Smallville "Arctic" 5/15/2008 season finale *spoilers* [Text View]

Rob Helmerichs

05-15-2008, 09:15 PM

At first I thought that thunderous cheering outside my window at 7:46 was the Twins hitting a grand slam at the Metrodome down the street.

Nope, it was the Smallville fans of TiVoCommunity watching Lana Lang walk out of the show forever. :D

Kamakzie

05-15-2008, 09:21 PM

The house of El sure have a problem staying out of the phantom zone!

rloper

05-15-2008, 09:25 PM

Was the Veritas crystal orb like the "molecule chamber" from Superman 2? The one that drained Clark's powers? Smallville Clark looked a bit drained as the ice came tumbling down.

JimSpence

05-15-2008, 10:14 PM

I certainly hope that the season 8 premiere doesn't get Clark out of this one easily.

Kamakzie

05-15-2008, 10:18 PM

I certainly hope that the season 8 premiere doesn't get Clark out of this one easily.

I'm hoping he's Lex's personal goon for a while at least.

WinBear

05-15-2008, 10:33 PM

What a bizarre ending. They could go almost anywhere from there.

Peter000

05-15-2008, 11:16 PM

I certainly hope that the season 8 premiere doesn't get Clark out of this one easily.

I wish there wasn't going to be a season 8 premiere, and they'd leave this show dead and buried with the fortress.

zuko3984

05-16-2008, 12:13 AM

I wish there wasn't going to be a season 8 premiere, and they'd leave this show dead and buried with the fortress.

Comments like this are just one of those things that just gets under my skin for some reason so i just had to respond.

No one is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to watch the show. I just don't get a lot of people around here who seem to not really enjoy a show and complain about every episode yet continue to watch. Now complaining about one episode or a certain thing in a show is one thing but it just seems like a lot of the people who post in this forum don't actually like the show at all. I know i have better things to do with my time then watch a tv show i don't really enjoy.

Ok i feel better now :)

Peter000

05-16-2008, 12:26 AM

zuko3984

05-16-2008, 01:13 AM

I don't really care that I get under your skin. I don't post for you, I just call 'em as I see 'em. If you have read any of my posts throughout the show's run, you know that I was a fan of the show at first, and even now there are 2 or 3 episodes each season I find enjoyable. I've been one of the people here LEAST critical of Smallville. So when I wish it never to come back, you can bet it has gotten beyond hope.

I watch now simply to see it die, and be there when it does.

I didn't mean any offense i just don't understand and no one has ever been able to explain to me why people watch a show they don't enjoy. Sure you may have enjoyed the show at some point but now you don't, so why watch?
If you know you no longer enjoy a show and just want it to die then isn't not watching it the fastest way to accomplish that.

But if you enjoy watching a show you no longer like then hey keep watching.

hanumang

05-16-2008, 01:56 AM

Sure you may have enjoyed the show at some point but now you don't, so why watch?

I can only speak for myself but, for a show like Smallville, in particular, it involves characters (Superman, etc) that folks have a long history with, since this forum is filled with comic book geeks (myself included). Even bad Supes - excuse me, Clark Kent - is better than none at all.

Also, all shows have their ups and downs, certainly in terms of how whole seasons play out. Until this year, the only season I personally thought was truly cheeseball was season 4 (the Jason Teague season). Yet, two seasons later - Season 6 - was maybe the strongest. (I mention this because if I would have given up on the show after season 4, I would have missed some good stuff.)

In terms of this finale, I have to say I was disappointed. Considering how cast contracts played out, I really wish they would have done things differently from a creative aspect. But I'll still watch next season...

cheesesteak

05-16-2008, 08:17 AM

I'm trying to figure out how Lex is going to survive a zillion tons of ice falling on his noggin. I'm also trying to figure out why Clark forgot he has super powers. Maybe the orb's forcefield prevented him personally from grabbing it from Lex's hand, but he could have super-blew it, he could have heat visioned Lex's arm off, he could have thrown a rock at Lex etc... No, he just stood there like a bumpkin during their ridiculously long "confrontation".

