Post by buffysmglover on Dec 22, 2007 11:01:24 GMT -5
Review: Smallville -- "Gemini"
by Marianne Edison
The Luthor family tree should probably be a vine, it takes more twists and turns than a Lost storyline
Obvious Die Hard comparisons aside, I'm still not quite sure what to make of Gemini. A few days later, I'm still mulling over what I think and I still feel a little muddled.
Throughout the watching of it, I felt somewhat disconnected. While that seems to be the intent of the writers, it still bothered me. As interesting as it is, when an episode goes through this process, and we have several 'deep' conversations only to hit the big, dramatic reveal (in this case, Clark being Bizarro), I feel a bit cheated. Again, I know that's supposed to be part of it, but in this case I didn't do the "OMG, for serious!" that I think they were going for.
I was more disappointed than shocked. Bizarro isn't the kind of character that plays low-key. Whether or not Tom Welling was comfortable playing him that way isn't clear, but he didn't seem to be quite as 'there' in Gemini. When Tom gets to step outside Clark's shoes for a little bit, he usually goes all out. He has fun with it, but there didn't seem to be much of that in Gemini. Other than the scene with Chloe, he seemed to be on autopilot for most of the episode.
Okay, overall reactions and fun-poking aside, this was very much Erica Durance's episode to win or lose. The A-plot was very dependant on Lois and Erica's portrayal of Lois.
In my opinion, the episode was both a win and a loss, but that loss isn't Erica's fault. I really do have very few quibbles with Erica's performance of Lois. The problem with Lois has never been Erica Durance. The people fumbling Lois Lane are the writers and the producers.
Don't get me wrong, the writing for Lois in Gemini was an improvement. They finally evened out the Lois and Chloe relationship. For too long it's been fairly one-sided with a lot of action on Chloe's part and a lot of lip service on Lois's. Gemini gave us a chance to see Lois actively protecting, or trying to protect, Chloe. For the first time in a while, I connected emotionally with Lois. Considering most of the time, I spend Lois's scenes wishing I could hit fast-forward? That's a big deal.
I do also have to give the writers credit for trying to give Lois an emotional dilemma with Grant/Julian. They're trying, God bless 'em, and that's something. The problem is that the storyline is completely inappropriate for Lois Lane.
Cutesy jokes about 'never dating a co-worker' do not make up for the fact that Lois Lane is regarded rightly or wrongly as a major feminist icon. Writing her as having begun her journalistic career by sleeping with her editor is a mistake. Even though they have Lois being aware of the fact she's making a mistake, it's still a huge no-no. I'm almost embarrassed to discuss Smallville with Lois Lane fans who don't watch the series. As many problems as the Superman movies and their incarnations of Lois have had, Smallville is fumbling just as badly.
That's a shame, because for all the problems I have with her writing, Lois is actually growing on me. Like a fungus, only much more adorable. Erica is as cute as a button and twice as talented. She's proven she can do more with the character, she proved it in this episode, and I'm hoping that when the strike is over, they'll give it to her.
Now, about that Luthor family vine? When all else fails, send in the clones. I really did enjoy this episode and finally Michael Cassidy is working for me. I've given the poor guy a really hard time over his arc, but in Gemini he sold it for me. His reactions as Grant/Julian were absolutely wonderful and you really did end up feeling sorry for the guy. The character has finally realized what kind of company he's been keeping, and he's understandably not that happy.
It will be interesting to see what wins out. Is he more Grant than Julian, or will those Luthor genes of his win the day? Also, Smallville, you do remember that Lex has a brother out there, right?
Speaking of Lex, can I have a moment to fangirl Michael Rosenbaum shamelessly? I rarely enjoy Lex Luthor. The Lex Luthor of the movie franchise consistently bores me to tears. They're written as utter buffoons who can barely get out of their own way, much less be a worthy adversary for Superman.
That can't be said of Smallville's Lex. While their writing is, at best, uneven, Smallville's Lex Luthor by far outpaces his counterparts. He's nobody's fool and certainly not a buffoon and Michael gets a lot of credit for that. One can easily see his Lex stalking the streets of Metropolis with Mercy and Hope at his sides. I hope that before the series ends, just once, we get to see it in action.
