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SV: Oracle
Well, that rocked.
I am torn on the interpretation of Lionel, now. Are we to assume that he is only possessed when his eyes are glazed over, or was that just to make it clear to people who were a little slow to realize he was possessed by Jor-El? My guess is that we're supposed to think that he's only possessed when his eyes are glazed over, which makes me completely reassess certain aspects of "Mercy."
Are they really, really redeeming Lionel? Oh, please tell me that this is just some deeper game Lionel is playing, where he tells Martha the truth in a manner similar to Lex telling Lana the truth about the Fine experiments: as part of a broader plan to get her to trust him and be more enmeshed in his plans. Because this "everyone is suddenly trusting Lionel" thing is deeply disturbing. Even though I am in favor of Mionel, I am very glad that Martha doesn't just buy his apology at the end of the episode. (And I'm glad they finally explained why she trusted him--at least she *believed* he was trying to redeem himself, which, if naive, at least explains some of her behavior toward him.)
I suppose another explanation could be that Jor-El is influencing him on a subconscious level, even though he is not consciously aware of what is going on. But as much as I love Lionel, if he ends up being redeemed after everything he has done....I will be very angry.
I did really love Martha in this episode. I loved her attempt to talk some sense into Clark, after his conversation with "Jonathan," and her own scene with "Jonathan" was amazing. AOT just rocked the house in that scene, and also her final scene with Lionel.
I also loved Lex to death in this episode. Yay for a motive that makes sense and is heroic in its own way: trying to save the world from a disease unleashed by invading aliens. I also loved that he *told* Clark "I was the good guy here." He was, even if he was played--and he knew he was being played, so he was trying to play Fine. (He's invulnerable now, or infected with Brainiac? Or both? What do people think? The previews for next week look awesome, btw).
The Lexana stuff was wonderful. I really love how he's maneuvering Lana deeper and deeper into his web, but telling her about it every step of the way. He really knows how to play her, and yet she's clearly one of the people under his protection now, as his conversation with Clark at the end revealed. Tonight, I could really *see* the iconic Lex Luthor in every scene he was in, and I couldn't be happier.
No other intelligent commentary, just a bunch of lines I liked:
"To save this world, you're got to kill Lionel Luthor."
"Hand me a cloak and call me Horatio."
"I need a night life."
"I can't exactly look for a file called my evil secret."
"Help yourself--everybody else does."
"That's Clark's specialty--barging in where he's not invited and making you feel like it's your fault."
I am torn on the interpretation of Lionel, now. Are we to assume that he is only possessed when his eyes are glazed over, or was that just to make it clear to people who were a little slow to realize he was possessed by Jor-El? My guess is that we're supposed to think that he's only possessed when his eyes are glazed over, which makes me completely reassess certain aspects of "Mercy."
Are they really, really redeeming Lionel? Oh, please tell me that this is just some deeper game Lionel is playing, where he tells Martha the truth in a manner similar to Lex telling Lana the truth about the Fine experiments: as part of a broader plan to get her to trust him and be more enmeshed in his plans. Because this "everyone is suddenly trusting Lionel" thing is deeply disturbing. Even though I am in favor of Mionel, I am very glad that Martha doesn't just buy his apology at the end of the episode. (And I'm glad they finally explained why she trusted him--at least she *believed* he was trying to redeem himself, which, if naive, at least explains some of her behavior toward him.)
I suppose another explanation could be that Jor-El is influencing him on a subconscious level, even though he is not consciously aware of what is going on. But as much as I love Lionel, if he ends up being redeemed after everything he has done....I will be very angry.
I did really love Martha in this episode. I loved her attempt to talk some sense into Clark, after his conversation with "Jonathan," and her own scene with "Jonathan" was amazing. AOT just rocked the house in that scene, and also her final scene with Lionel.
I also loved Lex to death in this episode. Yay for a motive that makes sense and is heroic in its own way: trying to save the world from a disease unleashed by invading aliens. I also loved that he *told* Clark "I was the good guy here." He was, even if he was played--and he knew he was being played, so he was trying to play Fine. (He's invulnerable now, or infected with Brainiac? Or both? What do people think? The previews for next week look awesome, btw).
