Smallville: Nine reasons I still watch

[roxy]

1)In the past, my main reason for watching was Lex, for no other reason than he was gorgeous. He was sexy, smart, and in control—or so he seemed on the surface. He cared—about Clark, his family, about the town. Sure it was mostly because he loved Clark, and wanted to show him he was a decent man, but that's the motivation to do good for most of the world, so hey! Didn't bother me. I have no idea why Show decided that was a badwrong reason to do what he did. What Show did to Lex—that was a crime. They waffled his character about, made him brave, made him a coward, made him deeply troubled and abused, made him a low life skunk who was born wrong…he was a boy whose dad hated him, and then, suddenly, a boy whose dad struggled to keep his evil contained. Jesus. The fanfic writers all did so much better by a richly complicated character who could have been saved; at any point in his years in SV he could have been saved. But I'm not bitter.

2)Clark. My attention was completely caught up in Lex at first, but as the years went by I began to notice Clark more and more. Granted, most of that was because I had the tendency to write Lex looking at him through Clark's eyes, but I came to see that 1, Clark was smoking hot in his own right, and 2, Clark was growing in a way Lex wasn't—Clark, no matter what bone-headed, stupid decisions and actions he was taking, really was growing into a hero. He was maturing from a self-centered (sweet, caring, loving but still seeing the universe from his own doorstep) to becoming a man. It's not an easy journey for anyone, and that includes alien refugees. Clark, no matter what you think of him, did try his best. And really, Lex did break his heart. So there.

3)Pretty. Smallville is beautiful to look at, always has been. They designed color and lighting to represent their main characters, and it worked beautifully. Clark and his heroic golds, Lex and his blues and royal purples.

4)Funny. The show was often funny in a gentle way, or a sly way. I mean come on, Clark goes bad due to the effects of RedK and comes strolling into the mansion dressed like—ta-da—Lex? Tell me that wasn't funny! Clark and Lois, and their bantering? Some of the best dialog the show has ever had—and world's better than any profession of love Lana and Clark ever shared 'cause the love? I feel it when these guys poke at each other. The only other time that dialog felt genuine and heartfelt was between Clark and Lex.

5)Gorgeous guest stars. Wonderful guest stars! Brainiac was fabulous—Marsters was one of my favorite guests. Cyborg—oy! Be still my beating heart! Lee Thompson Young is so darn cute, he made me feel like a perv! Pretty on top of pretty, that boy!

6)Sexy. Clark always gave off the 'omg, boobies ew' vibe to me, until he grew up some, and Lois grew a heart. Now, they're one of the few het couples that make me smile like a doofus watching them. Mind you, he's settling (who could compare to Lex) but I approve heartily of the rebound. These two actors together actually have tremendous chemistry, sexy, funny—their scenes at the Daily Planet are lovely screwball comedy when they're being funny—and full of longing when they're not. Plus, c'mon—everyone loves a "he don’t get how much he loves her yet" storyline. *G*. Also, no way in hell will I ever write this, just so you know. ;)

7)Some characters are no longer on the show. This is a good thing, really. I probably shouldn't give negative reasons but some characters lingered on way past the point they should have. The only character they shipped off that they shouldn't have was Martha. I feel that was a mistake. Martha and Clark were close, and Clark could have used her support. He might be grown and on his own, but there should always be a home base. And home made cookies.

8)Looking forward to seeing what's going to happen. At this point no flights no tights is stupid. we're all ready to see Clark step up to the plate. Leave Lex out of it now, unless Michael wants to come back at some point, it's stupid. There are plenty of villains willing to make Clark's life complicated.

9)Any shot that has a close-up of Clark with emphasis on those beautiful eyes. I watched whole seasons just for the chance to see Lex tilt his chin up and make his neck look bitable. I do the same for Clark. I'll watch this season, hoping for more shirtless Clark. Or more close-ups of Clark's hands wrapped around somebody. Or Clark looking sly and sexy…shallow? Oh heck yeah!!



Look at that GQ motherfucker--as I believe the children say.
eta:oops. *koff*

Comments

[rednihilist.livejournal.com]

Look at that GQ motherfucker--as I believe the children say.

OMFG! Roxy, you are a goddess, uber-hip, my friend. *snorfle*

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Heeeee!

[laurapetri.livejournal.com]

LOL your reasons be sound and logical woman!

