TTF--Lex and Lana

Lex, Lana, Clark and the S4 Elements

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:17:41 GMT

While looking through old files, I found this! In October 2004, I did a short write-up on how the symbolism of the Air, Fire and Water elements might be applied in the three distinctive relationships between Clark, Lex and Lana. This is an extended version. Most of the supplementary sources that discuss the Elements include "Earth" as the fourth major Element. "Earth" is not included in Smallville's element mythos. Nevetheless, these sources do help to burgeon our understanding of the crystals' metaphoric connection to the Smallville Triumvirate.

The Elements in the Smallville Mythos

According to the mythology developed by Smallville producers in Season 4, there are three crystals, which come together to form a "house of knowledge" -- air, water, and fire. Based on episodes that aired into March 2005, a number of greedy treasure hunters have been on the search for the crystals since the 17th Century. It's uncertain if these seekers are aware that the crystals are of Kryptonian origin, making Clark Kent the most ideal recepient of the treasure. As of April 2005, the crystal recovery has been haphazard at best and confusing at worst. However, once the crystals are uncovered, they usually signal Clark through sound frequency. Clark is led to rescue the crystals and he is to place them into three slots in the Kawatche cave wall. The three crystals, once united, will ultimately lead Clark to find the Fortress of Solitude where he will learn about his destiny.

Each Element's Possible Significance

When studying the properties of each element, it is possible to project the Triumvirate's major personality traits and how they might affect each other. Based on what has been established in Smallville "canon", the supposed human representatives of the three elements are as follows:

1. Air = Clark. Air is extensive, light and invisible. It moves, but it can also become still. Air seems to be the most appropriate symbol for Clark because of his future ability to fly and because of his super-speed which allows him to be felt yet not seen. But, there are deeper connections between Clark and the "air" metaphor. According to one source, because of air's weightlessness, air symbolizes the abstract workings of the mind; an "airy" person is believed to be a theoretical or idealistic person. Clark might be considered "idealistic" to a greater or lesser degree. He is very morally sensitive, which makes him rationalize situations based on what he considers to be good, true, and real. Yet, similar to the air's movement, his current immaturity often makes him judgmental and reactive. With reference to air's vastness, Clark's influence is currently localized to Smallville, but his future heroism will be more universal.

2. Water = Lana. Even though water is heavier than air and fire, it is not solid in its original form; it is liquid. Its original properties can be changed or transformed into solid (ice) and gas (steam). But both ice and steam can revert to the original liquid form under different conditions. This possibly explains why the Water crystal is responsible for transference or transformation. Like water in its liquid form, Lana can be changeable and inconsistent. She is a deeply emotional person, so when she becomes hyperaware or insecure, her loyalties may shift or she may appear hypocritical. She can be icy cold, but she can also be airily loyal, romantic and idealistic.

3. Fire = Lex. Once ignited, fire moves quickly and instinctively. It needs to be constantly fed. Like fire, Lex has intellectual spark, charisma, and brash instinct. Just as fire consumes whatever is in its path, suspicion and betrayal feeds Lex's insatiable acquisition of information and control. In the process, he can also "consume" others. Yet, fire can be deadly if left uncontrolled by external forces. Lex can also become destructive when he doesn't have a moral barometer. He is destined to have a bloody future and destructiveness can be both deliberate and unintentional. He is aware of this potential threat, so he currently craves positive moral influence to keep him contained.

Application to the Three Major Relationships

Sources are divided on which elements are most compatible platonically, sexually and romantically. Some say Air/Fire and Water/Earth are most compatible. Others say Air/Water and Fire/Earth are most compatible. Yet others say opposites -- Air/Earth and Water/Fire -- are very likely extremely drawn to each other as well. Is there any compatible match in Smallville mythology?

1. Clark and Lana. Air and Water share the chemical property, Oxygen. Oxygen is necessary for life and for sustaining life. Oxygen, in this context, may symbolize Clark's goodness and Lana's desire to do good things. Clark instinctively protects the underdog and those in danger while Lana instinctively attempts to see the good in people she encounters, which explains why she so easily stayed with Whitney Fordman (S1), befriended Byron Moore (S2), and has allied herself with Lex (S1+). Clark and Lana's mutual view of the world draws them closer to each other. They seem perfect for each other. However, Lana's unpredictability may be potentially problematic to Clark's sensibilities, especially since she also seems drawn to fire-like elements, such as Lex.

2. Clark and Lex. Air and Fire are both weightless yet head-strong elements. For both Clark and Lex, things must make sense; things must be rationalized. Clark rationalizes morality while Lex rationalizes necessity. Fire needs the Oxygen in Air to grow and to maintain power. Clark's goodness is essentially what keeps Lex desiring their friendship. As recent as Season 4's Devoted, he pleaded with Clark not to give up on him. The goodness Lex sees in Clark can help control his instinctive destructiveness because it makes him want to be a better person. In turn, Clark has learned to be more sensitive to his own emotional and moral struggles by interacting with Lex.

However, Lex's desire for truth about Clark's mysteriousness and Clark's lack of disclosure also feeds him. In an interesting twist, the same traits that Lex now admires in Clark may be the traits that he comes to despise once their friendship completely collapses. The Superman mythos has already established that these two young men will be morally opposed to each other. Envy of Clark, his need to become more powerful than Clark, or his need to restrain Clark in order to install his own agenda may negative feed Lex in the future.

3. Lex and Lana. Truthfully, Water and Fire are not always compatible, since Water's coolness is often used to put out Fire's heat. Fire can also condense Water into steam. In terms of personality, Lana's emotiveness counters Lex's practicality. Her hesitance counters his proactiveness. Yet, interaction that is labeled as "counteractive" in one situation can be considered "complementary" in another. Therefore, the L/L relationship is still an ambiguous pairing force.

In her normal "liquid" state, Lana provides a challenge for the emotionally reserved Lex because she can quickly fluctuate between trust and skepticism. Her tendency to be capricious and reactive may result in inner conflict about her loyalties to Clark and Lex, since she has developed distinctive relationships with both. Indeed, she already has a penchant of relying on one when separated from the other (Nocturne, Perry, Sacred). When Lex and Lana are at peace, she can help to relax him during emotional or moral distress. Shattered and Memoria reveal her potential to cushion his darkness. She is beginning to have a power to emotionally draw him in. However, Lex might eventually become impatient with her emotional flux. She opened heated arguments with him in Talisman and Recruit, prompting him to be the one to regulate their exchange. Depending on the level of Lana's reactiveness in the future, Lex might "consume" her by emotionally destroying her. On the other hand, she might emotionally "extinguish" him by either obstructing him to protect him or fully allying with his "enemies".

Lana complements Lex best when she is in her "airy" state. Adopting practicality (as she did in Kinetic) and loyalty (as she did in Memoria) will definitely increase her attractiveness to him. At present, her creativity allows her to connect with him on a very different level than she connects with Clark. During Season 1's Kinetic and Zero, and Season 2's Prodigal, they reveal how successfully creative they are together.

As an extention, their methods of communication are quite singular. Lex's ability to effectively charm Lana and appeal to her by citing John Donne in Nocturne (S2) and Rainer Maria Rilke in Legacy (S3) indicate that he's more effective when he uses literature or culture to communicate with her. In fact, their mutual appreciation for aesthetics and literature might actually increase their romantic/idealistic image of each other. Lana made particular note of Lex's romantic spontaneity in Heat (S2) and Lex declared Lana as being the one he could "come up for air" with in Talisman (S3). Whether or not their images of each other are seen as accurate by the viewership, their images of each other are real for them.

Conclusion

The interpretations of Air, Water and Fire in this "mythology" have not yet been exhausted. These are simply generalizations based on observation. There surely are many other applications available, but the significance of the Elements in the Smallville "canon" certainly is promising.

(Originally written in April 2005.)

