Clark and Lex: Great Scenes from Smallville

On May 2nd DC Comics will release the 11th season of Smallville in comic book form.  Writer Bryan Miller says the comic will take place a few months after the end of the TV series finale when Clark finally put on his tights and saved Lois, and the entire planet, from Doomsday.  I wasn't a big fan of last couple of seasons of Smallville.  Still, I stuck it out till the end and was rewarded with a pretty good series finale.

I'm kind of excited to read this comic, mainly because I don't like what DC has done to the Big Blue Boy Scout since their New 52 relaunch.  They've broken up Lois and Clark, turned the Daily Planet into a TV station, and gave him a stupid red belt.  As a long time Superman fan it makes me sad.  But now, with Smaville season 11, we get Lois and Clark back together, and a rookie Superman still learning the ropes.  I just hope Mr. Miller has more terrifying villian up his sleeve than smoke-monster Doomsday.  Man was that a pathetic version of one of Superman's greatest villians or what?

So this morning I caught my self browsing YouTube for some of my favorite Smallville clips, preferably the ones with Clark and Lex, the two friends who turned into bitter rivals.  When Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum were together in a scene it is a delight for me.  So I figure I'd share some of the links.  Enjoy!

SEASON 4- EVIL LEX:

http://youtu.be/zKRYRVEFDzE

SEASON 7 FINAL SCENE:

http://youtu.be/4PbaZCWpqrs

LAST SCENE OF CLARK AND LEX:

http://youtu.be/v6nwDITHrqo

SERIES FINAL SCENE:

http://youtu.be/jGm0V8G7h38

How Smallville Should Have Ended

So this Tuesday as I was walking into my local Best Buy to see what new dvd’s I shouldn’t buy I spotted the most glorious site, a giant display of Smallville the complete series. Now seeing how I consider myself not only a Smallville fan, but a Superman fan as well, I probably drooled a little. I have the first seven seasons of Smallville on dvd, and more on that soon. I saw that the complete series has an additional 5 hours of bonus features and the Justin Hartley Aquaman pilot, which I bought on ITunes. It’s awesome, check it out. I guess I was just in aww of it. Unfortunately the BB media worker, who I can’t remember is name, but it’s the one in the Southpark Meadows plaza in Austin, TX, said he’d call me when it came down so I could have the display. He didn’t and this morning I went in and another worker said it had been crushed. I’m a little hurt because I was going to do some little artsy project with it but hey, thanks for the heartbreak Best Buy!
Anyway, getting back to my point. For seven seasons I loved Smallville, but when creators Miles Millar and Alfred Gough left at the end of the 7th season, along with Michael Rosenbaum and Kristin Kreuk, the show started to suck and did so till the end of its 10th and final season. Sure I still watched it but it became one of those shows that went on for way too long, and was ruined for me. So as a fan and comic book enthusiast I thought of how I would have ended Smallville. I know the show's over so I feel comfortable in sharing my outline with the world.
When last we left our characters at the end of season 7 Clark had just killed Brainiac, but not before he imprisoned Kara in the Phantom Zone. Jimmy proposed to Chloe right before she got arrested. Lana had left Clark and Lois was there to comfort him. Then Lex found Clark’s Fortress of Solitude and the whole thing came down on top of them.



Fade in, Lex awakens in the Kawachi caves, and can not remember how he got there. He is convinced this was part of the Travelers plan and that he must stop the Traveler and protect Earth. Chloe is released from prison with the help of Oliver. Jimmy is eager to hear the answer to his proposal but Chloe is more concerned with finding Clark. Lois comes in saying that Lex is about to blow-up the Kawachi caves. Chloe, Lois, and Jimmy head to the caves to confront Lex. Lex asks where Clark is, admitting he doesn't remember seeing him in weeks. This puts Chloe's mind at ease that Lex has not done anything to Clark. Lex then proceeds to blow up the caves.

Clark awakens in the Phantom Zone, not sure how he go there, but he is imprisoned with Kara . Zod appears before them. He plans to use the house of El to finally escape from the Phantom Zone and make Earth his new Krypton.

As Chloe and the rest of the JLA try to figure out where Clark is Martha Kent shows up wondering the same thing. She warns that Lex has gone to Congress and commissioned for the creation of man-powered armored suits to help fight the alien and superhuman threat that is growing in the world. Major John Corbin has volunteered to be the first test subject when these kryptonite-powered suits are ready, which just happen to be green (of course real Superman fans get that reference).

