another Thursday, another dose of S

[xparrot]

Scrubs is batting two for two. Hysterical to heart-touching in zero point five seconds. Cox/Jordan is one of my very favorite het pairs ever. Just, aww. In their own special ex-spouses way. Also the football group guy-lie slayed me.

Supernatural "Heart" was...well, first of all, it was crossover central. SG-1's Dr. Frasier didn't actually die, she moved to San Francisco and became a mortician! And Lex's not-so-dearly departed ex-wife Helen, oh we did wonder about her - she in fact survived jumping out of the plane, also moved to San Fran, became a...an executive assistant, and got it on with a junior ghostbuster!

Speaking of which, I am calling for a new law to be passed. Specifically the Jared Padalecki Enforced Barechestedness Act, which would make it illegal for Sam Winchester to wear a shirt. Covering up that body? Ought to be a felony. Yow. Holy guacamole. Bringing it out only once a season is not fair!

One issue I had with the episode (fully accepting that this is SPN and I have no right to expect the plot to make sense, and I promise not to harp too much on you, dear show, because you will always and forever deliver us the angst - if not the hugs - but still): umm. So killing her was dramatic and all, and oh Dean your heart breaking for your brother will never stop being pretty. And I get that she doesn't want to become anymore of a murderer, and I actually liked her char well enough; the BotWs in SPN alway feel like people to me, even if they are babes. (And besides, after what she did to Lex? She totally had it coming to her.)

But...in mid-lunar cycle, she managed to make it at least one night without turning. Shouldn't they at least try to investigate why? Before shooting her? Umm? Anyone? Because if she just needs to stay awake at night to avoid freaking out and killing people - then bring on the espressos and leave the silver bullet chambered.


And last but not least, Smallville "Combat". Was so very terrifically much better than last week's. Considering it was a pro-fighting/wrestling ep, I should not be saying this. But seriously. Tom Welling looking gorgeous in black leather, getting artfully bloodied by a super-powered bruiser for like 10 minutes? They could have had this be the whole ep - heck, the whole show, and dude, I would so watch. Especially if you made the bald guy he was fighting Lex! Also in black leather! --Oh wait, they have. Hee. Hey, there's a reason I liked "Zod" (even if that battle is far too short. The fight choreography on this show...rather sucks. Either that or I'm spoiled by too much shounen.)

The thing with the baby did make me wonder. I've been assuming for the last few eps that the pregnancy was totally faked, that Lex was drugging Lana to make her think she was knocked up to shotgun her to the altar. But Lex seemed...surprised by this turn of events. Maybe; it was hard to tell. If the baby was real, if he was using her to incubate some kind of clone (I vote for Bizarro!Clark!) or genetically designed mutant or the like - it would recover "Promise" for me a bit, because Lex would have ulterior motives for wanting Lana. His "desperation" might not have been over winning her hand at all, but for what's in her womb. He even might have been playing Lionel, to make sure he didn't lose her, or more specifically what was in her.

...Yeah, probably not. But I live in hope that somehow that ep can be redeemed.

Oliver is kind of ticking me off (though sorry, jakrar, not to homicidal levels yet...) For one thing, we still haven't seen what the hell they're really doing in 33.1. Previous projects Lex has worked on include trying to end world hunger and designing a vaccine against most deadly viruses. One of those facilities Green Arrow and his merry men are taking down might have the cure for cancer. If they would just provide solid evidence that 33.1 is as evil as the alt rock and spooky lighting implies, then I might get on board with them, but for now I'm inclined to side with Lex.

The other problem is that these terrorist tactics are not only unbecoming to a young superhero, they're stupid. Oliver has Queen Industries, which seems to be, if not as powerful as LuthorCorp, then pretty close. If Ollie was serious about taking down Lex, he should be going for a corporate takeover, hitting 33.1 where any massive organization hurts - the bankbook. But he's having more fun blowing stuff up. Juvenile. Poor Lex. I feel for him, having to deal with these pesky kids when he's trying to save the world.

Meanwhile. Clark! You killed a guy by sort-of accident! Lex just killed a guy by sort-of accident! You're made for each other! Why are you not making out on my screen every week? Damn it. You know, occasionally I think I'm watching the wrong show...(If only I could figure out how to download the torrents for Luthorville...)

