Smallville: Season One, Disc One
Oct. 16th, 2006 03:21 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
butterflySo, I mentioned that I bought the Smallville dvds. I'm planning on rewatching the series, and I just finished up the first disc.
Something that I found very interesting is that Clark isn't wearing Superman colors in the very beginning -- he's wearing drab-ish clothes and, while his backpack is red, even that isn't superman red (and now, he pretty much wears the right shades of red and blue all the time -- though not the yellow, he's not quite there yet).
Also, Lana isn't in pink in the first couple of episodes -- she's in blue, white, and then purple (blue to purple -- Clark to Lex?).
Clark is a lot lighter before he finds out about coming down in the meteor shower and takes the blame of that onto himself (where his father correctly points out that it doesn't belong). That's the knowledge that puts the weight of the world on his shoulders -- from his point of view, he killed Lana's parents, destroyed a large part of the town, and created the meteor freaks. That's a lot of guilt to carry. No wonder he hates his alien side for so long (I'm so glad that he's finally moving past that).
Chloe definitely does the 'I have a crush' type of casual touching when she's around Clark. And Lex actually forms a bit of a connection with both Clark and Lana here -- she throws him a bit off-balance in the barn when she mentions that she saw him skinny-dipping five years ago.
Something that I found very interesting is that Clark isn't wearing Superman colors in the very beginning -- he's wearing drab-ish clothes and, while his backpack is red, even that isn't superman red (and now, he pretty much wears the right shades of red and blue all the time -- though not the yellow, he's not quite there yet).
Also, Lana isn't in pink in the first couple of episodes -- she's in blue, white, and then purple (blue to purple -- Clark to Lex?).
Clark is a lot lighter before he finds out about coming down in the meteor shower and takes the blame of that onto himself (where his father correctly points out that it doesn't belong). That's the knowledge that puts the weight of the world on his shoulders -- from his point of view, he killed Lana's parents, destroyed a large part of the town, and created the meteor freaks. That's a lot of guilt to carry. No wonder he hates his alien side for so long (I'm so glad that he's finally moving past that).
Chloe definitely does the 'I have a crush' type of casual touching when she's around Clark. And Lex actually forms a bit of a connection with both Clark and Lana here -- she throws him a bit off-balance in the barn when she mentions that she saw him skinny-dipping five years ago.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-16 12:35 pm (UTC)Something to bear in mind re. Clark's colours is that the writers mention two important influences--the Superman colours, naturally, but also the red, white and blue of the US flag, since he's an American icon. My memory is that there's quite a lot of that in the early days. But yes, his clothes become more and more distinctly Supes colours with time.
That's the knowledge that puts the weight of the world on his shoulders -- from his point of view, he killed Lana's parents, destroyed a large part of the town, and created the meteor freaks. That's a lot of guilt to carry.
Yes. I have a lot of fondness for the eps that explore Clark's fears--including the fear of being 'called' on all of this. Of course he fears that exposure--because inside he's already raking himself over hot coals for what he thinks he's done.
The early Lexana! It was cute. Though on first viewing I couldn't give a flying fuck about it. Only on rewatch was I amused by it.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-16 09:28 pm (UTC)It's starting out to be quite a lot of fun. And it was really interesting for me to realize that the Kents and Lois both first meet Clark the same way -- a naked boy who basically fell from the sky. "We didn't find you, you found us."
Something to bear in mind re. Clark's colours is that the writers mention two important influences--the Superman colours, naturally, but also the red, white and blue of the US flag, since he's an American icon. My memory is that there's quite a lot of that in the early days. But yes, his clothes become more and more distinctly Supes colours with time.
And now my brain is going straight to Lois in Exposed, in her star-spangled stripper outfit.
Clark does do the white t-shirt thing a lot in the early days. Looks good on him.
Yes. I have a lot of fondness for the eps that explore Clark's fears--including the fear of being 'called' on all of this. Of course he fears that exposure--because inside he's already raking himself over hot coals for what he thinks he's done.
And the amount of fear that he has... I remember watching Slumber the first time around, and gasping when I saw Clark's fear about Lex finding out about him. It really made his reactions to Lex and his lying make so much sense -- he's just terrified about where the truth will take him, because he feels so much guilt and fear about his origins.
The early Lexana! It was cute. Though on first viewing I couldn't give a flying fuck about it. Only on rewatch was I amused by it.
Indeed. I barely noticed the first time around, but this time, it's very telling and interesting.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-16 11:49 pm (UTC)Yup, totally! He's good at doing that naked-in-a-cornfield thing!
star-spangled stripper outfit.
And the kickass red boots! Totally.
The white t-shirt of pornliness!! It's a fave.
It really made his reactions to Lex and his lying make so much sense -- he's just terrified about where the truth will take him, because he feels so much guilt and fear about his origins.
Yes, exactly. I love Slumber--such a telling fear sequence. Especially because of the context that discovery is put in--the fireside wine-swirling romantic scene. Clark fears that intimacy will lead to discovery and discovery will lead to rejection/betrayal/punishment. Poor boy! So many issues.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-18 11:51 am (UTC)Those really were some sweet boots.
The white t-shirt of pornliness!! It's a fave.
We need to see that again some time this season, definitely.
Yes, exactly. I love Slumber--such a telling fear sequence. Especially because of the context that discovery is put in--the fireside wine-swirling romantic scene. Clark fears that intimacy will lead to discovery and discovery will lead to rejection/betrayal/punishment. Poor boy! So many issues.
And I just watched Scare and that's even more visceral in some ways -- he fears that he will save Lana, reveal his secret, and in the wake of him saving her life, she will turn on him for being 'not even human'. The same phrase that tormented him in regards to Lex. The fear of being less than human, of being seen as only a horrible alien threat that should be destroyed.
