News and Updates
Screen Caps From 'Hydro' & Short Review
Fri January 12th 2007 @ 9:31AM - James - Tom Welling - 3 Comments
As much as I was looking forward to seeing how well Tom did with the directing on 'Hydro', I have to be honest and say that I wasn't really looking forward to yet another "freak" episode, with a just-about-passable guest star in Tori Spelling. Thankfully that particular plotline took a somewhat back seat, and was over by around three-quarters of the way into the episode, so I could almost ignore it.
I enjoyed everything else immensely.
Continuation of the Clark, Lex and Lana dynamic in a manner that somehow, unlike in previous episodes, didn't bore me to tears. Perhaps it was a combination of Tom being able to get the best out of everyone involved, and also having the wherewithal to incorporate some explosive Clark and Lex interaction, which has been sorely lacking as of late. Whatever it was, I enjoyed the final result. If only I could be sure that this solid foundation will actually lead somewhere this time.
Clark, Oliver, Lois and Chloe. Absurd to the extreme, but with a combination of proven comic-timing from Allison Mack and Tom Welling, and hilarious, borderline psychotic attempts at ironic detachment from an in-character Erica Durance. This sub plot was my favourite part of the episode by a wide margin, and I can only cross my fingers and hope that this, too, will lead to some intriguing episodes in the future.
Where last year's 'Fragile' was a comparatively "throw-away" episode, 'Hydro' has opened, and continued, a number of very important plotlines, which speak volumes about the trust in Tom this time around. With one or two minor exceptions (do I really need to see up an actor's nostril?) the directing did justice to a tight script. If it hadn't been for the watergirl subplot, I think I would have really, really enjoyed this episode. As it is, I still felt that 'Hydro' was one of the better efforts this season - thanks to both the writing and the directing, just in case my not insignificant bias is showing.
Comments
Fri January 12th 2007 @ 12:21PM GMT - Melinda - E-Mail
'Hydro' was much better than I was expecting. I was expecting a ho-hum to decent filler episode but this was entertaining. I agree that Tom was given a much better script to work with and that TPTB really showed faith and trust in him. This episode is definitely in my top five for this season.
Fri January 12th 2007 @ 3:28PM GMT - PriscillaPal - E-Mail
This was the best episode of the season! No, I did not enjoy the Linda Lake subplot, but in this episode, if that had not been there, then it would have been nothing but a pure soap opera. I was laughing so hard at the Clark/Lois kiss for many reasons. One, Jimmy being there was great! Aaron and Erica play off of each other well. Secondly, Clark wasn't trying to push Lois off of him and I loved the look on his face when he took off the mask. Third, Lois's response to Oliver's reaction had me rolling on the floor! But best was Chloe's reaction, when she made Lois tell Clark all about what happened. As for Lana ... Lex really impressed me. I thought she made the right decision there.
Fri January 12th 2007 @ 9:43PM GMT - Rene
Nice review, James. Tom deserves a lot of praise for this one.
And thanks for the screencaps!