Back in the Phantom Zone the Martian Manhunter, J’onn J’onzz (that’s right it’s J’onn, not John) appears to spring Clark and Kara free. He tells Clark that Jor-El sent him here as punishment for disobeying him again. The three of them escape the Zone and return to Earth. Since time moves so much slower in the Phantom Zone they come to find out that Lex's armored prototype is ready and Corbin has already been out rounding up vigilante outlaws for weeks now. Clark tells Kara and J’onn to return to the farm. Clark is on his way to ask Oliver for help when he sees Oliver running from Corbin. Clark has a small squabble with Corbin and feels weak due to the kryptonite powering Corbin. He is barely able to get Oliver and himself out of that situation.

The two return to the farm where Clark is filled in on everything that has been happening since he was away. Lex and Corbin have captured Victor, Dinah, and A.C. Clark goes to Lex to try and reason with him, but Lex will have none of it. He says he is sorry he wasted so many years thinking Clark was more than he appeared to be, and that every time he tried to prove it he was wrong. He sees Clark as a simple, small, man. One who is too small for Lex to even acknowledge anymore. Lex has decided to erase Smallville from his past, and he and Clark are no more. Clark leaves, now realizing that the person he once called a friend is completely gone.

Clark feels like he must seek guidance from Jor-El. He firsts goes to the caves, but sees they are completely destroyed. Then he goes to the Arctic, hollering for Jor-El's help. In the snow he finds a crystal. Clark throws it and the Fortress rises. When he enters the Fortress Jor-El lets his disappointment in Clark be known and that he can not help Clark, but if Clark does not act soon Earth will suffer the same fate a Krypton.

Back on the farm Jimmy and Lois show up with a hot tip as to where Lex is producing more armored suits. Chloe also gives Jimmy her answer saying that yes, she will marry him. Martha Kent comes to talk to her son and brings a gift with her. Clark talks about all those that have left him; Ryan, Pete, Raya, Jonathan, Lionel, and Lana. Clark feels responsible for all of them leaving him and doubts if he can be the hero, and man, everyone thinks he can be. Martha says that he doesn't need them anymore. All of them left a mark on his soul, but they ultimately left because they knew the decision had to be his. Every person has to make their own choice about who they will become. Destiny is always a choice. "And this will help you when you decide to be that man", Martha says to Clark. Martha hands Clark her gift and Clark opens it. Martha says she made it with part of the blanket they found in his spaceship. "It will help you hide when you want to be the man the world needs you to be." "A cape?" asks Clark. "You'll need it when you finally fly." Kara interrupts. Clark and Martha lookup to find Kara, Oliver, Chloe, and J'onn all standing in the barn like troops waiting for an order. Oliver let’s Clark know about Lois’s lead and that he had Bart go scout it out. However when Oliver tries to contact Bart he does not answer fearing Bart has been captured.  Clark knows the time for hiding is over.

Chloe is in Watchtower looking over everyone while Kara, Oilver, and J'onn infiltrate the compound. Inside, Lex recounts his run-ins with each of his captives and wants to know, where is Green Arrow? The lights go out and Dinah says, “Looks like he just showed up." Lex leaves the room calling on his armored soldier to gear up. J'onn appears from his invisible state to free Dinah and the rest of the JLA. Outside Oliver is setting explosives while Kara covers him. Corbin soon finds them and are no match for the kryptonite-powered suit. Just as Corbin is about to give Kara a final blow Clark hollers from the roof. Corbin looks up to see Clark in full Superman gear. Clark takes a deep breath and leaps into the air, flying right into Corbin. Their battle begins.

Meanwhile, Lois and Jimmy have made it into the compound and are snooping around. Oliver picks Kara off the ground and urges her to go. Kara wants to help Clark but Oliver says Clark can take care of himself, and reminds her that the place will to blow in a matter of minutes. With each punch Clark gets weaker and weaker. He tries to tell Corbin that the kryptonite is affecting him like it has so many, but Corbin doesn’t listen. They run into Lois and Jimmy. Jimmy snaps a few pictures and is then knocked unconscious. Corbin throws a huge piece of metal at Lois and Clark catches it just in time. All Lois sees is the outfit. Clark’s face is covered in shadows. He tells Lois to get Jimmy out of here and fights on.

