Well, since the last two episodes are actually going to be called "Finale, Part 1" and "Finale, Part 2" (and the only way I'll tolerate that title is if there's an actual episode called "Superman" BEFORE the two-hour finale), everyone has their own opinion of how "Smallville" should end and what they'd like to see in the final two hours of the show. We all know a Bruce Wayne/Batman cameo or Wonder Woman cameo on "Smallville", no matter how much fans want to see it happen, just isn't in the cards. But here are the five things that I think "Smallville" needs to include, some of which should happen even before the finale. Take a look...
#5.) DEVELOP CLARK MORE.
And by "develop", I mean give him his glasses and let him fly. I know, he's going to get his glasses in an upcoming episode, but they sure took their sweet time getting him to this point. It's the last half of the last season, and Clark hasn't worn his glasses regularly at the Daily Planet yet. When the last episode comes, Clark should've been regularly wearing his glasses this season, so that ways his co-workers have gotten used to it and so nobody at the Planet starts wondering, "Hey, look Clark's suddenly got glasses. Take a look at-- Wait, where'd he go? He was just here, didn't you see hi... OH, S**T! Didyaseethat?!? There's some guy FLYING outside that LOOKS LIKE CLARK BUT WITHOUT HIS GLASSES!"
And also, Clark should be flying more, in the REAL WORLD. "Collateral" had a great flight moment with Clark and Lois, but just it's not enough. It's another tease among the endless teases this show has given us. Why haven't we seen Clark try to fly, but can't successfully yet? He tried to when Kara was there, but he hasn't been shown diving off and going splat. At least make an effort to explain WHY he's not there yet, or better yet, SHOW US WHY HE'S NOT TRYING!
#4.) THE OTHER OLD FACES COME BACK, ONE LAST TIME.
It's nice to have John Glover back as Lionel Luthor and Annette O'Toole back as Martha Kent, as we'll see on this Friday's episode (at the time this was posted, anyway). Both characters been sorely missed since they left the series and their presence brings back a much-needed spark to "Smallville". But why stop there? We know that John Schneider is filming another episode as Jonathan Kent, however the heck they're going to explain how THAT will happen (though it wasn't clear how he popped up in the first episode of season ten, either), and Michael McKean is supposed to be back as Perry White for at least one episode this season. But for me, bring them ALL back in the same episode. Out of all of them, Michael McKean should definitely be there for more than one episode. Heck, Perry should technically be on the show a lot more in the last season, since we know he's going to become the chief of the Daily Planet. Bring back McKean's Perry, please... quickly.
But on the other hand, the one character I want see the most in the finale, even if others don't think it's necessary, is Schneider's Pa Kent. I've never liked that the show killed him off, and when he made his appearance in the episode "Lazarus", while unexplained fully how he got there (Vision? Ghost? Writer's block?), his scenes with Tom Welling's Clark Kent were easily the best and most memorable of that episode. Come on. John Schneider rocks. Tell me I'm wrong.
#3.) THE FINAL FIGHT IS AN ACTUAL FIGHT.
"Smallville" has a notorious history of having a cliffhanger ending with a major threat (the Lex-possessed Zod, Bizarro Clark, etc.) and having their fights be so short and badly filmed that you wonder what the heck you just saw. See the "fight" between Clark and Doomsday in the season eight finale for proof. Granted, this show has done wonders with a limited budget. But since season ten is a two-hour finale, pull out all the stops here. Punches need to be thrown. Powers need to be used in battle, from heat vision to flight... heck, I'll even take Clark's super-breath if they show it. Whatever budget they've been saving up to use for the finale, spend it. Spend big. It's Clark versus Darkseid. It's supposed to be a mental and physical fight to Clark going up against Darkseid from what I've heard, but whatever. First and foremost, it should be a FIGHT.
#2.) MICHAEL ROSENBAUM IS BACK AS LEX LUTHOR.
Do I even need to explain why? I'll just say this, a brief open letter to Michael Rosenbaum.
Hello, Mr. Rosenbaum. I'm a big fan of yours. Please, let me speak frankly. Go back to "Smallville". Go back now. Go back BEFORE the finale so we see you for more than the final episodes of the show. I realize you're working on a new mid-season comedy for Fox, but please, make the time to work on "Smallville". You know everyone wants you back on the show, from the cast and crew to the long-time fans of the series. And don't worry about having to shave your head. Lex has hair right now on the show! You most likely won't need to shave your hair until the two-hour finale! Your hair WILL grow back. Please, report to the set NOW!
Thank you for your time.
#1.) CLARK IS IN HIS SUPERMAN COSTUME FOR MORE THAN FINALE'S LAST 30 SECONDS.
Look, the show is about how Clark becomes Superman. I know that, you know that, every viewer since season one knows that. But for the last episode of "Smallville", this season needs to have some scenes where EVERYONE sees Clark as Superman longer for the last 30 seconds of the show. And as much as that applies to the audience watching the show, it also applies to the characters on the show. Think about it. These guys have been around for YEARS on the show. It seems right that we see not only Martha Kent see her son in the suit she made for him, but also Lois Lane, Chloe Sullivan, Perry White, Oliver Queen, and even Lex Luthor. Even if it's less than thirty seconds a person or some seeing Clark as Superman at the same time (Martha and Chloe at the farm, Perry and Lois at the Planet, Lex at LuthorCorp, etc.) You can make in-jokes between cast members at seeing Clark in the suit, like Martha could ask why it took so long for him to put it on. Or Oliver could quip that this should be the suit Clark should finally stick with wearing. But most importantly, we get some payoff to having Clark be Superman. And how cool would it be to see Clark's Superman flying with Lois Lane in his arms, like he did in "Collateral"? I don't care how uncomfortable Tom Welling gets wearing the "Superman Returns" suit, he should be in the suit for more than the final minute of the show. Waiting ten years to see Clark in the suit for ten seconds won't be enough for die-hard show fans, so my advice: make it count. Use as much time as you can. Take as many production stills and behind-the-scenes pictures of Welling in the suit as you can. Henry Cavill maybe the next movie Superman, but we still want to see Tom Welling have his turn too.
And if possible, have him wear the Superman suit in the final battle. Who WOULDN'T want to see Welling's Superman in action, flying through the air and fighting with Darkseid?
Well, that's my top five. I've thrown in my two cents (which is two cents more than opinions are actually worth, too).
So, what do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? Let me know what you think.