Smallville "Jinx" Talkback (Spoilers)

[Martianinvader]

Last week was Transference (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=125184).

Here is the official preview from TheWB.com (http://www.thewb.com).

http://wf.toonzone.net/wfboards/small01.jpg
Smallville #4-7 "Jinx"
Chloe (Allison Mack) is drawn into an underground gambling ring at school run by foreign exchange student Mikail Mxyzptlk (guest star Trent Ford) and loses her savings on a football game after Mxyzptlk uses his powers to control all the players - including Clark (Tom Welling). When Chloe discovers Mxyzptlk's secret, he kidnaps her and threatens to kill her unless Clark throws the championship game. Meanwhile, Lex (Michael Rosenbaum) threatens Mxyzptlk with deportation unless he uses his powers for Lex's benefit.

Kristin Kreuk, John Glover, Jensen Ackles, Annette O'Toole and John Schneider also star. Paul Shapiro directed the episode written by Mark Warshaw.

[Russkafin]

I didn't really like this episode at all, mainly due to their "adaptation" of Mxyzptlk. I know Smallville takes a lot of liberties with the characters, and I'm usually fine with most of the changes that they make, but this guy had nothing in common with the Mxyzptlk we all know and love, save for a hard to pronounce name.

If they had done this exact episode and just named the guy something else, I probably wouldn't have minded so much. But if they really wanted to do a Mxyzptlk episode, why not go all out and do a comedy episode? Give us the wacky imp with the purple hat who floats around causing magical pranks. Did they think that just wouldn't fly on the WB? Why not? I think it could have been loads of fun.

And yes, Martianinvader, that was Lois that you saw in the preview for next week.

[AdamYJ]

I wasn't too fond of this episode either. I watched a little bit of it, then I got bored and started reading my new comics with the show playing in the background.

The thing about the whole Mxyzptlk issue is the question of "why try to write the character as something else completely when it sidesteps the entire appeal of the character?" The appealing thing about Mxyzptlk is that when he appears, things go completely Looney Tunes. He's this weird little man who can appear every three months, turn Clark's friends into ducks, paint a big smiley face on the Daily Planet building and then dare Clark to get him to say his name backwards. Instead, we got a foreign pretty boy with powers vaguely reminiscent of The Black Cat's or maybe The Scarlet Witch's (in her original interpretation). It would be like if they had Mongul, but made him a super-strong human with an underground fight club in Metropolis. Losing the alien part would just suck most of the original soul out of the character. I know they're worried about "jumping the shark", but c'mon.

I wonder if they'd do better with other, more grounded villians like Metallo or Prankster?

[JohnCrichton]

As a Smallville newbie, I have to say I kinda liked it. Didn't like how they slapped on the Mxyzptlk name on the guy, just to be doin' it, but I liked the character interaction that I saw.

My other introduction episode invovled cheerleaders, love potions, and seeing my beloved Chloe getting spin kicked in the head.

One thing about the show that infuriates me, is the treatment of Chloe. Clark is a LUCKY man to have such a hot and lovable woman liking him.

Anyway... interesting. What's this room the Lex took Mx to? Why'd Lex rat on Lana's loverboy?

I think I just might be tuning in for the next episode to find out.

[Russkafin]

It would be like if they had Mongul, but made him a super-strong human with an underground fight club in Metropolis. Adam, don't give them any ideas. :)

And John, I'm with you all the way about Chloe. I've been saying since the first season that she's a much better catch than Lana. That dopey Clark can't see what's right in front of him!!

[Hatter]

Well, there really wasn't any reason to make this character Mxyzptlk. Other than the "Kltpzyxm" reference, he really had nothing in common with the character. The fact that the only way Mxyz can get on Smallville is if he looks like a GAP model says quite a bit about the show. We'll be seeing him again, though, so maybe he'll be more interesting then.

