Smallville/YMMV: Difference between revisions

Content added Content deleted
VisualWikitext
m (Mass update links)
m (update links)
Line 10: Line 10:
* [[Base Breaker]]: Green Arrow. Some think he's the best character in the show; others see him as a [[Jerkass Woobie|whiny, self-centered douchebag]] who constantly treats Clark like dirt, despite supposedly being one of his closest superhero allies.
* [[Base Breaker]]: Green Arrow. Some think he's the best character in the show; others see him as a [[Jerkass Woobie|whiny, self-centered douchebag]] who constantly treats Clark like dirt, despite supposedly being one of his closest superhero allies.
** Though to be fair, Clark has often called Ollie out in the later seasons, and on at least one occasion has even kicked Ollie out of the Justice League. In any case, Ollie's portrayal is actually rather consistent with the way he acts in the comics...
** Though to be fair, Clark has often called Ollie out in the later seasons, and on at least one occasion has even kicked Ollie out of the Justice League. In any case, Ollie's portrayal is actually rather consistent with the way he acts in the comics...
** Arguably Chloe in Seasons 8 and 9. The character was still well-liked by a good portion of the fanbase, but there was a rather vocal segment of the fanbase that began to actively loathe Chloe during the arc where she was getting closer to Davis. It really says something that in the episode where she stops Clark from banishing Davis to the Phantom Zone, there were some who actually wanted Clark to push them ''both'' through the portal, and that these people were very vocal about their opinion on the message boards (hard to say which group was really the majority). It's almost as if the [[Hatedom]] needed to find another character to focus their hatred on now that Lana was gone for good.
** Arguably Chloe in Seasons 8 and 9. The character was still well-liked by a good portion of the fanbase, but there was a rather vocal segment of the fanbase that began to actively loathe Chloe during the arc where she was getting closer to Davis. It really says something that in the episode where she stops Clark from banishing Davis to the Phantom Zone, there were some who actually wanted Clark to push them ''both'' through the portal, and that these people were very vocal about their opinion on the message boards (hard to say which group was really the majority). It's almost as if the [[Hatedom]] needed to find another character to focus their hatred on now that Lana was gone for good.
* [[Complete Monster]]:
* [[Complete Monster]]:
** Brainiac. He has no redeeming qualities, ruthlessly manipulates those around him with sneering contempt, tries to unleash Zod to enslave the world, and later begins draining people of their trace minerals in order to re-build himself, murders his creator and finally [[Body Surf|body-jacks Chloe]] while attempting [[Omnicidal Maniac|to end all life on Earth via Doomsday]]. During the commission of the aforementioned crimes, he experiments on victims using various deadly diseases, and twice unleashes a lethal computer virus. The first one shuts down most the planet as a ''distraction'' while he works to unleash Zod; the second one is part of his end-the-world-plot. He infects Mrs. Kent with a Kryptonian disease to make Clark help him in Season 5, and puts Lana in a coma in Season 7 in order to achieve the same end, before trapping [[Supergirl|Kara]] in the Phantom Zone, taking her place, and revealing Clark's secret to [[Arch Enemy|Lex]]. And oh yeah, in a [[Bad Future]], he and Lex were going to [[Nuke'Em|nuke]] half the world so they could remake it in their image. He's treated with fear and revulsion by Clark, the Legion of Super-Heroes and even [[Even Evil Has Standards|Bizarro]], and actually gets the Legion to consider performing a [[Shoot the Dog]] on Chloe when he was inhabiting her. While he eventually {{spoiler|[[Heel Face Turn|Heel Face Turns]] it's after being forcibly reprogrammed by the Legion, and thus doesn't count}}.
** Brainiac. He has no redeeming qualities, ruthlessly manipulates those around him with sneering contempt, tries to unleash Zod to enslave the world, and later begins draining people of their trace minerals in order to re-build himself, murders his creator and finally [[Body Surf|body-jacks Chloe]] while attempting [[Omnicidal Maniac|to end all life on Earth via Doomsday]]. During the commission of the aforementioned crimes, he experiments on victims using various deadly diseases, and twice unleashes a lethal computer virus. The first one shuts down most the planet as a ''distraction'' while he works to unleash Zod; the second one is part of his end-the-world-plot. He infects Mrs. Kent with a Kryptonian disease to make Clark help him in Season 5, and puts Lana in a coma in Season 7 in order to achieve the same end, before trapping [[Supergirl|Kara]] in the Phantom Zone, taking her place, and revealing Clark's secret to [[Arch Enemy|Lex]]. And oh yeah, in a [[Bad Future]], he and Lex were going to [[Nuke'Em|nuke]] half the world so they could remake it in their image. He's treated with fear and revulsion by Clark, the Legion of Super-Heroes and even [[Even Evil Has Standards|Bizarro]], and actually gets the Legion to consider performing a [[Shoot the Dog]] on Chloe when he was inhabiting her. While he eventually {{spoiler|[[Heel Face Turn|Heel Face Turns]] it's after being forcibly reprogrammed by the Legion, and thus doesn't count}}.