Comments

[jakrar.livejournal.com]

I actually wasn't that impressed with "Combat." I did like the bit with bisexual Lois flirting (and I say that even though I've detested Lois ever since she proclaimed Lex was evil just because he refused to drop out of the senate race when Jonathan Kent -- surely the world's worst candidate -- decided, purely for spite, to run against him).

Hated the bits with Lana 'mourning' the (real or supposed) baby; she never once gave any indication of truly wanting the kid prior to this episode, and suddenly she's devastated when she's told she miscarried? Obviously an attempt by AlMiles and the writers to retcon Lana as a loving mother-to-be, victimized by Lex's evil machinations. *snorts with derision*

The one really good moment in the episode came when Lex saw the autopsy on Titan, learning that the guy was neither human nor kryptonite-mutant, and began visibly speculating on just who or what might have killed him and what this might mean with regard to possible alien invasion and Lex's attempts to defend against it. *cheers Lex on in his quest to save the human race*

I do love the points you've made with regard to Oliver-the-sadistic-scum-Queen and his terrorist activities against Luthorcorp. As we've repeatedly seen, Lex has many honest, worthwhile projects going, and who knows what Queen and his crew are really destroying, and who they may be killing in the process. (I would so love to see Lex permanently take all those bastards down...! *wistful sigh*)

Finally, I'd have to say that, from my point of view, Clark's killing of Titan was really far more intentional (despite all his post-killing moans to Martha) than Lex's killing of the crooked doctor. Lex just smacked the guy around a bit and then let him go, whereupon he fell and cracked his head and died, which I really don't think Lex foresaw (unless your "Promises to Keep" was precisely right, and Lex deliberately sacrificed the creep to save the world). Clark went into his fight with Titan planning to kill his opponent, without even trying to first negotiate with him. Granted, Clark hadn't expected the guy to die right that moment from falling on his own spike, but he clearly had intended to keep fighting until the guy was dead, and he got just what he wanted. Then, afterwards, he whimpered to Martha to get the reassurance he knew she'd give so he wouldn't feel as guilty as he knew he ought to. (Yes, I see SV's Clark as an enormous hypocrite. What else is new?)

*heavy sigh* Please tell me there are better episodes coming up...?

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Oh, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't call "Combat" a good episode. It just wasn't "Promise", thank everything!

(I do have to confess that I am one of the few Lois fangirls, I quite like her, especially now when she's openly bi the only character not totally miserable and pathetic. *shrug* I know people find her annoying but she genuinely amuses me. And she has better reason to dislike Lex than most of them, seeing as she never saw him at his best.)

Lana, thankfully, I can cheerfully ignore now that Lex has gone back to manipulating and using her rather than being annoyingly shmoopy with her. I just chuckle wickedly at their scenes and try to figure out if Lex is grimacing because he's having to touch her irritatingly fragile and doll-like form, or because he's trying to hide his evil smirk. Either way, a win! (I was also surprised that I actually found her pretty in the last scene, until I realized it was because she was blessedly without makeup. What is with the clown-face on this show? KK is quite lovely on her own, I'll admit that, but the way they make her up lately is freakish, and I don't think it's just because I detest her char so fiercely...)

I thought Clark and Lex's manslaughter cases are pretty comparable: Lex maybe didn't mean to kill Langston that way, but he did feel he had to kill him (there's not many other ways to handle blackmail) and Clark wasn't meaning to kill Titan that way, but he did feel he had to kill him (also Clark was fighting with a 50% percent chance of losing and knew it; definitely a bit self-destructive if not totally suicidal)...in conclusion, they're perfect for each other and ought to be making it like minks! Please? Please??? I am so watching the wrong show...
Besides, Clark better get over his guilt, however he can - Clark guilting is at his absolutely worse. I'm convinced that his crazy accusations against Lex in 3rd season are backlash from his (Clark's) screwup in "Asylum", he can't get over his guilt every time he sees Lex and is looking for any way to handle it. Though I had more patience with him then because he was still only a teen; he's growing up now and really needs to get a grip.

No new eps for a month, but I'm dying to see/terribly anxious about "Nemesis." Could be the best ep of the season but has the potential of raining on my Lex-terpretation parade...

[jakrar.livejournal.com]

True, "Combat" was better than "Promise." (I'm still debating with myself as to whether "Promise" is the worst SV episode yet, or merely among the very worst. *ponders*)

And she has better reason to dislike Lex than most of them, seeing as she never saw him at his best.