I wonder how much longer the episodes are going to as football-centric as this one. It's getting kinda old. Clark's big speed scene was incredibly awesome, though.

It seems as if this episode was written before "Transference" because Chloe's animosity towards Clark from that ep is dealt with in one line, then ignored. Clever writing, that. They actually seemed to be closer than any recent episode.

Lex was rather sinister in this ep, which I liked. I'm wondering about what was in that area where he brought Mxyz. And I'm glad he got Jason fired, so hopefully we won't see him as much.


PS. Does anyone else suddenly feel like running out and buying some Old Spice Red Zone? How odd!

[DR.MID-NITE]

More important in this episode is the last 5 minutes. Lex taking Mxyz to a secret lever 33.1 in his office. Speculation being that this is a Clark study room 2 or a place where Lex is bringing past freak-villians. Well if that is a room of freak villians and they go after Clark. Maybe for help he can call for help from Bart "Flash" Allen.

Also, when Clark confronts Lex about Jason getting fired. So Lex has a thing for Lana.

[Terminatah]

I'm not reading any of the posts in this thread. I just wanted to say thanks for ruining the episode of Smallville that I taped last night and still haven't watched. The reason I don't watch the episode previews is because they always show spoilers. From now on, I will steer clear of this board too, until I've seen the tape. The name of the episode was JINX. SOMEONE FIX THE NAME OF THE THREAD.

-Terminatah

[mr jinx]

I'm not reading any of the posts in this thread. I just wanted to say thanks for ruining the episode of Smallville that I taped last night and still haven't watched. The reason I don't watch the episode previews is because they always show spoilers. From now on, I will steer clear of this board too, until I've seen the tape. The name of the episode was JINX. SOMEONE FIX THE NAME OF THE THREAD.

-Terminatah

arent spoilers only "spoilers" until the show has aired? i think the thread title is fine. besides, knowing mxy is in the show only spoiler until 30 seconds into the show anyways.

[Terminatah]

arent spoilers only "spoilers" until the show has aired? i think the thread title is fine. besides, knowing mxy is in the show only spoiler until 30 seconds into the show anyways.I appreciate what you're saying, but I've already had so many episodes ruined for me because I heard elements of them before I saw them (Supergirl is showing up, Lois Lane is showing up, Flash is showing up, Lionel cuts his hair, Lionel and Clark switch bodies, etc) and then when I finally watched them, it completely undermined the effect of that element within the context of the show. This show is not just about the revelations, but how it goes about them. Some of my favorite episodes have been the ones I knew absolutely nothing about going in, not even the general premise of its storyline.

I know everyone treats spoilers differently, and some people don't care if they hear them before the episode, but I prefer not to, and now that I've raised the issue of people who tape the episodes and can't watch them immediately, I would hope people will start being more courteous about what they will just slap on an unavoidable thread title.

-Terminatah

[Icer]

Probably the weakest episode of Season 4 to date.

Didnt like the way Chloe just whipped up a jamming device.

The smaller things that happened in this ep were far more interesting, such as Lex's secret level, he's beginning to show a more sinister and evil side, as well as his infatuation with Lana.

Still not bad, but not up to what Season 4 has given us so far.
3/5

[DR.MID-NITE]

Didnt like the way Chloe just whipped up a jamming device.
She didn't whip it up. She was able to get it from her Uncle (Lois' dad) Who runs the Military base nearby.

[James]

Just to clarify since this has come up.

Talkbacks have to be treated with uttermost respect. They should be created accurately and sensibly. "Spoiler" must be in the title and no hints of spoilers should invade the said title.

That's Entertainment Board policy. Talkbacks contain spoilers for those who want to read the threads - knowing there are spoilers. The fact there maybe spoilers should be clear from the title.They should not get any spoilers from the talkback just from surveying the forum board.

Thanks.