A Very Merry Lexmas Past

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:18:59 GMT

Lexmas was Smallville's first holiday-themed episode, which aired on December 8, 2005. L/Lers were especially fortunate because it featured a married Lex and Lana in the episode's alternate universe. In terms of SV-verse, alternate universes often foreshadow some things that would play out in real time. By the end of S5, Lex and Lana were falling in love and battling Zod. Lexmas still makes me smile after all this time and it's become one of my tv viewing Christmas traditions. So here is my original review for it, unrevised. Feel free to share your favorite scenes and quotes from Lexmas.

Lexmas begins with Lex in Luthor-mode and a Ray Charles tune in the background. He's surreptitiously gone to see Griff (a Luthor lackey) about the upcoming senate elections. It is testosterone city as Lex and Griff swagger around each other, making veiled threats and plotting to take a swing at Jonathan's run for senate. The good in Lex makes him hesitate at Griff's proposition to "launch a grenade", whether fact or fiction. Lex leaves without giving a clear answer. Outside, he's approached by a pair of trigger-happy miscreants. As he falls from two gunshot wounds, he goes into a visceral dream/alternate state where he is married to Lana, has a son (Alex) and a daughter (Lily) on the way, is friends with Clark and Chloe, and is accepted by Jonathan and Martha Kent.

L/L SCENES TO WATCH: This episode is laden with L/L gifts, beginning from Lex waking up with Lana to Lily's birth. However, there are three scenes I've become endeared to:

1. The Christmas tree lot. Lex and his pint-size namesake stand together, hands in pockets, looking up at one prospect. There is a strong implication that the son is the shadow of his father, either genetically or intentionally. The father/son shadowing is more visibly emphasized within the Lex/Lionel scenes by the end of the Lex-mas. It's obvious from their very first scene that Alex is all about Daddy, not only inherently possessing some of his traits, but also purposely imitating some of his mannerisms. The kind of father Lex is in this experience is so different from his real-time experience with Lionel because, unlike Alex, he has rebelled against morphing into his father. He's also repeatedly questioned his father's sincerity in loving him, something Alex has no doubt about. Good stuff.

2. Returning home and getting the tree inside the house. I loved Lex joking with Alex, "Come on, Muscles! Do I have to do this by myself?" as they were pulling in the tree. Again, Lex reveals how comfortable he has become with this alternate existence. Lana, Lex and Alex respond to the house in such a way that the house looks and feels lived in. However, all the cuteness aside, this is where the real point of the eppy comes in when Lex notices a LuthorCorp gift:

Lex: Hey, what's this?
Lana (retreating from the stairs): Your father's secretary never does forget us.
Lex: No. This is a corporate gift. Not something from my father. I don't understand.
Lana: Lex, you know that Christmas is just another opportunity for your father to ignore you. It's his way of reminding you how disappointed in you for turning your back on what he thinks it means to be a Luthor. (Something was going on below my vision, but I get this sense that he was touching her belly.) But, as far as I'm concerned, getting shot was the best thing that ever happened to you. Coming that close to dying made you realize the things in your life that are important. It made you the man that you are today, the man that I married.

One thing that surfaces here and later is Lex's apparent attempt to redefine the Luthor legacy. Lana never said that Lex changed who he was, nor did she imply that he changed in order to be with her. What she recognized was that he became aware that there were more important things in life than money and power.

3. Lex struggles with losing Lana. In my opinion, this scene has become the benchmark for "bittersweet" on Smallville. Michael brings viewers to their knees and Kristin also brings up her game.

Lex: Lana, please, don't give up. Don't leave me.
Lana (weakly): Lex. You have be strong, Lex. For Alexander. For Lily.
Lex: Lana, I love you. Maybe I tell you that all the time. I don't know. Please listen to me. I mean it, I love you. I have always loved you.
Lana (she smiles): I love you too, Lex Luthor. You're a good man. (Her voice becomes softer) Don't ever change. (She wipes a tear from his cheek and caresses his face. She flatlines and Lex is inconsolable).

LEX TEXT: When Lex regains consciousness in real-time, he discovers Lionel made a reckless pre-op decision that he feels was more about appearances than survival. He says, "How dare you play God with my life?" His rebuke is so precise that there is implied anger about Lionel's role in the loss he experiences in his alternate state. A fear of a loss of control seems tied to his subsequent reaction. He tells Griff:

Lex: Don't worry, Griff. We Luthors are made of tough and definitely expensive material. . . . It's not everyday that someone has a near-death experience. It's true, much like Ebenezer Scrooge, I realize that what I more than anything is to live "happily ever after." And do you know what the secret to living happily ever after is? (He looks at Griff, detachment in his voice) Power. Money and power. See, once you have those two things, you can secure everything else and keep it that way. . . . I want you to pull the pull the pin on that grenade. Find it. Fake it. Do whatever it takes to knock Jonathan Kent out of the race. I want to be senator. I want it all.

His reaction is more emotional than it is rational. He's scared of loss because he's been deeply scarred by loss, so he's trying to buffer himself by using his "Luthorness" to deal with a situation currently under his consideration, a situation which could be the first step to acquiring power he thinks he needs. Undoubtedly, being able to afford the best of everything gives one a sense of comfort, and, yes, a degree of happiness. That's not in question. However, the irony of the choice eclipses its practicality and realism somewhat. Having the power and money doesn't automatically guarantee that he will "secure everything else and keep it that way." His father had power and money, but it didn't keep Lillian from dying, did it? This false sense of security and control is where he treads dangerously. He wants to be happy, but the methods of acquiring and keeping power, coupled with his obsessive nature, can ultimately undermine the "happily ever after" he so desperately wants to secure.

Lillian fades away as Lex shadows Lionel. Lillian tells him earlier, "You just have to make the right decision. Follow your heart, not your ambition." I don't think she's telling him not to be ambitious. She wants him to let the goodness he still has guide his ambition and she avoids imposing her will on his choices. In contrast, Lionel imposes his will on Lex's life in both real-time and in the alternate state, propelling Lex to take a darker route of self-preservation. This is the young man Lionel has been trying to provoke into existence since we first met the Luthors in the Pilot. In that way, Lionel is a trigger and an instigator more than he is an enemy. Either way, Lex's chances of long-term acceptance and happiness are jeopardized in different ways. So the angst begins again and badass Lex is coming into his own.

L/L TEXT: "Well, you became the kind of man she could love", Clark tells Lex at the Kent's party. One of the things I remember hoping for at the beginning of S3 was for Lex to be loved for who he is. He's able to justify his bad choices, but to be loved by Lana; all he has to be is himself. Lana has already said she admires his protectiveness, friendship and wisdom (Metamorphosis, Legacy, Splinter), his passion and decisiveness (Heat), and his ability to challenge her (Precipice). She sees his lost soul; she wants to be his friend and she wants to trust him (Shattered, Memoria). She isn't quite there in terms of loving him or trusting him, although that may come in time. The most important thing Lex will need to change to gain her trust is his penchant for secrecy. The Lex and Lana I see in Lex-mas are emotionally uninhibited and honest with each other, so much so they apparently know what the other is thinking. To get to that place with Lana in real-time, Lex will need to be more transparent with her even if he's not transparent with anyone else. Lana will also need to reassess who she is.

And as she turns
This way she moves in the logic of all my dreams
This fire burns
I realize that nothing's as it seems -- Desert Rose by Sting

Profiles Updated!

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 03:43:49 GMT

Well, it's been awhile! I'm overdue for a confessional update because I wanted to rest Confessions "properly" but real-life has been busy. However, for any L/L fan fic writers still out there needing any help in characterization for Lex or Lana, or any major pairing pointers for their relationship, I've since updated their profiles. You can find the links to the updated profiles within this post or click on the links above.

Until I settle on how to rest Confessions, take a read of the new profiles and if there's anything you want me to add or reconsider in the profiles, let me know.

Lana Lang Character Profile
Lex Luthor Character Profile
Lexana Pairing Profile

Wrath 1: The Lines That Matter

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 04:23:06 GMT

After all the hype, Wrath is a good episode. It's my first review in a long time and there probably won't be much material to follow-up on. But the episode means to show how morally different Lana is from Clark as she deals with her superpowers, which she calls "a gift" (repeating what Lex says in Vessel verbatim). Her first instinct is to use them to find out secrets (or beat Lex up). The ways Lex, Clark, and Chloe react to her are also interesting. Parts of dialogue that strike me follow: first from character discussions on Lana, and then from the Lex/Lana and Clark/Lana exchanges.

