Smallville rant (pre-review of 8.04)
Oct. 10th, 2008 11:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bop_radarOk, guys. Unpopular (and unexpected) fannish opinion warning on this one, but I need to get it out there. I've realised what is bugging me about this season. And it's kind of huge. This is in response to 8.04 so may be spoilery, but I'm going to review 8.04 separately because I have other stuff to say about it. It's the Clois. I hate it. It's now become clear that it's not just some errant bad writing--they are deliberately characterising Lois as having (strong) feelings for Clark.
WHY?! Since WHEN?!
I've racked my brains and I don't understand it. Until now there has been attraction there, sure, but it's been very firmly repressed/buried and it's been something that is subtle and nuanced and all the sweeter for that. They've been able to play moments where Lois has softened a little towards Clark and then quickly shut down on him again in comedic fashion. There's no more of that. In this episode, she pretty much had an entire monologue where she admitted to herself that she had very strong feelings for him but was fighting them.
No. Sorry. That's not my Lois.
Here's why:
1. It breaks canon. It's way, WAY too early! And also Lois does not fall in love with Clark first: she falls for SUPERMAN. (ETA: deleted because it's not really my main gripe for reasons made clear in the comments.)
2. It's this season's writers imposing a view of Lois on the character that has not arisen organically. I can't think of one plausible reason why Lois has suddenly got this level of jealousy about Clark. She falls for heroes, damn it! And she has never seen Clark as one. It makes no sense.
3. It changes the Lois and Clark dynamic--what I love about that dynamic is Clark pining and Lois being kickass and oblivious. This is flipping that around and I'm being selfish here: that doesn't float my boat.
4. It's not even internally consistent within this season--last episode she had some amazing scenes with Oliver and worked through her emotions about their break-up. She's growing and beginning to consider that she may have been too hasty in her feelings there. She may be able to consider dating a hero in the future... That's great! And then suddenly she's lusting after Clark. Um... Weird connection there because--and I point this out again, because it's important--she does not view Clark as a hero.
5. Even more tragically, they are defining Lois solely through her romantic plot this season. So far she has no other plot. Sure, she's a reporter but now that plot is all about Clark and his entry at the Daily Planet (and their ongoing flirtations). I really want to believe they will give her her own arc that's separate from that, but I'm not sure... the closest we got to it was having her scenes with Oliver last season which so far are my favourite Lois scenes in season 8. Coincidence? I think not.
6. There's an accompanying issue that we saw in 8.02, which I'll call the 'Lois and Clark' effect: it's the tendency to tear Lois down or make her look like a ditz or an idiot for comic effect and so that Clark can sigh wryly and with superiority and we can all remember who's really great. It's the main reason that while I loved that show as a teenager, I cannot swallow it now. Tearing down strong women = not cool in the naughties. Not cool and NOT HOT. And on SV, doubly unnecessary because Clark is already great, already fully defined in his own world.
Sigh. MEGA-SIGH.
They just took my ship and changed the entire dynamic on it's head. They took my favourite character and rewrote her. I am feeling a MASSIVE disconnect with Lois now... I switch in and out of her depending on how heavily Clois-y the scene is. Not Clois-y at all? GREAT. Somewhat Clois-y? Hmm. Very Clois-y? I got nothin'. It is SO WEIRD. It's a total reversal for me from previous seasons.
This is my one great ship of all time, people! It's the one thing I thought Season 8 might be good for. Why is it being taken away from me?! *weeps*
I know I may be pretty alone in this opinion--my liking of Clois is about a very specific dynamic that I know is not everyone's cup of tea, and I respect that. I am sure there will be people who will like the Clois this season more than ever before because it more closely correlates with a dynamic they like. I am sure there are counterarguments to the case I've put here... and I'm happy for those of you who disagree with me and are finding it either not a problem or actively enjoyable. That's awesome. You rock on. But it doesn't work for me and I need to face that because I think it's an overall direction that will remain consistent this season and it's going to irk me.
