Smallville 8.10 Bride

[bop_radar]

So given the hype on my f'list about this episode (unmissable, even if I stayed steadfastly unspoiled for it) I worked from home today in order to get the episode early so I could see it before I went out to a friend's party. And so I've seen it. Unusually, without supacat who isn't around right now and without whom I am feeling very scattered and confused. That was an emotional rollercoaster of an episode for me and I honestly can't tell if I liked it or not. There were things I hated and things I loved. Help?

Thing I hate most of all: apparently that was the last episode until January! *weeps*
Thing I hate almost as much: when it does come back, I am not happy about who will or won't be in the next few eps.

This was... kind of a weird episode. Framing a lot of it through handheld camera was an odd choice, I thought, at least until the final reveal when it served some purpose. And I'm not a fan of the '8 hours earlier' style of episode. Also, I kind of didn't feel there was enough suspense to pull it off--Jimmy is not going to die, he's in comic canon. Though I admit I did think they'd get Chloe back. The things there was suspense about for me still had suspense at the end of the episode: namely, what the hell is Lana doing and what's the deal with Lex? (LEX! I can barely process that yet!) So maybe that's why I feel so frustrated?

Also, I kind of had a lot to 'get over' in terms of Chloe's wedding. I still find Clark giving her away DEEPLY WEIRD. And that was not made any better by holding the wedding in the barn. OMG, why not the Talon at least? Holding it on Clark's land, in Clark's private space was SO WEIRD. And when they came down from upstairs I kind of thought everyone would be wondering what they'd been doing up there. I mean... they have pashed up there! THAT IS WEIRD. It was not made better at all by him giving her that flower from homecoming dance. I liked them back then, I even shipped them! Don't evoke that ON HER WEDDING DAY! The inappropriateness was rampantly out of control, and Lois let me down massively--at first I thought she too was icked out, but then no, she was moved by it. Puh-lease. I blame the writers: they need to let the Chlark go. Jimmy is an absolute SAINT to get married under these circumstances.

And it's really hard for me to believe that Lois is Chloe's only living relative. Could she at least have mentioned her father? Urgh.

Anyway, I tried not to let that spoil the episode too much, because I did find Chloe very genuine in her wedding-day joy and that delighted me! I loved that they textualised the fact that, for her, it is a weight lifted to be free of Clark's secret. I am glad she got her perfect day. Well... almost. It's rather like the end of last episode when the Fortress got corrupted just after Clark reconciled with it; here, Chloe is kidnapped (and turns evil? I wasn't sure what the scary eyes and smile were meant to mean) right after things finally come together in her relationship with Jimmy.

Lois looked gorgeous in that dress. (I can't comment on Chloe's outfit only because I find all wedding dresses distasteful, but if other people say she looked good i'll believe them!) I would have found her reaction to Clark in his suit a bit more believable had she not been seeing him a suit every day all season, but hey, he looked good too and the cufflinks line was kinda funny.

Apart from that, honestly, the Clois stuff was a big let-down for me. I don't enjoy seeing Lois mope around after Clark and I was kind of angry with Jimmy for making her think that it would be a good idea to put the moves on him. I love Lois and I feel so sorry for her in this mess. Clark is clearly not ready for anything to happen between them and I spent most of the episode hoping they wouldn't have a huge fight! Erica's acting was wonderful and she really made me feel Lois's wistfulness, loneliness and confusion. And when Jimmy said that guys flirt by teasing, I winced because I knew Lois would believe that. She'd believe it because it's what SHE does. What she doesn't factor in is the fact that she's the guy in their dynamic. Oh, Lois! I knew it would go hideously, terribly wrong--so much so that I was begging her in my head not to kiss him. There'd been no real sign from Clark that he was interested, and I could see disaster on the horizon. Sure, part of me wanted a real non-red-K kiss from them, but not like this... I was almost grateful Lana interrupted.

Almost but not quite. I didn't expect the creative team to go there as I never thought they wanted to play the two relationships in opposition to each other, and that kind of nearly crossed the line. Also, because Clark and Lana really do have so much unresolved emotions between them, I found that the Clana completely dominated the rest of the episode--another reason I'm glad the kiss did not happen.

Strangely, I almost found there was more real chemistry between the two sets of exes--Lana and Clark, and Lois and Oliver--than between Lois and Clark. They built the Clois moments on misunderstanding--Lois's misunderstanding about Clark's feelings, compounded by that painful scene where she thought he was speaking for himself when he read Jimmy's vows. Whereas, the scene between Oliver and Lois was wonderfully open and real.

