least favorite ep?

[oiran]

Heh. I'm hurting for Chloe and Gabe, and Iceman!Lex makes me nervous, but I tentatively liked this episode. Except for the Ray-Bans, which were awful. I was interested to see that my dear rhiannonhero says that this replaces Kinetic as her all-time lamest ep, and I'm surprised--not that she thinks this was a lame ep (because I can see that interpretation pretty easily), but that she thought Kinetic was that bad. I can't say it was a favorite of mine, but at least Kinetic had all kinds of team-spirited homoeroticism (Whitney getting poked while a bunch of guys stand around him breathing heavily? Admittedly, it was with a tattooing needle, but it was still penetration) and then Lex and Clark saving each other. So, at least for me, Kinetic wasn't all that bad.

My all-time lamest ep would have to be Skinwalker. Even though the episode introduced the Kawatche caves, which have since turned out to be not as pointless and stupid as I had feared, and even though someone (other than Lex) realizes that Clark is a hottie and jumps on him, the rest of it was useless and senseless. The generic Native American shamanic flute twitterings. The apparently thin, fragile crust of dirt covering the caves, which no one had noticed when they were planning to build a business park on the land. The gaping logic hole between a dog jumping through a window and Clark subsequently being found in the woods holding the disemboweled corpse of a naked girl? The names of the legendary friends/enemies, which I can't help thinking of as (Bob) Sagat and Newman from Seinfeld. However, the girl was very pretty, and her jewelry was very dramatic and lovely, even if she couldn't act at all.

Or maybe it was Dichotic. No--I already wrote Skinwalker up, so I'm going to stick with it for the moment. Anyone care to share the which and why of your least favorite ep of Smallville?

Comments

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

Dichotic. I hate that episode. Skinwalkers was lame, but it was funny lame. Like, I can watch it, laugh, point, and say how it could be (slightly) made better. Dichotic was unredeemable.

I really liked Kinetic. It was a good Whitney episode. But, then, I also liked Reaper, which is also pretty much hated.

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

I do actually agree. I always think I hate Skinwalker the most, but at least the caves ended up meaning something...Dichotic was pointless and, as apparently the only North American who had never seen an episode of Home Improvement, I didn't want or need an introduction to JTT. While he did show up in Belle Reve, it didn't have to be him; it could have been any other not-dead FotW.

[jfc013.livejournal.com]

"Heat" will always be my absolute least favorite episode. No matter how much anyone else loves it, to me it was too much horribly cruel ClarkTorture! To watch his lover marry a woman he barely knows, and to have his parents encouraging his sexual maturation? Insult on top of injury! Arrrrggggh! (And to top it all off? That GODAWFUL Elllvisss song in the worst scene of all! BARF!)

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

The scene where Lex drives up to the school and then runs past poor Clark is cruel--but it's also unusual, in that they seem to be deliberately playing with the whole fannish notion of the Clex relationship for a laugh, so I have a bit of fondness for the ep for that reason.

However, Jonathan supervising Clark's efforts to get turned on and eye-jaculate fire is just...gross. As are the used-condom wedding decorations. I was also annoyed by Insta-Tux! for Clark and the 2-hour wedding cake.

So, yeah, an episode I really only like for the Clexy parts, which are all at poor Clark's expense.

[kieyra.livejournal.com]

Skinwalkers, during my accelerated catch-up with Smallville (read: downloaded eps) was my shining moment of 'Oh lord, I cannot believe I'm watching a show this cheezy.' For many of the reasons you mention.

I'm not exactly sure why some have termed Whisper as crap, but I'm still too new to the show to have truly discriminating tastes. I'm still in the 'take it as it comes' phase.

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

Well, unlike a lot of people, I am not particularly impressed by TW's blind act. Maybe it's different when people are sighted and then blinded, rather than born blind, but I've never met a blind person who maintained a fixed gaze and an immobile face, so it always bothers me when that's what we get onscreen from anyone (TW, JG, or, hell, even Audrey Hepburn).

