svreview - suspect

Hee!

musesfool wrote A Game of You, my birthdayfic! *happy dance* Pretty, pretty fic that makes me smile. And rescued from my web filters (and damn, my ISP is annoying me with this), a lovely ecard from Gothphyle. *huggles* I'll email a reply in a sec.

And thete1 sent me icons! Which I shall upload whenver the heck LJ LETS ME.

*grrs to LJ* And by teh way, LJ? Send me my comments already? You know, just for kicks.

*sighs*

Annnyway.

Suspect. Let me count the ways I enjoyed it.

And? Safe for Livia-viewing. Though it rambles. Ramble, ramble ramble. Wait for the lovely latxcvi and thamiris and rosenho for examination of all the complexities and pretty moments. I'm still high on the fact that Lex wore red again and really makes that color look GOOD.



By the end of the episode, I had a headache. A GOOD one. Me? I was thinking Henry Small--I knew it wasn't Jonathan or Lex, and Dominic has a REALLY bizarre something going on there. You know, Lex might not be the only one with Daddy issues.

And I can't help but notice how SIMILAR Lex and Dominic are in height and clothing choices. Makes me wonder....

But moving on.

Yep, I liked it. Better than Insurgence, that I loved but hurt me, Suspect just let me enjoy it.

Lana had minimal screetime. I think--THINK--that the gods of Smallville are smiling down on us. Wow. This is two episodes in a row. But I am getting to the point where I'm thinking, okay, does ANYONE in this town believe in privacy? Seriously.

The main cast was seriously on the top of their game, though. I liked that.

Now, Jonathan as a suspect was interesting, most for the fact that even Clark was taking a moment to think it through. And Jonathan's acknowledgement of the fact that yep, he's the poster child for Stupid Actions Against Luthors--well. And the fact he hid something--NO! Jonathan? Not tell the entire truth? You're kidding! Because it might LOOK BAD? You're KIDDING! Hot temper? You don't say! Yet again doing it at exactly the wrong time? REALLY?

Oh man. I don't blame him for creative omissions, but I guarantee, this is coming up later when I lose my temper with him. Just be warned. *grins*

Clark was suitably frantic, and it was kind of cute. The fact that Lex thought it might be Jonathan, too....yes. The fact that Lex walked by Clark in the hospital like he didn't exist? Yes, and also--notice the look on Clark's face? Yes, Jonathan, see, this is the kind of thing that happens when you're constantly, publicly hostile at the worst possible times.

What Clark didn't say to his dad is as true as what he did--he didn't say to Daddy, I saw you shoot someone, too, and it was me.

I feel bad for him. He was really in hell. I wonder now if at least some of his sudden kick of righteous wrath and suspicion at Lex stemmed from seriously injured feelings from the hosptial corridor. Because Lex--his friend LEX!--thought Clark's dad had done it.

This, Jonathan, is what happens when you spend too much time abusing Luthors to their faces. They don't tend to give you the benefit of the doubt.

Moving on.

Dominic has 'desperate surrogate son seeking daddy's approval' written ALL over him. I wonder if Dominic knows about the other possible heir? Frankly, it's creepy that Lionel is inspiring this kind of thing in his men. I didn't buy Dominic shooting, though I wanted to. Again, very weird vibes there. If I were one of those people who see disturbing incesty Lionel/Lex (which, guess what, I really am), I'd say Dominic is doing the substitute-for-Lex thing. In every way.

I'm not rehashing the entire plot, but i will say, it did make sense.

Ethan made the arrest himself, of course, in retrospect, to handle all parts of the evidence---after all, he had no reason to be under suspicion himself, and I wonder if Lionel's going to take this event into account when blackmailing in the future. During the Wild Coyote thing, Pete pointed out that underaged drinking was allowed, which you know, might have been a complete non-sequitir except.... You don't say? A reminder of Red, perhaps, with Clark and Jessie and Lana doing their version of the Dawon's Creek Love Triangle of Ultimate Boredom? Though granted, Clark is hotter than Dawson. He and Clark also speculate why teh place has never been shut down.

I'm not sure enough about investigative procedure to wonder if they should have found that bullet, so no comments there.