That scene was hands down my favourite scene of the episode. I adored it. It was bittersweet and beautiful and drew on the depth in the Oliver/Lois relationship perfectly. Firstly, I love it that Lois bailed with a bottle of champagne for the porch (I'd do that!) and I love that Oliver snarked about it being no fun to listen to her whine, but then sat down anyway. That's the lovely thing about Oliver--he jokes, but underneath he's a really good friend, and he showed himself a good friend of both Lois and Clark in this scene. It was beautifully played by both Erica and Justin because I could see the characters' feelings for each other still there, but in that 'we're exes' way. Oliver's voice was just that little hint vulnerable when he asked 'who's the lucky guy?'

Of course he knew it was Clark. And I love that he admitted that so gracefully--and showed Lois how accepting he is of that. He's known for a long time, arguably longer than Lois, that those two had chemistry, and I have always thought he knew he'd see them together one day. I loved that he told Lois Clark needs her. She needs to know that! And I thought the added pathos in that line was that Oliver knows because he kind of needed her too... or at least he knows what it feels like to come close to doing so. And I think he sees that the ways that make him different from Clark are also ways that mean Clark has more need of a Lois.

Or maybe it's like he says elsewhere in the episode... everyone needs to be more like Clark. :) Once upon a time I would have hated that line, but I loved it here, because Clark has truly become someone to look up to, and I loved it between Oliver and Lana, two characters who struggle with an inner darkness and inability to live up to Clark's standards. But they also aspire to, and I like that about both of them.

I wasn't so keen on Oliver's pushiness regarding the need to track Lex down. I do think Clark was right to say that they should wait til after Chloe's wedding, and I'm glad that Clark sussed on that Oliver was partly after vengeance for his parents. Yay Clark for being a good friend and not letting Oliver's demons have free reign! I would have been really annoyed at that lackey for spoiling things, had it not been for his fangirl-pleasing line about the Clark/Oliver 'lovers' spat'. Yay! It's not just me that sees them like that! ;)

But ok, what the hell, Lana? I like the new sophisticated look and the martial arts awesome, but what is your game? I would never have guessed that when she came back she'd be embroiled in a Luthor plot again. Huh. I need some time to process that. I loved the idea of her as a rogue agent protecting Clark, but the text messaging was worrying. Is she working with Mercy maybe? I think the fact that Lex found out Clark's secret came as news to her--will that change her motives? I hope so. I really wasn't expecting a fully 'dark' Lana and am hoping she's not working for Lex. But damn, Smallville makes anything possible!

As far as the Clana went though, it was all terrific. So grown up and sad but dignified! Lana was really firm with her boundaries, and I loved Clark for the dignity with which he handled her return. 'I could have used a bit of warning' was a great line, and absolutely fair enough. I was so sad for him in their loft scene, but I found his silent swallowed tears beautiful. I do see a different Clark here than I have seen in other Clana-broken-up scenes, and I think seeing Lana again will actually help him deal with his grief in some ways. It was a hurdle he had to get over at some stage and while it choked him up, he handled it--and handled it well. No, it's not easy for either of them, but they're both very much their 'own' people now, and I'm proud of them. (Well, apart from the murky Lana plot!)

Oddly, I don't have much to say about Davis. Or maybe not oddly: apart from the one scene in the alley, we weren't really shown his journey in this episode. The monster inside him has evolved, it would seem, to the point where he can no longer control it at all. Yet, the monster can't be separated from the man because both selves are obsessed with Chloe, though one claims to want her 'help' and the other one her love. Will we see Davis's humanity again? I don't know.

The Clois scene that I found most affecting and effective was the final hospital one, though it broke my heart. It worked best for me because it was the one in which Clark showed the most emotion for Lois. He seemed genuinely concerned about how she was and he looked a little sad at Lois saying she was going with Jimmy, though of course he could see that someone should. The hug was wonderful too--poor Clark, knowing that the things that happen all around them, that Lois finds so confusing, are to do with him. My heart broke for both of them.

Don't get me wrong--I don't blame Clark for not being as into Lois as Lois is into him right now. (I blame the writers! :p) Nah... I think it makes organic sense because Clark has a lot of other weighty burdens in his world, and we saw in this episode how he still needs to move forward from Lana before he gets involved with anyone else. Lois and Oliver are further down that path and we saw here the start of a friendship free of romance. I think it will be a while before we see that from Clark and Lana, if we ever do, and honestly her being back, and complicated worries me. So, this wasn't the Clois episode I wanted, but it was... something.

I could have done with a little more before a hiatus. SV are MEAN with their emotional cliffhangers!

ETA: Have identified one of my emotions! I am sad for Lois. I want to give her hugs and cookies and let her cry on my sofa for a while. And selfishly, I'm sad that my pov characters always wind up being the ones in unrequited love with someone whose attention is elsewhere (even if it's for very good reason). *sniffles* I guess now's a good time to go to a cocktail bar. That's what Lois would do, right?

