Last weeks episode, “Siren”, proved that the producers of Smallville aren’t serious about Superman. The opening scene itself made the entire 90s Superboy series look like Emmy material. Over the last few seasons, the producers have been adding more “heroes” and more teen angst drama, in turn creating less quality.
They added Green Arrow, Flash, Aquaman, Bizzaro, Cyborg, BRANIAC, Supergirl, Zod, and now Black Canary (I probably missed a few). Every time the show has them in their ‘tights’, the quality degrades. It is as if the writers/producers want you to think that a superhero show is cheese, so that you accept more emo-Clark and dual-personality Lana.
Nearly every major Superman-universe character has been on Smallville, save Bruce Wayne. It has become it’s own mythos, one that will never continue, one that doesn’t work. This Clark can never become Superman…a global hero with a secret identity. I know the show isn’t “Superman”, but it should a least function as a prequel to a Superman story. Not to mention, Clark isn’t even close to becoming a reporter.
Imagine a show called “Gotham”, with a young Bruce Wayne. Several future Justice League characters show up occasionally, and learn his identity. His parents aren’t dead. The Joker lives in Gotham and secretly operates as a crook, and Bruce’s best friend. How can that Bruce ever become “Batman”?
Am I off base? Without the Superman connection, it is a poor mans “Dawson’s Creek”. Should I be evaluating Smallville standalone, and not within the context of the Superman mythos? Honestly, if it wasn’t Superman related, I would have given up along time ago.
Comments
I’ve never really been a big fan of Smallville for these reasons. I prefer watching Clark Kent when he grown up to be Superman. I think it’s cool to see Clark starting to grow into Superman or Lex growing to evil, but I feel that the show distances itself TOO far from the source material.
I’ve never been a fan of Clark and Lex as friends.
The show’s quality has declined, that’s for sure. Why Clark is still going through “teen angst” when he’s been out of high school for 3 freakin’ seasons is beyond me! Apparently the producers think we enjoy the (supposed) hero of the show being emo over a girl who he knew in high school. The Lana Lang character should not be as important as they make her out to be on Smallville.
I actually look forward to having guest superheroes, at least that way we get to see someone be heroic.
While I dislike the current angst and think this season is one of the worst so far (I think Season 5 and 6 and 2 are my favorites), this show DOES take place in its own universe, separate, but inspired by, the movies and the comics and all the other Superman universes there are. It is its own thing, only inspired by those others.
CW05: That was what I was getting at. It seems that they only stick other “heroes” on to keep people like us watching…and then cheese it up to make us sorry that they did.
IMO Canary was completely stupid, and even made Arrow’s involvement cheesy. Arrow is usually done well.
My only problem with Black Canary, was that she seemed way to familiar to the Angel of Vengeance from Season 5. Sure, her motive and power were different, but everything else was almost exactly like her. I say they should have just brought back the Angel of Vengeance and incorporated Black Canary at a later time, and more properly.
when the characters graduated from high school, i graduated to better shows.
Its obviously not Superman: The Movie, nor was Lois and Clark, and I think it has to be judged on its own. Which is not to say that its a good show. It may have been at one time, but unless they make drastic changes, its run its course.
After a time, all shows evolve. Some for the better, some not so. Smallville is the latter. Too teeny-bopper, ala 90210.
Black Canary can be depended on to stink up the joint, and this was no exception.