Posted by Cory Barker on March 8, 2012 · 1 Comment
The accused: Smallville, “Reckoning” (Season 5, Episode 12) The crime: Sending its lead character on an aimless, never-ending path of self-loathing How much impact, both positive and negative, can one bad episode have on an entire series? How do long-running series continue onward in the aftermath of an episodic failure? Is it possible that individual, … Read more
Filed under SMALLVILLE, Featured, #TVFail · Tagged with #TVFail, Allison Mack, Annette O'Toole, Chloe Sullivan, Clark Kent, Cory Barker, DC Comics, Erica Durance, Green Arrow, John Glover, John Schneider, Jonathan Kent, Justin Hartley, Kristin Kreuk, Lana Lang, Lex Luthor, Lionel Luthor, Lois Lane, Martha Kent, Michael Rosenbaum, Oliver Queen, Smallville, Smallville 100th episode, Smallville 200th episode, Smallville 9, Smallville Jonathan Kent dies, Smallville Reckoning, Smallville Season 10, Smallville Season 5, Smallville Season 6, Smallville Season 7, Smallville Season 9, Superman, Tom Welling
Posted by Cory Barker on May 14, 2011 · 1 Comment
Here we are at the end of a long, winding and oftentimes bumpy, 10-year road. Smallville is over. As someone who tries to review television objectively, I’ll be the first to acknowledge this series’ weaknesses, both those within its control and those not. I want to point out all of those things first as to say … Read more
Filed under Episode Reviews, Featured, SMALLVILLE, Uncategorized · Tagged with 2018, Aaron Ashmore, Cassidy Freeman, Chloe Sullivan, Clark Kent, Cory Barker, Darkseid, Desaad, Erica Durance, Finale, Gordon Godfrey, Granny Goodness, Heroes, Jimmy Olsen, John Glover, John Schneider, Jonathan Kent, Jor-El, Justin Hartley, Lex Luthor, Lionel Luthor, Lois Lane, Michael Rosenbaum, No Ordinary Family, Oliver Queen, Reviews, Season Finale, Series Finale, Smallville, Superman, Tess Mercer, The Cape, The CW, The WB, Tom Welling
Posted by Cory Barker on May 13, 2011 · Leave a Comment
With only five more weeks of Smallville, there are mixed emotions in the TVS headquarters. To work out those conflicting feelings, I’ll be writing a pre-episode piece every week from here on out until the final episode on May 13. You can the first five pieces here, here, here, here and here if you missed them. And now we come … Read more
Filed under Featured, Lists, SMALLVILLE, Uncategorized · Tagged with Allison Mack, Annette O'Toole, Aquaman, Bart Allen, Bizarro, Booster Gold, Brainiac, Cassidy Freeman, Chloe Sullivan, Clark Kent, Cory Barker, Darksied, Doomsday, Erica Durance, Fortress of Solitude, Geoff Johns, John Glover, John Schneider, Jonathan Kent, Justice Society of America, Justin Hartley, Kristin Kreuk, Lana Lang, Lex Luthor, Lionel Luthor, Lists, Lois Lane, Martha Kent, Michael Rosenbaum, Oliver Queen, Pete Ross, Ranking the episodes of Smallville, Sam Jones III, Sam Witwer, Series Finale, Smallville, Tess Mercer, The CW, The Justice League, The WB, Tom Welling, Zod
Posted by Cory Barker on May 12, 2011 · 3 Comments
With only five more weeks of Smallville, there are mixed emotions in the TVS headquarters. To work out those conflicting feelings, I’ll be writing a pre-episode piece every week from here on out until the final episode on May 13. You can the first four pieces here, here, here and here if you missed them. This week, I decided … Read more
Filed under Lists, SMALLVILLE · Tagged with Allison Mack, Annette O'Toole, Cassidy Freeman, Chloe Sullivan, Clark Kent, Cory Barker, Davis Bloome, Erica Durance, John Glover, John Schneider, Jonathan Kent, Justin Hartley, Kristin Kreuk, Lana Lang, Lex Luthor, Lionel Luthor, Lists, Lois Lane, Martha Kent, Michael Rosenbaum, Oliver Queen, Pete Ross, Ranking the seasons of Smallville, Sam Jones III, Sam Witwer, Smallville, Superman, The CW, The WB, Tom Welling
Posted by Cory Barker on May 6, 2011 · 2 Comments
With only five more weeks of Smallville, there are mixed emotions in the TVS headquarters. To work out those conflicting feelings, I’ll be writing a pre-episode piece every week from here on out until the final episode on May 13. You can the first three pieces here, here and here if you missed them. You … Read more