Comments

[fleegull.livejournal.com]

I liked it a lot but I'm still processing stuff. The only reason I can figure that they used the barn and not the Talon was that it would be too expensive to "damage" the Talon and then it would be difficult to explain how it was fixed by the time the next episode rolls around. Seriously, no bride worth her shoes is getting married in a barn!!!

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

It was so unexpected! You're right--they can rebuild the barn. But... why not have a lovely outdoor garden wedding or something? I'm just baffled. I can't even imagine Clark agreeing to let his barn be refurbished in that way. (Though that could have been a funny scene!) Where did the farm equipment go? What about his secret stash of sex toys Kryptonian gadgets? Oh, Smallville.

[svgurl.livejournal.com]

Also, I kind of had a lot to 'get over' in terms of Chloe's wedding. I still find Clark giving her away DEEPLY WEIRD. And that was not made any better by holding the wedding in the barn.

I have always thought the wedding in the barn was dumb. It just seems weird. And dude, where's Gabe? I mean, they haven't said he died or anything so he should be there!

At least there was a Chlo-Lo scene. *shrugs* I take what I can get. ;D

Lois looked gorgeous in that dress.

SHE DID! Lois just worked that color. :D

I loved the Lollie scene. Those two have always felt so natural to me and they still carry that. &hearts

I thought Clark pulling Lois to dance was really great but the hospital scene killed me. SO sad.

Clark did well in the Clana scenes ... he was quite mature and I was proud of him. As for Clois, I think he needs to be solidly over Lana and then he can venture into Clois territory. The man Lois gets will be 100% into her cuz that's what she deserves. But I do believe there are some feelings. He just doesn't know what they are. :D

I am sad for Lois. I want to give her hugs and cookies and let her cry on my sofa for a while.

ME TOO! Erica always knows how to break my heart.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

where's Gabe? I mean, they haven't said he died or anything so he should be there!
ITA. Just one line, SV, please!

The Chlo-Lo scene was very sweet indeed.

Those two have always felt so natural to me and they still carry that. ♥
I agree. I felt guilty but I nearly shipped them more than Clois just because they feel so real...

I think he needs to be solidly over Lana and then he can venture into Clois territory. The man Lois gets will be 100% into her cuz that's what she deserves. But I do believe there are some feelings. He just doesn't know what they are. :D
Well... I agree very much that he needs to be fully over Lana before moving to Lois. *nods* I don't know what he feels for Lois, I really don't, but I do know his heart is still tangled with Lana, and fair enough given the length of their history. So I hope that we will see him move on at some stage.

Erica always knows how to break my heart.
Oh gawd, I know, I'm all torn up. :((

[norwich36.livejournal.com]

Oh, darn, I was counting on you to make thematic sense of the whole "Chloe getting married in Clark's barn" thing. (I was actually thinking, between this and the Clark-giving-Chloe-away thing, plus his rather paternalistic decision last week to take away her memories of his secret, that maybe symbolic this is a shift from being her friend to being her parent? Or some weird thing like that. You were the one with the Clark-as-Lex's-mom theory, I was hoping you'd have a brilliant one here. Because I agree with you: that whole bit was DEEPLY DEEPLY WEIRD.

I think I liked the Clois bits more than you did, though, because I think Jimmy actually was right and Clark *is* feeling more than he would admit to himself. I thought the chemistry in that dance scene was palpable, and he's the one who initiated the dance. And they were both leaning in for that kiss, not just Lois. (I guess I'm just more sanguine about this romance than you because I know it is going to eventually end happily.)

I agree with you about the mysteriousness of the Lana plot--what on earth is she up to?--but I'm just planning to enjoy her for three more episodes, because I didn't realize exactly how much I was missing her until I saw her again.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

I was counting on you to make thematic sense of the whole "Chloe getting married in Clark's barn" thing.
Oh, I really really wish I could but I've thought about it every which way and can only conclude it's because they can rebuild the barn easily. ;)

plus his rather paternalistic decision last week to take away her memories of his secret, that maybe symbolic this is a shift from being her friend to being her parent?
I agree with you that that decision was paternalistic, as was the way he looked so proud to have her on his arm, but I can't really see a reason for it. And then there was the weird thing with the flower--the associations of which are distinctly NOT paternal. I can't understand what purpose that shift would serve so... no... sorry, no theory!

I think Jimmy actually was right and Clark *is* feeling more than he would admit to himself
Hmm... see, I think when Clark teases, he just teases. I don't think it's necessarily flirtation. He's teased Lois for years. And while we've seen Lois's feelings behind the teasing, we haven't seen the Clark equivalent. I *did* like when he grabbed her arm though--that made my heart skip a beat! But the dance was so odd and silent and poor Lois was trying desperately to work out if she should do something and I didn't really think Clark was thinking about anything at all! I wish I could have seen a bit more interest from Clark.

