they just have a larger list of countries to deal with for spoilers than we do here. I think it goes back two years from US airing.

I understood it was something like that. It's just hard to keep track of, because they don't seem to post updates very often. I'd love to see regular posts saying, "Iceland has just seen "As You Were," clearing spoilers for this list through 6.XX," but that would probably a lot more work than going by the calendar.

My main distinction between Buffy and Smallville would be that Buffy was good.

Hee.

Also, "Smallville" is not the new "Buffy" -- "Smallville" isn't in "Buffy's" league. "Smallville" is the new "Roswell" only without the massive suckage that "Roswell" became starting in late Season 1. ("Roswell" went from "star-crossed lovers" to sci-fi to teen angst to incoherent sci-fi to "who-knows-what-the-hell-it-is." Sybil didn't have that many personality shifts.) It seems to me that with "Smallville" theWB either figured out how to hire passable producers or the network stopped messing with the product. But in any event, "Smallville" simply doesn't address the issues or themes that "Buffy" tackled. I think the comparison is because "Smallville" uses the kryptonite meteor shower like "Buffy" used the Hellmouth -- a way to explain some of the strange characters who show up each week. But "Smallville" doesn't do with those characters or its own regulars what "Buffy" did.

I've said this before (and that's right - I'm saying it again). Smallville has three saving graces, IMO.

1. They developed a five-year story arc before the show went on the air. This is key. This is why I am still watching. There is hope that a series arc that well planned out will be worth something in the end.
2. They hired Jeff Loeb to help them out with mini-arcs and to write some eps. His episodes are excellent, it's the actors that generally fuck them up.
3. MR. If it wasn't for Lex (and in this case, a well-acted Lex) - Superman, in both comic and TV incarnations, would be wicked boring.

I actually have an essay on Smallville that is tina's point 1, without knowing that they had a plan. I continue to hold out hope that as we approach the end-game of the series (especially the big question of Clark/Lex in the non-slashy[like that's at all possible] way), we will look back and things will not only be supported but inevitable (or at least heavily forshadowed) from near the beginning. I have a few theories based on this.

And in the mean time I have point 3 to keep me entertained.

(I do not know on point 2)

tina,

You forgot 4.

4.) Tom Welling is most likely the physically prettiest human being ever born, male or female. I don't know when I have seen a prettier person.

4.) Tom Welling is most likely the physically prettiest human being ever born, male or female. I don't know when I have seen a prettier person.

There is someone else. I'm blanking on the name, and can't remember if it is a he or a she, but there's someone out there so pretty that I just short out and get scared of the pretty.

Rats. Who *is* it?

There is someone else. I'm blanking on the name, and can't remember if it is a he or a she, but there's someone out there so pretty that I just short out and get scared of the pretty.

Rats. Who *is* it?

If this is a set-up for "Henry Kissinger"...

Rats. Who *is* it?

Dwight D. Eisenhower?

I did forget 4 and 5.

5. Lex and Clark's love is the purest love. There is no love purer. It is pure, pure stuff. And end to a love so pure would for sure make the baby Jesus cry.

Rats. Who *is* it?

Me, darling.