Netflix's Wednesday

© by Gerald So | 3:00 AM

Jenna Ortega plays Wednesday Addams at seventeen. Expelled from Nancy Reagan High School for siccing piranhas on boys who bullied Pugsley, Wednesday is accepted to her parents' alma mater, Nevermore Academy. There, she stumbles on the mystery of several people found mangled to death in the woods. While trying to find her place at Nevermore, she sets her mind on solving the mystery.

Ortega adapts well to Wednesday. Though a laconic, impassive role, Ortega's face strongly suggests what Wednesday is feeling, what she wants to say but cautiously leaves unsaid. Her Nevermore classmates are a motley crew of supernatural creatures—like roommate Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers)—a werewolf who hasn't managed to wolf out—and rival Bianca Barclay (Joy Sunday)—a siren whose amulet dampens her mesmerizing power.

The show feels largely well run by Smallville developers Al Gough and Miles Millar. Wednesday's family isn't the focus, but a couple of members appear to good effect. Wednesday's temperament reminds me of the stoic portrayals of Batman, except Wednesday has some supernatural abilities. I might've liked the show even more if she didn't.

I didn't like the final mastermind reveal, but I won't spoil it. We can discuss it in the comments or on Mastodon.

Arrowverse Crisis on Infinite Earths

© by Gerald So | 3:30 AM

As successful as the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been, DC's live-action superhero broadcast TV shows have built up to epic crossovers year after year. Of most interest to me, this year's event includes Kevin Conroy as an aged Bruce Wayne, Tom Welling as Smallville's Clark Kent, and Tom Ellis as Lucifer.

Going into a month-long hiatus, all but one of DC's infinite Earths has been wiped out. I don't know how or which heroes will rebound, but in the meantime, I thought Welling's scene was the perfect cap to Smallville.

Earth-1's Iris West (Candice Patton) and Earth-38's Clark Kent and Lois Lane (Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch) travel to Earth-167 to recruit a Kryptonian paragon. Earth-38's Lex Luthor (Jon Cryer) interferes, but Welling's Clark, having given up his powers to have a family with Lois (Erica Durance), foils Lex his largely unspoken confident presence.

Kudos to writer-producers Don Whitehead & Holly Henderson and Caroline Dries.

Robert B. Parker's Angel Eyes by Ace Atkins

Book design by Katy Riegel

© by Gerald So | 3:30 AM

On Friday the 13th I was lucky enough to receive a galley of Ace Atkins' eighth Spenser continuation from G.P. Putnam's Sons.

On sale November 19, it sees Spenser searching L.A. for a model-actress linked to a powerful studio executive and a shady empowerment group, clearly based on the downfalls of Smallville actress Allison Mack and Warner Bros. chairman Kevin Tsujihara.

Today, the anniversary of Robert Parker's birth, read my review at So, You Want to Chat?

LOIS LANE: FALLOUT by Gwenda Bond

© by Gerald So | 3:00 P.M.

Two weeks ago via Twitter, I learned about Gwenda Bond's YA series with DC Comics' legendary Lois Lane as protagonist and was immediately interested.

The first book, Fallout finds sixteen-year-old Lois recently moved with her Army family. Her first day at East Metropolis High, she sees spelling bee champion Anavi Singh being harassed by the Warheads, a seemingly single-minded clique of VR gamers.

The principal does next-to-nothing, so Lois tries to expose the bullying through her new after-school job at the Daily Planet's teen newspaper, the Daily Scoop. Discovering the Warheads' strange ability to carry out psychic assaults, Lois isn't sure anyone will believe her but an online friend she knows only as SmallvilleGuy.

Though the concept is similar to early seasons of TV's Smallville and has equal potential to resonate with Superman lore, Lois is refreshingly the focus here, wishing she could stay out of trouble long enough to get settled, but nonetheless driven to help Anavi.

