DC on TV discussion

Okay - This show was on for ten seasons and there are trades covering "Season 11" - lots to discuss...

Smallville was my favorite show for years. Without it I wouldn't have gotten into the Superman mythos, then sought further comics/graphic novels and movies out, leading to finding other superhero movies/stories and, well you get the picture...

I thought the seasons of 2, 3 and 4 were the best. They started jumping the gun with some things later on and I think trying to do too much, but I always loved the show and watched each season

I got my father into the show before season four came out. Owned the sets for the first seasons and he sat and watched them all for a week straight. He would rewatch them ridiculously, probably the biggest smallville fan I knew. It became a hobby/thing we did together.

Speaking of DVD sets, I was tempted to get the full set released in the box, but heard such bad reviews about how the discs were laid/set in there. I'd like to get the full set sometime and just give the older sets to my dad, but I don't know, still undecided.

My favorite season was 7. Though after the first two seasons I kind of got away from it. But when I realized that they were introducing Supergirl, which is one of my favorite characters, along with Power Girl, I couldn't help get behind it. Though after a few episodes we didn't get to see her hardly at all, and then they didn't do anything with her after that. She pretty much all but vanished form the show, basically saying that she was going off to learn about the ways of Earthlings. I felt that was a huge cop out.

I was also disappointed with how Kara was a series regular and then only made a few guest appearances through the rest of the series.

Erica Durance as Lois was great, wasn't she? How often was she brain-washed or possessed or whatever - and ended up acting like a completely different character?

Jeff wrote: "My favorite season was 7. Though after the first two seasons I kind of got away from it. But when I realized that they were introducing Supergirl, which is one of my favorite characters, along wit..."

Jeff, she went into the future with that device (can't remember now what it's called) to be in the future of Superman and not the current day. They had her come back to do that in another episode. When she left the first time, it was to leave Earth because she didn't feel like she fit.

I liked Supergirl and how they did it overall with her introduction and side story, but I prefer some of the story angles where she's from a neighboring planet or something instead.

James wrote: "Erica Durance as Lois was great, wasn't she? How often was she brain-washed or possessed or whatever - and ended up acting like a completely different character?"

I think they brought her in too early but liked her better in later seasons. At first she was too smug for me (hate that trait). The ending seasons had her more likeable. I thought it was funny how they had her date Aquaman, then Green Arrow, and finally Clark. She definitely had a thing for superheroes...

I watched the "Labyrinth" episode again the other day and Wow - that was just amazing.
This is the one where Clark wakes up in a mental hospital with no powers, and is told that he is delusional, that he made up the whole Kal-El persona...

Yeah I liked that episode. Some good acting in it. They did some creative stuff on the show, think it will always remain my favorite.

Speaking of Smallville, what were your favorite seasons?

I preferred 2-4. Season one was fun but they were finding their footing and overdid the freak of a week a bit. Two and three were the most emotional, interesting as he was finding out everything, things were heating up with the Luthors, RedK being introduced, they just did a great job with these overall.

Smallville: Where are they now?

I followed the careers of most of them, but had no idea about 'Pete' and the drug charges/prison stint.

We have made it nearly through season 9.
When this show gets it right, it is a lot of fun, when it stumbles it is so painful it hurts.

Welling is a great Clark, he and the actress that plays Lois have so much great chemistry.
Something severely lacking with him and Lana.
Love when they play with the mythology and the building of the photo-JLA.
The angst and adolescent drama and long stretches where they don't seem to know what to do with half the cast makes me crazy.

Problem is the show is either great or tear your eyes out bad, seems to be no middle ground at all.

Curious to read the Season 11 comic, as I think they could create a fun DCU out of the elements in this show.

Also they missed a huge opportunity by not taking the Smallville cast and making a Superman movie with them.
That could have been a lot of fun.

The Lana thing is kind of funny. I belonged to a message board back then devoted to Smallville exclusively, and everyone was annoyed at the producers obsession with Lana's character. It got so bad for awhile that pretty much every man who came on the show had to be into her in some way or another.

There were painful episodes, I agree

And the teenage angst is a trademark of CW networks. They still do that, but they backed off a bit on the Flash with relationships thankfully. The other shows they go full out angst on.

I hated Lana, partly because the writers didn't know what to do with her half the time and partly because there was little to no chemistry between her and Clark.

Yeah, everyone in the cast has the hots for her and she was to me the least attractive woman in the cast.

that and as soon as she leaves Clark gets over her in ten minutes and never mentions her.
Ah, love...!

So, glad when they got away from that and concentrated on super villains.

Travis wrote: "We have made it nearly through season 9.
When this show gets it right, it is a lot of fun, when it stumbles it is so painful it hurts.

Welling is a great Clark, he and the actress that plays Lois ..."

I just started reading Smallville Season 11 - Guardian. This series is off to a good start...

Travis wrote: "I hated Lana, partly because the writers didn't know what to do with her half the time and partly because there was little to no chemistry between her and Clark.

Yeah, everyone in the cast has the..."

They also made Lana sappy and unrealistic. She goes from perfect this to perfect that. I can get Chloe being a computer brain, but at one point Lana takes over and does it just as well. Then she somehow understands and becomes a master at martial arts. Then she can go head to head with Lex Luthor with twisted business deals and sneaking around. She's also an artist who got the paintings in the museum (of course just being with Lex but still....) And all those horse riding and swimming trophies...And a business head to run and turn over a coffee shop. And, and, and...I mean, really.

James wrote: "I just started reading Smallville Season 11 - Guardian. This series is off to a good start...
"

I read two of the smallville comics that took off after the show, it may be the same series you're referring to, but I don't believe so. Will have to look into them and get back to read more comics. I procrastinate with that horribly.

Smallville has finally come to Hulu again.

Finally finished it.
Long, bumpy, fun ride.

Love the super hero stuff over the angsty emotional bits.
Wish they'd focused more on building the mythology, but in the end I'm glad I watched it all.

Still think they dropped the ball by not taking the cast and making a superman movie.
Those actors with a movie budget and no teen angst would have been amazing.

Now, I need to track down the comic and then start watching Supergirl.

There are 18 Smallville novels... not counting the trades...

James wrote: "There are 18 Smallville novels... not counting the trades..."

Forgot about the novels.
I read a couple way back when, have to start the search for the rest of them.

I've read all 10 of the YA books and 4 of the 8 more mature books... pretty good over all

the first few Season 11 tpbs are pretty good too - I think that I've read the first 3

Travis wrote: "Finally finished it.
Long, bumpy, fun ride.

Love the super hero stuff over the angsty emotional bits.
Wish they'd focused more on building the mythology, but in the end I'm glad I watched it all.
..."

I liked the earlier seasons better - even with the teen angst - to me it became too depersonalized later, but great show overall

I have a plan to read all the books - I read the "young-young" ones last year.

I enjoyed the first couple years with its mixed of teen angst and monster of the week
The stuff in the middle was where all the rough patches were.

My son surprised me by randomly wanting to watch Smallville. Since I had no desire to rewatch the first season again with him (that's what we did last time), we started with season 2. So many depressing episodes in this season but it is one of the best.