norwich36 | SV: Phantom

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SV: Phantom

So, am I correct in assuming that the rumors about someone leaving the show refer to Annette O'Toole? She was the only one given an actual send-off in this episode, so my money would be on her. I can't imagine that Lionel is going to die at any way other than Lex's hands, so it won't be him; I'm pretty sure they didn't go to all the trouble of making Chloe a mutant just to kill her off; obviously they can't kill Lois; and I'd have a lot more faith in Lana's death if that postal truck hadn't swerved in front of the explodimobile at a very convenient time. In fact, the only question I have right now is whether Lana faked her own death (both to frame Lex and to be free of him, or at least give herself time to run) or whether it was all part of Lionel's plan.

And speaking of Lionel's plan....if J'onn J'onzz wasn't a mind reader, I'd be very suspicious of this idea that Lionel is once again Jor-El's avatar. Of course, he could be acting for Jor-El using Luthorian methods (or maybe El-ian methods? I can't wait to hear

bop_radar and

supacat's take on this)--but he seems to not only have forced Lana to marry Lex but also (apparently) faked the pregnancy? At least, my initial reading of Lex in that Lex-Lana confrontation scene was that he was genuinely surprised at Lana's accusation. I really liked that scene a lot, in part because when Lana told Lex "you aren't capable of love, Lex. You never were," it felt very Lillian-ish to me. Did anyone else get that vibe? It reminded me of angry Lillian in "Void," berating Lex for not taking her advice. I wonder if that was a deliberate choice by KK or the director?

I want to rewatch that scene to pay closer attention to Lex's reactions, like I said above I really thought he was surprised by her accusations about the fake pregnancy. If it does turn out to have all been Lionel, I think that will be the catalyst for Lex actually killing him. Already he's informed Lionel that he crossed an uncrossable line with his "gentle nudge" to get Lana to marry Lex. If Lionel really did fake the pregnancy too, he destroyed any hope of happiness Lex might have ever had, since Lex really is convinced he loves Lana, and it was the fake pregnancy that killed off the last of her feelings for him. All this to get someone on the inside? That's really a diabolical thing to do to your own son. I don't care if technically Lionel is on the side of the angels--if Lionel did all that, I'll be cheering when Lex kills him (and you all know how much I love Lionel). I want to see what other people's readings of that scene were, though. Maybe Lex was just fooling me with his faux sincerity?

Lex's other scenes were awesome. I loved when he strode into that exorcism (and what the HELL was that, anyway? Suddenly we're in a bad horror movie where the Quebecois are medieval peasants or something?); I loved him being all sexy and evil in the lab; and I laughed out loud when he pushed the doctor toward the phantom. (Yeah. Just one more reason why I'm no longer a Lexian minion--it really shortens your lifespan! I still admire the sexy, though). And I loved the look on his face when he got arrested.

I'm really, really hoping it was Lana who staged her own death, because (A) it would be cool and (B) it would be FRICKING AWESOME. Ok, slightly less awesome if Lex really didn't fake the pregnancy, but he is still a threat to her, and it is wonderfully Luthorian of her to ensure her safety by framing him for her death. With no body, he probably won't go away for it, but it buys her time, and it also gets her out from under Lionel's influence.

I suppose there is a slight possibility she is actually dead, but I find that really hard to believe. It is true she got her own kind of goodbye with Clark in the loft, and he did tell her his secret, which has been the kiss of death in the past, but the parallel to "Reckoning" is precisely why I think she's not really dead--it's a little too obvious. I loved that Clana scene, to be honest. KK has never looked more gorgeous, and I really love any scene where Clark reveals himself. And I liked the kiss.

