#10.2 “Shield” Review

NOTE: This review reveals HUGE spoilers, and I have to tell you that I really mean it when I do all CAPS. So, read no further if you wish to remain unspoiled.

The last few seasons, the teases of “Smallville” episodes have been usually wonderful, with a very rare exception. I don’t think I’d place this tease in the ‘wonderful’ category, however. While I didn’t hate the tease of this episode, I didn’t love it either. Maybe the writer was expected to shove too much into the tease. The two main stories of the episodes, the one with Clark and one with Lois, divided it. The story went back and forth between Clark and Lois so much it makes sense that both of their stories were teased in the teaser, but the one of Lois’ story out in the desert of Egypt was by far the weaker of the two. Although, Carter talking about fate was very important to Lois’s part of the episode and, thematically, was important to the episode as a whole.

Written by Jordan Hawley, the episode was otherwise pretty close to perfect. While I thought the actress who played Cat Grant (Keri Lynn Pratt) played it a bit too broadly at times, like in the scene with Oliver, I liked the character overall and the way she was introduced. Cat is a nice contrast to Lois: bubbly, skilled at home economics (although I’m not sure using twice the required sugar in a cookie is a good thing), and almost too cute. I think it’s great that she’s exactly Lois’ polar opposite. Cat is a good foil for her, probably making Clark miss Lois even more. I ended up liking her a lot, so I hope she comes back for an episode or two.

I love that Michael Shanks is back as Carter Hall, he’s probably my favorite guest star from the Justice Society of America we first met back in ‘Absolute Justice,’ and he was terrific in this outing. I adored the scene where he was telling Lois about Shayera. Telling and not showing can be fatal, but it worked out here because it was like Carter was reliving that part of his past lives all over again. Shayera actually being there, his mind turning Lois into his long-dead wife, was awesome. It gave Michael some excellent things to play, revealing tons about his character and also showed us what Shayera looked like. The scene let Michael play a gentler side of Carter and that whole speech was terrifically written and beautifully portrayed.

I like that he was there for Lois because he’s good for her. Carter is a hero like Clark and can give her much needed perspective on her relationship with the Man of Steel.

As glad as I was to see Carter again, I’m not sure why Lois apparently hadn’t recognized him. No, she hadn’t met him back in ‘Absolute Justice’, or at least not that I could tell, but she had seen his mug shot. She had also gone to the old Justice Society HQ looking for him. Lois had his file from Amanda Waller and she had even written a front-page article on the group he’d led way back when. I would think finally meeting him would have sparked some comment from her, so that was a curious lack from an episode that had otherwise dealt very well with continuity.

It makes sense that Carter and Lois get along since, in some ways, they have some things in common. He’s no nonsense, yet has a lot of heart and passion, just like her. He has a softer, more romantic side, just like her. So I really liked their scenes together. Erica and Michael seem to have a real good chemistry.

In that second scene with Carter, I also loved the fact that Lois was asking the questions a lot of people would have for Superman, if he were real. What is the world like for him? Does he feel pain? (I guess she doesn’t remember him getting hurt in ‘Stiletto’ or know about kryptonite.) How does he heal? When does he sleep? Does he sleep? How can he stand driving in a car when he can move so fast?

Her discovering these new things about Clark is the best part of her learning his secret. It’s awesome to see her have that awe, to be completely geeked-out and maybe even more in love with him.

Actually, I take back what I had said last week, wishing that Lois tells Clark soon about knowing his secret. If they keep up the awesomeness of this, I don’t mind if they drag this on for at least a little bit longer.

I liked how supportive Tess was being, even though both Clark and Oliver didn’t really seem to buy that she could be sincere. I think Tess probably is. I’m not sure what is up with her and Lex’s mini-me clone back at the mansion, but I think she really wants to help Oliver and Clark even though Cassidy played Tess with an edge.

I loved the failed attempt on Clark’s life. I liked the touch of humor played by Tom as Cat scolded Clark about not buckling up. Then when Deadshot took aim and fired, it was photographed beautifully; I loved that low angle shots and the way the camera moved around Deadshot. The way the camera followed that bullet’s trajectory after it was shot was a beautifully staged sequence. The whole thing made for a terrific introduction for Deadshot, who was nicely played by Bradley Stryker. How exactly Flag figured out Clark was their man (the Blur), it’s hard to say, and maybe we’ll never find out, but Deadshot’s failed assassination attempt of Clark certainly proved Flag’s suspicions.

Although you wouldn’t have thought it since she was a bit naïve and clueless, Cat sometimes was a good source of information for both Clark and Oliver. For Oliver, she had unwittingly given him information where he’d been held by Flag. Too bad it had let Flag ‘mark him’ with that glancing shot and had imprinted that skull and crossbones symbol on his skin, just like Deadshot had done to Clark’s shoulder.

