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SV: "Rage"
Spoilers for SV: Rage behind the cut.
Ok, I was spoiled for Lana's pregnancy, which I'm sure is creating a great deal of comment, and I will add my two cents below, but I first have to make a confession that will surprise no one who has read my journal before: during that first Lionel/Martha scene I was SCREAMING "Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!" I know they'll never go too far with the Mionel-- it's more doomed than Lexana--but dammit, I want them to at least get to make out before they pull the plug on this relationship.
I was actually pleasantly surprised by the whole Thanksgiving thing, because I was sure they were setting it up for Clark to have some sort of big explosion at Lionel being invited to Thanksgiving, and that didn't happen. And while yes, it boggles my mind that even as a polite guest Chloe would agree to sit next to the man who tried to have her dad and her killed, I was *still* happy we didn't have a Clark explosion. I actually loved that little speech he made at Thanksgiving; it made me a little teary-eyed.
I also really loved the Lois/Oliver subplot. The opening scene was very HOT, and I very much appreciated his dilemma--poor superheroes, they never get to have sex because they always have to rescue someone. But I felt *really* bad for Lois. And I respect the fact that she refused to just give up on him when Clark warned her about his "drug problem." Does Oliver really have to leave? Can't he just stay on the show? Because I really love the Lois/Oliver relationship--he's always fun to watch and he definitely brings out the best in her. Plus I love all his scenes with Clark, the way they both push each other to do the right thing.
The Lex/Lana stuff was...odd. She's adopting a charity, presumably funded by Lex--already acting like a good trophy wife--so why does she think he has no say in it, if he's the one funding it? They're not married, so it actually is his money and his decision. If she was just doing volunteer work, then yes, he has no control over her, but that didn't sound like what she was talking about. And if she's so unsure about the relationship that a pregnancy causes her to freak out so much, why was she already acting like his wife at the beginning of the episode?
So that was annoying, as was the fact that pregnancy is depicted as trapping her permanently in a relationship with Lex. (And my god, that final scene WAS very effective in depicting that--the long table dividing them, the servants--it was every stereotype of upper-class loveless society marriage in one shot. It was especially effective for the contrast with Clark's happy home.) So, abortion doesn't exist in the SV verse?
I'm sure everyone who was unspoiled is freaking about this development, but I'm not, at least not yet. For one thing, I'm 98% sure that she's never going to have the baby. I'm sure it's going to end in miscarriage caused by one of these experiments Lex is funding, and that will be the thing that breaks up Lex and Lana. But the 2% of me that thinks they might go further with this is interested in the funhouse mirror version of "Lexmas" that's being set up here. Lex, already in this episode, is depicted as being very concerned about Lana's safety--in refusing to allow her to be free he thinks he's preventing the loss he saw in Lexmas, but of course he'll just recreate the freak show that was his parents' marriage. Maybe it will even have the same "Medea"-esque conclusion, with Lana killing the baby to save it from Lex!
I also think regardless of how much or little sympathy you have for Lana these days, you have to admit KK has really been excellent, recently. I am actually finding myself sympathetic to how trapped Lana is feeling, even though *rationally* I don't agree that I should feel sympathetic, just because KK was really *on* tonight, especially in those last three scenes.
Well, I'm off to find out what other people thought about the episode, but I may write more later.
Ok, I was spoiled for Lana's pregnancy, which I'm sure is creating a great deal of comment, and I will add my two cents below, but I first have to make a confession that will surprise no one who has read my journal before: during that first Lionel/Martha scene I was SCREAMING "Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!" I know they'll never go too far with the Mionel-- it's more doomed than Lexana--but dammit, I want them to at least get to make out before they pull the plug on this relationship.
I was actually pleasantly surprised by the whole Thanksgiving thing, because I was sure they were setting it up for Clark to have some sort of big explosion at Lionel being invited to Thanksgiving, and that didn't happen. And while yes, it boggles my mind that even as a polite guest Chloe would agree to sit next to the man who tried to have her dad and her killed, I was *still* happy we didn't have a Clark explosion. I actually loved that little speech he made at Thanksgiving; it made me a little teary-eyed.
I also really loved the Lois/Oliver subplot. The opening scene was very HOT, and I very much appreciated his dilemma--poor superheroes, they never get to have sex because they always have to rescue someone. But I felt *really* bad for Lois. And I respect the fact that she refused to just give up on him when Clark warned her about his "drug problem." Does Oliver really have to leave? Can't he just stay on the show? Because I really love the Lois/Oliver relationship--he's always fun to watch and he definitely brings out the best in her. Plus I love all his scenes with Clark, the way they both push each other to do the right thing.
The Lex/Lana stuff was...odd. She's adopting a charity, presumably funded by Lex--already acting like a good trophy wife--so why does she think he has no say in it, if he's the one funding it? They're not married, so it actually is his money and his decision. If she was just doing volunteer work, then yes, he has no control over her, but that didn't sound like what she was talking about. And if she's so unsure about the relationship that a pregnancy causes her to freak out so much, why was she already acting like his wife at the beginning of the episode?
So that was annoying, as was the fact that pregnancy is depicted as trapping her permanently in a relationship with Lex. (And my god, that final scene WAS very effective in depicting that--the long table dividing them, the servants--it was every stereotype of upper-class loveless society marriage in one shot. It was especially effective for the contrast with Clark's happy home.) So, abortion doesn't exist in the SV verse?
