Smallville

Ok, lets get this out of the way.  I watch Smallville.  This is not to say I particularly enjoy Smallville.  I'm a huge Superman fan ever since the film in 78 when I was 5 years old.  I remember the exact moment I started to more than moderately dislike this characterization of Clark/pre-Superman though, it was season 3 episode 8 "Shattered."  In this episode the lex character is drugged and controlled by the lionel character, desperate for help, begging for help from his "friend" Clark, who is, even at this early stage, a tool.  Clark is too afraid of who he is to do the right thing and help out this person in need, and jets.  At that point, that characterization of the person who would become Superman was a bust.


I know.  Its a teen drama on the WB(CW) based on a comic.  I am aware.  But I kept watching it because it was fun to watch with my wife and buddy Cherry, who I am assuming enjoy the "Attractive People in Distress" meme/trope.


Last week, while reading an io9 recap of an episode I haven't seen yet, I stumbled upon the most awesome thing possible.  Weekly reviews of each episode of this, the final season, by two comics guys who haven't previously watched the show.  Full of spoilers, but full of awesome.

This weeks review includes the line:

Chris: It's like they came up with the idea of Superman needing to watch YouTube videos about himself in order to feel like he should go be a hero, and then had a meeting where they brainstormed to figure out how to make that idea EVEN WORSE.

Their comments, while coming from a background far more familiar with all the in-DC universe  references, are very much in line with my own feelings on the show.


To conclude:


Chris: At this point, I don't care if we ever get to the point where Lex Luthor acts like Lex Luthor; I just want Superman to act like Superman. I mean, broken record time, but in this episode, Ollie's busting up bank robberies in disguise, Lois is out going door-to-door to drum up support for repealing the VRA, and even Martha Kent -- MA FRIGGIN' KENT! -- is giving speeches! Clark is doing NOTHING.


and:


Chris: I think one of the reasons I didn't make the connection was that I was too busy watching a show about Superman where Clark Kent stands there watching his mom get shot on TV. The Blur, everybody: Noticeably Slower Than a Speeding Bullet™.

David: What's amazing about that is that even Lex Luthor assumes Clark doesn't suck that much. I'm jumping ahead a bit, but I just want to touch on this: I think Lex Luthor's overall plan here is actually kind of clever. It's a good idea. Shooting someone Clark loves with Kryptonite bullets so that when he throws himself in front of them he gets messed up, that's a solid Superman-busting plan. I dig that.

Chris: Except that Alexander, having never watched Smallville before, doesn't realize that this would require Clark to actually, you know, DO SOMETHING, thus dooming his plan to failure before it even starts.


its GOLD.