Lex finds Green Arrow escaping and they both decide it’s time to end their rivalry. Oliver agrees just as he blows the charges to level the compound. Oliver knocks Lex out and after thinking about it for a moment, carries him to safety. Clark and Corbin are almost both worn out when the explosions start to go off around them. Clark delivers one last blow to the kryptonite and it shatters. Both of them fall to the ground. Kara comes in time just to grab Clark before the building goes down, with Corbin still in it. Kara meets up with the rest of JLA outside the compound. Kara says Clark is not breathing. Lex wakes up, with no one else outside, but arises to see his plant in flames.

Back at Watchtower the JLA bring Clark back and lay him down, Chloe bends over him in shock. She then asks if she has the power to bring him back, like she did with Lois and Lex. J'onn tells her that the amount of energy to bring Clark back would not just drain her, but kill her completely. Oliver orders her not to do it; that Clark would not want her to sacrifice herself for him. She agrees and with Lex's compound destroyed he won't be making any armored suits any time soon.  Hours later, Chloe sneaks back in to see Clark when no one is around. She says that she knows how much the world needs hope, and that Clark is that hope. She says to tell Jimmy and Lois that she is sorry. She then uses her abilities to recharge him. Clark slowly opens his eyes to see Chloe smile, but just as he smiles back Chloe drops to floor. Clark kneels beside her in a panic. The rest of the JLA rush in, shocked by Chloe's decision. Clark holds his friend and cries.

The JLA, Lois, Jimmy, Clark, and many others are at Chloe's funeral. As Clark looks up he sees Lana come. They give each other a look, but don't say anything. Clark looks up even more to see Lex in the distance. Clark pours dirt in the grave. Later that night Clark is still standing by Chloe’s grave. J’onn walks up saying that she isn’t coming back, not this time. Clark asks if he is 100% sure. J’onn replies, "no."

Clark goes to talk to Jor-El. Jor-El thinks Clark is there to ask for a do-over to try and save Chloe, but Clark isn’t. He knows what Chloe did was what she thought was best for the world, not just Clark. And that every day he will make sure that her sacrifice, and the sacrifice of everyone in his life, was not in vain. Although Jor-El disagrees with Clark's decision to lead two separate lives he is pleased he has chosen to protect Earth.

Back at the The Daily Planet Lois is staring at her first front page headline, 'Who Is Superman?' Jimmy comments on the name Superman from behind her. They both agree that Chloe loved the Daily Planet, and that serving truth and justice is the best way to honor her. “I couldn’t have said it better myself,” Clark replies. He is wearing a suit, glasses, and his hair is in his eyes. Lois comments on how she barely recognizes him. Clark tells Jimmy and Lois that he now works there. Lois is stunned because there is no way Lex would allow it, but Clark says he made a call and Lex is no longer in control of the Daily Planet. He points to the door and Perry White walks in barking orders at Jimmy as Jimmy follows him away. Lois bets Clark that she can get the full scoop on Superman. Clark takes that bet and thinks Superman won’t reveal himself completely until the time is right, but can tell Lois is little smitten by his alter-ego.

Lex is in the lab, staring through the glass. He found Corbin, alive, but at a price. The metal was fused into his body that the only way to save him, and the suit, was to join the two. Corbin is now a man stuck in a machine’s body, powered by kryptonite, and Lex’s best chance of destroying this....Superman.

Lana is at the Kent farm looking around. Clark flies down to greet her. The two talk about her decision to leave and why they both think it’s for the best. Clark mentions that he works at the Daily Planet, knowing it's not only what Chloe would want, but it's what he wants. Clark begins to fly away and Lana says, "Will I see you around?" "I'm always around," Superman replies. He flies out, smiles for the camera, and fade out.

From Smallville to Austin: How I Grew-up with Tom Welling

 Ten years ago a story started. It was about a young boy in Kansas discovering his unique abilities, how he could use them for the better of humanity, and how he must deal with the journey from boy to man. In October 2001 Tom Welling starred as Clark Kent in the new WB television show, Smallville. For ten years we all watched Welling take Clark thru trials and tribulations as he became The Man of Steel.

For over a decade I watched Clark Kent, each week, try to deal with the awkwardness of growing up, find the wisdom to decide what is right and wrong, and how the experiences he had shape who he would become. When Smallville premiered I was a senior in high school, on the precipice myself from boy to man. As I graduated from high school, went through college, and tried to find my place in the world, Clark Kent was right there with me. I could always relate to him because I felt like we were going through similar situations.

