seriesjunkie

From Kristin :
"Want to know what's coming up on Smallville this season? Me too, so I rang up Darren Swimmer, one of the series' four new exec producers, to inquire about just that. Click in to find out the good stuff he spilled on Clark's (Tom Welling) intergalactic booty call, the developing appeal of being a superhero and just when Kristin Kreuk's Lana will be walking back into Clark's life...

Nice Kid From Krypton Makes Good: This is the season of Clark's Superization. According to Swimmer, "He's going to be seeking out the trouble, as opposed to reacting to trouble when it happens. One of his main motivations for going to the Daily Planet was to be somewhere where the information comes in." Consider D.P. to be his own personal police band radio. "He's going to be much more on patrol than he was ever in his life—and he's really stepping up in a big way to his destiny." And since his destiny and the Daily Planet are over in the big city, "The feel of the show is going to be a lot more Metropolis this year." Don't worry, though, Clark still lives in Smallville as of season eight, and there will be plenty of scenes back in the old home town.

The Old Switcheroo: If you were so inclined, you could probably blame Jimmy Olsen (Aaron Ashmore) for the cape, tights and giant S thing. According to Swimmer, "There's an episode where Jimmy will think he sees something and starts connecting it to Clark, and Clark has to dig himself out of it. That starts Clark thinking that maybe it would be wise to have a secret identity. He starts embracing the idea that there's someone out there saving people. He's not denying that completely anymore, he's just not ready to tell anyone it's him. And that makes this year very exciting for us." No telling yet if there's actually going to be a costume, but the Superman brand is definitely in development...

Clark's Love Life, Lois Edition: According to Swimmer, "Erica Durance and Tom have such a great chemistry on camera together as Lois and Clark. I just love seeing the dailies. They're going to be butting heads a lot, as usual. They'll be teaming up on stories and getting into the typical hijinks together." However, even though Clark reportedly offers Lois her old room at Kent farm, Swimmer tells me they will not be living together—for now.

Clark's Love Life, Lana Edition: Kristin Kreuk will be back, for five episodes total, right in the middle of the season, at what Swimmer calls "a fairly inopportune time." Like at a moment when Lois and Clark just happen to be making out in a closet? "It won't be that drastic, but you're not that far off." Still, when it comes to the legendary drama that is "Clana," Swimmer said, "Clark is getting past it. He's not mulling over it too much, he's learned his lessons, and it's time for him to move forward, but of course, when Lana shows up in person, that makes things a lot more complicated for him." Women! Can't live with 'em, can't chuck 'em up into the ionosphere. Jeesh.

Clark's Love Life, Intergalactic Booty Call Edition: Lest you fear our boy Clark may be living a monastic existence this season, know that Maxima is on her way. As Swimmer explained it: "Maxima is the intergalactic goddess who needs to mate, and humans just don't fill the bill. The way that we portray her, one of her powers is skill at making herself irresistible to the men who come upon her—and Clark will not be immune to that. There's going to be one episode, but we're hoping to do more than one. Charlotte Sullivan is the actress we cast, and she did a really great job, she's really interesting."

Villains and Troublemakers:

• First off, no Michael Rosenbaum at all this season. I know that's truly awful, but to make it up to you, they are introducing Samuel Witwer as Davis Bloome/Doomsday. Said Swimmer, "Sam is fantastic, he's doing a really great job playing a guy who's sort of the tortured supervillian." (Swimmer also told me there's ongoing discussion about introducing Darksied as well, so hang in there for developments on that.)

• The other antagonist this season is Tess (Cassidy Freeman), a Luthercorp apparatchik. Or should I say apparat-chick? Because as Swimmer explains, late in the season Tess becomes a new contestant in the Clark love derby: "Tess is definitely interested in him—and who wouldn't be?" Swimmer declared himself a big fan of Cassidy herself: "Cassidy Freeman is also doing an incredible job. Nobody could fill Michael Rosenbaum's shoes completely, but she's carrying the mantle as best as I can imagine anybody doing it."

Cousins, Allies and Superfriends:

• As for Clark's allies, Supergirl (Laura Vandervoort) will be back for either episode eight or nine. I asked why she wasn't back full time and Swimmer told me, "Her appearance was great, but the story that we told with her seemed to come to a natural ending point for the time being."

• Oliver Queen/Green Arrow (Justin Hartley) will also get the spotlight in an upcoming episode where he is poisoned, and that also gives Clark and Chloe some reason to spend quality time together: "That's an episode that we will find out a lot about Oliver and his past, and Clark and Chloe will work together to save him."

• Last but not least, Swimmer confirmed an appearance by the Legion of Superheroes (not to be confused with the Justice League, although Swimmer also said they would love to have a storyline for Justice Leaguer Wonder Woman on the show). Regarding the Legion: "It's three superheroes, Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy and Lightning Lad—although we might not use those names—on a mission from Superman in the future, who sends them back to help make things right." "

I don't know if I'm really gonna watch smallville this season because I'm getting tired of it so I'll probably watch it fastforwarding a bit !!!! I still want to see the Lois and Clark story develop, even though I don't think Erica Durance is that good a match for Tom Welling !!

And it keeps on coming !!! Apparently, Laura Vandervoort (Kara) is not going to be a regular next season, though they're hoping to get her for a couple of episodes as a guest ! Well, I really hope for them that it's the last season !! Not only is it getting boring storyline wise but it's loosing all it's actors ! I say time to go !!!

Ausiello : "It looks like Smallville's about to take another, potentially lethal, hit.

Just a week after it was announced that Michael Rosenbaum would not be returning full time as Lex next season, sources confirm to me exclusively that Allison Mack, arguably Smallville's most popular heroine, may be the next to go.

This marks quite a turnaround from a few months ago, when I deemed Mack a lock to come back next season. And I wasn't the only one. Although a deal wasn't signed at the time, Smallville insiders tell me that all indications were that the actress was on board for Season 8.

But then Rosenbaum terndered his resignation and everything fell apart.

"Allison's camp used Michael leaving as leverage in the negotiations with [Warner Bros.]," says one Smallville source, who adds that Kristin Kreuk's decision to only return for a handful of episodes as Lana only strengthened Mack's bargaining position. "They need Chloe now more than ever — and Allison's people know it." (Mack's reps declined to comment for this story.)

But will the studio suits budge? In this climate, with ratings down by double digits and belt-tightening going on everywhere, no one is optimistic. However, everyone pretty much agrees about one thing: Smallville can't afford to lose Mack right now. "If Allison leaves, they've essentially got Lois and Clark left," notes one insider. "And that show's been done before."

So, what do you think? Should Warner Bros. man up and give Mack what she's probably been worth all along? Or are you OK with Smallville turning into Lois & Clark: The Early Years? Sound off below! "

Well, after Lex, Lana, and two of the original producers, there goes Chloe !! I really like her character so I hope she stays ! But I can bet that they will do whatever they can to keep her ! As Ausiello said, they would only be left with lois and clark and that show's been done before !!

Ausiello tells us to "find a calendar and draw a circle around April 17. That's the day the show's first post-strike episode airs. It's also the day a long-running character — a series regular — takes his last breath. As in dies. For real. No cloning crap this time around." 
He's obviously refering to Lana (cloning). I don't know the mythology that well but I didn't think she died ! I just knew she wasn't a part of Clark's life anymore. But I don't get how she would make recurring appearances (Cf my previous post) as she and Michael Rosenbaum said they would do if her character is dead ! Ok, it can be a dream, a flashback, a parallel universe, an hallucination ... ! Anything can happen on Smallville ! Too bad she dies though !