Wow, you're taking it better than I am. O_O I can't even express how utterly disappointed I am in the way they handled things.

It's probably going to be an unpopular opinion, but I loved it. Honestly, this is beyond the best I've ever seen SV do and they really tried their hardest to put everything in line with the comics and movieverse. Think about the bullshit that AlMiles buried them in. And now we know why they didn't sink a ton of money into the season. It was all in the finale. It's not a movie, they don't have an over-the-top budget. I'm blown away by what they did on a TV budget and with a smaller network.

About Tess, I cried. I screamed. I gnashed my teeth. And then I saw what they were trying to do. After all our bitching FOR YEARS, they were trying to give us a Superman we would recognize. It couldn't be perfect, with how different the continuity is [AND YES, I MEAN CHLOE ESPECIALLY], but I respect that they went there.

And don't tell me you expected the suit and flight any earlier. It ends when he becomes Superman. We all know that. I'm actually surprised that they showed us that much. It was more than I ever expected.

Edited at 2011-05-14 03:53 pm (UTC)

I definitely didn't expect the suit or the flight any sooner, but it just felt forced to me. I dunno, I guess I'd hoped that after all of Clark's hemming and hawing for YEARS that he'd finally get a clue without having to be pushed. That, to me, took away from what he's supposed to be as Superman. Sure, he's supposed to have some guidance along the way, but it just felt like they kept the hand-holding up all the way to that last push. :/

And oh gods, TESS! *wails some more* They really didn't have to do that. At all. It just felt gratuitous. I mean, at least Carter had a reason to die, and was given a proper send-off. Tess didn't even get a mention after Lex ganked her.

I dunno, the whole thing just felt very patchwork to me, as if they got down to the wire and realized belatedly that they had so much to tie up but only 2 hours to do it, so nothing got resolved fully. They've made much better episodes this season and last IMO. Then again, they've also made much worse. *shrug* I don't even know. I just feel really unsatisfied.

Of course, I'll totally respect your love for the finale. No reason in the world that we can't agree to disagree on it. *smishes you tight*

It think the thing is, this is SV's Superman and they didn't want him to do a huge turn around in his character at the last second. And they also wanted to make sure they tipped the hat to the entirety of what got him to the point. Had to show why he has to hold on to Smallville and why. Had to reconcile he and Jor-El finally. They especially needed to go more in-depth with Jor-El and his part in the legacy since he all know he's been King Douche on the show for years.

Am I making apologies? Probably. But this is how I saw it.

Actually, yes, they did. Tess is a specifically Smallville edition and they spent the entire finale trying trying to line up canon as best they could. She couldn't really exist in the larger world they were building for the future.

And I think it was more of a bucket list of stuff we fans have wanted for years and they were trying REALLY HARD to give it to us. On a TV budget. I can't think of a single thing we bitched about [other than the occasional 'whatthefuckcanon' Chloe moment] that they didn't resolve.

I think a lot of it for me is that I really see what they were trying to do after all the years of whining, complaints, and bitchfits the fans have had and this really is beyond ANYTHING we had a right to expect when this team took over a few years ago. So I love it all the more for that.

And agreed. I can understand why some don't like it. And I can totally agree to disagree on it. *snugs back*

After lots more reflection, it just seemed to me like they never were able to make this Clark into the Clark we know from the comics and from the movieverse. His origin was so much darker that it made it seem really odd to me for them to suddenly transform him into that version. I think the most he seemed like Superman to me was during Carter's funeral, when he was helping bring Carter's body into the temple. They could've left him in that costume, given him the flight, and I think I would've been happy. I mean, they've never done anything else to canon specs, so why start now?

And regarding the uniform, I would've been happy with the leather jacket version b/c it was HIS. He made it, or came up with it, whereas the tights and cape were NOT his idea, which was another thing that made him not my canon Clark. Even if Martha made it, he still didn't want it. :/ I would've rather seen Tom wear the jacket proudly than do greenscreen to *pretend* he was wearing the cape and tights. (But that's where I descend into a rant about how Tom's 'no flights, no tights' policy ruined the whole thing, and that's for another time.)

Of course they needed to resolve the whole Jor-El thing, and the stuff with Jonathan, and I'm totally fine with how they handled most of it. It was just the constant pushing, and Clark's constant whining and reluctance that ruined it for me. It felt to me like they were taking away Clark's agency, to where he's not even really his own person, and he hasn't grown up enough to make his own decisions (and I'm referring to everyone Clark interacted with, Lois, Chloe, Martha, and Ollie all included; it was like he had no say, and that doesn't make for the Clark that I know and love).

