The Problem with Smallville

Those of you who visit this site regularly know that I’m a Superman fan.  You also know that I have a big problem with the Smallville television show, to wit, it refuses to let him become what he’s meant to be.  If the character Tom Welling plays is supposed to end up as Superman, then let him be Superman.  Enough already with this game they’re playing, seeing how much stuff from the comics they can cram in while still keeping their whining won’t-abe capeless and  grounded.  The series is a hodgepodge of elements heedlessly, cynically thrown together.  It’s poorly written, confusing, irritating, and frustrating. 

But you don’t have to take my word for it.  Over at the Superman Homepage, the finest Superman site on the web, Neal Bailey has been saying pretty much the same  about Smallville for years.  I highly recommend his review of the latest episode, “Persuasion.”   You can find it at 

http://www.supermanhomepage.com

Some will disagree with the analogy he draws between the end of this episode and the tragic events of 9/11.  Regardless, Neal makes a clear, powerful, and passionate statement about who and what Superman ought to be–ideas the producers of this series just don’t seem to understand.