kickingnames

They’re giving two full months to air six more episodes, so there’s definitely another break coming.

I waited a season and a half for Clark and Jonathan to have an on-screen conversation, just the two of them, that wasn’t about another family member — and this is what I get. I hate what they’re doing with Jonathan. Hate. It.

Also there’s the Kryptonian-possessed guy who showed up to attack Lois and Sharon Powell at the hotel (when Lois borrowed Clark’s truck). After he lost the fight with Superman, Leslie Larr showed up on the road in front of his car and straight up heat-visioned him to death.

Yes, I saw that tidbit elsewhere and it makes me interested in seeing where they go with this Inverse Society or whatever it’s called, beyond the obvious.

Ugh, Jonathan, no. And again — louder this time, for the writers in the back — “THAT’S NOT HOW GENETICS WORK!” Anyway… Should’ve known there was a schedule break coming — too many people were making dumb decisions tonight. Well-meaning, but dumb. I’m not even mad at Lois for burying the lede (along with her journalistic integrity) with the Ally story, although I’m totally on board with the theory that Lucy and the others are seeing themselves from other universes, even pre-crisis ones. That’d be a cool way to tie this show back in to the others (although I don’t necessarily need that; I’m liking it separate as it is just fine). Just as long as Chrissy is truly doing undercover work. For now I’m choosing to believe she’s trying to do what Lois was to close to the situation to do — go in deep to uncover what’s really going on, good or bad. (It will almost certainly be bad.) What are the men of this show thinking? Anderson refuses to bring in Superman and gets two of his young, hip superheroes murdered. John Henry takes off in a damaged suit to help Clark after he promised not to and very-nearly gets murdered. Natalie probably wants to murder Clark for letting her dad get hurt. Lois will definitely want to murder the rest of her male relatives when she finds out about the “heroics” they’re each sneaking around to do. And Kyle’s absolutely dead meat when Lana finds out about his past dalliances with that bartender. Is it sad that I already feel bad for Bizarro? It seems like he keeps attacking because he’s just trying to get Clark out of his head just as much as Clark wants Bizarro out of his own head. Curious about the effects of the crystal Tag snagged.

@cambridgeguy Oh good -- I was wondering if someone had played his voice backward yet to find out what he said. Everything I know outside the show I learned from the ‘90s Superman cartoon and the Justice League / Justice League Unlimited series. It’s fun to recognize characters, but this show is doing it's own thing with them that we’re all discovering together.

In other news: They (sort of) teased Doomsday and then gave us Bizarro. That swerve actually makes some sense, because it’s waaayyyy to early in this show for Doomsday. Bizarro’s never been a favorite of mine, but since we’re in episode 3 of the season, I feel okay that he’s not going to be focal point for the entire rest of the season. Man, stuff with the Lanes was brutal. I see Ally Alston is this season’s Morgan Edge - type villain. First mistake: thinking you’ve pulled one over on Lois Lane. Last mistake: thinking you’ve pulled one over on Lois Lane. Natalie Irons continues to be awesome. Could definitely use more of her and Jonathan together; they’re just fun.

I will calm down and see reason later, but right now…. I do not care about Wounded Puppy’s young love feelings. I am too pissed at the story writing for Snuggle Muffin (TM @scarynikki12) to care. Seriously, they threw Tegan over for this? Yes, I know this could be Jon getting his “investigative reporter” on, but still, someone whose closest family is patently vulnerable to kryptonite should not be arbitrarily deciding to dig into the stuff, undercover or no. And, the bigger issue that the writers are still ignoring — JON IS PART KRYPTONIAN!!! If he’s Clark’s son, kryptonite should be a no-no for him, regardless of whether he’s demonstrating powers. (Me, mentally screaming at the tv: “That’s not how any of this works!”) This storyline is stupid and I hate it.

Triple-extra hoping for a shockingly awesome sophomore season now. If a good season can in any way help the show survive somewhere, I’m all for it. And even if the quality has no bearing on the final outcome, I’ll at least have two good seasons of the show to look back on. 😊

This is a bit random, but I need to vent. I really wish the show would acknowledge Jonathan as Clark’s son genetically, instead of giving all the Krypton connections to Jordan alone. I just keep seeing Tumblr posts and the like drawing parallels between Jordan and all these other iterations of Superman/Superman’s son in comics and movies, and it’s starting to irritate me a little. Clark has TWO kids in this story, not just one! I get what the show is going for with the “one takes after mom, one takes after dad” approach, but seriously, they’ve anvilled it home enough. The (mostly unseen) backstory of Clark spending more time with Jonathan previously because Jonathan was athletic is weak sauce. Show me, Show, that Jonathan is also the son of Kal-El! Sorry. Just needed to get that off my chest before the new season starts.

