LOVED it, but-BIG Character Hole!

[SVFan7337]

I posted this on page 7 of the "Loved it...Hated it" thread, but I thought it might also be worthy of a discussion in a separate thread:

I thoroughly enjoyed this episode! I have never seen Saw, but the ripoff probably wouldn't have bothered me that much if I had.

Chloe's skills and the whole elevator debate doesn't bother me either since, as many of you have pointed out, the genre of the show is fantasy, so I expect to have to suspend my disbelief as far as such logistics...

HOWEVER, one particular thing that often bothers me about Smallville is character consistency. I do feel that it was an enormous character hole for the bad guy to leave and go to a bar thinking Lionel was dead.

The writers gave him SO much hatred for Lionel to the point where he didn't care if he was caught as long as Lionel was dead and to the point that he had to be sedated when he found out Lionel wasn't dead. Someone with that much hate for another human being would stay and make SURE the job was finished. He'd want to SEE Lionel go splat with his own eyes and enjoy it!! The writers also built him up to be this meticulous, thorough, maniac who carefully plotted things down to the last detail. That, too, would indicate someone who would see a job through.

That, for me was the the one point difficult to believe since it speaks to character consistency, not fantasy plot. Otherwise, I absolutely loved everything about this episode!

[superhippie2000]

well its like all villians how many times do you actually see the villian stay and watch them die. like in austin powers when scott is mad at dr evil cause he wasnt going to watch austin die but dr evil is so confident that he did a great job he doesnt think anything can stop it.

[margroks]

Little things often bug me, too although in this case, while it may have been a bit off key because I'd have thought, too, that the bad guy would have wanted to see the bodies, nonetheless, dropping an elevator with no safeties would seem to be a foolproof way of killing Lionel. At least, that's what I'm telling myself.

[superpal1]

When Lex and Clark got to the address they saw the computer screen with the message Game Over taped to it and the camera on the elevator. I'm assuming the bad guy new they authorities were close, he blew the elevator, Clark supersped to save them. The bad guy walked to not get caught. Remember, Lex told Lionel that the emergency brakes were cut, so in his mind no one should have lived

[MBCorp]

The bad guy in this episode was really the weakest link of the episode for me. I found his taunts towards Lionel during the games to be annoying and whiney and it was irritating that they didn't pick a character that the audience would have been familiar with (like say, Morgan Edge! or Lucas. or even Gabe Sullivan, etc) to be the bad guy instead of some unknown security guard. And it was stupid that the guy was in a bar drinking and just assumed that Lionel and Martha had died. It doesn't make any sense unless Lex was really behind the whole thing and apprehended the guy and then just pretended that he found him in a bar. That could have worked. But oh well, this was a good episode so I just ignore the WTF moments.

[LuthorRequiem2]

I thought the bad guy was actually genuinely frightening in this episode. He was pretty scary.

[gamer2]

I agree with the finishing the job points and I also see the point that it happens in other shows, but that doesn't make it good writing just because it has been an acceptable hole before. But wouldn't you at least look to watch the boom. I mean come on, how often do you get to see and elevator drop down a shaft? Then they could have had Clark see the bad guy through the elevator and superspeed to catch him from behind without him seeing the superspeed or even clark for that matter. Then he could of just given him that little knock out tap that he does and given him to the police. Just a thought.

[xrayvision]

I was disappointed how Clark let the guy go and Lex was the one to supposedly catch him. I would think Clark would want to finish the job and nab that guy.

[shuyin131]

We all know what Lex does w/ the bad guys that show promise in SV. He takes care fo them and tucks them away for later use. Refer to the episode Mxyptlk as an example......

[aqua]

Yeah, I was expecting a big reveal, but it took away from it when it was just some random guy with really bad teeth. Also, it seemed as if they needed him to get caught, but couldn't think of anything, so threw together the "he was in a bar talking happily about it" at the last minute.

[All about Clark]

Being that the bad guy was up high and had to get down to the ground floor, he probably hustled down and wanted to escape the scene. The elevator should have crashed before he got down. So it doesn't make sense that he wasn't still in the building when Clark did his rescue. But I do understand him leaving the scene of a crime, that part makes sense, but him celebrating it doesn't either.

[Watching Smallville]

You'd think he would have wondered why he didn't hear a big crash.

Aqua, I was expecting a big reveal, too. I was a little disappointed, but it did make the point about Apex, and give Lionel and Martha the context for a great conversation.

[Keldaz]

hmm... Maby we are not that smart after all. Maby Lex is using him for information? So he can sue his father? :P Farfetchd, but may happend.

And that part with him not seing thing trough. I mean, good luck doing a show, 1 episode a week wich always has every detail worked out. And i mean... How many would survive a elevator wich is falling without wires. 100 % guaranteed death. Unless you have an alien wich has supernatural powers. "Yeah thats what ill expect"

Come on man :/

[Watching Smallville]

I like the idea that Lex is behind it as another test for Clark -- which is why Martha was grabbed. But who knows????? This show is notorious for huge plot holes... AND for tying things up in a nice big bow when you least expect it.

[BrokenHero]

No villain ever calculates Clark into their plans. This guy was meticulous, that's why he knew, in a normal world, his plan was fool-proof and he made his getaway.

YAY this is my 100th post. Just figured I'd put myself over. This was a fantastic episode.

Aww crap, it got put on my 99th.

[SVFan7337]

Originally posted by BrokenHero
No villain ever calculates Clark into their plans. This guy was meticulous, that's why he knew, in a normal world, his plan was fool-proof and he made his getaway.

My point had nothing to do with figuring Clark in. My point is that the everything about the villain says he is a meticulous man with immense hatred for Lionel. He ENJOYS watching Lionel suffer harm (or anyone, for that matter, given his enjoyment of the chauffeur's demise). It would seem to me, to be consistent with his character, that he'd want to SEE Lionel's end. That's all I am saying.