The Occasional Solipsist

I try to take as few of these quizzes I come across as possible, and this one in particular was about as insipid as they come. But after taking it, I didn't turn out to be Chloe or anything so I figured it was worth a post.

The damn writer's strike means I'll see my last new Smallville episode for a long time (maybe ever) within the next week, and I am so bummed about that. But I can console myself with the fact that according to the folks at Buddytv, whoever they are, I am Clark Kent.

Labels: narcissism, smallville, superman

Is it a pretty juvenile practice for me to blog about my favourite show as often as I do? Juvenile and maybe a little sad? Probably. So here goes:

Tonight is the Smallville season premiere and I am ridiculously excited about that fact. Its pretty much all I've been thinking about tonight. Last season ended with Chloe sacrificing her life to save Lois', Lana seemingly blowing up in a car explosion (if only), Clark finally telling Lana everything, and Bizarro even making an appearance in the final moments. One of the best season finales of any show I've ever seen. And I have watched a lot of tv.

I sent a buddy of mine an email a few moments ago that sums up my thoughts on tonight's show, and because I am that much of a fan, they bear repeating here:

• Chloe is definitely dead. (Though I REALLY wish she wasn't)
• Lana is definitely not dead. (Though I REALLY wish she was)
• The Martian Manhunter will help Supes defeat Bizarro. For sure.
  
• We will be getting introduced to another character from Krypton tonight (Pretty sure about this one)

I am far too excited about this.

EDIT - 09/27/07 10:30 PM - Ok, so I just finished watching the premiere and it turns out that I was right on 3 out of 4 guesses. And the only one that I was wrong on was a very pleasant surprise. It occurs to me that the only down side of liking a show this much is that I am going to be so disappointed when it finally ends. But at least I have one full season to go before I have to worry about that.

Labels: scifi, smallville

So I read on a few forums that Chloe's demise in this season's finale of Smallville may be short-lived and that her character might be returning next season. Personally I think she's dead and won't be coming back so that the show can return to something resembling the comics' continuity in time to wrap up the show at the end of next year.

Superman-to-be notwithstanding, she was the best character on the show and I have not so secretly always hoped the writers would say to hell with continuity and just have Chloe and Clark end up together. Maybe even have Chloe take over Lois' body or merge together with her or something. Stranger things have certainly happened on this show. (Countess Isabelle Thoreaux anyone?) And maybe that's even what happened in the moment of her 'death'. We won't know for sure what the hell happened there until next year, when we also get to see more of Bizarro.

But if I had been asked if anything could possibly make up for killing off Chloe, my favourite female character on tv besides Rose Tyler (and she's a whole other story), my answer would have been a resounding 'no'. That is, until I found out that next season, a certain Kryptonian cousin will be taking her place.



No idea yet what multiverse they're pulling her story out of, but however it works out, any Supergirl is a good Supergirl.

More here.

Labels: comics, smallville, superman

I've been on a bit of a Justice League kick lately. Been playing JL Heroes on my PSP, and just read Matt Wagner's Trinity, (which is AWESOME by the way). I'm still trying to work my way through Infinite Crisis while avoiding all the spoilers I can, which is harder than you'd think since I live online so much.

I also recently finished watching the entire series of Justice League (aka Justice League Unlimited), and after watching all the episodes in only a few weeks, I can appreciate what a great show it is. Or was I guess, now that its finished its run.

It is, first of all, a cartoon that is in no way whatsoever for the kiddies. Unless you like your kiddies watching their favourite superheroes/villains beat the holy shit out of each other or die in every other frame, to say nothing of all of the gratuitous shots of Wonder Woman's cartoon cleavage. I'm 32 and I'm not even sure that I should have been watching it.

But the show was very faithful to the comics that inspired them, even though they had to take a few liberties. There were almost 70 years of continuity to deal with after all.