Yes! That startled me when I caught it on rewatch. (The episode also features the man who be John Diggle.)

This is exactly the whole reason I’m watching this show — an actual healthy marriage between two mature adults, in the midst of the super-powered insanity. The biggest concern I had for the sophomore season was that the writing would become sophomoric and ruin the good thing going with Clark and Lois, in favor of the drama that so many of these shows think will last them several seasons. (They’re wrong. It gets old real quick.)

I’ve been watching via Hulu — man were the early seasons so good! I did skip a few episodes, but watched mostly through season 7, which seems have had a fairly natural ending. I remembered back in the day reading that the leads had started out as actual friends, before a rift developed between them that eventually became visible onscreen. It’s such a shame, and so unnecessary. But I agree that it the later writing did not help matters. I used to see a lot about the “Moonlighting curse” where shows supposedly went downhill after the UST was resolved, and how writers would stretch out UST as long as possible to avoid that happening. Personally I think it’s bunk, and if writers would just learn how to write healthy relationships between lively characters as much as they write drama, they could resolve UST and still keep a show fresh. It seems to me that most shows reinvent themselves (intentionally or inadvertently) every 4-5 seasons, and the vibe of the show is just different from before, even if the actors and settings are technically the same. The good ones shift in a way that keeps the show going; the not-so-good ones don’t, and the fault lines usually become visible enough to end the show. I was happy when Castle seemed to be shifting in a good way around season 5, but after that the strain became apparent and it all fell apart. I’m really glad it’s available via streaming though, cause there were sone really fun moments I like to revisit.

Watching an early season 2 episode of Castle with a couple of Arrowverse sightings — a young John Ramsey and a young Tyler Hoechlin!

But she won’t instantly recognize Clark as Superman, will she? No one else (including her father) has. Now, how long it takes before someone clues her in is another matter.

Quoting myself — I just rewatched this scene, and I gotta add kudos to Tyler Hoechlin here too. Lois is fighting tears, but Clark has this depth of emotion in that moment too, even in his brief look at Lois. Sharon Powell may never know that they know, but Clark and Lois absolutely do know her pain all too well.

Episode 1.14 — Sam: Too many of those questions lead back to our family and the very secrets that keep you safe. Lois: Is that really what this is about? Sam: Are you questioning my motives? Which is it Lois? Am I protecting the world or protecting our family? ‘Cause I never seem to get it right with you. Lana: So, what brings you to Smallville? ClarK: Oh, you know, I grew up here. Lana: Oh, you did? Clark: Yeah, yeah. Loved it. Really. You know, great town, better people. Met my best friend here. Lana: Well, he must be very lucky. Clark: She. She. And believe me, I’m the lucky one. Although it kinda feels like she’s been avoiding me lately. Lana: I know. I’m sorry Clark. It’s just that every time I see you, I’m reminded of all that I’m losing. Clark: Maybe it’s a sign you should stay. Sharon Powell: This is a letter from the Department of Defense, signed by that man right there, and in it, he says that my son’s death is under investigation. Sam: That’s true, Mrs. Powell. We’re still in the process of gathering facts about how Derek died. Sharon Powell: He died because of what Morgan Edge did. That is how he died! You have known for months, and you didn’t bother saying anything to me. Lois: Sharon, I know how difficult this has been for you. Sharon Powell: You have no idea what’s it’s like to lose a child. The guilt a mother feels, the thinking over and over again what I could have done differently. Lois: I’m so sorry. Sharon Powell: Please, tell me what Morgan Edge did to my son. I need to know the truth. Clark: Tal-Rho, no one else needs to get hurt. Leslie Larr: There is no Tal-Rho anymore. [Jordan and Jonathan watching the tv as Leslie Larr flies up behind Lois on camera] Jordan: Jon. Jonathan: This is how she died. Lois [to Janet, after narrowly escaping an on-camera death by laser-eyes]: Are you still rolling? Janet: I may have blacked out for that last part, but yes. Teen: Can you, like, tell us what’s happening with Morgan Edge? Sam: Do I look like someone who gives classified intel to drunk teenagers? Jonathan: So how’d you find us? Sam: I run the DOD. You think I can’t track down my own grandsons? Clark: Lois. Lois: What happened? Where are the boys? [off Clark’s look] Where are the boys?! Clark: Edge took Jordan. Lois: No. Clark: I tried following him. I was too late. Lois: No, go find him. Clark: Lois, Lois, I looked everywhere. He’s gone. He’s gone. Lois [sobbing]: What are we gonna do? Clark [holding Lois]: I don’t know. I don’t know.

