Triplet's "Tomb" Review

[KryptonSite]

http://www.kryptonsite.com/tombreview.htm

Talk about Triplet's review here!

[Nerial]

Hi, Triplet. I agreed with almost everything you said. I liked this episode, but certainly not as much as a lot this season. It was nice to see Chloe get some time and character development.

I agree with Clark's character; I think he's changed a lot as well, (although I'm a bit tired of him being put into situations where he can't win no matter what he does--save that for another topic). The scene with Ma Kent was wonderful, as he shows support and encouragement to his mother. The scene with Chloe was also great.

I thought Allison Mack really showed her stuff here. This is probably the only part I disagree with: I loved her "insane Chloe" mode. Especially the scene in the hospital. Eh, that's just me.

The only thing that really irked me...kryptonite bracelet. Let me ask this question, if Clark spent so much time up in Lana's apartment, why didn't he feel the affects of the kryptonite behind the bathroom wall??? Just something to chew on.

Overall, good review. See ya' later, Triplet!

[cxianet]

Originally posted by Nerial
The only thing that really irked me...kryptonite bracelet. Let me ask this question, if Clark spent so much time up in Lana's apartment, why didn't he feel the affects of the kryptonite behind the bathroom wall??? Just something to chew on.

I don't think Clark feels the effects of the little green rock when they're covered up. For example, when Lana's necklace was in the box, Clark couldn't feel the effects of it.

I love every single one of your reviews and I would agree that this episode was on the shabbier end of an excellent 3 episode run. I wasn't fond of the storyline either but the acting was excellent overall and the B plotline with Clark and his "I'm-becoming-Superman" is great.

There's one thing I disagree with in your reviews. Your lack of Lois is a little disapointing Still, I don't find this to be one of Erica's better episodes.

[triplet]

Originally posted by cxianet
I don't think Clark feels the effects of the little green rock when they're covered up. For example, when Lana's necklace was in the box, Clark couldn't feel the effects of it.

You know, they've always been inconsistant with how Clark gets hit by the effects of kryptonite... I take it as artistic license. They want to give the audience a good reveal before poor Clark has to suffer the effects.

I mean, he doesn't usually feel the effects until the audience can see the green glow. It doesn't bother me anymore.... they've been doing that ever since the Pilot when Clark didn't feel the effects of kryptonite when Whitney was wearing Lana's necklace until he pulled open Whitney's shirt...

I mean, unless Whitney was wearing a lead lined shirt (or the Talon's walls were lead lined), he'd feel the effects whenever he got within a couple of feet of the green k.

Maybe in the Talon he'd never been in the bathroom before, it's possible... I guess it's a little unbelievable that he'd be sleeping with Lana and never have to go but maybe he only used the restroom when he was human before Hidden.



Who knows.. Like I said, it doesn't really bother me anymore. I just roll my eyes and keep on watching.

Originally posted by cxianet


I love every single one of your reviews and I would agree that this episode was on the shabbier end of an excellent 3 episode run. I wasn't fond of the storyline either but the acting was excellent overall and the B plotline with Clark and his "I'm-becoming-Superman" is great.

Thanks... I love what's going on with Clark lately. He's very Supermanly now more than he has ever been before.

Originally posted by cxianet


There's one thing I disagree with in your reviews. Your lack of Lois is a little disapointing Still, I don't find this to be one of Erica's better episodes.

Well, ED hasn't really done much the last few episodes that I especially wanted to talk about...

Doesn't mean I didn't love her. I do. She's a great Lois.

[brainiacowen]

Ha! that's kind of weird because ever few episodes the rule of LEAD comes in to play...

Clark had to hide in the Led corner of that abandoned warehouse in the second episode because of all the Kryptonite...The box Lex gave him was made out of Lead, but in most episodes it really doesn't matter until the moment Clark sees it...

[margroks]

The ep itself was something of a rehash of many horror plots and was somewhat reminiscent of Spirit but it was a tour de force for Allison and there was nothing at all contrived about Allison's performance when she was screaming and being sedated. I cringed right along with her. Lois was superfluous as always so that was no surprise but any ep with so little Clark is not acceptable. We've had far too many eps like that this year and it's not a good thing. I tune in to watch Clark and Clark and Chloe interacting since those moments are the best on Smallville. This needs to change. Clark was barely in this ep and those moments, while good, were simply not enough.

