Smallville.

After 10 years of syndication the re-imagined modern tale of Clark Kent has come to a fitting end. The 2 hour finale did almost everything that fans had been hoping for since the pilot aired back in 2001. When Smallville first began there was a strict 'No Tights, No Flights' rule which has become synonymous with the series. The no flights rule has been broken on ocassion in a round about way, but it always came down to that it wasn't Clark flying. This was covered by him being taken over by his Kryptonian side, or it was his Bizarro-counterpart. This was fine for the better part of the series but it became frustrating rapidly once they introduced more Kryptonian villains and several heroes. When Supergirl (V's Laura Vandervoort) arrived on the scene in Season 7 the frustration grew and yet was satisfied by the Supergirl-related action. When villains such as Braniac became more prominent in the series, the writers began to reflect the audience's frustration through Clark - especially from the beginning of Season 9, Clark actively began to attempt to fly and grew more and more frustrated with his inability to grasp his full potential.

So going into the finale it was difficult to attempt to guess what was going to occur. The entire season had been a lead up to Clark finally grasping his full potential and becoming the 'greatest hero the world had ever seen', but Smallville hasn't the strongest record when it comes down to penultimate season endings so I went in with alot of excitement and a little apprehension. I could say that I was disappointed by the overall lack of action in the episode but for the entire 2 hours I was sitting there thinking 'Man, this is one hell of a build up to the end'. Which it was, and just how did it end?

We got the suit, we got flights, the theme and we got Lex Luthor. And once there is a picture of Superman from the finale online I'll stick it in this post. The only other thing that I would have liked was a full shot of Tom Welling in the suit, rather than CG Superman and some closeups, but you can't get everything however. I think the finale provides the appropriate ending to Smallville, an ending that 10 years ago they could not have hoped for.

Ninteen*0

Illustrates my previous point pretty well I'd say. Thankyou to the dear internet for plastering the new suit everywhere, it's a definite step up from the matrix-esque suit.

Eighteen*8

 The third episode of the final season of Smallville has been titled 'Supergirl' - it feels obvious what it is all about. Laura Vandervoort reprises her role as Kara Zor-El aka Kara Kent aka Linda Danvers aka Supergirl and is apparently there 'to shake things up' for the current heroes of Earth. She is forced to adapt her brunette disguise in public as she makes a grand flying entrance, all a lead up to the greater effect of Superman.

I feel as though she will become a shining example that the world needs and wants these heroes, not those that are hidden in the shadows. Why? Well some of these hidden vigilantes are misrepresented by their need for secrecy and deception (notably Green Arrow) and would benefit from a public outing. Mind you, I think for Smallville that isn't something that will eventuate in the series with the exception of Clark donning the cape. Some promo shots of the Supergirl outfit have debuted online - it was described as a step forward from Clark's current 'Blur' costume but not quite a finished product. No insignia, belt or cape. The rest is all there. I'm quite a fan, although I will admit it feels strange without the cape but that is something they need to save for Superman.

Seeing this hammers home that it is the Smallville equivalent of the Supergirl costume, reinforcing the thought that the Superman Returns supersuit will be sadly out of place in this universe. I really feel that the Smallville supersuit should be plainer, more along the lines of the classic Christopher Reeve suit (without the 's' texture). Mind you, just because the suit has appeared does not mean that will be the one he will wear. It's assumed, but you can't take it all for granted.

Supergirl's outfit appears much as it does in the classic comics (and tv series), the modern suit only differing in the colour of the skirt (blue).

Eighteen*3

Very much looking forward to the final season of Smallville. I am currently avoiding all tv-related websites so I don't spoil the season premiere for myself - it's not too easy for me to do, but there are so many other things that I have to do I'm keeping quite busy.

There has been alot of speculation about the final season - what it will and won't deliver, and based off some of the things that I have heard I doubt it will diappoint. Smallville is far past its slump period and certainly proved last season that it still had alot of stories to tell and new ways to deliver the reimagined beginnings. One such fact that the Season 9 finale did put out there was that; Yes, he now has the super suit and Yes, Superman exists in 2012. Which basically gave the series 2 seasons maximum to tie up the stories. Ten is a nice number for it to go out on and it is ironic that Allison Mack has finally decided to depart right in the last hour, leaving Tom Welling the only remaining original cast member (regular). I have hated Mack's character from the beginning and she only got worse, so I can't say I'm sorry to see her finally go.

I have the same questions as everyone else regarding the final season; will he fly? will he don the suit? will he become Superman at the end? Can only watch and see. The problem is that the show's creators did state early on 'no tights, no flights' but they have since departed and honestly, is there really another way to finish the story? We all knew how it began and ended, but the only thing we are still yet to see is the middle.

nb. One last thing - I think it's a bit disappointing that the supersuit is the Brandon Routh/Superman Returns suit. I feel Smallville has earnt their own suit by now.