Adding this in, because this show still deserves all the kudos it gets: TV's Best Series Finales of All Time, Ranked: Cheers, Six Feet Under, Friends, ER, 12 Monkeys, S.H.I.E.L.D. and More By Team TVLine / August 12 2021

This is a great point to make, and more kudos to Elizabeth Tulloch. Watching that scene, I felt as though what was on the page was probably just simple foreshadowing of the episode’s end, but what ET played was a woman who absolutely has dealt with all that guilt and pain and is now quietly absorbing the hits this lady is throwing. It’s such a rich portrayal in a brief moment, and makes the end so much more traumatic. Like, obviously it’s the whole point of the show, but hasn’t this family been through enough?

Episode 1.13 — Clark: I spoke with your grandfather. The DOD’s gonna stick around town a little longer than they planned. Jonathan: Until you guys find Leslie Larr or… Clark: That, and they’re shutting down the mines. Jordan: Why? Lois: Gonna get all the X-Kryptonite out so no one else gets hurt. Jordan: So no one else gets powers, you mean. Lois: Also true. Sam: It’s over, but we have loose ends to tie up. John Irons: We got Edge and Larr. Clark: I think it’s safe to say we can finally move on. Sam tosses necklace at John Irons. John Irons: 7734. Sam: I had those weapons built for the wrong reasons. Clark: What are you saying? Sam: I was wrong to think you could be a threat to the world. I’m gonna take that kryptonite and those weapons, bury them in concrete, and sink them to the bottom of the ocean. Clark: What about Edge? Larr? Sam: We’ll keep enough to guard them appropriately, but there will no longer be enough to supply an army. Clark: I don’t know what to say Sam. Sam: Eh, you don’t have to say anything. Just know you, Lois, the boys — you don’t have to worry anymore. Jordan: You are a rule-breaker. Sarah: Me? Jordan: Yeah. Sarah: You’ve missed more days than any other kid at school. Jordan: I have a weak immune system! Clark: One last time — where’s the Eradicator? Edge: I told you it’s of no use to you. Clark: If you don’t wanna tell me, fine. We have everything else, including Leslie. She’s locked up now, same as you. Stopped her before she could break you out. I don’t know what the plan was, but it wasn’t a good one. Edge: It’s called loyalty, something you know nothing about. Clark: I am loyal to the people of this world who accepted me. Edge (laughs): Accepted you? They fear you. They always will, and they should. Clark: You’re wrong. Edge: You should be a god, but you became a slave to them. Don’t you ever wonder who you might’ve been if you hadn’t landed here, been raised by simple farmers? Clark: I’d be nothing like you. Edge: We both know that’s not true. You fight against your real nature every day. Clark: You don’t know me. Edge: I know the power surging through you. I know how every moment you make a choice to hold yourself back, because that’s the only way we can walk amongst humans without killing them, isn’t it? It’s all about control. But didn’t it feel good to lose it just once? Clark: Goodbye Tal. (walks away) Edge: I can see it in your eyes, brother. You felt it. You are just like me! Jordan: How’d you find this place? Sarah: I used to come here with my abuelita. She’d tell me stories about my family. We’re originally from Mexico, but we’ve been in Smallville for generations, so. You know, half the time I wouldn’t even know which one of her stories were true, but it always just made me feel like I had somewhere to belong. Jordan: I never really felt like I belonged anywhere… to be honest until I met you. Sarah: Jordan — Jordan: I know, I know, I know, whatever, but it’s — look all I’m saying is that it only really takes one person to change your whole life, just to make you feel safe. And you have Jon, and you have your family, and you have me. And that’s never going away. Jonathan: Hey, sorry. I just got home and heard voices, so… So, you really built this thing from scratch, huh? Pretty amazing. John Irons: You’re a gear head? Jonathan: I don’t know what I am. (pauses) Always been an athlete, you know, so… John Irons: Me too. You know, you can be more than one thing. Clark (walking into the barn): Jonathan! Why aren’t you in school? Lois: We need to talk. Clark: Yeah, we do. Jon skipped class. Lois: What? Go upstairs. I will deal with you later. (Jonathan leaves the room) We can talk about him after we talk about what I wanna talk about. You told my dad to keep 7734? (Jonathan pauses at the stairs) Clark: I did, I did, I should have talked to you first. Lois (without turning around): Jonathan, upstairs! Lois (about Jordan): Not enough to skip school, this one has