By Darth Andrea • 02/08/10

SMALLVILLE ABSOLUTE JUSTICE

Aired:

8 pm/CW Network

Directed by:

Glen Winter (part one)

Tom Welling (part two)

Writer:

Geoff Johns

Starring:

Tom Welling as Clark Kent

Chloe Sullivan as Allison Mack

Erica Durance as Lois Lane

Cassidy Freeman as Tess Mercer

Justin Hartley as Oliver Queen

Pam Grier as Amanda Waller

Britt Irvin as Courtney Whitmore/Stargirl

Alessandro Juliani as Dr. Emil Hamilton

Ken Lawson as Wesley Dodds/Sandman

Wesley MacInnes as Cameron Mahkent/Icicle

Phil Morris as John Jones

Michael Shanks as Carter Hall/Hawkman

Brent Stait as Kent Nelson/Dr. Fate

Warning: Contains Spoilers

After watching this two hour episode of Smallville, the first I have watched in a long time, I was impressed. Not surprising given the episode was written by Geoff Johns who's credits including a revitalization of the Justice Society of America comic itself.

Over the years Smallville has been a lackluster show for hardcore Superman and DC Comics fans. Altering the characters, histories and abilities from those of comic cannon at times to the point of being unrecognizable. However, in this particular case I am woefully hard pressed to find strong criticism of the show in this case.

The amount of DCU reality shoved into these two hours made the Smallville universe feel much more like the DCU of the comics for me. Checkmate, the Suicide Squad, the JSA as well as the inclusion of Amanda Waller tied it together in a way that felt much more like a real DC event than a Smallville episode.

During the episode we see glimpses of JSA characters, while not featured in the episode itself, are central to the JSA as a whole: Ted Grant a.k.a. Wildcat, who is the tough old boxer turned hero; Alan Scott, CEO of a broadcasting company and the elder statesman of the JSA as Green Lantern; Jay Garrick the Flash who brings a fatherly touch to the team when it's needed. All these characters, as well as others, made the reality of the JSA in the episode much stronger than if they had not been mentioned at all.

My biggest fear was that the main JSA members, who were featured: Hawkman, Stargirl, and Doctor Fate, wouldn't be faithful to their comic counter parts. I am glad to say I was wrong to doubt.

Michael Shanks portrayal of Hawkman especially drew me into the episode. I admit I was a little afraid Shanks would come off to much Daniel Jackson (the bookish scientist he played for years on Stargate: SG-1) but his Carter Hall was nothing like Jackson.

I fancy myself a bit of a “JSA fan girl” and as such I like to think I know these characters well. And they felt true more than others who have been portrayed in this series in the past. This episode seems to me to much more than a Smallville event. If I were a betting girl I would almost lay odds on it being a test bed for a JSA-based Smallville spin- off. It had much the tone of a pilot and regulars like Clark, Chloe, John Jones and Oliver Queen felt more like guest stars instead of the main cast of their own series.

And, with all honesty, that's perfectly fine with me. If this is the test bed then I say it was a success. So, Warner Bros. and CW Network, take note you have one vote in favor of the live action “JSA” series. I was impressed and gratefully satisfied with the work done by both writer and directors keep up the good work.

Now I am sure most reviewers out there are talking about the story and all the Easter eggs in the two episode event. And some of the cheesy “Super-Friends”comments dropped throughout, however, I want to focus on the main aspect that draws me into this movie and to the JSA as a whole and that is family.

Family is what the JSA is about. The Justice League Of America is the strike force, the heavy hitters who gather when the chips are down and the odds are stacked against them. A loosely knit group of colleagues and acquaintances who work together but don't necessarily like each other very well all the time.

The JSA is the family, the group who overcomes all obstacles because they are brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers. They draw their strength from each other, not just their own super powers. Because they are family, even in a defeat they still find victory.

That aspect is shown strong and bright in this two-hour event. Beaten and broken feeling betrayed by their own government the JSA has split apart. Someone is hunting and killing them and this draws the family tight. Strength comes from that connection, the bonds of friendship and love bring the heroes of old back to the battle and begin it anew. The older generation teaching the younger and both becoming better from the experience. That has always been the strength of the JSA and it's what I think draws most readers to the JSA.

There is one scene in this movie, late in the second half, where Oliver Queen and Carter Hall are talking. Hall tells him about his history how he was born a thousand years in the past, how he and his wife had been cursed to be born over and over and fated to watch each other die in every life. Oliver, oddly, is the voice of reason when Hall makes it clear he is on a suicidal path wanting life to be over to be reunited with his beloved once again. The strength of family and the call of those bonds clear Carters head and fill his heart.

When it's all said and done, just as in the comics, the JSA lives again with the goal of being the example, or teachers, and the family the heroes of the next generation. This next generation of heroes will want and need to be better than they are, and stronger than they could ever hope to become.

Final score for Smallville: “Absolute Justice” is a 10 of 10

 

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