Episode 711 - Siren Review




"Siren" Review

Written by Babaluwee

DISCLAIMER - Please remember that this review does not represent the opinions/viewpoints of everyone; it is the personal opinions of the reviewer only. Thank you.

In "Siren" we saw the return of the Green Arrow and the introduction of a new member to the Justice League, Black Canary. Although welcoming a female superhero to the League was a very good thing, this episode was an example of how SV has lost its way. The episodes these days are rarely about Clark Kent's journey to becoming Superman (which was the original premise of the show). Clark's character development seems to be almost completely stunted; he is stuck in an unhealthy and tumultuous relationship and he is languishing on the Kent Farm without a sense of purpose or direction. Even though Clark appeared on screen for twenty minutes out of approximately forty-four minutes of airtime, "Siren" was another episode that was more about "the Justice League in its infancy," than it was about him moving forward in life. Regrettably, the best opportunity to improve the show was missed during the writers' strike when they decided not to hire scabs.

THE GOOD

Tom's Performance: Tom gave his usual brilliant performance in this episode. Two scenes in particular were most notable: one was when he confided in Chloe about his painful incredulity that Lana didn't realize that he was being impersonated (and she preferred the imposter). The other scene was the one in which he confronted Lana about this situation. There was a wide range of negative feelings that Tom had to portray, and yet, do so in a controlled way.

Clark and Chloe: Chloe is the repository of superhero secrets and of Clark's emotional confidences. It was a little amazing how easily Clark was able to open up to her about the very distressing situation with Lana. Yet, as soon as he realized that Chloe was injured and that she had been in potential danger by helping the GA, he immediately put his own problems aside and became deeply concerned about her well-being.

In this scene Chloe reminded Clark that "[Lana] isn't exactly the same girl you used to trip all over in high school." This couldn't be truer, owing to the fact that the writers utterly vitiated the original Lana character. (I, for one, still miss her, and regret that Clark never really had the good, honest, and healthy relationship with her that he deserved.)

Clark and Lois: The final scene between Clark and Lois was one of the best and most promising features of this episode. It was evident that beneath their superficial banter, Clark and Lois have developed a true and trusting friendship. In the past Lois had confided many things to Clark about her mother, her sister, her love for Oliver, and now about her relationship with her father and her heartache over Oliver/GA. Even though Clark simply could not reciprocate, it was lovely to see how deeply he cares for her happiness and her well-being.

Their conversation can be understood on two levels: on one level it was about Lois' inability to deal with Oliver's dual identity and his vocation to serve humanity. On another level, it unmistakably anticipated Clark and Lois' own future relationship. In this scene Lois wisely recognized the potential difficulties that would accompany a romantic relationship with professional hero. The conversation was a foreshadowing of, and a preparation for, some of the difficulties that she and Clark will actually face one day. Clark had answers for all of Lois' misgivings, offering them in the hope of her happiness with his friend Oliver. Instead, his answers and positive attitude will serve him and Lois well. Erica delivered a very fine performance here.

THE BAD

Clark and Oliver: The first scene between Clark and Oliver was obnoxious: To witness both of these extraordinary, genuinely moral, and self-sacrificing men counter-charge each other with selfishness and moral dereliction was beneath their dignity. This dialogue was ridiculous and unworthy of both of them; they would have known better. It's true that Clark was concerned about Chloe's safety, but he would have expressed his concern without ever accusing Oliver of "selfishness."

Clark's Journey: The scene that had Oliver lecturing Clark about going beyond his doorstep to make a real difference in the world was wrongheaded. But this scene served to illustrate exceedingly well the fact that Clark is without a sense of mission or direction, especially when Oliver pointed out to Clark that, "You just sit around in domestic bliss, curled up on a couch while a world of trouble spins outside your door." Clark himself said something similar to Chloe at the DP: he said he was visiting her because he couldn't "hang around that house anymore" (knowing about Lana and the Phantom). These scenes explicitly state what has been going on over several seasons: that the writers have failed Clark Kent, as well as the premise of the show and the whole Superman mythos.

Indirectly, they have also done Tom Welling a disservice by depriving him of the prominence he has earned as the star of the show. The writers have squandered season upon season of doing something with Clark: he could have been actively thwarting Lex; he could have been attending college; he could have become an amateur investigative journalist; he could have developed a healthy friendship with Lana; he could have begun his training with a benevolently written Jor-el; he could have been more of the anonymous hero that he was in the first four seasons. If the writers were in need of plot situations that require a hero, they could have drawn ideas from today's headlines.

Clark and Lana: Rather than setting Clark on a clear path toward what we know will become his destiny, the writers seem to exhibit some fiendish and sick obsession with torturing him in a extremely warped relationship with Lana, that has been riddled with outrageous and bizarre plot twists. He has had more than his share of suffering. Enough already. When Clark confronted Lana about the Phantom, her diatribe against him was unfounded and incomprehensible. When was Clark ever "hypocritical," "judgmental," and "self-righteous"? When was he not demonstrably "understanding" about human frailties? What was she talking about! All Clark has ever done was to blame himself first, foremost, thoroughly, and ultimately for things that were beyond his control. That's why his listing his own mistakes in the final scene was unnecessary. He has always been aware of his own frailties. Clark's points were valid in the confrontation: Lana was supposed to know him better than anyone, and she looked at him like she wished he were someone else. At the very least, he needed to vent these feelings and get them out in the open. Her response was outrageous and untrue.

It's encouraging, however, that Lana expressed to both Clark and Lionel some intention to reform and become a better person. It would wonderful to have the original Lana back again, who would become Clark's good and trusted friend.

Lionel: How did Lionel know about Lana's surveillance of Lex? How did he know about her kidnapping and "monitoring" the "Brainiac-infected" woman? Or that Lana confided all these nefarious activities in the Phantom, but that she did not confide in Clark?

Lois: Since when is it acceptable to go to a person's home and greet him with a felonious assault? What right did Lois have to punch Oliver? She said it was for breaking her heart. Besides the fact that it still did not give her any right to strike him, it was a completely spurious excuse. Their beak-up was sad, but amicable. Oliver just didn't deserve to be mistreated like that! (Lois never greeted Lex with violence when she saw him.) Lois said that Oliver's "glistening muscle, bare chest routine" would "work" on her, but obviously not enough to stop a left cross. Hardly anything in this scene made sense.

Lois realized that last year she had kissed someone disguised as the Green Arrow; why didn't she ask Oliver who it was?

Rating: I give "Siren" two out of five stars.

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