Season 9, Episode 11: Absolute Justice, Part 1-Society

"Absolute Justice, Part 1-Society"

Episode 11

Air Date: February 5th, 2010

Last season's Legion turned out to be a complete success in the overarching story that concluded the first half as well as expanding the reach of the DC universe!!! Seeing members of the Legion of Superheroes was not only exciting but further connected the Smallville universe to the comic book origins that they spawned from.  Back in early 2010, Absolute Justice was marketed and aired as a two hour movie event that would introduce the Justice Society of America as their members would be forced out of hiding for so long thanks to old foe returning for some vengeance; leading the world's most recent team of heroes, Clark and some of the rest of the young Justice League to investigate this mysterious society of convicts and discover why they are being hunted down. Part 1 or Society rather, is a solid first half but there are some glaring issues.  I don't like Chloe being thrust into the middle of this like she is the leader of the team! -_-  While she maybe Watchtower and the one who is literally surveillance all the heroes, it doesn't exactly give the right to order Clark and Oliver around to investigate after one of the former members of the JSA is killed right in front of her during a very impressive action sequence due to the tremendous direction by Glen Winter.  That's mostly because Chloe is ANYTHING but heroic and I'd rather see Clark take the initiative by being the leader of this investigation while telling Chloe to do things for him instead of the other way around.  But I digress! That's only because Chloe as of late is a mysterious horrible, self centered character with insane boundary issues and some twisted need be in control.  I'm absolutely (ha! :P) Not surprised when Dr. Fate told her that she shares the same fate as he does aka turning into a complete psycho do to her need to watch everyone. O_O Now the writers should have explored that!

By out issue with the episode is the first half spends too much time with visual exposition with characters constantly talking, watching or discussing the mysterious JSA and its members.  Clark and Chloe watching the old footage of the convicted members was definitely enough as the end of the episode feels like an excessive retread of the same thing as Clark is transported to the Carter Hall's museum and unveils the JSA items like their table and portrait.  We already know this and don't need a reminder of something we saw just a handful of minutes ago. -_-  But outside of Chloe being seemingly at the center of the story regarding Clark's team and the overlong feeling of scenes that take the visual storytelling overboard, the script by Geoff Johns has it's usual charm and fun references to the comics like Oliver's sexy e-mails to Black Canary being exposed or seeing such iconic items from the comics like the Green Lantern ring or Hawkgirl's helmet and mace.  In terms of the JSA members, the ones they focus on are mostly awesome, while others get a bit of a cameo before getting killed.  The Star Spangled Kid aka Sylvester Pemberton or Sandman after his horrifying vision of bad acting....I mean of Icicle killing the Star Spangled Kid before being killed him.  Now these moments feel more natural and real in pushing the story forward instead of constant montages of the JSA themselves.  Jesus seems a bit too over indulgent! 

But like I said, the members at the center of the story that reunite to stop Icicle are mostly solid.  Carter Hall aka Hawkman played Michael Shanks does a nice job of playing the grim, agitated leader of the vintage team.  He's a bit too stoic and mean spirited for my taste but I do love his soft spot of Kent Nelson tho when he's able to act more understanding and compassion.  As for his Hawk wear, very authentic if not a bit too goofy looking.....unlike Dr. Fate tho.  Brett Strait is terrific (Not Mr. ;) in the role as the now insane, madness ridden Kent Nelson thanks to his years of being Dr. Fate.  If his pretty epic performance wasn't enough, his Dr. Fate costumed is the most successful looking live action version of the character.  His transformation scene was STUNNING and the costume looked equally as so.  Smallville has always towed the line between realism and comic book accuracy with hero and villain costumes so far during the series at that point.  But for a large event such as this, it makes sense they would want to go all out and be as faithfully superhero as possible and it really works.  The costume design is flawless and seriously look just as good or even better than the Arrowverse costumes I've seen. Lastly, there's Pemberton's protegee, Courtney Whitmore aka Stargirl played by Britt Irvin....and MAN, can she NOT act!!! I mean....I give her credit, she is REALLY trying but her performance just leaves me colder than Icicle! O_O Speaking of him, Wesley Maclnnes as Icicle Jr., the metahuman getting revenge on the JSA for his father's, the first Icicle, condition is equally terrible! And I mean over the top campy terrible! It's hard to take either of them seriously, especially when we're suppose to be so empathy to their pain/losses like Courtney losing Sylvester.

But I do have to say the action set pieces were definitely worth it. Stargirl (Her costume being decent outside the bulging mask. Yikes! O_O) vs. Icicle was nice fight, if not a bit too stylized and the effects were pretty good as Stargirl is about to iced herself before Green knocks out the shards of ice before they can hit her.  I also love the moment when Clark touches Dr. Fate and we once again see that epic sequence of Superman's signature cape flying through space it seems.  Too bad there's not much of Clark this episode but that's mostly cause Tom was probably bust preparing for Part 2.  Society was a great, if not long winded set-up of the movie. It takes awhile before the story picks up and really gets going but the cinematic direction, attention to detail in the suits, the mostly good visual storytelling, some stand out performances and priceless moment like the Helmet of Nabu stopping Clark's X-ray vision make it a worthy watch before Part 2. ;)

Final Kryptonite: B+