Image Credit: Jack Rowand/The CWLast week, Smallville managed a mash-up of Date Night and Seven to produce a creepy rom-com outing that riffed on the themes of identity, secret and otherwise. In last night’s episode, the superhero serial went Hollywood Vegas, blending everything from The Hangover to Casino to tell a story in which an awkwardly conjoined bachelor/bachelorette party for Clark and Lois went horribly awry thanks to a gift of magically roofied champagne provided by pranky witch (and sadly off-screen) Zantanna. Some may say: “Clever!” Others may say: “Contrived!” I was always amused, thanks to a cast of actors having playful fun with — and finding the requisite poignancy in — a gonzo story about relationship jitters and wedding anxieties… even if I was left wanting to see the storytelling road not taken, suggested by Lois’ early line: “I thought I would be spending the entire night cuffed to a blow up doll while wearing a dog collar.” Woof! (?)
Instead, we got a lemur in a rhinestone-studded vest throwing rice at a spell-drunk Superman; a buttoned up Emil cutting loose by unleashing a winning Elvis impersonation (and getting sex tape randy with duet partner Tess); and the inspired choice of Justin Hartley dressed up as a casino showgirl/fan dancer, complete with skinny skirt and greasy stage make-up. The latter moment was part of a climactic set piece inspired the classic opening sequence of Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom, with Lois scampering after her kicked-around engagement ring (“my sparkly little ball and chain”) amid a ballroom blitz of slapstick fisticuffs. (Fanboy FYI: The episode’s villain, Amos Fortune, is the latest bit of DC Comics mythology to be appropriated by Smallville.)
“Fortune” contained another cinematic allusion, this one more cloaked. Throughout the story, Runaway Bride lurked in the subtext like a threat. It’s not that Lois doesn’t know if she loves Clark — she does. But being a proudly unconventional gal makes it kinda hard to connect emotionally to certain wedding rituals. Even more, we learned that being The Bride of Superman is theoretically daunting. Lois feels like chaos incarnate; what exactly does she have to offer the “walking perfection” that is Clark Kent? I loved how Lois described herself as a “wacky worldview”; she’s still getting used to the idea that someone — anyone — can be madly in love with her and want to make a life with her. I dare say — if she could take a few steps outside her charming solipsism — that the alien immigrant who wants to marry her, the orphaned stranger in a strange land, may feel exactly the same way. At episode’s end, Clark assured his true love that she can take all the time she needs — days or months or years — to grow into the idea of being his wife; he ain’t going anywhere. Does this mean Smallville may not be ending with a Super-wedding after all? TBD.
We got another, more literal Runaway Bride reference in the form of Chloe, who seems to be always leaving town. Making peace with her recent travails that have put her own sense of identity and purpose in flux, Chloe decided to take a job at the Star City Register, portending another break from her friends as well as her boyfriend. (She’ll also continue scouting the world for new heroes. Are we to believe from her cryptic comments she’s already got a bead on Wonder Woman?) But then Oliver caught her as she was trying to sneak away and revealed the episode’s big twist: She hadn’t married Clark during the previous night’s enchanted shenanigans — she had married him. There was no way he was letting her scoot without her husband. Did “Fortune” really represent Allison Mack’s final appearance on Smallville? That’s the buzz — but I bet we’ll see her again. I think she deserves a slightly better send off. Regardless, her stroll-away into the moonlight with the Green Arrow made for a sweet ending to this particular, peculiar sweetly silly episode — but I think they should make the most of their honeymoon while they can. I’m sure that hidden dark mark branded on Oliver’s forehead is going to make a mess of their happily ever after before Smallville comes to a close.
BTW: Loved the bit where hungover Clark careened off that wall while running at super-speed. Now we know what happens when Superman drives drunk.
Did you find favor with “Fortune”?