Clark Kent and I both grew up in the mid-west. We both have loving parents who tried their best to teach us a strong sense of morality. I too had a fortress of solitude on the second story of a barn. Although just to reassure Jenna, I never spied on the girl next door. Much like the same way Clark felt about Lana I was naïve enough to think that the girl I was in love with in high school was the girl I was destined to be with. I screwed up quite a lot trying to do the right thing for the wrong reasons. When I look back at the times I acted selfish, and hurt those I cared about the most, I try to remember if I was wearing a red kryptonite ring or not.

 As I grew up I realized I couldn’t stay home. I had to make my way in the world. I guess that’s where Clark and I didn’t appear so similar. I couldn’t wait to leave, while Clark tried to stay on the farm as long as possible. The more I ventured away from home the more comfortable I felt with myself. Though I missed my friends from my childhood they would always be with me. I made other friends along my journey who I shared common interests with, ones that I still consider my best friends to this day. Though we differ on who we are, we all share the same values, and helped each other become better people. 

Just like the Justice League, my friends and I eventually scattered all across the country. If I was Clark then my friend Bryce is Impulse. He moves fast, and sometimes acts without thinking, but he has a good heart, and I know he will always be there for me. Taking the role of Aquaman would be Andrew. He has a strong sense of who he is and what he believes in. He sometimes is quick with his emotions, but that just makes him a passionate person. Theresa fills the role of Black Canary as a girl who is hard to read sometimes, but other times seems like she wears her heart on her sleeve. The person I disagree with most, but also respect the most, is my friend Al. As my Green Arrow, Al and I see the way things should be done differently, which is why I sometimes become frustrated with him. But we always come back to the fight on the same side. There was also a person I knew during the past ten years I once called a friend for a while. Until one day I realized he was the opposite of everything I was and what I believed in. Rounding out my league is Lois Lane, my wife.

When Lois met Clark in a field he wasn’t in the best place in his life, and neither was I when I met Lisa. Lois was a little bossy, strong willed, and always had an opinion about everything. This bugged Clark because at the time was still so unsure of himself. He never even thought he was meant to be with Lois until it hit him right on the forehead. I know the feeling. Our wives push us to be better men than we thought we could be, and lets us know that no matter what happens there is always someone in our corner. The summer that Lisa and I became close was when we spent it watching the first five seasons of Smallville on DVD.

When I think back at Smallville it has many meanings to me. As a Superman fan I found it was a good interpretation for people who think comic books are silly or that Superman can’t be relatable in modern days. Despite the last few seasons I found it very entertaining. It had a great mixture of fantasy, drama, and laughter with a terrific cast to back it all up. Finally, spending almost 3 months with Lisa, sharing with her a show I loved to watch, it was the beginning of something I never saw coming that would last forever. Clark and I both started out trying to be comfortable with ourselves. We both wanted to know where we belonged, and we both had to let go of our first loves to realize something better was right in front of us. Clark Kent and I have been through a lot together, and I’ll miss him, but it’s time to put on the suit, literally, and be my own Superman.

We're Not In Kansas Anymore: The Decline of Smallville

The other night I sat down to catch this weeks episode of The CW show, Smallville.  The preview made it look promising with more information about the mysterious agency known as Checkmate and a meeting between Checkmate’s Amanda Waller, and the shows hero, Clark Kent.  But yet again I was disappointed with the story, acting, and overall direction the episode went.  Every week I tune in and ask myself, what happened to one of best Superman television series ever?  At the end of season 6 Smallville was a must watch for me and my friends.  We would gather together every Thursday night with some pizza and Keystone Light to see how young Clark Kent drew closer to becoming the man of steel, and how his former best friend, Lex Luthor, became his greatest villain.  Season 7 turned out to be a level down from its previous season, but my friends and I did not worry, that is until big changes were announced for season 8.

Season 8 started with a re-focus of the show, mainly highlighting the budding romance between Lois and Clark.  Clark assumed a dual identity and helped the people of Metropolis, and he got a desk across from Lois at The Daily Planet.  Also in season 8 Clark became the red and blue blur, who goes around the city saving people while Lois developed an infatuation with the Clark’s alter ego.  So somebody tell me how that is not Superman?  Now in its 9th season, Clark has dropped the red and blue and is wearing all black, including a trench coat.  This leads me to believe the writers of Smallville haven’t even read a Superman comic book……………ever. 

