”Smallville,” of course, is the new take on Superboy coming to the WB this autumn. This is the first review of the actual pilot from a known and reliable source. Dmann has reviewed many an episode for this site, and has excellent taste.
Having read the pilot, I share Dmann’s enthusiasm for he Lex Luthor character, who is funny, cool and fairly complex. I also share his disdain for some of the lack of definition in Clark’s character. In fact, I sense his overall appraisal of the show is well-targeted.
Why don’t we read it now?
Why don’t we read it now?
First off, this is the pilot, with some actress I don’t recognize in the part of Mrs. Kent. This does NOT, I repeat does NOT star Annette O’Toole.
Comic fans may or may not be impressed with the re-interpretation of the Superman legends. I’m not talking about the minor tweaking the mythos have received. I don’t have a problem with John and Martha Kent being young, Lex Luthor losing his hair during the landing of Clark Kent’s spaceship, or even the organic webshooters he sports. Oh, wait, no, that’s not right. The problem that I and other Superman fans may have with Smallville is the tone. From the Armageddon style meteor shower that lays waste to smallville, and kills the parents of a young Lana Lang right before her eyes, this is darker than any Superman related project we have ever seen.
Another big problem with this pilot is that we all know Clark is Superman. Superman is one of the two most recognizable fictional figures on the entire planet. People in mainland China know Superman. His origin and mythos are as well known as any fictional mythology in the past hundred years. This makes the whole “Who am I, where do I come from, why do I have these bizzare powers?” act that Clark has is kinda weak. I hate when every single character in a movie or film is absolutely clueless to facts that are BLATANTLY obvious to anyone watching the show.
There’s also the over use of pop music, which each and every scene seems to open with. I have seen fewer “hip” songs in shows on MTV! Also, how the hell am I supposed to buy that Clark is considered one of the nerdy kids in school, when he looks like a freaking male model from a CK1 ad?
Now, there’s a lot of touches I do like. I loved the recurring sight gags that evoke the Man of Steel. There are red blankets draped on Clark’s shoulders, recurring variations of people with the letter “S” on their chest, stuff like that. These are the good things. There is also a more important story point involving Clark being totally clumsy and almost sick in the presence of Lana Lang. Is Clark is just a high school freshman with a severe crush, or is that strange, green meteor fragment fashioned into a pendant around Lana’s neck to blame? Pete Ross is Clark’s best friend, as any comic book fan knows he should be, and Lex Luthor is the rich kid in town, who may have diabolical plans for Clark. These are the good elements.
Speaking of Lex Luthor. This young actor who they have playing Lex is great. He gives the perfect balance of cocky ass rich kid, and mephistophelean manipulator. Thankfully, Lex isn’t the school bully. That role falls to some other jerk. The copy of the show I had didn’t include credits, so I don’t have cast names. Sorry to any of the actors whose names didn’t get mentioned.
All in all, Smallville isn’t bad, as pilots go. The show will grow, and from what I understand, is already being tweaked. The biggest thing that can be done is to not force the ROSWELL like atmosphere, or a more humorous Buffy like feel. Just let Smallville grow and find its own feel.
Dmann’s rating for “Smallville 1.1”?
**1/2
The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:
***** better than we deserve
**** better than most motion pictures
*** actually worth your valuable time
** as horrible as most stuff on TV
* makes you quietly pray for bulletins
DMANN OUT!!