But fear not! I have other things which are delighting me no end and actually greatly enjoyed this episode... so my next post will be moreinteresting positive.
WHY?! Since WHEN?!
I've racked my brains and I don't understand it. Until now there has been attraction there, sure, but it's been very firmly repressed/buried and it's been something that is subtle and nuanced and all the sweeter for that. They've been able to play moments where Lois has softened a little towards Clark and then quickly shut down on him again in comedic fashion. There's no more of that. In this episode, she pretty much had an entire monologue where she admitted to herself that she had very strong feelings for him but was fighting them.
No. Sorry. That's not my Lois.
Here's why:
2. It's this season's writers imposing a view of Lois on the character that has not arisen organically. I can't think of one plausible reason why Lois has suddenly got this level of jealousy about Clark. She falls for heroes, damn it! And she has never seen Clark as one. It makes no sense.
3. It changes the Lois and Clark dynamic--what I love about that dynamic is Clark pining and Lois being kickass and oblivious. This is flipping that around and I'm being selfish here: that doesn't float my boat.
4. It's not even internally consistent within this season--last episode she had some amazing scenes with Oliver and worked through her emotions about their break-up. She's growing and beginning to consider that she may have been too hasty in her feelings there. She may be able to consider dating a hero in the future... That's great! And then suddenly she's lusting after Clark. Um... Weird connection there because--and I point this out again, because it's important--she does not view Clark as a hero.
5. Even more tragically, they are defining Lois solely through her romantic plot this season. So far she has no other plot. Sure, she's a reporter but now that plot is all about Clark and his entry at the Daily Planet (and their ongoing flirtations). I really want to believe they will give her her own arc that's separate from that, but I'm not sure... the closest we got to it was having her scenes with Oliver last season which so far are my favourite Lois scenes in season 8. Coincidence? I think not.
6. There's an accompanying issue that we saw in 8.02, which I'll call the 'Lois and Clark' effect: it's the tendency to tear Lois down or make her look like a ditz or an idiot for comic effect and so that Clark can sigh wryly and with superiority and we can all remember who's really great. It's the main reason that while I loved that show as a teenager, I cannot swallow it now. Tearing down strong women = not cool in the naughties. Not cool and NOT HOT. And on SV, doubly unnecessary because Clark is already great, already fully defined in his own world.
Sigh. MEGA-SIGH.
They just took my ship and changed the entire dynamic on it's head. They took my favourite character and rewrote her. I am feeling a MASSIVE disconnect with Lois now... I switch in and out of her depending on how heavily Clois-y the scene is. Not Clois-y at all? GREAT. Somewhat Clois-y? Hmm. Very Clois-y? I got nothin'. It is SO WEIRD. It's a total reversal for me from previous seasons.
This is my one great ship of all time, people! It's the one thing I thought Season 8 might be good for. Why is it being taken away from me?! *weeps*
I know I may be pretty alone in this opinion--my liking of Clois is about a very specific dynamic that I know is not everyone's cup of tea, and I respect that. I am sure there will be people who will like the Clois this season more than ever before because it more closely correlates with a dynamic they like. I am sure there are counterarguments to the case I've put here... and I'm happy for those of you who disagree with me and are finding it either not a problem or actively enjoyable. That's awesome. You rock on. But it doesn't work for me and I need to face that because I think it's an overall direction that will remain consistent this season and it's going to irk me.
But fear not! I have other things which are delighting me no end and actually greatly enjoyed this episode... so my next post will be more
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no subject
Date: 2008-10-10 04:46 pm (UTC)I do like the idea of Lois falling for Clark rather than Superman, though.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-10 10:45 pm (UTC)Totally!
(What's a 'tag scene'?)
I don't mind the idea of Lois falling for Clark rather than Superman--but I feel it's way too early for her to do so in SV canon.
And also, yeah, it's just not my ultimate dynamic. You know: the dynamic that I find ridiculously superhot and irresistible. It's still a likeable dynamic and these two are probably hot enough to carry it somewhat for me. But it's not my toally ultimate ship type any more.