5.18 - Fragile Discussion Thread (Spoilers)

[AgentPat]

Overall I liked the episode. It didn't advance the season plot any which is too bad with such few episodes remaining on the season, but it was good for the source material and story at hand.

Well, it depends. They can't have HUGE revelations in every episode. Fragile set the stage for the last four eps and established a few important points: Lana and Lex have kicked into high gear, and Lois is now Martha's chief of staff, which was nicely explained as her previous chief got a face full of glass. We also now know that Lex has minions looking for Fine in Honduras, and Clark (mysteriously) still doesn't have the best opinion of Jor-El. THAT was a pretty interesting piece of information, actually, and it will more than likely be very important when Clark makes his big decision in the season finale.

 

[The Sage]

Ok. Review time, before I try to forget this episode.

The Pros

- Lex. End of Story. Lex was the saving grace of the episode. Him owning Chloe made me laugh.

- Lexana is real. No duplicitous plot on the part of Lana....the two are really into each other.

The Cons

- The Maddie plot. It wasnt very groundbreaking and the end was VERY cliched. The way the mother died in the opening was pretty stupid too, she stared at that mirror for such a long time before it blew up (and she knew it would). She should have ran. I also didnt like how Maddie's powers seemed stronger than her fathers in the final scene, he should have been able to take her...hes a full mutant, shes the child..2nd generation...the power shouldnt be as strong.

- Lois and Chloe both annoyed me in this episode. I honestly think Clark deserves way better than the 2 of them.

- Clark saying how awful Jor-El is... and the theme that you dont have to be like your biological parents. I hate how they always paint Jor-El as a bastard. Brando is spinning in his grave.

- The whole thing with the FOTW being allowed to walk free from Belle Reeve is ridiculous, especially when they know how dangerous his powers are..

Other Observations

- The direction was nothing stellar. Looked like a typical episode, though that final ending scene was a bit overdone. They made it seem like Maddie has some kind of importance in the story, like the Flash.... but who knows, maybe the SV Superman's JLA will be filled with FOTWs.

- Tom does not look anywhere close to 18. He really shouldnt be playing a teenager. I kinda wish this show was adult superman-centered from the start....or at least jumped some years ahead.

- My theory is Chloe is a closet lesbian. She doesnt seem to look gifthorses in the mouth either. Lex could have killed her so many times, especially after the last season finale.....but she still continues to try to act like shes threatening to him...plz

Overall this episode kinda sucked.

I give it 1.5 out of 5 pieces of broken glass. Hopefully next week is a vast improvement.

I expected Fragile to suck based on how WB filled its Fragile promo with footage mainly from other episodes.

Harsh though somewhat true.

 

[AgentPat]

As I said before, it I hadn't known it was directed by Tom, I wouldn't have had any clue that it wasn't one of the more experienced directors.

Agreed!

I wouldn't complain if he quits acting to hide behind the camera.

No comment.

...It could be an extremely difficult and time consuming setup to do and thus be cost prohibitive for a TV show.

Oh, hell no. I've done it with a camcorder LOL. It's VERY easy to do - in theory - you just have to be good behind the camera, that's all. As far as set-up, they lay tracks for the camera All. The. Time. This would have been a no-brainer.

And I thought when you went forward and back it was a "dolly shot," a "tracking shot" I thought was side to side... in TV land they call both of those something else entirely. *shrug*

Oh, now you're getting technical. I know how it's done and I know the result it yields, but I may not be explaining it with actual director's slanguage. Most of the time, they just refer to it as a 'tracking focus pull,' or something along those lines. As long as the idea is conveyed, we're good.

 

[The Sage]

I'd give it a 2 out of 5 because of the Maddie/Clark relationship and the sly look on Lex's face, knowing he was taking advantage of Lana. Maddie reminds me of Ryan.

Kudos to Welling on scene and frame selection. Next time he should do rewrites on the script before filming it.

The rest was annoying. After watching glass shatter around her, why would the foster mother just stand in front of a mirror and scream as it's shaking? Stupid stupid stupid.