He fears that intimacy will lead to discovery and hatred, he fears that risking his secrets will lead to discovery and destruction, but that doesn't stop him from, in that very episode, offering himself up to Lex as a subject if it can help the people who are dying.
God, I'm baffled at the people who don't think that this Clark Kent is a good enough man to become Superman. Even with his most horrifying and vivid fears playing in his mind, he'll risk making them a reality in order to save lives.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-18 11:16 pm (UTC)The fear of being less than human, of being seen as only a horrible alien threat that should be destroyed.
Indeed! And remember Jonathan's line: 'you're just a thing I found in the cornfield'? *shudders* At the core of his being, that's what Clark fears most.
He fears that intimacy will lead to discovery and hatred, he fears that risking his secrets will lead to discovery and destruction, but that doesn't stop him from, in that very episode, offering himself up to Lex as a subject if it can help the people who are dying.
Yes! Isn't that amazing?! And you can see his fear is still there. He hasn't overcome it. He just thinks it's the very best thing he can do. And he's more sure than ever that Lex knows. Ohh, I love that scene so much!
God, I'm baffled at the people who don't think that this Clark Kent is a good enough man to become Superman. Even with his most horrifying and vivid fears playing in his mind, he'll risk making them a reality in order to save lives.
*nods* He's far more truly a hero to me in this incarnation because he DOES have fears and he IS selfish and he has ambitions and aspirations of his own and all of those he has to wrestle with and against in order to be a hero. And slowly but surely he's making the decision to put heroism first time and time again--this is a far more convincing hero to me than the one-dimensional already-established figure who doesn't see the discrepancy between 'I never lie' and the double-life he leads.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-20 11:20 am (UTC)People didn't like that? I shouldn't even be surprised any more and yet I am.
I thought it was fantastic. It started out with that hilariously over-the-top faux-Clana scene and then went scary and dark and powerfully good.
Indeed! And remember Jonathan's line: 'you're just a thing I found in the cornfield'? *shudders* At the core of his being, that's what Clark fears most.
God, yes. And even Chloe, who has become a much better friend, is all "but you look so..." when she finds out. Clark is so afraid of being less than human at this point, never even considers that he might be human-plus.
Yes! Isn't that amazing?! And you can see his fear is still there. He hasn't overcome it. He just thinks it's the very best thing he can do. And he's more sure than ever that Lex knows. Ohh, I love that scene so much!
Oh, yes! The look he gave Lex after he heated up the tubes -- that was definitely a "yeah, I just did that and we both know it" look.
*nods* He's far more truly a hero to me in this incarnation because he DOES have fears and he IS selfish and he has ambitions and aspirations of his own and all of those he has to wrestle with and against in order to be a hero. And slowly but surely he's making the decision to put heroism first time and time again--this is a far more convincing hero to me than the one-dimensional already-established figure who doesn't see the discrepancy between 'I never lie' and the double-life he leads.
Definitely. I actually really like the way that Superman/Clark Kent has evolved over the years (excepting only the recent movie, which is stuck back in pre-Crisis canon). First, Superman was the real person, and yet he (oddly) wanted Lois to fall in love with the disguise. Then, Clark Kent was the real person, but he was still mostly a boyscout from day one (I love Dean Cain's Clark Kent, but you just knew that he'd never had a rebellious day in his entire childhood!). And now, Clark Kent is all complicated -- even his alien side, Kal-El, is multi-dimensional.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-22 04:19 am (UTC)that was definitely a "yeah, I just did that and we both know it" look.
Yeah, the slasher in me loved that look. Silent understanding--wariness but also trust--squeee!!!
First, Superman was the real person, and yet he (oddly) wanted Lois to fall in love with the disguise. Then, Clark Kent was the real person, but he was still mostly a boyscout from day one (I love Dean Cain's Clark Kent, but you just knew that he'd never had a rebellious day in his entire childhood!). And now, Clark Kent is all complicated -- even his alien side, Kal-El, is multi-dimensional.
That's a really great call. Yes, I loved Dean Cain's Clark Kent too, though on rewatching I find him harder to take in his simplicty and good-boy-ness. But as a teenager, I loved him. But this Clark Kent is far more multi-dimensional. I can really see how Al&Miles are exploring all the complexities of Clark/Kal-El. The older versions seem so simple and romantic in comparison. In Smallville, the superficial romance (Clana) is proved to be unsustainable. OK, it took them a long time to get there, but it finally ended. And wow, I'm loving this season so much!
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-17 01:29 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-18 11:32 am (UTC)I recall you being a Lana fan back when I first watched the show and now, in my rewatch, I finally get her and she makes sense. And I like her and feel bad for the fact that she so desperately wants someone that she can absolutely trust not to leave her, not to hide from her, go where she can't follow. Her characterization has remained absolutely true in that regard.
And I'm really seeing the spark between them in my rewatch.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-19 11:05 am (UTC)I think there's a depth to her that a lot of people don't see. I really do feel that she's an interesting character in her own right and in fact find some of her scenes with Clark adorable.
And I still think there was a true waste of a gem with Whitney/Eric Johnson.
I definitely see it - wait until you get to Nicodemus *g*
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-20 11:21 am (UTC)In my rewatch, I'm definitely agreeing with you. I think that I was just too impatient the first time I watched the show -- and it didn't help that I put so much stock in what the people on TWoP said about the characters. I feel so differently about all the characters now that I don't take TWoP seriously.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-11-12 10:19 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-11-19 08:59 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-11-19 09:02 pm (UTC)