And to me, it felt like the writers were backpedaling and caving to the fans' demands (which, I know, there are a lot of things that we wanted), when they'd done the entire rest of the show along different lines. So it just felt like the second half of the finale just didn't fit right. I would've rather they made him a totally different kind of Superman, since nothing else in the entire ten years went the same. It was like they were jumping realities.

*shrug*

I know, I'm being such a butt about it. I could probably write a dissertation about my grievances at this point, but that'd require more viewings, and I'm not sure I have it in me to watch it again. *weeps*

I am glad that you felt satisfied with it, though. I was actually most worried that you wouldn't be happy with it b/c there were no Swanns. :p

*smishes*

The episode was epic. I am sad to see such an amazing show finished, but they ended it perfectly with everything that they had. After it was over, I had to clap for the whole series and the actors/ actresses.

I guess we all see why they barely did promotion this year! I wonder just how much of the budget was eaten up by SFX? But boy, did they bring it!

Oh god, I'm tearing up again just thinking about it. *clings tightly to you*

With the exception of the defeat of Darkseid (which I think was due to lack of time and budget) and the church being filled with people we didn't know (what the hell happened to all the people Clois have interacted with over the years and totally would have invited?!) and the death of Tess (sad but not unexpected), I thought it was perfect. Absolutely perfect. There's too much to go over, I'll have to watch it again to even be able to make a list. But oh god, it was more than I had ever dreamed they'd give us.

THISTHISTHIS.

With the exception of the defeat of Darkseid (which I think was due to lack of time and budget)

I think that's exactly it. It's a TV show budget, WB-backed or not. And they used A LOT for that sort of thing. People forget that this isn't CBS or ABC.

the church being filled with people we didn't know (what the hell happened to all the people Clois have interacted with over the years and totally would have invited?!)

One, Sam Jones III had issues with the law this year. So yeah. Kristin wouldn't come back because the fans are vicious. Most of the other characters they interacted with are villains or dead. You can't have the military and the heroes in together just yet. And Sam and Lucy are on lockdown with the threat level up. So...that doesn't leave us with much. Also, not to mention, the budget again. It's not like they could afford a ton of known guest stars with the SFX. And Rosenbaum. How much do you think they paid Rosey?

People just don't think about this stuff.

Edited at 2011-05-16 06:07 pm (UTC)

I HAD A BIG LONG MESSAGE WRITTEN OUT AND I PRESSED THE WRONG BUTTON AND IT'S GONE GODDANGSUNOFA...

*sighs*

It basically said that I agree with you. On all levels. And had a witty line about how I feel like I've handed you an oar to help wade through this river we're creating with our own tears. ;) I'm TOTALLY with you, Twin. God I'm going to miss Smallville.

*kicks LJ* That was a good message, too... *grumble*

GAAAAAAH! I HATE IT WHEN THAT HAPPENS!

It's going to be SO DAMN WEIRD not to have SV to come home to on Fridays. And to not see these guys once a week? WAAAAAAAH!

I loved it. Have a few quibbles but overall am excited and happy. I felt they ended on a high note.

Sad SO SO SO much about Tess though.

Awww! After all we've been through with this show, I'm SO glad you were able to enjoy it! And I TOTALLY thought of you during the Clex....I mean, the Clark and Lex scene.

It broke my heart and I didn't quite see it coming, but I should have known. They were trying so hard to line it up with canon at the end. So I can respect the decision, but they killed my Lena. That's okay, though. I have a little nook I plan to pop her in so I can keep her forever. ;)

*clings*

I still have ice cream to cry over. In terms of plot, yes, it was all holey (nothing will be as tight as Season 9 IMHO) but DAYUM the little slice-of-life moments were perfection. I knew Tess was going to die but she went out owning her damn decision. I may or may not have a ficlet around how they break the news to Conner. And while it would've been epic to have everyone we ever met in the church, I can totes see how budget IRL & story-wise (military + vigilantes, whut?) prevented this form happening. I was happy enough that Jeff the Intern walked Martha down the aisle. OH AND CHOLLIE MUNCHKIN. *hugs the baby forever*

Yes but as I asked on my own LJ...

Whose baby was that???? Is it Chloe and Ollie's kid? I'm confused! I needed the kid to call her mommy or ask for daddy.

No really. Was that her kid? Chloe does NOT seem like the one who would have a baby first.

Yep, I think it's pretty safe to say that that is Ollie and Chloe's baby. Canon has been stretched for Chloe before and it IS canon that Ollie has two kids, so it's either meant to be the SV version of Robert or Connor. Honestly, I half-expected that to happen earlier in the season.

ALL OF THIS! I knew that you'd get the reason behind the fact that the wedding was as it is and such. TV shows cost money to make, people!

And I grinned my ass off at the beginning of the episode. I knew that baby would make you very happy. Would I have been just as happy if it were Chris? Yes. But I can definitely get behind the Chlollie baby.