Nice of Clark to use his super hearing. Can we see it more often?
Clark's small scuffle with Maddie's dad was silly. Why didn't Clark just tap the man on his head instead of tossing him across the Talon? That created more of a mess for his mom, who owns the Talon, or the police to clean up. All that was needed was one tap. Geez. Why was Maddie's dad taken to the hospital instead of Belle Reve since not only is he a meteor freak with powers, but he controls glass to boot?

Correct if I'm wrong, but is glass diamond?

And number one, supremely number one...why hasn't Clark told Martha about Lionel? She's been busy? Oh come on, she wasn't too busy to have a heart to heart with him about Lana two episode ago. Bad writing. What is Clark waiting for? Is he waiting to see Martha and Lionel in a liplock? No? How about Lionel wearing one of Jonathan's flannel shirts and walking out of Martha's bed?

What a waste. It's not even the actors, it's the writing.

Also, I'm highly upset that Jor-El is seen as a villain. It's obvious after Clark's talk with Maddie. Clark sees his father as an antagonist. Whatever goodness Relic had injected into Jor-El two seasons ago doesn't matter. Somewhere, John Byrne is smiling and tipping his glass in salute.

 

[AgentPat]

...After watching glass shatter around her, why would the foster mother just stand in front of a mirror and scream as it's shaking? Stupid stupid stupid.

I rest my case!

Why didn't Clark just tap the man on his head instead of tossing him across the Talon?

Because it's all about the 30ft chuck?

Correct if I'm wrong, but is glass diamond?

Diamond is carbon. Why do you ask? The father didn't manipulate the diamonds, only the stained glass matrix they were held in.

And number one, supremely number one...why hasn't Clark told Martha about Lionel?

Chloe asked Clark the same question. His answer was that Martha had too much on her mind - or something along those lines. She had just lost her chief of staff and was in a slew of meetings. This was before Lois got nomed for the position. It was also pointed out that Lionel was in Europe, so Clark probably figured he wasn't an imminent problem. Patience, grasshopper, Clark will fill Martha in soon enough.

Also, I'm highly upset that Jor-El is seen as a villain. It's obvious after Clark's talk with Maddie. Clark sees his father as an antagonist. Whatever goodness Relic had injected into Jor-El two seasons ago doesn't matter.

That surprised me too. But I think it was done by design. Again, whatever decision Clark makes in the finale this year is probably going to relate back to Jor-El in some way. Clark will finally realize Jor-El isn't bad. Betcha five cyber dollars.

 

[Serene]

Does anyone know where I can download the episode??...my evil satanic WB affiliate from hell decided baseball is more important that Tom's directorial debut...losers!!..so if anyone knows where I can find it, I'd be forever grateful. Thanks!!
So far I've gotten 2 corrupt files and not much else.

Do you still need it, Melly?

I was going to try and d/l a HD copy for myself later, but I can get it from my Tivo as well. It's just not as good a picture, and I'm not sure how to transfer that huge of a file.

 

[The Sage]

I rest my case!

LOL, huh?

Because it's all about the 30ft chuck?

Haha.

Diamond is carbon. Why do you ask? The father didn't manipulate the diamonds, only the stained glass matrix they were held in.

Didn't he levitate the diamonds?

Chloe asked Clark the same question. His answer was that Martha had too much on her mind - or something along those lines. She had just lost her chief of staff and was in a slew of meetings. This was before Lois got nomed for the position. It was also pointed out that Lionel was in Europe, so Clark probably figured he wasn't an imminent problem. Patience, grasshopper, Clark will fill Martha in soon enough.

That's ******ed. Why wouldn't Clark tell her before then? You'd think he tell her after she comes back after the dinner with the governor. In this case, it's not about patience, it's about logic. His mom has befriended the guy who your father died fighting. What is Clark waiting for?

That surprised me too. But I think it was done by design. Again, whatever decision Clark makes in the finale this year is probably going to relate back to Jor-El in some way. Clark will finally realize Jor-El isn't bad. Betcha five cyber dollars.

You're on!