This episode was crap. What did this episode do to further Clark’s journey into Superman when we are only a handful episodes away from the end? Also, way to treat Allison Mack in her final episode after showing loyalty towards the show for the past ten years. This episode was inconsistent and pointless to say the least.
@Jeff I agree with you.
With that said with only a few episodes left why are they making these based on movies(The Hangover,The Matrix). They had a great run, but this season is really going no where. Ive been waiting for more villains and heroes but no we get corny movie remakes. What happen to Clark meeting Bruce Wayne. They become great friends and partners. Even Wonder Woman would have been great to see Diana falling for Clark and Lois competing for him. Those are wasted dreams that could have been. Instead we get a mention about them. Like what Jeff said about Chloe she has been a staple for the show and a personal fave, she deserved better sendoff.(At least she didn’t get killed off). And on top of this they will wait til the season finale to actually show Darkseid which blows.
Bruce Wayne and Wonder Woman won’t ever happen thanks to WB’s stupid rights restrictions. You can likely thank Nolan for the lack of Wayne on the show, since they probably had to go to him to get clearance for the character (just like they had to ask Bryan Singer for permission to use elements of Season 5 while he was working on Superman Returns).
The show has always worked concepts from movies in, this is no different. And let’s be honest, those movies (Matrix, Hangover, Date Night, etc) are only the latest examples of those plotlines. They’ve been used over and over for decades now. We’ll have to agree to disagree, but I think SV’s done a great job of taking those plotlines and working them into the SV narrative to produce new (and better, in the case of last night’s episode–I HATED “The Hangover”) results.
DC doesn’t allow Smallville to use Bruce Wayne or Wonder Woman. That is why they introduced Green Arrow. I thought it was a great send-off for chloe. She found what she wanted to do, and she married the guy she loved. You have to admit that scene was beautiful the song, the eye contact…magic. I get the uneasy nature of riffing off of these movies except in a way they fit for smallville. Matrix allowed Clark and Lois to have their “epic classic iconic” moment together flying above the Daily Planet. Hangover fits b/c it allows smallville to have humor and levity. Lois can get over her relationship fears once and for all knowing she doesn’t have to feel pressured, and any time Allasandro Julliano gets to sing is a win in my book
I understand some of your disappointment… but Bruce/Diana is not the show’s fault. The producers have said numerous times that they would love to get them on the show, but they can’t due to copyright issues.
I would have loved to have seen Chloe die it would she was never coming back ever!
I don’t get the point of the episode, all the singing was terrible, the story was corny and stupid. Honestly aside from “Homecoming” which was one of the best episodes in the series, this final season has been garbage, its like they are regressing back to the days of season 4 and 5, I keep expecting to have Lana pop up as a witch again
The point of the episode was to show how close-knit the characters are, get some of Lois and Oliver’s feelings of inadequacy in relation to Clark out in the open, and to provide some levity before the darkness arrives.
The episode wasted Allison Mack & threw 5 minutes at the end for her exit? Just ridiculously bad.
This! I mean she barely had any screen time, was out of frame in group shots and then the end and she doesn’t get a line?! That was crappy to AM and the fans; gotta hope she does get at least a moment in the finale.
The Smallville writers really failed miserably with this episode and quite frankly with this season! Mentions and nods DO NOT make good story telling. With only a few episodes remaining, I trust they’ll actually deliver on their promise to make this season the BEST.
It was all worth it to hear drunk Clark yell ‘Monkey!’ at the lemur. It was ridiculous, and meant to be, and kind of needed in a fairly dark season. I’m guessing the idea was to humanize these folks and it mostly worked. And it served the characters, I think — unlike some of the red Kryptonite, show us some skin episodes of past seasons. I like the idea that world saviors have banal, embarrassing problems like the rest of us. My only gripe is that nobody acknowledged the movies these came from — Ollie “anyone else notice that our lives have been imitating recent movies” Clark “there’s a movie about Elvis and a lemur?” Chloe: “Apparently there havent been any robberies to foil at Blockbuster lately.”