Filed under Columns, SMALLVILLE · Tagged with Aaron Ashmore, Allison Mack, Annette O'Toole, Battlestar Galactica, Cassidy Freeman, Chloe Sullivan, Clark Kent, Columns, Cory Barker, DC Comics, Endings, Erica Durance, Jimmy Olsen, John Glover, John Schneider, Jonathan Kent, Justin Hartley, Kristin Kreuk, Lana Lang, Lex Luthor, Lionel Luthor, Lois Lane, LOST, Martha Kent, Michael Rosenbaum, Oliver Queen, Series Finales, Smallville, Superman, Tess Mercer, The Blur, The CW, Tom Welling
Posted by Cory Barker on April 16, 2011 · Leave a Comment
When I wrote this piece yesterday, I mentioned that the Smallville writers should do their best to focus on Clark and try not to detour into too many gimmicky episodes or characters not in the main cast. “Kent” is sort of a cheat, because it does both. Bring back Clark Luthor and shooting CK over … Read more
Filed under Episode Reviews, Featured, SMALLVILLE · Tagged with Cassidy Freeman, Clark Kent, Clark Luthor, Cory Barker, Erica Durance, John Glover, John Schneider, Jonathan Kent, Justin Hartley, Lionel Luthor, Lois Lane, Oliver Queen, Reviews, Smallville, Superman, Tess Mercer, The CW, Tom Welling, Ultraman
Posted by Cory Barker on April 15, 2011 · 6 Comments
With only five more weeks of Smallville, there are mixed emotions in the TVS headquarters. To work out those conflicting feelings, I’ll be writing a pre-episode piece every week from here on out until the final episode on May 13. This is the first one, obviously. Smallville‘s tenth and final season has been a bit … Read more
Filed under Columns, Featured, SMALLVILLE · Tagged with Allison Mack, Cassidy Freeman, Chloe Sullivan, Clark Kent, Columns, Cory Barker, Darkseid, DC Comics, Erica Durance, Finales, Green Arrow, John Glover, Jonathan Kent, Justin Hartley, Kara Kent, Lex Luthor, Lionel Luthor, Lois Lane, Michael Rosenbaum, Oliver Queen, Smallville, Superman, Tess Mercer, The CW, Tom Welling, VRA, Zod
Posted by Cory Barker on February 18, 2011 · 1 Comment
Up to this point, neither Chloe’s return or the development of Darksied’s crew have been handled quite well. The budget strongly impacts the latter while before this episode, I wasn’t convinced the writers had any plan for the former. Allison Mack was willing to come back, and thus she did. Thankfully, “Masquerade” figures out a … Read more
Filed under Episode Reviews, Featured, SMALLVILLE · Tagged with Allison Mack, Bryan Q. Miller, Cassidy Freeman, Chloe Sullivan, Clark Kent, Cory Barker, Darksied, DC Comics, Desaad, Erica Durance, Green Arrow, John Glover, Justin Hartley, Lionel Luthor, Lois Lane, Masquerade, Oliver Queen, Reviews, Smallville, Steve Byers, Suicide Squad, Superman, Tess Mercer, The CW, The Daily Planet, Tom Welling, VRA
Posted by Cory Barker on February 14, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Apologies yet again for the delay. Busy Valentine’s Day weekend. Such is life. After last week’s “Collateral,” I was legitimately concerned about the final run of Smallville. That episode was so tepid, uninspired and generally stupid that it set a dangerous precedent for the rest of the season. I don’t want to say I had … Read more
Filed under Episode Reviews, Featured, SMALLVILLE · Tagged with Alexander, Allison Mack, Annette O'Toole, Beacon, Cassidy Freeman, Chloe Sullivan, Clark Kent, Cory Barker, Erica Durance, Green Arrow, John Glover, Justin Hartley, Lex Luthor, Lionel Luthor, Lois Lane, Lucas Grabeel, Luthor Mansion, Martha Kent, Oliver Queen, Reviews, Smallville, Suicide Squad, Superman, Tess Mercer, The Blur, The CW, Tom Welling, VRA
Posted by Cory Barker on December 4, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Time travel, alternate universes, these storytelling techniques are such gimmicks — gimmicks Smallville uses on a fairly regular basis. However, because the series is so good when they do employ this gimmicks, I’m willing to give them a reprieve for dipping into an elseworlds-type tale in “Luthor.” Plus, the series is based on a comic … Read more
Filed under Episode Reviews, Featured, SMALLVILLE · Tagged with Allison Mack, Alternate universes, Bryan Q. Miller, Cassidy Freeman, Chloe Sullivan, Clark Kent, Clark Luthor, Cory Barker, Erica Durance, Green Arrow, John Glover, Justin Hartley, Kelly Souders, Lex Luthor, Lionel Luthor, Lois Lane, Luthor, Michael Rosenbaum, Oliver Queen, Reviews, Smallville, Smallville Season 10, Superman, Tess Mercer, The CW, Tom Welling, Ultraman
