Supergirl could have been this season Idol. Indeed it shared a few similarities with the 9th season episode. But despite its many appealing elements it was also filled with disappointing ones. It's almost like if the writers had lost their inspiration so I really hope Smallville's last adventure won't turn into a journey in the desert.
My first complain would be about the continuity. I don't mind special episodes as long as they're as excellent as Warrior and other gems. It's not that it was a rotten installment but it felt like skipping Shield. Will its cliffhanger be covered in the upcoming episode ? I hope so because for the moment fans should feel betrayed. To sum things up it was a direct sequel to Lazarus and its events covered the rise of a new nemesis. The guest star did a convincing job at portraying a dark and obsessed character. In my opinion his performance was even better than the actor who played District Attorney Raymond Sacks in Idol and Charade. There was something creepy and disturbing about him. One of his monologue even reminded me of the fascinating and creative Inception so the writers gave birth to an interesting creature. In fact I wouldn't mind if he came back for more like Sacks did !
As for Supergirl even if I'm not really into the actress behind her mask I have to admit that her part was both entertaining and interesting. Using her to help shape Clark's destiny was a smart move. The visual effects of her first appearance were disastrous but I quickly forgot about them as the story unveiled. Moreover others were better but in general I think they should only render them in dark scenes, like in Jurassic Park for example. That way we wouldn't see their seams. An other issue was her moody attitude. One minute she's pro Jor-El, the next she's Clark's mentor. But in the end her contribution was priceless and viewers fascinated by identity crisis should be in heaven. It leads us to Oliver, sweatily and top less as always. Justin Hartley is a freak of nature. How is it possible to be so hot ? His training scene should drive the girls crazy ! Otherwise his arc wasn't just about showing off but actually more about moving forward. In season 9 his dark quest was captivating and I was wondering how he would deal with Chloe's decision. Its development was touching because it should make the man and hero grow on you even more. From the church moment, but not religious, to the surprising ending long time Green Arrow fans should be puzzled and intrigued. Crossfire is not far away, and that's definitely a good thing.
Smallville is also a lot about Lois & Clark and Supergirl wasn't an exception. However I found that the writers are trying too hard to make their relationship as extraordinary as possible. I don't want them to act like Bones & Cie protagonists. We already played that teasing game in the past season. Episodes like Rabid and Roulette were exquisite but I think it's time to take things to the next level. Have they forgotten about Escape ? Of course since their epic kiss in Salvation they don't know how to love each other anymore but I worry that their scenes will get boring. In fact I found the endless close-ups a bit annoying and even worried that Lois would pull an other Idol. I also can't comprehend how Clark could possible not know about Lois. Even the silly chick from Spider-Man recognized Peter Parker's lips in the film ! Also for once I was slightly disappointed by Lois investigation when I'm a huge fan of her adventures. In Charade she was both smart and sexy. The superficial universe she dived in even reminded me of The Mask. But here the dark and sexual elements were misplaced and over the top. A lazy way to excite teenagers and the ultimate cliché of underground culture ! I think they should have chosen a completely different approach, a smarter and more original one. However there was something almost poetic about the way Lois fell into the web of the antagonist. How can you be objective when it comes to Erica Durance ? Last but not least let's also not forget Clark's dark journey because it's captivating. It actually reminds me of Davis Bloome's battle against Doomsday in season 8. It would be mesmerizing to witness the birth of a Dark Superman !
