I've watched it, I'll be sure to come back and let you girls know what I thought. It's hard to find others who actually like the show so I'd be glad to get into some debates.

I have to add my nod for TW. I also happen to think he's yummy. And Lynn, young means stamina. And with the show's apparent success, I don't think it'll be cancelled any time soon.

SQD (who needs to watch Smallville so she can come back to comment)

Well, you two might be the only kids in the sandbox, but I've got my lawn chair set up in the shade with a nice glass of iced tea and I'm enjoying the show. Not *the* show, you know, 'cause I missed it, but your show. And now KathyM and Beverly have come to join me. Pull up a chair ladies; maybe I'll make some magaritas! (That is, if Beverly lets me talk again. )

I'm sure my husband is wondering what I'm doing laughing so loud, but he's been suffering through my L&C addiction for so long, he's learned not to ask. Or when he does forget himself and asks, his eyes usually glaze over so quickly that I stop talking and just tell him to go back to what he was doing. (Let's just hope he doesn't clue in that this might be the only way to get me to stop talking .... ahem.)

Kathy (repeat after me ... Dean Cain -- Yum! Michael Rosenbaum - Yum! Tom Welling -- I'd rather eat broccoli.)

I LOVE broccoli. Especially with just a little bit of butter.

Never tried it covered in whipped cream. Or chocolate....

<sigh>

Lynn

Um, Kath, I don't really like any salt on my magueritas. And if you've got peach or strawberry...

When I saw the number of posts, I figured Lynn had just been arguing with herself while I sat in the PTA meeting.

But look who we've sucked into our web!

We have friends! And...um...spectators?

SQD, you must watch said tape and weigh-in. This is especially important if you agree with me. (I should mention there is some extra credit in it for you, should you do so.)

I stumbled onto the flash fic while I was trolling for my Smallville fix. It didn't surprise me, as I had heard the murmurs of the subtext. Here's my take. MR is so magnetic, so darkly seductive, I can see the seed of the idea.

However, he has this chemistry with just about everyone. And there is a large Lex/Chloe fanfic base. Really good stuff. (I'll send you my link, Lynn. We'll talk. I'm thinking we move in over there and take over.)

I like what Smallville is doing with Lex. Showing us the tragedy. That he turns so evil eventually is heartbreaking, and even though we know it's coming, we root against it. What it boils down to is that he so envies what Clark has. And if he had it, someone to really love him, he wouldn't be Lex Luthor.

And you know in the comics Lana marries Pete. I never even see a wink towards this on the show, would like to.

KathyM thanks for coming and for bringing your semicolon. It's lovely, brightens up the place.

And KathyB, you want your broccoli with cheese on top. Can't beat it.

CC (going to bed, honest, unless Lynn wants to start another fight)

edit: Wait. Can't sleep well until I've had a chance to disagree with Lynn on Allison Mack's haircolor. It's bleached for now. Didn't we all do that in highschool? But when it grows out, once she's moved to Metropolis, changed her byline to LL and started working with Lenny from Laverne and Shirley, it will be a familiar shade of dark brown. Remember her secret identity speech to him "I'm the girl of your dreams disguised as your best friend..." Come on, people!! We know her!

ok, ok, goodnight, already...

I thought about being the voice of reason; I still think TW looks, well... like an anorexic adolescent girl who's had collagen injections in her lips. And I think that this episode was worse than usual--and that's saying a *lot*. Strangely enough, the fic I wrote that killed almost all the Smallville main characters off has been nominated for best comedy in the Smallville fandom's fic awards.

Sometimes you just can't win.


Laura

I'm very into the Smallville fandom so this topic was made for me.

On Last Night's Episode

I thought it was fantastic but also horribly sad. We have seen the beginning of the rift - I can finally see how Lex will descend into villainy and after much waiting and many setbacks Clark is finally becoming the hero I know.

The Superman junkie part of me loved last night's episode because it brought the characters closer to their destinies but the part of me that loves SV's Clark and Lex individually was crushed. Lex's torture and Clark being unable to save him were too much.

On Tom Welling

I think Tom welling is a fine looking man but his Clark Kent is a big dork . I mean, what is with that hair? And those bangs? That hair is just wrong.

Wronger still is the "constipated" look they make him don for all the promo pics - I think that it's supposed to be his " Superman face " but it's hard to look tough with curled bangs.

But when Tom played Jor-El in Smallville 1961 and Bad!Clark in the Season 3 opener he looked much better.

He also looks much better in most magazine pics.

On Lex

I love Michael Rosenbaum's portrayal of Lex Luthor. Watching a pre-Metropolis, trying-to-do-the-right-thing Lex (like last night where he was getting beat up by the three kryptofreaks and still wouldn't reveal Clark's secret) has made me like Lex more than Clark. Which, was easy to do since before Season 3 Clark was either kinda dumb or kind of a jerk -- or both!

As a long time Clark fan and FoLC if any had told me I would be swooning over a bald , skinny (well not so skinny anymore) Lex Luthor - I would have thought they were crazy.

Heh.

Smallville Fanfic

The main ship in Smallville is Lex/Clark (aka Clex). However, I'm not much of a "slash" person - not that there's anything wrong with it -- just not my cup of tea.

It goes to follow that most of the fic I've read is either "Het" or "Gen". So my links will pretty much only be for that kind.

One of the large SVfic repositories is Level Three which has slash, het and gen fic. All fics come with a pairing notice and a rating so there shouldn't be any surprises.

There's also a site devoted exclusively to het fic and that is The Wild Coyote .

For those of you who believe that Chloe=Lois I'd keep a close eye on Carbon Copy - it's a really new site devoted to the idea that Chloe is actually Lois Lane. They don't have much up yet -- but that should change soon.

Beverly mentioned the Lexson (or Hudson/Lex) fics. (Btw, Beverly - your son's love of this series wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that the author chose the lovely Alessandra Ambrosio as her model for Girl!Clark - would it? ) - 100% pure Lois Lane. Short and very sweet it's Falling is Like This by Azar.

And with that - I'm done!

Well, I thought I would let you all know, that you really are NOT alone in your Smallville appreciation. )

Well, I have absolutely no idea whether this was a good or bad episode. I'm just enjoying this thread.

You guys...

Oh and I agree with others on Smallville fanfic - don't scare us that way!!

LabRat (thinking of adding a warning to the thread header: "Do not read while drinking..." )

ROTFL! Okay - I have to ask for my son, mind you - where can he find this one?

He's been saying for about a year now that at least Clark needs to be killed off on Smallville so Lex can become Superman . . . what kills me is that I can't disagree with the idea at all. :rolleyes:

Oh, shut up KathyB.

You know, I'd let her talk but the laughing just has to go. And I know she's laughing her head off because she knows quite well that I've HATED this series from the PILOT but for some strange reason can't resist talking about it every chance I get. It's like picking at a wound that won't heal . . . I need help. I really do.

Beverly

Just for you, Bev. You can find it here: Meteor Redux .

Laura