Superman vs. Batman

One of the scoops at San Diego Comic-Con this year was that, in the sequel to Man of Steel, Superman would be pitted against Batman, bringing to mind their battle in The Dark Knight Returns.

There is already much speculation as to how the movie will be plotted. Zap2it.com Contributing Editor Billy Nilles calls the premise a bad idea, asserting that writer David Goyer and directer Zack Snyder have "irreparably altered Superman's philosophy".

While I also found Man of Steel's final battle clumsily contrived, the rationale behind the sequel may be as simple as profit. Thanks to Tim Burton, Bruce Timm, and Christopher Nolan, Batman is probably Warner Bros.' most lucrative property. Meanwhile, though Superman hasn't been as successful at the movies, he remains popular enough to have afforded TV's Smallville ten seasons. Regardless who plays Batman or how problematic the plot, people will go see it. The powers-that-be are risking very little.

Smallville: "Finale"

Hard to believe Smallville has ended after ten seasons. The show was originally aimed at teens and I was twenty-six when it premiered, but to me, Clark Kent's upbringing is what makes Superman so appealing. So I was interested, but the show often deviated from my knowledge of the Superman mythos, and I wasn't all that open to a fresh take.

As time went on, I realized the show would only be remembered if it were a fresh take. And now my clearest memories are of the attempted nuances, particularly a Jor-El who seemed more adversary than innately caring biological father (voiced by onetime Zod Terence Stamp).

I found parts of every season worth watching. I can't say that about many series. A final thank you to everyone who worked on Smallville.

I Ain't Got Time to Blog

Actually, I've just been blogging elsewhere the past week, TV reviews at BSCreview, DVD reviews at Crimespree Cinema. Psych and Burn Notice return to the schedule this week and my BSC reviews will pick up in kind.

Also, previous Lois Lane Teri Hatcher appears on Smallville this week as the current Lois's mother, Ella.

Smallville: "Isis"

This final season of Smallville began with Lois confirming her suspicion that Clark was a strange visitor from another planet known for now as The Blur. For the past five episodes, Clark has been struggling to tell Lois while Lois has been struggling to tell Clark she already knows.

After Lois was possessed by the spirit of Egyptian goddess Isis, giving her Blur-like powers but threatening her life, and making Cat Grant believe Lois was The Blur, this is how the big scene in the supply room unfolded:

LOIS
I know the pen is mightier than the sword, but Cat was off her rocker. I mean Lois Lane is amazing, but you and I both know that I'm not the world's greatest superhero.

CLARK
Lois, I'm sorry you had to get a ballpoint in the hand for the truth to come out.

LOIS
The truth. Right. About The Blur, who he is, the big mystery. Of course he never told me his identity, so I guess I don't even really know him. But I feel like I do. The thing is, Clark, The Blur and I, we have this special bond. Actually it's kind of like what you and I have together because I...I wish you were a mirror. (Clears throat.) What I'm really trying to say to you is that I know you.

CLARK
But you don't know The Blur. He's probably keeping it a secret for a reason.

LOIS
He's never gonna tell me, is he?

CLARK
Not if it means putting your life at risk.

LOIS
I wish he knew that I was willing to take that risk.

LOIS walks away, calls the elevator.

CLARK
All my life I've been afraid, Lois. Afraid of people knowing the truth about me, afraid of them rejecting me, and even if they didn't, still losing them. I've been afraid of everything I can't control. But when I was faced with the idea of losing you forever, it made me realize there's something that I would regret more than anything else. And that's not telling you the truth about me. Because that's the only way we could share a life together. I know the odds are stacked against us and we'd be risking everything, but if you're ready to take that leap, there's no one else I want to take that leap with.

Elevator opens. LOIS turns back.

CLARK
Lois, you've had a lot of questions about The Blur. It's me. I'm The Blur.

LOIS tackles CLARK to the floor, kisses him.

LOIS
What took you so long?

CLARK
What? You...? (Smiles.)

Well done.

