ITA with everything you said here. Especially this:
Yet interestingly--ironically--the Lexana relationship is actually more interesting now that it's over. I know it was anvilly, but I really loved that shot of Lana in the sun facing off to Lex in the shadows, and I continue to enjoy the Luthorian steel in her spine now, refusing to let Lex apologize and standing up to protect Clark and Kara. They actually seem to be continuing the parallel they introduced last season, where Lex is to Lana what season 1 Lionel was to season 1 Lex: a kind of twisted combination of love, challenge, threat, and mentor in the ways of evil. And that’s reinforced by the fact that Lana has moved herself firmly into Clark’s space, just as Lex repeatedly tried to do in season 1.
And Lex! OMG, writers, I was beginning to think you were incapable of writing Lex as subtlely and effectively evil, but tonight you really proved me wrong. First of all, I thought he was masterfully manipulative in his interactions with Lana. He seems like he's making concessions--coming into "her" space, assisting her with the D.A., even attempting once again to fauxpologize--and yet he's clearly the one in control, pulling the strings, making the subtle threats (Clark wouldn't be happy to hear about the $10 million Lana stole). Rowr! THAT'S Lex Luthor--even when obsessed, he's the one in control.
I think what I most loved about both this week and last week's Lexana scenes is that the creative team -- so far -- seems to be taking care to remember that for all Lana's gotten stronger and tougher because of what she's been through with Lex, she still should not be able to best him. Because he's still Lex Luthor and he's still more powerful than anyone else on the show except Clark and arguably Lionel. On the surface, Lana got the upper-hand because she secured her freedom and she's firmly moved herself into Clark's space, but it's been iterated twice now that she's really back in Smallville at Lex's sufferance. He had to smooth things over with the D.A. and he's holding that significant truth about her embezzlement.
One of the reasons Lex/Lana made me so nervous when it was first clear the show was headed in that direction was because I wasn't certain of the show's ability to get us through the relationship without significantly weakening Lex as a character. But they're handling it well. Lana's gotten wonderfully Luthorian over the past few episodes, but she's not a Luthor at her core. He is. And the show isn't letting us forget that.
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Yet interestingly--ironically--the Lexana relationship is actually more interesting now that it's over. I know it was anvilly, but I really loved that shot of Lana in the sun facing off to Lex in the shadows, and I continue to enjoy the Luthorian steel in her spine now, refusing to let Lex apologize and standing up to protect Clark and Kara. They actually seem to be continuing the parallel they introduced last season, where Lex is to Lana what season 1 Lionel was to season 1 Lex: a kind of twisted combination of love, challenge, threat, and mentor in the ways of evil. And that’s reinforced by the fact that Lana has moved herself firmly into Clark’s space, just as Lex repeatedly tried to do in season 1.
And Lex! OMG, writers, I was beginning to think you were incapable of writing Lex as subtlely and effectively evil, but tonight you really proved me wrong. First of all, I thought he was masterfully manipulative in his interactions with Lana. He seems like he's making concessions--coming into "her" space, assisting her with the D.A., even attempting once again to fauxpologize--and yet he's clearly the one in control, pulling the strings, making the subtle threats (Clark wouldn't be happy to hear about the $10 million Lana stole). Rowr! THAT'S Lex Luthor--even when obsessed, he's the one in control.
I think what I most loved about both this week and last week's Lexana scenes is that the creative team -- so far -- seems to be taking care to remember that for all Lana's gotten stronger and tougher because of what she's been through with Lex, she still should not be able to best him. Because he's still Lex Luthor and he's still more powerful than anyone else on the show except Clark and arguably Lionel. On the surface, Lana got the upper-hand because she secured her freedom and she's firmly moved herself into Clark's space, but it's been iterated twice now that she's really back in Smallville at Lex's sufferance. He had to smooth things over with the D.A. and he's holding that significant truth about her embezzlement.
One of the reasons Lex/Lana made me so nervous when it was first clear the show was headed in that direction was because I wasn't certain of the show's ability to get us through the relationship without significantly weakening Lex as a character. But they're handling it well. Lana's gotten wonderfully Luthorian over the past few episodes, but she's not a Luthor at her core. He is. And the show isn't letting us forget that.