Anyway, I was kind of bummed after watching the final ep, because there really aren't a lot of good shows for the superhero geek out there. Well, there is Heroes. And Smallville. In particular this season's episode of Smallville 'Justice' which retold the JL origin story. Ok, I may expect too much. Either way, I was stoked to find out that I and people like me can look forward to more JL action in the future.

Turns out the chances are good that a Justice League movie is coming to a theater near me.

And if that doesn't happen, at least they'll be making new JL cartoons. Good casting choices too.

Labels: comics, smallville, superman

Saying goodbye to Rose Tyler...

This is something I have been patiently waiting to do just in case there was a Doctor Who fan in existence that somehow didn't know that Billie Piper was leaving the series as of this season's finale. I didn't want to spoil but now that the thrice-damned CBC finally finished airing season 2 this week, here it is.

The tepid torrid love affair I've been having more or less in front of Superwife's back with Rose Tyler has now come to an end. If you watched the finale, you know that means that she's left the show, apparently for good. You could say in fact, that she Pulled a Christopher Eccleston.

I've been slowly doling myself out the episodes of Season 2 of the new Doctor Who so that I could savour the last times I get to see Billie Piper anywhere near a Tardis. (That and because I have been in love with Doctor Who since before I could walk.) Like everyone on this side of mirror-world, I knew that Billie's character would be leaving the show before the first episode of the second season was aired. (Damn you again for not showing the series earlier, CBC!)

Billie was even better in this season than in the first. More comfortable with the character, clearly a better rapport with the new Doctor, and the stories that were written for her gave her much more room to act in. Even her smaller parts in the best episodes of the season, 'Love and Monsters and 'The Girl in the Fireplace', easily demonstrated why she was such an asset to the show.

But it is hard, having such a huge crush on a fictional character. Sort of like breaking up with a girl who never dated you. Or spoke to you. Or knew your name. Or ever existed.

Now if I want to get my fix, I can either watch her in the hardly-enough 26 episodes and an xmas special of Who that she appeared in (Hooray!) or I can listen to some of Billie's early forays into Pop music (Oh The Humanity!).

But my crush notwithstanding, Rose will be missed on the show. Her character was a very large part of what made the comeback of Doctor Who so well received, and its a pretty safe bet that nothing she does over the rest of her career will have the same effect. If you're looking for comparisons, think Wil Wheaton leaving Star Trek to do movies. He turned out to be a hell of a writer, but a great acting career choice, that was not.

As partial tribute/proof of my dysfunction, here are links to other posts of mine about this most righteous of Tardis companions. So long, Rose:

is it wrong to love Billie Piper this much?

and the love affair with Billie Piper continues

By way of consoling my grief, I can tell myself that there's always Smallville's Chloe (at least until they do what every fan knows is coming and kill her off).

Labels: doctor who, scifi, smallville

So maybe it turns out that Joe Shuster, Canadian and co-creator of Superman, was less of a creator of iconic mythology and more of a prophesier of future events.

He was just off by about 10,000 years.

A meteorite of unknown origin was recovered in a spot in western Kansas that coincides pretty close bang on to where the town of Smallville is in Superman mythology.

Now I'm not saying that there is proof that anything else crashed along with the group of meteors that this one was a part of. Anything like a man with Superpowers and a benevolent drive to protect mankind from itself. I'm not saying that at all.

I'm just saying that I had a bit of a geekasm when I read the headline 'Rare meteorite found in Kansas field'.

Although it goes without saying that we might want to keep an eye on the researchers for any 'meteor rock' induced superpowers.

Labels: smallville, superman

I've blogged before about how Smallville is my Melrose Place. I have seen and have a copy of every episode of this show. After watching the latest episode, I usually regale anyone who will listen (read: my wife) with my thoughts on where the show is going, how whatever happened ties in with the arc, etc.

Why the fuck does she stay with me again?

Ahem. Its safe to say that I'm a fan.