However, I didn't think Whisper was crap. I hated the Ray-Bans, and I was really, really unhappy about Chloe and Gabe getting caught up in the Luthor powerplay. I need to rewatch it, but I think what I'm hearing is that, at this point, even explanation by Clark about maybe "overhearing" Chloe's phone call wouldn't matter a whit to Lex--he'd still let the Sullivans go down to protect Clark, and now Clark knows it. It's not Evil!Lex, but he's still scary. Maybe even scarier because he's not evil. And sexy. Definitely sexy.

[mlleelizabeth.livejournal.com]

I think probably depending on the little nuances in our own personalities, there are several different possible "lamest" episodes. I agree that both Skinwalker and Dichotic were pretty bad, but my personal "why the hell did they film this?" is a tie between Calling (I only made it through 10 minutes before turning it off forever) and Relic/1961 or whatever they called that silliness. I am not dissing the show, And every one of those episodes had at least one or two good scenes in it, but overall they are all 4 episodes I know I will not rewatch.

[kieyra.livejournal.com]

Oh. I suppose I should mention, in the worst-ever topic, that I never watched Relic because I took one glance at the summaries and decided that Buffy had almost certainly done it better in I Only Have Eyes For You. Plus, I cannot stand Lana -- and that occurred before I discovered that most of the cool kids felt the same way.

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

Of course the Buffy version was a zillion times better, but the screencaps of Greaser!Clark from Relic are worth looking at even if you never watch the ep ;)

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

I can't even remember which one Calling was. Second-to-last of the second season, I think? And I can't remember what happened. I could look it up, but I think it's more telling that I haven't got a clue ;)

I'm still trying to figure out what the point of Relic was. They'd already supposedly established Kryptonians dropping in to say "hi" with the caves. They managed to set a timeline that I don't believe at all (i.e., Jonathan born in 1962, which makes him--and all the adults--about 10 years younger than he looks). It was stupid, except for the hotness of no-bangs Clark. Suzy!Wong!Lana was just embarrassing and made me mentally rehash my old Lana-should-have-Asian-relatives argument.

[justblue0162.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I haven't seen all of season 2 yet, so I'll pick from S1. And yet... looking at the episode list, the only one I have any negative feelings for is Crush. The Lex/Pamela stuff is wonderful, but it always bothers me how they toss Whitney's dad's funeral in at the end. That scene deserves a much stronger episode, imo. Of course, I'm very spoiled by the Jossverse where all the scenes in an episode fit together thematically. I think that's made me a little lazy. If the theme's not artfully executed or pounding me over the head with symbolism, I tend to miss it completely. And then I'll go read some brilliant meta and feel like a dork because I was just drooling over The Sexy when there actually was interesting stuff going on.

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there's too much going on in that episode. And, honestly, I wondered why Art Boy was so upset, since he could draw with his mind perfectly well. It wasn't like he had a hard time getting into Chloe's pants with the nonfunctional hands...

The Jossverse does spoil one for coherence and continuity and logic. It doesn't bother me when a show doesn't match up with the "real world," but a lack of internal logic annoys me greatly.

Sometimes, when an ep is really ridiculous, I find the meta fascinating for what it says about the writer, not about the show.

[elrond50.livejournal.com]

I can't even recall the name because I call it "Beegirl". So many WTF? moments for me. Plus Bee girl was way over the top and that whole class election thing was stinky cheese.

But the bigeest WTF part of the entire series was the spaceship missing for months in a cornfield. I still want to know what the writers were smoking on that one.

BTW, HI!!!

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

Hee! Hi, yourself!

Beegirl...beegirl...Drone! I actually liked that one, even though it was probably the most comic-book-like episode. Stereotypes, improbabilities, and a Lesson Learned by Clark (so that he'll eventually stand for Truth, Justice and the American Way...except only if it includes gay marriage, I'm guessing).

The cornfield thing was baffling. Do they not ever harvest the corn there? Or do they only grow it to provide cover for their dirty meteor secrets?

[rayaluna.livejournal.com]

My least favourite eps are: Dichotic and Redux. I was going to mention "Reaper" but then I remembered Dominic in the trunk and all was well.

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

Dichotic completely sucked. I probably should have picked it, because I'm becoming convinced it is actually my most-hated...

But I liked Redux, sort of. It has that ride-to-school-blowjob scene, after all. Or, rather, it doesn't have that scene, but you know it's there.

