Smallville Season 11, it"s happening...

[Procutus]

When I think of all the things Alfred and Miles could have done the more bitter I get. I'm a pretty weird fan, aren't I?

Not in the least. I agree with you that there were a lot of missed opportunity during the show's entire run. I for one, kept hoping they'd bring back Dean Cain's character to be a recurring villian during Lex's absence and that we'd seen the entire JL in action more than just the one time.

And yeah, I too wish that Chloe had figured it out on her own. She certainly should've been able to. I mean after all, she did almost all of Clark's thinking for him.

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

And yeah, I too wish that Chloe had figured it out on her own. She certainly should've been able to. I mean after all, she did almost all of Clark's thinking for him.

I will give the writers one thing. When Chloe learned Clark's secret she didn't just come out and say so. She did some soul searching and decided to respect his privacy and give him a reason to trust her with his secret. I think the episode Blank is proof why Chloe deserved his friendship, loyalty and trust so much more than Lana did.

Because she earned it.

 

[Admiral_Young]

The other thing with Kryptonite Woman was that as I said it wasn't even necessary...they'd ALREADY written out Kristen with the video diary! That was a perfect ending given what they'd established with Lana's personality and how she does things. All her return did was slow things down between Clark and Lois which started to finally heat up. Personally I think as I said they wanted to give Kristen a "Good" departure...from interviews that Kristen gave in the Vancouver Sun at the time it seemed like she really was tired of the role and had no intention of returning at all.

Regarding Alicia and Chloe...I always looked at that as Alicia's last good act. She was giving Clark a gift in a way...that gift was Chloe, one of his closest and best friends learning and sharing his secret. I thought it was Alicia in her own kooky way giving what she knew Clark needed. Plus knowing how the Smallville writers wrote...it probably would've been another season and a half before Chloe figured it out on her own LOL.

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

Regarding Alicia and Chloe...I always looked at that as Alicia's last good act. She was giving Clark a gift in a way...that gift was Chloe, one of his closest and best friends learning and sharing his secret. I thought it was Alicia in her own kooky way giving what she knew Clark needed.

I would like to believe that but Alicia made it clear in the episode that she wanted Chloe to expose Clark's secret so that the two of them could live together openly as freaks. She hated being the one who elicited all the nasty looks and shocked whispers. It was classic Alicia. She really did have serious issues with boundaries.

Alicia's mistake was that she thought Chloe loved journalism more than she loved Clark.

Plus knowing how the Smallville writers wrote...it probably would've been another season and a half before Chloe figured it out on her own LOL.

 

[Admiral_Young]

That's very true about Alicia...I'd forgotten about that. Maybe I was projecting my own idealized version of Alicia? I always kind of liked her.

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

That's very true about Alicia...I'd forgotten about that. Maybe I was projecting my own idealized version of Alicia? I always kind of liked her.

Yeah, Sarah Carter really made Alicia so sympathetic it was extremely easy to ignore what a wingnut she really was.

 

[Procutus]

I would like to believe that but Alicia made it clear in the episode that she wanted Chloe to expose Clark's secret so that the two of them could live together openly as freaks. She hated being the one who elicited all the nasty looks and shocked whispers. It was classic Alicia. She really did have serious issues with boundaries.

Alicia's mistake was that she thought Chloe loved journalism more than she loved Clark.

Yup, that's basically the way I recall it as well, without pulling the DVD to watch the ep... Which I might, anyway. As you pointed out, Alicia was a real wackjob, but she underestimated Chloe's loyalty to the Big Blue Boyscout. It still would've been a lot cooler though, if the Chlovage had pieced it all together on her own. She certainly had the brains to do it.

Finished Issue 5 last night, and I'm really enjoying this, even more than I thought with all the lavish praise you two gents have heaped on Miller's efforts. Hopefully, I'll squeeze in a read on #6 later on tonight.

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

Finished Issue 5 last night, and I'm really enjoying this, even more than I thought with all the lavish praise you two gents have heaped on Miller's efforts.

We are a regular two-Admiral pep squad, aren't we?

 

[Procutus]

^

That you are!

 

[Procutus]

OK, Issue 6 was probably the best yet. I'm going to wait until 9 comes out to get the next three. This is definitely what the show should've been back in Season 8, IMO.

And just how does Supes communicate with Watchtower when he's out in space? I don't see a radio or anything... Not that he should be able to speak into a radio in a vacuum.



Then again, perhaps I'm overthinking it just a bit. After all, this is Smallville we're talking about.

 

[Admiral_Young]

He has his little blue tooth ear piece

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

And just how does Supes communicate with Watchtower when he's out in space? I don't see a radio or anything... Not that he should be able to speak into a radio in a vacuum.

Well, uh, you see there's... and uh, tactical telekinesis and um... personal forcefields and... er, air pockets and... eh...

I really dunno.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Oh oops. Must've have speed read over the vacuum of space comment...doesn't Ollie have Queen Industry communication satelights in orbit? I'm pretty sure Chloe helped set those up while they were first establishing the Watchtower and J'onn helped.

