Though I know it is kind of a lofty wish, I believe that the New Year's intention is to help revitalize our life and allow us a fresh start. For something the revitalization comes emotionally, for others socially, or even mentally, but is it unfair to hope that it would also do so television-ally.
I know what you're thinking, between mid-season replacements, show cancellations, and the second wind of some favorites, the New Year always ranks among the most anticipated aspects of television (minus New Years Rockin Eve). Yet there is still a fear that is emanating in my bones.
No it is not because ABC cancelled some many of its programs that the network is considering going from a seven day a week prime-time network to a five day a week prime-time network. Its also not because I missed the boat on both 24 and Lost, and to pick them up now would be a time consuming and almost fruitless effort. Its also not because now that Scrubs is on ABC we might finally get the real answer to Peter Griffins question "Which ones the funny guy?"
Its because now that the networks, writers, and actors have lost the strike excuse what will they blame inconsistencies on? What will they use as a crutch to explain why all of my favorites have lost a step or two recently. Favorites such as South Park, Entourage, and Heroes have all been replaced in my DVR list by new shows with far less to lose. Never did I think that my love for the lovable Turtle, could be replaced with a finicky blond from Louisiana (True Blood). How could I have known that the profanity laced comedy staring those playful scamps in small town Colorado would lose my fandom, and ultimately disappoint by not having a Christmas special, which is how they got their start in the first place. Should I be saddened that my constant adoration of the Heroes universe would be squandered so swiftly by having the shows best heroes lose their powers and show their humanity.
I may be a cynic. I have never pretended to not be a television snob. I like what I like and I watch just about everything, so I don't think i'm uninformed, but being opinionated has its drawbacks. I have begun to be afraid that with the nation wide conversion from standard to digital, not only will we loss our bunny eared antennas, but we may also lose the television we loved the most. I'm already stock piling dvds in my bomb shelter (The West Wing Season 1-7, Seinfeld Seasons 1-9, and Family Guy Vol. 1-6). I hope it never comes to that.
1. beat jean claude van damme at the blood sport kumite
2. be an extra as chris tucker makes rush hours 4,5 and 6
3. Buy as many $1 dvds as humanly possible to carry4. find a cure to sars
5. find a cure to avian flu
6. fight kareem abdul-jabbar in a tower of death
7. take a dump on that diamond studded golden toilet
8. scout the next yao ming
9. four fast four furious: hong kong meets nascar
10. live on one of those shanty town boats for a night
11. spy on the reds for MI6
12. walk into high priced hotels and going straight for the pool, and getting away with it since i look like a rich tourist
Look up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s the newest generation of Superman. Well I might be stretching it when I say new, mind you he’s in his sixth season but beyond his triumphant return on the silver screen this is the most recent prevalent example. Adorned in his usual red, yellow, and blue at all times Clark Kent is both the greatest American Hero and the worst example of teen angst.
Had Dawson Leery been given the ability leap tall building in a single bound, stop bullets, and run at the speed of bullets, then he would have been the only character on television more emotionally crippled then Clark himself. Constantly teeter tottering about whether or not he really loves Lana or not, is synonymous of the who will she choose latter days of the “Creek.”
I find myself battling motion sickness at times because even as I long to believe that love conquers all, and to quote Blessed Union of Soul “love will find a way,” Clark himself seems to be his own worst enemy. His fears push away the love he deserves only to hate his life because he can’t hold her close to him. Mind you, we all know that no matter how happy his life is with Lana, his reality is Lois and so this is merely a prelude to an already established future. Yet we want him to be happy, as humans our sense of compassion is that of endless wonder. There is only so much compassion we can give, and Clark has begun to wear thin it.
Though this season has done a lot for his growth as both a man and a character, it has also found ways to cripple him even further. He has developed a new power, a better sense of team work, and even made a few new female friends along the way. He is still though dealing with his Lana issues.
It becomes clearer every week that he will eventually be the man we know him to be, it’s still hard at times to follow his progression, or even bare witness to his struggles because as the hero we know him best as he was indestructible. However, in Smallville, he is constant putting back all the pieces. Trying to figure out how to become his true destiny.