Clark and Lionel on Lana

"She is not -- may not be the person you think she is." I'm unsure why Lionel changes his definite to uncertainty mid-sentence (clone theorists may take this seriously). Lionel has been markedly similar in his accusatory/direct approaches with Lex and Lana, but he's much more paternal and longsuffering with Clark so he may have been trying to ease into a description. He confesses that Lana was the one behind his kidnapping, but Clark denies the possibility. Lionel asks, "You sure? Have you allowed yourself to have an honest look at Lana? Have you?" Clark's defiance answers Lionel's question. Lionel reminds him that Samson's trust couldn't stop Delilah from betraying him. Clark seems affected by the warning and goes to find Lana. Lionel's allusion to Samson/Delilah is likely meant to be partnered with Chloe's explanation of Ra/Isis. More on this later.

Clark and Lex on Lana (x1)

Clark is looking for Lana at the Kent Farm and rummages through her purse. He doesn't notice Lex's entry, but Lex visits because he has just discovered Lana stole a hardrive from his safe. He and Clark banter about who knows what's going on for awhile. Clark says Lana has a lot of reason not to trust Lex (similar to what he tells Lex at the foot of the hill in Mortal). Lex says, "Funny, I was under the impression she moved on. . . . Revenge is like an addiction." Oh, Lex speaks as an authority on the matter. Although contrite, he's also baited Lana and Clark about her theft of $10 million on the very theme of this episode -- Clark's possible inability to accept her ethics. Clark claims Lex doesn't know Lana as well as he does. Don't ya just love dramatic irony? But Lex follows on to prove otherwise: "Let me guess, you were the last to know about her Isis Foundation. Stings, doesn't it?" Lex has appeared angry when delivering information about Lana in both Cure and Wrath, but he remains placid. He claims he's suspicious of Lana's agenda at the Foundation and he may indeed doubt her, given all she's done of late. Clark sneers, saying she wants to help people, but Lex questions her non-disclosure if that was the case. Lex says he sees Clark doesn't trust her as well and Clark's defense of Lana goes silent.

Clark and Lex on Lana (x2)

As the eppy winds to a close, Clark goes to Lex about Lana. Lex is still angry (and drinking!), and I'm unsure if he's more upset about Lana's thrashing or losing the sentient metal during the fracas at the lab. But Lex assures Clark he won't press charges.

"You'd never just let her walk away." On the surface, Clark voices his perception of Lex's obsessive behavior. But beyond that, it seems he remains oblivious about how Lana faked her death using a clone and was able to return (even though he may know about the fake baby since he tells Lionel that Lana would get over everything Lex did to her). With the exceptions of Kara and Fierce, Lex has not actively sought Lana out, which should show Clark he has let her walk away.

"Funny thing about obsession is it outlives everything, even love." AND "What do you think is stronger, Clark? Her hatred for me or her affection for you?" Lex is angry and again speaks from his own experience, but he seems to be speaking not just about himself and Lana. He's also references the clarity and blindness with which he, Lana, and Clark view each other. His mention of knowing that Lana still has feelings for him is a S7 retake of his confrontations with Clark in Hydro and Crimson. This time he's the one emotionally maneuvering an insecure Clark, and he takes a sip of his drink as he lets Clark ruminate on obsession's longevity. The reason his manipulations are often so effective is because he uses the truth to play on emotions already simmering. His perception of Lana is valid. He is the recipient of her rage right now, but her impassioned reaction to his misdeeds and response to his kiss emphasize that she has unfinished emotional, and maybe sexual, business with him. Whether or not he wants Lana back, Lex gets satisfaction knowing that this time she's the one who can't let him go and this emotionally empowers him. Seeing Clana self-destruct may be his ultimate revenge.

"I wasn't the first to teach her about betrayal. It's hard to face what you've created, isn't it?" Both Clark and Lex tampered with Lana's already damaged trust, and they've idealized her to a point where they may think they share blame for corrupting the "good" girl in their lives. Lex's "I wasn't the first" indicates he accepts partial responsibility. However, Lana had dark tendencies long before and only she must own how she chooses to respond to their actions. Despite any self-blame, Lex plays on Clark's sense of responsibility and Clark falls into the trap.

Lana and Chloe on Lana

"I didn't know Big Sister was watching." Chloe's entry into Lana's lair at the Isis Foundation is very similar to Lana's entry on Lex at the end of Sneeze, which continues the theme of Lana being a female version of Lex. Most of Lana's secrets are out, but Chloe wants to address what she's learnt about the young woman she not only called her best friend, but also her sister.

"After everything he's done, I have a right to protect myself." I appreciate Lana's argument of self-protection. Lex messed with her mind and body beyond reason. She has a right to her anger, yet the way she's handled finding out about Clark's secrets and the faux-baby is just as morally repulsive as what he has done. If she was so hell-bent on protecting herself and exposing Lex, why fake her death? (I'm asking the EPs and the writers this). Why not stay in the marriage just a little longer and weed out every single shred of evidence she could take and then put the screws to him? Instead she chooses to break several laws not only faking her death, but also breaking into his security surveillance. Why go through all that trouble? There is a right way to do everything, but anger clouds her judgment.

"It would have been nice to know about the impressive operation you're running." I agree with Chloe. Since Bizarro I've said Lana would be more empowered had she decided to work with Clark, Chloe and Lois. Her actions satisfy her need to physically hurt Lex or Lionel, but she's also emotionally damaging Clark and Chloe who were not only previously plunged into grief by her fake death, but led to believe she trusted them. More than that, she's also misrepresented herself to the meteor-infected people who came to her foundation for help. Lana says she didn't want to tell them because she didn't think they'd understand the picture. Understand what? Her methods or her clear fascination with a man she knows they'd say she's crazy to be fascinated by? Maybe both.

"I want Clark to have that kind of loyalty in his life. But I'm just not sure it's from you." Chloe calls Lana out as a friend, particularly as Clark's friend. She wants to believe Lana won't intentionally hurt Clark, but there are problematic points in Lana's morality (she earlier describes Lana's surveillance as "depraved"). After seeing Lana readily misuse and abuse these acquired super-powers, Chloe realizes Lana is capable of any kind of betrayal. She puts Lana on notice about hurting Clark, the same way she put Lex on notice in Fragile about hurting Lana. (They're really hammering home the Lana/Lex parallels and reversals.)

"What the textbook left out is that Isis is also the goddess of the Underworld. She's responsible for bringing the great god, Ra, to his knees." I didn't expect this continued explanation of the Egyptian mythos, but I'm happy with it. Juxtaposed with Lionel's Delilah/Samson parallel, Chloe's recount of Isis's dual role as protector of the weak and instigator of Ra's disempowerment may indicate Lana's current and future characterization in relation to Clark. We'll see.

Wrath 2: The Lines That Matter

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 04:19:19 GMT

Lex and Lana on each other
"I told you I don't have anything to hide." Giving Lana the password to Project Scion's details is meant to prove Lex's transparency and she's upset when she discovers he's tracking aliens. To me, she seems more upset about him lying about it (while they were still married I suppose) than about him tracking aliens. He says, "There's a reason why everything's happened. Don't you see? My miraculous rescue from the river, the spacecrafts, those cruisers that landed with the meteors ...." Similar to what he tells Kara in Fierce about his salvation from the water, he tells Lana he doesn't believe these incidents are coincidences. But Lana deflects, blaming his power trip for the messes he gets into. (Strange argument premise.)

"There's a reason why you came to me and not Clark. You trusted me...." To this, Lana claims it's all over. But Lex continues: "Is it? Then why have you been trailing me, spying on me, stalking every move that I make?" After their meeting about her divorce settlement in Fierce, Lex has done what he's promised he would do in Kara -- let her live her life the way she wants. But she has surreptitiously continued her interest in his life, which proves to him that he still matters to her even if she's using punishment and leverage as her reasons. Strikingly, although he knows about her activities, he does not immediately cut off her surveillance feed.

