Smallville: Early Thoughts
Aug. 21st, 2004 10:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
trishkitSo, I’m new to the Smallville environs, but I think I’m gonna stick around for a while. Finding a new show is always so much fun. I’m going to record my early impressions of the show because I like to come back and see how they change. I’m never set fast in my opinions, and am more than ready to change them should circumstances warrant (eg: I hated Trip when Enterprise first started. He’s now become my favourite character). So, fair warning: I’m very rarely right.
So far there are just a handful of characters that have made an impression...
Clark Kent. Completely believeable as an alien. The actor pulls this off, not through any great acting skills (few seem to be apparent), but due to the fact that he is waaaay prettier than anyone on this planet. I’m not usually into pretty boys, but he’s just so gosh-darned cute. He gives me the same woobies that I get when I look at my cat when she’s (not barfing on the rug and is therefore) being especially cute and cuddly. Come to think of it, he brings out the same quasi-maternal instincts in me that my cat does. You just want to pet him, play with him, shoo him away from the countertops and hope that he goes to the bathroom in the right place.
I’ve never really found Superman to be a particularly compelling character. Too bland and dull in the movies and tv (only really read Batman comics, so no opinion there). Brilliant idea to depict him as a teenager. It gives me a different perspective on the older Supermans (men?) I’ve seen. This show lets me imagine that all of these experiences are giving him some depth. Perhaps the adult Superman is a much more complicated guy than I had previously thought.
Oh, and gay. Very, very gay.
Lex Luthor. Oh. My. The reason that I will continue to watch the show. I’ve always had a soft spot for bald men. I’ve even procured one of my very own. Baldness is the only trait that they share, though, since my guy doesn’t show any signs of incipient madness, bad bloodlines and unrequited(?) love for a gay alien. (That and the fact that my bf’s head is peeeeerfectly round. Seriously. I’m talking Charlie Brown, (but much cuter). The scar from the llama bite does mar the symmetry a tad, but that, as they say, is another story).
I sometimes think that bad guys can be far more interesting and attractive than the good guys. I am dying to see how Lex makes the transition from Michael Rosenbaum to Gene Hackman. The foreknowledge of what Lex will come to be really gives the character an extra shivery-good facet. Consider the fact that Rosenbaum has made Lex into a character chock full of sexiness and charisma to begin with and you’ve got yourself one compelling guy.
Poor Lex. I sort of want him to marry Clark and live happily ever after in a castle filled with puppies and rainbows, but that just wouldn’t be as much fun to watch. Is it all right to want to see the ones you love suffer for your own entertainment, or is there a Commandment or something against that?
I love this idea of visiting well-known characters in their early years (Muppet Babies notwithstanding). I love exploring the early years of the Star Trek and Star Wars universes. I’ve been reading books back-to-front since I was a kid, so knowing the final outcome does not mitigate my enjoyment in any way. In fact, the thrill of seeing “history” unfold keeps me watching, even when the actual product is dreck (G. Lucas, I’m looking at you). I’m sure that in time I will care more about the characters of Smallville in their present incarnations, but right now I’m more interested in who they will become.
Enough with the love. It is so much more fun to talk about the things you hate.
Lana Lang. What a hunk of plywood. A very pretty hunk of plywood, but plywood nonetheless. Tom Welling is pretty wooden himself, but he, at least, has enough innate charm to be watchable. Kristin Kreuk, I fear, does not. And even if she could act, I would be obliged to hate Lana because she is just so dang whiny. I’m talking about Dawson Leery levels of whine here. At least Dawson got to whine about important issues like choosing a college and the difficulties inherent in living the life of a teenaged poseur with an unfortunately-shaped head. Lana? All that she has to deal with is dead (mostly) parents, stalkers, crippling injuries and equine minions of Satan (and those are only the bits that I know about. I have no doubt that there is much, much more whining to be had). Lana sweetie, the majority of my waking hours are spent whining over inconsequential matters of my own. I really can’t be bothered to care about your petty concerns. Run along and waste the time of someone else, ‘kay? And I’m not talking about Clark. He’s not meant for the likes of you.
Jonathan Kent. Poor, childless Jonathan. Shrink wrapping your good ol’ boys in the Brothers Duke Jeans of Amazing Tightness probably doesn’t seem like such a good idea now, does it? Overbearing, sanctimonious and uptight are my first impressions.
But he’s aged pretty well.
I’m so superficial.
On with the show! I’ve got a lot of catching up to do…
So far there are just a handful of characters that have made an impression...
Clark Kent. Completely believeable as an alien. The actor pulls this off, not through any great acting skills (few seem to be apparent), but due to the fact that he is waaaay prettier than anyone on this planet. I’m not usually into pretty boys, but he’s just so gosh-darned cute. He gives me the same woobies that I get when I look at my cat when she’s (not barfing on the rug and is therefore) being especially cute and cuddly. Come to think of it, he brings out the same quasi-maternal instincts in me that my cat does. You just want to pet him, play with him, shoo him away from the countertops and hope that he goes to the bathroom in the right place.
I’ve never really found Superman to be a particularly compelling character. Too bland and dull in the movies and tv (only really read Batman comics, so no opinion there). Brilliant idea to depict him as a teenager. It gives me a different perspective on the older Supermans (men?) I’ve seen. This show lets me imagine that all of these experiences are giving him some depth. Perhaps the adult Superman is a much more complicated guy than I had previously thought.
