Crazy4Smallville's Weekly Review 5:20 Fade

I wouldn't call this episode a 'filler', but more of a bridge. It wasn't the best, but it had it moments.

I'm not sure what's happening to me as a fan, but my feelings are changing. There is still that little girl that fell in love with Superman many years ago that jumps up and down on the inside every time she gets a little peak at her hero, but those times are few and far between. Here lately, they've come in subtle hints, which I'm not sure is a bad thing.

Then, there is the other side - the one that would like to see the story move on. Which is really out of character for me. I'm very much into characterizations. In the books that I write, I center the story around the character - not the action. My young adult series that I'm writing now is a lot like Smallville in so many ways. I'm after the story 'behind' the hero. I want the readers to identify with the metamorphosis that goes into the making of - not the actions of a superhero. It isn't their powers that make them great, it's what they choose to do with them.

So, there in-lies the problem. That's the element that I love about Smallville, yet what's been irritating me lately. I want to move on - I want to see the cape. Perhaps I believe that Clark's been through enough metamorphosis that we should be seeing our hero clearly now. Perhaps we are, but like Lois - we don't recognize what's in front of us. We need to be Chloes and see the greatness that is wrapped up in Clark and move away from his emotional issues with Lana.

I saw a few peaks of that greatness: When Clark saved the FOTW in Metropolis, then when he saved Lex & Lana without them knowing about it, when he walked away after seeing Lana & Lex together, when he apologized to Chloe for getting angry with her about her knowing about Lana's relationship and not telling him and most of all - when he confronted the FOTW by clearly showing a contrast between a selfless and selfish act.

I also saw a lot of Jonathan Kent last night, though I didn't see his face. Clark Kent is every bit his father. When he returned the gifts that (sorry, I can't remember his name) FOTW sent him, he reminded me so much of Jonathan every time Lex tried to give the Kents a gift. The younger Clark would have kept it. This more mature Clark did what was right. Clark did a lot of what was right in this episode, which is sad because I feel that it will get lost because it wasn't filled with all the bells and whistles. It will be classified as another 'filler' episode, when it was really a strong bridge.

So, my review is a little different this morning, because I wanted you to know how I was changing my view of Smallville.

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray