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butterflyI've really been enjoying Clark and Lex recently. Have you seen that show? It's constantly being interrupted by a lesser show that's called Smallville. SV is mostly cheesy, with some good bits - all of C&L, though, is amazing. It's a wonderful show. I highly recommend it. It has two great actors as leads, as well as some amazing supporting actors. The show is centered around Clark and Lex's journeys to who they will become. It features fascinating glances at what nature and nurture mean, as well as a chilling look at how destiny can trap larger-than-life figures. So far, Clark's appears to be a journey of trumping nature, nurture, and destiny, while Lex is the tragic mirroring fall of submission. Think Angel and Cordy in Tomorrow without the sucking.
Oh, I am in love with Clark Kent. This is a bit unfortunate, as he doesn't actually exist. But I adore the set of his chin and the strength in his eyes. I love that he's taking responsibility for his choices - he should, no matter what his parents told him. He made a choice and because of that choice, people got hurt. He has to deal with that. That's what will make him the Clark Kent of legend. In this, he does more than his parents can do. He's growing past their teachings and their protectiveness and becoming a man to admire. His parents invariably choose Clark over anything else and they do it without guilt. Clark has never hidden his secrets easily.
In regards to Pete - See, Clark, this is what happens when you ignore people. They do stupid racing things. Actually, it does makes sense to me. And the chick that was macking on Pete was pretty cute.
The Chloe/Lex stuff is great - it's nice seeing them dive into privacy violation when they don't have affection for the person they're investigating. The difference between how they treat Adam and how they treat Clark is fascinating. Apparently, Clark is in a category of his own, worth lying for even when you think that he's intentionally trying to kill you (Delete).
Every scene that Clark is in only confirms our love. I think it helps that he hasn't had any scenes with Lana yet. He's great with Martha, with Jonathan, and with Pete. His expressions have gotten so much better, so much more subtle.
Wow, that was, like, the shortest Clark/Lana scene ever. I approve.
It becomes clearer by the episode why Superman is created - Clark is learning that he needs to find a way to make of himself a law. He keeps trying the legal way this season, and he keeps getting smacked down. And now Pete is trying to guilt him into betraying his own morals. "There has to be another way." And Superman is that way - the vigilante that was so successful, powerful, and charismatic that he was sanctioned by law and government.
If Superman weren't Clark Kent, that would be a much more terrifying thought.
"I hope you're happy. I lied for you. Stole for you, and now I'm going to cheat for you." Seeing Clark find out ways to do things that aren't for him... it's painful. That conversation withn Lex was agony, but the moment after was still worse. God, poor Clark. But sometimes you do need to make bad choices to learn what choices are good. And he's learning which ways don't work for him. It's hard and painful, but Clark has shown time and time again this season that he is learning.
Overall - very good episode. A great one for Clark and Lex's growth into who they'll be - Lex has a scientist again, but this one may prove more trustworthy. Clark is learning where his boundaries are. And I'm very proud of him for not smiling away what he and Pete did. He's growing up. Very wow. So much better than the preview promised.
And I love that flash of Kal in his eyes in the preview for next week. Mmm. Leashed power is attractive.
So, Nazis. One of Xander's fears. I've always thought that was a particularly wise fear - Nazis and that entire mind-set is more terrifying that most anything that I can think of.
Fanatics are dangerous because they believe that they know the One True Way.
I've never been a believer in any One True Way. I think that there is a divide though - there are ways that work and ways that don't work. Any system of life has two questions that it should answer - is it sustainable and is it efficient? For me, not much else really matters - I don't have many 'squicks' and even the ones that I do have are carefully marked as my own. I have a very 'live and let live' policy. I do believe that some things are... impolite. I have a great regard for courtesy and for honesty.
All of this means that I'm going to be looking at this episode's Angel very carefully, because he crossed a line for me last week when he declared himself to be better than Lindsey (not in those words, but that was very definitely his implication - and, of course, claiming superiority over Lindsey is easy to do, he's done that since Lindsey first appeared - in retrospect, it really feels like a set-up, to have him fooled by one of the few people that he would be willing to definitively say that he was better than.).