Smallville: "Salvation"

I hadn't watched the previous six or so episodes of Smallville. The show is well past its original five-year plan, but the occasional story catches my eye. Whatever my pet peeves with Smallville, one thing has always been true: The show knows how to put on a season finale.

In short, Clark finally had a way to send Zod and the Kandorians to a new planet, halting their invasion of Earth. The catch: As a fellow Kryptonian, Clark would be sent to the same planet. To me, the greatest contribution Clark/Superman can make is to inspire people, to fight no matter the odds, indeed to make the ultimate sacrifice. So, though Smallville will be back for a tenth season, this was a good note to end on.

I also liked Lois's confusion over which Blur to believe in, Zod or Clark. When she realizes who to trust, Zod attacks her and Clark saves her. Resolved to sacrifice his life on Earth, Clark still doesn't tell Lois he is The Blur, but he kisses her, and she figures it out.

In the climactic battle, Zod uses a blue Kryptonite dagger to avoid being sent to the new planet. He intends to rule the world, but when he drives the dagger into Clark, he is taken up by the transporter beam, and Clark falls. To be continued...

Will Clark start next season with amnesia, having to re-learn his powers? That might work, but I hope they don't do it for long.

Smallville: "Idol"

Starstruck Wonder Twins Zan and Jayna (David Gallagher and Allison Scagliotti) try to help spread the Blur's legend, but their ill-conceived saves only allow Metropolis's corrupt DA to smear the Blur. Meanwhile, Lois has resorted to seeing a psychiatrist to interpret her continuing fantasies about Clark.

This may be my new favorite episode, full of great dialogue and hints of the Superman mythos including Lois's protectiveness of Clark/Superman when the chips are down and Clark's putting on the famous glasses. Kudos to writer Anne Cofell Saunders.

Smallville: "Metallo"

Smallville's portrayal of the cyborg Metallo is the most sympathetic I've seen. When a photograph of his beloved deceased sister blows into the street, new Daily Planet reporter John Corben goes after it only to be hit by a truck. He wakes to find his limbs replaced with bionics, his heart replaced by a kryptonite-powered matrix. Before being shut down by Clark, he makes an impassioned case against heroes who lurk in the shadows and swoop in to change fate. This clearly influences Clark's decision to live a double life, the hero and the everyman, difficult as it may be.

This may be the first Smallville about which I have no complaints. Usually, there are two or three good moments an episode, and even those trip over a few lines of dialogue. This episode was good from stem to stern, start to finish. Kudos to Brian Austin Green, writers Don Whitehead and Holly Henderson, and director Mairzee Almas.

Smallville: "Savior"

It's amazing to think that Smallville has lasted nine seasons, five more than my favorite show in college, Lois & Clark. The show was originally about Clark Kent coming into his powers and responsibilities. The writing has been hit-or-miss over the years, like teenage Clark finding his way, but because the show has survived this long, the characters have grown organically anyway.

For the past two seasons I haven't cared how close the show is to canon. I've watched, as always, for moments that resonate with the Superman mythos, and when they come up, I still get goosebumps.

My favorite moments from the season premiere:

- Jor-El explaining that Clark can't fly because he still sees himself as human, and something or someone is holding him to that perception. Jor-El says he should let go of this, but we know it's his humanity that will lead Superman to use his power for good.

- Chloe understandably wants Clark to use the Legion ring to go back and save Jimmy (Henry James Olsen), and finally Clark shows some backbone and says he can't. (Of course, if you buy the whole turn-back-time scene in Superman (1978), Superman would go back in time to save Lois.)

- Lois rescuing Clark's nameplate from the wastebasket, having just met John Corben (the Notorious Brian Austin Green) who tried to take over his desk.

Reaper Remembered

I received Reaper Season 2 on DVD this week and caught up on the episodes I missed when the show was in competition with NCIS. Sam continued to chase leads on breaking his deal with the Devil, but none of these panned out. Frustrating, but on the other hand I appreciated that no typical heroic solutions were available to Sam. That in itself made Reaper's series arc different from previous man vs. devil tellings.