Lana's whining about couples made no sense at all since she dumped him and abandoned Clark at his father's gravesite. What kind of coupledom, much less caring and concern for even a friend did that show? They are not a couple. Lana wanted it that way. And Clark obviously has no clue whatsoever what actually constitutes a loving relationship and I really hate it when the writers make Clark act this dumb.

His actions on Chloe's behalf were smart, however because he's seen firsthand what happens to people in Belle Reve. Of course, this all begs the question why Lana and Lex think they have any right to dictate health care decisions instead of Chloe's father. We needed a line about where Gabe was and perhaps the doctor saying he he was reluctant to send Chloe to Belle Reve or anyplace due to the cost and then Lana could have gone to Lex for financial help perhaps but as the plot was laid out it made no sense in that regard.

When Clark was suggesting that Chloe should visit her mom, I thought the scene cried out for Chloe to stop, sitting still at her computer and for Clark to give her a much needed hug , especially after all she'd been through. Additionally, he should have either offered to go with her and we should have been able to hear her refusal if that's what she decided. But really, again, the plot and the setting, begged for Clark to accompany her to the asylum, and wait on the sidelines, watching in sadness as she walked over to see her mother, living even if seriously ill, the one thing he can never again do with his own dad. That last scene needed Clark because it was due to his recent loss that he was able to offer such wise advice to Chloe. That was a big mistake and I wonder if something was cut to allow time for the lame Lana whining in the barn scene.

Overall, the ep was wonderful and showed without a doubt that Allison is an incredibly talented actress. Obviously, Chloe should be front and center much more often with her astounding acting ability. And Chloe and Clark manage to have that wonderful chemsitry even when Clark is there all too briefly. It remains a mystery that the producers have never taken full advantage of Allison's talent and her chemistry with the star of this show.

[Miss L]

I really appreciate your opinion about Clark's character growth. I agree that he really has changed a lot over the last 4.5 seasons, and I'm frustrated that so many fans think he's completely stagnant. If Clarks's changes were quicker and more obvious, then Smallville would've been a 1 season show!

What I want to know about this episode, is: Why doesn't Lois wonder how Clark managed to demolish the bathroom wall without a sledgehammer and in the short time she was downstairs making a cappuccino?

[Watching Smallville]

Originally posted by Miss L
I really appreciate your opinion about Clark's character growth. I agree that he really has changed a lot over the last 4.5 seasons, and I'm frustrated that so many fans think he's completely stagnant. If Clarks's changes were quicker and more obvious, then Smallville would've been a 1 season show!

What I want to know about this episode, is: Why doesn't Lois wonder how Clark managed to demolish the bathroom wall without a sledgehammer and in the short time she was downstairs making a cappuccino?

I agree with you, Miss L, about Clark's development. It's very subtle, but I think there is a definite change from year to year. And although I may disagree with some of the choices the writers have made, I think they have handled the pace of his development very well.

As for Lois, I'm sure she did wonder about the wall. She has seen a number of unusual things happen when Clark is around, but she never presses him about it. It's one thing I like about Lois.

Triplet, I agree with you that this was not the best episode and that it was somewhat derivative. I am a big fan of AM, but I am not as impressed by her acting in Tomb as some others -- I think I've seen her do better in other episodes. I really appreciate your comparison to Spirit. We've been comparing this ep to movies, but I think the Spirit comparison really clarifies for me why I didn't like Tomb that much. I enjoyed Spirit. It's light touch and comedic elements made it a fun episode, while I found Tomb to be dreary and negative in it's dark tone rather than intriguing.

That said, there was important character development in the episode that gave it real substance and somewhat made up for the Gretchen story line. I gave it 3 out of 5 stars.

[greggbray]

I felt it was one of the weaker episodes in the season. I enjoyed the first three episodes, Splinter, Solitude, Lexmas, Lockdown, Vengence, and Cyborg. I kind of liked Exposed. But Tomb, Fanatic, and Thirst are 3 episodes I will certainly skip when viewing the DVD. I haven't made up my mind on Reckoning yet.

But Tomb is one I'll skip on the DVD. It was the film 'stir of echos' with Chloe and Clark.

[photogirl]

I especially liked this episode because of all the Chlark they managed to work into it, compared to Cyborg..they were having a nice Chlark run there for a few episodes. I enjoyed the episode mostly, but it had it's moments like every episode!!

