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Post by PokerKitten on Apr 25, 2008 13:33:00 GMT
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Post by PokerKitten on May 2, 2008 18:32:44 GMT
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Post by PokerKitten on May 3, 2008 12:26:50 GMT
It is important to note that in no way is "Apocalypse" to be considered a filler episode.
Although the episode predominantly deals with Clark (Tom Welling) reliving his wonderful life without ever being a part of it, on the back of the episode are some rather weighty story-points necessary to usher “Smallville” into its seventh season finale.
The most notable parts of these are of course Milton Fine’s (James Marsters) sinister plans for planet Earth and Kara’s (Laura Vandervoort) imprisonment on Krypton. However, “Apocalypse” also embodies all the same eloquent charms of “A Christmas Carol” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” as well as the harsh realities of both stories.
There was something oddly magical about watching Clark catch up with his friends in the most unexpected scenarios and witnessing their own happiness. Chloe (Allison Mack) is engaged, Lana (Kristen Kreuk) married and part of a happy family and Lois (Erica Durance) is a successful reporter ... all the things the man of steel hopes his friends will one day have.
And then, in a matter of moments, the episode does a complete one-eighty, and the real cost of his absence is revealed: Lex (Michael Rosenbaum) is the President of the United States with plans to declare nuclear war, Kara is his puppet (going by the name Linda Danvers) and above them both is Brainiac pulling the strings.
Tom Welling clearly has a genuine knack for directing as the first half of the story gracefully and effortlessly establishes the whereabouts of the shows main players before sending Clark off on his unusually dark mission to save Lois (through some nice nudges, winks and in-jokes to the future of both characters) and try to save the world from the Brain Interactive Construct.
What Worked
So much of the episode comes from the shows fifth season -- arguably “Smallville’s” strongest year – and ties in wonderfully with the mythology of the entire show. Scenes with Lex as President destroying the world have been glimpsed on the series before through dreams and what-could-be’s but nothing to this extent. And Brainiac’s master plan to free Zod was again in full fruition only this time relying on Kara of Krypton to release the imprisoned dictator.
Lois and Clark’s little run in at the Daily Planet, her rescue and some unexpected flirting as the two team up to take down Lex and were among the episodes highlights, as were the hints to their future together. Their actual get-together wasn’t too dissimilar from the star-crossed meeting in the original “Superman: The Movie.”
What Didn’t Work
Scenes of destruction on Krypton, impressive though they may be, were ultimately an after-thought to the episode and over far too quickly. Some nice cameos from Helen Slater and Terrence Stamp wouldn’t have gone amiss.
There was also potential snagging continuity error of the “real” Clark Kent living his life on the Kent farm. The opening years of the show clearly established the inability of Martha Kent (the still absent Annette O’Toole) to have a child. In the second season she was given a second chance thanks to the miraculous ability of Clark’s ship to heal him and those around him. Had it not been for his arrival on Earth then he would never have been born. Still, its not completely out of the question that the Kents would have adopted a child even if he never fell out of the sky.
A small appearance from both the Kents would certainly have been a welcome experience, particularly from Jonathan Schneider. Although the episode moseyed along nicely without him, it does feel like something of a missed opportunity. SyFyPortal
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Post by PokerKitten on May 6, 2008 22:37:07 GMT
Oi, Brainiac's gonna get a nasty shock in the finale! Spoiler has a Guide scan with blurb about the end of season departures and Brainiac being back, with a sortov pic of Brainiac getting his hair curled. Full size
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Post by PokerKitten on May 18, 2008 16:45:36 GMT
Yay, at last! It looks like S7 starts in the UK on 27th May on E4
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Post by PokerKitten on May 27, 2008 23:23:39 GMT
Goodness - BizarroClark, Lex in bondage handcuffs, ShanghaiLana, Clark'sCousin (oh lord ) - pretty interesting start to the season ;D
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Post by wrigglerosie on Jun 16, 2008 10:40:28 GMT
Right - I've got my pic sorted (new aerial and a amplifier!) - now I can get my Freeview box. So - what night is Smallville on E4? (and also WAT - thats on More4 isnt it - what night?)
