svreview: calling, s2e22

And ye of little faith (yes, I mean, me)....

OOOh.



Oh yeah. See? THIS makes me smile.

Okay, so I no longer look for characters being consistent. That's for REAL television. This is my gay soap opera. I look for CLex.

I found all KINDS of disturbingly fun things going on here.

Let's start with....

Lana. I don't hate her. She and Clark, for the first time in two incredibly long years, actually made me believe that yes, they are in the throes of deep, deep One True Puppy Love. I'm completely shocked. Also pleased, because the cuteness was just damn near epic. Also, the joy of knowing how inevitably bad, bad, bad this will turn out. Put SUCH a smile on my face. Ooh yes. Oh hell yes.

Anyway, not the worst Lana ever in the world. Nicey-nice.

Clark is pretty. Dear God, I forgot over the last two eps, but damn, that new haircut makes him PRETTY. I spent far too much time staring at him in a tux thinking, oooh. Pretty. He and Lex--where HAS this been? I almost forgot how--how GOOD they are when they're buddies and exchanging long looks and being all 'yes, women, fair sex, blah blah blah' whatever, please, Lex, you spoke in code. Come on. The fair sex is a 'mystery' and that's why we find them fascinating? Clark, you DID hear that, right? As Clark = ultimate mystery EVER? That's called, honey, lifetime obsession. Trust me on this one. Lex does it to the point of an art.

I'm reaching, aren't I? I can do that. Because remember, my goggles? Never come off. Ever.

Lex warns Clark of danger from Lionel. Oh no! No subtle prodding. That was different. Lex really HAS compartmentalized very nicely. Over here, buddy/best man/best friend, over there, I'm so going to collect your blood. Because I want to know, dammit. And I'll bet you anything it never even occurs to him that these two objectives just aren't compatiable.

In other, even far more intersting news, watched in a kind of sick and truly joyous delight as Helen walked out after not-accusing Lex of breaking into her lab. First off, I didn't want to believe it, and kind of thought it was Lionel, but well. Not anything near unhappy about how it turned out to be Lex. Because again, it makes for an interesting little bit of thought when you check out what Clark said as his toast, about Helen and Lex, to Lana, but which, if you are, like me, completely detached from anything like reality, you're going, huh, and imagine how well that applies to the boys. Sacrifice anything, huh? Hmm.

Helen and Lex, I have never made a secret of it, doesn't work for me. She was right about what Lex did, but you know? I still resent the fact she made the accusation without evidence to support it. The folder was, however, a killer, but I have to go with Lex when he asked, um, honey, WHY were you searching my books exactly? My more thoughtful question was more, Lex, why did you leave it out where she could find it, when you hid the blood so well?

Because he did leave it out, because this is Lex, and he gives everyone lots of rope that they have the option of hanging themselves with. Which really, screws around with pretty much everything I was thinking and really makes me curious as to what was really going on in Lex's head that day Lex didn't kill a man for her.

Lex was disturbingly calm about the entire thing. He's suspected all along that Helen Knows, that most people have guessed, but it does make everything he's said to her since REALLY suspect. I wonder how much of it was true and how much of it was--not completely. Or again, compartmentalization in extreme.

I've always been a Lex girl, but seriously, I squeed throughout this. Not only to see a very, very good friend thing going on, but also, well, the hugging that just made me squee like a complete idiot. And the fact that all of that hugging and friendship is PERFECTLY SINCERE, and yet he's still following up on those leads. He stole the blood and he stole the file. We all know. If I were to spin this positive for Lex, especially with his warning to Clark, I'd say that just maybe, he was not only collecting information for the Clark shrine, but at least a secondary motive was to make sure whatever was there, he got first, before his dad could use it. This is LEX. He has five motives to get up in the morning. I can buy a few different concurrent ones.

Points to Chloe for rift comment and also for Clark saying they'd work it out. Anvils, but nice ones.

Lionel was scary as usual. I'm skipping details, someone else can fill you in. What really intersted me was the shift in the most interesting characters toward what I like to cheerfully call The Grey Side. Because this IS Smallville and unfortunately, I'm not going to get my apocalypse. Dammit.

Chloe's integrity does stand up well. Clark's an idiot, we all know this, Chloe does too--she's going to have to make the first move here, and she does, very beautifully. However, what Clark doesn't know is what's going to bite him in the ass. Turning in his press badge cut off his access to the Torch as well as the reason why it was suddenly fixed. I mean, he never even ASKED where the money came from when he was puttering around up there last week? Clark, clueless for you would be a step up the food chain.