Maybe I'll put it in my letter to Santa. Or, maybe not, I hear that Santa's good friends with another flying do-gooder in red.
firefox.org/news/articles/1010/1/Review-Smallville----quotGeminiquot/Page1.html
by Marianne Edison
The Luthor family tree should probably be a vine, it takes more twists and turns than a Lost storyline
Obvious Die Hard comparisons aside, I'm still not quite sure what to make of Gemini. A few days later, I'm still mulling over what I think and I still feel a little muddled.
Throughout the watching of it, I felt somewhat disconnected. While that seems to be the intent of the writers, it still bothered me. As interesting as it is, when an episode goes through this process, and we have several 'deep' conversations only to hit the big, dramatic reveal (in this case, Clark being Bizarro), I feel a bit cheated. Again, I know that's supposed to be part of it, but in this case I didn't do the "OMG, for serious!" that I think they were going for.
I was more disappointed than shocked. Bizarro isn't the kind of character that plays low-key. Whether or not Tom Welling was comfortable playing him that way isn't clear, but he didn't seem to be quite as 'there' in Gemini. When Tom gets to step outside Clark's shoes for a little bit, he usually goes all out. He has fun with it, but there didn't seem to be much of that in Gemini. Other than the scene with Chloe, he seemed to be on autopilot for most of the episode.
Okay, overall reactions and fun-poking aside, this was very much Erica Durance's episode to win or lose. The A-plot was very dependant on Lois and Erica's portrayal of Lois.
In my opinion, the episode was both a win and a loss, but that loss isn't Erica's fault. I really do have very few quibbles with Erica's performance of Lois. The problem with Lois has never been Erica Durance. The people fumbling Lois Lane are the writers and the producers.
Don't get me wrong, the writing for Lois in Gemini was an improvement. They finally evened out the Lois and Chloe relationship. For too long it's been fairly one-sided with a lot of action on Chloe's part and a lot of lip service on Lois's. Gemini gave us a chance to see Lois actively protecting, or trying to protect, Chloe. For the first time in a while, I connected emotionally with Lois. Considering most of the time, I spend Lois's scenes wishing I could hit fast-forward? That's a big deal.
I do also have to give the writers credit for trying to give Lois an emotional dilemma with Grant/Julian. They're trying, God bless 'em, and that's something. The problem is that the storyline is completely inappropriate for Lois Lane.
Cutesy jokes about 'never dating a co-worker' do not make up for the fact that Lois Lane is regarded rightly or wrongly as a major feminist icon. Writing her as having begun her journalistic career by sleeping with her editor is a mistake. Even though they have Lois being aware of the fact she's making a mistake, it's still a huge no-no. I'm almost embarrassed to discuss Smallville with Lois Lane fans who don't watch the series. As many problems as the Superman movies and their incarnations of Lois have had, Smallville is fumbling just as badly.
That's a shame, because for all the problems I have with her writing, Lois is actually growing on me. Like a fungus, only much more adorable. Erica is as cute as a button and twice as talented. She's proven she can do more with the character, she proved it in this episode, and I'm hoping that when the strike is over, they'll give it to her.
Now, about that Luthor family vine? When all else fails, send in the clones. I really did enjoy this episode and finally Michael Cassidy is working for me. I've given the poor guy a really hard time over his arc, but in Gemini he sold it for me. His reactions as Grant/Julian were absolutely wonderful and you really did end up feeling sorry for the guy. The character has finally realized what kind of company he's been keeping, and he's understandably not that happy.
It will be interesting to see what wins out. Is he more Grant than Julian, or will those Luthor genes of his win the day? Also, Smallville, you do remember that Lex has a brother out there, right?
Speaking of Lex, can I have a moment to fangirl Michael Rosenbaum shamelessly? I rarely enjoy Lex Luthor. The Lex Luthor of the movie franchise consistently bores me to tears. They're written as utter buffoons who can barely get out of their own way, much less be a worthy adversary for Superman.
That can't be said of Smallville's Lex. While their writing is, at best, uneven, Smallville's Lex Luthor by far outpaces his counterparts. He's nobody's fool and certainly not a buffoon and Michael gets a lot of credit for that. One can easily see his Lex stalking the streets of Metropolis with Mercy and Hope at his sides. I hope that before the series ends, just once, we get to see it in action.
Maybe I'll put it in my letter to Santa. Or, maybe not, I hear that Santa's good friends with another flying do-gooder in red.
firefox.org/news/articles/1010/1/Review-Smallville----quotGeminiquot/Page1.html