During my stint as a fan of this fantastic Superman re-imagination, I have come to have more than a passing thing for the Chloe Sullivan character, played by the gorgeous and talented actress Allison Mack. (For similar fanboy obsessions, see any post of mine about Billie Piper.)

Anywho.

I really enjoy the show, particularly the way they depict the transition of Clark Kent from a confused teenager to the Superman we all know and love. At least, that's what I tell people. My Melros-ian fixation with the show is another thing entirely, and ends up being more about whom Clark ends up with than what so called freak-of-the-week he beats up in any given episode.

Here's the thing: The audience already knows that Clark Kent ultimately ends up with Lois Lane. Everybody familiar with Superman canon knows that.

However, on the show for most of the last five years, we've seen Clark pine over Lana Lang, be laughed at and teased by an over the top Lois Lane, and be secretly admired by Chloe Sullivan. I guess you'd call it a love quadrangle.

The problem is that neither the Lois or Lana characters are remotely worth the guy's time. It is the Chloe character that is always there for Clark, supporting and counselling him, and sharing the secret of his superpowers. And if these characters were based on real people, and I were Clark (which would make me Superman, but let's not go there) I like to think that I would go for the smarter, less glamorous, true friend than the bit of eye candy that is about as shallow as a street puddle. At least, I like to think so.

Plus, I think Allison Mack is about a million degrees hotter than the other girls on the show.

So I can't overstate my satisfaction when in the season finale (begin spoiler) Chloe finally lets Clark know how she feels, without any kryptonite influence or other similar phenomenon that will let the writers pretend it never happened, by making out with him after he saves her life. (end spoiler)

Now I know that Clark/Superman can't end up with Chloe. But it was great to see the kiss, all the same.

And yes, I know what going on like this about a TV show aimed at teenyboppers says about me.

But what can I say? It's my Melrose Place.

Labels: smallville

Its not often that a show, even a good one, lives up to the hype surrounding it when a major event is plugged. In most cases, a show usually pulls out the 'someone on the show is going to die' bit as the last resort of a show in big trouble.

Not so with Smallville's 100th episode.

Fans have known since the beginning of this season that a major character was going to die sometime this season, and that it would mean HUGE changes in the development of our boy Clark. And the 100th episode of the show saw exactly that happen. About as major a character as you can get died just as foretold.

Just in case you haven't seen it yet, I won't spoil who dies, but I will say that I had it between 1 of 2 people beforehand and I was right. In point of fact, both of them died in the episode, but Clark got to go back in time and undo only one of the deaths.

What a great show. Whether it was Clark telling all to Lana and asking her to marry him, or Chloe nodding to the original movie with the whole 'earth spinning on its axis' bit, or the look on Lex's face as he witnesses Clark using his powers, or the tragedy of Clark choosing to save the person he loves only to lose that love forever, that really was the best episode of the show so far.

And I'll freely admit to completely falling apart during the funeral scene at the end. I don't cry often, but it was completely warranted.

Anyone who says that science fiction television cannot equal quality television doesn't watch Smallville.

Labels: smallville

1. Clark and Lana woke up in bed together after a night of non-superpowered sex


2. Lex has restarted his campaign to poison our boy Clark's relationship with Lana


3. Clark got his powers back and in fine form saved Smallville from no less than a nuclear missile


4. Clark got shot, died, and was resurrected, like all great fictional heroes (see: Neo, Sherlock Holmes, Jesus Christ)


5. The show is finally being written for its audience (me): villains actually killing people, people bleeding when they're shot, people over 18 having sex, etc

Man, I love that show.

Excellent review of the episode in question, 'Hidden' here.

Labels: smallville

The Green Bay Packers won over New Orleans 52-3 this afternoon, finally validating fans like me sitting through the first four games of the season that saw them get their asses handed to them over and over and over.

Its a long way from 'Packers win the Superbowl!', but it's a start.

And why is it such a good time for Smallville fans, you ask? Because (SPOILER) Clark Kent finally slept with Lana Lang.

