How would you improve Smallville??

[Mike_D202]

More John Williams Score.

 

[The Question]

I appreciate the time you've taken to making that synopsis The Question, but I'm glad they didnt do any of that. It makes the show a completely different show and takes away the "real heart" of what Smallville is about.

Clark and his relationship with his friends and family.

My idea would focus on that more than Smallville has already.

And I couldnt see anybody in the roles that have been cast other than the current cast.

How about people who actually look like teenagers? I'd have liked that.

I could. It just requires some thinking outside the box. Question, your ideas are interesting. I think that show would have won over more comic book fans but less non-superman fans. It likely wouldnt have lasted as long on a network like WB compared to what we got. Sadly, wouldnt have worked.

Thanks. And yeah, it probably wouldn't have done all that well. Really, my main problem is that there are too many action sequences. I mean, I know the general audience will expect a Superman show to be rather action oriented, but then why make a show about the one period in his life with the least amount of action?

 

[avidreader]

Funny, init? Even the most staunch supporters have their pet peeves. For example, I think it was Triplet that LOATHED the whole blood arc from S3 (or was that Serene? I forget.) Personally, I didn't like what's-his-name-LOST-dude, but as a concept, I found the experiments with Clark's blood quite fascinating.

I didnt mind the blood cocktail arc either. And it was something that you could definitely see Lionel Luthor doing. Crisis was one of my favourite episodes from Season 3, so the sci-fi stuff really works well with me too.

And that blood boiling, you're right. Big OUCH!

But I'm just curious as to why people dont like stuff about witches and vampires when the show is about real people in a fantasy world.

My idea would focus on that more than Smallville has already.

Gosh! Fans moan and groan now that there is too much relationship stuff on Smallville.

 

[The Question]

Gosh! Fans moan and groan now that there is too much relationship stuff on Smallville.

It depends on what you mean by relationship stuff. If you mean crappy soap opera love traingles, then no, I wouldn't be having that crap. But my Smallville would have been heavily character focused and would have slowly introduced the more sci-fi/action elements with the DEO in season one, Martian Manhunter and the JSA in season two, and the Eradicator in season three. By season four, the show would have much more action elements as he geared up for moving to Metropolis anddonning the blue and red suit.

 

[triplet]

Funny, init? Even the most staunch supporters have their pet peeves. For example, I think it was Triplet that LOATHED the whole blood arc from S3 (or was that Serene? I forget.)

That was me. I hated that story arc with a passion. It nearly got me to stop watching, I hated it so much.

And you know, I can't really tell you why and I wouldn't want to watch those episodes again to try and figure that out.

Personally, I didn't like what's-his-name-LOST-dude, but as a concept, I found the experiments with Clark's blood quite fascinating. It elaborated on things rarely explained - never less shown - in prior versions of the mythos, such as the fact that Clark's blood BOILS when he gets near Kryptonite. OUCH! What a graphic way to explain the pain involved with K poisoning. The story also presented Clark with an interesting dilemma - if his blood could help people, should he reveal himself to the world? Heavy duty stuff there. And finally, the arc had more of a sci-fi backbone than fantasy.

Not everything needed to be explained to the smallest denominator (Michael Crichton, anybody?), but it had MUCH more of a realistic feel than the witch arc, IMHO. Not that I disliked the witch arc, mind you, but a story about three witches burned at the stake 500 years ago and then resurrected via magic to possess the bodies of three victims today is pure fantasy. Again, not that there's anything wrong with that, but I personally prefer fiction involving aliens among us to be a little more science fiction oriented.

Good points but I actually liked the witch storyline a lot more than other people.

 

[NHawk19]

I often wonder what it is people specifically dont like about that sort of thing.

After all this is a show about an alien being and therefore makes it a fantasy tale where fantastic things can happen.

I know with me it's a matter of preference. I like more traditional science fiction. Things about aliens and technology and so forth. When they mix that with what would be more considered fantasy, (i.e. witches, vampires) it becomes hard to swallow.

Seems they try to explain things thru science and reason then through something out of left field which doesnt fit the rest of the pattern. Problem with SV is all to often those storylines appear to get dropped in favor of something else.

