One Stray Word

I want to talk about Smallville and I can talk about Smallville because this is my blog. So, get ready, ‘cause here’s some thoughts on the longest running TV show about Superman ever.

*****

My wife and I have been working our way through all nine seasons of Smallville since March. We’re currently about 6 episodes away from the end of Season 8. Season 9 wrapped production earlier this year and the show will be starting its 10th season this fall. Tom Welling has logged more hours as Clark Kent then Christopher Reeves, Dean Cain and George Reeves combined (I might be fudging on that, I didn’t really do the math.).

*****

I find it fascentiting over the course of 8 seasons Smallville has gone from being a rural town hours away from Metropolis, to basically being a suburb of Metropolis. A character mentioned, within the show, that it was a two-hour drive been Smallville and Metropolis. I don’t buy it. Lois Lane and Chloe live in Smallville and work in Metropolis. You mean to tell me they take a four hour round trip every day? And that’s if they don’t caught in traffic?

*****

It’s already been announced that the 10th season will be the show’s final one. I ask why, though? Does Smallville really need to be canceled?

Many of you might say yes. Heck, catch me after a particularly bad episode of Smallville I might say yes, too.

And there have quite a few doozies. Much of season 1 and, in particular, a classic 6th season episode that dealt with the issue of immigration about as subtly as a bull in a china shop.

So, yes, Smallville has plenty of faults. Conveniently easy fixes, ill conceived plotlines and a such a powerful desire to maintain the status quo that they’ve actually written that concept into Clark Kent as a character.

What Smallville has done right, though, is establish what no one else has: create a completely different and thoroughly revised version of the Superman mythos.

Marvel did this a few years ago with their Ultimate line of comics. They basically rebuilt the characters and concepts from the ground up. DC Comics has never attempted anything like that. Oh, sure, they killed Superman and made him blue, but these were eventually reversed. No one has ever sat down and said, “Hey, let’s start over from scratch with Superman.”

No, scratch that. John Bryne did it almost thirty years ago.

So, yeah, Smallville is still recognizable as the Superman story, but let’s face it, it may have nods, winks and homage’s to the movies and comics, but it’s a completely different story.

They did make a few missteps.

Clark Kent as the reluctant hero never worked. Especially with everyone around him saying that he’s destined for great things. Clearly he doesn’t want to be bothered with great things. In fact, more so then any other iteration of this character, Smallville’s Clark Kent would have been perfectly content to stay on his family’s farm and let the problems come to him. And, like I said above, I think part of this is from the show’s creators. They seemed so focused on maintaining a certain status quo that Clark said he didn’t want to leave Lana behind it was the show’s creators saying they didn’t want to leave Lana behind.

The Daily Planet. Why is Clark working at the Daily Planet? He has expressed zero interest in the news business. In fact, he hasn’t expressed interest in any kind of work other than working on the farm. There’s an offhand remark about how with him being at the Daily Planet he can be in the thick of things and do the most good(a carryover from the comics). Except, newspapers aren’t the hub of activity and news they used to be. So why is he there?

Clark not flying. Seriously, we’re up to 8 seasons now and the guy can’t figure out how to fly. Meanwhile, every other Kryptonian that comes to Earth and anyone else that gets Clark’s powers figures out how to fly in seconds. It’s gone from being an interesting character quirk to a poor running joke.

But, on the other hand they gave a fantastic version of Lex Luther and a great story about the Luther Dynasty. Michael Rosenbaum and John Glover were excellent as Lex and Lionel Luther. This show could have easily been called the Luthers and been a thousand times more entertaining.

Green Arrow. Whoever likes Green Arrow? Whoever thought that Green Arrow could be Batman in Smallville’s universe? Not me. Great character.

An engaging, if some times uneven, mythology about Krypton. In Smallville’s universe Krypton just doesn’t blow up and go bye-bye. It’s become an unofficial character of the show. Does it take away a little from Clark’s status as the last son of Krypton? Yes, but this show doesn’t need that status.

*****

Since about Season 5 the show experienced a surge in creativity as it embraced it’s more sci-fi elements. Yes, the second half of Season 6 was questionable and the quality was a little spotty in Season 7(I really could have done without Supergirl), overall the show has seen a vast improvement over it’s early seasons.

So, I ask, why cancel it with the 10th season?

I suppose there’s the monetary reasons. It’s not a cheap show to produce, but it performs solidly and it doesn’t look like the CW really has anything to replace it.

“But, Jason, the show’s called Smallville and it hardly takes place in Smallville anymore.” To which I reply: So?

It has been established, repeatedly, that Lois Lane’s nickname for Clark is Smallville. Why can’t the show leave the town of Smallville behind completely and let the name of show refer simply to the man from Smallville. Think about it, you’ll see it works.

Is Tom Welling getting too long in the tooth to play Clark Kent? No. The guy’s only in his 30’s. He’s not playing Clark as a teenager. He’s playing Clark as an adult. Fudge on the age a bit if it makes you feel better.

Of course, if the show continued, Clark would have to put on the costume. But maybe not the costume. With everything else they’ve changed why not come up with a new version of the Superman costume?

But if the CW is dead set on canceling their money train, can I make another suggestion? Spin-off. And, yes, they tried this years ago with Aquaman. But, not to be mean or anything, there was a reason it didn’t make it past the pilot episosde. It was stupid. Now, maybe if you wanted to do a spin off starring Green Arrow(ironically played by the same guy who played Aquaman in the failed pilot), you might be onto something.

Anyway, just some thoughts on Smallville.