Episode 815 - Infamous Review




"Infamous" Review

Written by Scarlett

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.

Although there were parts of Infamous that paid homage to some iconic Superman scenes, it's still unclear what the purpose of this episode was. Didn't "Identity" earlier in the season already touch on this same theme: the public's reaction to Clark as the "red-blue blur" hero? The pros and cons of Clark revealing his true self have been discussed and shown in several ways for over eight years. It's time to let Clark take that dual identity in some way, shape, or form now, even if he doesn't wear the traditional Superman costume. Trying to stall this part of Clark's journey for another season is just not feasible at this point in the story!

The Good:

Tom's Performance: Tom Welling did such a great job, especially in the scene where the public was proclaiming him as their hero. He had such a happy idealistic expression on his face the entire time, hoping for the best in people. Tom was adorable in the scene with the little boy in the red jacket, and the girl "falling for Clark" and kissing him on the cheek was sweet too. This was easily the best scene in the entire episode. Maybe Tom himself is a little used to his fans acting that way around him though, so he didn't really have to act in that scene.

Clark Kent: It was bittersweet to watch Clark's reaction to those people, yet knowing this won't happen for him. Clark's deepest wish: "For the first time in my life, I might actually be able to be myself" won't ever happen in public. And, that's why of course, he decides to create his famous alter identity. And, Clark is more proactive again! As Chloe shared, Clark went on "patrol duty" after his last fiasco with his old high school girlfriend, Lana. However, it would be better to show more scenes of Clark saving people, rather than have it happen in Offscreenville and the audience being simply told about it.

Clark stood his ground against government officials who were trying to shoot him, even though Chloe told him to run. And, he made the decision to destroy the Legion ring, to prevent others from abusing its power. In addition, he wrote an expose on Linda Lake, to put her in jail and to prevent her from exposing his secret. Although, why didn't he just write the expose in the first place?

Superman References: The scene with the public acknowledging Clark as their hero was a nice nod to countless Superman movies and comics. As a Superman fan, it was impossible to not smile watching the public react to Clark, clapping, asking for his autograph, and also watching Clark's reaction to them. Clark giving Lois Lane the first interview with the Metropolis hero and discussing his powers with her was a reference to the first Superman movie. And, Linda Lake saying Clark was part of an alien invasion was a reference to the Birthright storyline, when Lex said the same thing about Superman.

Special effects: The special effects were effective overall, including: the bullets bouncing off Clark when the federal authorities tried to capture him; Clark catching Lois falling from the desk and his effortlessly lifting the desk; Clark super-speeding and saving Lois from being arrested at the Daily Planet; Davis changing into Doomsday; and Linda Lake turning into water.

Continuity: There were several instances of continuity in this episode: Clark finally talking with Martha on the phone; Jor-El was mentioned; Chloe mentioned Jimmy was being transferred to Metropolis Hospital, the events of Bride and Lana; Davis talked about him and Chloe being in the Arctic together; Chloe talked about her memory loss after Bride; and even Linda Lake was a previous guest star, returning to reach closure as a FOTW.

Mixed Reactions :

Dual Identity Topic: This topic is the basis of the Superman story. So, any episode focused on this is an important one, and reflects the basic premise of the entire show. With a season nine being confirmed now and after Identity and Infamous – how much longer can the writers stall Clark from taking a dual identity? Without Clark addressing this issue very soon totally on his own, this show will seem like one big filler episode in season nine.

Clark and Chloe:

Pros: It's understandable that Clark needs to have someone to talk to about his life. That's one of the benefits of having a best friend, and it was great to see Clark and Chloe protect each other in this episode, confide in each other, etc. Clark and Chloe work well as best friends and it's obvious how much they care about each other.

Cons: However, there's a fine line between them confiding in each other, bouncing ideas off each other, and scenes where Chloe tries to make Clark's decisions for him. It was unnecessary for Chloe to suggest the idea of a dual identity to Clark, or to spell out the obvious to him either regarding the press, etc. The topic of a dual identity should be totally Clark's idea and his decision only! All major decision in Clark's life should be his decision. It's beyond tiring to have other characters try to tell Clark what to do with his life. Best friends only work if both are on equal terms.

Clark and Lois:

Pros: Thank you Caroline Dries, for not putting Clark in another romantic relationship too soon. That would have been out-of-character for Clark, who is usually very cautious about this aspect of his life. And, it would have also been a negative reflection on Lois too, making her look like nothing but a rebound girl. So, the slow, gradual build-up of their relationship works best! Contrasting their different styles is one way of showing this too: Clark's more cautious, careful analytical approach as compared to Lois' more risky, "jump right in", and take a chance approach to relationships. That's why the scenes in the barn between them worked, and also why the ending scene worked well too. Lois wanted to talk about the kiss that almost happened between them in Bride, and their developing feelings for each other, and clearly, Clark is not ready yet. It's just too soon, and the time is not right.

Cons: Some scenes between Clark and Lois work, and others are like hearing someone's fingernails scrape across a rough surface. The first scene was an example of one of those old, obnoxious, worn-out scenes. There's nothing entertaining about watching any character yell at Clark. There's a big difference between playful bantering and caustic, condescending remarks. Without mutual respect, there's no relationship worth cheering for, regardless of the past "iconic" manner in which this relationship has been portrayed. This Clark/Superman fan doesn't want him with anyone who doesn't treat him with respect. And, although the ending scene was done well and was very realistic for both of them, viewers also don't need a repeat of Lana 2.0 - get rid of the angst and show them as co-workers and friends!

Directing: There were some beautiful shots, such as the slow motion one when Clark opened the door at the Kent farm to welcome the federal authorities; the way Clark and Chloe were "framed" by the lights and the trees when they met in the woods; and the shadow of Doomsday on the wall at ISIS. But, there were so many extreme close-ups, that it took this viewer out of the story more than once. And, there were some scenes that seemed disjointed. Overall, the episode didn't flow well.

Writing/Dialogue: Some of the dialogue was good, especially the comment from Linda Lake about people's reaction to heroes: "The funny thing about people…the only thing they love more than building up heroes, is tearing them down." It makes me wonder if Dries sometimes visits the Smallville-related online message boards. And, the unfair criticism of Clark on the news, along with the warped perception that Lex Luthor could be any type of hero was also very entertaining. However, some of the other dialogue seemed as though it was from a campy, 1980's movie.

The Bad:

It's difficult to recuperate from the past two horribly written episodes, Power and Requiem. Those two episodes basically derailed the major storylines of the season, and it's going to take a few episodes now to get back on track. This episode was a good start, but overall it felt rushed and crammed full of too many things happening at once. Episodes that are focused on important storylines like Clark flying and Clark's dual identity should be two-part episodes. The viewers need to understand Clark's thoughts and feelings more in relation to these important topics.

My rating? I give Infamous 3.5 out of 5 stars.

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