Nah, the episdoe was awesome. Funny, fast paced, over the top. A enjoyable palete cleanser if you will, before the story-heavy final eps. I’ve been watching since Season 1 and this was just plain fun.
I see everyone caught the Wonder Woman reference, but nobody’s mentioning Chloe’s reference to “a billionaire that plays with toys” line. Sounds like Batman to me.
I liked it altho I do feel like we are coming up on a LOST finale where too much is left up in the air! After 10 years, and my entire 20′s dedicated to watching, Id like an episiode where he is in the suit the whole time kicking ass!
Worst Smallville episode ever. With all the storylines to tie up by the end of the season, they waste one of the few remaining hours with a trifle like this. I felt embarrassed for the actors. They and we deserve better stories than this.
I agree completely! In 10 seasons, this was by far the WORST!
I agree. Among the worst episodes in the entire series. Just awful.
Eh, yea, not a huge fan of this episode. I found it to be such a rip off of the Hangover and Casino, that I found it very hard to take the more ‘serious’ parts of the show, well, serious. There were at least 1 or 2 scenes I found funny, but the rest was kinda weird. Every time I thought the episode was about to redeem itself by getting back on a more coherent note, something incredibly cringe worthy and weird would happen again, killing that moment. I really was shocked and yet happy to see that Chloe married Oliver, however, how it was done was again over drowned by the chaos that was going on in the episode. And once I had time to think about it, I felt that Chloe and Olivers’ big moment was really underplayed and almost muted. It’s really going to suck if they’re not going to be in the next few episodes. I just feel like the least they could have done was focus a little more on that moment before they shooed the newlyweds off the show. Yea, this episode was not so hot.
Totally agree Lisa. Chloe’s career change works if we’d see more of it, get more info (like how she can be a reporter if she doesn’t exist?). But you’re right, her story w/ Oliver was underplayed, muted and that was crap. Bad SV writers, BAD.
She can be a reporter with whatever identity she picks for herself.
This episode was AWESOME! Easily the funniest episode of the series! The advantage and major strength of a television show over movies is that they have time to have fun with the characters without necessarily moving the overall arc forward in every episode (though I would argue that the Clark/Lois relationship got some useful insights in this episode and I wish Clark had had a chance to say he’s not perfect either, because he isn’t and won’t ever be, so I hope that gets brought up with both Lois and Oliver again). We get to see all the sides of the characters on a TV show, rather than the solely plot-relevant ones in movies.
-You could tell how these characters and this cast are really close-knit and love working together, especially in those final scenes, which was great!
-Chloe’s met BATMAN and WONDER WOMAN! I wonder who had to sacrifice their firstborn to get that Batman reference in there. hahaha
-I was satisfied with Chloe’s exit from the show: she’s going to work at Star City’s paper, which will give her an info source to find new heroes (and to lead the Suicide Squad with?)…it was a nice summation of her character over the course of the series. The only thing with Chloe that was missing was a final scene with Lois, IMO.
-Wish the lemur had been named “Beppo the Supermonkey,” but “Dr. Lemur” is great too. haha
-LOVED Clark running into the wall and then stealing the LuthorCorp sign. LOL
-I was really impressed that they were able to create such huge amounts of comedy without damaging any of the characters’ characterizations…I was really worried Clark had stolen the armored car, so I was relieved when we found out he actually saved it.
-I do hope we end up seeing Lois and Clark get married on the show, even if it’s a last-minute thing before Clark goes to face Darkseid in the finale, because I want to see Tom and Erica play that, especially since the Superman movies seem obsessed with keeping the Clark/Lois relationship stuck in the “awkward flirtation/frustration” phase because the movie writers can’t figure out how else to make a Superman movie with drama or humanizing elements.
-I can’t get over how much fun this episode was and how great this season’s been!
