Traveler, overall, was a vast improvement over Hero, but not as much as it should have been. Because of the WGA strike, these episodes aren't receiving the revisions they so badly needed. I'm trying to keep that in mind, but it's not easy. I know, it sounds to you like I hated Traveler. I really didn't. I enjoyed it a lot more than Hero, in fact, I really loved it. There's just a few little things I couldn't ignore.
 

I know, Smallville, you couldn't have Lana present when Chloe made her impassioned plea about Clark, but a mention of where she was? That would not have killed you. Please remember that while these are characters, they don't know that. Lana Lang is a person (albeit fictional) and therefore should think like a person. If my boyfriend is missing and his survival could potentially hang on his cousin recovering her memory? I'm going with her. If I don't go with her, there's going to be a very good reason for me to stay behind. A very good reason.

 

People do not disappear from the chain of events simply to satisfy a plot point - even as satisfying a plot point as that one was - but more on that later.

 

Can I say it's about time? We finally got Veritas on screen. We've only been waiting three years for it.

 

For those of you – like me – who don't hang out on the quasi-canon Smallville websites like The Torch, the Smallville Ledger, or the LuthorCorp site, you wouldn't have seen it. In season four – online – Smallville began laying the groundwork of the Veritas conspiracy.

 

The problem is, very few people saw it. I only heard about it second-hand myself. The idea being Jor-El contacted influential families with the intent of forming an alliance against certain Kryptonian interests. I can't find anything detailing it now (and I've looked) which tells you how limited it was. The main point being, three years later, they've revised it and finally put it on screen.

 

Pity they didn't do it four years ago. It would've improved a lot of things immeasurably, but better late than never, I suppose.

 

All I can say is, Smallville, please give us a conversation between Oliver and Clark. I want to see Justin Hartley and Tom Welling play that out. It would add such an incredible undertone to Clark and Oliver relationship.

Not only is Clark the person Ollie's parents died waiting for, but he is also the reason they died. That's going to leave a mark.

 

On the subject of familial trauma, there's Lionel. Oh, Lionel, Lionel, Lionel. How much do I love you, Lionel? We know that Clark, as much as he's let Lionel in, has never really trusted him. It's always been grudging. At first to appease his mother, then because he really didn't have any other choice.


Now we know just how justified that was. Lionel has murdered at least three people to ensure his claim on Jor-El's son. One of whom, by the way, we know was committed during the time he was supposedly 'reformed'. Before you argue, remember. Edward Teague was alive as of Season Four's "Commencement" which well after Lionel's supposed redemption.

 

The Magnificent Bastard is back and in fine style. Though, really, he didn't actually go anywhere, now did he?

 

Also, I want to throw a few roses out to Allison Mack. Watching her with Kristin Kreuk (right up until Lana vanished) was a blast. They work well together, but this is no surprise. Allison's long been, along with Michael Rosenbaum and John Glover, one of Smallville's greatest strengths. Not only does she coax better performances out of the actors around her, she's one of those rare talents who can chew through exposition like nobody's business.

 

As of right now, we know Rosenbaum probably won't be back. I suspect the writing is on the wall for Lionel so that rules out Glover.

 

Smallville. Please grow a brain and bring this woman back. You can't afford to lose her right now. Really, you can't. Now would be a good time to start kissing up to Allison and possibly make some offers to Justin Hartley. Otherwise, I'd be genuinely worried about next year.

 

Now, I promised to get back to this earlier, so here I am. Smallville, not only do you have disappearing characters, you have a small problem with premature execution.

 

It's okay, all shows have this problem sooner or later, but you really do need to do something about it. Introducing interesting secondary characters, played by talented actors, and before the end credits roll they kill them off. Ostensibly, it's for dramatic effect - as it was in Traveler - but that effect tends to wane with repeated use.  

 

Lay off the dramatic murders, Smallville, they aren't very dramatic anymore.