I tweet quite a bit. I have a Facebook profile. They keep me in contact with friends, family, and, yes, it also lets me get the latest news on all of my pop culture obsessions. This is all very normal to me. But is it just me or does it all seem like the most inane thing ever when people on television shows talk about social media? From Juno’s “Honest to blog!” to tonight, when guest characters Zan and Jayna vow, “Our tweets are totally sealed!” One tends to think that the writers are just trying to sound hip, but then again, maybe it’s that the lingo looks funny enough in Times New Roman. But when it’s said aloud, I feel like Shaun in Shaun of the Dead with his opinion of “the zed word.” It truly is ridiculous.
But this was a good episode to drop Twitter jokes into because it did introduce the Wonder Twins, Zan and Jayna, into the Smallville universe. If you have never watched an episode of Superfriends from back in “the day” (meaning I’m older than you and I’m trying to still be hip about it), then you might have never heard of the two junior superheroes that invented the fistbump. Just imagine if they made a CW show about young Lion-O of the Thundercats growing up and having a special episode where Snarf pops in for a visit. I was worried. But, surprisingly, it turned out to be a good campy episode.
Tom Welling and Erica Durance are really starting to sound a lot like Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher, and the Smallville universe seems to be taking on the atmosphere of Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. The only thing that’s missing, besides the Elvis-obsessed editor-in-chief, is the red and blue supersuit. Think about it. Lois and Clark are very flirty. We have superpowered guest-stars. We have special effects and CGI that is just a bit iffy, but good enough for television at least. We also have banter. Lots of banter, with not only pop culture prattle and techno-nerd babble, but lots of winks and nods at the superfans. This is all great though, because “Idol” really showed how the Blur’s mythos was getting a bit out of control.
Zan and Jayna are giving props to the Blur by trying to take down criminals and leaving the House of El symbol in their wake. Both Chloe and Clark separately have a talk with the duo, and their appearances out of the dark really showed how they are becoming something for younger heroes to look up to. They are both very inspiring to the starstruck siblings, especially Clark in his trenchcoat get-up. (Can I just say again how much he needs to try some more vibrant colors and lose the trench?) Chloe, however, showed a bit more of her sketchy side when we discover that to add to her cameras around Kent Farm, she also has a few on the roof of the Daily Planet and she can has been known to listen in on a few cell phone conversations. Where Morgan Freeman’s Lucius Fox might have had a moral dilemma, Chloe just figures its one of her jobs at the Watchtower.
That’s not all The Dark Knight references we get. No, we get a near duplication of the scene where the District Attorney asks for the vigilante that has been defending the city to reveal himself, and start cooperating with the law. Clark is about to step forward when Lois takes over the press conference and says that she knows the Blur. Another plot device that reminded me of the Lois and Clark show, Lois discovers that Clark is Sup-oops, sorry- the Blur. She tells the crowd that the Blur would serve this city better as a symbol because he does not have a political agenda. This spells danger for Lois because anyone who knows a superhero’s true identity basically paints a target on their back. Just a few minutes later, she is thrown off the Daily Planet’s roof by goons working for the corrupt DA (Two-Face anyone?).
After Lois is saved by Zan in the form of fog (don’t ask), Lois and Clark have a heart-to-heart in the copy room. Lois has now realized by Chloe calling her with the Blur’s voice modulator that she was wrong about Clark being the Blur. She admits to her therapist that it was a bit easier thinking they were the same person. (By the way, Doc, you’re not fooling anyone. I just know you’re working for Tess Mercer!) Clark hasn’t even put the cape on yet, and Lois is already confused. He did, however, reveal a secret to Lois which was the last bit of fan service for this fun episode. He is a bit nearsighted and he is supposed to be wearing glasses. We see the same pair of frames he was wearing in the future scenes of “Apocalypse” from Season 7. Lois makes a quip about him getting contacts. I beg of you, Smallville, please keep Clark in the glasses!
Anyway, Lois lays one on Clark, but then she faints and we see a bit more of her erotic yet horrifying daymare. The credits roll and then we see the same vision in next week’s preview! I think next week’s episode “Pandora” is going to be as dark as this week’s episode was glossy. It will be well worth tuning in for.