Search warrant of the house, finding the broken watch--Ethan would know about the Lionel fight and how it happened from the bartender if Jonathan talked, which I suspect he did to that old bartender buddy.

So. If my recall of events is correct, something like this. Ethan and Lionel fight. Ethan stews and panics. Has to find a way to get rid fo Lionel. Now, he could have just shot him, but he needed a fall guy. Jonathan's anti-Luthor tendencies, his wife working for Lionel, et al, make him perfect. All he needs is opportunity, since motive is Jonathan's own special billboard. I wish I had a timeline--did the blackmail and shooting happen on teh same day or within a few days of each other? From how it feels, no more than a day or so has passed, though that's stretching considering the buy-out.

Hmm. So the bartender drugs Jonathan after hearing the story and Ethan sets him up, then shoots Lionel. That works so far. What I"m not sure of is the time in between the decision to kill Lionel and how Ethan managed to work with a lot of unpredictable circumstances--such as Jonathan finding the watch, etc. Of course, that still leaves Lex for a possibility, but not ironclad, since Lex was in Metropolis with Helen. Hmm. And even if Lex was under suspicion, all those people Lionel blackmailed to sell shares, Lex would make connections eventually to how Lionel got the info, eventually leading back to Ethan. Maybe not enough to prove guilt, but enough to be very suspicious.

Someone wanna help me on this one? Thsi sounds like Ethan had some prodigious luck. Or I'm forgetting things, very likely.

This was pretty darn logical, though. It SURPRISED me, but it also brings together most threads very smoothly, except for the Henry Small/Lana thing, which was, let's all face it, grafted on just to give Lana something to do.

I can deal with it if it's in minor, easily-ignorable bits.

Anyway.

Clark didn't apologize for passive-aggressively accusing Lex of murdering his own dad. Lex didn't apologize for believing Clark's Dad did it. No one apologized for lying. Frankly, I have to agree with them all, though it pains me muchly. That's a LOT of evidence. By the end, they were okay in their very CLexy way, and if Clark looks at Lex any gayer in that ending....

Ooh yeah. See? That made it worth it.

Lionel is Satan. Okay? We all knew this. But he's hitting brand new areas of just ick. Interesting, his excuse for Lex's independence is that he was letting Lex taste it before hauling him back in. Here I thought Lex got it by beating him. Huh. Funny how Lionel can rewrite history like that. Amazing how he can blame Lex for getting him shot.

Much more interesting how Lex didn't deny it. Because Daddy can still get under Lex's skin. And so kind of Lionel to forgive him. Rivka, I swear, your stories are almost anticipating canonical Lex psychology. I'm in awe.

Hmm.

Unless I miss my guess, Ethan needed money? Huh. So agreed to do this icky thing for Lionel? Then he blames Lionel for--what exactly? Paying him to be corrupt, betray one friend, kill another, and attempt to murder Lionel. Not to mention the near-murder of Pete and Clark. Right, Lionel was all, oh, I own you now. And also, your lawyer. But huh.

While I think Lionel is evil, I'm not exactly sympathizing with poor Ethan's sad little dilemma here. Not even for shooting Lionel, because I'm amoral enough not to care that much. I'm pissed he took down Jonathan, the bartender, and tried to take down Pete and Clark and possibly Lex to save his ass that HE PUT IN THE FRYING PAN HIMSELF.

Lionel didn't corrupt him any farther than he was already pretty corrupt. Shooting someone in the heat of the moment is one thing. Framing a friend for murder, and very elaborately, too? Conspiracy as well? Then killing Ye Olde Friendly Bartender? Very different. Makes me wonder how close he and Cigaratte Smoking Man Mayor are.

So. Lex was very Lex, worried and hiding it, angry and not hiding it, Lex and Clark both getting violent in almost mirror images of each other, raising their hotness quotient and also pointing out how very, very alike they really are. And how very much they love their dads. That was some GOOD stuff there.

So I liked this. Muchly.

More later, as I chat out my non-traumatized good mood.

Comments

[thehoyden.livejournal.com]

Musefool's story link actually goes to my LJ page, which I'm pretty sure is not what you meant to do. Just wanted to let you know!

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Fixed! Forgot to make the link!

Thanks!