Wish they'd tighten up some of those events and show how they can relate. In that arena the stones are my biggest complaint. Why how did they open the fortress? why did Lana know to give them to Clark? Why was Isobel in search them, ultimate power yeah, but how did she find out? Just seems as though they can really rush the story at times.

 

[Ultimate_Superman]

Here's how I would have handled Smallville:

First off, I wouldn't cast Welling. Or Kreuk. Or, any of them, really. Now, I don't have anything against Welling or Kreuk. I think they've done a good job in Smallville. I just think, casting wise, it could have been done better. Really, I'd cast people who actually look like they're teenagers, not supermodels. I would have cast someone with actual red hair for Lana, and for Clark, I would have gone with someone with less of a build. Personally, I've always prefered Clark, especially teenage Clark, to be alot more slender. Not that I want him to be like Peter Parker or anything. It's just that, when you're as naturally strong as Clark is, you're not going to be exering yourself often enough to build up alot of muscle. I would not have included Chloe or Whitney, and kept it to Just Clark, Pete, and Lana. I would have tried to cast someone for Pete who actually looks like Pete from the comics, but then, the actor they had did very well, so I might have ketp the same actor.

Second, I'd have it set in the 70s or 80s. The reason, obviously, is to keep in tune with the current continuity, where Clark atended school in the 70s and/or 80s. Also, I think giving the show a slightly retro feel would help with it's apeal.

Story wise, there would be no "freaks of the week". I would keep actual super fights to a minimal for the first season, since Clark isn't even Superman yet. When Clark fights his first "supervillain", it would have been a VERY big deal, for him at least. Lex would not be living in Smallville, and in fact Lex Luthor would not apear and only be mentioned until later seasons, if at all. Nothing against Rosenbaum's portrayal (he's quite good), but I don't like the whole "Clark and Lex being friends in Smallville" thing. Too complicated and messy if you think of how things will be in Metropolis later on.

A major plot line (at least in the early seasons) would be the D.E.O. (Department of Extranormal Operations) investigating the crash in Smallville. This would introduce Amanda Waller, who is investigating the starnge sightings around Kansas, especially in Smallville.

The series, at least at first, would be very character driven. Stuff like character relationships, normal adolecant issues, family problems, and local crimes would be at the forefront early on. I'd deal with stuff like drugs, juvinile delinquency, peer pressure, and **** like that from Clark's perspective. His powers, for the most part, would be a background peice, and would slowly become more important as the series progresses.

Now, a main thing about Clark for this series. He does not want to be a super hero. He wants to go to school, hvae friends, help his parents out on the farm, go to college, and become a writer. He wants to ignore the fact that he even has his powers. He wants to simply be normal. However, as the series progresses, he would learn that, because of his powers, he has a responsibility to help others. This would be majorly touched upon in his first super fight near the end of season one, and his later meetings with superhumans. Basically "with great power comes great responsibility" is the theme of the series.

Of course, as the show progresses, he would learn more of Krypton, obviously from the computer on his ship. While I would go with him refering to the ship as "Jor-El", I would make not that it is not Jor-El, but the ship's onboard computer, which would eventually become the Eradicator. Through season two, he would face the computer, which wnats to recreate Krypton's perfection on Earth, no matter what the consiquences. However, this would not be fully touched upon until later in the series.

Of course, there would be cameos by other DC heroes. But only ones that make sense. During season two, we would be introduced to a new character. Clark's history teacher, who is almost always refered to as "Mr. Jones." At some point in season two, we learn that his first name is "John." This is, of course, Martian Manhunter, keeping an eye on his fellow extra terrestrial. J'onn will help guid Clark to using his powers to help others through the series. Clark would also meet old JSA members, in their civies of course, who would also teach Clark a valuable lesson about responsibility and heroism.

I would probably have seasons one and two be in his freshman and junior years at high school. Season three would ne senior year, and we would see a return of the Eradicator. The season finale for season three would be a showdown between Clark and the Eradicator over the fate of the Earth.

Season four would have Clark not going to college, but instead gaining first hand journolistic experiance by traveling across the world, writing a series of colums for whatever newspapers arer interested, and keeping a journal that would serve as a source of narration. In this season, we would see alot more heroism from Clark, saving epopel from natural disasters and fighting the occasional superhuman menace. When Clark does fight superhumans, they would be old school JSA villains slightly tweaked for TV, and not "freaks of the week" made up for the show. We would see more of the D.E.O. and Amanda Waller investigating him, now that the sightings are on the move. This would, eventually, lead to a meeting between Clark and Waller, where they settle things between them. The season would end with Clark receiving a letter from Perry White about a job oportunity, thus leaving the door open for a continuation to a more classic Superman show in the next season.