I'm sure everyone who was unspoiled is freaking about this development, but I'm not, at least not yet. For one thing, I'm 98% sure that she's never going to have the baby. I'm sure it's going to end in miscarriage caused by one of these experiments Lex is funding, and that will be the thing that breaks up Lex and Lana. But the 2% of me that thinks they might go further with this is interested in the funhouse mirror version of "Lexmas" that's being set up here. Lex, already in this episode, is depicted as being very concerned about Lana's safety--in refusing to allow her to be free he thinks he's preventing the loss he saw in Lexmas, but of course he'll just recreate the freak show that was his parents' marriage. Maybe it will even have the same "Medea"-esque conclusion, with Lana killing the baby to save it from Lex!
I also think regardless of how much or little sympathy you have for Lana these days, you have to admit KK has really been excellent, recently. I am actually finding myself sympathetic to how trapped Lana is feeling, even though *rationally* I don't agree that I should feel sympathetic, just because KK was really *on* tonight, especially in those last three scenes.
Well, I'm off to find out what other people thought about the episode, but I may write more later.
no subject
I could dig deeper and slice apart the episode as far as continuity especially in character development, but on the whole I was not as disappointed as I thought I would be, and these days that's enough. (How sad I know--but I fear they will never make me happy as they used to back in the early days.)
It is odd that they're ignoring everyone's previous experiences with Lionel, without even acknowledging them, because I think if you stay within seasons 5 and 6, they've actually done a good job building character arcs--but it's as if they're ignoring almost everything that went before.
think it does mirror Lexmas in a great way as far as what we dream and what is real. I like too the fact that Lex controls Lana--and well, why shouldn't he? It is his money and his name? Who is she exactly?
She's a symbol, is my guess. (To him, I mean). So of course he controls her. And it's his money, if she's doing charitable causes, so that's only fair. Unfortunately, MR is doing a very good job of convincing me he *doesn't* really love her except as a symbol, and that is making me sad. Not that I want Lex to be smitten with Lana, but I do want him to be capable of really loving someone, still, and I'm starting to think his heart is too closed off at this point to see her (or anyone) as anything more than a symbol.
I did love that scene where Lex and Oliver faced off--I thought it was awesome when he pulled the gun, and at least we got some Clexy stuff when Clark refused to let Lex just die, and actually threw Ollie into the wall.
And I just have an irrational love for Mionel!
no subject
Yes, I think you're right in your analysis. Lana represents to Lex a symbol of what is right. What he is missing. A bit Oedipal, and always trying to replace his mother, or secure a life that he always wanted as a child-- or what he was always so envious about with Clark.
I totally agree that MR is pulling off the "I've got her, now I'm moving on to bigger and better things and she can sit here and be pretty" attitude pitch perfectly. My husband said to me again tonight as we were watching it, "aren't they supposed to be a couple? He acts like he can't stand her." And for them to be in the "honeymoon" stage and all of their dating, they sure as hell are doing a lot of fighting.
I agree with you as far as it breaking my heart a little. I mean, you will not find someone who despises Lana and Lexana more than me. I truly cannot stand either. But, the girly romantic chick in me loves Lex enough and is smart enough to realize "hey, I can watch him be a daddy, and propose and be in love and *squee*" but you know what-- I feel no squee-- not even just watching half the screen and picturing myself. Their whole relationship just feels heavy-- so much so that my Clana hating self is begging for a barn loft scene. I mean I just fell blah when I see Lex and Lana together, and I guess I would be more on board with the whole thing if I thought she was actually making him happy. If it truly was going to be for a time like Lexmas coming true. If all he needed was someone to love him unconditionally for him to open up and be "good" and see the error of his ways. I mean, do you remember that episode with Helen where he finally opens up to her and takes her hand and they walk down the hall together? I mean GUH!!!! That was vulnerable, heart wide open Lex and that's what I NEEDED to see for this whole Lexana thing to make sense to me. Instead I get three seconds of slow motion walk in-- over exposed lighting costumed sex scene, and then weeks of paranoia, moping, rules, lies, and now pregnancy? I'm not buying. This week they barely speak, and she is lying to him. Next week romance and flowers?
Now I know it will all end up bad, Lana will get hurt, Lex will sink further and be the bad guy. No more Lex who needs love-- only Lex who takes, tarnishes and ruins and IMHO that's not at all what they have built all these years, and it saddens me to see it end so predictably.
I do see what they are trying to do. I see her as a symbol. I see the Lexmas parallel. I just don't see it working. I see it a bit contrite.
no subject
Now I know it will all end up bad, Lana will get hurt, Lex will sink further and be the bad guy. No more Lex who needs love-- only Lex who takes, tarnishes and ruins and IMHO that's not at all what they have built all these years, and it saddens me to see it end so predictably.
It's not even that he's tarnishing Lana, it's that he's doing it so--joylessly, or something. When Lionel was still being obviously soulless he was more fun to watch than Lex is, now. They need to show us more of his interior life, or something. His fears and dreams--remind us *why* he wants to control Lana, give us flashbacks, SOMETHING.
Hell, it would even be more fun if he were deliberately toying with Lana, making her fall for him to deliberately fuck up her life as payback to Clark in some twisted way. I'd rather see him as a mustache-twirling villain (preferably in leather pants) than this!