I love having Lana back too! I knew I missed her heaps because I've been vidding and it's so great to see her.

[tragicllyhip.livejournal.com]

I really loved this episode, so i'm a bit afraid to delve into your review. It was the first time i actually felt Clark and Lois and its been so damn long since i've seen that wonderful half-lidded look of desire on Clark's face. There are a lot of unanswered questions which is awesome:) It makes me look forward to the rest of the season.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm sorry! I am glad you loved the episode. I was so happy last week, I wish I could get that back. Don't read my review and I won't harsh your buzz. ;)

(I am fascinated that you think you saw desire on Clark's face--I wish I could have seen it too.)

[daybreak777.livejournal.com]

This was a weird ep. I didn't like that camera thing, either. If only because SV is usually so pretty and the colors usually so rich. And the barn was weird. I had this feeling, 'couldn't they afford a nicer place?' You are right the Talon would have made much more sense.

Erica's acting was wonderful and she really made me feel Lois's wistfulness, loneliness and confusion.
Erica is so wonderful in this role. She's been making me feel Lois' pain for several episodes lately. It is so uncomfortable. She is so tough and self-sufficient, but here she is falling in love with Clark. Wait, you are right! She was the guy! That's it right there on the head! And now she is being most unguylike in her emotions and it's so very sad. I liked her teasing him and punching him on the arm. I am glad she can feel, though. But I am sorry she hurts.

And I thought the added pathos in that line was that Oliver knows because he kind of needed her too...
Aww, no wonder this ep made you sad. Lois had friends but loses potential/former boyfriends all around.

No, it's not easy for either of them, but they're both very much their 'own' people now, and I'm proud of them.
Well said. It all seems very resolved, even in my mind. I was so glad to see Lana. I wanted to hug her. The old gang is briefly back together.

The hiatus will be long because I'm so curious about Chloe and Davis. Has she turned evil? Will they rule the fortress together? What about Jor-El?

I have really liked this show this season. Better than last. It's fun and schmoop sometimes, but I really like the characters. I will miss it the next few months.

Hugs to you, Boppy dear. It is hard when a show lays a ship low. And if you get that cocktail, go easy. ;-)

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

SV is usually so pretty and the colors usually so rich.
Yes, it felt un-Smallvillean!

Wait, you are right! She was the guy! That's it right there on the head! And now she is being most unguylike in her emotions and it's so very sad.
Yes, honestly, their usual dynamic is Lois being all brash and oblivious and Clark being the sensitive, intuitive one. That's what I fell for but it's not really been in evidence this season.

Aww, no wonder this ep made you sad. Lois had friends but loses potential/former boyfriends all around.
True, and the Lollie relationship always mirrored the Clois one so wonderfully so it did feel like a bit of a double whammy, a list of 'things Lois has lost'.

I have really liked this show this season. Better than last. It's fun and schmoop sometimes, but I really like the characters. I will miss it the next few months.
Aww, that's good to hear! I do love the show and think this season is much stronger than last. I'm glad you've got to see some of its joy.

[taragel.livejournal.com]

I too was mixed--almost meh--on this episode, mainly because:

honestly, the Clois stuff was a big let-down for me. I don't enjoy seeing Lois mope around after Clark

My sentiments exactly. It wasn't enough to have Lana and Chloe mope over Clark for 5-plus seasons? One of the things I like most about Lois is that she never did that over a guy. I understand their wanting to show her vulnerable/emotional side as she accepts love for the first time, but a little less would have went a long way. They were knocking me out with anvils, she got all misty-eyed petting his suit! (that as you so rightfully pointed out was not much different from what he wears on a daily basis.) Lois clearly came down with wedding fever in this episode and aside from the scene with Ollie, which I too really enjoyed, I didn't like this Lois much.

Overall, it seemed to me TPTB were really definitively closing a lot of doors here on Clark's past relationships (though I too thought Chloe carrying the flower from the dance was really rather odd and inappropriate) and setting it up for him to maybe reciprocate Lois's feelings in the future. Chlark seems done and Clana seems pretty much over to me too, though I know she's sticking around for a few eps.

Lana was more likable as a grown-up (though with awful hair) but I kept wondering what she was up to as well. She kept telling Clark that she was in a better place now and I kept thinking--but what place? What do you do Lana? Just travel the world looking for Lex and practicing Lana-Fu? She must have gotten quite the divorce settlement from the Luthors.

