Season 9 Recap Review

Season 9 (2009-2010)

Recap Review

Season Cast:

Tom Welling (Clark Kent)

Erica Durance (Lois Lane)

Allison Mack (Chloe Sullivan)

Justin Hartley (Oliver Queen/Green Arrow)

Cassidy Freedman (Tess Mercer)

Callum Blue (Major Zod)

After Season 8, Season 9 had A LOT to make up for.  Seriously, the first half of the 8th season is some of the best consistent writing of the show....but then we get this forced in wrap up with Lana Land returning for a couple of episodes and the season has to find a way to pick up the pieces by the second half.  A shame really, because the Doomsday story arc especially seemed like it was building up better than anyone thought it would.  But then the show took a turn for me with Chloe watching over Doomsday aka betraying Clark -_- and the finale being one of the biggest disappointments from the show yet! O_O  What started as a glorious return to form in Clark's journey ended up being a pretty good season that suffered from be thrown off course and having to restart that momentum again to wrap things up but it just crashed and missed the landing.  Going into the 9th season, there wasn't much excitement to be had, especially the cliffhanger of Zod returning as a villain. But with the epic opener known as Savior, Smallville once again opens the season with a heighten sense of story and urgency as while old storylines aka cliffhangers are resolved, we are equally left with MUCH to look forward down the line.  This season was market at the time as "But on the brink of destiny, comes his darkest hour." And Savior near flawlessly introduces to said darkest hour as Lois returns from the future with a Kryptonian assassin after her as the train there on goes off the tracks and Clark catches. Soon we see the Superman Shield has been burnt on the wall while also revealing Clark in his first official superhero suit.  Ok, so it's an all black ensemble that looks like it was stolen from the set of the Matrix but the fact that Clark is wearing an actual costume now and wearing the S Shield on his chest is already a major step in the right direction.  This season follows Clark's last season declaration of him being dead, as he decides to embrace his Kryptonian side and leave his human life behind to protect humans better.

We see Clark finally training with Jor-El in the Fortress and really adamant about honing his powers, especially when it comes to flight.  I mean he even tries to fly in the premiere which is LEAGUES beyond where he was even in last season.  Clark is taking his role as protector of the city seriously, but it's at a cost of distancing himself from his ties to the world like Oliver, Chloe and especially Lois.  I love how Lois returning it was pulls Clark back to wanting some type of connection to the human world by calling her and talking to her as the Blur, no more Red and Blue....for now anyway! ;) I love the first two episodes exploring that side of Clark who is cold, distant and just focusing on saving lives but not living himself.  It's a nice bit of character development as Clark realizes that his ties to Lois as well as stronger feelings than ever are drawing him back for a reason and he can't stay away.  But it's not only advancing as a more direct and focused hero, Clark definitely feels more aggressive as a hero this season because of embracing that Kryptonian side.  First is his branding of the S shield around the city that gets him trouble with some clumsy copycats (Idol) Then there are moments as he's saving people he is not afraid to show how strong he is in terms of his powers but wiling to go to some extreme measures to get answers out of people.  Yeah, this was definitely the Batman phase of his pre-Superman life. But works in developing Clark, as he must rediscover his humanity throughout the season and the writers do a very solid job of this throughout.  I love the first half's emphasis on his training with Jor-El and even having to face some trials in development of his training (Echo) Not to be forgotten is his growing relationship with Lois heating up and becoming more romantic than ever which is returning that humanity to him. But also the arrival of the Kandorians that show Clark wanting to teach and lead his people on Earth by giving them a life here to continue theirs.  It's something Clark battles with all season and I like how you see both sides interfering with each other as even when he and Lois start dating, they can't seem to find time to take their relationship further while the Kandorians are upset about Clark's focus on protecting humanity and being with a human when their safety is on the line.