I never really followed Superman in the comics. Was this Traveller thing part of the official Superman mythos or did the Smallville writers just pull it out of their armpits?

I never hated Lana. I just hated the soap opera plot lines in the Clark/Lana/Lex love triangle.

Rob Helmerichs

05-16-2008, 08:27 AM

I'm trying to figure out how Lex is going to survive a zillion tons of ice falling on his noggin. I'm also trying to figure out why Clark forgot he has super powers. Maybe the orb's forcefield prevented him personally from grabbing it from Lex's hand, but he could have super-blew it, he could have heat visioned Lex's arm off, he could have thrown a rock at Lex etc... No, he just stood there like a bumpkin during their ridiculously long "confrontation".
I suspect that once the thingie started glowing, Clark no longer had any choice in the matter.

But if they're going to use the device in that way, they do have a certain obligation in the name of good storytelling to establish that such a thing can happen, or at the very least that such a thing is happening now. I suppose they might have wanted to keep things vague not knowing whether Lex was going to be back next season, but then again it seemed pretty clear even a year ago that he wasn't.

cheesesteak

05-16-2008, 08:30 AM

It surprised me that Lois offered Clark a Daily Planet reporter's application considering he has no qualifications whatsoever.

WinBear

05-16-2008, 08:48 AM

It surprised me that Lois offered Clark a Daily Planet reporter's application considering he has no qualifications whatsoever.

Journalism was what he was studying in college. I suppose he could have had some articles published in the Torch back in high school, too.

Since they have the 2 major cast changes next season, perhaps they should put some slack in the timeline. Let us see a possibly-amnesiac Clark running around exotic locales being heroic, getting some real world experience, and getting "smarter" about the use of his powers before going back to Metropolis to pick up his mild-mannered nerdy-glasses-wearing reporter career. Significantly advancing the timeline by 2 or 3 years allows all sorts of changes like Lex selling off the Planet, Chloe going in a whole new direction (working for the feds, or maybe setting up the Green Arrow/Justice League spin-off) and leaving Kara to find her own way out of the Phantom Zone.

trausch

05-16-2008, 09:23 AM

Major cast changes he was referring to.

http://www.buddytv.com/articles/smallville/smallville-season-8-experience-17297.aspx

Rob Helmerichs

05-16-2008, 09:34 AM

Major cast changes he was referring to.

http://www.buddytv.com/articles/smallville/smallville-season-8-experience-17297.aspx
That's interesting--even though this is the kind of show where no one ever has to stay dead, I was surprised to see that John Glover will be back.

jking

05-16-2008, 10:03 AM

...No, he just stood there like a bumpkin during their ridiculously long "confrontation".

Much like he has been doing the entire season. No, wait. What am I thinking? He's been doing "everything in his power to stop Lex and deal with the Veritas situation". :rolleyes: This of course includes sitting by Lana's bedside and dealing with this season's corn crop.

I have to say, I can usually find something about each episode to enjoy, even if it's not my favorite or just a filler episode or whatever. But these past three episodes have been brutal. Most finales are supposed to leave you wanting more. This finale made me glad it was finally over. Nothing makes sense any more. It seems the writers are more concerned with turning a cute phrase than dealing with the story. Were it not for the changes next season, I would have given up on this show after this episode.

NJChris

05-16-2008, 11:49 AM

That's interesting--even though this is the kind of show where no one ever has to stay dead, I was surprised to see that John Glover will be back.

Yup. That would be great.

gastrof

05-16-2008, 12:35 PM

Not to be the bearer of bad news, but while some have speculated that Rosenbaum will do a few episodes next year, an interview I heard with him (at supermanhomepage.com) had him saying 'No! I'm not going to shave my head just to do one or two episodes of a TV show. It's been 7 years! Enough already!'

