Post by buffysmglover on Dec 22, 2007 11:10:14 GMT -5
Review: 'Smallville' - Gemini
www.syfyportal.com/pagetogether.php?id=4547&page=1
By ALAN STANLEY BLAIR
Source: SyFy Portal
Dec-16-2007
The following contains MAJOR SPOILERS for the "Smallville" episode "Gemini."
For the premiere of the fourth season, the "Smallville" writers chose to write in a character so integral to the Superman mythology that it is impossible to think of the series without her. That character was, of course, Erica Durance’s Lois Lane, and since then she has been a key player in the “Smallville” saga.
Seducing crossover heroes, infiltrating the most stylish and suave clubs in Metropolis and combating some of the most unusual cadre of meteor-infected criminals, she has been a joy to behold.
In subsequent seasons, the series has dabbled with a little bit more of the existing comic book mythos and introduced other characters (usually villains) to keep things fresh. Characters like Mikail Mxyzpitlk, Braniac/Milton Fine, Gen. Zod and the dreaded Phantoms have all played their relative roles in the series; however none have come close to that of Lois Lane.
This year, however, the show finally expanded the Kryptonian family tree a little bit with the addition Kara of Krypton (Laura Vandervoort), who has taken center stage throughout the first handful of episodes as the soon-to-be Supergirl.
And although Vandervoort’s presence on the series has had a fantastic influence on the other characters, she does slightly diminish the existing female leads of the series because there are plenty of stories for them to tell.
It may have been a little clumsily executed, but in “Gemini” it was wonderful to have Lois back in the driving seat as she fights to save her cousin Chloe (Allison Mack) and simultaneously unravel the mystery of the Gemini Project and bring down Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum).
What Worked
Lois’ anonymous caller instantly grabs your attention in a “24” kind of way – a bomb has been planted on your cousin, Chloe Sullivan, and unless you do what I say, she’ll be blown into a million pieces. From the get-go, its clear what is at stake and why Lois will need to go in guns blazing to try to break free of the rat-maze set out before her.
“Gemini” also included some really nice character moments in the episode, including Chloe’s worst secret Santa ever and a little more insight into the darkness that has shrouded Lana (Kristen Kreuk) this season.
But by far the most entertaining scene of all is when Lois marches into the editors office of the Daily Planet and Lex announces that he has just purchased the international renowned newspaper. It just goes to show that if you can’t stop the media, then buy it instead.
What Didn’t Work
“Smallville” isn’t a perfect series – it may flounder from time to time with troublesome standalone story elements, but normally where the show is at its best is with the serialized character relationships that drive the show.
Unfortunately though, the Lois/Grant relationship is potentially the worst that “Smallville” has ever included (and they have had a couple of doozies). The overuse of Christmas tunes doesn’t help the issue and the opening scenes of Lois and Grant making-out in the supply closet as snowflakes drift past the conveniently placed window is far too cheesy to be believed.
We know tis’ the season to be jolly, but does “Smallville” really have to work so hard to explain the Christmas trees, festivities and holiday banter?
Since it was revealed that Grant Gabriel, Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Planet, is actually the long-lost brother of Lex Luthor, “Smallville” has been on thin ice. After devoting so much time to the death of infant Julian in the third year and the fracturing of Lex’s mind by his childhood loss, it would be a major cop-out now to suddenly reveal that Julian somehow survived and it was all for nothing.
Thankfully, the writers instead chose the lesser of two-evils and provided us with a very predictable cloning project gone wrong.
From the second that the cloaked Adrian confirmed he was a clone suffering from rapid aging, it was obviously going to be Julian Luthor and the shocking revelation of Grant’s true identity was out of the bag before the story could catch up. It may have a few problems, but it does paint a more personal picture to Lex’s 33.1 experiments -- too bad it’s a little too late to have any real impact.
Who would have thought that Clark would give up on his cousin so easily? Jonathan Kent would be rolling in his grave if he knew that after all those lessons and speeches about never giving up and fighting for truth, justice and the American way, the littlest Kent would just cast them aside because it was too difficult to find his cousin.
Of course, the chilling final 5 seconds do explain a few things and in retrospect his acceptance of the situation is only fodder for the cannon when Clark escapes his icy confines.