By season's end, Clark not only rediscovers his humanity completely but after an incredible vision of his future he dreams about, Clark will give anything to stay on Earth instead of going along with his people to save it.  It's an extremely tough decision for Clark that brings out the most Supermanly confidence and assertion out of him.  From his fellow heroes following his leadership to outsmarting Zod so the Kandorians can chose peace and go home instead following in Zod's need for world domination, Clark is shown willing to make the sacrifice to not only protecting his people and give them a home but also save Earth when he must suddenly battle Zod who will do anything to stay and rule the Earth. He lets Zod stab him as he proudly falls to his death while Zod is banished with the other Kandorians. So I'd say this was yet another major breakthrough in Clark's development and I couldn't feel more proud or hopeful that he's more than ready to enter the final season of the show :( for his last few steps to becoming Superman.  Not to be forgotten, as with Lana finally nowhere in sight complete all season (Glory Hallelujah! :_), Lois Lane is thrust even more center stage as the show's leading lady.  Like Clark, this season was too strong for her and as it should.  The writers not only managed to bring her relationship with Clark closer and more romantic, but also kept up with advancing her career as cub reporter ready for a big break.  If that wasn't great enough, Lois is also the focal point of the main story arc this season for the first half as she continuously had traumatic visions of future where Zod and the Kandorians rule over Earth.  It makes Lois, especially her memories extremely valuable and its a story that excellently culminates for her in Pandora, when we finally see Lois' journey to the future and how he presents there lead to the events she has been seeing flashes of.  I just adored the scenes between Clark and Lois, especially with her, once again, bringing out the humanity in him after she disappeared. It makes sense because Lois just knows Clark's heart and challenges him out of his state of depression all the time.

It's not just their emotionally vulnerable sex scene in the future, but throughout the season.  Their banter is as sharp as ever but their relationship reaches levels of emotional vulnerability as the two truly fall deeper in love during the second half of the season.  I think the best aspect of the season is the Lois/Clark/Blur love triangle as it's the show's version of the Lois/Clark/Superman dynamic.  Both during the first and second half, Lois is conflicted all season with her feelings for both Clark and the Blur.  Episodes like Idol and especially Charade show a more in-depth and vulnerable Lois who is caught between her growing love for Clark and her complete loyalty to the Blur.  It's so fun yet fascinating to watch as we know both men are one in the same but the way it effects Lois is still remarkable and adds even more beautiful layers to her character.  By the penultimate episode, Hostage, Lois is desperately trying to fill that void of importance to the world in her life that she wants to break up with Clark and find her way again.  It leads to a nice moment where she actually saves a returning Perry White's life while Clark looks so proud of her.  She realizes that she didn't need a hero to inspire her to do more, that she's already a heroic person on the inside. :) But after all that, the season finale is definitely her shinning moment as when Zod is faking it as the Blur, she manages to use her intellect as a reporter as well as her connection with real Blur aka Clark as a way to shockingly expose him and find out Clark was really the Blur all along! It's definitely needed to happen and is remarkably exciting as the writers set up Lois' journey going into Season 10.  Season 9 was the best use of her character yet and Erica Durance knocked it out of the park.  Tho, Persuasion was bit too excessive and over the top! lol 0_0