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

Oh oops. Must've have speed read over the vacuum of space comment...doesn't Ollie have Queen Industry communication satelights in orbit? I'm pretty sure Chloe helped set those up while they were first establishing the Watchtower and J'onn helped.

They do have communication satellites in orbit but that doesn't explain how Supes can speak in a vacuum.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Yeah. It's not the first time he's spoken in space either. I remember the Exile story line before he left he used to have some kind of breathing apparatus with a built in radio to speak with Dr. Hamilton on Earth. Not to mention I believe Zod, and Ursa spoke on the Moon in "Supermen II". Clark spoke to the cosmonauts in "Superman II" as well when he saved them I think (that scene in the comic was a direct homage I believe). I just chalk it up to him being Superman

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

Yeah, I try not to examine these things too closely either. I gave up after I saw Superman IV where he had the extremely human Lacy Warfield flying with him through space.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Oi...LOL.

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

It's time for Smallville #9 and boy it doesn't disappoint! Well it didn't disappoint me at least. I suppose I should explain. Do you remember how in every Smallville episode the action and adventure portion of the show concludes about forty five minutes in and the remain 15 minutes of the episode is the character stuff? Well that's kinda what Brian Q. is doing her. Anybody hoping for the adrenaline and groin grabbingly glorious action of last issue are going to be disappointed. However if you've been enjoying the ride that Miller's been taking us on then you're just gonna go with the flow and have a good time.

The issue opens up with a scene reminiscent of the Superman/Lois flying scene in the first movie. It's a cute, romantic moment amongst the clouds. It's also the site of the only error in the issue. What error? Nothing as egregious as the misplaced pages a couple of issues past, thank God. It's just a little typo. "Day" when they meant "Dad". Nothing too distracting. We all make 'em. I just thought I'd be a geek and mention it before anybody else did.

Next up is Ollie and Chloe discussing whether they really want to leave Matropolis for Star City. It seems like, yes, they're still going to move. Kinda, sorta. I get the impression Chloe mostly wants to go and Ollie kinda doesn't. I'm not sure if the characters are being ambivalent or if Miller's writing is just vague in this scene. Either way the best thing about the scene is the revelation that they're being stalked by the person in the spaceship.

The next scene and one of the best is between Lex and Tess. I really like the interaction between the two characters. They're like an old married couple by this point. Sick of the sight of each other and I really get the impression that they like tormenting one another.

The story is moved forward by the revelation that Hank Henshaw's consciousness is being transferred into one of the drones from last issue. What's more Lex intends to have Tess removed from his mind in the same way and then dismantled.

Yeah, Lex is going there!

There's also one more revelation that's almost worth the price of the entire issue. That revelation being that Smallville's Otis is about one brain cell less retarded than the Ned Beatty Otis of the movies. Okay it wasn't really important to the story I just thought it was wacky and goofy.




The issue ends with Hank Henshaw finding out what Lex has done to him. Hank is not happy and that is an understatement that ends this issue with an exciting cliffhanger that gives us the first use of the ultra-sonic signal watch in the Smallville mythos! No, it isn't Jimmy Olsen who uses the watch. However the fallout of Lex's actions and the ramifications on Superman should be made clear one week hence.


And now the long wait for Smallville #10 begins.

Thanks, Brian!

 

[Admiral_Young]

I swear there hasn't been a bad or boring issue yet with this!!! Oh boy where to start, Admiral James Kirk did a great job of summarizing the issue. The funniest line goes to Otis!!! I can totally picture that happening if this was live action, and Lex's reaction to it was hilarious and a nod to Gene Hackman. The conversations between Lex and Tess are wonderful. Tess gets to really the heart of the matter and understands more than most just how Lex ticks. He's not necessarily an evil bastard, he starts out with good intentions but because of just how he operates and he was raised and conditioned as a child, those good intentions end up being flawed, and he simply doesn't see what he does as being "evil". He thinks he's doing genuinely good things and wants to help the world. Paul Cornell explored this aspect of Lex's character during his year long Action Comics run as well. I love when writers really truly understand Lex Luthor.

Henshaw....oooooooooh Cyborg Superman is coming ever closer! An interesting way of continuing to seed the character and foreshadow what is to come later. "Smallville" did a good job of this season after season. Just the execution was sometimes...lacking. I don't think that will be the case this time around. EMIL!!!!! Oh and I absolutely loved the Lois and Clark, and Chloe and Ollie stuff! The balance of writing and plot is excellent in this...and I too have to thank Bryan for that. Next issue...BRUCE and STEPH!!!

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

EMIL!!!!!

I didn't really want to mention it in my review because I thought it was another nitpick that was just too nitpicky to mention. But then again, being a fanboy... why abstain?

My nitpicky nitpick is an artwork nitpick which is probably one of the nitpickiest nits one could ever hope to pick. I mean it's all a matter of interpretation so I really shouldn't bitch but here I go...

I thought Emil Hamilton was too good looking in this issue. He looked less like Alessandro Juliani and more like Dean Cain with a Jewfro.

I know! Dumb nitpick! I guess I just like Hamilton as the fugly little chud from the tv show!