"I'm trying to save people. We started this together." Lex is earnest, even honest, here! The majority of extraterrestrial sojourners Lex has met haven't been friendly. He wishes those he suspects (Clark and Kara) would trust him enough to explain their purpose on earth. Since they've continued to be evasive, he expects the worst and he wants to be the one to save the world (a.k.a. Lex's hero complex). He reminds Lana of the research partnership that instigated their romantic relationship (Splinter, Lockdown, Oracle, Vessel, Arrow, Static). She now distances herself from that and mocks his self-placement as the "prophet of the alien invasion." Ironically, she shared his belief that aliens and "meteor freaks" were dangerous until she suspected Clark was one (ref. Static, Freak). I still think her quick acceptance of Clark's alien status is out-of-character. Lex likens his epiphany to Paul's dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus. He seems to be very well-behaved lately, but Lana disbelieves him and promises earlier to dig up every track he's hidden.

"From guilt? I think I'll get over it." Ah, this is where Lana says it and it's in response to Lex's efforts to stall his electrocution. He tries to help her realize she'll be the only one to suffer if she kills him. I doubt she'll "get over it" as she claims. Because she has a dependent personality, killing him will launch her into a different psychosis or maybe depression. If she really believes killing Lex would save the world, then why didn't she take her shot in Kara? He gave her the perfect opportunity and she didn't do it. Superpowers give her a feeling of invincibility, yes, but the point of her anger with Lex is no different now than it was then. I stand by what I wrote in my Cure/Action review at Unbound -- I don't believe Lana hates Lex as much as some think, but I do think she hates the things he's done to her. If she hated him, then shooting him in Kara would have been easy and she wouldn't have dilly-dallied in Wrath. Hate would likely have desensitized her, causing her to dispatch her decision quickly. But her delay in Kara and her torture approach in Wrath seems to imply she cared deeply for him and, ironically, may still care for him.

"From knowing Clark will never look at you the same way again. Clark isn't like us, Lana. You may not want to admit it, but we understand each other. We understand doing whatever it takes to survive." Lex continues to lobby for his freedom, but he again speaks truth. He repeats two key things that he has been telling her since Kara and Fierce: (1.) despite being the recipient of her anger, he admires her machinations because he understands the survivalist instinct that motivates her cruelty, and (2.) Clark will be unable to appreciate her deviousness the way he does. Truly, they are alike. Their rages, skepticism/paranoia, fear of external threats and fear of a loss of control help to make their relationship both workable and toxic.

The kiss. Lex comments on their mutual survivalist instinct just before kissing Lana, so the kiss can either be read as a distraction ploy to buy himself time or as confirmation of his continued attracted to her. Maybe it's a lot of both. Lana wipes the kiss off afterwards, possibly because she doesn't want to indulge in whatever she feels in that moment. But she dropped the livewire and made no immediate effort to push him away during the kiss. To me, her response to the kiss itself speaks far more than what she says/does before and after it.
"You can't kill me Lana, you'd lose Clark forever." Again, he uses Clark as a means of stalling her. But Lana remains unfazed during his warnings. Maybe she's so involved in her attack that her love for Clark is secondary in the moment. Or maybe she already decided that she'll spin her agenda with Clark later.

Clark and Lana on each other
"I have to take care of your unfinished business." Lana tells Clark this when he interrupts her second attempt to kill Lex. Their disagreement about vigilantism is only an example of their intrinsic moral divide. She repeats what other friends and opponents have told Clark, "You can do anything, but all you do is hide out in a barn." (You'd think Clark would get the message by now!) Lex is named because he's their immediate subject of argument, but I take her reference quite generally and what she basically tells Clark is that he's a coward to leave guilty persons unpunished.

"I wish you didn't look at me as if you hadn't seen before." Lana is contemplative when she and Clark meet later in the loft. Earlier, she receives a powerful reminder of her metamorphosis when she sees herself in a broken mirror, knowing she's no longer the girl in the picture Clark had of her. Everything is distorted and she sees the look of disappointment she feared, the look Lex and Lionel predicted (ref. Fierce, Action, Wrath).

"I guess I'm just trying to find a part of you I recognize" AND "Even before you had the powers, Lana, you kidnapped Lionel." Clark tried to see the good in Lex during S1 and he's done the same for others sometimes, so it's in-character for him to mention that her actions led them to discover Lex tracking Kryptonians. Nevertheless, he points out her powers cannot be blamed when she kidnapped Lionel. She uses protecting Clark as a justification for doing things she knows isn't right, which means she knows what acceptable moral behavior is. She simply chooses not to follow this code probably because she feels restrained by normal methods of punishment for Lex and Lionel.

"You sound like Lex." Clark has had enough conversations with Lex about similar subjects to recognize Lex's voice, and she does sound like Lex in her effort to justify her motives and lack of remorse. Her line of reasoning is similar to Lex in that they both tell themselves the desired end (self-protection/community protection) justifies the means. Clark may also be referencing his first view of her "Lair of Lex", which I'm sure he immediately found disturbingly reminiscent of Lex's room dedicated to researching him. This room was Clark's deal-breaker in Season 3 and he ended his friendship with Lex over it.

"I sound like you. You can't tell me that you haven't crossed the moral line in order to save somebody." Her attempt to align Clark's behavior with hers shows how distorted her moral lens has become because, for her, the only thing that mattered is salvation. But lines like this cannot be so rigidly drawn if she's using Clark as a model. Clark has indeed crossed moral lines within a crisis and he's wanted to pummel people in anger, but I don't recall him premeditatedly or maliciously planning to hurt or kill in the name of protecting her or anyone else. Lana's deliberateness again places her far from Clark's approach and closer to Lex's.

"But I guess that's my fault. I didn't trust you years ago and now, for some reason, you can't trust me." AND "Lana, I can live with you changing. I just need to accept the fact that I'm responsible for it." Clark was doing well until here. Can he really live with her changing? The moment he decided Lex had betrayed him, he quickly gave up on him. Would Lana be different? Taking responsibility for Lana's inability to trust him means he'll give her another chance to climb up from this moral precipice. However, will he truly be able to ignore his own moral code in order to keep her in his life?

"I have to live with the decisions that I've made. I just need to know that you love me, no matter what." Lana's ownership of her behavior is something I've waited for and I'm glad she does it, albeit with preliminary excuses. For her, Clark is a stark contrast to Lex. Yet, she's been always been more emotionally transparent with Lex and I think that scares her senseless. The things Lex does and makes her feel -- good and bad -- releases a mixture of coping skills she's recognized since S2's Precipice. There's a schism between the person she is and the person she wishes to be; she knows she's not the girl Clark's put up on a pedestal (ref. Accelerate, Fierce). She tries to convince him he isn't to blame for her inability to live up to his illusions, but I dare say she's wanted and still wants to live on that pedestal. She wants the safety and importance his love promises. But her scenes with Lex and Clark are admissions that her fascination and conflict with Lex consume her to the point she fears she cannot redeem herself. Similar to Lex who believed Clark's friendship was a healthy influence on his destructive moral view, she wants Clark to give her hope that she can be better, that he won't vilify her in spite of their moral differences. (Yes, we get it -- Lana is the girly version of Lex.)

What will happen?
I'm an L/Ler who wants Clark and Lana as friends, and the EPs should have launched them into a friendship during S6 instead of resurrecting their romance. There would have been far more potential for Lana's maturation if she could have loved Clark as a friend, loved Lex as a boyfriend/husband, and be torn by their moral antagonism. But here we are in storytelling hell. Regardless, I think the L/L in Wrath was really good. Some think Lana is redeemable. Although the Isis references imply otherwise, maybe that's what the EPs want for her. While I think Clark's silence makes a difference in the long-term, he'll keep trying to believe in Lana during the short-term and give her the chance he didn't give Lex. Right now he'll slowly process the shattering of his illusions until they both realize they are just too emotionally and morally distant to make their relationship work. I'm done for now. Call me when Lex and Lana get to kissing again (if they're ever allowed to kiss again).