I'm still very confused about how Lex/Brainiac/Doomsday/
Chloe are all interconnected at this point. But I worry for my Davis. I want someone to take the bad monster parts away from him, so he can be all wubbly cute paramedic boy mooning after Chloe (I have no problem with the men moping I guess). Seriously, I wonder now that they've revealed Dooms, how (often) they're going to switch back to the human to give Sam Witwer enough screen time. I imagine quite a bit because FX is exspensive and Witwer is doing such a great job. It'll be interesting to see how that works out.

Jimmy should probably be dead, that was a massive slash. And I didn't like them having Chloe basically absolve Clark for taking away her "burden." I don't know how much of Chloe has been Brainiac this season, but I wish they would fix her. She's not my favorite character but everything with her has been so off in S8.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Lois clearly came down with wedding fever in this episode and aside from the scene with Ollie, which I too really enjoyed, I didn't like this Lois much.
Hee! Yes, it was like she was ILL or something! *giggles* That actually makes me feel better about it. I totally agree that a little less would have been perfect. I also think Clark should have been given at least some lines in reciprocity--even if just a 'you look lovely'.

setting it up for him to maybe reciprocate Lois's feelings in the future
The 'maybe' is the operative word there! ;) I agree. Though it's very much a 'maybe' and that irks me because I feel like Lois once again has her heart on her sleeve in a relationship and is getting torn apart before it's even started.

She kept telling Clark that she was in a better place now and I kept thinking--but what place? What do you do Lana? Just travel the world looking for Lex and practicing Lana-Fu?
Hahaha, me too! *lol* I mean... that's awesome, but it is also kind of random and weird. How great can that be? *thinks* OK, pretty great. But it's still a weird 'place' from which to make an 'I'm in such a great place' speech. I do think she's well off though.

I want someone to take the bad monster parts away from him, so he can be all wubbly cute paramedic boy mooning after Chloe (I have no problem with the men moping I guess).
Men moping is GREAT! Bring it back! And yeah, I was kind of sad that Davis got consumed by Dooms so fast... I wanted to see more of that struggle. They'll have to switch back, as you say, and I look forward to that because Witner is rocking this role.

I am in the 5% of people that were thrilled that Chloe 'absolved' Clark because I do think it would feel like a weight lifted for her. But I am just sad we didn't get to see happy Chloe for longer.

[duskwillow.livejournal.com]

I can't comment on Chloe's outfit only because I find all wedding dresses distasteful

Hee! How come? You're the first person I ever saw say that.

And when Jimmy said that guys flirt by teasing, I winced because I knew Lois would believe that.

But Clark does flirt with Lois in that way. He enjoys driving her insane. :)

There'd been no real sign from Clark that he was interested, and I could see disaster on the horizon.

I don't think Clark isn't interested. I just think he's a lot more guarded this year.
It's almost impossible to read his emotions. In his scenes with Lois. Even in his scene with Lana. He also showed no reaction to Chloe being kidnapped and Jimmy being seriously hurt.
Tom is just playing him more closed off this year.
And when it comes to romance, I get why. He finally let someone see him for what he truly is last year, and it ended badly with Lana packing and leaving without telling him way (and all he got was a DVD message ;) ). So I think there's a reason why Clark is keeping whatever he feels for himself. Lois is usually the one so guarded, but this season Clark is the same, if not "worse" than her.

And I do think he cares for her and was interested. We saw him checking her out when she was helping him with cufflinks, he couldn't take his eyes off of her. And then he was the one to initiate the dance. And he knew how she feels, he saw her reaction when he was reading Jimmy's vows. I honestly can't believe that Clark, knowing that Lois has feelings for him, would ask her to dance and then lean in for the kiss if he himself doesn't feel something for her. It would just be cruel to play with her that way, and that's not something I can imagine Clark doing.

I loved the idea of her as a rogue agent protecting Clark, but the text messaging was worrying.

For me,
1) I don't think anyone has to protect Clark. Especially Lana. Whenever they try, be it Lana, Ollie, Chloe, whoever - they always make the situation even worse. They should just let him protect himself, he's more than capable of.
2) I'm not sure what that text message was about, but I doubt she's evil or working for someone evil, or whatever the show is trying to imply at the moment. She seemed really happy and proud of red-blue blur. :) It could be that she's a double agent, and playing for the other side to get some info?

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Hee! How come? You're the first person I ever saw say that.
Oh, I'm weird but I just really hate white/cream--hardly anyone looks good in it and then I hate the styling of 95% of wedding dresses as well. All that froth and lace! It just doesn't relate to anything for me. I like rich colours and would far prefer a colourful Indian wedding tradition (for instance): Western dresses are so bland and death-like. I always think of Ophelia floating in a stream, colourless and clutching flowers...

