5.18 - Fragile Discussion Thread (Spoilers)

[Mister J]

KK, those first 3 pics reminded me of how much I like the show's portrayal of the utilization of Clark's powers. It's not uncommon to see Superman de-powered in order to make the story more compelling. It's good that this incarnation (even though it's just a teenage Clark Kent) that hasn't leaned on that.

 

[Kane]

Did anyone else laugh out loud when Lana, queen of the distressed damsels, told Chloe "she has no intentions of being someone else's prey?"

 

[Mister J]

That was pretty funny. It's right up there with Lex ripping on Chloe about why she never had a boyfriend and Chloe talking to Lex about consequences..."You're looking at her". I missed the next 15 seconds or so laughing at that.

 

[Brainiac 8]

Someone (who hasn't been smoking crack preferably) please explain to me why there are comments accusing Chloe of being a lesbian? Since that's never EVER been even hinted at, I have to assume it's just someone being mean-spirited.


I actually felt sorry for Chloe in this ep. She's stuck in a really hard place, between her two closest friends. I think her intentions were good in going to see Lex, but she really should have talked to Lana first. Still.. I know that having to lie to Clark about it was extremely hard for her.

Lex was so deliciously evil in his scene with Chloe. Man.. But she hung in there.. gotta hand it to the girl.

I can see the Lex/Lana situation going either way at this point. Either she's sincerely becoming attracted to him - partly because he's schmoozing her so skillfully, and partly because she's on the rebound. That kiss she laid on him seemed like she really wanted another taste. The other option is that she is playing him and TPTB are keeping their scenes purposely ambiguous.

That little girl looked EXACTLY like a first year Hermione Granger. I thought she did a good job too.

Lois was a little manic again, character-wise in this story. She said something early in the show that really cracked me up.. I'll have to rewind to find it again.
Chief of Staff? Damn, who needs college anyway, I guess.

Clark was all over this episode.. and it was nice to see. This wasn't an incredibly exciting episode *cough*, but it was very sweet. I think this was much more of a character piece, intended to show parallels b/w Clark's relationship with Jor-El, and Maddie with her father. I think it also emphasized Clark's continued maturity in his dealings with this young girl and her problems. He was just wonderful with her.

It did seem to tread on some old ground ("you don't have to be like your father.. yadda yadda..), and the one line of Clark's that I have to admit I rolled my eyes at, "Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad" was right off of a Hallmark card! LOL..


Oh, and that scene where Maddie's father was surrounded by the floating shards of glass.. Anyone else flashback to that scene in The Fog where the priest is surrounded by floating shards of glass? Maybe Tom really liked that scene.

I thought the directing (from my amateur eyes) looked great! All the scenes just *looked* good. One shot I really liked was of Lex, after Chloe left, where he was shot from almost the ground up. It was a very effective angle for that scene. The closing scene outside the house when Maddie was driving away was beautifully done. Good onya, Tom!

A pretty, sweet episode... a little short on the thrills. I'm sure the fanboys will absolutely hate it.

...great mini review.

Personally, I loved it. It was sincere and sweet. Reminded me of two of my favorite episoded from the series, "Stray" and "Ryan".

Any time they put Clark in a big brother role, where he is the one to look up to...I love it. It was one of the better episodes this season IMO.

 

[Super_Ludacris]

Man overall I was loving this episode, finally Lexana is coming to a reality!

 

[GoldGoblin]

At first I thought the power to control glass was ******ed,but then after the episode I thought it was pretty cool.

 

[Superfreak]

one of the worst of the season IMO. All the Clark stuff was boring, stupid, and were concepts we've already seen in SV. Meteor freak and their evil parents, how many times do we have to go over the same territory.

the only redeeming factor for the episode was the Lex bits. He was amazing. Insinuating that Chloe was a carpet muncher, catching Lana in the rebound. Awesome.

the rest of the episode was the same old melodramatic nonsense, that we've seen over and over again.

Next week looks much more interesting

 

[Brainiac 8]

one of the worst of the season IMO. All the Clark stuff was boring, stupid, and were concepts we've already seen in SV. Meteor freak and their evil parents, how many times do we have to go over the same territory.

the only redeeming factor for the episode was the Lex bits. He was amazing. Insinuating that Chloe was a carpet muncher, catching Lana in the rebound. Awesome.

the rest of the episode was the same old melodramatic nonsense, that we've seen over and over again.

Next week looks much more interesting

I must have missed it, I didn't think he was implying that Chloe was a Lesbo. He was just saying that she won't allow herself to get close to anyone. And that she's hard to handle.

 

[Lara]

This is what a "filler" episode should be. It was entertaining, the little girl could act, no giant plot holes or out of character moments. Clark was very Supermanish. I think for a FOTW ep it was pretty darn good. About the Lana/Lex thing I think she just wants to be in control. She knows how much Lex cares for her and feels she'll finally have the upper hand. Plus Chloe acting like she can't handle it really set her off. Poor Lana doesn't have any idea who she's dealing with =(

 

[The Caped Knight]

This episode started off slow & towards the middle of the episode It really began to pick up speed. Overall Good Episode

Highlights

(1) The Return Of Lois & Clark playful banter

(2) Martha telling Lois her DESTINY is beyond selling Coffee

(3) More Forshadowing of Clark's Future

(4) Lex Luthor

(5) Lexana

(6) The CGI effect with the glass .

(7) Chloe

Next week look's awesome .

 

[BaK]

It was kind of "retelling" of Ryan with a girl, which was just one challenge more for our "guest" director..
Done beautifully, as it was the first time around..