This season wasn't also Clark's darkest hour but most of the rest of the cast as well.  Starting with our resident hacker/sidechick turned into the mother of all over stepping her boundaries this season with Watchtower.  Seriously, how was Jimmy able too afford this whole building??? Did he inherit it or something??? The writers never explain it but we just have to accept it I guess! O_o  Anyway, Chloe......sigh.......I just didn't like the direction the character has taken since the end of Season 8 and Season 9 was even more of her descending into the realm of condescending, pretentious egotistical cry for help.  I just don't get why Chloe has become this way and acts like it's Clark and everyone else's fault for leaving her behind after Jimmy died but she's the reason Jimmy died in the first. Stopping Clark from sending Davis to the Phantom Zone and runaway with him to supposedly protect Clark but it ends up backfiring and Jimmy is killed by Davis, even if not by Doomsday.  Now Chloe feels the need to put cameras literally everywhere so Watchtower can hear and see everything pretty much happening in Metropolis.  Sure, there are moments when characters like Clark and Oliver are pissed and confront Chloe about her insane actions, but once again, there's no consequence of this.  If anything, the writers try to make it everyone's fault that Chloe has become this all powerful watchful eye of a shut in just to make her character more sympathetic for her actions.  But the thing is, Chloe has no right to be so forward and thinks she knows it all, especially when it came to how Clark was handling the Kandorians all season.  I loved how Clark was more quick to dismiss and not trust Chloe when he has every right too, yet Chloe doesn't trust him and think he might get them into yet another Doomsday scenario!???  Huh??? Now she's this incredible asset to the team of heroes??? How?!! Like I said, Emil Hamilton becomes a more prominent character this season and would have been such a better replacement for Chloe as all this insane distrust of Clark makes absolutely no sense when she is the ONLY ONE TO BLAME. I suppose it was only for the sake of drama but it makes no sense.  By the end of the season, Chloe finally relents and expresses why she's always hurting Clark like this and apparently, it's because she's protecting him.  Yes, the constant "protecting of Clark" as an excuse for a character to be so morally gray and borderline evil! O_O  Only on this show! It makes no sense.  Ewww enough about the blonde one.

Then there's Oliver who spends the first 5 episodes in depression mode like last season, but even more so cause of Jimmy's death.  Honestly, I don't get why Oliver had to descend into depression and self loathing so strong again the beginning of the season.  I get Jimmy's death affected everyone, but we've already seen Oliver struggle with getting back to his heroic calling and we didn't need it again. Then here comes Roulette, where Chloe does her elaborate and dangerous as hell plan to rejuvenate the hero with in him and he's all back to normal.  Ewwww, we didn't need this honestly!  Then after that, the writers introduce a new character, Mia aka Speedy from the comics as Oliver's protege but the only thing to come out of it is Disciple, another Oliver centered episode that deals with his old teacher the Dark Archer returning to make him pay for disobeying the oaths he took when he joined a Brotherhood of Archers.  Doesn't do much for Oliver, but I guess learning to not kill the enemy was something that needed to be developed! Anyway.....I guess I have to talk about Oliver and Chloe's no string relationship, which at first seemed disgusting and so random...but honestly, the writers did a decent job where I could believe these two cold blooded individuals could become involved.  Looks like Oliver is being captured by the end of the season; leaving Chloe to have to find him. At least we got some great moment with good old humorous Oliver in episodes like Checkmate and the Absolute Justice double feature.

Now onto our villain characters as Tess' second season was more of a transition period for her.  After freeing the Kandorians, she spends the first half of the season trying to keep tabs on them as well as go head to head with Zod who would do anything to discover a way to have their powers on Earth.  I think the only problem with Tess is that her allegiances always seemed so blurry.  One minute she seems to be manipulating the Zod and the Kandorians yet also trying manipulate Clark at the same time.  Her intentions as she claims is the help save the world but her actions are always deceitful and cruel.  Tho the moment she kills one of Zod's soldiers and sends back his military tags was bada$$! There's definitely was one of the show's most brutal season in terms of visuals.  Then we find out she's a Checkmate Agent but after failing to ace her assignment in Checkmate she must go underground for a while to protect herself.  But from there once again, it seems like she is playing both sides, especially sleeping with Zod and trying to get more information out of him.  I mean both actors had great chemistry but Tess' intentions still were never clear.  After being confronted by the Red Queen in the penultimate episode, suddenly she's finally made her choice to go against Zod and help Clark save the world from being taken over by the Kandorians.  Too bad, it ends up getting her killed by Zod as dies a brutal death in the hospital....only to be visited by an old woman who seems to have been waiting to see her. Way to end her arc this season, but as a whole Tess is equally puzzling as she is fascinating. But as for Major Zod, his intentions were always clear from the start: lead his army of Kandorians to victory over the Earth by getting their powers.  The biggest surprise this season how incredible Zod was the second time around, now being fleshed out a young soldier who is desperate to win over his people but can't escape the inevitable of him becoming General Zod again.  Callum Blue elevates every scene he's in as Zod and his scenes from clashing with Clark about leadership over the Knadorians to the game of wits with Tess, he was just so captivating and chilling in the role.  

