svreview: phoenix, s3e3

Smallville. Is. Crack.

And--Oooh. Pretty. Together!



The Epic Battle Between Uber!Dad and Bad!Clark is pretty much The Matrix, On Crack. I will point out that Clark is hot without his shirt, and the way he peels it off is vaguely Hulk-like--one might think he spent some of his dissipation this summer watching bad movies. It's not like he was doing anything *else* interesting.

Pretty much from there, I started mulling on befores and afters.

Clark:

Clark starts off as Wimpy!Bad!Clark. Bad, but not very interestingly bad. After the Breakage of the Sacred Ring of Stupidity, he's back to regular Clark, and so I yawned, but then again, he kept the hair, so I can't complain too much.

What did make me straighten and think that M and G didn't read all the script very well (thank God) was the confrontation with Gangster Buddy of Lionel (who here is surprised? Really?), in which we see that sparkly, evil glee from Red make an appearance--in which Clark does Bad Things and likes it. A lot.

Which is practically as close to *great* as Smallville will ever get--Clark being nice because he's nice is boring. Clark being mean because he *has* to be is boring. Clark being mean even when he *doesn't* have to be and liking it? Nice. And a Clark who is aware of that bit of inner dissension? Priceless.

But hmm.

I'd say that three months of RedK have left some kind of mark--like LSD for the neurotransmitters or something--and this I can't consider a bad thing. That bit of dirt in the soul is what the superhero needs if he's ever going to understand people in more than a theoretical sense--and let's all face it, Clark can't read anyone for shit.

Blah blah blah, plot, plot, plot. Let's get to Lana.

Never thought I'd say that.

Lana actually appealed to me. Okay, so Clark leaving was All About Her. Of course, we could expect no less. But getting beyond that, this is the first time I'm annoyed by the fact that the producers didn't bother to give her *enough* attention, because she just put a pitchfork through a man (or threw him into one, po-tay-to, po-tah-to) and okay, now she's all calmly riding about trying to reconcile?

But Smallville seems to be okay with a death count without remorse.

I don't get Lana forgiving him. I just don't. Yes, he wasn't himself, she wants to believe, but the thing is, like Clark says, he *was* himself, and this is the third time. Which is kind of sad, if you think of the kind of insecurities you have to have to need someone this desperately. Abandonment issues, whatever, but this is the first time it sank home how deep they really are, even if some are of her own making. And makes me wonder what M and G think of the kind of woman they're creating. In a different future, she'll be the one wearing sunglasses to hide black eyes and desperately telling everyone she fell down the stairs and is just clumsy. And some part of her might even learn to believe it.

Lex pretty much scared the shit out of me. He and Lionel--the sheer amount of bizarre, freaksome vibes going on there is just plain creepy. Lionel loves his son, I completely do not doubt that. And Lex, after it all, loves his father. I'd love to believe he's pulling one over on Lionel, but that moment at the end, with the absolutely terrifying hug of filial affection, and Lionel's purely shocked, near-bliss, just--.

I mean, Lex is *insane*. And I don't mean in a good way.

"Yes, daddy, thank you for a lifetime of psychological torture, manipulation, and destruction of my most cherished beliefs, loves, and sacrifices, because man, it made me strong enough to survive the latest and greatest of your maneuvers. Let's hug and have a few minutes of really, really creepy proto-incestuous bonding."

I want this icon.

Helen was more problematic.

I'm sorry M and G chose to go with her being absolutely evil, because there was just enough doubt that if she hadn't confessed and *then* something had happened, ending with her swan dive into still waters, we'd have multitudes of possibilities to play with and consider, including the fact that she wasn't entirely wrong--Lex was hallucinating like he was on a three day shroom bender down on the Island of Solitude. And he's paranoid. And at this point, he has ever right to be, and frankly, would be stupid not to be watching his back every second. But--it could have gone like she said. And that could have been an interesting itch for later down the road, since I'm pretty sure we'll see her again.

Clark and Lex--

There was this second where Clark stared, eyes at their most doe-like, huge and unbelieving and wanting to believe all at once. And time fragmented, just paused, just *stopped*, because it was the first time on a bridge and the first time on a riverbank and the moment Clark pulled Lex free of Desiree and the moment in the loft after Lex bonded with heavy artillery, all rolled into one. That second of reconnection, of relief, of sheer joy, and of coming home. Because in some ways, until that second, they hadn't felt home yet, and now they did.

