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Smallville: Static
Spoilers behind the cut. [Edited to add: after a quick skim of the f-list, I feel it necessary to warn you that I liked the episode a lot, so if you're feeling the hate, you might want to skip this.]
I only have one complaint about this episode. It seemed like cheating to have Clark get to avoid the decision about whether or not to kill Mr. Bone Eater (in self-defense or to save all the innocent people he would munch on) in the same episode that Lex deliberately kills a guy to save himself and Lana. (Was Clark saved by that DC guy from Mars whose name I can't remember, btw?)
Otherwise, I completely loved this episode. I thought the Lexana was beautifully done--even though I found it hard to believe, in the very beginning, that Lex and Lana aren't sharing a bed. (Who knocks on their own bedroom door? But if they're living together and sleeping together, why aren't they sleeping together?)
I especially appreciated the metaphorical aspect of them being in different dimensions when they first confessed their love for each other: nice symbolism! And I actually find it persuasive that the threat of losing Lex entirely would make Lana reconsider their doubts. And really, I found both of their confessions very moving--I totally enjoy the Lexana when there's some actual passion going on between them; it's just when they're being all cold and distant (like last week) that it really annoyed me. And I'll confess that Lex' reaction to finding out Lana was pregnant made me a little weak in the knees. I have a *major* weakness for daddy Lex, so I am unlikely to be completely rational about this storyline, even though I know it is doomed (the baby and the relationship, I mean). I guess I'm just happy we're getting some passion again; it was way to early for the relationship to be going south. And I loved the proposal, though when they first walked into the room I was half expecting the Chamber of Clark Kent, or maybe the Chamber of Lana Lang.
I'm trying to decide what to make of Lana's declaration to Lex that she understands about level 33.1. It reminds me of what she said about aliens in "Arrow," where she turned out to be dissembling--but I actually *believed* her this time, and what's more, I felt like she really was completely throwing her lot in with Lex in a way she did not with "Arrow," possibly because of the baby. The scene with Chloe--especially if she was consciously lying since she really believed level 33.1 existed--somehow convinced me. Though I suppose she could be trying to deceive Lex AGAIN, but I tend to believe her this time.
And speaking of deceiving Lex: what game IS Lionel playing? Why even tell Lex where level 33.1 is? Clearly evil!Lionel is back (let the cheering begin!), and I totally loved that scene where he was basically just gloating at Chloe for giving her a computer virus, but what game is he playing with Lex? Regain control of 33.1 while attempting to completely blame it on Lex? Something else? I'm not sure, but I'm very happy he's revealed his true colors at last.
I also loved the Jimmy subplot in this episode. Clearly he is feeling undervalued by Chloe in comparison to Clark, and I really love how he's stepped up to prove himself. It was actually very nice of him to save Lex, considering his feelings about Lex; Chloe was clearly doing it for Lana, but Jimmy was doing it for Chloe. It seems fitting, somehow, that he should have arcane, old-tech knowledge, and I love that he got to save the day.
And that fit very well with Clark being gone. I know that the fact that Clark was willing to abandon Lex is going to make some people upset, I think with a certain amount of cause, but on the other hand it's a step toward the kind of decisions Superman is going to have to make all the time: save the one person he is personally connected to, or hundreds of innocent people. And it's nice to see Clark working on his own, faking his way through the crime scene to investigate rather than letting Chloe do it all for him. It's true that he was overconfident in his ability to save himself with the crystal, but I'm not sure he actually needed to be rescued by the mystery man. And to end where I began, I thought that was cheating. If you're going to show Lex's descent in an episode by having him kill, even in self-defense, you should contrast that by showing Clark choose NOT to kill in self-defense, not have someone else do his killing for him.
I only have one complaint about this episode. It seemed like cheating to have Clark get to avoid the decision about whether or not to kill Mr. Bone Eater (in self-defense or to save all the innocent people he would munch on) in the same episode that Lex deliberately kills a guy to save himself and Lana. (Was Clark saved by that DC guy from Mars whose name I can't remember, btw?)
Otherwise, I completely loved this episode. I thought the Lexana was beautifully done--even though I found it hard to believe, in the very beginning, that Lex and Lana aren't sharing a bed. (Who knocks on their own bedroom door? But if they're living together and sleeping together, why aren't they sleeping together?)
I especially appreciated the metaphorical aspect of them being in different dimensions when they first confessed their love for each other: nice symbolism! And I actually find it persuasive that the threat of losing Lex entirely would make Lana reconsider their doubts. And really, I found both of their confessions very moving--I totally enjoy the Lexana when there's some actual passion going on between them; it's just when they're being all cold and distant (like last week) that it really annoyed me. And I'll confess that Lex' reaction to finding out Lana was pregnant made me a little weak in the knees. I have a *major* weakness for daddy Lex, so I am unlikely to be completely rational about this storyline, even though I know it is doomed (the baby and the relationship, I mean). I guess I'm just happy we're getting some passion again; it was way to early for the relationship to be going south. And I loved the proposal, though when they first walked into the room I was half expecting the Chamber of Clark Kent, or maybe the Chamber of Lana Lang.