[pun.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, I think Accelerate got the worst reaction out of me ever, but I will admit that the cloning element made it not a complete waste of time. Skinwalker does fall mighty low on the list, but it has a special place in my heart for inspiring one of my stories.

I'm going to be a sheep and say Dichotic. Though at least dichotic is memorable in its badness. There are ones like Nocturne that I forget are even there.

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

Oh, but Nocturne had Lex quoting Donne. Even though he was quoting it to Lana, it was still fucking hot.

[pun.livejournal.com]

Yes, I knew that would be your caveat for Nocturne, and I agree. That's why I chose Dichotic.

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

It's the only caveat for that episode, but it's kind of a big one ;)

(sleepy clark?)

[pun.livejournal.com]

Oh, way to spring it on me while I'm not looking! Someday, my dear, someday. And as I always say, when that day finally arives it will be a huge let down. But I'll let you see that for yourself.

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

You could just let me read it now and then I'd leave you alone.

Well, you could.

[amandajane5.livejournal.com]

I have five for your consideration:

Reaper - this episode is the suck, and also? Quite possibly the stupidest FOTW ever. Um, didn't check to make sure his mom died? Idiot!

Obscura - Lana gets blown up in a cheesy effect and then can see through random, makes-no-sense, police guy's eyes. Suck.

Nocturne - Byron. 'Nuff said.

Dichotic - for obvious reasons. I do think this is probably worst.

Fever - although this is a close second. No Clex. Stupid ass plot. Martha apparently has no brain. Double 0 Bo. The spaceship right in front of the hospital. Idiotic.

I don't think Skinwalker was that bad. Kyla couldn't act at all, but at least she had some chemistry with TW, which was a relief after all that freaking Lana.

Fun question!

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah: Fever. Action!Bo breaking into gov't facilities, then taking the family spaceship for a walk. Pete pointlessly sidekicking. Clark napping. Chloe getting her feelings hurt--again.

I can't remember how Lana got rid of her Stalk-O-Vision--the bad cop must have died.

There's some reason I don't hate Reaper but I only remember it has nothing to do with the (very stupid and lame) FotW. Now I'll have to go back and figure out what it was ;)

Skinwalker's main redeeming point was Kyla's interest in Clark, who obviously would have potential dates throwing themselves at him all the time if Smallville were a real place. I also can't get the rather fascinating image of her miniature hand next to his giant, head-crushing paw out of my mind. I just kept thinking: how would these creatures mate? It would be like a Chihuahua and a Great Dane.

[nerodi.livejournal.com]

heh, yeah, skinwalker was pretty lame.

I think my least fave actually was Stray in Season one. I just really blech! you know?

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

Stray didn't bother me when it aired, but I rewatched it after Ryan aired in S2...and the Ryan character is such a creepy little suck-up. He also had this kind of inappropriate flirty NAMBLA poster-child vibe going on that made me very uncomfortable. I liked him much better in the Ryan ep, though I was mostly paying attention to the two-daddies aspect of the episode, not so much the kid.

I have three, actually.

[nematoddity.livejournal.com]

Which have mostly been covered here--Dichotic, Drone and Redux. My problem with Dichotic was they took someone who had all the WB good stuph (JTT with that incredible smile and Christian-Slater-ness attitude), someone who actually can act, and gave him utter pointless dreck to work with. Honestly, when he later shows up in Belle Reve, you really didn't need backstory for him--though I admit, I was busier laughing at the vagaries of fandom--my entire brain was saying "Look! Bobby Drake in a mental hospital!" every time I saw the FotWs go at it...

Whisper, though? Not epically lame. Drone is epically lame. Anything with Tina Greer is repugnantly lame. And this ep's not that either. It's more just...plebian. I was bored.

Which may be the most shocking part of the ep. Though I will stand up fiercely for the Chloe in this one--even knowing the Luthors would crush her--and she did at the time, it's in her eyes--she stood up to Lionel. That takes big resounding brass ones that so far this season, she hasn't exhibited. So, maybe we're going to get Chloe with her spine back--which would be good, as the rest of the show's seemingly quite flabby at present.