And Lex would do it all again, just to see that look on Clark's face. Lex smiles at Clark the way he smiles at no one else, never has, never will. And Clark's remembering how it feels to breathe again.

That hug's only confirmation, physical confirmation of what's already felt. And I'm not so lost in fannish worship of the Sheer Fucking Timeless Romance of It All that I *didn't* notice that Lex and Clark were hanging on for a rather long time.

Ohhhkay. Yep. Time for me to *calm the hell down*.

Jesus, I need to write something.

Comments

[svmadelyn.livejournal.com]

God, yes, go write something!

*twirls and dances with this episode*

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*giggle* it's all disgustingly schmoopy.

Strangely, I'm okay with that.

[svmadelyn.livejournal.com]

*grins*

You know what else is strange?

Somehow?

I. Am. Too.

*still twirling with episode*

[eleveninches.livejournal.com]

Your icon is brilliant. *dies and dies*

[svmadelyn.livejournal.com]

*g*

I'm rather fond of it myself. It will never date itself you know. It's a sentiment that I suspect will be rather long-lived. :D

[ruedifference.livejournal.com]

There was this second where Clark stared, eyes at their most doe-like, huge and unbelieving and wanting to believe all at once. And time fragmented, just paused, just *stopped*, because it was the first time on a bridge and the first time on a riverbank and the moment Clark pulled Lex free of Desiree and the moment in the loft after Lex bonded with heavy artillery, all rolled into one. That second of reconnection, of relief, of sheer joy, and of coming home. Because in some ways, until that second, they hadn't felt home yet, and now they did.

Dude. That was quite lovely.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*blushes* They just hit me like a ton of bricks. Like, less in their component parts, but once together--whoa doggies. Just--breathe. Slowly.

God, I'm a fangirl.

[nefeleo.livejournal.com]

...And Clark's remembering how it feels to breathe again.

Because of you, in ten minutes I am going to watch SV for the first time in months. Thank you. And I'd love to read anything of yours that springs from this!

[seperis.livejournal.com]

That scene was so perfect I cannot think of anything that would improve on it. Just that look, that realization, that *instant* where they both *knew*.

Unreally beautiful. I'm still sighing over it.

*happy place*

[boniblithe.livejournal.com]

I keep having this image in my mind of paranoid Lex, with Lewis still stalking him at odd moments, jumping at every little noise, sleeping with something sharp or small caliber under his pillow. From now until his invulnerable boyfriend finally moves in with him and sheilds him with his body every night. Or do you think that would make it worse? Would Clark's invulnerability make Lex feel even more uneasy about his own weakness?

*wibble*

I love them both so much. SO MUCH.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Ooh. Now *those* are nice thoughts! *pondering* Clark can protect him from everything and everyone but what's in his own head. And that reminder every day that Clark can do what he cannot....

Oooh.

Likes!

[boniblithe.livejournal.com]

*pokes*

write! ehehehehe.

Yes. Yes, you do need to write something...

[cjandre.livejournal.com]

Try a Smallville story, baby. Really. Just one.

You can stop again any time you want.

uh huh

What? you didn't see the surgeon general's warning at the beginning of the show?

I only just barely skimmed your entry so as to try to have as few spoilers as possible - but I just wanted to stop by and say that I am hapy to see you squeeing over CLex again.

{{hugs}}

Re: Yes. Yes, you do need to write something...

[seperis.livejournal.com]

You are a pusher of bad Smallville crack. Bad, bad, bad. Bad.

[kernezelda]

Oh, you've hit so many nails on so many heads - tonight's episode had me yawning with boredom at the Chloe&Lana - why oh why is Lana everybody's fairy princess, forever and ever, amen?

Loved the look in Clark's eyes after Morgan comes to Kfarm - then groaned at his utter, utter stupidity in let's see, not only giving his blood to Morgan, but using the green!K right in front of him? Stupid, stupid, pretty boy.
Clark and Lex reunion, Lex and Lionel, these were for me the two focal points of the episode. Helen was misused - she could have been the ambiguous match for Lex as he said, but Millar/Gough tossed her for a heavy.
Super!Jonathan did not move me. Why is Martha being sidelined so completely?
Does Lionel Luthor not have security cameras in Luthorcorp?
Bullets fired from a gun at an upward angle in a plane do not change trajectories to kill the pilot. That hole in the cockpit door was higher than the pilot!