[triplet]

Originally posted by margroks
The ep itself was something of a rehash of many horror plots and was somewhat reminiscent of Spirit but it was a tour de force for Allison and there was nothing at all contrived about Allison's performance when she was screaming and being sedated. I cringed right along with her. Lois was superfluous as always so that was no surprise but any ep with so little Clark is not acceptable. We've had far too many eps like that this year and it's not a good thing. I tune in to watch Clark and Clark and Chloe interacting since those moments are the best on Smallville. This needs to change. Clark was barely in this ep and those moments, while good, were simply not enough.

I love to see Clark a lot too, he's my favorite character and Tom is my favorite actor (that fact probably comes as no surprise, especially given my avatar and how I can sometimes gush about him in my reviews), but the man needs a break from time to time.

Tom works very hard and the previous two episodes were tough ones for him, so a lighter episode will probably provide a very welcome break for him even if it isn't welcome to his fans.

Originally posted by margroks

Lana's whining about couples made no sense at all since she dumped him and abandoned Clark at his father's gravesite. What kind of coupledom, much less caring and concern for even a friend did that show? They are not a couple. Lana wanted it that way. And Clark obviously has no clue whatsoever what actually constitutes a loving relationship and I really hate it when the writers make Clark act this dumb.

I disagree: Clark isn't dumb, he's... misguided.

I don't think he really knows the best way to handle the deteriorating relationship he's having with Lana. He knows from Reckoning that if she were to know, it would endanger her life and he's trying to protect her, in his own way.

I think he needs to take a page from Victor's book (funny, this thread isn't about Cyborg but it keeps coming up) and tell her... She deserves to know and his relationship with her will have no chance of succeeding if he continues to shut her out.

Their relationship is an ill-fated one in any case, it's doomed to fail, but I'll be very interested to see if Lana and Clark can become friends after the love affair is finally over.

[attitudejc]

they said the "freak out scene" was forced? i thought that it was really good acting. they didn't like it much? wow. thats wierd.

[triplet]

Attitudejc you said "they" said it was forced?

I'm not sure who "they" are, but yeah. I said it in my review.

I saw the episode three times and I still thought it was forced... Your mileage may indeed vary, but I'm not reporting a general consensus on the episode's merits but my own opinion.

Many people disagree with that assessment, but I stand by what I said and if that's weird so be it.

[MyOwnSuperhero]

Trip, your review nailed it on the head - Solid technical work, great acting. Tomb would have been an exceptional episode had it not been for weak writing. They never did explain how the whole possession thing worked, and that made for some confusion throughout the episode. Considering SV has rehashed other movies plotlines so many times before, that's hardly worth mentioning anymore.

Character wise, it was great - Clark is really stepping things up, Lana and Clark are finally seperating, Lex is getting to be a MB in his own right, and Martha and Lionel in an interesting place. All in all, it's good stuff.

[Conner]

Originally posted by triplet


You know, they've always been inconsistant with how Clark gets hit by the effects of kryptonite... I take it as artistic license. They want to give the audience a good reveal before poor Clark has to suffer the effects.

I mean, he doesn't usually feel the effects until the audience can see the green glow. It doesn't bother me anymore.... they've been doing that ever since the Pilot when Clark didn't feel the effects of kryptonite when Whitney was wearing Lana's necklace until he pulled open Whitney's shirt...

I mean, unless Whitney was wearing a lead lined shirt (or the Talon's walls were lead lined), he'd feel the effects whenever he got within a couple of feet of the green k.
[/B]

Maybe the walls are covered in lead based paint. I mean they ARE in Kansas after all, we all know they are a few decades behind the rest of the country.

[Jlvsclrk]

I personally rate it a little higher as a 4 because I adored every minute when Clark _was_ on the screen. I too don't understand the criticism of his character - I think we saw a real proto Superman in this episode, although I hated his disappearance during the climax. I think he could have done one of his patented coax-the-confused-FOTW-into-doing-the-right-thing speeches - Oh well, I guess they did that last episonde.

I was also happy to see a proto Clark Kent journalist, because it can't have been Chloe who started the investigation in this case, since she was either confined to hospital, drugged or possessed. Shows though he has been paying attention when she's done the research to help out in the past.