Many are looking forward to this fantasy TV series Smallville episode for many months, and rightfully so. It has a lot of heroes and it’s written by Geoff Johns. In theory, it should be pretty kick-ass. (It was!)
-
Geoff Johns
-
Remember the pitch poster for Smallville, season 9?
-
In what feels to be one of the best Smallville episodes ever… we received a serious dose of DC Comics mythology and it was awesome, even if it was on the small screen.
The ensuing movie introduces us to many names from the DC Comics world. Wesley Dodds (Sandman), Al Pratt (The Atom, referenced), Ted Grant (Wildcat, referenced), Abigail Hunkel (The Red Tornado, referenced), Carter Hall (Hawkman), Kent Nelson (Dr. Fate), Courtney Whitmore (Stargirl), Alan Scott (Green Lantern, referenced) and more that I missed.
It was awesome, even if Sandman & Hawkman are getting up there in the years.
After this movie event, I am not sure how Smallville will keep up the pace. But enough about my worries. There was some fun, some futures told and some info alluded to on everyone’s favorite bad guy in the franchise, LEX LUTHOR!
Shall I get on with it?
There are SPOILERS for the time-shifted viewer to follow.
- – -
The movie opened with Sylvester Pemberton (Star-Spangled Kid / Skyman) showing up to Chloe. While Chloe plays coy about her role as Watchtower, Pemberton gets attacked by an ice wielding enemy and dies. Before he dies, he tries to warn Chloe of something with his dying breath, but fails. Our icy killer also gets to Sandman before anyone else does.
On the paper trail of these past heroes, Clark finds Sandman’s body and sees a mysterious set of 3 letters written in blood: J S A.
Hawkman is initially resistant to outside help. We only help ourselves is more or less his motto. Dr. Fate is a bit worse for wear. The helmet really takes its toll on its wearers, but once he puts the helmet on, the transformation is cool, he has mean looking eyes, and is sane once again.
The icy killer is the son of Joar Mahkent. Mahkent was the Icicle but is in a coma. But his son carries on in his icy name. I believe the kids name was Cameron Mahkent, the newer icicle.
When the entire group realize they have to team up to take down their icy killer, Hawkman is resistant, but upon picking up his mace, states that “It’s been a long time since he’s made someone bleed.”
OK, I’m liking him!
- – -
In a set of scenes, we see some revelations about Clark’s future. Clark touches Dr. Fate and we see what Fate sees: The red cape with the yellow S on it, flowing as if in flight.
Dr Fate also tells Clark that he will eventually triumph over Lex Luthor. GANG, there it is… Fate would seem to have said that Lex Luthor is still around.
Oliver and Hall have a rough start of it, but it becomes the underlying disgruntled humor.
At one point Hawkman calls Green Arrow the green punching bag that never shuts up. Hawkman see’s himself as Hawkman’s parole officer… with a mace.
And at another point in the movie, Hawkman carries Oliver somewhere and tosses him rather abruptly to the ground. When Oliver says “You have to work on your landings.” Hawkman responds “It would have been smoother if you hadn’t thrown up.”
If you’ve been missing J’onn J’onzz (Martian Manhunter), he is back. He’s not only back, but as Dr. Fate sacrificed himself, he reinstated J’onzz powers and we got to see his true green form. But as Fate restores J’onzz’s powers, Icicle nabs Fate’s helmet and puts it on.
In the end, the entire team works together to take down Icicle wearing Fate’s helmet. I don’t think any one of them could have done this. The team pulled it off.
But really, who set off Icicle on the old JSA?
It turns out to be Amanda Waller. Sound familiar? Yea, agent Amanda Waller of Checkmate. She sent Icicle in to bring the old and new heroes out and together. She thinks an Armageddon is coming (Wha? Another Supernatural cross over? LOL) and says she needs the old and new heroes together to help prevent it.
Checkmate was historically a good organization. I hope they haven’t re-imagined it into anything else. Yet, Waller did put a bullet in Icicle’s head since his usefulness was over. So I’m on the fence about this one.
Waller secretly hooked up with Lois Lane and gives her a cell phone, saying she’ll be in touch.
- – -
In the closing bits, Hawkman tells Clark he needs to trust the others…and that “They’re people too… they make mistakes. We all do.”
Hawkman is moving on to coach younger heroes who are descendants of the JSA members, and we find out that Tess Mercer is Agent Tess Mercer of Checkmate!?
- – -
A lot of ground was covered in this Smallville movie and I’ll be looking forward to seeing how the ratings were for this episode. We who watch it know it should be good numbers, but those who aren’t on board, the irregular viewers, I don’t know if they were swayed by the massive marketing. (Update: Ratings for Smallville: Absolute Justice)
I hope so. This was outright fun.
Well, mostly fun. The ads ran at
- 8:15 – 8:20 (5 min)
- 8:31 – 8:35 (4 min) – An ad for the Smallville 2-hour event was on during this commercial break.
- 8:42 - 8:47 (5 min)
- 8:52 – 8:56 (4 min)
- 9:02 – 9:07 (5 min)
- 9:14 – 9:16 (2 min)
- 9:25 – 9:29 (4 min)
- 9:39 – 9:41 (2 min)
- 9:47 – 9:49 (2 min)
For a total of 33 minutes of ads.
Now that I’ve gotten this taken care of, I’m off for my long run of the week! Hope everyone enjoyed the show!
About Bruce Simmons
I've been writing newsletters since 1999. Of late, I've been focusing on the entertainment consumer angle on mostly the sci-fi, fantasy and action genres of TV, movies and books.
{ 0 comments… add one now }