I have a confession to make. I haven’t watched Smallville for quite some time, probably since the first couple of seasons. So when I was asked to review the eight season of Smallville and without hesitation I said “yes”, I wondered what I was letting myself in for?
Following the dramatic finale of Season 7 and the collapse of the Fortress of Solitude, Clark is at a cross roads in his life and decides he needs to make some big changes.
In SMALLVILLE: SEASON 8, Clark Kent moves closer to embracing his destiny as the iconic superhero he will become. Spending less time in his hometown and more time in the big city of Metropolis, Clark comes across a multitude of DC Comic characters, including the “Ultimate Destroyer”, an alien from Clark’s home world of Krypton. Clark also begins his career at the Daily Planet working opposite Lois Lane. With Clark and Lois thrust into such close proximity, sparks begin to fly and feelings start to surface while he struggles to deal with his dual personalities of reporter and superhero.
Follow the transformation of boy to man and local hero to superhero, as Clark takes us closer to his destiny in this reinterpretation of the enduring Superman mythology.
So with very little time to get this review together, I dived straight into season 8 without really knowing what occurred in the previous seasons’ storylines.
Well let me just start with all of the man candy that’s on offer! Gosh, a few episodes in and not only has the action heated up but so has this gay sci-fi nerd! Let’s start with the main star,
Tom Welling. Other than being extremely fit, Tom Welling has played Clark Kent/Superman for 9 series (season 9 aired recently in the US) and I have to say he’s doing a very good job. Although he has yet to develop the ‘Superman’ alter-ego, Welling’s Clark Kent is showing the moral development of the character and he truly does want to help the humans around him. I really like the fact that were not subjected to the “Look (puts glasses on), I’m Clark Kent. (Takes glasses off) No, I’m Superman. (Puts glasses on) Mild-mannered reporter. (Takes glasses off) Superhero.“, though it will be interesting how the writers will address the dual identity that is eluded at as in-jokes between the characters.
Justin Hartley plays Oliver Queen/Green Arrow. A friend of Clark Kent, Oliver knows his alien secret and it pivotal in helping Clark at the beginning of season 8. Interestingly he played the role of Aquaman in a 2006 TV pilot, which leads me very nicely to…
Alan Ritchson plays Arthur Curry/Aquaman, who, like Oliver Queen is a friend of Clark Kent and seems to spend most of the first two episodes in a state of undress. And who am I to complain when he looks as good looking as this photo here.
Finally the last actor here who appears with all his clothes off is Sam Witwer who appeared in sci-fi favourites, Battlestar Galactica (Crashdown), Angel, Star Trek Enterprise, along with Bones and Dexter and having voiced the Apprentice in the Star Wars game The Force Unleashed.
Spoiler Alert!
Tom Welling, Justin Hartley, Jason Ritchson and Sam Witwer
Sam Witwer plays the role of Davis Bloome and also this seasons bad guy, Doomsday. For those not too familiar with Doomsday, the character is destined to kill Superman in the future and destroy all life on Earth. Here the storyline deviates from the comic books as Doomsday is a large genetically modified humanoid with spikes on his arms and back. In Smallville we’re introduced to the character Davis Bloome, a paramedic who has no idea of what he will become. Giving Doomsday and human side is the driving force behind this season’s story arc. Bloome slowly realising that he is a Kryptonian with super powers, sent to destroy the son of Jor-El. Giving Doomsday a human side, one who has to struggle against an ever growing urge to transform into a beast and kill all around him. On top of that, placing him into a love triangle with Chloe Sullivan and Jimmy Olsen (disappointingly Davis and Chloe) and the effect it causes within him is the most compelling part of the storyline. It’s a shame that the ending was somewhat abrupt, but I can understand that the special effects needed to give the Doomsday creature would eat up the budget.
Outside of the Doomsday arc, some of the episodes are nothing more than fillers and the reappearance of Lana Lang is an unwelcome plot device, what with the progression of Clark Kent’s and Lois Lane’s relationship.
With the general consensus from various online sources, all stating that Smallville lost its way from around season 2 or 3, I’m encouraged with the writers moving Clark Kent from Smallville to Metropolis. We’re starting to truly see the development of the young man turning into the ’super’ man all us sci-fi nerds adore. It was great seeing the relationship between Clark and Lois grow as they work together at The Daily Planet. The chemistry between Tom Welling and Erica Durance is worth mentioning too and this gets better as the season progresses. Erica Durance gets a special mention as I think her version of Lois is now one of my favourites, based on what I’ve seen, since Margot Kidder’s (who will always remain my fave). Kate Bosworth’s Lane in Superman Returns was so wet. In a movie peppered with so many references to the Christopher Reeves and Margot Lane Superman films, Kate’s Lane lacked that spunky nature and was almost insulting.
Smallville season 8 may have its faults, but as a new viewer, there is certainly enough there for me to consider starting from the beginning and watching all of the series.
SMALLVILLE: SEASON 8 is available now on Blu-ray and DVD [12th October].
SMALLVILLE: COMPLETE SEASON 1 – 8 is also available now on DVD [12th October].
Special Features include:
- Cast/creator commentary
- Unaired scenes
- In the director’s chair: Behind the scenes with Allison Mack
- Smallvilles Doomsday: The making of a monster