Clark does flirt with Lois in that way. He enjoys driving her insane. :)
Do you think it's flirting? I am not really sure... I always saw it as mainly sibling-like teasing, with his attraction to her secretly informing it a bit but Clark oblivious to that. I don't think he's consciously flirting at all.

when it comes to romance, I get why. He finally let someone see him for what he truly is last year, and it ended badly with Lana packing and leaving without telling him way
You're right--absolutely! That does make sense and I agree that Tom is playing him that way. I enjoy it in terms of seeing Clark's growing maturity though it made me sad in the Clana scenes in this episode just because it so obviously came from a place of pain. But it does make organic sense for him to be like this.

he knew how she feels, he saw her reaction when he was reading Jimmy's vows
Oh, I was SO hoping he didn't 'get' that moment because I found it so deeply embarrassing for Lois. I think I went into denial from then on and hoped that Clark didn't know. But yeah, if he does know, EEP, then inviting Lois to dance with him is significant. Still, what worries me is he was doing it more out of compassion than interest. Clark is not cruel, no, but he does tend to let women have feelings for him and not give them a clear 'no' even when he's not totally into them. *worries*

She seemed really happy and proud of red-blue blur. :) It could be that she's a double agent, and playing for the other side to get some info?
Hee! Yes, that would be awesome. I do hope so. And I agree that noone needs to protect Clark. I like the intention on Lana's part but I don't think it's needed and wouldn't want to see it continue. I just liked that her offscreen time has been spent on something SV-related. ;)

[c-mantix.livejournal.com]

And if I'd actually read the other lovely comments like this one before adding in my 2 cents, I wouldn't have been Repeato Girl;) Sorry Bop!

[c-mantix.livejournal.com]

Hey sweetie!

Don't be too sad for Lois. Her feelings are totally requited. Clark basically dragged her into a dance and eye-contacted her into an almost-kiss. Lois didn't kiss him. They kissed each other. IMO, Clark was sending out major vibes, they just weren't the typical type of vibes he usually feels or sends out.

I agree that the Clana was strong in the episode. Wonderfully so. To my mind, Clark seemed a bit angry to be jerked back from the brink of something new with Lois. Almost like Chloe's feeling of a weight lifted. Clark was in uncharted territory with Lois and I loved seeing how it played out for them.

I wasn't icked out by the rose because I feel S8, AM and TW have made it clear that they aren't romantically interested in one another. It also is consistent with how Clark treats the memory of Lana is canon. Clark is probably the only man around who can stay friends with his exes;)

If it can make you feel better, my sense is that Lois didn't misinterpret anything. Clark was febrile and 'needing' her. Plus, major UST. Oliver even says to Lois that if she thought Clark was sending out that vibe he probably was.

Isn't it amazing how little of Season 8 is actually from Clark's POV? Especially compared to previous seasons. There are moments where we get huge reveals, but no long, heart-on-the sleeve scenes like Lois had with Jimmy and Oliver. It makes sense to play him as less emotionally unsure. It is more heroic, more contained. Superman cannot mope, cannot waffle.

Also, it would be slightly obscene for Clark to fall for Lois in the same matter he fell for Lana. None of us want Clana x 2. *god!*

BTW, have you seen the TV Guide online interview with Erica Durance? It might go a long way to making you feel less... how you feel;)

*hugs* elle

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you, it helps to hear that other people are so convinced it's reciprocal! I find it hard to see but your certainty is persuasive.

eye-contacted her into an almost-kiss
That's so fascinating that that's how you read it because if a guy looked at me like that, so blankly, I'd assume he was fucking with me and run a mile. And while I don't think Clark meant to fuck with Lois, I did feel he was leading her on dangerously because his own feelings are more lukewarm than hers. Perhaps that's my problem: I'm relating to Lois's plight too much as if it's the real world and forgetting that this is fairy-tale Smallville land where feelings DO get reciprocated. Sometimes. Maybe. In the future. ;)

It also is consistent with how Clark treats the memory of Lana is canon. Clark is probably the only man around who can stay friends with his exes;)
That's true... I like that. It could have been worse, I guess, but I do still feel like every time I think the Chlark is over, the writers bring it up one more time.

Isn't it amazing how little of Season 8 is actually from Clark's POV?
And yet I understand him and am in sympathy with him so much more! (Except with Lois in this episode--I guess that's part of my sadness, suddenly I didn't understand him again.)

It makes sense to play him as less emotionally unsure.
True, and I'm loving that, which is why I lay no blame for this situation on Clark's shoulders. I absolutely love where he is in his own personal journey, I love Tom's performance, it's all perfect. Just not when slapped up against Lois's vulnerability.

BTW, have you seen the TV Guide online interview with Erica Durance? It might go a long way to making you feel less... how you feel;)
Really? How spoilery is it? You said you think it helps to be spoiled and you could be right... I might have to break my iron rule, because I need something! (Though I just got spoiled for BSG and that's upsetting me also.) Eep.