Well done and I agree with almost everything although I would have kept Welling it just doesn't seem right having anyone else as young Clark Kent besides Welling.

 

[Ultimate_Superman]

That would have been a first for WB then.



I never bought him as a teenager but I saw the logic of casting him from G and M's prespective. The show is a composite of the 'Smallville pre-superman origins' and the Superman story itself. It's almost like the Superman adventures happening in Smallville without a suit. Therefore, the Clark Kent actor would probably need to look old enough to appear remotely Superman-like to make it work.

However, for Question's script, I could see the logic in not casting Welling. Perhaps a teen looking like Stephan Bender would work better in that case.

I can see that and I did how ever think Welling was to old for the part but I fel he made the role of young Clark his own. Now casting a teen in the role I can see this as well but I just gotten use to seeing Welling as Teenage Clark that I just don't see anybody else in the role.

 

[NotFadeAway]

I would have recast Lana and Pete. Welling can be a good actor if you design the writing to suit his strengths.

 

[Ultimate_Superman]

Really right now Welling seems alot like Superboy-Prime

 

[Ultimate_Superman]

Yes Superboy-Prime the way he acts is more like Superboy-Prime then anything else. Look at how he is written and you will see a trace of Superboy-Prime with Lex being Alex and now Lionel is Alex to him.

 

[blksuperman2]

Yes Superboy-Prime the way he acts is more like Superboy-Prime then anything else. Look at how he is written and you will see a trace of Superboy-Prime with Lex being Alex and now Lionel is Alex to him.

please give some examples 'cause I don't see any similarities whatsoever.

 

[inspiritonly]

Get rid of that whiny little Kreuk/Lana. She wasn't right for the part to begin with. I could possibly understand a childhood infatuation, but with a hottie like Lois around? Chloe is more attractive than Lana, unless you are into that whole waif,borderline pedophile thing.
I wouldn't rush the flying yet. We already have Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen. If he starts flying, it won't be long until somebody puts him in blue tights and a cape.

 

[inspiritonly]

True, but in those incarnations they were telling a brief story of his childhood as background to jump to the adult Superman. We all know that story. We need to spend more time investigating Clark's story. I do think, however that they could move forward (slowly) with his ability to fly. Perhaps he could attain a lift off, but with no control he decides to attempt it rarely until he can master it.

 

[NotFadeAway]

Ill say it again. I would have done more episodes that didn't deal with freaky villians or feature Clark using superpowers, just character episodes. I cannot stress enough that series of this nature need to be about real people in a fanatical setting, which is why I have always preffered post-crisis Superman tales in general.

 

[Lt. Figgnuts]

After all this is a show about an alien being and therefore makes it a fantasy tale where fantastic things can happen.

I think it's the execution.

Anything CAN happen, yes, but it kind of depends.

For example, if you have an episode about vampires, even if you have a decent explanation about a kryptonite virus and all of that, you still need to write a good episode that executes the idea fairly intelligently. I think there were a lot of problems with the way Thirst executed it, and that's probably why so many people disliked it.

Also, you have to take into consideration HOW FAR it veers from the original concept. I don't have any problem with having a magic-based villain around fighting Clark. However, the idea that that villain was in some way Lana, the girl who had been portrayed as a sweet, mostly innocent country girl kind of feels a bit contrived (and makes it blatantly obvious that they had run out of personal storylines for Lana the previous season).

With a show like this, there's no limit to what kind of storylines you can create. All you have to do is make them believable within the universe you've created and make sure that they're well-executed.

 

[Eddie Brock]

there's one easy way to improve Smallville
abolish the "No Tights, No Flights" rule, then let Clark learn how to fly

 

[NotFadeAway]

I love Welling and Rosenbaum in there roles, and I love how the producers want to portray Clark and Lex. I just wish they would have dug deeper into both characters when at times it seems that there coasting along, ecspecially Lex. More Lex-based episodes damnit.

