To begin the Lexana at the end of S3 instead of at the end of S5. To omit Jason Teague and the witch/stone storyline completely. And, while I’m hanging around in S3, to get rid of the character of Adam Knight, because I don’t think he added anything of interest and substance to the show, either (except calling Lana on some of her flaws—what a breath of fresh air that was!) Since I'm improving a relationship scenario, I hope that only counts as one change overall.
The Lexana relationship was set up perfectly in "Covenant" at the airport when Lana left for Paris, with Lex indicating his intention to visit her there, and there had been scenes of them interacting for at least several episodes previously. Their friendship was on solid ground, at that point, and ripe for development into something more.
What are you going to do to accomplish it, given the constraints on your powers?
I guess go back leave Parisian travel brochures around to convince Lex to make good on his offer of going to Paris. He may have done this at some point in canon, but if so, it was never shown. If Lana was reluctant, I’d hope she'd remember how much Lex has done for her, how much they have in common, and what a good friend he’s been. And what a natural relationship at that point in time, both of them having been dumped by Clark. I guess Lex would have to tell her about this.
What do you think the effect of your change will be?
It would have given us a much better storyline for S4 and beyond. Being that Clark broke up with Lana (for the first time) at the beginning of S3, if the Lexana didn’t begin until the very end of the season, it would have had much less the feel of beginning because Lana was rebounding from Clark. Getting rid of Lana’s other two boyfriends and giving her something to do (charity work, investigations, art or astronomy study) would get her focus off herself, and make her seem less reliant on constantly needing a guy to prop her up, helping grow into her own independence. And, when we got the touted “new and improved” Lana at the beginning of S4, she would have been with Lex, an established character, rather than a throwaway character who only lasted one season. When she chose Lex, it would have been an informed choice.
In S4, Lex and Lana, having grown close in Paris, would come back to Smallville, together, continuing the relationship begun in Paris (or, really, at the airport the day she left). It would have been an effective triangle situation that could have been extended throughout the season, impacting both their relationships with Clark as the three of them (perhaps) worked their way back to a tenuous friendship, but with the Lex-Lana relationship between them. Lex could still have been searching for the stones, and keeping Chloe safe, and putting his consuming need to know before his affair with Lana, but the whole Isobel Thoreaux plot could have been deep-sixed. They could even have woven the Clana back in to some extent later in the season if they really had to, but it would have been more layered and angsty by that point, as it would have grown organically through the season by Lana perhaps becoming slowly aware of Lex’s true nature, and again of her attraction to Clark..
What might be the unintended consequences?
Well, it would have accelerated the Lex/Clark/Lana scenario we now have, and necessitated focus on something else by now—something more meaningful, like the ultimate rift between Lex and Clark, to which the situation with Lana might have contributed, but only moderately. I think it would have yielded us a much better structured and more focused and adult S4. But, since my concept is vague at best and I have no real notion how it would have played out, I’m not sure. Maybe someone else has ideas?
no subject
To begin the Lexana at the end of S3 instead of at the end of S5. To omit Jason Teague and the witch/stone storyline completely. And, while I’m hanging around in S3, to get rid of the character of Adam Knight, because I don’t think he added anything of interest and substance to the show, either (except calling Lana on some of her flaws—what a breath of fresh air that was!) Since I'm improving a relationship scenario, I hope that only counts as one change overall.
The Lexana relationship was set up perfectly in "Covenant" at the airport when Lana left for Paris, with Lex indicating his intention to visit her there, and there had been scenes of them interacting for at least several episodes previously. Their friendship was on solid ground, at that point, and ripe for development into something more.
What are you going to do to accomplish it, given the constraints on your powers?
I guess go back leave Parisian travel brochures around to convince Lex to make good on his offer of going to Paris. He may have done this at some point in canon, but if so, it was never shown. If Lana was reluctant, I’d hope she'd remember how much Lex has done for her, how much they have in common, and what a good friend he’s been. And what a natural relationship at that point in time, both of them having been dumped by Clark. I guess Lex would have to tell her about this.
What do you think the effect of your change will be?
It would have given us a much better storyline for S4 and beyond. Being that Clark broke up with Lana (for the first time) at the beginning of S3, if the Lexana didn’t begin until the very end of the season, it would have had much less the feel of beginning because Lana was rebounding from Clark. Getting rid of Lana’s other two boyfriends and giving her something to do (charity work, investigations, art or astronomy study) would get her focus off herself, and make her seem less reliant on constantly needing a guy to prop her up, helping grow into her own independence. And, when we got the touted “new and improved” Lana at the beginning of S4, she would have been with Lex, an established character, rather than a throwaway character who only lasted one season. When she chose Lex, it would have been an informed choice.
In S4, Lex and Lana, having grown close in Paris, would come back to Smallville, together, continuing the relationship begun in Paris (or, really, at the airport the day she left). It would have been an effective triangle situation that could have been extended throughout the season, impacting both their relationships with Clark as the three of them (perhaps) worked their way back to a tenuous friendship, but with the Lex-Lana relationship between them. Lex could still have been searching for the stones, and keeping Chloe safe, and putting his consuming need to know before his affair with Lana, but the whole Isobel Thoreaux plot could have been deep-sixed. They could even have woven the Clana back in to some extent later in the season if they really had to, but it would have been more layered and angsty by that point, as it would have grown organically through the season by Lana perhaps becoming slowly aware of Lex’s true nature, and again of her attraction to Clark..
What might be the unintended consequences?
Well, it would have accelerated the Lex/Clark/Lana scenario we now have, and necessitated focus on something else by now—something more meaningful, like the ultimate rift between Lex and Clark, to which the situation with Lana might have contributed, but only moderately. I think it would have yielded us a much better structured and more focused and adult S4. But, since my concept is vague at best and I have no real notion how it would have played out, I’m not sure. Maybe someone else has ideas?