Angel is much easier to trust when he doubts himself. Any hero is easier to trust when they don't believe that they have a direct line to Right and Good (I really should write about the Case of Buffy and why I don't lump her into this category, because I do have reasons for why I trust her). One of the reasons that I like Smallville is because we get to see how Clark builds his beliefs - we see him becoming a person that I would trust to have superpowers (there's an essay there, too, on how that trust is built - on feelings and logic).
Mostly, this is because Angel has, on occasion, believed in his own sense of right before. And that hasn't actually gone too well. Ever. His track record, instinct-wise, sucks (as opposed to both Buffy and Clark, who have wonderful instincts - they're good judges of character, those two, even when they don't realize it. And when it comes to supernatural doings, they've never been wrong - because they're innately supernaturally gifted and accept it, whereas Angel is always fighting his supernatural side. Buffy and Clark are willing to trust their inner weirdo - Angel knows that his inner weirdo comes with the fun bonus of sadism.).
Right! Episode.
Promising opener. That guy is really cute, in a Peter Smith-Kingsley way (Which is a Jack Davenport way, which is a very good way). Liked the update on Eve and the SP deal - and is Gunn's mojo wearing off? Hmm. Wes' adorable answer to Angel's plea that they come back and spend more time with him in a few hours was, well, adorable.
I love flashback episodes. Have I mentioned that?
Okay, the hot guy keeps distracting me. Whenever he's onscreen, I get all hypnotized by the pretty. Mmm.
Yep, he's a vampire, all right. And really, really hot. Am I obsessed here? Hmm. I mean, there's all this deep stuff, and I'm all thinking about is how much I'd like to suck on Lawson's lower lip.
That was... far too hot. I may develop a complex. Because Lawson getting vamped by Angel? Wow. He has gorgeous eyes, full of determination and life. Gah.
Have I ever been this smitten by a guest star? He'll probably get dusted, but I hope not, because... yeah. Wow.
Lawson breaks my heart. Also? Wow, feel the Connor echoes. There are almost too many to count.
Is that would have happened to Darla, had Angel sired her in Season Two?
Poor, beautiful Lawson. I adore him and his desperate, questing, lost longing.
Oh, I am in love with Clark Kent. This is a bit unfortunate, as he doesn't actually exist. But I adore the set of his chin and the strength in his eyes. I love that he's taking responsibility for his choices - he should, no matter what his parents told him. He made a choice and because of that choice, people got hurt. He has to deal with that. That's what will make him the Clark Kent of legend. In this, he does more than his parents can do. He's growing past their teachings and their protectiveness and becoming a man to admire. His parents invariably choose Clark over anything else and they do it without guilt. Clark has never hidden his secrets easily.
In regards to Pete - See, Clark, this is what happens when you ignore people. They do stupid racing things. Actually, it does makes sense to me. And the chick that was macking on Pete was pretty cute.
The Chloe/Lex stuff is great - it's nice seeing them dive into privacy violation when they don't have affection for the person they're investigating. The difference between how they treat Adam and how they treat Clark is fascinating. Apparently, Clark is in a category of his own, worth lying for even when you think that he's intentionally trying to kill you (Delete).
Every scene that Clark is in only confirms our love. I think it helps that he hasn't had any scenes with Lana yet. He's great with Martha, with Jonathan, and with Pete. His expressions have gotten so much better, so much more subtle.
Wow, that was, like, the shortest Clark/Lana scene ever. I approve.
It becomes clearer by the episode why Superman is created - Clark is learning that he needs to find a way to make of himself a law. He keeps trying the legal way this season, and he keeps getting smacked down. And now Pete is trying to guilt him into betraying his own morals. "There has to be another way." And Superman is that way - the vigilante that was so successful, powerful, and charismatic that he was sanctioned by law and government.