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Post by nightnurse on Jun 16, 2008 19:00:30 GMT
Rosie , Smallville is on E4 on Tuesdays and starts at 9pm with the previous weeks episode followed by the next ep at 10...and you haven't missed JM , he hasn't appeared yet Both eps are also repeated at 10 and 11 on E4 +1 The new eps of WAT air on Thursdays at 10pm on More 4 and at 11 on More 4 +1 , and you've only missed a few brief minutes ...which are probably available to watch on you tube
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Post by PokerKitten on Jul 12, 2008 12:55:51 GMT
Anyone been catching the new trailer for Smallville on E4? James! This better mean he is in Tuesday's ep (I've lost track of where we are in the season and which eps he is in. I suppose I should read my own old posts ;D). So far I haven't been loving S7 (although badass Lana has been a revelation. I do think KK has improved as an actor in leaps and bounds). SuperCousin is awful and makes me cringe whenever she's on screen ETA - just been tracking back and JM's first ep was #10 Persona, so that sounds about right. Thank gawd for that! I was on the verge of giving up on the season!
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Post by DeeDee on Jul 13, 2008 16:28:02 GMT
Yeah please let Persona be on this Tuesday I have been getting a bit fed up this season waiting for James's Episodes ETA Argh!! I've just looked at the Times online and it says Persona is on 22nd July or is it wrong (hopefully)
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Post by PokerKitten on Jul 13, 2008 20:42:33 GMT
Oh noes! I'll check my RT later and get back to ya. Cruel of them to use him in the trailer if he ain't back yet! ETA - oh woe, that's right DeeDee. One more week to get through
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Post by PokerKitten on Jul 15, 2008 23:02:26 GMT
Oh, that was a much better episode, doncha think? I actually sat still and watched the whole thing! And we got the (somewhat crudely inserted) set-up for Brainiac's return, yay ;D
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Post by PokerKitten on Jul 22, 2008 23:21:22 GMT
Was that really Smallville I was watching tonight?! I have to ask because it seemed to have plot and action right to the end, instead of fizzling out at the 40 minutes mark Naughty Brainiac, and those versatile digits of his ;D And oh Lex, Lex *shakes head sadly* *changes mind and punches the air at the actions of the madly evil tragic figure*
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Post by DeeDee on Jul 23, 2008 8:48:50 GMT
Yay our boy was in Smallville ;D ;D Yay Evil Brainiac and pointy finger of doom ;D ;D and Evil Lex ;D ;D I watched the repeat as well and it will be on again first next week ;D ;D
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Post by Pluto7077 on Jul 23, 2008 8:55:05 GMT
Wow, James looked sexy it was well worth sitting through the tedium just to see him, sorry, sorry sorry guys, I know you all love Smallville, especially MR . Do we know which other episodes he will appear in?
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Post by PokerKitten on Jul 23, 2008 11:05:17 GMT
Oh dear. Pluto, for me that was the best ep of the season so far, and not just because of James. And MR is just too good!
All the ep info is on the previous page, but a quick round-up - James will be in Veritas (#15), Apocalypse (#18) and Arctic (#20).
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Post by Teebee on Jul 23, 2008 20:54:51 GMT
Last night episode was bloody great, plenty going on and of course wonderful Brainy ;D ;D Absolutely
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Post by Ditto on Jul 23, 2008 22:22:41 GMT
I missed it again! I did manage to catch him in Without A Trace on Sky one time last week...
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Post by PokerKitten on Jul 23, 2008 22:30:22 GMT
Ditto, it'll be shown again at 9-00 on E4 next Tuesday, or 10-00 on E4+1. It's worth making the effort
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Post by PokerKitten on Aug 5, 2008 23:14:22 GMT
Oooh, I love episodes like the one tonight! Inside Lex's brain Scary. Poor Lex They make him badder and badder, then go and remind us why he is like he is and you just want to hug him (well, I do anyway .
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