Yes he was a virgin until he married Lois Lane in the comic books, but let's remember that that particular plotline was written circa 1940. So kudos to the writers at Smallville for bringing Superman boldly into the 70's and getting the poor guy layed.

Now, if they could just find an excuse for Lana, Chloe, Clark and some red kryptonite to get trapped in a lingerie store for a few hours.....

Labels: smallville

I really don't have much to say except that Trinity and I watched the season opener of Smallville season 5 tonight.

And. It. Was. Fucking. Awesome.

Whether you're talking about the introduction of the Fortress of Solitude and the Phantom Zone, or Braniac's entrance, or Chloe telling Clark that she has known for a long time about his superpowers, and he in turn telling her everything else, it was just awesome.

I still can't stand Lana, and Clark should be with Chloe, but that didn't happen in the comic, so its not too likely.

I seriously love that SciFi has gone mainstream enough in my lifetime that really high quality shows & movies based on beloved icons from my childhood can get made.

Because as a solipsist its all about me anyways.

Can't wait til next week.

Labels: smallville

So sometimes I get more out of my tv watching than your average viewer. Most of the time I watch it like everyone else and just get entertained for a few hours at a stretch.

But every once in awhile I get to see an insight into the kind of person I have turned out to be. And the view's not as bad as I'd expected. I'll explain:

You remember back in the dark ole days of the nineties, when everybody's favourite guilty pleasure was a primetime soap on the then new Fox Network called Melrose Place?

Aw, come on, you watched it. And you'd talk about what happened with the people that it was safe to talk with, about who was sleeping with who and when you'd see more of that uber-hot Sydney. And when they'd get rid of that bastard Michael. And don't even get me started on crazy Kimberly. The one with the lustrous red hair?

Ahem.

But if anyone that wasn't into the show was around, the subject would get dropped like a stripper's panties when the cash comes out.

Hell, there was even a Seinfeld episode about it, because so many people watched the show, but wouldn't admit to it.

Well, I have a new guilty secret tv show and I've been on it for about two years now. Superwife's brother Dave put me on to it, and there's not a scifi loving bone in his body. But he thought I'd watch it because I used to read the Superman comic book religiously. As I did with the X-Men, Fantastic Four, The Flash, Green Lantern, Batman, Spiderman, etc, etc.

The show's called Smallville.

Yeah I know, show about Superman when he was a teenager, no big stretch for a self-proclaimed scifi junkie, right? Except I don't just watch it because it's about Superman.

I mean, I did. In the beginning at least. But I have to admit that the show's characters have totally grown on me to the point that I am now fairly obsessed with most of the arc, particularly the whole Chloe/Clark/Lana/Lois triangle.

Oh wait, is that a quadrangle?

Anyway.

So I really like the show, watch it all the time, tape it when I miss it, watch it the second I get home from missing it, etc.

You could fairly easily say that it is my new Melrose Place.

So in watching the show and examining my aforementioned insight into self, I have decided unequivocally that Clark should get together with Chloe. She's hot, she's smart, she knows about the whole Clark/Superman thing. She's everything that vapid, dippy Lana isn't.

But I just watched the most recent episode 'Blank', and in it Clark gets his memory temporarily erased and ends up having Chloe clue him into his life, his powers (because she knows all about them - except the pre-amnesia Clark couldn't trust her to tell her himself).

And so during the ep, he ends up even in his fugue state going after Lana, and completely ignoring this hottie who is still into him even though he'd be considered a freak by likely everyone else, Lana probably included. And at the very end of the episode, he ends up getting his memory back, and forgetting that Chloe knows his secret, and again going after Lana and completely missing out on what's right in front of him.

So either the writers think the people that watch the show are idiots, because no one would choose the pretty twit over the cute good-hearted friend that has everything in common with our hero or

(and here comes the rub)

by putting myself in said hero's position and choosing the right girl over the fantasy, I've learned that there's just a very little bit more depth to me than I would've thought there was.

Who knew?

Labels: smallville