Anyway, Lionel's pretty veiled offer of a column for The Daily Planet against an investigation of Clark and family was, of couse, shockingly repugnant, even after Chloe was aware that something's chnaged in the Lana and Clark Neverending Quest. I was really impressed, though I did expect as much. Her chat with Clark in the barn later upped the stakes--she wants honesty, he's--not telling. Again, another opportunity to make this less of a blow goes RIGHT on by, and instead, we see Chloe find out in the worst possible way that she's lost. I'm betting she's going to go for it. Lionel's barbed comment about her versus Clark is telling. Anvil. You know, they just aren't that big into subtlety in SV, are they?]

Clark is, I think, re-evaluating his genetic destiny and contemplating his own dark side. Next week, we'll see him play seriously with it. Oh yes.

Walden's dead, the lack of surprise is shocking. The power he had was very cool, though, and what on earth WAS it? Superbeams? Nice fight, nice insanity, and Lex has to wonder now about his body count regarding minions. Of course, this one, he didn't have to kill himself, now did he? Walden threw enough hints about Clark that if Lex doesn't actually know, he's deliberately choosing not to see. And that just makes this far, far too much fun.

I have WAY too many thoughts, all of them squeeing, because, man, I had a BLAST watching this. I did. After The Weeks of Lana, seeing all the characters acting remarkably fun was too cool for words.

Can't wait til next week. Branding! Red K! Betrayal! Or that was the meanest, meanest trailer EVER.

And I'll bet you this entire entry made no sense whatsoever. And I'm okay with that.

Comments

[cjandre.livejournal.com]

And I'll bet you anything it never even occurs to him that these two objectives just aren't compatiable.


Not in a million years.

I just LOVED Lex and Clark in this. And when Lex said "let's solve this mystery together"? Did anyone else squee HARDY BOYS???

and of course there is this sense in which Lex keeps offering a partnership - on so many levels - and Clark just can't quite take him up on it. Not fully. and maybe with good reason. 'Cause Clark is smart enough to know what he doesn't know. and he DOESN'T know what all of Lex's motivations are.

[calebbullen.livejournal.com]

It's funny. I never see Lex offering a partnership. When he says, "let's solve this mystery together" I hear, "I know what you are! How can you wiggle out of this without giving yourself away completely? Muahaha!". All of his softspoken invitations sound like veiled threats and challenges to me. It's one of his creepier aspects.

But of course I don't own a pair of CLex goggles. None the less it is darned funny to see the stretches of interpretation.

[cjandre.livejournal.com]

I never see Lex offering a partnership. When he says, "let's solve this mystery together" I hear, "I know what you are! How can you wiggle out of this without giving yourself away completely? Muahaha!"

But see that is where the question of motivations comes in. and compartmentalizations. I think Lex does offer partnerships to Clark all the time. I just don't think Clark would be able to live with all the ramifications of those partnerships. Lex never offers anything without five different ways to capitalize on it, and with Clark one of those ways is going to be betting the goods on the boy. Finally forcing him to admit the secrets.

Re:

[calebbullen.livejournal.com]

I don't think a usury relationship really counts as a partnership.

What if it wasn't two cute guys on TV?

How about someone who pretends to be your friend only to get a ride all the time? They offer you this great opportunity to go with them to the store, is that a partnership?

Lex is like a guy telling a girl in a bikini that she should do some jumping jacks for her health. Sure, it would be aerobic excercise but that's not what the suggestion is about.

[cjandre.livejournal.com]

I don't think a usury relationship really counts as a partnership.

I can see why you don't like the definition, but from Lex's POV, I think that IS how he sees partnerships. Look at who he had for a father!

So it may not be a healthy partnership, but in his world view and experience I think it is all he knows how to offer.

And of course I DO own a set of CLex goggles with VERY THICK lenses. *chuckle* so I am more than willing to admit I prefer positive readings of the situation.

Trying to look at it purely objectively? Lex is completely disfuntional about all kinds of partnerships: business and personal, up to and including marriage. I doubt he is capable of anything even remotely like a truly equal relationship at this point.

Re:

[calebbullen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you make good points. I just always want him to not turn out evil. He's pretty good at being a good guy but a lousy villain. It never makes him happy like it does Lionel. And he keeps getting caught or out manuvered. You'd think he'd be smart enough to realize it but no.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

I don't think a usury relationship really counts as a partnership.

Depends on the view. Strictly speaking, if we're talking in mathematics and provables, then Clark has the advantage and does it often. Money, the car, a football team, et al. Some offered freely, some asked for specifically.

Partnership isn't necessarily a sharing between equals, though that's what CJ implied and I tend to agree with. A mutually beneficial arrangement is a perfectly reasonable extrapolation, though not the preference I've ever gone for particularly.