Haha I know! I had little hope there would be a Batman reference. I admit I at first thought she might be making a reference to Oliver, but then she threw in the “wonderous woman who’ll through you for a loop” and I had to immediately rewind to catch the beginning again and geek out over the Batman nod! Now during each episode I’m going to be looking out for any little hints.
I guess it would be hoping too much for a little batarang to make an appearance,yeah?
Still hopin’ though ^_^
This is actually the second WW reference on the show. Back in Season 3 (“Asylum”) there was a newspaper that had a headline about the “Themysciran Queen visiting the Vatican.”
If they have a global battle with Darkseid, they could show short cameos from the rest of the JLA as they battle his forces, and then maybe we could get someone being knocked out with a batarang.
Wow I completely missed that WW reference. Besides Lois’ WW outfit (which to this day bothers me,ha) I didn’t think there had ever been a direct reference to WW (well tof her family, I should say) like that. Pretty cool!
Heh! Yeah, that would be so great! I’d love a big epic superhero battle like that. Maybe we’ll see some Green Latern ring designs and whatnot. That’d be great!
“AWESOME!” must translate to most everyone else as CAMPY – ugh – hey look! paint is drying…AWESOME!
How you’ve watched several seasons of Smallville whilst NOT believing that campy = awesome is the real mystery.
The only parts that were actually “campy” were Ollie dressing as a showgirl and the overnight sensation of Elvis-Emil/Go-go Tess.
Campy does not equal light-hearted and it never has. It’s “extremely over the top,” and unless people in real life get campy whenever they get drunk, then this wasn’t campy except for the parts I pointed out.
A better DC reference for the lemur would’ve been if the lemur was named Grodd(or however its spelled).
And just wondering, but I know that Smallville cannot use Batman or Wonder Woman on the show, but when the new Wonder Woman series comes on, will that show be allowed to occasionally bring in some of the characters such as Green Arrow and Martian Manhunter, maybe even the same actors playing the roles.
I hope the WW series is allowed to play in the larger DC universe, or even better, continue Smallville’s universe (even if it’s only tangentally referenced).
Heh… wasn’t “Dr. Lemur” a Captain Marvel villain?
Totally agree with Brian!! I laughed, I cried – it was, indeed Awsome! What a wonderful last season.
Finally a post that showed not everyone took last nights episode so seriously. I too found it hilarious. People, it’s just a show…stop taking it so seriously.
Chloe’s future life is pretty perfect for her-newspaper journalist by day, hero-creator by night. Probably could have predicted it from season 1, if anyone thought that the one character who didn’t exist in the comics would stay around longer than anyone else (except Clark, of course). Well, I suppose nobody would have guessed in season 1 that she’d end up as Green Arrow’s bride…
I loved the episode. I have a feeling the show is going to be dark from now til the series ends and they wanted the characters and the audience to have fun before it happens. I liked Chole’s send off but I hope we see her again in the finale. Loved the reference to Batman and Wonderwoman. It was fun to watch and it looked like it was fun to make.
Zatanna, not ZaNtanna
THIS lol
the episode was overall uneventful. the best part was the batman and wonder woman references. FINALLY!
I personally enjoyed this episode far more than I thought I would. I knew from the start it was a filler but I also knew it was very likley to be Allison Mack’s last episode (although I still hold out hope she returns for the finale). But I have to say, even though there was no step closer to flight, there was no Darkseid or darkness, I found that this episode served very well to showcase and progressed relationships- family, romance, friends.
I loved how in the end Chloe had her happily ever after. Officially Mrs. Queen.
She’s going back to the Chloe she was from all those years ago- the intrepid reporter. But this time she’s more than that. She’s a hero in her own right- guiding and helping other heroes see their potential. In fact, she already found a one Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince…before Clark and Co. I have to say, that made me giddy. There’s some hate towards Chloe because she’s not “comic canon” and as a big comic book fan, I say- who cares! I loved how the writers decided to defy mythos and made Chloe Sullivan Watchtower, Mrs. Green Arrow, and now the hero recruiter- the first to find Batman and Wonder Woman! I just love it!