I hope you're right.

 

[Serene]

Because it's all about the 30ft chuck?

LOL! I love that.

Diamond is carbon. Why do you ask? The father didn't manipulate the diamonds, only the stained glass matrix they were held in.

Actually, I think he did make the diamonds pull out of the stained glass and levitate to him. Meh. Diamonds, Glass.. both clear crystalline materials.. close enough.

 

[triplet]

Glass is made from silica (sand), it probably doesn't make sense that he could manipulate a diamond which is a form of carbon.

The other main difference between the two is the fact that glass is cooled so quickly the minerals its made from doesn't have time to crystalize...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass

A diamond is essentially a crystal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond



Could have a point...

 

[Super_Ludacris]

Yeah if anyone wants the episode I'll have it by tonight

 

[mellyM]

Do you still need it, Melly?

I was going to try and d/l a HD copy for myself later, but I can get it from my Tivo as well. It's just not as good a picture, and I'm not sure how to transfer that huge of a file.

Hey I've been trying various links all day, and nothing so far has worked (thanks Avid btw) its nuts! I've never had this much trouble downloading an ep before, and its the one time where I actually need to see it. If you manage to get the file uploaded somewhere I'd be forever grateful, or you find one somewhere that works, Thanks soo much

 

[mellyM]

Yeah if anyone wants the episode I'll have it by tonight

I definitely would love that, thanks mucho

 

[Kane]

And number one, supremely number one...why hasn't Clark told Martha about Lionel? She's been busy? Oh come on, she wasn't too busy to have a heart to heart with him about Lana two episode ago. Bad writing. What is Clark waiting for? Is he waiting to see Martha and Lionel in a liplock? No? How about Lionel wearing one of Jonathan's flannel shirts and walking out of Martha's bed?

Ya Clark is prolonging this way too much, especially given his past with Lionel...he should know better. Lionel could be preparing something big against him...Clark needs to act instead of sitting on his a$$ and having tea time with little girls.

 

[Super_Ludacris]

guys its a teen show lol chill

 

[Kane]

Yea true.

 

[Serene]

Hey I've been trying various links all day, and nothing so far has worked (thanks Avid btw) its nuts! I've never had this much trouble downloading an ep before, and its the one time where I actually need to see it. If you manage to get the file uploaded somewhere I'd be forever grateful, or you find one somewhere that works, Thanks soo much

I'm transferring from Tivo to my PC now. It takes about an hour or so though. Let's see if I remember how to do this.

Not sure how to send that large a file to you though. Any suggestions?

Nevermind... Triplet to the rescue.

 

[The Sage]

guys its a teen show lol chill

Wow...

 

[Super_Ludacris]

Supeman fanboys dont catch feelings...

 

[avidreader]

That's ******ed. Why wouldn't Clark tell her before then? You'd think he tell her after she comes back after the dinner with the governor. In this case, it's not about patience, it's about logic. His mom has befriended the guy who your father died fighting. What is Clark waiting for?

When you consider that he's made some mistakes of late by jumping in too quickly, he could just be sorting things out in his head first. Assessing the situation, determining the danger. He doesnt want to go blurt it all out to his mother, when she's under pressure from her new career, and have things go horribly wrong. He's probably not even 100% sure that what he saw was real, its just a gut feeling that he has.

 

[\S/JcDc\S/]

Anyone else think zooming in on his ear to indicate superhearing is lame?

 

[Kaboom]

Anyone else think zooming in on his ear to indicate superhearing is lame?

very traditional. all the series have done it.

 

[Super_Ludacris]

Yeah they've done it since season 1

 

[avidreader]

Yeah they've done it since season 1

LOL! He didnt have superhearing until Season 3.

 

[Super_Ludacris]

You sure? I could have sworn they showed a couple episodes in season 1 where he did. I cant remember *goes back to watching the DVDs*

 

[triplet]

You sure? I could have sworn they showed a couple episodes in season 1 where he did. I cant remember *goes back to watching the DVDs*

He gets super hearing in the third season ep "Whisper"....