Sunday, July 26, 2020

Smallville Season 2 Retrospective


Smallville

The Best Superhero TV Show Ever

One thing I constantly do when watching other shows and movies is notice when there was an actor who was on Smallville in what I’m watching. Those around me probably get annoyed, but I don’t care. I can usually list the episode in which they were in as well. Some of these actors acted in previous incarnations of the Superman story, some would be in the movies later, and some were just getting their careers started. A few of these people include: Cobie Smulders, Richard Moll, Teri Hatcher, Dave Bautista, Adrianne Palicki, Dean Cain, Carrie Fisher, Amy Adams, Lizzy Caplan, Margot Kidder, Rutger Hauer, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Christopher Reeve, Michael McKean, Michael Ironside, and Helen Slater. The list goes on, but you get the point. The casting on this show was amazing. The way they incorporated the former Superman stars into the show as new characters while paying homage…bravo.

Season 2

From the beginning of the season, we can see the solid friendship between Clark and Lex is slightly beginning to fray. They were able so slow play this dynamic over the course of 6 seasons, from best friends to enemies, which obviously could not be done in a movie. As their friendship slowly begins to unravel, I found myself hoping they could work things out although knowing they eventually they won’t.

Smallville – S2 Ep2 – Heat Review – Earth 9

In the first episode, “Vortex”, Lex helps Clark find his dad, but during this time Clark is able to see the lies Lex is telling him. By the end of the episode, however, not only has Clark forgiven Lex, but convinces Jonathan that he isn’t such a bad guy.

In this season Clark develops new abilities, learns to share his secret with more trustworthy people, finds that there is more than one kind of meteor rock, and discovers the kawatche cave. The cave was a huge part of the show for years to come, but they spent the most time on them in season 2. In this cave, on the cave walls, is the story of Naman. This story is a Native American interpretation of Clark’s place on this Earth. Whoever came up with this storyline is a genius. There are many different takes on the story from each character that explains their point of view to the story.

There still are a few Freak of the Week episodes, but every show has at least a background plot that fuels the overall plotline. I think the most interesting episode is #17 (Rosetta). Guest starring Christopher Reeve as Dr. Virgil Swann, Clark learns about his true origins from Krypton. A close second and third are the final two episodes of the season (Calling and Exodus). This is the first time we hear the voice of Jor-El, played brilliantly by Terrance Stamp (Zod, from the Superman movies).

TERENCE STAMP AS GENERAL ZOD FROM SUPERMAN I 8X10 PHOTO | eBay

Season 2 is definitely the season that switched gears for this show. You should really watch every episode to get the full character development and plot development. Lana evolves as a more independent woman, though she’s only 16, we get to see both sides of Lex and sympathize with him, the Kent’s ongoing support and guidance of Clark, and of course, Clark slowly becoming the person he is meant to be.

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