 

[Kaboom]

there's one easy way to improve Smallville
abolish the "No Tights, No Flights" rule, then let Clark learn how to fly

Smallville will be good only as long as Clark stays grounded. he should not fly until the very last episode.

 

[lars573]

I would try and follow DC continuity more closely. I'd have a precedent for Superheroes. IE the Golden age DC characters, specifically the JSA. I would seriously consider having a guest shot by Alan Scot, Jay Garrick, and Ted Knight on a few eps. I'd also strongly hint that Clarks costume choice is based on seeing Starman's (Starman's suit is an almost direct copy of Supes). I'd also make some second string silver age characters active in the 70's, and still around. These characters would be Doom Patrol, Challengers of the Unknown and some others created for the Martian Manhunter series. I'd also have the Martian Manhunter around, first as Bronze Wraith (his 60'-70's superhero guise). Then in disguise.

That's just for the heroic stuff. Which would be stretched out over the shows run. I'd keep the idea that there are many Kryptonite mutated people in Smallville. No JSA or other DCU characters would show up during the first season. Then the first season ends would be a big rukus in Kansas that would draw other hero characters to Smallville/Kansas to investigate. Not only to see what caused a super-powered threat to emerge. But what stopped it?

For the characters closest to Clark I'd do some serious re-writing (no re-casts though). Chloe would be near exactly like Lois. Driven and sassy to the point of being a b**ch. Pete would be the same, but he'd find out Clarks secret in the first season. Most of Chloe's GND and friend qualities would be transfered to Lana. Whitney would be dropped like the sack of s--t his character was. Replaced with Kenny Braverman, Conduit. He keeps most of Whitney's personality (and Lana as his girl). But more of a macho jerk. He is also a kryptonite mutant, but his powers develop along side Clarks. He'd be played by the same actor who portrayed Whitney. I'd have Clark and Kenny be rivals. Both always competing to be #1 at Smallville high. On the football field, for Lana's heart. Even academically. This would reach a head in season 3 when Lana dumps him for Clark. Which send him into a destructive rage (this could also serve as the revelation of Clarks powers to Lana). He tries to kill Lana, then the Kents, then Chloe and Pete. Clark stops him. But at the cost of half the school, kent farm, and other buildings. Then the CIA grabs Kenny and he's gone from the series.

For Lex I'd have much less waffling about his villiany. No chances to redeem him would come along. By season three he'd be a bad guy. I'd keep him a very secondary character. I'd keep the Yin Yang parent contrast between Lex/Lionel and Clark/Jonathan. But Lex's big turning point would be when he kills Lionel.

 

[NHawk19]

Smallville will be good only as long as Clark stays grounded. he should not fly until the very last episode.

The hell you say!

 

[Kaboom]

The hell you say!

like i said in the other thread, bad day for me. so i'm just going to take a contrary position to everyone.

 

[NHawk19]

like i said in the other thread, bad day for me. so i'm just going to take a contrary position to everyone.

I get it.

Today is my B-day I'm stuck at work and things are falling all over the place thru no fault of mine. I want to leave now and get a beer.

 

[avidreader]

I get it.

Today is my B-day I'm stuck at work and things are falling all over the place thru no fault of mine. I want to leave now and get a beer.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY..... go to The Talon.

 

[The Question]

Replaced with Kenny Braverman, Conduit. He keeps most of Whitney's personality (and Lana as his girl). But more of a macho jerk. He is also a kryptonite mutant, but his powers develop along side Clarks. He'd be played by the same actor who portrayed Whitney. I'd have Clark and Kenny be rivals. Both always competing to be #1 at Smallville high. On the football field, for Lana's heart. Even academically. This would reach a head in season 3 when Lana dumps him for Clark. Which send him into a destructive rage (this could also serve as the revelation of Clarks powers to Lana). He tries to kill Lana, then the Kents, then Chloe and Pete. Clark stops him. But at the cost of half the school, kent farm, and other buildings. Then the CIA grabs Kenny and he's gone from the series.

I'd use Master Jailer instead of Conduit. He's got the same basic story, a classmate of Clark's with psychological issues who eventually went insane and tried to kill Superman. However, Master Jailer's skills (super genius inventor who builds huge deathtraps akin to Marvel's arcade) makes him a more viable threat. Besides, I just like him better.