Credit Where Credit Is Due
"Gemini" was written by Caroline Dries and directed by Whitney Ransick. The show stars Tom Welling, Kristen Kreuk, Michael Rosenbaum, Erica Durance and Allison Mack.
www.syfyportal.com/pagetogether.php?id=4547&page=1
By ALAN STANLEY BLAIR
Source: SyFy Portal
Dec-16-2007
The following contains MAJOR SPOILERS for the "Smallville" episode "Gemini."
For the premiere of the fourth season, the "Smallville" writers chose to write in a character so integral to the Superman mythology that it is impossible to think of the series without her. That character was, of course, Erica Durance’s Lois Lane, and since then she has been a key player in the “Smallville” saga.
Seducing crossover heroes, infiltrating the most stylish and suave clubs in Metropolis and combating some of the most unusual cadre of meteor-infected criminals, she has been a joy to behold.
In subsequent seasons, the series has dabbled with a little bit more of the existing comic book mythos and introduced other characters (usually villains) to keep things fresh. Characters like Mikail Mxyzpitlk, Braniac/Milton Fine, Gen. Zod and the dreaded Phantoms have all played their relative roles in the series; however none have come close to that of Lois Lane.
This year, however, the show finally expanded the Kryptonian family tree a little bit with the addition Kara of Krypton (Laura Vandervoort), who has taken center stage throughout the first handful of episodes as the soon-to-be Supergirl.
And although Vandervoort’s presence on the series has had a fantastic influence on the other characters, she does slightly diminish the existing female leads of the series because there are plenty of stories for them to tell.
It may have been a little clumsily executed, but in “Gemini” it was wonderful to have Lois back in the driving seat as she fights to save her cousin Chloe (Allison Mack) and simultaneously unravel the mystery of the Gemini Project and bring down Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum).
What Worked
Lois’ anonymous caller instantly grabs your attention in a “24” kind of way – a bomb has been planted on your cousin, Chloe Sullivan, and unless you do what I say, she’ll be blown into a million pieces. From the get-go, its clear what is at stake and why Lois will need to go in guns blazing to try to break free of the rat-maze set out before her.
“Gemini” also included some really nice character moments in the episode, including Chloe’s worst secret Santa ever and a little more insight into the darkness that has shrouded Lana (Kristen Kreuk) this season.
But by far the most entertaining scene of all is when Lois marches into the editors office of the Daily Planet and Lex announces that he has just purchased the international renowned newspaper. It just goes to show that if you can’t stop the media, then buy it instead.
What Didn’t Work
“Smallville” isn’t a perfect series – it may flounder from time to time with troublesome standalone story elements, but normally where the show is at its best is with the serialized character relationships that drive the show.
Unfortunately though, the Lois/Grant relationship is potentially the worst that “Smallville” has ever included (and they have had a couple of doozies). The overuse of Christmas tunes doesn’t help the issue and the opening scenes of Lois and Grant making-out in the supply closet as snowflakes drift past the conveniently placed window is far too cheesy to be believed.
We know tis’ the season to be jolly, but does “Smallville” really have to work so hard to explain the Christmas trees, festivities and holiday banter?
Since it was revealed that Grant Gabriel, Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Planet, is actually the long-lost brother of Lex Luthor, “Smallville” has been on thin ice. After devoting so much time to the death of infant Julian in the third year and the fracturing of Lex’s mind by his childhood loss, it would be a major cop-out now to suddenly reveal that Julian somehow survived and it was all for nothing.
Thankfully, the writers instead chose the lesser of two-evils and provided us with a very predictable cloning project gone wrong.
From the second that the cloaked Adrian confirmed he was a clone suffering from rapid aging, it was obviously going to be Julian Luthor and the shocking revelation of Grant’s true identity was out of the bag before the story could catch up. It may have a few problems, but it does paint a more personal picture to Lex’s 33.1 experiments -- too bad it’s a little too late to have any real impact.
Who would have thought that Clark would give up on his cousin so easily? Jonathan Kent would be rolling in his grave if he knew that after all those lessons and speeches about never giving up and fighting for truth, justice and the American way, the littlest Kent would just cast them aside because it was too difficult to find his cousin.
Of course, the chilling final 5 seconds do explain a few things and in retrospect his acceptance of the situation is only fodder for the cannon when Clark escapes his icy confines.
Credit Where Credit Is Due
"Gemini" was written by Caroline Dries and directed by Whitney Ransick. The show stars Tom Welling, Kristen Kreuk, Michael Rosenbaum, Erica Durance and Allison Mack.