Hmm. I'm running low on coffee.

Re:

[calebbullen.livejournal.com]

But in the example cited, it wouldn't be beneficial to Clark to try and solve the mystery with Lex. It would only help Lex prove his theories and cause the Kents no end of worry.

Of course if Lex was half the Villain his old man is, he could certainly make Clark think it was mutually beneficial. Heck, he could even do it in a very Clexy way, if you like.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Hee! Hardy Boys. Yes. The Dynamic Duo! Limited Time Offer, optional matching spandex uniforms!

And yes, the entire partners/Warrior Angel thing was REALLY interesting to think about. *happy place*

[svmadelyn.livejournal.com]

and being all 'yes, women, fair sex, blah blah blah' whatever, please, Lex, you spoke in code. Come on. The fair sex is a 'mystery' and that's why we find them fascinating? Clark, you DID hear that, right? As Clark = ultimate mystery EVER? That's called, honey, lifetime obsession. Trust me on this one. Lex does it to the point of an art.

My brain *tried* to make this connection but I was too busy staring at all that beauty/energy on the screen. And too busy contemplating Lex's little lip twitch/face fall in that very same conversation. So...just wanted to say thank you for that portion. Because...God, yes, you're so right.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*nodnodnod* Lex does doubletalk so well. Droolingly so. *happy place*

[seren-himitsu.livejournal.com]

And I'll bet you this entire entry made no sense whatsoever.

No, no, lots of sense. I share your giddiness. I haven't enjoyed a SV ep so much in weeks. CLex hug! Lionel! Chloe! Even Lana didn't bug me as much as she usually does.

Because remember, my goggles? Never come off. Ever.

Heh. I personally am tuning out Lex's line right after Clark says "We're meant to be together. I've never been more sure of anything in my life!" <--paraphrased.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Heh. I personally am tuning out Lex's line right after Clark says "We're meant to be together. I've never been more sure of anything in my life!" <--paraphrased.

most perfect moment ever. *drooling* That worked for me. Oh so well.

[calebbullen.livejournal.com]

Lex doesn't leave those clues because he's trusting or giving them enough rope. He does it because he's a damned failure! I know he's extraordinarily charismatic and all that but the character is, quite literally, born to lose.

He's not evil enough to be as thorough as Lionel yet no where near good enough to leave well enough alone.

One thing makes me sad about his increasingly evil behaviour. The more evil he gets the worse of a liar he becomes. Back when he was hardly evil at all, he could be really convincing. But when Helen asks him, "tell me you didn't break into my lab" or whatever he said. He's not cold or evil enough to say "Nope honey. Wasn't me. Let's go to bed." No, he uses a deflection that most of us gave up on in pre-adolesence, "If you can't trust me then ultimatum!" No one is ever fooled by that. tsk tsk. Lionel would be so dissapointed. He would have just lied. Because he is successfully evil! Go Lionel!

I said this elsewhere but how great would an all Lionel show be? He would just ruin a different person's life every week for no good reason. But do it charmingly, delightfully and with savoir faire.

Anyway, your comments are always a hoot even if I don't agree with the read on Lex.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

One of the more annoying things about SV is the fact that the characters are badly characterized for the most part. *grins* I give SV more slack because I like Lex.

Lying:

Lex rarely lies. He almost always deflects. I don't get it either and I think it's annoying as hell sometimes and just love it others, but it's simply what he does. *shrug*

Rope:

He tends to need to be pushed into action against intimates, such as Victoria et al.

But yes, he's a damned lousy criminal mastermind. With any kind of decent luck, a descent into the dark side will help with that.

From Austin? *grins* I live about forty-five minutes away from the city Or just about. Enjoying? You know, including the fun of the current magically disappearing legislature?

Re:

[calebbullen.livejournal.com]

I agree the characters are not fantastically consistent. Although both fathers are, which is weird. The parts are all well cast though. And they almost get it right so often it's really irritating.

Lex does prefer deflecting because he still thinks he's a good guy. He must not have seen the trailers.

Of course your really creepy bad guys don't know that they are evil: Lex, Norman Bates, George W. Bush. The ones who do: lionel, Iago, Dr. who's the Master, Mephistopheles in Faust (to name a few); are much more likable. They enjoy being evil and it's infectious.

Although from what I recall from saturday morning cartoons. Lex is like the trix rabbit, good ideas, adequete follow-through but it never works out for him. It's too bad.