If Superman weren't Clark Kent, that would be a much more terrifying thought.
"I hope you're happy. I lied for you. Stole for you, and now I'm going to cheat for you." Seeing Clark find out ways to do things that aren't for him... it's painful. That conversation withn Lex was agony, but the moment after was still worse. God, poor Clark. But sometimes you do need to make bad choices to learn what choices are good. And he's learning which ways don't work for him. It's hard and painful, but Clark has shown time and time again this season that he is learning.
Overall - very good episode. A great one for Clark and Lex's growth into who they'll be - Lex has a scientist again, but this one may prove more trustworthy. Clark is learning where his boundaries are. And I'm very proud of him for not smiling away what he and Pete did. He's growing up. Very wow. So much better than the preview promised.
And I love that flash of Kal in his eyes in the preview for next week. Mmm. Leashed power is attractive.
So, Nazis. One of Xander's fears. I've always thought that was a particularly wise fear - Nazis and that entire mind-set is more terrifying that most anything that I can think of.
Fanatics are dangerous because they believe that they know the One True Way.
I've never been a believer in any One True Way. I think that there is a divide though - there are ways that work and ways that don't work. Any system of life has two questions that it should answer - is it sustainable and is it efficient? For me, not much else really matters - I don't have many 'squicks' and even the ones that I do have are carefully marked as my own. I have a very 'live and let live' policy. I do believe that some things are... impolite. I have a great regard for courtesy and for honesty.
All of this means that I'm going to be looking at this episode's Angel very carefully, because he crossed a line for me last week when he declared himself to be better than Lindsey (not in those words, but that was very definitely his implication - and, of course, claiming superiority over Lindsey is easy to do, he's done that since Lindsey first appeared - in retrospect, it really feels like a set-up, to have him fooled by one of the few people that he would be willing to definitively say that he was better than.).
Angel is much easier to trust when he doubts himself. Any hero is easier to trust when they don't believe that they have a direct line to Right and Good (I really should write about the Case of Buffy and why I don't lump her into this category, because I do have reasons for why I trust her). One of the reasons that I like Smallville is because we get to see how Clark builds his beliefs - we see him becoming a person that I would trust to have superpowers (there's an essay there, too, on how that trust is built - on feelings and logic).
Mostly, this is because Angel has, on occasion, believed in his own sense of right before. And that hasn't actually gone too well. Ever. His track record, instinct-wise, sucks (as opposed to both Buffy and Clark, who have wonderful instincts - they're good judges of character, those two, even when they don't realize it. And when it comes to supernatural doings, they've never been wrong - because they're innately supernaturally gifted and accept it, whereas Angel is always fighting his supernatural side. Buffy and Clark are willing to trust their inner weirdo - Angel knows that his inner weirdo comes with the fun bonus of sadism.).
Right! Episode.
Promising opener. That guy is really cute, in a Peter Smith-Kingsley way (Which is a Jack Davenport way, which is a very good way). Liked the update on Eve and the SP deal - and is Gunn's mojo wearing off? Hmm. Wes' adorable answer to Angel's plea that they come back and spend more time with him in a few hours was, well, adorable.
I love flashback episodes. Have I mentioned that?
Okay, the hot guy keeps distracting me. Whenever he's onscreen, I get all hypnotized by the pretty. Mmm.
Yep, he's a vampire, all right. And really, really hot. Am I obsessed here? Hmm. I mean, there's all this deep stuff, and I'm all thinking about is how much I'd like to suck on Lawson's lower lip.
That was... far too hot. I may develop a complex. Because Lawson getting vamped by Angel? Wow. He has gorgeous eyes, full of determination and life. Gah.
Have I ever been this smitten by a guest star? He'll probably get dusted, but I hope not, because... yeah. Wow.
Lawson breaks my heart. Also? Wow, feel the Connor echoes. There are almost too many to count.
Is that would have happened to Darla, had Angel sired her in Season Two?
Poor, beautiful Lawson. I adore him and his desperate, questing, lost longing.