Summary : Irresistible and charismatic
leads, inspiring and entertaining story, delightful fan service and
immersive production (Bonus : versus Smallville)
Score : 8/10
While following Smallville I
noticed some references to Lois & Clark but more important I
couldn't help comparing both shows. When you're a teenage boy
resisting to a weekly dose of Clark Kent/Superman and Lois Lane is an
impossible mission. It's specially true considering how excellent
Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher were in their respective roles. I have
tremendous respect for Tom Welling and Erica Durance but this very
pilot proves that Cain and Hatcher's chemistry eclipsed theirs. The
man couldn't be stronger and the woman is both smart and gorgeous. To
sum things up, they're just irresistible as Clark and Lois !
Beside the timeless duo as
its title implies the series is also a lot about Superman. It's the
key difference with Smallville as even in its finale we don't really
see Welling suited up as the Man of Steel. It leads us to his
nemesis, Lex Luthor, played by John Shea. He's actually 17 years
older than Cain and it's definitely a quality as his maturity makes
his character far much more believable. A worthy villain ? Absolutely
! That's probably why I compared his performance to John Glover,
Lionel Luthor in Smallville, and not Michael Rosenbaum's one. But
their respective stories are entirely different as in this case Clark
and Lex are everything but friends. The cliffhanger clearly states
what the first season is about.
Flying with Superman is one
thing but in my heart I have always been more into the romance
between Lois and Clark. In Smallville their relationship is slowly
developed when here the pace is way faster. I understand that the
writers intention was to seduce the audience but I wish things had
been a bit more subtle. Still even if the working girl and new guy in
town are clichés I instantly related to them and developing an
empathic connection with these two is natural. Clark finds a job way
too easily in my opinion but in Smallville it's the contrary. However
I prefer struggling characters, inspiring and realistic ones.
Otherwise this Kent is not a teen, it's a fully grown up man who's
ready to embrace his destiny. Don't get me wrong it's obvious he
doesn't know yet where he belongs, as Hercules (1997) almighty
protagonist, but he definitely has what it takes to become Superman.
And during his journey he can count on his parents, Jonathan and
Martha. The performers are so nice and complementary that you can't
help smiling when they're on the phone with their son. I don't know
how their work compares to the comics but it's slightly sitcomesque,
so miles away from John Schneider and Annette O'Toole in Smallville.
However in both cases Jonathan incarnates the father figure a
superhero needs, with strong moral values and a stimulating wife.
In order to support the
talented cast and entertaining story the show is enriched by many
other elements. The first of them would be Lane Smith. His
performance as Perry White is both energetic and hilarious. He also
demonstrates how superior an intergenerational cast is compared to
the "all young and pretty" people hired in the last seasons
of Smallville. Phil Morris appearances as Martian Manhunter weren't
numerous enough and with Schneider and Glover gone the show failed to
fully educate its younger audience. An other thing I enjoyed was the
production quality. Don't expect an episode aired in 1993 to blow
your mind but most sets are well designed and the visual effects are
decent in general if you're not too demanding. All in all it's
immersive and it's all what matters. Moreover it's not everyday that
you can see Superman on TV ! It leads us to Clark Kent's
transformation because it's what the pilot is mostly about. I found
it awkward and not just because I'm a huge fan of Smallville. I mean
how is it possible to forget installments like Identity ? As for the
Pretty Woman (1990) sequence it was entertaining but not respectful
of the seriousness surrounding the myth. Even the way CK dealt with
his glasses was quick and dirty. Why didn't they decide to make them
fall as he was taking off for instance ? Something like that. At the
opposite I really enjoyed the way the beginning and ending mirrored.
Indeed Lois first appearance can only wow if you haven't already seen
the pilot. All along the episode there're breadcrumbs to help Clark
shape his new identity. Let's also not forget the cult dialogs and
scenes. Most of the ones between Lois & Clark are funny, like at
his apartment, when the parts involving Lex are darker and smarter.
The scene featuring a cobra is quite intense and reveals him as a
fearless predator. The diner was in the same vein and served as a
pivotal character developer.
To sum things up this pilot
has aged well and not just because the two lead performers are
exquisite. Cain fueled his character with strength, wit and
wisdom. As for Hatcher focusing on her gorgeous body, from head to
toe, would be a fatal mistake as her Lois is feminist, cunning and
curious. Add humor to these qualities and you get two of the best
role models on TV !