Thanks for hugs! :)

[jude-judith82.livejournal.com]

And that was not made any better by holding the wedding in the barn. OMG, why not the Talon at least?

I agree this was truly weird. I had no idea the Wedding would be held there and I think maybe they should have rethought that idea.

Apart from that, honestly, the Clois stuff was a big let-down for me. I don't enjoy seeing Lois mope around after Clark and I was kind of angry with Jimmy for making her think that it would be a good idea to put the moves on him. I love Lois and I feel so sorry for her in this mess. Clark is clearly not ready for anything to happen between them and I spent most of the episode hoping they wouldn't have a huge fight! Erica's acting was wonderful and she really made me feel Lois's wistfulness, loneliness and confusion. And when Jimmy said that guys flirt by teasing, I winced because I knew Lois would believe that. She'd believe it because it's what SHE does. What she doesn't factor in is the fact that she's the guy in their dynamic.

I copied all of this because even though I didn't find the Clois unsatisfying. I actually loved it I hope this is a one time thing. I'm not looking forward to this angst being a recurring thing. I truly hope it is not. And Clark is always the girl when it comes to Lois. LOL.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Yes, Clark is always the girl and that's how it should be!! I do hope they tone down the angst in the second half of the season. Having Lois on the lie detector was bad enough. But I can put all that behind me if we get some reciprocation from Clark soon.

[(Anonymous)]

I think it's a little weird that they want us to interpret Clark's feelings from purely face expressions. I mean he seems interested, but you can't really confirm it because he has never talked about her in that way, not even indirectly. By the way, it's really bothering me, jimmy isn't going to die is he? Because that would be extremely upsetting.. I wanna see Jimmy-Chloe post-wedding. They're the one couple that seems to have been less-than-complicated in this show haha.

Okay and before reading this second part, I just want to clear up that I don't mean to start any Lana war, and that I don't really care THAT much. I just think Lana's attempt to defend herself for leaving Clark were extremely pathetic.. She's so indecisive and simply confusing. I loved Clana, that's why I started watching Smallville, but the development of her character has annoyed me. Everyone knows their yo-yo activity, but I really don't get what the hell she means half the time. When Clark said that his secret turned her life around, she goes like "Maybe that's exactly what my life needed," and it's like seriously? Come on, who wants to get inhabited by a robot and almost die? And then she said something about how she's never been more happier than where she is right now. That was biggest bs I ever heard, I mean who on earth wants to be involved in less-than-legal secret projects, and go around the world in Ninja costumes trying to beat evil or be evil or whatever she's doing? I thought she would be happily living in a normal apartment or something, isn't that why she got away from the craziness with Clark? Ahh I don't know, I didn't understand her attempts to defend her position in life. If anyone did, please feel free to explain lol.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

I do hope Jimmy and Chloe get some time post-wedding. I feel confident about Jimmy because he's in future canon, but I agree that that slash was really vicious!

When Clark said that his secret turned her life around, she goes like "Maybe that's exactly what my life needed," and it's like seriously? Come on, who wants to get inhabited by a robot and almost die?
*lol* Um, yeah... I did find a lot of her statements in this episode very cryptic. I hope they make more sense once we know what she's up to but I'm not holding my breath.

I mean who on earth wants to be involved in less-than-legal secret projects, and go around the world in Ninja costumes trying to beat evil or be evil or whatever she's doing?
*eyeshift* That sounds kind of awesome when you put it like that... ok, I guess not really.

I didn't expect Lana to come back like this. I expected a grown up independent woman living a fulfilling life. I was excited to see her back but a bit thrown by this twist.

[seeyaroundsv.livejournal.com]

I think it comes down to Erica rocks so much that her performance will affect you emotionally. She (and our whole cast) rules. =)

BTW, I'm glad my nonsensical ramblings helped you feel better about the ep!!

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

I definitely agree about Erica's performance. And yes, I do feel a lot better after reading your thoughts: thank you again. I think I will rewatch the first half of the season over the break and I think it will probably settle better with me then. I have enjoyed the season a lot so far! I'm just heartbreaky for Lois. ;)

[gildinwen.livejournal.com]

What I loved about the scene where Lois was organising everyone? It took us right back to her days as Jonathan's campaign mangager. And remember it was in that season that Clark and Lana broke up, and Lois gave him that piggy bank. Like other here, I saw desire on Clark's face,, it really did remind me of the first time he and Lana made love ( as noted by someone else the expression is damn near indentical)
I think he's realising that the piggy bank close to being ready to open, and the 'harley' is much closer than he ever realised. So that makes him guarded. He's at least considering the possibility of them together, as we saw by the end scene of them commited so *shrugs*

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

It took us right back to her days as Jonathan's campaign mangager
True! That was pretty cute, yes.

it really did remind me of the first time he and Lana made love
That's cool. And maybe also where my problem lies! Because I remember finding Clark's expression sad/dark/unfathomable in that scene! ;) I didn't read it as desire and remember finding that odd at the time, so it's kind of amusing that it's come back here! But I can accept that I'm meant to read it as desire I guess.