Only if Lois hasn't been paying attention. Long before she ever came to town, I'd assume Chloe told her about the hostage situation at the Luthorcorp plant, and how she and her father (among others) made it out alive only because Lex traded himself for the hostages. And one of the first things Lois discovers after she gets to town is that Chloe and her father are still alive because Lex had helped save them from Lionel's death-trap, and kept them safely hidden until the trial. So that's at least twice Lois must know of that Lex has saved her beloved cousin Chloe and her beloved uncle Gabe, and one of those times was at the very real risk of losing his own life. Then there was Lex's attempt to help Lois' little sister, who promptly stole Lex's car and his money -- yet Lex apparently never tried to have her prosecuted, and never bothered pressuring Lois or her father to pay him back. All in all, I'd say Lois had damn good reason to be grateful to Lex, and to think well of him...yet as soon as Jonathan Kent decided to run against him (without even knowing where Lex stood on any of the issues!), she seemed to expect Lex to drop out of the race, and repeatedly and publicly villified him for not immediately doing so. Which, in my eyes, makes her as ungrateful a bitch as her cousin Chloe.

Besides, Clark better get over his guilt, however he can - Clark guilting is at his absolutely worse.

Actually, I'd like to see him guilt a little more about the way he's mistreated Lex.

I'm convinced that his crazy accusations against Lex in 3rd season are backlash from his (Clark's) screwup in "Asylum", he can't get over his guilt every time he sees Lex and is looking for any way to handle it.

Now, that is an intriguing way of looking at it. Hmmmm....

in conclusion, they're perfect for each other and ought to be making it like minks!

We agree perfectly on this one. *eg*

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

For sheer character assasination, I vote "Promise" as the worst. In terms of worse produced or scripted, there might be others (I haven't actually watched a complete ep from 1-4 seasons, so have a hard time judging. Also I operate under the good Lex scene = good ep principle, no matter what else happens ^^)

Agree to disagree about Lois? Because I think Chloe is a far more ungrateful bitch. We don't know if Chloe ever told Lois about the plant hostage situation, or what Chloe told her about it - she could have spun it against Lex's favor (conspiracy-oriented Chloe might well believe Lex knew about Level 3). Also I don't know how much Lois knows about Lex saving Chloe? Does she ever get the full story there, or does she thinnk it was a witness protection thing? Chloe is in danger directly because of Lex, so Lois has got reason to be suspicious.
Lex helping Lucy is the big one...(though that ep is so weird characterization-wise that I can't take it seriously. I mean, I love the Clexiness of it, but it's out of left field...)

Jonathan runs against Lex because one of his best friends asks him to, that's not entirely personal. And he presumably knows what party Lex is (well, if they have parties in the SV-verse, they're very cute with their no-donkeys-or-elephants game ^^) Meanwhile Lois gets snippy with Lex because he insults her personally. It's petty - but she admits it's petty, which is better than most of the chars can manage. (And she seems to be on the opposite party as Lex, and people get crazy about politics...) She's also, I think, being influenced by Chloe, who is somewhat anti-Lex by 5th season for reasons I'm not clear about, and since Lois only sees Lex in s4-6 slick billionaire mogul mode (even when he's helping Lucy) I can understand her suspicions. And she doesn't seem to think Lex is the antichrist, just that he's corrupt...(if she gets worse about this, blame Ollie for poisoning her against him)

Chloe confuses me a lot more, I rather want to smack her these days. She's terrified of being a mutant herself but it never crosses her mind that Lex might have reason to be scared himself? Say what? Geeze...(and yeah, she's part of Clark's cabal, so follows the whole Lex-wanted-Zod thing. Still.)

Fundamentally? I like Lois because she is a total 180 from Lana - she's cheerful and friendly and upbeat, and she doesn't give up on her friends and doesn't screw with people's heads. And she speaks her mind, which in a show of compulsive liars is a commendable quality.

...Errm, sorry, didn't mean to go off here! ^^; See, this is how I get about chars I like...just imagine how long this rant would be if you didn't like Lex!

[jakrar.livejournal.com]

We don't know if Chloe ever told Lois about the plant hostage situation, or what Chloe told her about it - she could have spun it against Lex's favor (conspiracy-oriented Chloe might well believe Lex knew about Level 3).

