I rewatched the "Legion" episode from "Smallville: Season 8" on DVD late last night. This is the first episode penned by Geoff Johns - who has also written the Justice Society episode for Season 9. It's amazing how the TV series is so closely linked to the goings-on in the monthly books. You see, Geoff Johns had just set up his trilogy of "Legion"-themed stories: (1) JLA/JSA: The Lightning Saga; (2) Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes; and finally (3) Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds. Then he got invited to meet up with the powers-that-be behind the Smallville TV show and was offered a chance to write the episode featuring the appearance of Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl from the 31st century!
I agree with everyone else that this was the best episode from Season 8. Firstly, it resolved a lot of plotlines such as Brainiac's possession of Chloe Sullivan, Davis Bloome as Doomsday and the return of Lana Lang. Secondly, it also featured the most "comic-booky" villain to be shown on TV so far - the Persuader, a big bulky dude with an ax that can cut through anything! Thirdly, there were so many nods to the monthly comic books that a fanboy can get dizzy just pointing them out - here are some samples:
"No glasses, no tights, no flights? He is nothing like the Man of Steel I've read about!" Garth (Lightning Lad) says about Clark Kent. The Legion was formed because they were inspired by the legend of Superman. Going back in time to meet Clark Kent is akin to meeting some huge historical figure like Gandhi or Abraham Lincoln. The interesting truth about people is that they are usually quite different from what their official memoirs described them to be. Initially, the Legionairres were a little disappointed at the cape-less, flight-less Kal-El. But by the end of the episode, they come to realise that he possesses all the qualities that made Superman a legend even in the future - chiefly, his staunch commitment to the code of no-killing.
Chloe Sullivan is said to be excluded from all "histories" of the Man of Steel. That's hardly surprising if by "histories", we are really talking about the monthly books. Chloe is an original character created for the TV show!
Lightning Lad had the best lines - "Hey Kal, where's your cape?", "You may be known as Clark Kent now, but one day you will be known as Sup..." and "Kal, I may have the smoldering good looks of a human, but I'm actually from a hunk of mud called Winath!" How can any fanboy not sit up and cheer? It's the first and only time "Winath" was mentioned on TV!!!
The three-sphere symbol for Brainiac was used for the first time.
There was mention of a Levitz Museum in the future - an obvious nod to famed Legion-scribe Paul Levitz.
The baseball autographed by Clark as a gift for Lightning Lad's sister (Lightning Lass in the comics) is actually the one from Geoff Johns' "Superman: Brainiac" storyarc! The feeling of watching this episode was surreal... so many elements from the four-colour pages were coming to life right before my very eyes!
The episode ended with a "techno-exorcism" of Brainiac from Chloe's body. The scene was funny and scary at the same time. It's another example of how techgnostic elements are fast becoming staples of popular culture (see Erik Davis' book on the subject for more info). Brainiac represents the villainous aspect of alien-lifeform. He's also, in a way, the perfect extropian dream-creature of pure-thought and totalitarian control. I'm glad that the TV show actually dabbled in these concepts.
Here's hoping that the upcoming JSA appearance will be just as good... :)
