I like your Martha-Lex alliance theory. That's fab! I'd be there for that. It could also thrust Clark and Lois together because they are both in outright Lex-distrust: it would give them some common ground! (Because of course Martha and Lois would have to 'break up' as best friends if she allied herself with Lex of the muffin-peddling comment!)

I think you might be right about Martha. The way the barn scene with Lionel played out was uncomfortable for me. She seemed genuinely vulnerable to him in a way that I wouldn't usually expect from her. I can't say I love the idea of Martha losing her moral centre in the wake of Jonathan's passing (I just baulk at her being shown as that dependent) but I think it might be something they go for. She reached out to Chloe, but it may be that Chloe proves to be less reliable and dependable than Martha thinks.