Part of me wishes The CW had cancelled Smallville instead of Reaper, but alas.

My full review of Reaper Season 2 is at Crimespree Cinema.

Smallville: "Doomsday"

I've blogged before about my overall dissatisfaction with season finales, many of which are loud and chaotic, and all we can do is see who hasn't fallen off the cliff. After eight seasons, I know what to expect from a Smallville season finale, so much so I almost didn't watch.

My questions from tonight are:

Henry James "Jimmy" Olsen? A cop-out, but one of the best attempts at bridging the show's continuity with other tellings of Superman. Still a gyp. Why didn't Chloe just resurrect dead Jimmy?

Lois finds a Legion ring allowing her to escape a bloody fight with Tess, but her displacement potentially messes with things more than Jimmy's death. What will become of her?

Clark chooses to reject the humanity he's learned. We know that won't last because Superman is all about human qualities.

And so I find myself disappointed, but no more so than usual. Whatever happens, I've still enjoyed enough episodes this season to get the DVDs,

Smallville: "Stiletto"

Starved for a hot story and a way to draw out the Red-Blue Blur, Lois creates her own superhero identity after saving Chloe from a carjacker. She's in over her head when said carjacker happens to be connected to Bruno Manheim and the beginnings of Intergang.

This episode had lots of Lois and Clark friendly rivalry, very nuanced and foreshadowy dialogue, and well drawn subplots for Chloe and Jimmy. I especially liked Lois in full Stiletto garb having to crash through a skylight to save Clark, who was trapped near a kryptonite-powered counterfeit press and getting the crap kicked out of him to boot. Then, still weak, Clark lunges in front of a bullet to save Lois.

Wrapping up, Lois finally gets a call from the Blur (Clark using a voice-changer), and their conversation is so full of good stuff, it would have made a great series finale.

But of course, it's not.

I'm no longer surprised to learn my favorite episodes are written by Caroline Dries.

Castle: "Hedge Fund Homeboys"

Beckett and Castle uncover who's responsible for two deaths in a circle of wealthy prep school students. The character dynamics continue to find their way. This episode, the preppies' partying is juxtaposed with Alexis Castle's personal scruples.

It's nice to see Castle not chase and physically disarm bad guys as he did in the pilot. This fits his observer status, but I wonder if an observer would be allowed to question suspects to the degree he has. I guess the alternative is for Castle to sit or stand by quietly while Beckett does the talking, and we don't want a lead actor to do too much of that. If Avery Brooks had been as calm and quiet as Hawk is in Robert B. Parker's Spenser books, we wouldn't remember his performance twenty years later.

I thought I'd seen the sociopathic punk culprit before, and I had. Nolan Gerard Funk was in the pilot of Lie to Me as Dan, of whom Lightman asks, "Are you going to have sex with my daughter tonight?"

He also played the timid, well-meaning Zach Greenfield, who nonetheless helped train Kryptonite-enhanced dogs in the Smallville episode "Krypto".

Smallville: "Hex"

Entertaining at Chloe's birthday party at The Ace of Clubs, young Zatanna Zatarra (Serinda Swan) grants Chloe's whimsical wish to have Lois's life at the Daily Planet working with Clark. I expected a Vice Versa, Freaky Friday-like switch, with Clark revealing his secrets to Lois-as-Chloe. Instead, Chloe wakes up the next morning looking like Lois, but Lois herself is unaffected, conveniently away on assignment.

For a while, Chloe gets to see how Clark interacts with Lois on the job, but soon enough she wants to undo the spell, just not enough, according to Zatanna, to actually undo it. Zatanna is after her father's book of magic, appropriated by Lex, which will allow her to resurrect her father. To stop this, Chloe must help Clark, who has wished himself no memory of his alien origin or powers. Strange to her Lois's voice and remember it's Chloe's sentiment.

