Smallville Review – “Jinx”

I hope the momentum continues next week. It looks
cheesy, but could go either way.

Cast

Tom
Welling
as
Clark Kent

Kristen Kreuk as
Lana Lang

Michael
Rosenbaum
as Lex Luthor

John
Glover

as Lionel Luthor

Annette
O’Toole
as Martha Kent

John
Schneider
as Jonathan Kent

Jensen Ackles as
Jason Teague

Allison Mack as
Chloe Sullivan.

Written by Mark Warshaw.

Directed by Paul Shapiro.

Original Airdate


Jinx
originally aired on Wednesday,
November 3, 2004.

Synopsis

Exchange student Mikhail Mxyzptlk has a talent for
getting others to
do what he wants.

I confess that my knowledge of the comic book
Mxyzptlk is limited, but
I believe it’s quite different from this version, and
that the
backwards name and “say it three times fast” were
inside jokes.

High Point

Chloe’s last interaction with Clark. How much does
she suspect?

Low Point

The lack of background noise when the elevator doors
opened. A slight
hum is machinery; where is everything else?

The Review

This was original in story structure and in
Clark’s
decisions. It’s a very different take on the comic
character, as
well. The only part that seemed unoriginal was the
nature of the
guy’s abilities (since they’re very similar to what
we saw in “Hug”
back in the first season,) but that’s likely a
limitation of the
character they’ve brought in from the comics. I give
it 5 out of 6.

The effects were stuff we’ve seen before,
but very well done,
particularly when the slow motion stopped. I give it
5 out of 6.

The story was well written. Part of the
original feel was
making it seem like the main storyline was wrapped up
at the end of
the third act, leaving me to wonder what would follow
after the last
set of commercials. We’ve got some great
developments for Lex and for
long term stories, and Clark is finally starting to
grow into the hero
we expect him to become. I don’t actually recall any
serious problems
with it. I give it 6 out of 6.

The acting is getting better. Tom Welling
seemed different
this time around. I usually find him stiff. y42 has
said (a few
times) that he’s just acting like he’s acting; this
makes sense for a
lot of scenes, but it wouldn’t explain why he was
still stiff when he
was around just his parents, or Pete, or anyone else
who was in on the
secret. The stiffness is starting to disappear,
though, right when
Clark is starting to become a responsible adult. I’m
starting to
think Welling was playing Clark that way because he
didn’t really have
a handle on playing an insecure teenager, but a
confident individual
(like Lionel, Kal-El, or Clark under the influence of
red kryptonite)
is something he can understand, and can play quite
well. I think
we’re going to be seeing some great stuff from him as
the series
progresses in the next couple of years. That
difference alone has
really got me pumped to see where this show is going.
The rest of the
regular cast, and the guest star, all did very well.
I give it 5 out
of 6.

The emotional response was excellent.
Welling’s work really
helped out this week, with some great scenes with
Chloe, in the Talon,
and with Lex. His solution to the dilemma was also
really great to
see, and Lex’ explaination behind his gambling logic
was wonderful. I
give it 6 out of 6.

The production was fantastic. Even the
little things, like
Clark “suiting up” before the game, were handled
excellently. My only
quibble was the ambient noise coming out of the
elevator, and that’s a
pretty minor component that can be explained away in
the future. I
give it 6 out of 6.

Overall, it’s a great episode, and I’m
hoping just one of
many. I give it 5 out of 6.

In total, Jinx receives 38 out of 42.

6 replies on “Smallville Review – “Jinx””

  1. Grown up Clark
    I’m starting to think Welling was playing Clark that way because he didn’t really have a handle on playing an insecure teenager, but a confident individual (like Lionel, Kal-El, or Clark under the influence of red kryptonite) is something he can understand, and can play quite well. I think we’re going to be seeing some great stuff from him as the series progresses in the next couple of years.

    I think you nailed it on the head there. Tom is in his 20s, and I couldn’t imagine trying to act like a 15 year old if I was 25. When he’s Kal-El, and even when Lionel was in Clark’s body, Tom’s acting was superb. I was actually shocked at the difference in his acting. It was really impressive this week. I hope we can expect more of that in the weeks and months to come.

    • Re: Grown up Clark

      I’m starting to think Welling was playing Clark that way because he didn’t really have a handle on playing an insecure teenager, but a confident individual (like Lionel, Kal-El, or Clark under the influence of red kryptonite) is something he can understand, and can play quite well. I think we’re going to be seeing some great stuff from him as the series progresses in the next couple of years.

      I think you nailed it on the head there. Tom is in his 20s, and I couldn’t imagine trying to act like a 15 year old if I was 25. When he’s Kal-El, and even when Lionel was in Clark’s body, Tom’s acting was superb. I was actually shocked at the difference in his acting. It was really impressive this week. I hope we can expect more of that in the weeks and months to come.

      I’m 25 and I’ve tried very hard to forget most of what was going through my heaed when I was 15.

  2. Commercial
    I know that they have product placements in shows now, no big deal. How about the large than life close up of the Old Spice deoderant shot when he is getting suited up. All of my friends watching just started to groan when we saw it.

    • Re: Commercial

      I know that they have product placements in shows now, no big deal.

      Now? That’s not new.
      I could sure go for some cereal now, for some reason…

    • Re: Commercial

      I know that they have product placements in shows now, no big deal. How about the large than life close up of the Old Spice deoderant shot when he is getting suited up. All of my friends watching just started to groan when we saw it.

      It’s the first time it was glaringly obvious to me. I saw the deodorant in Clark’s locker, and recalled that I had seen several Red Zone commercials during the show already. By the shot of the giant freaking Red Zone Banner as the team came onto the field, I knew it was deliberate, and sure enough, there was a mention in the end credits about it.

  3. easter egg
    If you listened to the announcer, the visiting football team at the beginning were from “Bludhaven.” In the comics, that’s this small city near Gotham where Nightwing lives.

    But high school football teams don’t usually travel that far to play eachother, so I hope it was just a throwaway shout-out to the fanboys and they’re not putting Gotham that close to Metropolis.

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