1-01 - Pilot - Discussion Thread (Spoilers)

[Catman]

I was checking my schedule guide from Direct TV and it says that on April 8, CW is airing the pilot. Is that an error or are they correct? It just seems odd for CW to randomly air the Pilot.

 

[Kryptonian Warrior]

I was checking my schedule guide from Direct TV and it says that on April 8, CW is airing the pilot. Is that an error or are they correct? It just seems odd for CW to randomly air the Pilot.

Yes. They want to show the Pilot before the final run of episodes. Just so that people can see where he's come from to where he's going. I personally can't wait to see it again, and in HD this time! At least I hope it will be converted to HD.

 

[Catman]

HDNet has been airing Smallville for quite some time now. In case anyone is interested. I know some people own the DVD's and what-not, but others do not.

 

[Webhead2006]

it is not an error cw announced a few weeks back they will be reairing the pilot on the 8th as u know getting folks ready for the end coming.

 

[Morg]

I wonder which pilot they showing? I remember they edited some parts out it last time it was aired

 

[Webhead2006]

its probably the edited version, since the first run version ran for like an additional 8-10mins.

 

[Morg]

I liked the full run better, they should run it too

 

[Catman]

The one concern I have is that re-airing the pilot will remind audiences that the show LOOKED better. I hate the show's look these days. They shoot on backlots. Everything is dark like if it were a Batman show or something. The first four seasons of Smallville were beautiful. They took advantage of the REAL location they had. There was a lot of bright colors. In many ways, those years were truer to Superman than what we have now.

I always wondered how fans were gonna re-evaluate the entire series once it was over. But it seems that it might happen sooner. Once the pilot re-airs, everyone is gonna start comparing that era to what we have now. And honestly, the show was kind of better in those days. Season one was a joke with the silly freaks of the week. But seasons 2, 3, and 4 were the show's prime.

 

[Prison Mike]

I loved the show's first 3 seasons. I agree the look of the series was better than how it is now. But I think what they want to show is that Metropolis was kind of a dark place pre-Superman. If the series finale shows Clark as Superman, I hope Metropolis looks brighter and more hopeful than in the past.

 

[Webhead2006]

ya i like the full cut too, but with how many commerical breaks we get and at most we have 42 mins for an episode, and the original cut being like 70mins i dont see it happening.

 

[triplet]

I liked the full run better, they should run it too

I like the longer version better.

It has some nice stuff that the shorter version cuts out, Clark stacking the trucks and day dreaming about playing football as he watched the practice...

That is nice because it makes his later daydream about Lana and him dancing in the loft make more sense...

(I just rewatched the Pilot, I'm working on a review of it since I never have written one... It'll round out my reviews.)

I think it's nice, especially since it actually will cost The CW money to re-air that. Contracts with producers and studios with networks usually include the rights to air each episode a certain number of times, it's 3 if I recall correctly, without paying more.

They had probably long ago used up those three since I know they've re-aired the pilot multiple times...

I think it will help the newer fans get a sense of the show's history and where Clark started out. The Pilot still holds up very well, aside from a few stylist things...

I hope people will watch it.

 

[Webhead2006]

sure it was great in the first few yrs with all the great location filming on top of set filming. But even when we started to get less and less location stuff. I am happy they at least still do from time to time, and at least built some nice standing exterior sets to use.

 

[Catman]

I think what they want to show is that Metropolis was kind of a dark place pre-Superman.

The problem is that they already showed Metropolis multiple times during the first 7 seasons. And each time it was...Toronto.

The Pilot still holds up very well

The pilot is fantastic. I would still name it as one of the top ten best episodes from the series. My only problem with the pilot is that freak of the week.

 

[Prison Mike]

I thought Metropolis is Vancouver?

 

[dsfjr1190]

Metropolis? On this show its always looked more like Gotham to me.

I'll definitely be tuning in to watch the pilot. It will be the first time I've seen it in years.

 

[triplet]

The problem is that they already showed Metropolis multiple times during the first 7 seasons. And each time it was...Toronto.

Wrong part of Canada... Vancouver is north of Seattle.

Toronto is close to Buffulo.

The pilot is fantastic. I would still name it as one of the top ten best episodes from the series. My only problem with the pilot is that freak of the week.

Actually, I thought Jeremy Creek was probably one of the better season one FOTWs...

To each his own.

I thought Metropolis is Vancouver?

Yeah, it is. They've never gone that far on location shoots...

 

[Mig-El]

The Pilot in HD!! Can't wait!

Smallville Pilot is still one of the best pilots in television in my humble opinion.

 

[Zack Snyder]

I have season 1 on dvd so meh

 

[Catman]

I thought Metropolis is Vancouver?

Wrong part of Canada... Vancouver is north of Seattle.

I stand corrected, but my point still stands.

I thought Jeremy Creek was probably one of the better season one FOTWs...

Lizzy Caplan as the lesbian obsessed with Lana was the best freak. Also, let's not forget how laughably bad Amy Adams (our new Lois Lane) was as the fat chick who used Kryptonite to lose weight.

 

[triplet]

I stand corrected, but my point still stands.

What point was that?

That 'Metropolis' was recognizable as another city? Do you expect them to build a whole city from the ground up for a TV show?

Chicago was used for Gotham locations in The Dark Knight, at times using recognizable landmarks... Did that bother you too?

Lizzy Caplan as the lesbian obsessed with Lana was the best freak. Also, let's not forget how laughably bad Amy Adams (our new Lois Lane) was as the fat chick who used Kryptonite to lose weight.

Tina was a good FOTW, very creepy and Lizzy is a very good actress.

I don't think Amy did a bad job with what she was given, she actually did better than anyone else would have, but I guess your mileage may vary.

 

[SpideyVille]

So the pilot should be ithe remastered HD version that came out on itunes right, and not just the dvd quality version?

The pilot is fantastic. I would still name it as one of the top ten best episodes from the series.

I agree. Sure it may be dated, but that's only natural when a show started about a decade ago. But as an episode, it is easily one of the strongest ones.

 

[Zack Snyder]

Pilot was the best episode of series actually. Of course they always put more money into the pilot, and typically make it closer to a movie feel than any other following episodes to set it off.

 

[Catman]

What point was that? That 'Metropolis' was recognizable as another city?

No. What I meant was that in the first 7 seasons they shot at a REAL location. I loved that. In the last 3 seasons they have been using a backlot. I hate that. It looks so cheap. Re-airing the pilot will remind viewers of how cheap-looking the series has been compared to the early days.

I agree. Sure it may be dated, but that's only natural when a show started about a decade ago. But as an episode, it is easily one of the strongest ones.

There's nothing dated about the pilot. It holds up incredibly well.

 

[vantheman77]

Is it true that the re-airing of the pilot will be HD?

If so, I'm going to record it.

 

[triplet]

No. What I meant was that in the first 7 seasons they shot at a REAL location. I loved that. In the last 3 seasons they have been using a backlot. I hate that. It looks so cheap. Re-airing the pilot will remind viewers of how cheap-looking the series has been compared to the early days.

Oh, I see your point, but location shoots are outrageously expensive and time consuming... I can see why they did it. However, I should point out the *only* sets they used in the Pilot were the barn, the farm house and the storm cellar...

The show just looked so different then.

There's nothing dated about the pilot. It holds up incredibly well.

Well, there are a few things that are dated, but very few...