Towards the end of season 7 it was announced that the show's creators, Miles Millar and Alfred Gough, would be leaving the show.  Along with them would be cast members Kristin Kreuk, who played Lana Lang, and Michael Rosenbaum, who played Lex Luthor.  After hearing the news an alarm in my head went off and I knew Smallville was in trouble.  I had read in several interviews with Millar and Gough saying if they can get to the end of season 7 they could get to where the basic story of Superman begins.  So I always assumed the series would end with seven seasons.  When it was announced that Smallville was picked up for an 8^th season I was a little confused, but happy.  Then when I heard that Millar and Gough were leaving the show I freaked out.  Every show that has lost its creators has lost its soul.  These two men had a vision.  Smallville was a fully developed plan about two friends. one becoming the ultimate hero and one becoming the ultimate villain.   So how can a series about two people continue when one of them is gone? 

Since Millar and Gough’s departure the show has had a run of bad guest stars and bad villains to top off the terrible storylines.  The staff has tried marketing gimmicks including DC characters like The Legion of Super Heroes and the JSA, but those are only a couple of episodes in a season that is overall disappointing.  Doomsday, a character who killed Superman in the comic books, was featured predominately throughout season 8, and when it came for his big show down with Clark the audience got a few punches and hop; two minutes for the biggest battle Superman ever had in his seventy years was taken down to the length of a grade school squabble.  This was almost as sickening to watch as to the fate of Superman’s other greatest villain, Lex Luthor.

Everyone knows the villain is always more interesting to watch than the hero, and Michael Rosenbaum played Lex with such grace and fire that I loved seeing him grow each season closer and closer to the dark side of his soul.  Rosenbaum is a great Lex and his scenes with John Glover, who played Lex’s father, were some of my personal favorites.  In season 8 the character of Tess Mercer was brought in to replace Lex as CEO of Luthor Corp and series semi-villain.  However, Tess is no where near as fun to watch as ol’ baldy.  In fact, I am disappointed now every time Tess is in a scene.  She always seems like she is trying to act tough and evil, but not fooling anyone, especially Smallville's critics.  Writers and executive producers tried to keep Lex in the show, pretending Lex was pulling all the strings from afar until Green Arrow killed Lex by blowing up a truck he was supposedly in.  That was the worthy ending the Smallville writing staff thought Rosenbaum’s Lex deserved?  Ever heard the phrase, “bitch slap?”  

Also in season 8, actor Justin Hartley returned as a series regular, playing Green Arrow/Oliver Queen.  Now as much as I loved the character Hartley had created, having him in each episode is overkill.  He and Clark were still having the same conversation in season 8 they had in season 6 about proper forms of justice.  The characters moved on, why couldn’t the writers!  Green Arrow works much better as a guest star, with his mystery and charm surrounding him and keeping him a fresh character to watch.  I’m also concerned with Oliver’s current love interest, who is also no other than his former flame’s cousin, Chloe Sullivan. 

Chloe started the series as the lovable sidekick who had eyes for the big blue hero, and as the series continued she developed a relationship with photographer Jimmy Olsen.  She also became the center of the superheroes known as The Watchtower.  Chloe used to be Clark’s conscience; the person he could confide in, help him find the bad guys, and always keep him running toward his great destiny ahead.  Now after the death of Jimmy, Chloe has become this angry and bitter character who heads a superhero squad that the audience never sees, aside from Clark and Oliver.  I don’t even see the character that was the early seasons Lois Lane and ran the Smallville Torch.  I know characters evolve and change just as people do, but people really don’t change.  At the center we’ll always be the same person our whole lives, and I don’t see Chloe Sullivan on Smallville at all.
Now I could go on bitching all day about the show that I loved for six years, and how it became the bane of my television viewing, but my fingerds will develop carpal tunnel syndrome by then.  Smallville executive producers keep saying that this is just a new interpretation to the Superman myth.  Hey people, last time I checked Superman didn’t dress like he was in the Matrix!   I’d say Smallville is more lost than those people on ABC, but didn’t they already get found like three times already?

Season 10 has been announced for this fall season and unfortunately I still plan to watch it.  Because not to long ago my good friend Andrew said to me, “Smallville is like your child.  It started out all innocent and fun to watch, but as it matured it has become something you don’t approve of.  And even though you may not like what you see, you still have to love it anyway, and hope it gets back on track.”