EDIT:
His exact words were "the producers they always think, 'Well, he'll do a couple' and I go, 'No!' You realize, if I do a couple, it means I shave my head and I won't have hair for three more months, so if I do a couple, I might as well do them all."

The interviewer then asked "Well there it is, that's the last, so basically you're not going to come back and do, like, a final harrah or anything like that?"

Rosenbaum's reply was "Nah, this was it. This was it. It was a good, good ending."

Source:
http://www.supermanhomepage.com/tv/tv.php?topic=interviews/rosenbaum2

As for Mack, from what I've read she's using his departure as leverage in getting what she wants in any new contract she signs.

Kreuk says she'll be back for the latter part of the season.

Hopefully it'll be just in time for Lois and Clark's wedding. *evil grin*

gastrof

05-16-2008, 12:57 PM

Oh...

This, from kryptonsite.com-

UPDATED 5/14/08: TV Guide is now reporting that Allison Mack will indeed be back next year for all 22 episodes of the season.

As for Brainiac, how in the world did Clark kill him with electricity? Didn't we already have established (AND SHOWN IN THE SAME EPISODE) that he charges off electricity?

"Here...let me give you some of what you need..."

hanumang

05-16-2008, 01:09 PM

As for Brainiac, how in the world did Clark kill him with electricity? Didn't we already have established (AND SHOWN IN THE SAME EPISODE) that he charges off electricity?[/i]

In Smallville universe logic -- like when they took out the Bizarro phantom -- it was "like trying to power a light bulb with a nuclear reactor."

MirclMax

05-16-2008, 01:19 PM

cheesesteak

05-16-2008, 01:49 PM

I thought Brainiac's mind zap of Chloe messed him up somehow. He said something to the effect of "What are you?"

cstelter

05-16-2008, 02:29 PM

I'm confused. Was Lex killing Clark or taking over his self-control so then Lex can control him?

As long as we don't have to put up with an entire season of 'Clark is really Lex' internal struggle-for-power nonsense where Rosenbaum isn't on the show but 'Lex' is always there. No Rosenbaum + Controlling Clark = ??? I don't like that equation.

Graymalkin

05-16-2008, 02:30 PM

I'm done with the show.

busyba

05-16-2008, 02:48 PM

As for Brainiac, how in the world did Clark kill him with electricity? Didn't we already have established (AND SHOWN IN THE SAME EPISODE) that he charges off electricity?

"Here...let me give you some of what you need..."

How do people drown when they need water to live? ;)

Peter000

05-16-2008, 03:09 PM

As for Brainiac, how in the world did Clark kill him with electricity? Didn't we already have established (AND SHOWN IN THE SAME EPISODE) that he charges off electricity?

"Here...let me give you some of what you need..."

A desktop computer works on electricity also, but a surge will fry it. Same principle.

alpacaboy

05-16-2008, 04:54 PM

Major cast changes he was referring to.
http://www.buddytv.com/articles/smallville/smallville-season-8-experience-17297.aspx

I wonder by the end of the series,

will Lois Lane or Lana Lang have spent more time in Smallville?

So let's see, Pete Ross left, Ma Kent left, and now Lana... it's like all the people who should (imho) stay in Smallville left.

Why don't they just give him his tights and let him and Lois (and Kara, just because...) fly to Metropolis already?

I wish the show was good enough to really watch, rather than just FF-ing to the Lois/Erica and Kara/Laura scenes...

gastrof

05-16-2008, 06:31 PM

I wonder by the end of the series,

will Lois Lane or Lana Lang have spent more time in Smallville?

So let's see, Pete Ross left, Ma Kent left, and now Lana... it's like all the people who should (imho) stay in Smallville left.

Why don't they just give him his tights and let him and Lois (and Kara, just because...) fly to Metropolis already?

I wish the show was good enough to really watch, rather than just FF-ing to the Lois/Erica and Kara/Laura scenes...

The portion you've marked "spoiler alert" are not spoilers.

Spoilers are things that are legit, in print or onscreen, but which others might not have had the chance to read/see yet. You're avoiding "spoiling" it for them by giving a warning.