I also really loved Lois in this episode. Could they have done ANYTHING more to show her tenacity? Not only does she stick to the story despite Chloe's warnings about the dangers of messing with Luthors, but she figured out Wes' final message all on her own, found the secret facility, came up with a plausible excuse for the guard, kung fu'd him when he got aggressive, and still held on with a knife in her gut! Damn! THAT'S canonical Lois Lane!!! (Though, just for future reference, Lois, you're not supposed to pull those out before calling for medical assistance--it just aggravates the injury). When Chloe found her and was ineffectually trying to rouse her with a pep talk and then started crying, I lost it, I have to admit. I love the relationship between Lois and Chloe a lot. And I found it interesting that Chloe's healing (resurrection?) ability works through tears, and leaves her unconscious (dead?) Like I said at the top of the review, I very much doubt Chloe is really dead, but it is a nice cliffhanger to leave us with.

And finally, I loved that we got to see J'onn J'onzz again (I squealed like a little girl when he came onscreen), and this new SV version of Bizarro we ended up with shows real promise. I *love* it when TW goes evil! I think it will make the season 7 opener a lot of fun. (And gee--do you think they'll show the 5 minute version of "previously on Smallville" before that episode too?

I'm sure I'll have more to say on this episode later, but first I want to go see what everyone else had to say.

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Nah, Chloe's not dead, she's just napping. And Lana's not dead either. She's like a cockroach -- she'd survive a nuclear war.

When you're the writers favorite character, you really can survive anything. :P

I really don't think Chloe's dead--there would have been no need to give her mutant powers if they just wanted her to die sacrificially for Lois. Clearly they want to do something with "good mutants" vs. Lex's army of mutants next season, and they're setting up Chloe to play a role in that.

OOH. Or MAYBE she's "dead" but Lex figures out a way to revive her and make her part of his army. That would actually be a really cool plot twist.

I'm curious as to what all that carrying on with Lex and the doctor was about if Lex wasn't behind the fake pregnancy. What leverage did the doctor have over Lex to ruin his wedding day? What didn't Lex want him to tell Lana?

I really hope Chloe isn't dead.

Yes, Lex killing the doctor was what convinced me it was him and not Lionel behind the faux pregnancy thing in the first place. But on the other hand, he really did seem sincere in his confusion tonight. Maybe he *thought* he was implanting some sort of genetically altered baby but Lionel somehow intervened with the fake pregnancy?

As I said to

bittermint upthread, if they were just going to kill off Chloe sacrificially, to save Lois, there was no reason to create the whole Chloe-is-a-mutant storyline at all. They could have just had her throw herself in front of a bullet for Lois or something. My guess is they're actually planning on going somewhere with her mutant ability, and that convinces me that she's not really dead.

I am really worried about Chloe being dead, to be honest. This is the second time they've done this to her in a finale, and I have thought they were going to kill her off for good for about three seasons. Everything points to it.

What I really hope for next season is that they go back the with JLA plotline and have Ollie and the gang back. I hope that having MMH on is pointing to that. I will pretend until I get screwed over anyway.

I would completely love it if they brought the JLA back next year. It took me a while to warm up to Ollie, but then by the time he left I was heartbroken that he was leaving. People keep saying there's not really going to be a spinoff, but if MR is really leaving after next season I doubt they'll do season 8, and it makes sense that they would do more test runs with the Justice League for a possible spinoff the year after. (I hope you're right about MMH. And not only that, but all those stupid Yaris tie-in comics on the commercial breaks seem to be pointing in that direction).

I've always been Chicken Little about Chloe's fate; like you, I've thought she was marked for death for a long time--but I actually think giving her a mutant ability signals she's *not* going to die. If they just wanted to have her die sacrificially for Lois so Lois could fill her shoes, they didn't have to make her a mutant first--she could have just taken a bullet for her, or pushed her out of the way of an oncoming car or something. I think they've deliberately given Chloe a power so she can go in a non-journalistic direction, character-wise, while Lois becomes more of a journalist. In fact, the SV version of the JLA is desparately in need of some female heroes.... (OK, that's really wishful thinking, I know).

Four months is TOO DAMN LONG to wait for answers!

Maybe he *thought* he was implanting some sort of genetically altered baby but Lionel somehow intervened with the fake pregnancy?

I never considered that. But really.. I'm not sure which is the worst of either of those two scenarios - fake baby or genetically altered baby. They're both big-time EVOL stuff.