- Also, Clark tripping was hilarious! Loved it.
Filler or not, this episode ranks towards the top on my list. And yeah, it’s probably due to Chloe Sullivan. Everyone has a tv role model- for ten years, she was mine. Lois Lane is awesome, but I always wanted to be Chloe Sullivan. Excuse me, Chloe Queen.
finally a batman and wonder woman reference.
now with a film coming out this suumer,it would be cool if a green latern made a cameo.(test pilot hal jordan is out of the question). but general sam lane could have an advisor, marine jon stewart.
We already had a Green Lantern reference in “Justice.”
I must’ve missed that, what was it?
I know they had posters in Smallville High for the “Emerald Knights” sports team during Clark’s dream in “Slumber” back in season 3, and Kara’s been to Coast City, home of Hal Jordan a few times. I don’t remember a more direct GL reference.
Unless you mean “Absolute Justice,” with the original GL appearing in flashbacks and his ring/battery being in Hawkman’s museum. That was definitely a direct GL reference. haha
Surely everyone realizes how the series must end: This was all just a dream in baby Kal-El’s head while in the ship speeding towards Earth. When he finally arrives, the true story of Clark Kent and Superman can then be told.
No offense, but that would be horrible. This isn’t a dream.
I totally agree. That would be the worst ending in the history of TV show endings.
Excuse me, “true” story?
We talking pre-code, pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths, John Byrne reboot, Earth One, movie version, Kingdom Come, or what?
There is NO true version. It’s a constructed myth.
An ending similar to St.Elsewhere.
As long as it’s 1910 when he lands on Earth, I’m with you. Otherwise it would be a travesty and a slap in the face to all fans of Siegel and Shuster’s origin story.
Allison Mack really rocked the Madonna wedding outfit, and Cassidy Freeman looking smashing in her go-go outfit.
And nice that they let Alessandro Juliani show off his pipes.
Chloe blah blah blah. She alluded to not only FINDING and KNOWING WHO Wonderwoman is, but also the billionaire with all the toys wasn’t OLIVER it was Bruce Wayne, aka Batman. This show has given any trait possible to make Chloe Mary Sue and while I use to enjoy Chloe I feel like giving the Chloe and now the CHLOLLIE fan girls what they want has taken it’s toll on the show. Take Chloe away and keep her gone because her holier than thou speil is getting OLD, as is her here one second saying she’s staying and gone the next. LANA anybody? That’s what Lana did and it was so annoying? But wait, won’t Lana being making an appearance before the end as well? Bet she will and who else wants to bet it will be at the wedding (if it happens) or she’ll be Lex’s side kick because of course Lana’s always been a back and forth dummie
My biggest problem with the Chloe meets Batman scenario is the conceit that she’s good enough to discover that Bruce Wayne is Batman. Sure, some of his villains have figured it out…Ra’s Al Ghul, Bane, Hugo Strange, Hush, even the Riddler…who promptly forgot…one of the Robins figured it out.
Now that I think about it, never mind. Chloe could figure it out.
Exactly. If Tim Drake could figure it out, then Chloe with all of her information-gathering tech could do it as well. Plus, this is a young Batman who’s sure to make mistakes.
Chloe knows who everyone else in the League is, so I don’t have a problem with her knowing who Batman is either.
Heck, Amanda Waller knew who Batman was. All you have to say is that Chloe swiped her files when she took control of the Suicide Squad.
She could have received the information from the Helmet of Nabu.
Max in Batman Beyond is probably the character most resembling Chloe in the Batman canon, and she was able to find out Batman’s identity pretty easily…
Nice to see a proper goodbye for Chloe, but I do think the show’s better without her. It’s nice to see Clark finally solve problems by himself.