I’m back in town and ready to post this review of the “Smallville” season premier. The DVD picks column will come after sleep or a reasonable approximation.

Cast and Crew Information

Tom Welling as Clark Kent
Allison Mack as Chloe Sullivan
Aaron Ashmore as Jimmy Olsen
Erica Durance as Lois Lane
Justin Hartley as Oliver Queen / Green Arrow
Cassidy Freeman as Tess Mercer
Phil Morris as the Martian Manhunter
Alan Ritchson as Arthur Curry / Aquaman
Alaina Kalanj as Dinah Lance / Black Canary

Story by Brian Peterson and Kelly Sounders
Script by Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer
Directed by Kevin G. Fair

High Point

The final scene, and the piece of the mythos it positions.

Low Point

Shortly before that, there’s a scene in which Clark asks about himself before knowing the fate of his friends. That just doesn’t ring true for this character.

Premise

It’s been a month since the seventh season finale. Clark and Lex are still missing, and they are being sought by several others. There’s a new interim C.E.O. of LexCorp, and Chloe is being held in captivity rather than prison as a result of the side-effects to her contact with BRAINIAC. Clark is eventually found, and this leads to some major changes in his life.

General Impressions

As many of you know, Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor), Kristen Kreuk (Lana Lang), and showrunners Al Gough and Mike Miller have all left the show. The characters of Lex and Lana have been written out in a manner that allows them to return at any time. The new showrunners are the four individuals who wrote this episode. With changes this dramatic, there is a question of what happens to the series. This season premier is promising, but the show has a tradition of starting and ending a season with very strong episodes, while sometimes lagging in the middle. In essence, it’s too early to make a final determination (particularly since the credits included a star not appearing in this episode in a role I won’t spoil here that could make or break the season.)

The Scores

This features some original directions for the show, if not for the mythos. It takes some very large steps along the path we know it needs to follow, and it feels like it’s past due. I give it 4 out of 6.

The effects were well done, though there weren’t any we haven’t seen before. I give it 5 out of 6.

The story does a nice job of setting up some of the major threads we’ll see this season. Some moments could have run just a little bit smoother, and there were some gratifying pieces, but the low point was the only really dissatisfying piece. I give it 4 out of 6.

The acting is solid, by the existing cast as well as the new. A lot of the good guest stars from the past have resurfaced, and Justin Hartley’s inclusion in the opening credits is a good sign that at least some of them will be sticking around for a while. I give it 5 out of 6.

The production was as great as usual. The showrunners may be gone, but the high quality crew stuck around. I give it 5 out of 6.

The emotional response was pretty good. I wasn’t completely pumped up and excited, but it was certainly enjoyable, and I’ll be very satisfied if the season continues at this level. I give it 5 out of 6.

Overall, it’s a solid but not stellar season opener. It seems to be worth sticking around for a while longer. I give it 4 out of 6.

In total, Odyssey receives 32 out of 42.