Confessional: "Who I am without you"

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 06:08:33 GMT

Upon reflection of the L/L's quasi-scene within Cure's closure, document what you think about any of these qustions:

01/First take. What was your first reaction to Lana spying on Lex via camera surveillance and Lex keeping Lana's wedding picture in his office?

02/Fill in the blanks. In whatever voice you choose -- humorous, sarcastic, or otherwise -- put to words what Lana may have been thinking as she ponders the monitors.

03/Moral coding. What interesting details or shifts have you noticed in Lana's apparent current moral code in relation to Clark's moral code and Lex's moral code? As much as possible, avoid thinking like an L/Ler. Think in terms of character development rather than pairing compatibility.

04/Missy Higgin's "Where I Stood." The song is primarily Chloe and Jimmy's break-up song. But some of the lyrics are used for Lex and Lana. Two lines accompanying Lana's entry into her secret lair say*:

There were sounds in my head, a little voice is whispering,
That I should go and this should end, but then I found myself listening.

Another two lines covering Lana's viewing of Lex on the monitors say:

'Cause I don't know who I am, who I am without you.
All I know is that I should.

As problematic as Smallville's continuity, editing and plotting issues are, some textual and music cues are often very deliberate. Share your interpretation of these lyrics in relation to L/L's current interplay.

05/Color analysis: Black and white. In Lex and Lana are both wearing black jackets and white shirt/top beneath. What's your take on what these color choices possibly infer?

*Credit to firefly at DTS for providing the lyrics that covered Lana's entry.

"Who I am Without You" Confessions

Posted by Daisy @ 10/24/2007 12:47 PM PDT

1. I first thought to myself what the heck is Lana doing. I couldn't understand why she would still want to be involved with Lex after everything that has happened. Didn't she want him out of her life? I was thinking Lana is seriously asking for trouble by spying on Lex. I actually missed seeing Lana's wedding picture while I was watching the show the first time around. I didn't notice it until I saw the screen caps. I was shocked and surprised but then happy that they decided to show just how much Lex still loves Lana. It really melted my heart seeing that picture of her there after what she did to him:(.

2. After everything that you've put me through I still can't deny these feelings I have for you.

3. I think Lana is definitely starting to show her true colors. I always knew Lana had a dark side which Lex helped bring out. Lana committed some serious crimes which thanks to Lex were easily forgotten. She lied to Clark about the money and is now spying on Lex. She says she wants to start a good relationship with Clark but she is now doing something's that Clark would not approve of. I think she is not afraid of doing certain things anymore but will eventually get herself into a lot of trouble.

4. Umm I don't really know what to say about the lyrics. I thought it was an interesting song choice to play during that scene. I guess I interpret it to mean that Lana knows what she is doing is wrong but she can't help herself. I think Lana is a lot like Lex and is starting to realize that more now that she doesn't have him around. I think she is realizing that the only person she could really be her true self is around with Lex.

5.I'm not really good with this color analysis stuff, so I don't really know what the colors might signify. I guess it could mean goodness and darkness.

Posted by Jac @ 11/22/2007 12:19 AM PST

01/First take. || My first thougths about Lana's surveillance and Lex's wedding photo ran along the lines of "What exactly do they want me to think?" Lana's motives in putting up the surveillance are comprehensible enough, but the zoom-in on Lex's face is what got my attention, as it did for many others. From that point, her infiltration of his security system didn't seem like a primarily fact-finding mission. There admittedly seemed to be more. As for Lex's picture of Lana (especially in comparison with Clark's picture of her), it may reveal the Lana he will always idealize and love.

03/Moral coding. || The most visible shift I've seen in Lana's current moral code is her willingness to commit crimes in the name of "poetic justice." She doesn't seem have a clear idea of how deep her anger goes so she may not know where her limits are. Not knowing these limits may result in her becoming scared once her conscience kicks in (probably explaining her hesitance to pull the trigger on Lex in Kara). The fact that she uses subterfuge and doesn't want Clark to know of her activities means she has a very clear sense of morality. In other words, she knows what she's doing is wrong. But she CHOOSES to sacrifice her morality in punishing the Luthor men because she may feel they require a justice that goes beyond moral confines, and she will try to play their game the way they play to find justice for herself. She's not meant to be as morally adrift as Lex is, but they are sharing certain moral philosophies. Similarly, Lex rationalizes his efforts as good-will and justice but he often excutes these efforts far outside the moral box. For he and Lana, the ends justify the means. However, Lana's apparent purpose is opposite to Clark's developing belief that, though vigilante-justice is understandable, it is not necessarily moral or just.

04/Missy Higgin's "Where I Stood." || I'm still trying to properly express my interpretation and hopefully I do a satisfactory job. But if the lyrics are to help Lana speak, then the lines covering her entry may indicate she knows she should just let better judgment prevail and let go her anger, her suspicion. She wanted to get out of the marriage when she found out Clark's secret and especially after finding out about the faux baby. And she's gotten what she wanted; her marriage to Lex is over. But who he is and what he's done consumes her. Then, the first two lines of the refrain that cover her viewing of the monitors may reveal that everything they've been through together -- shootings, assassins, Zod, commitment questions, a pregnancy, a proposal, a non-pregnancy -- left its mark on her psyche and has branded her a Luthor. Twisted as it may be, the powerful, manipulative qualities that Lana fears and loathes in Lex may be the very same qualities she finds fascinating and/or attractive.

05/Color analysis: Black and white. || The white shirt/top may indicate their good intent within Cure while the black jackets covering them may reveal they are still "cloaked" by negativity as seen in their methods (trickery, deceit). Lana's interest in watching Lex with the intent of finding incriminating information to save others from him may be genuine. But she chooses to accomplish this mission illegally and surreptitiously, thus "cloaking" herself darkly. Simultaneously, Lex has been trying to present an image of propriety and redemption since being saved from drowning. He says he wants to do the right thing and his intents may be good with 33.1 patients, since he was worried for their well-being in Knox's care. But the fact remains that he used unethical procedures not only to research these meteor-infected people, but also to secretly remove memory of any assocation with him.

Confessional: Was there closure in Kara?

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 04:19:36 GMT

Lex and Lana's scene in Kara is not horrible in terms of writing although I agree with those who say the dialogue is a bit clunky and unpretty for both characters. Still, what the text lacked, Michael Rosenbaum and Kristin Kreuk made up for in performance. Whether or not he's sincere, it is clear in that Lex and Lana still emotionally move each other. James Conway, who led the actors in Static, also directed Kara. Would I have preferred Lex to emphatically take back what's his? Yes, it would have been interesting if he didn't give her the satisfaction of seeing any emotion from him, similar to the way he ended things with Victoria and Helen. But I can't change what's already on screen.

This Confessional is based on questions fellow L/Lers have already raised in DTS discussions about the episode. This won't be a usual occurence because I have no plans to watch the full season, but I thought I should do this particularly for this episode. There are 5 questions so you don't have to answer them all. Answer the one or ones that remain on your heart. Later on, I'll add my responses within the post due to their length. If you've written responses at DTS or any other forum that are relevant, feel free to copy/paste portions of your responses or provide fresh reflections in the comments section.

01/Lex's apology -- is it real or pretended?
02/What's the whole point of Lana faking her death?
03/Are you satisfied with the handling of the Model 503 issue?
04/Why do you think Lana couldn't pull the trigger?*
05/How do you read MR and KK's separate interpretations of Lex and Lana? Did you detect any feelings between Lex and Lana or was this the closure scene for their relationship?

*Question 4 was reworded for accuracy. The original question asked why she didn't have any bullets in the gun. However, the gun apparently had bullets. Lana simply couldn't pull the trigger.