Line 30: Line 30:
* [[Evil Is Sexy]]: The opinion of many, many fangirls regarding Lex and Davis. The opinion of many fanboys regarding Tess Mercer.
* [[Evil Is Sexy]]: The opinion of many, many fangirls regarding Lex and Davis. The opinion of many fanboys regarding Tess Mercer.
* [[Fan Disservice]]: Metallo. He's a [[Walking Shirtless Scene]]...with [[Body Horror|hideous tubing]] protruding from his ribs.
* [[Fan Disservice]]: Metallo. He's a [[Walking Shirtless Scene]]...with [[Body Horror|hideous tubing]] protruding from his ribs.
* [[Fan-Preferred Couple]]: The [[Official Couple]] is [[Foregone Conclusion|Clark/Lois]], but there are fans that prefer Clark/Chloe, Clark/Lex, Clark/Lana, etc.
* [[Fan-Preferred Couple]]: The [[Official Couple]] is [[Foregone Conclusion|Clark/Lois]], but there are fans that prefer Clark/Chloe, Clark/Lex, Clark/Lana, etc.
** Chloe/Lex.
** Chloe/Lex.
* [[Flanderization]]: Most of the characters to some degree, but Chloe's computer skills are the worst offence.
* [[Flanderization]]: Most of the characters to some degree, but Chloe's computer skills are the worst offence.
Line 40: Line 40:
* [[In Name Only]]:
* [[In Name Only]]:
** While Smallville is full of different takes on the featured comic book characters, Cat Grant is absolutely nothing like her comic book counterpart. In the comics, she started out as a promiscuous gossip columnist and later became a cougar with breast implants and low cut blouses where the TV version actually spells the word "sex" at one point because she's too uptight to say it and is actually kind of pudgy and conservatively dressed. All this to turn her into a [[Straw Conservative]] where the comic book version couldn't care less about politics.
** While Smallville is full of different takes on the featured comic book characters, Cat Grant is absolutely nothing like her comic book counterpart. In the comics, she started out as a promiscuous gossip columnist and later became a cougar with breast implants and low cut blouses where the TV version actually spells the word "sex" at one point because she's too uptight to say it and is actually kind of pudgy and conservatively dressed. All this to turn her into a [[Straw Conservative]] where the comic book version couldn't care less about politics.
** Slade bears very little resemblance to his [[Comic Book]] counterpart, [[Career Killers|Deathstroke]]. He's actually much closer personality-wise to [[General Ripper|Wade Eiling]] or Marvel's [[X-Men|Senator Kelly]].
** Slade bears very little resemblance to his [[Comic Book]] counterpart, [[Career Killers|Deathstroke]]. He's actually much closer personality-wise to [[General Ripper|Wade Eiling]] or Marvel's [[X-Men|Senator Kelly]].
** This happens A LOT with the past two seasons of guest stars of famous DCU heroes. Jamie Reyes Blue Beetle and Booster Gold took a particular hit in "Booster" with Jamie being a basic nerd archetype from an '80s movie and Booster being made into a dillhole that wants to ruin history by replacing Clark.
** This happens A LOT with the past two seasons of guest stars of famous DCU heroes. Jamie Reyes Blue Beetle and Booster Gold took a particular hit in "Booster" with Jamie being a basic nerd archetype from an '80s movie and Booster being made into a dillhole that wants to ruin history by replacing Clark.
* [[Jerkass Woobie]]: Lex, Lionel, and Tess have all qualified on both counts. Must be a {{spoiler|Luthor family trait}} along with being [[Magnificent Bastard|Magnificent Bastards]].
* [[Jerkass Woobie]]: Lex, Lionel, and Tess have all qualified on both counts. Must be a {{spoiler|Luthor family trait}} along with being [[Magnificent Bastard|Magnificent Bastards]].
* [[Large Ham]]: Lionel (and the Earth-2 version even ''moreso''), both Zods, Rick Flag, Zor-El.
* [[Large Ham]]: Lionel (and the Earth-2 version even ''moreso''), both Zods, Rick Flag, Zor-El.