to go get arrested. Clark: If they’re both acting out, we’ll give them a punishment. Lois (sighs): I’ll drive. Clark: Lois, about the other thing? Lois: What? I’m right. You’re wrong. Clark: I understand why you would think that. Lois: Do you know what it was like when my dad gave John Henry Irons the go-ahead to fire the missile? Clark: I’m sorry. Lois: Then why risk it happening again? Clark: I told you, because it’s — Lois: Because it’s the right thing to do. What does that even mean anymore, Clark? I lied to Chrissy today to protect our family. I broke my sacred role as a journalist. Clark: We both play fast a loose with journalistic integrity from time to time. Lois: When it comes to keeping your secret, not the stories we investigate. Clark: Yeah, but Edge is brother. He’s Kryptonian. This story is different. Lois: Why should I be okay with the military having the secret code to kill my husband, given the countless psychos who want you dead? It just feels like a really bad idea. Clark: Lois, will you please just listen — Lois: No, there’s nothing you can say that I wanna hear, and now I’m angry, and I feel sorry for yelling at you, but I also have to stay angry so that I can scare the hell out of Jordan. So why don’t you just stay here, and let’s both take a moment to think, and then we can talk about this later after I bail our son out of jail. Lois: Just because she let you two go with a warning doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Jordan: Mom — Lois: Don’t talk yet. Lois: You okay? Lana: I don’t know what I am right now. I feel so many things. Lois: Mostly anger, right? Lana: So much anger. Have you ever noticed — Lois: — how punchable the mayor’s face is? Yeah I have. Lois: Clark, you are wrong. Clark: Lois, we have to have a plan. Lois: Why? Because your mind is corruptible? We have proof now. Your heart is stronger than your mind. Clark: No, you don’t understand. Lois: Clark, I’m all about backup plans, but this one comes with major risks, and for a reason you’ve proven isn’t a threat. Clark (sighs): That’s not entirely true. Lois: What are you talking about? Clark: My dad taught me control. I have been controlling my powers every second of every day for almost 40 years, but when Zod took over, for the first time, I felt what it was like to let go. To really let go. Lois: Clark, those were Zod’s emotions, not yours. Clark: I know, but I felt it. It was me. And I’m not saying I want this to be true, I wish it wasn’t… but it felt good. It felt really, really, good. And that feeling worries me. If there’s even the slightest chance that I could be manipulated again with that desire to let go… the world needs a way to stop me. Lois: I don’t think that will ever happen. Clark: Lois… Lois: But, on the off chance I’m wrong, and if this will make you feel better, then fine. Let’s have a fail-safe, but there is no way in hell I’m trusting the DOD with this. Clark: Then we just have to find someone we can. Chrissy: Wasn’t expecting to see you. Lois: I owe you an apology. Chrissy: Kinda busy, Lois. Lois: You were right. I lied. My dad is hiding something, and I can’t betray his trust. Chrissy: This story is bigger than you or your dad. We have a responsibility to the people. This town is falling apart. Lois: Believe me, I know. People are tearing each other down, looking for someone to blame, and if we do nothing we are as responsible for its downfall as anyone else. Chrissy (sarcastically): If only there was something we could do. Lois: I can’t write this story. I’m too close to it to be objective… But you can. Lois: Do you have any idea how much trouble you’re in? You can’t just skip school. I don’t care if you’re mooning over Sarah Cushing or coming home to build robots with John Henry. Jordan: Mooning? Jonathan: It’s a warsuit. Clark: Look, guys, you’ve been through a lot. You wanna blow off some steam, I get it. But there are rules, and you do not disrespect your teachers by ignoring the work they put into your classes. Jonathan (mumbles): We’re sorry. Jordan (mumbles): Really sorry. Clark: You wanna try saying that a little more convincingly, please? Jonathan: I’m sorry. Jordan: I’m sorry. Clark: Thank you. Now things are finally calming down, so when you’re done being grounded, you guys can go back to being normal teenagers. And believe me, small towns are actually a lot of fun. Lois smiles at Clark after the boys leave. Clark: What? Lois:”Small towns are a lot of fun.” Clark: Just trying to give them something to look forward to. Lois: Sounds vaguely provocative. Clark: Oh, does it? And you’re still not sold on small towns? Lois: I’m sold on my small town guy. Clark: I can live with that.