I'm trying to decide what to make of Lana's declaration to Lex that she understands about level 33.1. It reminds me of what she said about aliens in "Arrow," where she turned out to be dissembling--but I actually *believed* her this time, and what's more, I felt like she really was completely throwing her lot in with Lex in a way she did not with "Arrow," possibly because of the baby. The scene with Chloe--especially if she was consciously lying since she really believed level 33.1 existed--somehow convinced me. Though I suppose she could be trying to deceive Lex AGAIN, but I tend to believe her this time.
And speaking of deceiving Lex: what game IS Lionel playing? Why even tell Lex where level 33.1 is? Clearly evil!Lionel is back (let the cheering begin!), and I totally loved that scene where he was basically just gloating at Chloe for giving her a computer virus, but what game is he playing with Lex? Regain control of 33.1 while attempting to completely blame it on Lex? Something else? I'm not sure, but I'm very happy he's revealed his true colors at last.
I also loved the Jimmy subplot in this episode. Clearly he is feeling undervalued by Chloe in comparison to Clark, and I really love how he's stepped up to prove himself. It was actually very nice of him to save Lex, considering his feelings about Lex; Chloe was clearly doing it for Lana, but Jimmy was doing it for Chloe. It seems fitting, somehow, that he should have arcane, old-tech knowledge, and I love that he got to save the day.
And that fit very well with Clark being gone. I know that the fact that Clark was willing to abandon Lex is going to make some people upset, I think with a certain amount of cause, but on the other hand it's a step toward the kind of decisions Superman is going to have to make all the time: save the one person he is personally connected to, or hundreds of innocent people. And it's nice to see Clark working on his own, faking his way through the crime scene to investigate rather than letting Chloe do it all for him. It's true that he was overconfident in his ability to save himself with the crystal, but I'm not sure he actually needed to be rescued by the mystery man. And to end where I began, I thought that was cheating. If you're going to show Lex's descent in an episode by having him kill, even in self-defense, you should contrast that by showing Clark choose NOT to kill in self-defense, not have someone else do his killing for him.
part I
I thought the Lexana was beautifully done--even though I found it hard to believe, in the very beginning, that Lex and Lana aren't sharing a bed. (Who knocks on their own bedroom door? But if they're living together and sleeping together, why aren't they sleeping together?)
This doesn't mean they're not sleeping together necessarily. If she laid down to take a nap, he could have knocked to see if she was still sleeping or to wake her up so they could talk. The very fact that the door was closed also meant she may have wanted some privacy. Whether it's his room or not, in those circumstances it's still polite to knock.
I especially appreciated the metaphorical aspect of them being in different dimensions when they first confessed their love for each other: nice symbolism! And I actually find it persuasive that the threat of losing Lex entirely would make Lana reconsider their doubts. And really, I found both of their confessions very moving--I totally enjoy the Lexana when there's some actual passion going on between them; it's just when they're being all cold and distant (like last week) that it really annoyed me.
Honestly, this was the main reason I enjoyed the episode. The Lexana last week annoyed me *so much* because like we discussed, I really couldn't understand why they were together at all. This week, though, I *felt* their connection to each other and that made it much, much easier to be engaged by their storyline. Also, I *loved* learning how wrong I was about Lana's reaction to being pregnant. She was worried about how *he'd* react, not worried because it was his or because it would tie her to him. The wrinkle-nosed smile when she said "*Really*?" when he told her it was the best news he'd heard in a long time was adorable and made it clear that *that* was the source of her trepidation -- that Lex would be *unhappy* about the news. I also *really* loved their kiss right before Jimmy brought them back from the static dimension and how they were still kissing when they were rescued.
I'm trying to decide what to make of Lana's declaration to Lex that she understands about level 33.1. It reminds me of what she said about aliens in "Arrow," where she turned out to be dissembling--but I actually *believed* her this time, and what's more, I felt like she really was completely throwing her lot in with Lex in a way she did not with "Arrow," possibly because of the baby.
Lana's comments about 33.1 are a bit of -- gasp -- continuity that *goes back three seasons*. They're entirely consistent with her opinions as expressed during Extinction (3x03), so I found them entirely in-character and believable coming from her. She's always had an (understandable) issue with meteor mutants; she's got viable reason to consider them extremely dangerous. Yeah, it was hard-core as she expressed it in Static, but it's hard-core in one of the few ways the character's ever been *allowed* to be hard-core. Lana was being completely truthful with Lex at the end there, IMO.
