Season 10, Episode 21: Finale, Part 1

"Finale, Part 1"

Episode 21

Air Date: May 13th, 2011

Here we are! The series finale of Smallville! Hard to believe the show ended 10 years ago! Even more inconceivable is the show began 20 years ago at the time I'm writing this review and has been the reason why I've been re-watching it, especially during this critical time in our world's history of health. :( Whatever I may have thought of Prophecy, especially with Lois getting the coldest of cold feet and breaking off their engagement the day before they're wedding -_-, Part 1 of this 10 year long destiny journey immediately shows Clark as his most confident and self assured as Lois continuing to dismiss their wedding to tell Clark to go off and save the day is met with superspeed tricks that show Clark is anything but giving up on the woman he has been waiting for his entire life.  With it being the series finale and all, it's good to see right off the bat how far Clark has come being so confident and cool headed about Lois' reservations and standing so strong in his convictions to get married that day....even if Lois doesn't show up! AHHHH! :)  I also love how Chloe and Oliver were so well used in pushing Clark and Lois closer to their destiny as couple, especially Chloe giving Lois Clark's vows and that beautiful music montage that plays as she reads.  Such a remarkably touching scene and I'm glad Lois realize how stupid she was being as well as Chloe tearing up seeing her cousin coming back to her senses.  The graveyard scene with Clark at Jonathan's tombstone is once again a heartfelt moment of Clark reflecting on the past and wondering where his next step lies in fulfilling his destiny.  Oliver comes in with some of the best advice he has ever given his Boy in Blue but soon Lois' cold feet make Clark wonder if Lois is apart of his destiny.  Noooooooo!!! -_- *Cries*

What follows is a tremendously well directed scene of Clark confronting Lois while she's getting ready for the wedding.  I love how both are on each side of the door, now Clark being disillusioned about their future while Lois is adamant about telling Clark that she is the one for him before giving him her vows to read.  I think my favorite moment is when Lois thinks Clark has left after being silent for so long reading the vows but Clark coming into the shot and putting his hand on the door to show her he's still there.  Ehhhhh just too emotional!  Another aspect of Part 1 that shines is seeing Martha and Jonathan back to remind Clark of how Smallville has shaped him into the man is today on his wedding day.  I knew that miscommunication with the deed to the farm would lead to Martha being outraged at Clark selling it, especially when their home is a symbol of how much he's learned from Smallville.  While Clark is firm and tells her he has to let go of the past to move forward, Martha reminds him he doesn't have hold on to the past, but hold to the experiences and foundations that have made him the hero the world needs. I definitely understand as Martha wants Clark to continue the family legacy and move forward with his future but Clark doesn't necessarily need the farm to remind him of his time in Smallville and journey that began there to make him into the Man of Steel.  But seeing Jonathan's ghost looming over Clark throughout was just so haunting and powerful.  Every shot he was in and line he spoke was amazing! I love the moment when Martha is watching Clark and Lois walk down the aisle only to show Jonathan suddenly standing right next to her so proudly.  *Sniff, SNIFF* :(

But I don't think any moment could have prepared me for that barn scene as the end of the world is literally hanging over the Earth.  It's just so seamlessly directed as Clark finally sees his father again as Jonathan gives him some final words of wisdom to encourage Clark what to do next to save the world.  Then Martha just comes in and adds to Jonathan's words as his hand so hesitantly lands on her shoulder as she reminds Clark of how important him finding them that day was and that the world needs that same miracle that only he can deliver to stop this enormous threat.  Ewwww the hug after and the last shot of the Kent Farm in each others' arms before Clark superspeeds off to save the world is just......WOW!!! Speechless!  Even if they weren't used enough all season, it's great to see the Unholy Trinity unite and use Oliver to permanently strip Clark of his powers with gold k at his own wedding was brilliant move.  I love the how they made of ring out of it but thanks to Chloe's years of watching Clark's back, she is able to stop Lois from putting the ring on Clark.  What follows is actually a better than I remember action scene where a corrupted Oliver reveals himself to battle Clark as Chloe and Lois get the wedding guest out of the crossfire.  Of course, Clark being the light and all, he is able to talk the corruption out of Oliver and yeah it's all cheesy, but it fits in with Superman's bright and hopeful message that brings hope to people. :)

I have to say the set-up for the finale was also wonderfully constructed as it begins with Chloe reading a comic book that details Clark's journey from farm boy to Superman's rise during Darkseid's final attack on Earth. While it makes no sense that a published comic book would have the story of Superman's identity and origins, I love the sentiment of Chloe reading to a young boy as a bedtime story but also to inspire him.  The planet Apokolips travels through the galaxy to be the literally apocalypse the world has never seen before was really creative and imaginative, using Darkseid and the New Gods' homeworld as their greatest weapon to bring Earth to its knees despite his prophets' efforts.  I'm really gonna miss Granny Goodness tho, I loved her last scene with Tess and that creepy desperation to spare her from Apokolipis' wrath. Speaking of Tess, I'm glad that she was so proactive and finding out more about the threat by using Watchtower as much as she could despite Oliver sabotaging its satellites.  But even when it seems she's own her way to tell Clark and the others about the threat, she is ambushed by a group of men who seemingly capture her.  Oh boy.....this can't be good! Anyway, the first half of Finale is a gripping, emotionally epic masterpiece by showing the cast giving it their all one last time to show us the final adventure of these beloved characters we have grown to love over 10 seasons! :_)

Final Kryptonite: A+