Line 55: Line 55:
* [[Motive Decay]]: Jason Teague. {{spoiler|He goes from refusing to help his mother after learning she may be manipulating him and Lana, to being a fully clued-in accomplice to her plan and treated as though he always was. It smacks of rushing him out of the show.}}
* [[Motive Decay]]: Jason Teague. {{spoiler|He goes from refusing to help his mother after learning she may be manipulating him and Lana, to being a fully clued-in accomplice to her plan and treated as though he always was. It smacks of rushing him out of the show.}}
* [[Narm]]: The effects budget is... pretty noticeable as the series goes on. Admittedly, this isn't the showrunners' fault; it's simply due to the fact that the show was on the CW, which for many years was arguably being run into the ground by network president Dawn Ostroff (who, by the way, seemed to despise sci-fi shows, and only kept Smallville and Supernatural around because they were the two highest-rated shows on her network).
* [[Narm]]: The effects budget is... pretty noticeable as the series goes on. Admittedly, this isn't the showrunners' fault; it's simply due to the fact that the show was on the CW, which for many years was arguably being run into the ground by network president Dawn Ostroff (who, by the way, seemed to despise sci-fi shows, and only kept Smallville and Supernatural around because they were the two highest-rated shows on her network).
** In Season 2's "Heat," the Freak of the Week, Desire Atkins, is trying to make her escape after setting Lex on fire. She runs for the door, but Clark heats up the doorknob from a distance with his heat vision. Desire grabs the doorknob and lets out what must be the most unconvincing and fake-sounding shriek ever heard on national TV. Oh and the best part? The whole time she's screaming she's still holding on tightly to the doorknob instead of letting go of it the way one would in real life. Blame the actress for that one.
** In Season 2's "Heat," the Freak of the Week, Desire Atkins, is trying to make her escape after setting Lex on fire. She runs for the door, but Clark heats up the doorknob from a distance with his heat vision. Desire grabs the doorknob and lets out what must be the most unconvincing and fake-sounding shriek ever heard on national TV. Oh and the best part? The whole time she's screaming she's still holding on tightly to the doorknob instead of letting go of it the way one would in real life. Blame the actress for that one.
* [[Rescued From the Scrappy Heap]]: To some, Lana (well...to only a few people; most people still reviled her, judging by the [[And the Fandom Rejoiced]] reaction when it was announced that she ''wouldn't'' be [[Back for the Finale]]). For many, Chloe's [[Break the Cutie]] storyline in Season 3 did this for her character, although granted she had always been popular with a majority of the fanbase.
* [[Rescued From the Scrappy Heap]]: To some, Lana (well...to only a few people; most people still reviled her, judging by the [[And the Fandom Rejoiced]] reaction when it was announced that she ''wouldn't'' be [[Back for the Finale]]). For many, Chloe's [[Break the Cutie]] storyline in Season 3 did this for her character, although granted she had always been popular with a majority of the fanbase.
* [[Romantic Plot Tumor]]:
* [[Romantic Plot Tumor]]:
Line 63: Line 63:
** The Kents also get this in Lex-centric fics, despite having very good reasons for wanting their son to stay away from the Luthors in the actual show. Lex himself will get ''heavy'' [[Draco in Leather Pants]] treatment, while the Kents will be turned into vicious, abusive [[Control Freak|ControlFreaks]] who don't care about Clark's happiness at all and loathe the Luthors for literally no reason, and occasionally scheme to steal the Luthors' wealth. This is especially jarring when one remembers that in the actual '''canon'', Jonathan and Martha Kent are supposed to be among the ''nicest'' people in the entire DC Multiverse.
** The Kents also get this in Lex-centric fics, despite having very good reasons for wanting their son to stay away from the Luthors in the actual show. Lex himself will get ''heavy'' [[Draco in Leather Pants]] treatment, while the Kents will be turned into vicious, abusive [[Control Freak|ControlFreaks]] who don't care about Clark's happiness at all and loathe the Luthors for literally no reason, and occasionally scheme to steal the Luthors' wealth. This is especially jarring when one remembers that in the actual '''canon'', Jonathan and Martha Kent are supposed to be among the ''nicest'' people in the entire DC Multiverse.
