Arrow

DVD, Smallville S6 (Arrow)

For once I'm actually liking where this is going, I almost can't believe it! It's far too early to suggest this direction is going to save the series in my eyes, but the Green Arrow and Clark Kent's connection through Lois and their powers was compelling and the other strands of the story were approaching that same level of interest, which is a turnaround from many of the episodes. It helps that the Green Arrow really is a cool customer, and we get to see him doing his thing, robbing the rich to help the poor, a latter-day Robin Hood. Clark's disagreement over the belief that the ends always justify the means makes for an interesting tautness between the two characters, both pulling for good, but with different ideologies. It suggests a promising arc if the writing can keep up the standards demonstrated here. Of course I'm not going to rave too much about it as I've been disappointed so many times watching this series, but at least there's finally some hope.

I feel sorry for Lois. Once again she puts her foot in it, once again she gets her act together, this time her journalistic passion flares up for a winning story, but once again she's left out of the real action and the invisible world that we see every episode passes her by. Chloe wasn't used so much, but her scenes were effective. First she's trying not to be upset by Lois' competition, then her own line of enquiry with Clark comes to a premature end, and this time it's Clark who's holding the wall up and asking her not to pry. He should remember he did that before, and that asking Chloe not to uncover something is a springboard into her ferreting out the truth. Even if she was willing to accept this, (and she was being a bit coy at the time so we don't actually know if she'll do what he asks), her natural instincts will always come to the surface - she can't help but lift every stone!

More worrying than Chloe's case of serious knowledge withdrawal is Lana beginning to take on the characteristics of Lex. She meets with Lionel to help Lex, and we find out that she thinks she can keep him from destroying himself, but really she's just another pawn in his big game. The most telling moment is in her threatening Dr. Croll, the man tasked with uncovering the secrets of the alien weapon. It's only late in the episode, when we see Lex and Lionel meeting to discuss her that we realise just how much of a test all this was, about whether he could really trust her. Is Lionel acting the part in his friendship with the Kents? Even Clark seems to accept what he says these days because he has proved himself so often and hasn't given away the big secret. Or has he? We just don't know, but I'm going to go with the notion he hasn't told Lex and won't, even if he is out for himself, primarily because it's an advantage over his son and he doesn't give away advantages unless that in itself is advantageous. I'm beginning to sound like a Luthor myself, and there's a danger your mind can go round in circles with these people so perhaps it's best not to think too hard.

The best thing that happens is Clark meeting the Green Arrow, once he's worked out his secret identity. But even when he meets him without that knowledge it's a great moment. The guy has some lovely gadgets from gas arrows to crystal, light refracting variations, to zip-wires and his high-tech folding bow looks so sleek and efficient. Gadgets haven't been something 'Smallville' has concentrated on in the past, it's usually Kryptonite-based power or some other fantasy, but this guy is just like Bruce Wayne with his penthouse and 'Batcave' hidden in the clock face, and a rich lifestyle that hides his true persona. And I love it all! It made me wonder if it would ever be possible to have Bruce Wayne visit since they're both DC creations, but it was never going to happen because of the films that came out in the years these later seasons were made. Sad, but if the Green Arrow continues his battle against injustices it could be just as good.

I could have done with a little more action to compliment the ideas and the character stuff, but it was a good episode anyway. Clark actually has three important, life-changing meetings with the Green Arrow: he meets Oliver Stone for the first time, he meets the Arrow as an enemy, and finally he meets him knowing the two are one. They could have dragged these things out over several episodes, but they decided to pack it all into one, so I hope they haven't run that river dry before it got going. Stone's last talk with Clark was the most exciting as two heroes man to man discuss the finer points of helping people and that they may work together someday. Let's hope that day is not delayed too long.

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