Advance Review Of This Week's Smallville: "Booster!"

Written by Craig Byrne - KryptonSite Webmaster

Please do not reproduce this review on other websites and forums. Just link to this page! Thank you!

We're now into the final five episodes of Smallville, and on Friday, April 22, DC Comics fan favorite Geoff Johns writes his third episode of the show in three years.

In Season 8, his installment was "Legion," bringing the Legion of Super-Heroes to the Smallville universe. Last year, he did the two-part "Absolute Justice" featuring the Justice Society. This time, he brings in a character that he personally had a part in the revitalization of - Booster Gold. And of the three Johns-penned episodes, this might be the most successful of the three.

I'd go into Booster's background but you'll find that out in the episode - better to wait for that. But in short - Booster is a hero who is not afraid to use celebrity for his advantage. While Clark seems comfortable lurking in the shadows as The Blur, Booster Gold embraces and takes advantage of his fame. Eric Martsolf who is cast in the role is perfect. He's irritating while at the same time you can't help but really enjoy him. The Booster costume is over the top; but again, it's true to the character. If there's anything I can say served as the inspiration for "Booster," at least from what I can see on screen, it is that DC Comics' 52 and the Booster Gold episode of Justice League Unlimited were influences. Martsolf plays Booster as much more than one note - there's the fame-seeking jerk, who at some times even reminds me of the recent nuttiness of Charlie Sheen; but at the same time, there's a heart inside there, and when it comes to making the right choices - spoiler warning! - Booster may know how to make them. For a long time I had been pushing for "Awesome" from Chuck to play Booster Gold; now seeing Martsolf in action, I know for a fact that the casting directors made the right choice. This is "great casting" on the same level as Phil Morris as John Jones or Michael Shanks as Hawkman. As for the character, I love the fact that Booster Gold seems well aware of Clark's destiny, and I especially love time travelers who are a bit smartalecky - Lois & Clark's Tempus comes to mind. Booster had all of those elements, and it all came together so well.

I had a continuous grin for most of the time the episode aired. The "Clark as a bumbler with glasses as a disguise" storyline is finally addressed again with humorous results. Johns writes a fantastic Lois Lane and a great bumbling Clark with even some mentions to the way Clark would act in high school being addressed. Johns also succeeds in the nearly-impossible task of making Cat Grant likeable. Yes, Cat (played by Keri Lynn Pratt) is in this episode and her storyline is really funny. We also get to see a never-before-seen member of the Daily Planet troupe in a quick appearance.

And that brings up the other character who makes his Smallville debut in this episode - Jaime Reyes, the Blue Beetle. When "Booster" was announced last summer some people thought it might be the launching pad for a Blue Beetle spin-off series, as it was known that Geoff Johns wanted to bring the Beetle to TV. But of all of the elements in the episode, I think the Blue Beetle was the weakest link.

Jaren Brandt Bartlett did a decent job as Jaime, and his bumbling and journey seems a little reminiscent of Clark's; but the "first-generation" Blue Beetle armor look just didn't work for me. Basically, he looked like a blue Iron Man. The armor didn't communicate with Jaime (at least, not yet); maybe that was a purposeful decision since Booster already had someone or something thta he talked with in Skeets. A sleeker outfit - like the costumes in TRON Legacy - would have made for a more awesome Beetle, but then again, the focus of this episode was on Booster Gold so I guess I shouldn't be surprised or bothered by it. Unfortunately, I'm not entirely sure the Beetle worked in this way in the Smallville universe, and I'm not sure if the character in this form could work for TV. I wouldn't be surprised if we ever do see Blue Beetle in his own show, that it would probably be completely reworked. I will say this, though - if Smallville were continuing, I'd LOVE to find a way to see Booster Gold teaming up with Ted Kord as the Blue Beetle, if this Ted ever put on a costume, and assuming Ted survives the episode.

Tom Welling did a fantastic job as director and he has earned his reputation as one of the show's best directors. At the end of the day, there are very few people who know the show as well as Tom, and Tom made some great choices in how this episode will be presented. Booster Gold's commercial - seen in the episode preview - has a much different tone compared to some other scenes, but it all seems to work and it turns out to be very, very good.

There has been some criticism that an episode like "Booster" comes so close to the end of Smallville's run - after all, shouldn't the final episodes be about Clark? But that's the thing. "Booster" ultimately is about Clark. The reason Booster Gold is in the 21st century is related to Clark, and I think the lesson that people can love heroes is an important one for him to have when he's only three weeks away from putting on a certain red and blue costume. (He IS putting on the costume on May 13, right?) I will admit - I still don't like others telling Clark how he should be. I wish he could make those decisions for himself. But I'm glad to see that the progression to the classic Clark Kent and Superman is happening as we ramp up to those final episodes, and I hope that the glasses-and-bumbling thing is picked up on again before the series finale, or else I will be disappointed. I'm actually also wondering - if the show goes through with a Clark-Lois wedding - if Clark will be wearing his glasses for that event. After all, what if people like Cat Grant are there? But yes, seeing Clark grappling with the whole "dual identity" thing is just as much of a highlight of this story as seeing Booster Gold is. Tom does a great job with it, and seeing him bumbling is quite a sight.

If you're looking for a fun story on Friday night, "Booster" is your pick. It's definitely one of my favorite episodes of the season, with "Lazarus," "Homecoming," and "Luthor" taking the top spots. There's something for everybody - comic fans, non-comic fans; shippers, non-shippers; kids, grown-ups... basically, it's all around fun. If you've got any more questions, feel free to tweet me at @kryptonsite, but know I'm going to be careful about spoilers. But know that this is definitely one of those that you really shouldn't wait to see. It's that good, and Booster Gold is awesome - I think if I hadn't been so wowed by the episode, I wouldn't have rushed to my local comic shop to get a "Booster Gold Fan Club" t-shirt like I did. (And kudos to the production for using those shirts - featuring the artwork of Booster Gold creator Dan Jurgens - in the episode itself!)

If you want to read some of Geoff Johns' Booster Gold comic work, the first trade paperback is available here. 52 is also a fantastic story involving Booster, which Johns also played a part in the writing for.

Here are some extras associated with the episode that you may enjoy:

Preview Image Gallery - Official CW Description - Preview Trailers & Clips - Promo Trailer Caps - Spoilers

Return to the KryptonSite home page