[jmtorres.livejournal.com]

I also thought it was Henry Small. Damn their red herring "oh, Lionel got him fired" past-digging.

Or was that supposed to be a parallel? "Lionel Luthor does ethically questionable things all the time that people hate him for, therefore THE GUY HE MOST RECENTLY BOUGHT DID IT!"

I didn't feel there was enough evidence against Ethan before Lionel's flashback testimony. Just the throwaway line about the bar and that they all knew each other in HS--but shouldn't the fact that they were all friends imply that Ethan *wouldn't* turn on them rather than that he would?

So how did Clark think he knew it was Ethan?

Clark didn't apologize for passive-aggressively accusing Lex of murdering his own dad. Lex didn't apologize for believing Clark's Dad did it. No one apologized for lying.

And you know what *else* Clark didn't say to Lex?

Lex: Are we okay?
Clark: I wish I could help you with your dad.

He didn't say they were okay. Not directly. I wonder if he's harboring some kind resentment or distrust or something.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

I also thought it was Henry Small. Damn their red herring "oh, Lionel got him fired" past-digging.

Or was that supposed to be a parallel? "Lionel Luthor does ethically questionable things all the time that people hate him for, therefore THE GUY HE MOST RECENTLY BOUGHT DID IT!"

Huh. I like that! *g*

I didn't feel there was enough evidence against Ethan before Lionel's flashback testimony. Just the throwaway line about the bar and that they all knew each other in HS--but shouldn't the fact that they were all friends imply that Ethan *wouldn't* turn on them rather than that he would?

Well, once it was worked out the bartender was lying, I figured it couldn't be Dominic, so had to be Henry Small. I admit, Ethan was a surprise, but not too much, at least for me.

So how did Clark think he knew it was Ethan?

Picture on the wall. The amount of physical evidence and teh blood alcohol. Once he eliminated the bartender as a suspect, being dead, and if he believed his dad, then it had to be someoen who would lie. Frankly, I think I should have caught it with the blood alcohol thing, but eh. I don't know. Hmmm.

And you know what *else* Clark didn't say to Lex?

Lex: Are we okay?
Clark: I wish I could help you with your dad.

*grins*

He didn't say they were okay. Not directly. I wonder if he's harboring some kind resentment or distrust or something.

*thinks* NOrmally, I'd try to read into that, but--Clark's mor a guy-guy than Lex is about feelings. At least to me. Lex likes to discuss things. Clark--likes other peopel to discuss things to him, so he doesn't give anything away. It seemed more habitual, him turning the conversation back to Lex, rather than avoiding answering.

Though I do think, then and now, that Lex snubbing him in the hospital probably did a LOT to kick start his temper tantrum in Lex's office.

[deadlychameleon.livejournal.com]

Amusingly enough, I actually predicted Ethan's downfall in my livejournal yesterday. Why? Was there some clue we shouldn't have missed? No. Going by the clues, I thought it should have been Henry Small. There was some good characterization there, btw. Made Henry seem less like a complete flake.

No, there was an article about Ethan on the SV official website saying how Ethan would never be involved in a scandal. So. Big giveaway there.

I have a few thoughts on the trailers. Everyone seems to be growing up realfast. Earlier in the series, Chloe kisses Clark. Now, she's ripping his clothes off? I do not doubt the power of teenage hormones for a minute, but it seems a little sudden. And fun. Hee.
-Silverkyst

unusual suspects

[kiezh.livejournal.com]

I've been wandering around looking at reactions, and I'm pleased to read yours, because it's the only one I've seen yet that matches mine. :)

I feel like I'm on some kind of fannish lag; I'm saying the same things this week that many people were saying last week. My faith in SV is renewed! Finally, the characters make sense to me again! Best episode all season!

I'm a fan of both of our boys, so I feel a great deal of sympathy for both of them, even as I note the ways that they mishandle their messes. Really, though, the Clark-Lex interaction could hardly have been more positive in "Suspect," considering how massively screwed up Kent-Luthor relations have been recently. I found it enormously hopeful that the two of them could surface from the accusations and cover-ups, look at each other, sigh, and decide to be on the same team. It means that underneath the insanity there is trust, and they chose to put the trust first. Jonathan couldn't have done it. Lionel would never have wanted to. The new generation is not the same as the old, and need not make the same mistakes.