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

*GRIN*

*curtsies* Thank you, thank you!

[selinamoonfire.livejournal.com]

You know...that pic is enough to make me want to go back to the show. Since I haven't seen the horrible things done to Lex's character, maybe I could watch it without being bitter.

Or I could just stare at Clark's incredible hotness.

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Or I could just stare at Clark's incredible hotness.

Which is basically what I do! ;)

[quiet--tiger.livejournal.com]

Awesome list! I forgot all about guest stars--James Marsters was great.

Clark always gave off the 'omg, boobies ew' vibe to me

Totally not just you. Clark is afraid of boobies. Except Lana's for some reason.

And you make a great point--part of why I'm still here is that I *do* want to see what happens next! There's still a ways to go to bring Clark from where he is now to what we know he eventually turns out to be.

Thanks so much! I'll include these in tomorrow morning's post.

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

It was fun to sit down and *think* about the show, something I haven't really done in a while.

[opusnone.livejournal.com]

I'm looking forward to tomorrow night as well. For all the exasperation I feel sometimes, it is still a comfortable and entertaining old friend. It's funny, when I first saw the promos way back before I started watching, I was eh... Mr. Tom didn't capture my rather sordid imagination at all. But over the past few years, WOW!!! he just keeps getting better looking beyond all reason.

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

*HUGS*
Hey you!

I'm with you on Tom--he did little for me at first and then one day, "Um-Um! Heeeeello, tall dark and gorgeous!"

[silsbee329.livejournal.com]

I have entire boxed seasons of this on my shelf that I have never opened. Too scared, because of what I know happens with Lex. This post is making me re-think that, though. ;)

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Girl, skim them for the sexy bits--they're in there! :)

[rosy5000.livejournal.com]

Oh Roxy, you almost make me want to watch again... if only we could get you on that writing team. ;)

everyone loves a "he don’t get how much he loves her yet" storyline. *G*. Also, no way in hell will I ever write this, just so you know.

*wipes brow* Oh, thank god... you must keep the Clex, and the Clark/Lex/Whitney alive!!!

*huggles* ♥

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

My icon says it all!

[rosy5000.livejournal.com]

MMmmmm!!! Oh yes... I can stare at that for quite a while and be happy. ;)

[kaydee23.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he is sort of handsome. I can see that;)

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

I know--once you get past the green eyes, the long lashes, the full lips and the cheekbones, yeah--he's okay.

:)

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

I'm enjoying all the 9 things memes! They remind me why I watch--for the pretty and lolz and the wtfs, yes? *g*

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Especially the WTFs! *G*

[jlvsclrk.livejournal.com]

What a great list - I love it so much. Especially the way you expressed reason 2. The show HAS shown us a lot of growth in Clark's character and it really gets my goat when I stupidly log onto Kryptonsite and see a thread like "Is Smallville an insult to Superman?" Argh! He may not always get it right, but as you say, he always tries and I love him for that.

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much!!

I think a lot of us are grown so we expected Clark to react to things like a grown man. He was only fifteen when we met him though--*koff*--I try not to think about that....

[myownghost.livejournal.com]

maybe someday i'll rewatch S1 and the beginning of S2 for the extreme pretty and the possibilities. i agree completely that the show unforgivably muddled lex's character in later seasons. maybe i am a little bitter!

[greenlady2.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. I waited a long time to comment so I wouldn't piss you off too much, but I only agree with the first of these reasons. Clark disgusts me, but you're right, they did destroy Lex. And Lex broke Clark's heart? When? Anyway, it's all personal why we watch shows, or why we don't. Clark will never be a hero to me. He's loathsome. I can't even bear to look at a picture of him without wanting to barf, but anyway.

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Really??? Nah, I'm not pissed off--liking exactly who or what I like has never been a requirement to get along with me. But really, just one reason? Don't you think the show is pretty?

[greenlady2.livejournal.com]

I don't think the show is pretty. Or rather, I find that surface prettiness to be a gloss over a story that is ugly. I can't like people simply because they're physically pretty, and that's the only thing the current cast of characters has going for it right now. But that's too long an analysis to go into here, and I like your stories and I like you so I won't belabour the point. Probably shouldn't have said anything, but the show enrages me so much with its hypocrisy and its horrible so-called-hero characters -- but that's not your fault. :-)))

Anyway, looking forward to an update of your Kal/Lex story.