*** In Chloe/Clark shipper fics or Chlois Theory fics, poor Lois will often be made out to be some kind of [[The Ditz|ditzy]] alcoholic and [[Memetic Slut]] who doesn't "deserve" the identity of Lois Lane. She will then bumble her way to an embarassing death at the hands of the [[Big Bad]], or occasionally (in the more extreme fics) even turn out to be the [[Big Bad]]'s evil [[Dragon]] sidekick, in which case she will be unceremoniously defeated and banished to the Phantom Zone. Chloe will then assume the identity of "Lois Lane" (for... some reason) and becomes the reporter character we know from the comics. Naturally the Chlois Theory and all related fanfics are ''extremely'' far from canon.
*** In Chloe/Clark shipper fics or Chlois Theory fics, poor Lois will often be made out to be some kind of [[The Ditz|ditzy]] alcoholic and [[Memetic Slut]] who doesn't "deserve" the identity of Lois Lane. She will then bumble her way to an embarassing death at the hands of the [[Big Bad]], or occasionally (in the more extreme fics) even turn out to be the [[Big Bad]]'s evil [[Dragon]] sidekick, in which case she will be unceremoniously defeated and banished to the Phantom Zone. Chloe will then assume the identity of "Lois Lane" (for... some reason) and becomes the reporter character we know from the comics. Naturally the Chlois Theory and all related fanfics are ''extremely'' far from canon.
*** Even '''Clark''' gets this treatment very often in fanfic. That's right folks: the future ''[[Superman]]'' often gets made out to be a [[Complete Monster]] in fanfic, usually in fics that involve Chloe shipping with Lex, Ollie or Davis. These fanfics often bash on Clark for [[What Do You Mean It's Not Heinous?|committing the horrible crime of seeing Chloe as *gasp* just a friend and not a love interest.]] Apparently, Clark deciding that he and Chloe are [[Better as Friends]] is enough to justify portraying Clark as a borderline retarded, selfish, and sniveling asshole who genuinely ''wants'' to make Chloe as miserable as possible. Chloe will then rush into the waiting arms of Lex/Davis/etc., who will usually get ''heavy'' [[Draco in Leather Pants]] treatment. Naturally, this is the ''farthest'' thing from canon. In the show's actual canon, Clark is a genuinely nice person (and [[The Cape]] in fact) who cares deeply about Chloe (as his best friend) and shares a [[Like Brother and Sister]] relationship with her from Season 5 onwards... but don't tell that to the shippers.
*** Even '''Clark''' gets this treatment very often in fanfic. That's right folks: the future ''[[Superman]]'' often gets made out to be a [[Complete Monster]] in fanfic, usually in fics that involve Chloe shipping with Lex, Ollie or Davis. These fanfics often bash on Clark for [[What Do You Mean It's Not Heinous?|committing the horrible crime of seeing Chloe as *gasp* just a friend and not a love interest.]] Apparently, Clark deciding that he and Chloe are [[Better as Friends]] is enough to justify portraying Clark as a borderline retarded, selfish, and sniveling asshole who genuinely ''wants'' to make Chloe as miserable as possible. Chloe will then rush into the waiting arms of Lex/Davis/etc., who will usually get ''heavy'' [[Draco in Leather Pants]] treatment. Naturally, this is the ''farthest'' thing from canon. In the show's actual canon, Clark is a genuinely nice person (and [[The Cape (trope)]] in fact) who cares deeply about Chloe (as his best friend) and shares a [[Like Brother and Sister]] relationship with her from Season 5 onwards... but don't tell that to the shippers.
*** Clark also gets this treatment very often in Lex-centric fics. Typically Lex will either be deeply in love with Clark or at the very least will care deeply about him in a platonic way (it varies from fic to fic), but despite this, Clark will treat Lex like crap. If it's a fic where Lex is in love with Clark, Clark will not only reject Lex's advances, but will say something viciously cruel to him and treat him worse than ever, in a series of increasingly-terrifying [[Kick the Dog]] moments for Clark. [[Beware the Superman|Thus, when Lex becomes the main opposition figure against Clark/Superman, the writer will be able to portray it as being completely justified.]] (Also in these fics, Jonathan and Martha will usually be cackling evilly in the background while Clark treats Lex terribly)
*** Clark also gets this treatment very often in Lex-centric fics. Typically Lex will either be deeply in love with Clark or at the very least will care deeply about him in a platonic way (it varies from fic to fic), but despite this, Clark will treat Lex like crap. If it's a fic where Lex is in love with Clark, Clark will not only reject Lex's advances, but will say something viciously cruel to him and treat him worse than ever, in a series of increasingly-terrifying [[Kick the Dog]] moments for Clark. [[Beware the Superman|Thus, when Lex becomes the main opposition figure against Clark/Superman, the writer will be able to portray it as being completely justified.]] (Also in these fics, Jonathan and Martha will usually be cackling evilly in the background while Clark treats Lex terribly)
* [[The Scrappy]]/[[Creator's Pet]]: Lana. No matter how irrelevant her plot lines were, or how annoying the fans found her, she kept getting more and more screen time, until Seasons 4 through 6 were nicknamed "Lanaville" by the fans. The writers arguably kept the character on board way past the point of her usefulness to the plot, and in the case of Al Gough and Miles Millar even seemed to care more about Lana than any other character (even Clark). It really says something that in the DVD commentary, co-creators Gough and Millar actually declare that "she is the true magic of the show."