Chloe being the eager budding reporter she was at that point, I can't imagine she wouldn't have given Lois an enthusiastic and detailed accounting of the incident. Though, admittedly, Chloe might have assumed Lex was as guilty of provoking the situation as Lionel was, and thus deliberately downplayed Lex's heroism. *growls at Chloe, and everyone else who never bothered thanking or crediting Lex for his courage and sacrifice on that day*

Also I don't know how much Lois knows about Lex saving Chloe? Does she ever get the full story there, or does she thinnk it was a witness protection thing?

Since Lois' father was also involved, I would think either Chloe or the General would have mentioned Lex's part in finding Lionel's bomb in the safehouse and arranging to get Chloe and Gabe out safely while making it look as though they'd been killed. But, again, very few people properly credit Lex for his 'non-evil' acts, so it might be that Lois was left thinking her father alone was to thank for her cousin's and uncle's survival. *growls some more*

Chloe is in danger directly because of Lex, so Lois has got reason to be suspicious.

Here I have to vigorously disagree: Chloe was willing to testify against Lionel, despite the danger, not because she wanted to help Lex, but because she'd been stupid enough to make a deal with Lionel and then renege on her promises, and she was desperate to get Lionel off her back. She didn't risk her life for Lex's sake; she risked it to save herself and her father. But, once again, she might not have been honest about any of that with Lois. *snarls*

Lex helping Lucy is the big one.

And, yet again, no one ever thanks Lex for trying to help. Or for not siccing the cops on her thieving ass after she's ripped him off. *gnashes teeth*

Jonathan runs against Lex because one of his best friends asks him to, that's not entirely personal. And he presumably knows what party Lex is

Jonathan is visibly horrified the instant he finds out Lex is running, long before he knows if Lex is running as a member of the opposing party or as another member of the same party or as an independent or what, and long before he has any idea of what Lex proposes to do if he gets into office. Jonathan is appalled at the very idea of Lex Luthor in a position of political power, and that sounds pretty personal to me. *shreds carpet*

Meanwhile Lois gets snippy with Lex because he insults her personally.

Lex only insults Lois after she has repeatedly and gratuitously insulted him, so I don't think she has any legitimate grounds for complaint there. And you'll note that, when she tells Chloe Lex insulted her, she never mentions her own part in starting the verbal skirmish. *savages curtains*

I think Chloe is a far more ungrateful bitch.

Well, if you put it that way, I can see your point. *eg* Still doesn't make me like Lois, but then I am a bit overprotective of Lex. *hugs much-maligned Lex, on whom we do agree.*

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Yeah, if we knew for sure what Chloe told Lois about Lex it would help, but we don't, so I can't really fault her one way or another...

Lex only insults Lois after she has repeatedly and gratuitously insulted him, so I don't think she has any legitimate grounds for complaint there.

Maybe not totally solid grounds, but Lex is way, stupidly out of line in that Talon scene (even if he is entertaining). He is a politician in a public place, running for office! You do not insult potential voters, Lex! Or even the friends of potential voters, whatever the provocation. Even if he knows that she's part of the Kent club and wouldn't ever be voting for him - public place, reporters around. He doesn't need that kind of bad publicity. Someone who rises to the bait that easily, I don't know if I'd want them in office either...(I still think that Lois insults him mainly due to political party divisiveness, having witnessed plenty of smalltown politics growing up that's definitely what it sounds like...petty insults, while not politically savvy, are pretty common in the political arena...)

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Actually, I'd like to see him guilt a little more about the way he's mistreated Lex.

(almost forgot) I've probably said this before, but OH YES. I live for the day Clark suddenly realizes this is all damn fault, but it will be too late for him to apologize and make up for it. The trouble is, plot-wise, Clark still can't have this revelation, because Lex can still be redeemed. Maybe with whatever's up with the baby Lex'll have crossed the line he can't come back over, and then Clark can reach for him. Until Lex crosses the point of no supervillain return, they can't risk Clark pulling him from his destined path.

...

...Stupid destiny!

[jakrar.livejournal.com]

I live for the day Clark suddenly realizes this is all damn fault, but it will be too late for him to apologize and make up for it.

I long for that day! Unfortunately, with AlMiles in charge, I fear that Clark's revelation will never come. (On screen, at least. We'll have to be content with fanfic.)

...Stupid destiny!

Agreed. *kicks destiny*