*hmm department*
*If the first kiss was Lexana, was second Lanex ?*

 

[AgentPat]

It was kind of "retelling" of Ryan with a girl, which was just one challenge more for our "guest" director..
Done beautifully, as it was the first time around..

Agreed! I was SOOOO expecting a rack focus tracking shot at the beginning, just before mom got splattered with the mirror. That would have rocked. I don't see the "effect" used all that much though, probably because directors feel it's cliché, but it would have worked in that scene. And as a new director... hell, *I* would have done it. LOL

 

[rumpuso]

Agreed! I was SOOOO expecting a rack focus tracking shot at the beginning, just before mom got splattered with the mirror.

Can you explain what that means so I can envision it?

 

[mellyM]

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.

 

[triplet]

Can you explain what that means so I can envision it?

I barely understood that and I went to film school....

A tracking shot is when the camera is on wheels and rides on a track, like a train, and moves along with the action.

I wasn't sure what "rack focus" meant, so I had to look it up...

It's when focus shifts during a shot. They actually have a seperate person "pull" focus on those shots (the focus puller) and good ones are really good and make it seem so easy. It's not.

They do a lot of focus pulling in Smallville, actually, so you've probably seen them do it.

However, I'm not sure I know exactly what Pat was referring to...

Did Stray combine a rack focus with a tracking shot to open?

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.

The evil people over on DTS should have a link to the episode in the downloads thread on the Smallville General forum.

Naughty, naughty... (but I hope someone over there can help you out)

 

[avidreader]

First of all, Kaboom could you explain the dog wagging. I dont get it. But I'm sure I'll agree with it, if Pat and Serene do.


I really enjoyed this episode. It was nice for Clark to be able to finally give somebody something and feel good about it. Even if he didnt feel good for himself I did. He's had a rough time lately, and I know things are going to get worse for him, so this touching story was well planted within the final arc of the season.

I thought Tom and the little girl had great chemistry with each other, and yeah she reminded me of Hermione too.

Poor Chloe, she's really stuck in the middle, but I have feeling she will be there for Clark and not Lexana. Lex is starting to be cruel he was really trying to push her buttons in that scene.

And okay, what the heck is Lana up to. Twice within the episode she says that there will never be anything beyond friendship between her and Lex and then she plants that smooch on him, which look totally unLana like.

It would be great to see that she setting something up, but we the audience are unsure as to what's going on.

That last shot of Clark and Martha, posted above by Kalkai, with the sun reflecting in the corner of the screen was one of the most beautiful shots I've seen on Smallville.

Tom did a great job as first time director, and I'm looking forward to rewatching the episode again to pick up on things I missed first time around.

One more thing to add, I think Erica has really found her stride with Lois lately, she's able to be over the top without being overbearing.

 

[rumpuso]

Thanks Triplet!!

 

[jas01724]

Agreed! I was SOOOO expecting a rack focus tracking shot at the beginning, just before mom got splattered with the mirror. That would have rocked. I don't see the "effect" used all that much though, probably because directors feel it's cliché, but it would have worked in that scene. And as a new director... hell, *I* would have done it. LOL

I know the kind of shot you mean. Tom's direction was understated, but I actually liked that. He went the route of directing an episode of Smallville, not the route of a novice director who wants to prove how many tricks they can pull off.

The biggest compliment is that if I didn't know Tom had directed this one, I would have never guessed that it wasn't one of their usual directors.

 

[triplet]

That last shot of Clark and Lana, posted above by Kalkai, with the sun reflecting in the corner of the screen was one of the most beautiful shots I've seen on Smallville.

Isn't that Martha in that shot?

Thanks Triplet!!

You're very welcome....

 

[triplet]

I know the kind of shot you mean. Tom's direction was understated, but I actually liked that. He went the route of directing an episode of Smallville, not the route of a novice director who wants to prove how many tricks they can pull off.

The biggest compliment is that if I didn't know Tom had directed this one, I would have never guessed that it wasn't one of their usual directors.

Good points, James!

 

[avidreader]

Isn't that Martha in that shot?

LOL! I meant Martha, I'm so used to saying Clark and Lana. Made an edit.

 

[GothicPowerMix1]

LOL! I meant Martha, I'm so used to saying Clark and Lana. Made an edit.

Clark right now is giving Lana Space & is basically staying away from her. This obviously will not last that long especially with Chloe lying to him about a thing or Two & he knows it (well I hope)

 

[Kaboom]

avid..lol.....

i said that you, serene, pat and trip would probably love to watch TW wag his tail (i.e shake his butt).

 

[jaydawg]

I agree with jaydawg about the ending. It seemed rushed and predictable. I thought they would show Clark peering through the window, but that would have been too much.

I did enjoy the Maddie story though. I'm not sure if it was because it was a change of pace from what we've gotten as of late or what. There were some holes, but we got back to Clark serving as a hero. His words to comfort Maddie hit home. I didn't like how he ripped on Jor-El though. They need to go ahead and build the bond between them. I know it's happens eventually, but my inner fanboy wants it done.

As always, Rosenbaum was excellent. I enjoyed seeing him taunt Chloe (who seems to annoy me to no end, regardless of what function she's given). I love seeing how to gradually build Lex to being the Luthor we know he will become.

Generally speaking, I'm over these filler eps. We get snippets of the good stuff that's central to the main story. However, I'm waiting for a ep that focus on it near exclusively. There's alot to be developed.

Seriously. Jor-el isnt evil. I wish Clark would get that.

 

[tonytr1687]

Seriously. Jor-el isnt evil. I wish Clark would get that.

I dont think we have to worry. Since the writers have now out-and-out shown us that Clark thinks Jor-El is evil, I'm sure we're gonna get an episode soon where he realizes Jor-El is actually the opposite.