What you've said isn't even speculation. It's commentary.

atrac

05-17-2008, 05:49 AM

I just have to say I loved Jimmy's line (paraphrased):

"Chloe went from life support to life with no parole."

JYoung

05-17-2008, 03:05 PM

Gee after this week's episode, I'm not sure I care enough to tune in in the Fall.

Seriously, who didn't figure out Kara was Brainiac when "she" was threatening Teague?

phox_mulder

05-17-2008, 03:50 PM

Gee after this week's episode, I'm not sure I care enough to tune in in the Fall.

Seriously, who didn't figure out Kara was Brainiac when "she" was threatening Teague?

I didn't think she was actually Brainiac, I just figured Brainiac had "infected" her somehow and was controlling her.

Clark would figure this out and give Kara a tazer jolt to shock Brainiac out of her then deal with him.

phox

busyba

05-17-2008, 08:21 PM

Seriously, who didn't figure out Kara was Brainiac when "she" was threatening Teague?

::sheepishly raises hand:: :o

Kara's been enough of a loose cannon in the past that I could buy it.

Figaro

05-18-2008, 10:01 PM

Ah another season finale of Failville! Dear god! The only good news is that Lana is gone for at least a little while.

NJChris

05-19-2008, 11:17 AM

Ah another season finale of Failville! Dear god! The only good news is that Lana is gone for at least a little while. When did she have time to make that DVD? Did they have a camera and DVD writer in the hospital?

Is all Clark does is run around fast? He really doesn't do amny SUPER or HEROIC things. Maybe he dies and the real superman arrives. He's gotten to be a weaker person as the seasons have progressed.

Mars Rocket

05-19-2008, 12:02 PM

How did Clark find Braniac so fast once he figured out it was him instead of Kara?

NJChris

05-19-2008, 02:33 PM

How did Clark find Braniac so fast once he figured out it was him instead of Kara? He ran all over the place so fast it only took a few minutes... yeah.. that's it.

Peter000

05-19-2008, 03:33 PM

When did she have time to make that DVD? Did they have a camera and DVD writer in the hospital?

MacBook.

NJChris

05-19-2008, 03:37 PM

MacBook.
Yes, then pretty much leaves the DVD with his secret on it with a nurse.

LMD!!!!

smak

05-19-2008, 08:37 PM

I think this episode shows how far they've fallen. Even in most past seasons where a lot of episodes were criticized, some of the season finale's were widely praised.

Not this time.

I have a hard time giving up on the show since they have announced that next year is the finale, but with Rosenbaum being gone, and not willing to come back for any episodes, I don't even know how they can make it interesting enough.

-smak-

Figaro

05-19-2008, 11:40 PM

How about that CGI at the end? It looked like it was done on the same computers used to animate Tron! Man was their budget completely gone?

atrac

05-20-2008, 03:11 AM

How about that CGI at the end? It looked like it was done on the same computers used to animate Tron! Man was their budget completely gone?

Yeah, it looked pretty bad. So did the plane sequence with Kara.

Kamakzie

05-20-2008, 03:14 AM

They used all the CGI money for Allison Mack's raise.. :D

Church AV Guy

05-20-2008, 01:11 PM

How about that CGI at the end? It looked like it was done on the same computers used to animate Tron! Man was their budget completely gone?
:up:
I thought it looked like an old Commodore 64 video game, not modern CGI. I can see why Veritas were reluctant to use the control sphere. Both Lex and Clark were completely buried. I wonder if anyone thought to bring a snow shovel? maybe Lex's flunky's will have to dig them out--oh wait, Lex won't be there next year.

Is Lana just going to go back to doing shampoo commercials?

TAsunder

05-20-2008, 02:02 PM

It surprised me that Lois offered Clark a Daily Planet reporter's application considering he has no qualifications whatsoever.

Yes; as we know, Lois had impeccable qualifications when she got her first reporting job.