And then a strange girl does the same thing to Carter? That seemed ominous and it’s an interesting twist, making the ‘danger’ to Cat not at all serious. The threats to her safety were all a trap for Clark, so Cat having evidence that lured Oliver to that old brewery probably wasn’t a coincidence. It was probably planted for her to find. Something is definitely up, especially when we since found out that the ‘strange girl’ was actually Plastique. What is the suicide squad’s purpose in working so hard to secretly tag the three heroes to track them? What are they trying to learn? It can’t be good. It’ll be interesting to see how all that plays out.

I liked how Cat’s little speech to Clark about heroes stepping into the light to inspire was contrasted by Flag’s about people needing to stay in the shadows to be effective in the very next scene. It looks like it will help setup the main dilemma for Clark and the other Superheroes for the rest of the season: whether to stay hidden, protecting themselves, or fully embrace their roles and come out into the open and give hope to the people they’re helping.

And I LOVED the shout out to Nietzsche and his Übermensch (Superman) theory that Lana had asked Clark about way back in the series Pilot. That was awesome. Clark has to accept who he is and accept the destiny that life has handed him to become Superman, just like Nietzsche said. The show comes full circle on that, which was fantastic.

That speech of Carter’s was probably the most important speech so far this season, maybe the series. Carter stated what seems will be the theme for this final season: embrace the life you’ve been given, the fate that life has handed you, and make the most of it. That’s a lesson not only for Lois whom he was talking to at the time, but also for everyone else in the show, especially Clark. What an awesome speech and it was so well delivered by Michael. What a fantastic moment to lead up to the big reveal at the end. One, which I was so happy I hadn’t been spoiled for: Clark finally stepping into the light, embracing his fate, wearing the red and blue again.

Clark standing on that rooftop looking out into the sky was a wonderful moment. I’m not in love with his hair being so wet looking, but I adore the jacket. It’s perfect. What a terrific moment for his Superman fan. I can’t wait to see what complications happen thanks to his new resolve to be more open.

The script had a great pace, terrific complications and fantastic act-breaks. I adored the way that Deadshot was handled, mysterious and menacing, his real intent only being disclosed late in the show. There was some terrific dialogue, even the expository lines being handled so well they weren’t dry at all. This was an awesome hour and was probably one of the better second episodes of the series. Jordan did an excellent job.

I adore when Director of Photography Glen Winter steps into the helmer’s chair. His episodes are always beautifully shot and visually striking and this outing was a fantastic example of that. I adored how dynamic the camera was, always moving and dramatic.

Michael Wale has experience as a Director of Photography, but it looks like this is his first time shooting this show. He did a fantastic job working with Glen. The very mobile camera was terrific and I loved how that motion at times blended in with slow motion or abrupt moves, like when Deadshot first shot at Clark. That was beautifully shot. The hand-held camera work in the chase scene in the bus station was also very well done.

Production Designer James Philpott sets and props were all well done. I loved the tent that Carter worked out of. It was romantic and old fashioned, just like what a guy with a 2,000 year old memory might feel comfortable in. It had the feel of something from a Victorian era desert expedition instead of a modern 21st century dig. The props, faded rugs and soft, gauzy mosquito nets were all nicely done. The cute props around Cat were maybe a bit much, but they showed off the alternate persona she (as a character) wanted to portray so they were perfect.

Costume Designer Melanie Williams did a wonderful job on this episode. I adored the costumes, Cat’s softer and more feminine look and I loved the new red leather jacket, the over-used red canvas farmer’s jacket hopefully gone forever (or at least very rarely seen from here on out). The original was a great stand-in for the cape for the previous nine seasons, but maybe it’s time Clark moved on from that.

What they came up with for his leather jacket is terrific, like I said earlier. It fits in with what the other Superheroes in the show wear and I suppose Clark isn’t quite ready to pull on the full-on Superman suit along with the tights and cape just yet, but this new jacket shows some serious progress toward that eventuality. I adored it, but I’m not wild about how wet Tom’s Hair looked in that shot. Hopefully that’s also a work-in-progress.

Louis Febre’s score was fantastic. I loved the lighter, upbeat moments when Cat was being silly, but I adored the vaguely old-fashioned movie western sound when Deadshot was on camera. The music gave the more dramatic moments an extra punch.

Not perfect, but all-in-all a most enjoyable episode. I give this episode 4.75 red leather Superman jackets out of a possible 5.

Note: The views of Triplet don’t necessarily represent the thoughts and feelings of everyone at KryptonSite. Send her feedback.