The scene with Chloe--especially if she was consciously lying since she really believed level 33.1 existed--somehow convinced me.
I *loved* it when she used Chloe's own logic against her. That was purely Luthorian.
And speaking of deceiving Lex: what game IS Lionel playing? Why even tell Lex where level 33.1 is? Clearly evil!Lionel is back (let the cheering begin!), and I totally loved that scene where he was basically just gloating at Chloe for giving her a computer virus, but what game is he playing with Lex?
I don't know, but if it is a game, I hope this is the foundation-laying for Lex to kill Lionel outright. I don't see how Lionel can spin this as anything other than him being diabolical again; if he were really good, he wouldn't be all about the, you know, *human experimentation*. So that alone was enough for me to be okay with Lionel trumping Lex in this instance: it proves that Lionel's not a good guy.
Re: part I
Yes, I get that, but that particular type of politeness implies distance to me. Probably a family thing, I don't know.
Also, I *loved* learning how wrong I was about Lana's reaction to being pregnant. She was worried about how *he'd* react, not worried because it was his or because it would tie her to him. The wrinkle-nosed smile when she said "*Really*?" when he told her it was the best news he'd heard in a long time was adorable and made it clear that *that* was the source of her trepidation -- that Lex would be *unhappy* about the news. I also *really* loved their kiss right before Jimmy brought them back from the static dimension and how they were still kissing when they were rescued.
I buy that the majority of her concern was how he would take the news of the pregnancy, but I also think there were trust issues and her own reaction to being pregnant also in the mix. But I thought that scene when she was so obviously relieved that he was happy was great--I loved both KK and MR in that scene. And I've seen a lot of people complaining about them kissing with the mutant guy lying dead, but honestly, they both thought they might have lost the other one--that seemed totally believable to me.
Lana's comments about 33.1 are a bit of -- gasp -- continuity that *goes back three seasons*. They're entirely consistent with her opinions as expressed during Extinction (3x03), so I found them entirely in-character and believable coming from her. She's always had an (understandable) issue with meteor mutants; she's got viable reason to consider them extremely dangerous.
Oh, I agree that it shows a lot of character continuity--it's just that her fear of aliens was also character continuity, and yet in the end she condemned Lex for the research on the hard-drive thingy. I couldn't figure out if she was deliberately saying what she did partly just to get him to admit to Level 33.1 or not. I would actually *love it* if she was sincere--it really does fit with her long-term perception of mutants, and I much prefer evil!Lana to victimized!Lana.
I also thought it was interesting, the reversal between Clark's proposal and Lex's proposal. Clark finally tells her the truth, she accepts him (unbelievably?) and accepts her proposal; Lex, by contrast, lies to her face, but she tacitly forgives him for lying and for the lie itself and (I assume) accepts his proposal.
Re: part I
Oh, sure. I'm just overly sensitive to the show's five-year pattern of *more often than not* letting Lana off the hook for her poor choices, bad behavior, etc., and I reserve the right to consider Lex/Lana to be one of the worst creative choices they've ever made if they go some route whereby Lana's ultimately just a victim of Lex's evil machinations when it comes to her hooking up with him. Last week felt like more of that same thing (I still think there's a difference between being freaked out about an unexpected pregnancy and acting like you've been scheduled for execution) and that's why I reacted badly to it. This week, it feels like they clarified Lana's issues in a way that *wasn't* about Lana-as-victim and if they stay consistent with that, it'll go a long way towards me being patient about Lex/Lana in general and about the pregnancy storyline in particular.
Oh, I agree that it shows a lot of character continuity--it's just that her fear of aliens was also character continuity, and yet in the end she condemned Lex for the research on the hard-drive thingy.
See, I still think that was less about Lana suddenly no longer thinking aliens are a threat and more about Lana not liking it when she isn't the top priority in her boyfriend's life**. As long as Lex found a balance between his interest in Lana and his interest in meteor mutants that Lana could handle, she probably wouldn't change her tune about 33.1 (I mean, in a scenario where Lex had been honest with her about its existence).
** Even if Clark had been honest with Lana, they wouldn't have lasted because ultimately Clark's need to help people would be the greatest priority and Lana's simply not suited to being with that kind of person. Lana needs to be the *most* important thing to whomever she's with; she probably couldn't be a cop's or fireman's wife, either, because there's ultimately an element of other people come first in that lifestyle that she simply doesn't have the disposition to withstand.
Re: part I
I agree with you about Lana's need to be the top priority in her boyfriend's life, though, and that would have been a significant issue with Clark. (Superman divorced by self-centered wife; film at 11). Of course, the problem is exacerbated by the closure of Met U; Lana doesn't seem to currently *have* a life outside of Lex; even the charity stuff seems like make work. And somehow I suspect the pregnancy plot is going to prevent Lana from getting engaged with the world again.