[suex.livejournal.com]

I was thinking about your comments regarding the leaning into the kiss .... and I think that maybe it was deliberately played subtle by both of them, and maybe Clark more than Lois, for one reason, and one reason only. If they had made it so both of them were really leaning into that kiss, Lana would have seen the whole thing and that would have gone to a really bad place that Lana's return to the show doesn't need to go to. Her return is about closure on an amicable level, not about closure because Clark and Lois are now falling for each other and Lana's left out in the cold. I think Clark and Lois's romance is too special to be tainted with that.

Do you think?

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Lana would have seen the whole thing and that would have gone to a really bad place that Lana's return to the show doesn't need to go to.
Yeah... I guess I feel like they should have just not gone for it at all then, but I can see it's the show wanting to have it both ways--to hint at something between Lois and Clark, and to NOT have Lana's return be all about that. I guess all things considered, they balanced that quite well, yes. I think a lot of the unbalance in this episode could be alleviated for me in having Clark mention or miss Lois while she's in Star City. But having to wait until next year for that was a bit of a blow! (I didn't know it was the last ep for the year.)

[zurbraran.livejournal.com]

Count me in as equally conflicted. I love the dynamics of the canon Clois ship. I really didn't like the way SV pretty much flipped it on its head. After Committed, I was ready to just go with it, as I assumed that once we were all beaten bloody with the "Lois loves Clark" anvil, they'd shift the focus back to Clark and his developing feelings.

I can see from the other reviews of this ep that many disagree, but I am just not seeing any real interest from Clark. And this pattern of Lois being emotionally exposed to Clark and Clark's reaction being...well, to my eyes, a mixture of discomfort and sympathy for her embarrassment is really starting to grate.

I hated that scene where they had Lois look crestfallen after realizing those vows were not Clark's words to her and as if that wasn't enough, have Clark notice & understand the reasons for her disappointment (pretty much eradicating Lois's face-saving at the end of Committed). That part of the scene could've been written for pre-memory wiped Chloe & Clark and they wouldn't have had to change a word or Clark's facial expressions. Also Weepy!Unrequited!Lois makes me sad. Enough with that please. This is Clois, not Chlark!

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

assumed that once we were all beaten bloody with the "Lois loves Clark" anvil, they'd shift the focus back to Clark and his developing feelings.
I assumed that too. Committed was hard to swallow but I weathered that and thought it'd get balanced out. Smallville is not very subtle, I know that, but I did expect to see moe from Clark.

Clark's reaction being...well, to my eyes, a mixture of discomfort and sympathy for her embarrassment is really starting to grate.
That's what I felt when I first watched the episode too.

pretty much eradicating Lois's face-saving at the end of Committed)
Yeah, good point! That was a big reason why I felt discomfort about that scene. It exposed Lois so completely. But I don't think the writers/directors intended it that way. I don't think they see as much of a problem as we do in Lois being emotionally exposed. And I think they meant this episode to show Clark starting to take Lois seriously, consistently, as a real love interest for him. I had a bit of a breakthrough about why I personally didn't feel the chemistry in those scenes (briefly: the strong silent type does nothing for me--rather, it pisses me off and/or makes me neurotic! *g* And that's what Clark was being more of than usual). I do think they should have given Clark some more lines, but I think that Tom was playing Clark's interest as maturity, but internal conflict. It was more subtle than his usual conflicted expressions though.

But I still want that (proper) reciprocation damn it! *stamps foot*

[silveronthetree.livejournal.com]

I’m brand new to Smallville and I’m really enjoying your episode meta (I’m watching the end of season 5 and random recent episodes that look interesting) but thought it would be slightly less weird to comment here, than on a 4 year old post :)

I am sad for Lois. I want to give her hugs and cookies and let her cry on my sofa for a while.

I definitely agree, the hope and then disappointment when she realized Clark was reading Jimmy’s vows was so sad *starts hunting for the ice cream*. The last Oliver/Lois scene has made me look forward to seeing their relationship when I actually get to that stage.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for your kind words! I actually kind of love the rare comment on an old post, and it's cool to hear you enjoyed my meta. Welcome to SV!

The last Oliver/Lois scene has made me look forward to seeing their relationship when I actually get to that stage.
Oh, you have lots to look forward to! I think the writers use the Lois/Oliver relationship very well and they have great chemistry.

So how are you enjoying it? What do you make of Season 5?