The Lexana stuff was wonderful. I really love how he's maneuvering Lana deeper and deeper into his web, but telling her about it every step of the way. He really knows how to play her, and yet she's clearly one of the people under his protection now, as his conversation with Clark at the end revealed. Tonight, I could really *see* the iconic Lex Luthor in every scene he was in, and I couldn't be happier.
No other intelligent commentary, just a bunch of lines I liked:
"To save this world, you're got to kill Lionel Luthor."
"Hand me a cloak and call me Horatio."
"I need a night life."
"I can't exactly look for a file called my evil secret."
"Help yourself--everybody else does."
"That's Clark's specialty--barging in where he's not invited and making you feel like it's your fault."
no subject
I suppose another explanation could be that Jor-El is influencing him on a subconscious level, even though he is not consciously aware of what is going on. But as much as I love Lionel, if he ends up being redeemed after everything he has done....I will be very angry.
Oh my. I was actually thinking during that Lionel scene-- and right now again as I am rewatching-- I can't wait until Norwich explains this all to me." I know you understand Lionel and I couldn't see why he was suddenly stumbling all over himself when he's usually so smooth. I was going to interupt out Lana debate to ask "So what IS that scene about?" Martha was bizaarre too. Was she moved? Restraining herself? Upset at Lionel.?
What's weird is, if I'm remembering Reckoning correctly, Lionel is *still* lying in that scene. But why is he coming clean with Martha? There was nothing charitable about Lionel's motivations; irrc didn't he want Jonathan as his political puppet? The "at least I was honest with you" is too deliberate a parallel with Lexana, but the implied redemption is what screws it up. I too will be pissed if they make Lionel Luthor a white hat after all he's done.
no subject
Well, that reminds me a lot of the final elevator scene in "Mercy," when he "shot himself" (though I still hold that he knew the gun was empty, hence my icon). He's *very* good at manipulating people emotionally, and as you say he's still lying about what actually happened in Mercy--or at the very least, shading the truth in a way that completely favors him. That actually gives me some hope that this is still some deep game he is playing.
As for Martha, I don't know. There's no reason *why* she should trust anything FineJonathan said, and yet I think emotionally she was hit very hard by the things he said, so I think she is feeling guilty about how much she's been trusting Lionel. I don't think she trusted his apology in that scene, but I'm not positive.
I was going to interupt out Lana debate to ask "So what IS that scene about?
I hope I wasn't being too obnoxious in that debate. I think I read your post right after reading a bunch of Lana bashing reviews in other quarters, and my "defend the underdog" gene kicked in.
no subject
Yes..that’s my only glimmer of hope. I actually thought…when there was a beat after “I’m not as good-hearted as your son--” that he would finally reveal what he wanted. There was something odd about that moment, but it could just be me.
I just can’t buy redemption!Lionel who’s preaching morality to Lex after emotionally and physically abusing him for so long. I just can’t. It’s a lot harder than buying “Oh, Jor-El’s just misunderstood!” because everything about him and his backstory was so malicious and self serving. I don’t think another sociopath inhabiting him can erase that. ;)
I hope I wasn't being too obnoxious in that debate.
Omg don’t ever think that! I love being pushed to think harder and question what I was saying, and you definitely did that. It helped me get to the bottom of what was bothering me about it. You’re never patronizing or personal, s’all good. I know my tone comes off as serious online unless I’m making an obvious show of being silly and crazy, but I’ve given up trying to change it, because that’s how I am when talking too LOL. Don’t ever take my lack of humor as discouragement; I’m just not good at incorporating it in my replies ;) We could debate till kingdom come, 'tis not obnoxious to me in the least.
I think I read your post right after reading a bunch of Lana bashing reviews in other quarters, and my "defend the underdog" gene kicked in.
Heh, I know that feeling well; there are times when I defend her (after thinking about the Chloe/Lana confrontation, accusations that she's leeching off of Lex was living rent-free in that old apartment, accusations that she cheated on or shouldn't have broken up with whitney). But lately the WTFBBQ?! reaction has been coming up. :)