On the show, what draws me in about Lex is the fact that if he just gave up on being evil at all, he'd have a decent life. He's already rich and good looking. He doesn't really crave power now. Helen's a catch. He may not have a lot of close friends but Clark, the Kents and Lana would all give him a kidney. He could keep doing favors and become Kansas' own Don Corlione. But instead he's going to chase Helen away or get her killed and spend his adult life trying to kill his best friend and wear an inordinate amount of lycra. Does this sound like a good career path?

He could quit playing cat and mouse with clark and go, "Listen, I know you're an alien and have all kinds of weird powers. It was prying, I'm sorry but who wouldn't be curious? Wanna play some pool?" Then, he could join up with Pete and Clark in their ragtag bunch of boy crime fighters. It'd be a good match, Brains, Brawn and Sanity. But sadly, his obession will lead him to become the Lex Luthor, the millionare that nobody likes. Tragic really.

I'm rambling, sorry. I was getting online to apply for an auto loan and seem to have gotten distracted.

Austin, yeah I love it. Where are you at? I'm down in South Austin by Ben white and first. So far it has been like heaven on earth. With the exception of politics, most everything down here is the way it always seemed like it ought to be growing up in Chicago but wasn't. If that made sense. Except the smoke in the air, I could do without that.

Lexian Lies

[bunglegirl.livejournal.com]

Lying:
Lex rarely lies. He almost always deflects. I don't get it either and I think it's annoying as hell sometimes and just love it others, but it's simply what he does.

I always assumed that it's how he was raised. If he doesn't lie he can't be called on it or be legally accountable. Kinda like the Bill Clinton approach to a Q&A session. It's really the smart thing to do, although devious and morally questionable.

[corinna-5.livejournal.com]

This is LEX. He has five motives to get up in the morning. I can buy a few different concurrent ones.

Also, I think there's a level on which he sees himself as protecting Clark. This is my goddamn theory, and I'm sticking to it.

Branding!

I was so sad they did not show the branding this week -- I do think of you when they show that shot...

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Also, I think there's a level on which he sees himself as protecting Clark. This is my goddamn theory, and I'm sticking to it.

See, I can buy this. He can do things for multiple reasons, and I do think this could be one of the reasons.

I was so sad they did not show the branding this week -- I do think of you when they show that shot...

*squee* I shouldn't be so thrilled, because it has nothing to do with me, but I totally am.

Branding! *happy*

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Because he did leave it out, because this is Lex, and he gives everyone lots of rope that they have the option of hanging themselves with.

He so does. Both to see if they'll pry and to see if they won't. 'Prove that you trust me, that you're on my side. If you're not, then, well, it's a good thing that I had that back-up plan.'

[jaymalea]

The power he had was very cool, though, and what on earth WAS it? Superbeams?

They looked like something off of Dragonball Z. Which I'm forced to watch (while cooking dinner I might add). Very much the "force-punch, fly through the sky" kinda thing.

[calebbullen.livejournal.com]

For that matter, why is the power in the cave both helping Clark and making people want to kill him? That cave has issues!

[ubertodd.livejournal.com]

The cave got tired of Clark and Lana.

Re:

[calebbullen.livejournal.com]

touche'

True so true

[barbana.livejournal.com]

Clark, you DID hear that, right? As Clark = ultimate mystery EVER? That's called, honey, lifetime obsession. Trust me on this one.

Awesome. That's how I'm going to view that scene from now on.

Sadly I doubt seriously that Helen and Lex are finished. Oh no, she'll probably come back with an apology. I'll tell you this though, if they have Lex fess up to her about that blood they then can just flush 2 years worth of character development down the tubes and I'll cry like a big baby.

[destina.livejournal.com]

I just got done babbling incoherently about this in my journal. Tomorrow I'll have to go delete it because I sound like an idiot, I'm sure, but wow! This episode rocked beyond belief. :-D

*shares the Smallville love*

[siobhan-w.livejournal.com]

After last night I can watch all future Clana moments with glee because it's Doomed! The amount of screen time devoted to it working out all happily is always a bad sign. Add to that Clark's toast about Helen and Lex being about Lana and then, before the night is over, so are Helen and Lex. Oh, it is *so* doomed.

And then both boys, reeling from the pain of love gone wrong, will turn to one another for comfort which will lead to love which will lead to lots and lots of sex!

As you can see, I've been taking lessons from Lana - she knows how to turn everything into being about her. I know how to change everything into being about Clex. *g*

[thornsilver]

Wow, you picked up the same thing about Lex that I did. He has no problem with spying/lieing to intimates.

This show is extremely sad in one aspect: if all those people stopped with the falsehoods, everybody would have been significantly happier.

[celli]

Clark, clueless for you would be a step up the food chain.

*snicker* Welcome to my .sig.