Smallville Goes 'Splodey
Apr. 7th, 2008 12:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
moonshaydeI've been following the news in SV fandom for some time now, but I've mostly kept quiet on it. I'm not really active in that fandom to begin with, but at the same time, I do like to know what is going on.
We've had everything from S8 spoilers, to who's staying and who's leaving, to organizational structure changes.
And all the rumors in between.
I'm mainly focusing on the news about Gough and Millar, the creators of the show, leaving. I've seen people post that the network fired them because they wouldn't let Chlois happen. I've seen people post that the networks fired them because they wouldn't let Clana happen. I've seen people post that the network fired them because they wouldn't tie the last season into the mythos. I've also seen people say that TW and the cast were having conflicts with them, and also now that they are gone we'll have an even better show.
Everyone wants to justify their own position.
While there may have been instances where TW didn't like the direction of his character, or where MR didn't like how his character was portrayed, is irrelevant. We'll never truly know what the people involved think unless they tell us, and even then, you have to take everything with a grain of salt.
Usually in situations like these, the simplest answer is the right one.
SV is an aging show. As a show gets older, the expense of the show tends to outweigh the budget. Actors, crew, and writers demand higher salaries. There is the cost of special effects. The "new shiny" aspect of the show wears off and the network doesn't give it as much promotion and publicity.
Entering its eighth season, SV eats up a lot of money. It's the job of the studio to try to keep the costs and expenses down. We as fans might not like that, but that is what they do, especially if rumors are true that CW is struggling.
The most likely scenario is that Gough's and Millar's contracts were up and they could not reach an agreement. More likely than not, both Gough and Millar wanted more money and the network couldn't afford to pay it or was unwilling to pay it. The same can be said for KK, MR, and AM. While it seems KK truly wants off the show so she can pursue other interests, others like MR and AM might be more dependent on money. I'm not implying this makes them bad for wanting more – not at all. The longer you are at a job, the more you expect to make no matter what job you have. It's just standard business.
AA, ED, and LV can easily be signed on if they weren't already in a contract because they wouldn't cost as much as the actors who have been there since day one. Plus, if they were already in a contract, then there is no dispute.
The show cannot work without TW so he is priority.
Now, with all these changes in place, I still doubt that any segment of the fandom will get what they want. We still have the same writers and the same writers are still under the same monetary restraints. Just because Gough and Millar have left does not mean it's going to be the Lois and Clark show. However, since it is the last season, there is a strong possibility that both these characters will have a more intense focus. (And if Clark doesn't have the main focus, then shame on you writers.) It just makes sense based on the mythos. If MR is back in some capacity, I would see his character getting some intense focus as well.
Jimmy and Kara should also get closer to the mythos.
The objective of the last season should be to push the characters the closest as possible to their iconic forms and to close the chapter on Clark's very very very very very long Smallville life.
I would expect Lana's importance and Clana to slowly be phased out, but since this is SV I was never under the impression it would be 100% gone until the very last episode. It is my hope they will settle them into a nice friendship with whatever eps KK has left.
As for AM, since Chloe is an original character her arc is left open. They could kill her off if AM doesn't sign, write her out, or keep her open for guest appearances. If AM does sign, they can do whatever they want with her – they could give her some kind of tragic ending for the finale, show her still reporting whether at the DP or elsewhere, or find a new path altogether.
But what I expect and the reality don't always match up. It all boils down to money. Whatever SV can afford to do, they will. Whatever they can't? Well, that may be good or bad, depending on the outcome.
We've had everything from S8 spoilers, to who's staying and who's leaving, to organizational structure changes.
And all the rumors in between.
I'm mainly focusing on the news about Gough and Millar, the creators of the show, leaving. I've seen people post that the network fired them because they wouldn't let Chlois happen. I've seen people post that the networks fired them because they wouldn't let Clana happen. I've seen people post that the network fired them because they wouldn't tie the last season into the mythos. I've also seen people say that TW and the cast were having conflicts with them, and also now that they are gone we'll have an even better show.
Everyone wants to justify their own position.
While there may have been instances where TW didn't like the direction of his character, or where MR didn't like how his character was portrayed, is irrelevant. We'll never truly know what the people involved think unless they tell us, and even then, you have to take everything with a grain of salt.
Usually in situations like these, the simplest answer is the right one.
SV is an aging show. As a show gets older, the expense of the show tends to outweigh the budget. Actors, crew, and writers demand higher salaries. There is the cost of special effects. The "new shiny" aspect of the show wears off and the network doesn't give it as much promotion and publicity.
Entering its eighth season, SV eats up a lot of money. It's the job of the studio to try to keep the costs and expenses down. We as fans might not like that, but that is what they do, especially if rumors are true that CW is struggling.
The most likely scenario is that Gough's and Millar's contracts were up and they could not reach an agreement. More likely than not, both Gough and Millar wanted more money and the network couldn't afford to pay it or was unwilling to pay it. The same can be said for KK, MR, and AM. While it seems KK truly wants off the show so she can pursue other interests, others like MR and AM might be more dependent on money. I'm not implying this makes them bad for wanting more – not at all. The longer you are at a job, the more you expect to make no matter what job you have. It's just standard business.
AA, ED, and LV can easily be signed on if they weren't already in a contract because they wouldn't cost as much as the actors who have been there since day one. Plus, if they were already in a contract, then there is no dispute.
The show cannot work without TW so he is priority.