Lex and Clark are still dancing the dance of avoidance, though, rather than actually resolving their trust issues. Their harmony at the end is, paradoxically, only skin-deep at the same time as it's the foundation of their relationship. I'm looking forward to fic springing from this episode, and I hope it's not all apology-fic from the Lex minions. (No offense meant to Lex minions in general, of course. Only the ones who write bad apology-fic. )

Only two points of disagreement, or difference of interpretation. I don't see the incest vibes, though I'll agree that Lionel's relationship with Lex is creepy. And his relationship with Dominic. And, well, Lionel gives any relationship with anyone creepy vibes... the man is, indeed, Satan. In that tag scene, though, I didn't see it as Lex falling prey to Lionel's manipulations again. I saw it as a deliberate contrast to the hospital bed scene in Vortex - Lionel tries the same kind of button-pushing "it's all your fault" crap, but instead of staggering away, stunned, Lex calmly turns and leaves. He's not playing that game anymore.

I like your thoughts on Ethan, too. I was surprised - I thought it was Dominic - but it made perfect sense. The major clue was that there was so much false evidence, and who could have planted it all? The attempted shooting of Clark and Pete was bizarre, but I'm in a state of fannish euphoria, and a few plot holes are not a problem.

Anyway, interesting thoughts, Jenn. Someday, I'm going to send you feedback on the stories of yours that I love... nice, long, in-depth feedback. Someday. :)

[bientot.livejournal.com]

Lionel is Satan. Okay? We all knew this.

I was explaining to someone at the end of the episode how pleased I was that Lionel had survived, because I like John Glover so much, and how in his last series he had actually played the devil himself. Oh, dear -- is he being typecast? But he is awfully good at being bad!

If I were one of those people who see disturbing incesty Lionel/Lex (which, guess what, I really am), I'd say Dominic is doing the substitute-for-Lex thing. In every way.

I don't squick easily, but the very idea of this squicks me. Which is not to say that I wouldn't read it, if it was written by the right writer, of course.

[bientot.livejournal.com]

Oh, I also meant to bring up that scene when Chloe was pasting up her front page, with the picture of Jonathan at the center and laying columns around him to 'frame' him.... heh.

And yes, there were a couple of intensely angsty Clex moments there. Heavy sigh.

Something you said earlier about the Kents and the Luthors made me think 'Romeo and Juliet'... Clark Montague, Lex Capulet, and Chloe as Mercutio... I can so easily picture Clark climbing to Lex's balcony!

Timeline

[(Anonymous)]

Jonathan set himself up.

Remember the comment that the Lionel/Jonathan argument was so heated that one of Lionel's staff called seeking information on a restraining order? That call would have gone into the sheriff's office. Ethan must have seized on this, as the answer to his problems. A perfect fall guy had presented himself-- if he acted fast.

Who knew what he told himself? Maybe he told himself he was going to try and find his friend to talk some sense into him, but when he found Jonathan at the bar raging against the Luthors, he decided to set him up.

Or maybe he had intended this all along. He may even have arrived at the Luthor's prior to Jonathan's leaving, and simply tailed him to the bar.

One assumes the sleazy bartender had a stash of rohypnol or some similar drug, or Ethan had already conceived the plan and was carrying it with him. Either way, slip something into Jonathan's drink, and he's out of it. As well as being the perfect patsy.

Interesting that no one thought to check the gun registration. Jonathan has a shotgun, but no handgun, as far as we know. Ah well, Ethan was in a possession to tamper with the evidence, making this look like an unregistered (illegal) handgun.

[ellemem.livejournal.com]

I thought that this episode perfectly summed up your ideas from last week - - that Lex isn't inherently bad, but is forced to become that way by his father. Now we know exactly why Lex feels that he has to take the blame for every little thing that goes wrong in everyone's life, and works so hard to fix matters before they get out of hand.

Lionel "blaming" Lex for 1)standing up to him, 2)by starting his own company, thereby 3)causing Lionel to blackmail innocent people by 4)using Ethan which pushed him over the edge, leading to 5)Lionel's getting shot. And all of this is Lex's fault??? Lionel's twisted logic would warp anyone.

