I'm a little upset that this episode clarified "Lexmas" too much. I liked it better when it was ambiguous as to whether Lex's experience was an actual vision or just a dream (especially since I leaned toward the dream theory, myself). While I suppose one could still, theoretically, argue that both Lex and Clark just hallucinated what they most needed to see, the fact that Clark's vision contained true information makes the "wish fulfillment" interpretation less likely.
See, I don't necessarily think that because Clark's vision contained true information means that Lex's vision wasn't still a product of Lex's subconscious mind. It's canon that kryptonite-laced or kryptonite-exposed sources, as well as other toxins, affect Clark differently than they do other characters (he alone could actually see Cassandra's visions, neither Desiree's nor Rickman's powers worked on him, Ryan couldn't read his mind, he didn't go all psycho-stalker when he drank the love potion in Devoted and he was the only person who came out of the panic-inducing coma in Scare on his own, without the intervention of the antidote, to name a few examples). So Clark's reaction to the drug might not have been exactly like Lex's or Lana's.
Alternatively, Clark's vision contained true information, yes, but it's also information he himself must have suspected since Hidden. After all, Jor-El used Lionel as an avatar. Some part of Clark may have been worried all along that without meaning to do so, Jor-El might have exposed Lionel to the truth. So it's possible that Clark's vision tonight was telling him something he already knew/believed deep down (and certainly, *someone* in the Kent household should be more wary and actively suspicious of Lionel anyway).
Likewise, I think it's easy to read Lex's vision as his mind knowing he didn't have to make the choice he did in Lexmas *and* knowing that he could still turn back from that path if -- and this is key -- he *really wanted to do so*. He obviously doesn't any more, so he's not going to. That's why the wording of his lie to Lana is so resonant and powerful. Lex is absolutely becoming the man *he's* decided he wants to be.
part II
See, I don't necessarily think that because Clark's vision contained true information means that Lex's vision wasn't still a product of Lex's subconscious mind. It's canon that kryptonite-laced or kryptonite-exposed sources, as well as other toxins, affect Clark differently than they do other characters (he alone could actually see Cassandra's visions, neither Desiree's nor Rickman's powers worked on him, Ryan couldn't read his mind, he didn't go all psycho-stalker when he drank the love potion in Devoted and he was the only person who came out of the panic-inducing coma in Scare on his own, without the intervention of the antidote, to name a few examples). So Clark's reaction to the drug might not have been exactly like Lex's or Lana's.
Alternatively, Clark's vision contained true information, yes, but it's also information he himself must have suspected since Hidden. After all, Jor-El used Lionel as an avatar. Some part of Clark may have been worried all along that without meaning to do so, Jor-El might have exposed Lionel to the truth. So it's possible that Clark's vision tonight was telling him something he already knew/believed deep down (and certainly, *someone* in the Kent household should be more wary and actively suspicious of Lionel anyway).
Likewise, I think it's easy to read Lex's vision as his mind knowing he didn't have to make the choice he did in Lexmas *and* knowing that he could still turn back from that path if -- and this is key -- he *really wanted to do so*. He obviously doesn't any more, so he's not going to. That's why the wording of his lie to Lana is so resonant and powerful. Lex is absolutely becoming the man *he's* decided he wants to be.