"Was there closure in Kara?" Confessions

Posted by Le @ 10/05/2007 05:13 PM PDT

01/Lex's apology -- is it real or pretended?
- I think his apology is real. If he didn't feel any remorse or anguish over her death which he probably thought was his fault, then why would he give an apology. Like he said, if he wanted revenge, he wouldn't be having his conversation with her.

02/What's the whole point of Lana faking her death?
- Lana probably just didn't want to be with him anymore. I don't really blame her after the pregnancy thing (which I blame on the writers). She felt trapped and the only way she thought she could escape was make herself dead.

03/Are you satisfied with the handling of the Model 503 issue?
- I am not "happy" with it because it just seems like a deux ex machina they threw in there so they could have Lana come back. And Lex cloning her? That is a little messed up. Need a back up or something? Stupid. But it had its purpose I suppose.

04/Why do you think Lana couldn't pull the trigger?*
- I believe that she still does have some feelings for him, at least that is what I like to believe. She was crying and the fact that she didn't load the gun or the safety was one proves that she never intended on killing anyone. But, Lana doesn't have it in her to murder someone like that, so it could be that she is still a good person at heart.

05/How do you read MR and KK's separate interpretations of Lex and Lana? Did you detect any feelings between Lex and Lana or was this the closure scene for their relationship?
- I think that it was closure. I think Lex is going to try and let her go because of the damage he caused and you know Lana isn't going to be thinking about getting back together. I think this was somewhat of a goodbye scene for them.

Posted by Misty @ 10/07/2007 01:59 AM PDT

1. I don't know what to think anymore about where Lex's motivation is. I think he didn't want revenge, but I don't think he wanted to die either.

2. To mess with Lex like he did with her. It was a revenge thing for Lana.

3. I don't know why 503 even existed, so NO.

4. Why? She always goes to the edge, but always pulls back. So, I think it's due to her once being in love with him. I think she's a bit afraid of any feelings she has for him.

5. It was totally a 'closure' moment for Lex. He let her know that he didn't want to hurt her and made it plain she could come back. That's why he told her 'Lana Luthor' is dead...not Lana Lang. I think Lana is still very bitter and prob still has a billion questions, but she thinks Lex always lies or twists it to his advantage. Even if Lana got her revenge, it would most likely destroy herself as well.

Posted by Anne @ 10/07/2007 09:10 AM PDT

01. I thought it was real. It felt very sincere to me. Lex has always had a tendency toward self-hate and so I think he would probably decide that he was the only one in the wrong and that he deserved to suffer as he did. But Lex is capable of having very complex feelings/motives, so it might also be possible that while he was sincere in his apology, he was also manipulating her a little to. To calm her down so she'll stop going after him while already planning something down the road to keep an eye on her, or to win her back, or even some kind of revenge (if revenge, I think it would be more along the lines of ruining her happiness with Clark. I still think Lex loves her too much to really hurt her physically or anything).

02. For Lana- To make Lex suffer because she was out for revenge and was willing to go to extreme lengths to make him feel pain.

For the show overall- pointless drama. I think they just wanted to do something "shocking" in the finale and make people wonder "is she dead?" all summer.

03. Not even a little satisfied. I want to know why Lex cloned her (or did whatever he did since it wasn't a real clone). I'm hoping we'll learn that it had something to do with "Lexmas" and in his own, rather twisted, way everything he did with the pregnancy (whateveer it was exactly) and the clone were all efforts to protect Lana.

If they just drop the clone story and expect us to just think that Lex cloned Lana because he's "crazy" and "evil", I'm going to be furious. This clone thing bothers me even more than the fake baby!

04. I think Lana couldn't pull the trigger because Lex's apology took her off-guard. If he had come to get revenge like she expected, I think she would have gone through with her plan to kill him, having convinced herself that he was an evil psychopath. But once he apologized, she couldn't keep pretending that she was fighting some monster. She found herself face-to-face with Lex, the guy she had had real feelings for and who had been her friend. And some of her feelings came back and she couldn't make herself kill Lex.

05. From MR's performance, I felt he was portraying Lex as deeply sad, remorseful, and hurt, and still very much in love with Lana. But he was also letting her go. There wasn't that desperation or any pleading to get her back. He just wanted to fix things as best he could, and then he'd walk away.

As for KK, like I said above, I felt she began the scene the way we saw Lana starting in "Nemesis": cold and fueled by anger and hatred. But it changed when Lex apologized in such a heartfelt way, and she found some of her feelings coming back. She looked relieved and sad to me in the end instead of angry.

I think this was closure for one part of their relationship and it was a needed one. But I actually believe that there is a chance that there could be Lexana (romantic or something else) in the future. Lana has become very dark and crossed many lines and I don't think she can go back to pink, sweet Lana. Also, KK made me believe in this scene that under all her anger, Lana does on some level love Lex. So I think there's a chance, albeit a small one, that after Lana tries to have a go with Clark, it won't work because of how dark she is. And unable to fight the "Luthor" inside her, she ends up back with Lex in some way or another (if it ends rather badly with Clark, who could dark Lana interact with? The only one who could ever accept or like the darkness in her is Lex, imo).

Posted by Jac @ 10/09/2007 07:30 PM PDT

01/Real or pretended apology. I'm undecided. The scene leans towards Lex being truly regretful and conceding while he still retains some situational control. He calls Lana's bluff by doing everything she doesn't expect him to do -- agree that his actions were wrong, agree the world will be better off without him, and beg her to pull the trigger. Moved by his self-reproach and willingness to die at her hand, she emotionally collapses. He takes the gun, promises to arrange for her return home, promises to stay out of her way, and softly says he's sorry. His apology may be a well-crafted performance as part of upcoming revenge. But, for now, it seems he's feeling a little bit of everything -- remorse for hurting her, love for her, anger at her, anger at himself, and a need for closure.

02/Lana faking her death. Lana's motive was revenge born from anger. Still reeling from learning about the faux baby and the Ares project, she says she wanted to be declared dead so there would be no legal repercussions when she killed him.

03/Am I satisfied with the handling of Model 503? No. I'm actually glad Lana discovered Lex's attempt to clone her, but I'm disturbed by Lana hauling around Model 503 without any assistance. Add that to my confusion about the car exploding by a starter bomb with a deactivated clone in it. As for the clone's creation, Lex indicates to Lana the cloning process wasn't complete in Model 503's case. Nevertheless, his decision to clone Lana as a response to his dream in Lexmas is the only explanation I'll accept.

04/Two possible combined reasons why Lana couldn't pull the trigger: (a.) She yielded to fear of her own darkness, realizing she's more comfortable with indirect, passive forms of aggression than direct aggression. Her willingness to let Lex suffocate in the tunnels during Nemesis and then lure him to his death in Kara proves she can be wicked and vengeful. But with him standing before her, her desire to acknowledge his humanity was probably always greater than her desire to kill him. (b.) Surprised and moved by his contrition, she realizes she can't kill a man she loved at one time.

05/The actors' interpretations, L/L's feelings and possible closure. Michael Rosenbaum and Kristin Kreuk's fantastic yet ambiguous performances prove their characters are in emotional transition. In S6's Arrow, Lionel declared Lex had found his equal in Lana. His words ring true on some level in this scene. When Lex and Lana love, frustrate or undermine each other, they seem to do it with committed passion. They both move from emotional stand-off to emotional exhalation to emotional recovery.

Kreuk plays Lana as simulataneously counter-phobic (her intent to kill the husband who hurt her) and phobic (her inability to kill the man she was learning to love). Lana justly hates what Lex did to her, but she doesn't seem to hate him or else she would have shot him regardless of his apology. Does she still have love for him? Maybe on some level, but it does appear that she remains suspicious of him.

Meanwhile, Rosenbaum plays Lex as perceptive and introspective. Unlike the endings of his first two marriages, Lex seeks peace between him and Lana. Maybe it's because his love for her and desire of love from her exceeded what he had in his previous marriages. He will probably always love her. Still, he now knows she not only has an extensive view of the way his mind works, but she also went to drastic lengths to get out of their marriage. Faced with the hurt he caused her and feeling the hurt she causes him, it seems he wants to let her move on with her life while he puts his energies into Kara and his other projects.