* [[The Scrappy]]/[[Creator's Pet]]: Lana. No matter how irrelevant her plot lines were, or how annoying the fans found her, she kept getting more and more screen time, until Seasons 4 through 6 were nicknamed "Lanaville" by the fans. The writers arguably kept the character on board way past the point of her usefulness to the plot, and in the case of Al Gough and Miles Millar even seemed to care more about Lana than any other character (even Clark). It really says something that in the DVD commentary, co-creators Gough and Millar actually declare that "she is the true magic of the show."
** Apparently it came out that Gough and Millar actually did the casting for Lana ''before they did the casting for Clark.'' That is all.
** Apparently it came out that Gough and Millar actually did the casting for Lana ''before they did the casting for Clark.'' That is all.
* [[Seasonal Rot]]: Pick any season after Season 3 and you'll find its fair share of haters or people who agree this is when the show got bad. However Season 9 has had [[Broken Base|more mixed reviews]] compared to past seasons, and the final season, 10, has been even better received, though the series finale [[Broken Base|breaks the base again.]]
* [[Seasonal Rot]]: Pick any season after Season 3 and you'll find its fair share of haters or people who agree this is when the show got bad. However Season 9 has had [[Broken Base|more mixed reviews]] compared to past seasons, and the final season, 10, has been even better received, though the series finale [[Broken Base|breaks the base again.]]
* [[Strangled by the Red String]]: Clark and Lana. Repeatedly. Heck, Lex and Lana too for that matter. Where in the heck did that relationship come from?
* [[Strangled by the Red String]]: Clark and Lana. Repeatedly. Heck, Lex and Lana too for that matter. Where in the heck did that relationship come from?
Line 73: Line 73:
** Fans of the earlier seasons often do this to the later ones as well. Especially Lex fans, who decry him a) actually becoming the villain, and b) being written out.
** Fans of the earlier seasons often do this to the later ones as well. Especially Lex fans, who decry him a) actually becoming the villain, and b) being written out.
** And to be fair, a lot of the comic book fans had a reaction of "They changed it and made it suck", which is different from "They changed it ''so'' it sucks".
** And to be fair, a lot of the comic book fans had a reaction of "They changed it and made it suck", which is different from "They changed it ''so'' it sucks".
*** Well to be honest...a lot of the comic fans actually '''did''' have the "They changed it ''so'' it sucks" attitude.
*** Well to be honest...a lot of the comic fans actually '''did''' have the "They changed it ''so'' it sucks" attitude.
* [[Too Dumb to Live]]: [[Damsel Scrappy|Lana]], [[The Load|Lana]], [[Creator's Pet|Lana]]! Most of the times she gets in trouble for Clark to save her, she only has herself to blame. Key example: in the Season 1 finale, she was stranded next to her car by a ditch and saw a huge tornado approaching her. Anyone with half a brain knows that the best thing to do in that situation is lie down in the ditch and cover your head. Yet Lana, who was raised in Kansas and probably had tornado safety drilled into her since grade school, went back into her car to get picked up by the tornado and nearly die!
* [[Too Dumb to Live]]: [[Damsel Scrappy|Lana]], [[The Load|Lana]], [[Creator's Pet|Lana]]! Most of the times she gets in trouble for Clark to save her, she only has herself to blame. Key example: in the Season 1 finale, she was stranded next to her car by a ditch and saw a huge tornado approaching her. Anyone with half a brain knows that the best thing to do in that situation is lie down in the ditch and cover your head. Yet Lana, who was raised in Kansas and probably had tornado safety drilled into her since grade school, went back into her car to get picked up by the tornado and nearly die!
** It appears this troper lacks "half a brain". Getting into a car to drive away from the tornado seems more reasonable than staying in the same area in a ditch, at first glance at least.
** It appears this troper lacks "half a brain". Getting into a car to drive away from the tornado seems more reasonable than staying in the same area in a ditch, at first glance at least.
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Smallville/YMMV"