Oh, and gay. Very, very gay.
Lex Luthor. Oh. My. The reason that I will continue to watch the show. I’ve always had a soft spot for bald men. I’ve even procured one of my very own. Baldness is the only trait that they share, though, since my guy doesn’t show any signs of incipient madness, bad bloodlines and unrequited(?) love for a gay alien. (That and the fact that my bf’s head is peeeeerfectly round. Seriously. I’m talking Charlie Brown, (but much cuter). The scar from the llama bite does mar the symmetry a tad, but that, as they say, is another story).
I sometimes think that bad guys can be far more interesting and attractive than the good guys. I am dying to see how Lex makes the transition from Michael Rosenbaum to Gene Hackman. The foreknowledge of what Lex will come to be really gives the character an extra shivery-good facet. Consider the fact that Rosenbaum has made Lex into a character chock full of sexiness and charisma to begin with and you’ve got yourself one compelling guy.
Poor Lex. I sort of want him to marry Clark and live happily ever after in a castle filled with puppies and rainbows, but that just wouldn’t be as much fun to watch. Is it all right to want to see the ones you love suffer for your own entertainment, or is there a Commandment or something against that?
I love this idea of visiting well-known characters in their early years (Muppet Babies notwithstanding). I love exploring the early years of the Star Trek and Star Wars universes. I’ve been reading books back-to-front since I was a kid, so knowing the final outcome does not mitigate my enjoyment in any way. In fact, the thrill of seeing “history” unfold keeps me watching, even when the actual product is dreck (G. Lucas, I’m looking at you). I’m sure that in time I will care more about the characters of Smallville in their present incarnations, but right now I’m more interested in who they will become.
Enough with the love. It is so much more fun to talk about the things you hate.
Lana Lang. What a hunk of plywood. A very pretty hunk of plywood, but plywood nonetheless. Tom Welling is pretty wooden himself, but he, at least, has enough innate charm to be watchable. Kristin Kreuk, I fear, does not. And even if she could act, I would be obliged to hate Lana because she is just so dang whiny. I’m talking about Dawson Leery levels of whine here. At least Dawson got to whine about important issues like choosing a college and the difficulties inherent in living the life of a teenaged poseur with an unfortunately-shaped head. Lana? All that she has to deal with is dead (mostly) parents, stalkers, crippling injuries and equine minions of Satan (and those are only the bits that I know about. I have no doubt that there is much, much more whining to be had). Lana sweetie, the majority of my waking hours are spent whining over inconsequential matters of my own. I really can’t be bothered to care about your petty concerns. Run along and waste the time of someone else, ‘kay? And I’m not talking about Clark. He’s not meant for the likes of you.
Jonathan Kent. Poor, childless Jonathan. Shrink wrapping your good ol’ boys in the Brothers Duke Jeans of Amazing Tightness probably doesn’t seem like such a good idea now, does it? Overbearing, sanctimonious and uptight are my first impressions.
But he’s aged pretty well.
I’m so superficial.
On with the show! I’ve got a lot of catching up to do…
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-22 04:50 am (UTC)*dies*
AHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Come to think of it, he brings out the same quasi-maternal instincts in me that my cat does. You just want to pet him, play with him, shoo him away from the countertops and hope that he goes to the bathroom in the right place.
BWAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
And so right about Lex. So. Right.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-22 05:47 am (UTC)Actually, I usually just change my mind about people/ things I don't like, and usually for the better.
Maybe I should live in Kansas too.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-22 09:40 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-22 11:46 am (UTC)A fine example of good acting overcoming bad scripts.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-23 02:10 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-23 06:49 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-23 12:08 pm (UTC)http://sjhw.net/suzvoy/ent/cargo4.jpg
Oh hey! I can totally pimp my Ent icons too ,)
http://www.livejournal.com/community/similitude/15087.html#cutid1
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-23 12:18 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-24 03:07 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-22 05:30 am (UTC)You should steal this, move it to Lex's lip (where Mike has a faint hockey induced scar) and:
CLARK: Lex, honey, how DID you really get the scar?
LEX: ::mumble::
CLARK: What?
LEX: It was...it was...a llama.
CLARK: A llama.
LEX: Yes. And I don't want to talk about it any more.
PS: Do you mind if I friend you?
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-22 05:51 am (UTC)Snicker. I could see that. Especially since the real life llama scar happened because the llama thought the bf was being a leeeetle bit too friendly....
PS: Do you mind if I friend you?
Of couse not! I was just over at your journal and I really enjoyed reading your posts! Friending you back.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-22 08:22 am (UTC)*cackles*
oh, man, i'd love to friend you, too.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-22 08:58 am (UTC)Go ahead.
You might be interested to know that I had a professor who only ate Snickers bars and double-strength Tang on camping trips. He was in his 60's at the time and none of us could keep up with him.
Coincedence? I think not.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-22 08:08 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-23 06:47 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-23 07:04 am (UTC)Love the kitty!
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-23 07:52 am (UTC)He's Puss in Boots from Shrek 2.
Way too cute.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-23 09:50 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-22 09:03 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-22 10:15 am (UTC)