Their reliance on mendacity and over-the-top self-protective schemes are similar, making them a great match for each other. At the same time, they instigate each other's existing insecurities and toxic qualities. In the long run, closure appears to be the aim of the scene. Will they achieve full closure when they're so emotionally intertwined?

Confessional: Our Crazy Fandom

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 06:30:34 GMT

5 questions! Take your pick of any two or three. Or feel free to briefly answer them all.

01/On general fandom's reaction to L/L. Have any non-L/L fans sympathized with you specifically and/or L/Lers in general about the way the EPs handled the pairing in S6? If so, did their empathy raise your spirits in any way?

02/On the mood of L/Lers one week from S7's premiere. With current spoilers in mind, remove yourself from your feelings to objectively describe the general mood of L/Lers as the season premiere nears. What do you believe most L/Lers clearly agree on concerning what they want to see happen with Lex, Lana, and L/L in S7?

03/On you versus the L/L fandom. Do believe you currently have an opinion/reaction to Lex, Lana or spoilers that differs from the current consensus within the L/L community? If so, embrace your non-conformity and say what it is.

04/On fandom talents. Think of a fanfic or fanart that has helped ease the pain of L/L's bitter break-up for you. Provide the title or brief description of the work. Provide the name of the author/artist. Provide the site where other L/Lers can find it. What was it about the story/artwork that you enjoyed most? N.B. If you are a writer or artist, describe any of your current projects and where we can find them.

05/On MR and KK appreciation. What do you plan on doing to ensure Michael Rosenbaum and Kristin Kreuk are aware that L/Lers did enjoy Lex and Lana together before their inexplicable divide in S6? In addition, provide suggestions on what we can do as a group to let them know how much their acting partnership was and still is loved.

"Our Crazy Fandom" Confessions

Posted by Misty @ 09/21/2007 12:17 AM PDT

1. No.

2. Mostly wary.

3. I think there really isn't enough spoilers to know just what LLer situations there will be, but I don't think they will be good.

4. I am enjoying the stories at DTS Lexana forum. I also like to go to Livejournal to see all the arts created for the show and have started creating icons and entering them for competition.

5. I support them by going to forums and posting support for those that create art, fiction and have sent an e-mail of thanks to SV magazine. I try to represent them in the icons I create as well.

Posted by Anne @ 09/21/2007 01:28 AM PDT

1. Yes. Many non-LLers at TWoP have expressed sympathy. And even a couple Clana fans at DTS have been sympathetic. They didn't really raise my spirits, but I did appreciate the kind words. It's nice that some people can get over shipper biases and feel bad for fans who are feeling down.

2. I would say most seem apathetic.

As for what they would want to see: I think most want confirmation from Lana that she did/does love Lex and for her to feel bad for how she treated him. And they don't want to see Lex pining after Lana or begging her to take him back or anything that hurts Lex more and gives Lana more power over him.

3. I actually am a bit more optimistic than the majority of LLers about S7 after some more recent spoilers. I still feel a certain amount of apathy about the show like many others and I'm prepared for the worst, but I do think there is a chance that Clana might not last long...and even a chance that there might be another round of Lexana before the season ends.

4. All the fanart and fanfic posted at DTS and Rapture this summer have helped ease the pain a bit. One that stands out in particular is the Lexana best scenes montage that firefly made for a Lexana Night at DTS. It brought back a lot of wonderful memories.

I'm also dealing with my pain by writing an AU version of season 7. It's a gen fic, but one of my main objectives is to repair Lexana. (it can be found at DTS and Rapture)

5. Hmm, I don't know. I'd love to do something since I do get the feeling that MR and KK aren't very aware of the support that Lexana had.

Posted by Daisy @ 10/09/2007 07:25 PM PDT

1. No not really.

2. I don't have any current spoilers since I try my hardest not to read them anymore. I think most L/Lers want this whole fake pregnancy to be cleared up. I feel that we need some true clarification on what really happened so that Lana and Lex can move on since that was something that caused conflict between them. I think most L/Lers just want to see Lex and Lana end on some happy terms. Even though they might not get back together, it would be nice to see them stay friends and still care for each other.

3. Like I've mentioned before I don't know what the current spoilers are, so I can't speak for that. I have seen L/Lers say that they're not hoping for much this season and I take that as a bad thing for Lexana. I still have faith for some strange reason that things might get fixed for Lex and Lana even though some L/Lers are thinking the opposite. I want to stay optimistic no matter what I hear or read:).

4. Every fan art that I see here and on fanforum is beautifully done. They are all inspiring and terrific. I don't read much fanfiic mostly because I don't know where to find it.

5. Writing letters is the only thing that comes to my mind. I wish there was something more creative we can do to show them how much we love their couple like start a campaign or something. I don't really know but I think us L/Lers should think of something before the season ends. It would be cool if we did.

Confessional: S7 Spoiler Insanity

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 04:43:14 GMT

01/On the on-line Lana-hate. At the Smallville panel during Comic Con in July 2007, Al Gough claimed he doesn't understand why on-liners don't like Lana. Many Lana fans who are also L/Lers have unexpectedly joined the ranks of those displeased about Lana's characterization. If you had the opportunity as an L/Ler to briefly explain to Mr. Gough why a number of on-liners don't like Lana's character development, what major issues would you highlight?

02/On the alleged "Lana 2.0". There have been conflicting reports about a Lana clone. Which of the current theories would you prefer to see happen if this story is true? What do you expect to see happen, whether you like it or not?

03/On the resurgence of romantic Clana. In a recent interview, Miles Millar confirms that Clark and Lana would have their "real shot" at a relationship since, according to him, they never really had one. He says Lana will have to deal with being a "superhero's girlfriend." Describe your reaction to hearing or reading about this reality using only THREE words.

04/On the alleged "reversals" for the season. Both Al Gough and Miles Millar have claimed that this season will have a lot of "reversals." The last time they've said this was for Promise and we know what happened there. Without knowing exactly what this means, do you believe any of these supposed "reversals" refer to Lex and Lana? If yes, why do you think there's a possibility. If no, why do you believe the possibility doesn't exist. Given the way things ended for them, would it matter if a "reversal" happens in their situation?

"S7 Spoiler Insanity" Confessions

Posted by Kate @ 08/22/2007 01:50 PM PDT

1. I think the main reason people do not like Lana is because the writers seem way too scared to take risks with her character. Its always one step forward, three steps back. To make Lana more interesting, they should have let her explore her dark side alongside Lex and not copped out on that midway through the season.
2. As for the Lana clone, I'm not sure what to expect. I think the clone will be evil and cause havoc for Lionel and Lex, but other than that I have no clue how the writers are gonna pull that one off.
3.Are you kidding?
4. Honestly I'm hoping for Clark to finally realize that Lana is not the one for him and Lana to realize that she is not the same girl she once was. I sincerely hope that Lana and Lex have maybe a short reunion to clear up any misunderstandings they may have had. I know Lana doesn't deserve it, but I hope they at least acknowledge the love that they had for one another. I guess I just want closure for the two of them and knowing that this is MR's last season, I think it's possible.

Posted by Misty @ 08/22/2007 07:55 PM PDT

I don't hate Lana per se, but what happens to characters I like that interact with her. In order to boost her character they seem to take away from other characters. Clark isn't one of my fav characters, so I don't care if it's his turn to suffer.

I don't like any CloneLana period. If there is one, I hope Lex has nothing to do with creating it. Just like the fake baby plot, if Lex has anything to do with it, it will just end up making him look pathetic.

I hate Millar!

I don't think the reversals mean Lex and Lana are getting back together. Chloe is going through a reversal with now being a Freak when she used to hunt them down so to speak. Then there is the reversal of Lana now being in Clark's 'knowing the secret' club. Clark is going through a reversal of once being the teen and now sort of being a parent to Kara. For Lex and Lois, I don't see any 'reversals' for them.

