What I’m Watching: Smallville

Smallville: Season 9, Epiode 17 “Upgrade” (F)

With every episode that this show airs, I just feel like the plot is spiraling out of control and heading nowhere. It’s frustrating and makes it very hard to care about what’s going on in the show’s universe. It doesn’t help that we haven’t seen Metallo in fifteen episodes, and it’s as if he’s just conveniently back now because Brian Austin Green could fit another guest spot into his schedule. That’s why his flirtation with Lois’, and more crucially hers back, didn’t feel quite right since he hasn’t been around for pretty much the whole season. Shirtless sexual tension is hardly necessary. Regarding the other characters, I’m so sick of keeping track of what side people like Tess and Chloe are really on since they’re both highly duplicitous and constantly scheming. Clark giving Chloe attitude would be nice if he were actually releasing some pent-up rage. It’s a pity that this kind of interaction can only ever occur when people are high on red Kryptonite or some similar mind-altering substance. Tom Welling still sucks at playing a bad-ass. No matter what state the characters are in, I’m tired of all the puns and supposedly clever lines on this show. Chloe’s “guess who’s coming to dinner, together, with powers” really closed the coffin for me on that note. I’ve been following this show through for nine seasons, and there were brief glimmers of hope over the past few years, but I’m not so sure about season ten anywhere, and becoming less convinced about its enduring quality each episode.