Ack! for plot, but Lex and Lionel - excellent chemistry as always. The CLex was heavily emphasized when Clark hugs no female at all, but has a Mississippi-wide grin for Lex, and that hug? Loooong.

Glad to see you back commenting on SV!

How could you forget to mention WET SHIRTLESS CLARK!?

[viola69.livejournal.com]

I do completely agree with your thoughts on perhaps there being red kryptonite leftover in Clark's body- & I Jumped up when he tore that door off to threaten Morgan Edge!
& WOWZA! Loved the power dynamic between Rutger Hauer & John Glover- Morgan Edge & Lionel Luthor. Gimme more of that!

Poor Lex! He really is in need of an Aloe rub-down. & a nice rest, too. Between navigating the betrayel of Helen- & the life-long father-son thing- *sigh* He's got issues- & his time away did nothing but escalate them.

& Then there was the Clex reunion & Hug. *sigh* I got all teary-eyed. Such a beautiful moment- & *then* Lex saving the Kent farm- & thanking Jonathon for the compass- & ohh- you know Lex & Clark wanted to hug again!

Great start to the season- both Clark & Lex have some serious anger issues- & Father issues- going to be very interesting to see where it takes them both.

[viola69.livejournal.com]

Ohh, & episode title was Phoenix. :-)

[fleegull.livejournal.com]

Ohhhkay. Yep. Time for me to *calm the hell down*.


Now is not the time to calm down, now is the time to keep writing fabulous things like this that cut to the heart of my love for this show.

[deadlychameleon.livejournal.com]

Jesus, I need to write something.
Go! Write! Do! I've missed you in this fandom, Jenn!

The way they both faced their evil sides over the summer alone, but are back together now is ... well. There's a lot more tying Lex and Clark together than Clark and Lana, let's put it that way.

Oh and the line about how Lex wants them to think of him like family? SQUEE! Not brother, oh no. Son in law.
I am wondering now about how he's rationalizing embracing the Kents and his father. Maybe he's just so giddy he's embracing anyone who didn't try and kill him.
Lionel had a bit of a dumbstruck look, didn't he? Sort of like "I love you son, but why are you hugging me? Did you forget I had sex with your girlfriend?"
Let's hug and have a few minutes of really, really creepy proto-incestuous bonding."
*Chokes on Kool-Aid*
Proto-incestuous bonding? But then, that would account for Lionel's expression.
-Silverkyst

[fairy-tale-echo.livejournal.com]

And Lex would do it all again, just to see that look on Clark's face. Lex smiles at Clark the way he smiles at no one else, never has, never will. And Clark's remembering how it feels to breathe again.

Wow, you just lapsed into fic. And it was glorious! That's pretty fucking awesome, man! :D Um, if you wrote more about this? I would have your children.

And, as someone already mentioned, the episode was titled Phoenix which seemed a little off, I thought for sure it was going to be Homecoming or Return or something along those Calling/Exodus/Exile lines. But THIS title reminded me greatly of Ani DiFranco:

and God help you if you are a phoenix
and you dare to rise up from the ash
a thousand eyes will smolder with jealousy
while you are just flying past

[logovo.livejournal.com]

The Incredible Hulk moment? The first of many giggles.

Also, THE HUG! THE HUG!

*melts*

[texan-elf.livejournal.com]

love your comments on the ep.

and I *so* totally agree on the clark/lex remeeting scene. *sends shivers of lust down my spine*

[sage]

yes, write more, please. (Hi, I know you don't know me, but reading your post set my brain whirring, so now I'm writing this comment.)

I hated how rushed the ep was. They should have made Exile the stand-alone, and made this a two-parter. None of the arcs had enough screen-time to lay proper groundwork. I mean, what the Hell did the Kents do with the body?! *GRRRR at the writing team*

I'm generally indifferent to Lana, but I'm really interested in what they do with her having just killed the guy. It could break her, especially since her *only* onscreen reaction is to ride to Clark at the end (more damsel in emo-distress) and basically beg him to save her. If they do it right (and I doubt they will), the combined grief will break her. And an insane Lana would be an interesting Lana, and that would give KK something to play besides the same old whiny girlchild. I'd love to watch her have a complete breakdown as all that pent up rage came pouring out. Then she could recover and maybe be more than just tasty eye candy. Some rough edges would do her good. And yeah, the Chloe-Lana implications could be huge.

Anyway, please write more SV fic. You've got such a gift for capturing their voices.