Posted by Jac @ 08/23/2007 12:41 PM PDT

Here are my answers to 2 of the questions:

1. On the on-line Lana-hate. || I actually still like Lana, which is rare during these times. I just didn't like the way she was written last season. Nevertheless, one of my major issues with Lana, especially in S6, was the fact that she never owns up to her faults. It's something that anti-Lana fans have been saying for years and I didn't see it until the debacle the writers created in S6. Lana never took responsibility for the fact that she was emotionally unfaithful to Lex long before she found out about the fake baby. Instead, she used the incident as a thesis for their entire relationship. What he is purported to have done was heinous; still, she isn't an innocent in the way their relationship ended either. Every other character, even Clark, is given the opportunity to own up to their mistakes, but Lana is always given a cop-out. In the long run, such behavior alienates viewers no matter how strong she appears in certain situations.

4. On the "reversals" for the season. || I'll go on record as saying that I don't believe any of the reversals refer to Lana and Lex's relationship. Their relationship was clearly meant to be a plot device and they did what they were meant to do. It's over for them. At this point, I simply want a significant closure for them where either Lex formally and emphatically reclaims his power from Lana or where Lana gives her rants a rest long enough to admit to Lex and herself that there was real love between them at some point. Anything along those lines would satisfy me; if both happen, I'd be happier.

Posted by Anne (Caligo) @ 08/23/2007 08:41 PM PDT

1. One problem is that Lana is not allowed to be a real character. She is used as a "love interest" and "victim" and they don't let her grow into a character in her own right (despite what Miles says, I think S6 is the worst example of this with Lana's 180s and her role as the object that Clark and Lex fight over). She started to be allowed to grow as a character in S5/early S6, becoming stronger and darker, and they stripped all that character growth away to reset the Clana.

A second problem (which is probably related to the first) is that she has done some truly terrible and immoral things ("Trespass", "Promise", "Nemesis", "Phantom") and yet the show and the character either never recognize the actions as bad or don't hold her accountable for that. This is a problem with a lot of the "good guys" on the show, but it's worst with Lana and I think that inspires a lot of hate.

2. I fear the clone story since I don't want Lex to have been desperate enough to have Lana that he would clone her (the fake baby was more than I could bear already). If they have a clone have a large role, I hope that Lex sends it to Clark to learn about his secrets and spy on him and that the clone remains completely loyal to Lex. But after some spoilers, I think that maybe the clone was the one that blew up in the car and might not have a big role in the season overall.

3. The Clana is why I most likely will not be watching the show. While I understand the arguments that they need a "real shot" to figure out that the secret isn't why they won't work...I don't think it's necessary, since I think they should be able to realize all the other problems whether the secret is out or not. And if they did this, it should have been back in S5. It's too much and been dragged on for 7 years...It's held back the rest of the show and characters for too long and, well, I'm just bored watching the never-ending Clana dance.

4. I don't think reversals refer to Lex and Lana at all. I really don't think we'll get more Lexana or even a satisfying ending. If they do anything, my biggest wish is that Lana discovers that Lex did not fake the pregnancy and feels remorse for how she treated him. Some acknowledgment that she did love him would be nice too. Other than that, I want Lex to be angry at Lana's betrayal and maybe even get some kind of revenge...and whatever he does, I don't want to see him try to win her back.

Posted by Anne @ 08/24/2007 06:10 AM PDT

Oops, somehow I missed that the reaction to Clana was supposed to be 3 words...I'll go with: See ya, Smallville!

Posted by Daisy @ 09/10/2007 05:40 PM PDT

I just want to start off by saying thank you for deciding to continue with your site. I read some of your confessions last year and really enjoyed reading them. I have been reading them ever since and I love reading what other L/Lers have to say. Thanks for the confessions.

1. Lana has always been inconsistent with her feelings. She loves Lex one day and loves Clark the next day. She decides that something is good one day and changes her mind about it the next day. She is very indecisive and that is something that I can't stand about her. It seemed like she was never able to make up her mind about anything this season. So the main problem is inconsistency with her feelings and actions.

2. To be honest I don't know much about this clone deal, so I really can't say much. I am trying to avoid spoilers this season since they ruined last season for me. So if this whole clone theory is true, I just hope it's for the benefit of Lexana. I don't know if that's possible, but if it is then I'm all for it.

3. My reaction in three words would be: angry, disbelief, and shocked.

4. I don't think these reversals have anything to do with Lex or Lana. I don't see how they could do that unless they make Lana go to the dark side like they tried last season. They always seem to have her change about everything, so I wouldn't mind seeing that at all. If there is some sort of reversal for either one of them I hope it leads to some forgiveness on both sides. I hope Lana discovers that there was no fake pregnancy and that Lex was innocent. I want her to feel really bad about how she treated her husband. I also want Lex to try and forgive her. I don't want him to try to win her back either because I want him to focus on his path to being evil. As long as it wouldn't take away from that I would want to see him try and win her back. I mean she is his woman:).

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO CONFESS?

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 22:36:40 GMT

My first confession? Well, I felt antsy and overhauled the layout. Black, gray and orange are the colors of choice this time around. Black is one of Lex's colors and is usually a "villain's" colors because it represents darkness or badness. Lana shared the color on several occasions. It may also represent power and strength, depending on the context. Gray may be the considered the color of ambiguity, mixing both the symbolized darkness of black and the purity of white. Orange is bold, fun, and lively. A more reddish shade of orange, like the one I'm using, may represent domination, aggression, proactivity, and even desire. Orange isn't typically one of Lex and Lana's wardrobe colors, but it has been part of the backdrop/set for their scenes in Vessel (Lana and Zod on LuthorCorp's rooftop) and Reunion (Lex tells Lana about Duncan). A little green is thrown in as a complementary color.

The next confession is that the blog has been on my mind of late. It has been my intent since Phantom aired in May to rest the blog particularly because of my crazy writing life and the closure of Lex and Lana's relationship. In addition, some spoilered S7 storylines not only concern me, but have now extinguished any possible hope the EPs could have given me so I have officially given up on the upcoming season. Still, during my recent compilation of the past confessionals, I realized that the part of the blog I enjoyed a lot was reading responses to the confessional challenges. It prompted me to consider whether or not I should keep Confessions active during S7 for a short period of time.

This is the plan. From today the Confessional will replace my reviews as the active part of the blog. I hope Confessions will become a repository or a sort of reflective journal, not just for me as an L/Ler but for all L/Lers where we can look back to see how we felt at this particularly tumultuous time. When it appears that we (and the characters) have finally found our closure, I will present a Confessional that would formally rest the blog. I will contribute as well and I'm not ruling out an occasional analysis or essay if inspired.

The following is just a quick run-through of the "details" of this short-term plan:

1. Challenge questions. "Challenge questions" or "teasers" will continue, covering anything from Lex and Lana's past relationship to spoilers and actor/producer interviews.

2. Submissions. E-mailing or PMing me will no longer be necessary, unless a topic or situation demands it. Submit responses to comments ("make a confession") after each post. Additional notes for any L/Ler who might be new to Confessions:

Answer one question or all listed. It's up to you.
When answering multiple questions, try to be concise with each to maximize text space.
Unfortunately, HTML codes for bold, italics, and underlining are not enabled for comments. It's beyond my control; hopefully, it won't be too much of an inconvenience.
There is no edit button, so ensure that what you've submitted is what you want to say.
Feel free to make your confessions light-hearted, sarcastic or brutally honest. Just say whatever you feel (without swearing, of course).

3. Time limits and cycles. No deadlines or word-restrictions. Confessionals may be open fortnightly or monthly. It will only be closed for two reasons: (a.) when a new confessional is posted; and (b.) if an intruder disrupts the peace (I will monitor this). Once a confessional is closed, its comments will be saved.

4. Participation. All L/Lers are welcomed to share their thoughts. Your English doesn't have to be perfect. Your "confessions" don't have to be lengthy. Your love for L/L could have begun as far back as S1 or as recently as S5/early S6. All you have to do is cherish the Lex and Lana we've had and have a desire to honor what they should have had.

So what do you have to confess? The first confessional of the season will be opened very soon!