What I’m Watching: Smallville

Smallville: Season 9, Episode 13 “Persuasion” (F)

It’s episodes like this that lend credence to the argument that this show should be cancelled immediately. There’s no need for holiday-themed episodes on this show, putting aside the fact that it’s a week too late to celebrate Valentine’s Day. This has to be the umpteenth time that some sort of love potion has affected the residents of Smallville, dating all the way back to the season one episode “Nicodemus,” which aired almost eight years ago. To not have come anywhere in eight years, besides the replacement of a red bikini-wearing Lana with a beef-baking Lois, is a real shame. This episode was laden with terrible music choices to complement the havoc-wreaking love potion that sent everyone spinning. Emil’s intoxication was particularly dumb, and it’s such a pity that Alessandro Juliani’s first-three dimensional performance and chance to act had to be this tragic scene where he actually says stuff like “whatevs” and “use it or lose it.” As this hour went on, it became clear just how much of a waste this episode was. Especially if we’re still concerned with the Kandorians, why do we need to worry about this? Proof that it’s a distraction comes when Clark actually has to take time out from finding a cure for Lois to confront Zod about killing his father. I did like the line “you don’t think I want justice? You don’t think I want revenge,” but it would have been nice if it wasn’t uttered in such a poor context. Clark’s decision to destroy the solar tower was probably a good decision, but I don’t have too much faith anymore in what it will mean for the future of the show.