As part of the resurrection spell, a soul must be exchanged for Zatanna's father. Zatanna plans to sacrifice herself, but Chloe gets in the way, and I wondered if she was being written off the show. Allison Mack was absent most of the episode, after all, with Erica Durance playing Chloe-as-Lois.

Exemplifying how uneven Smallville is, Clark, who two episodes earlier didn't have the wherewithal to deal with mudslinging Linda Lake, convincingly talks Zatanna out of her plans by drawing on his own loss of Jonathan.

"I'm finally the man my father wanted me to be."

Kudos to writer Bryan Q. Miller and director Mairzee Almas.

What I would say to Lois Lane if I were Superman

On tonight's episode of Smallville, "Infamous", Tori Spelling returns as gossip columnist Linda Lake, who has the ability to dissolve into and re-form from water. When last we saw Linda, she had the scoop that everyone's favorite farmboy was a strange visitor from another planet. Chloe electrocuted her, and Lana ran her down with an SUV, but apparently Linda is still dripping.

Once again faced with exposure, Clark turns to Lois to write the story of "the Red-Blue Blur". It's a promising storyline, but you know the writers will backtrack from it some way, just as they've done multiple times with Lana.

What if Clark told Lois he was Superman and there were no take-backs? Lois and Clark explored this in the Season 3 premiere, when, after an ordeal, Clark proposes to Lois and she says, "Who's asking? Clark or Superman?"

Anyway, here's what I would say:

I know you must be mad. At me for not telling you sooner, at yourself for not seeing it, maybe not wanting to see it. We've been hiding from each other, haven't we? Me because I actually trusted you way sooner and way more than I thought possible. I wouldn't be telling you now, bringing the story to you, if I didn't.

You might look at me differently now, but you don't have to. I'm the guy who grew up in Smallville with Jonathan and Martha Kent. Clark Kent is who I always wanted to be, who I know I can be with you.

I'm not saying this would win Lois over. I'm single, after all. But it's how I would tell her.

UPDATE (9:14 PM): As we should expect from the super-oaf who is Smallville's Clark Kent, he didn't match wits well with the conniving Lake. After she turned the world against him, he decided to use the Legion's time travel ring to undo things.

Caroline Dries is one of the best writers of Lois and Clark dialogue, A shame in this case "it didn't really count." Smallville's draw has always been its different take on a classic mythos, but Clark too often seems far off the track to becoming the man he's supposed to be. At the same time the show never fully commits to its own direction. Clark can't be both indecisive and admirable, bashful and brave.

Smallville: "Legion"

Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, and Saturn Girl travel back in time to help Clark destroy Brainiac, who has taken over Chloe Sullivan's body and sent Davis Bloome further down the path to becoming Doomsday. Writer Geoff Johns skillfully juggles hints of Clark and Lana's futures with who they are in the present, the way Smallville used to do so well.

Because Chloe is a character original to the show, I really believed the Legion might kill her to prevent Brianiac from wiping out civilization as we know it. In the end, Clark marshals the three heroes' talents to save Chloe—just as you'd expect of The Man of Tomorrow—reminding the Legionnaires that the good of the many becomes meaningless if they forget one person's value.

I still think the supporting characters give Clark more credit for being good and inspirational than he's actually shown:

LANA
The Clark I know would never doubt himself...

Have you been watching Smallville?

Smallville Season 9?

Steve Younis's Superman Homepage relays news from Ask Ausiello that Tom Welling is close to signing on for a ninth season of Smallville. I've been calling for Smallville to wrap for years. At the same time, I have kept up more or less. That may change when Bones moves to Thursdays starting next week.

I think Clark could become Superman on Smallville. Smallville is more than the name of a town; it's also Lois's nickname for Clark, even as he regularly dons the cape and tights.

Then again, Catherine Bell signed on for an eleventh season of JAG that never materialized, so we'll see.