Product: Smallville: The Complete Ninth Season (2009)
Rating: 1.0
Sterling Finale Can't Save Worst Season In Show History
When the Eighth Season of Smallville concluded, I wondered how the show could sink any lower. The show's writers had drawn out the Doomsday plot arc all season, then blew it on an anti-climatic finale. Unfortunately, they didn't get back on the right track until very late in Season Nine...literally, the season finale.This season continued the pattern of featuring more obscure Superman comic book characters, including Metallo, The Dark Archer, Roulette, Toyman (a return appearance), and the Justice Society (in the seasons only other passable episode). Though I applaud the show for trying to feature more aspects of the Superman mythology in lieu of the "freak of the week" angle, the fact of the matter is that these character just don't resonate as much (and thus don't create as much drama) as the major villains of seasons past. When I think of Superman baddies, the hierarchy is Lex Luthor (done), Zod (don...twice, actually), Brainiac (done), Doomsday (done), and maybe Darkseid (hinted at as the Season Ten primary enemy to Clark). The other guys/gals, at least to me, are just fill-ins.The primary story arc of the season, though, focuses on the return of Zod (this time in body, not spirit, form) and his army of followers. Though the acting of Callum Blue is wonderful in channeling Terrance Stamp's movie Zod interpretation, ultimately his character's angle feels overly drawn-out (including a romance with Tess Mercer that is utterly ridiculous) and doesn't produce any real drama until the very end...once the fate of his character has already been decided.Plus, it wouldn't be Smallville (broadcast on the CW network) without the nauseating love triangles that only serve to create a little hollow drama or sexual tension. Oliver/Lois, Clark/Lois, Clark/Chloe, Oliver/Chloe, Tess/Zod, and Tess/Oliver are all covered this season, and none of them are likeable whatsoever, usually treading over already-covered ground or going in completely ridiculous, outrageous directions.In terms of acting, Tom Welling (Clark) and Allison Mack (Chloe) turn in solid efforts, but Erica Durance (Lois) is still sickening, as is Justin Hartley in portraying Oliver Queen. Blue, as mentioned, is a joy to watch, but his primary foil--Cassidy Freeman as Tess Mercer--pales in comparison (again) to Michael Rosenbaum's Lex Luthor.Thus, despite an incredible finale that came out of nowhere to actually whet my appetite for the 10th (and final) season, this installment in the series was another monumental disappointment. I can only hope that the writers/producers build on "Salvation" and deliver a more consistent final effort that will make we WANT to tune in ever Friday night, not doing so like a chore.