"I forgive you." Made me wish someone had disconnected Lionel's life support while we may still have had a chance to see Normal!Happy!Lex...

Did I miss the part where Lex said he was with Helen in Metropolis? I heard him say he had just returned, but that was it. (Guess I'll have to re-watch the epi.)

[(Anonymous)]

I was ecstatic the ep ended with another Clark-Lex debriefing, at last and for once, but....

I wanted to look for CLexy goodness in that final smile...and didn't see it, actually.

This episode HURT because I saw it as the beginning of the Rift, or the widening of the distance that leads to the Rift. Because, yeah, I picked up too on Clark NOT saying "we're OK," and I think -- guy-guy thing aside -- he would have said that if things were OK again. And (oh, such tea-leaf reading!) his smile was a sort of strained, polite one. Not the wide affectionate ones he used to give Lex.

A good ep. But I hated it because that train is just picking up speed.

Oh, and Lionel? I had to think of Tina-Clark's line in Visage: Why won't you just DIIIEEE???

[seperis.livejournal.com]

I was ecstatic the ep ended with another Clark-Lex debriefing, at last and for once, but....

I wanted to look for CLexy goodness in that final smile...and didn't see it, actually.

Take this as an obvious sign that I'm back on allergy meds, because I am seriously thinking about that.

I'm still in the 'Clark never really apologizes' thing. Lex is more likely to apologize for things--scarily, of the two of them, he seems vaguely more emotionally open, which, you know, that's creepy. Clark's a sweep it under the rug kind of guy, while Lex would like everything in contract form so he can check the fine print. Clark ignores, Lex notices. It's a very weird thing, so it seemed in character to me that he wouldn't say okay, but immediately leap into finding something less personal to HIM (Clark) to talk about. Anytime, it seems, that we hit Clark-emotional or secret territory, Clark steers the conversation onto the subject of the other person. If he was really still pissed, he'd show it. He's never bothered hiding it before.

This episode HURT because I saw it as the beginning of the Rift, or the widening of the distance that leads to the Rift. Because, yeah, I picked up too on Clark NOT saying "we're OK," and I think -- guy-guy thing aside -- he would have said that if things were OK again. And (oh, such tea-leaf reading!) his smile was a sort of strained, polite one. Not the wide affectionate ones he used to give Lex.

*grins* I thought it was strained, but I Have a Theory (don't I always?).

Since the beginning, Clark has never felt the edge of Lex's temper seriously unless Lex was whammied. I think--and this is speculation--that the hospital scene is the first time Lex has actively snubbed him. The look on his face when Lex walked by him, brush of shoulders but completely ignoring him, reminded me of Heat in the office, when Lex was rejecting him for Desiree. That same helpless shock in his face.

This time, he doesn't think Lex has an excuse for doing that. I do think that a lot of his Lex-actions throughout have that edge of hurt in them. Not only the rejection, but the fact Lex suspected his father, if only briefly, of being a murderer.

A good ep. But I hated it because that train is just picking up speed.

Oh, and Lionel? I had to think of Tina-Clark's line in Visage: Why won't you just DIIIEEE???

Livia said that she liked all the conflict this season. I do too, but for different reasons. Both of them, Lex especially, spent a lot of last season walking on eggshells around each other emotionally, like you do when you're new to a friendship/relationship. I especially remember Clark in Shimmer doing that regarding Victoria. That they CAN fight now, will say hurtful things, will move on from it, and are comfortable enough to do so, and get over it? I like that development. It's kind of nerve-jangling for the audience, seeing Riftiness everywhere, but in the progress of a relationship, it's rather healthy.

And? Very cute.

Rift?

[(Anonymous)]

Okay this has been bugging the hell out of me. What does RIFT mean?

- Xevvie :)

Re: Rift?

[kiezh.livejournal.com]

Rift = break or split, in this case a break in Clark and Lex's friendship.

It's shorthand for "the future suggested by Superman comics and movies, and by the creators of Smallville, in which Clark and Lex are mortal enemies" - all those "rift? what rift?" icons are denying the prophecied future, and asserting that Clark and Lex will remain friends (or more).

Denial is a wonderful place to live... :)