I really enjoyed how the writers built up his character all season seeing the man behind the infamous catchphrase by seeing his humbler days as a soldier on Krypton and falling out with Jor-El (Kandor) to his genuine selflessness to protect his people despite not having powers (Conspiracy).  I even love how characters like a young Faora defended him to Clark making the rivalry between them more morally ambiguous.  Should a young, clone version of Zod be held accountable for the real Zod to destroyed Krypton???  It's something that is asked and Clark must deal with if he going to prevent the future apocalypse the world might face with the Kandorians.  Even after trying to befriend his people and destroying Zod's towers, it didn't seem like anything would stop Zod from ascending, especially Clark saving his life with his blood.  It's a shocking twist that leads to Zod not only gaining his powers under the yellow sun but him giving his powers to his soldiers to win them over. But without of doubt, the most defining moment for Zod this season was killing Faora and his unborn child in Sacrifice just to win over his people once and for all; leaving Clark no choice on figuring out how to stop him.  Callum gives a powerful, gut wrenching performance during that episode and the finale is truly a brilliant send off to this amazing, complex, emotionally resonating version of the character not to be missed. :)

Season 9 isn't just Clark's darkest hour, it honestly the show's darkest season since Season 3! There's a lot of blood and graphic imagery this season that helps push that theme and more melancholy tone throughout.  But there are still moments of utter hilarity for better or for worse like Lois turning into an over the top traditional wife in Persuasion or the romantic comedy getaway antics in Escape. lol The show also continues to delve deeper than ever into the grander DC world with numerous characters arriving on the scene from Metallo, Toyman, Silver Banshee, Mia Dearden aka Speedy, Dark Archer, Icicle, Maxwell Lord, Roulette, even the Wonder Twins! WOW! But the most star studded DC character rooster filled episode is without a doubt the two part event Absolute Justice! Despite some of my minor issues with it, it's yet another brilliant masterwork by Geoff Johns written for the show as he introduces members of the Justice Society of America like Hawkman, Stargirl and Dr. Fate to join forces with the growing team that will be the Justice League to defeat a common enemy after underground heroes while also revealing the immense government organization Checkmate headed by Amanda Waller. While not proving to be the strongest enemies, including Checkmate into the story helped make the story this season with the Kandorians feel even greater in scope and a threat.  Not to mention, Pam Grier is playing her!?? What!!! :) And as usual, you'll find some very striking and series best episodes like the insane zombie outbreak episode Rabid, the mid season future apocalypse story of Pandora, comic book inspired menace of Metallo's debut in Metallo, The gripping backstory of Jor-El and Zod's friendship on Krypton in Kandor, the explosive suspenseful Sacrifice were the season's storyline collide amazingly and I can't forget to mention Salvation, a tremendous comeback for the series in terms of finales as we get an epic conclusion to the Zod/Kandorian storyline while also getting a glimpse of what fans have been waiting for since the show began! Season 9, the penultimate season of the show, is probably one of the show's strongest; managing hold most of it's storylines and quality together from beginning to end.  Also, the set-up for the 10th and final year was so exceptionally done and makes you can't wait to see Clark's finest hour by taking to the skies and throwing on that classic suit! :)

"After a seriously flawed but good season that ended with the show's worst finale, the 9th season of Smallville once again invigorates new life into the show with a new status quo with Major Zod and the Kandorians as a massive threat for the season.  It's not only Clark's darkest hour before becoming Superman but one of the series' most consistently entertaining and rousing seasons that shows the future Superman embracing his Kryptonian side more than ever but also finding his humanity once again with the amazing build on Clark and Lois' relationship.  While certain characters feel like they over stayed their welcome (Chloe! -_-) and there are some nagging issues like any season, overall, the show felt truly inspired this season in Clark's journey, especially in preparing for the final season to deliver an ending worthy of what started. :)"

Final Season Verdict: B+