Smallville Review – “Plastique”

The second week feels much like the first, rather than the traditional intensity drop. Could it be that we’ll finally see a consistent season of the series?

Cast

Tom Welling as Clark Kent
Allison Mack as Chloe Sullivan
Erica Durance as Lois Lane
Aaron Ashmore as Jimmy Olson
Cassidy Freeman as Tess Mercer
Sam Witwer as Davis Bloome
Justin Hartley as Oliver Queen / Green Arrow

Written by Holly Henderson and Don Whitehead
Directed by Rick Rosenthal

Original Airdate

Plastique originally aired on Thursday, September 25, 2008.

Synopsis

A villain from the DCU with the ability to create explosions with a thought appears in Metropolis after a bus explodes.

High Point

The high point of the episode itself was seeing the Lois/Clark workplace dynamic is up and running. The high point of the broadcast was the preview for next week’s “Green Arrow Origin” episode.

Low Point

The entirely too predictable final meeting between villains.

The Review

This is original for the show, in that it’s taking significant steps towards the ultimate destiny of the characters. I give it 4 out of 6.

The effects were well done, and nicely timed out with the story, so that the toughest effects naturally happen off screen, without making it seem like they’re deliberately hidden from us. I give it 5 out of 6.

The story was written well enough. Those unfamiliar with the history of the characters or the casting announcements might even be surprised by twists that show up with the villains. I give it 5 out of 6.

The acting is solid enough, with Mack turning in very good work, and the others on the cast delivering as usual. I give it 4 out of 6.

The emotional response is good, with delivery of some moments we’ve been waiting for and other scenes designed to set things up for the future. I give it 5 out of 6.

The production was solid as always. I give it 5 out of 6.

Overall, the episode was good but not great. I’m hopeful that this season will turn things around from some of the uneven work in the past few years, but that track record keeps me skeptical. I give it 4 out of 6.

In total, Plastique recieves 32 out of 42.

5 replies on “Smallville Review – “Plastique””

  1. So how is this show, really?
    I’d never watched Smallville, so last weekend I decided to try and get into it, so I got Season 1 and tried to watch it.

    Made it through 3 episodes and frankly, the acting is pretty bad, the plots are pretty bad, and the music is PAINFUL. But it’s at season 8 now and lots of people here seem to watch it, so I’m wondering, does it really improve dramatically eventually or would I have to suffer through like 5 bad seasons to get to the good bits?

    • Re: So how is this show, really?

      I’d never watched Smallville, so last weekend I decided to try and get into it, so I got Season 1 and tried to watch it.

      The writing and music improve for season two. The overall acting improves right when the writing takes a sharp downturn. It’s one of the least consistent shows I’ve ever seen. One episode will turn the acting around but the writing fails, or vice versa. Mark Snow stopped doing the music a while ago. The best overall season was probably season six. That’s probably a good baseline, in that people who don’t like that season probably won’t like any of them. That was the season that introduced Brainiac, moved Lex to more villainy, and brought the rudimentary Justice League together.

    • Re: So how is this show, really?

      Would I have to suffer through like 5 bad seasons to get to the good bits?

      No, it’s pretty much mediocre from start to finish, with a few gems strewn in for people willing to really put up with it. I’m guessing most of those people watching it are like me, thinking that it’s god such potential, we can put up with the crap hoping the potential shines through, and meanwhile we’ve got Cloe’s cute smile and Lois’s shameless costuming to hold us over.

      • Re: So how is this show, really?

        Would I have to suffer through like 5 bad seasons to get to the good bits?

        No, it’s pretty much mediocre from start to finish, with a few gems strewn in for people willing to really put up with it. I’m guessing most of those people watching it are like me, thinking that it’s god such potential, we can put up with the crap hoping the potential shines through, and meanwhile we’ve got Cloe’s cute smile and Lois’s shameless costuming to hold us over.

        Mediocre is not quite how I would describe it, simply because some of the best stuff is amazing and the worst stuff makes me wonder if I am mentally impaired for watching it. I would recommend watching the first and last episodes of each season and skipping over every scene with Lana in it (only about 1% are any good). You can maybe watch the mid-season cliffhangers also.

        • Re: So how is this show, really?

          Would I have to suffer through like 5 bad seasons to get to the good bits?

          No, it’s pretty much mediocre from start to finish, with a few gems strewn in for people willing to really put up with it. I’m guessing most of those people watching it are like me, thinking that it’s god such potential, we can put up with the crap hoping the potential shines through, and meanwhile we’ve got Cloe’s cute smile and Lois’s shameless costuming to hold us over.

          Mediocre is not quite how I would describe it, simply because some of the best stuff is amazing and the worst stuff makes me wonder if I am mentally impaired for watching it. I would recommend watching the first and last episodes of each season and skipping over every scene with Lana in it (only about 1% are any good). You can maybe watch the mid-season cliffhangers also.

          And any episode with Red Kryptonite. Those seem to be some of the better ones.

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