SJJ
Entertainment Board Moderator

[Icer]

She didn't whip it up. She was able to get it from her Uncle (Lois' dad) Who runs the Military base nearby. I know that, but it seems awfully convenient she figured it out so quick and had the connections to get it from her Uncle. Which she had previously not gotten anything from.

So she did kind of whip it up

[screw on head]

Even though I hold this episode above Krypt/tuck, it still isn't one of the enjoyable goofy episodes. Honestly, I had no idea that that guy was supposed to be Smallville's Mxyzptlk, not the faintest inqueling. There was nothing Mxy about him, and referring to him as such in even episode descriptions is a pretty dirty trick by the creative team's/network's/whatever big wig branded this character as such.

I found his accent terribly annoying to be honest. It didn't really feel natural, and wasn't a charming trait to give this character.

I thought the ending was pretty laughable and a smidge too cartoonish to be honest. I mean, the idea is cool, Clark zooming off mid pass to save Chloe, take care of the bad guy, and get back in place on the field isn't an outlandish idea for Superman, but the execution was pretty poor. Clark jogging with the rippled zoom effect behind didn't add anything impressive to his run. He didn't look like he was putting into effort into it, and his posture while jogging just wasn't dramatic and didn't warrant the 'zoom trail'. Execution is so important for a move like this, and they didn't do the idea justice.

All in all, not a bad episode, but that character shouldn't be referenced as Mxy at all. I knew he was coming to Smallville, but I didn't think he'd be a two bit gambler with an accent. I thought the guy who voiced the T Rex in Toy Story would've been a cool fit for Mxy, who'd even get away with wearing some outlandish Mxy attire, causing havoc as the imp we all are familiar with but don't necessarily love, at least I don't. I'm glad I didn't walk into this episode knowing he was supposed to be Mxyzptlkish, but I'm not sure what's worse-- walking into it knowing so before hand or finding out later...

[adoptedBatpuppy]

It was nice to see Clark stand up to his father like that. :) Not a bad episode overall.

[Fone Bone]

Old Spice: Strong enough for a Superman but made for a Superwoman.

I agree Clark needs to get his head out of his butt and go after Chloe. She is smart, hot, and devoted to him. Lana is a poopy head.

Man, Lex is moving to the dark side quicker than expected.

As for Mxy? Kind of stupid that they reworked him like that. He was still annoying but not fun annoying.

I also second the idea of not having spoilers in the thread title.I just watched this this morning.

Pretty crummy episode although I like Clark sticking up for himself and the bullet time touchdown/Chloe save. **1/2.

[Damien]

Man, Lex is moving to the dark side quicker than expected.I think it's long overdue. Pity I missed this episode. I set the wrong time on my VCR after we knocked the clocks back an hour. I ended up with the first half of Jack & Bobby (the tape ran out anyway, so I wasn't as disappointed as I would've been).
Yeah, I figured from the previews it would be their version of Mxy. Disappointing. Still want to see it, though, mainly because of Lex....not liking Lana, but all that other stuff.

[Simpler Simon]

Not counting big "event" episodes (season finales, mid-season cliffhangers) this episode probably had one of the best endings on the show yet. Lex taking Mxy to a secret room that even the viewers aren't allowed to see, and Lex getting Jason fired - why? The smile on his face could imply so many different things...

Other than that, it was an enjoyable episode. Yeah Mxy had nothing to do with the real character (except for some nice references "try saying that three times fast"), but I thought he made for a nice villain, and it looks like he could return. Chloe's jamming device did seem kind of arbitrary though. Not the part about *how* she got it (from Lois's dad, of course) but why she knew that particular frequency would affect Mxy.

I wonder how much longer the episodes are going to as football-centric as this one. It's getting kinda old.
I'm actually liking how Clark joining the team is one of the new "subplots" in the show this year. They could've easily had Clark drop off the team again this episode or any of the past episodes, but its nice to see him sticking to something, despite Pa Kent's disapproval. And the jocks that used to pick on Clark in the past are cool with him now.