Now, with all these changes in place, I still doubt that any segment of the fandom will get what they want. We still have the same writers and the same writers are still under the same monetary restraints. Just because Gough and Millar have left does not mean it's going to be the Lois and Clark show. However, since it is the last season, there is a strong possibility that both these characters will have a more intense focus. (And if Clark doesn't have the main focus, then shame on you writers.) It just makes sense based on the mythos. If MR is back in some capacity, I would see his character getting some intense focus as well.
Jimmy and Kara should also get closer to the mythos.
The objective of the last season should be to push the characters the closest as possible to their iconic forms and to close the chapter on Clark's very very very very very long Smallville life.
I would expect Lana's importance and Clana to slowly be phased out, but since this is SV I was never under the impression it would be 100% gone until the very last episode. It is my hope they will settle them into a nice friendship with whatever eps KK has left.
As for AM, since Chloe is an original character her arc is left open. They could kill her off if AM doesn't sign, write her out, or keep her open for guest appearances. If AM does sign, they can do whatever they want with her – they could give her some kind of tragic ending for the finale, show her still reporting whether at the DP or elsewhere, or find a new path altogether.
But what I expect and the reality don't always match up. It all boils down to money. Whatever SV can afford to do, they will. Whatever they can't? Well, that may be good or bad, depending on the outcome.
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no subject
Date: 2008-04-07 05:31 pm (UTC)Between what I know of the mythos, and what I've seen people with wildly varying shipping preferences say, I have a conflicted yet entertaining perspective on the whole thing. It's sort of fun. It's also sort of annoying, because apparently both Lois and Lana are simultaneously Evil and Perfect, while Lex Luther gets a disturbing amount of love and respect. Fandom will be fandom, I guess.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-07 05:48 pm (UTC)Now that would be quite the experiment. I started watching the show prior to fandom, so I can't really comment on that aspect. Though, at the same time it's a little sad because maybe you won't enjoy it as much when you evenutally watch. But the experiement istself is something I am very interested in seeing played out.
I've sorta been doign the reverse. I've been going back and reading old fandom theories from early in the series and find it fascinating knowing what I know now about canon, especially when it comes to characters like Chloe or Jason or Lionel or Lois. Very interesting stuff.
But yes, in the end, I guess fandom will always be fandom.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-07 06:20 pm (UTC)Oooh, interesting! I was never really involved in FANDOM, but now I kind of want to go back through my journal and see what all I've said over the years. Pity I a) wasn't on LJ until season 3 and b) never really used tags. I wonder if I'll find it as amusing as my Battlestar Galactica posts, which I had forgotten included a running commentary on Starbuck's hair.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-07 11:47 pm (UTC)Looking at old speculation is FUN. :)
no subject
Date: 2008-04-07 07:52 pm (UTC)LOL, oh so true. Of course, my Lana-hate and Lois-love is done with a huge wink, but I've kind of enjoyed the silly shipping wars. :D
no subject
Date: 2008-04-07 11:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-07 06:22 pm (UTC)Anyway, I am quite surprised. I would like to get the DVDs for this show sometime and watch the whole thing. I still have never seen the first episode.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-07 11:43 pm (UTC)But yes. CW has an earlier pickup on Smallville. Season 8 is a definite go. And TW has a contract through S8 as well. This season is supposed to be the final season.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-07 07:28 pm (UTC)I remember seeing interviews with MR when I first started watching Smallville about he planned to leave after season 7, because he felt it was time to do something else. That was over a year ago, at least, though I can't remember exactly when. It could be that he might have been talked into staying if offered enough money, but, of course, we'll never know.
You are probably right about the reasons for the producers/creators leaving. I hadn't really thought of it, except that it was so unexpected--to me, anyway. *g* I haven't read much in the SV fandom or about the actors or anyone, so I really had no idea that anyone besides MR wanted off the show and/or that any of the actors had problems with their characters or anything.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-07 11:50 pm (UTC)However, he has apparently said he's open to guest spots and ore reduced time. So that is what I'm hoping for. Most of his time lately has been wasted. He's so much better than that.
I argue the same for Welling too. He's grown as an actor and they keep stalling his poor character.
it's just I see these convoluted conspiracy theories out there and really, it's probably just as simple as a contract dispute LOL
no subject
Date: 2008-04-08 01:16 am (UTC)That and they destroyed Lex for me when they made him go after Lana. I want villianous Lex and well, if he's back for 8, I hope he goes truly evil. Not wishy-washy.
Bring on the Brainiac and Green Arrow, I say. And sadly, as long as Chloe's on...I'll be watching no matter where the storylines go.
Then again too, I was never an AlMiles fan from season 4 on, so I might be biased. :)
no subject
Date: 2008-04-08 01:39 am (UTC)When I first started watching and saw Lex was on it, i was furious. You can't have Lex in SV, I claimed. Then, I really liked it. When Lois came on, I said the same. But I really liked ED's portrayal of Lois and her banter with Clark, so I accepted it. To enjoy SV, I had to let that purist part of me go, and that was okay. But it's not the same for everyone.
But even I am not happy with everythign this show does and there is only so much I can fanwank. It killed me what they did to Lex in S6. And I was so looking forward to Lex/Lana. It could have been good. But that wasn't Lex for me. I've enjoyed him again in S7 and I hope he'll be back for part of S8 at least.
I don;t get overly involved in fandom because I'm in a weird place. I love both Chloe and Lois - and I think both actresses are amazing. There seems to be some unspoken law in SV fandom that you aren't allowed to like them both. That means I can't really get too far on either side without hitting some character/actress bashing :(
Oh well. I'll be sticking it out through the final season and hoping for the best :)