I’m about to do the same. Watched for the first time last year, just finished a rewatch — and realized I have NO ONE to talk to about. It’s hard for me to explain to people I know, who aren’t into time-travel stories like I am, what a wonderfully crafted show this was. Such a heartwarming, well-deserved ending… I just really, really like this show.

Episode 1.12 — Edge: Not even Superman is strong enough to resist the will of Zod. Lois: Boys, he’s gonna be okay. Jonathan: Mom… Edge just took off with him. Lois: I know. Jordan: He said we’ll never see him again. Lois: Yeah, I know honey, and I know how scary that sounds. I know it doesn’t seem like it right now, but your dad has been in worse spots than this, and he always gets through them. I’ve been dealing with this for 20 years. Trust me. Your dad will fight through this, and he will win. (Kyle talking about his Kryptonian possession) Kyle: Mine came and went. Lois: What was that like? Kyle: Um… like I was losing myself. Yeah, I couldn’t remember things, couldn’t picture my family. And it hurt, you know, trying to push through, and then… I’d see their faces. And this darkness came over me. Lois: But you could fight back? Kyle: Yeah, some. But there was this overwhelming sense that… my family would just be better off if I just… let go. And I almost did. Lois: But you did fight, Kyle. Lois (to John Henry Irons): I have told you repeatedly that this world is different from yours, that our Superman is different from the monster who destroyed your Earth, that he would never turn on humanity. And you’ve asked me just as often how I know that for sure. I’ve never really answered that question, but I’m going to now. The reason I know how much Superman loves humanity is that he’s not just someone I report on. He is everything to me. He is the love of my life, the father of my sons. John, Superman is my husband. Jonathan: Do you know who I am? John Henry Irons: I have a pretty good idea. Jonathan: My name’s Jonathan. Jonathan Kent. When you were at the DOD, your RV was parked at our farm. I saw a lot of videos about you there. I saw what happened to my mom. I saw who my dad was. I saw a lot about you too. I saw about your daughter, Natalie. You seemed like a really good dad. But I just want you to know… this guy you’re about to kill… he’s a really good dad too. John Henry Irons: I wish there was another way, son. Jonathan: There’s always another way. Lois: I know the feeling you’re feeling. It is the actual, literal worst. Jonathan (to John Henry Irons): Thank you. And, I never said sorry about hitting you with the truck. No hard feelings.

New theory upon rewatch: Edge is no longer Tal-Rho (or not just Tal-Rho). At the very end when he’s sitting in the Kryptonite cage, there’s a brief brightness that I chalked up to a lens flare the first time around. But when I saw it again, I realized it was Edge’s eyes glowing — like, they would have glowed red for a split second before his creepy smile, but you can’t tell that it’s red because he’s in a green Kryptonite-tinted cage. But, realizing his eyes glowed, I’m guessing he used the Eradicator to transfer one (or more) consciousness into himself before he got taken down. Curious who that’s going to be, since apparently Zod is already off the table. (If it turns out that it’s the mook who had it out for Jonathan, and he’s is actually a significant Kryptonian, that’ll be interesting….)

He’s also the youngest of the main cast, and has been saddled with the most “troubled teen angst” of the storylines (along with the lamest floppy hair). I’m hoping the show will move away from at least a couple of these things next year, although this is still the CW so I’m not betting on it. (But seriously CW, do not force this child to keep this hairstyle just to show he’s the more angsty twin. Your viewers are not too stupid to tell them apart.)

I guess I really am a sucker for the “never give up on family” message — loved everything about that for the Kents and the Cushings. Lois and Jonathan continue to be the extraordinary humans in the family, and I love them dearly. Man, have I missed John Diggle! But as per usual — this needed more Diggle and Lyla. (I’d want to see Kara too, but only after there’s no danger of having to tie her show’s continuity to this one. I’m actually enjoying the disconnectedness.) My guess is that Edge’s blast to the Eradicator was the reverse of what Superman did — Superman pulled all the consciousnesses back into the Eradicator, but Edge essentially beamed them all out at a high-enough level in the atmosphere/space that we’re going to continue to see Kryptonian issues landing on Earth for some time. It wasn’t controlled like his machine, but probably just as effective. My other guess is that Leslie Larr is “in the wind” helping to find and push forward these Kryptonian issues. I get the feeling she’s going to keep getting away, and possibly become the Lex Luthor of this show (she’s got the name for the job).