Oh, sure, both things would be evil, no quesiton about it. I was just trying to figure out how he could have done something the doctor could blackmail him about *and* not know about the fake pregnancy.

Though maybe his denial has become like Lionel's denial that he killed his parents: he's lied so convincingly he almost believes it himself?

Gorgeous icon, btw.

At least, my initial reading of Lex in that Lex-Lana confrontation scene was that he was genuinely surprised at Lana's accusation.
*nods*
That's how I saw it too. And it left me confused after everything what happened in Promise, but oh well.
If Lionel is also responsible for fake pregnancy - kudos MB! It would be more than magnificent. And yes, I would also be there cheering right next to you when Lex kills him.

BTW interesting how Lionel is helping Clark but is also at the same time protecting Lex for some reason and doesn't want Clark to kill him.
Maybe he's a Clex shipper - get Lana out of the way, get the boys not to kill each other...>:)

When Chloe found her and was ineffectually trying to rouse her with a pep talk and then started crying, I lost it, I have to admit.
That was my favourite scene in the episode. :)

BTW interesting how Lionel is helping Clark but is also at the same time protecting Lex for some reason and doesn't want Clark to kill him.
Maybe he's a Clex shipper - get Lana out of the way, get the boys not to kill each other...>:)

OMG! That's it! Lionel (or more accurately, Jor-El) is secretly a Clex shipper! It's a very labyrinthine scheme to get rid of Lana permanently!.

I want to rewatch that scene to pay closer attention to Lex's reactions, like I said above I really thought he was surprised by her accusations about the fake pregnancy. If it does turn out to have all been Lionel, I think that will be the catalyst for Lex actually killing him.

My initial reading was that he was surprised, which made me go, "Lionel, you bastard!" right out loud and startle the cats. On rewatching, though, I thought it was less certain that he was sincere, and his line about "everything I've done," seemed to be an implicit confirmation.

Already he's informed Lionel that he crossed an uncrossable line with his "gentle nudge" to get Lana to marry Lex.... I don't care if technically Lionel is on the side of the angels--if Lionel did all that, I'll be cheering when Lex kills him (and you all know how much I love Lionel).

Yes. I really liked that they drew those lines — and that Lex and Clark were in agreement on it. Lionel's actions were unacceptable. And it doesn't matter if he's supposedly on the "right" side — I loved Clark's anger, and his clear statement that he didn't ask for Lionel's help, and he never will, refusing to sanction Lionel's actions on his behalf.

what the HELL was that, anyway? Suddenly we're in a bad horror movie where the Quebecois are medieval peasants or something?

Oh, I laughed out loud at that. They're all so provincial in Quebec, didn't you know? ::eyeroll::

I laughed out loud when he pushed the doctor toward the phantom.

I did too. And then sighed happily at the parallel when Clark pushed Lex away from the phantom and faced it himself.

I'm really, really hoping it was Lana who staged her own death, because (A) it would be cool and (B) it would be FRICKING AWESOME.

Hee. Yes. I want Lana to have done it, with Chloe's help.

I suppose there is a slight possibility she is actually dead, but I find that really hard to believe.

I think it's all down to meta issues, now. I think the storyline, as written, has a faked death, but they've left it open for her to actually be dead if KK doesn't return.

I also really loved Lois in this episode.

I could go on for pages about how much I loved Lois in this episode. That's my girl!

And finally, I loved that we got to see J'onn J'onzz again (I squealed like a little girl when he came onscreen)

I love him, too. And honestly, the explanation of who he is in this version of the story and the explanation for what he's been doing — works for me. And I have to say that I really like the prospect of him being a continuing mentor figure for Clark, who is not yet ready to be loosed on the world yet. Having J'onn stick around and act as guide to him would really go a long way to filling the gaping hole left by Jonathan. It's more likely that he'll appear again next season because Martha is now gone, and the only adult figure left is Lionel. And... right. :-)

My initial reading was that he was surprised, which made me go, "Lionel, you bastard!" right out loud and startle the cats. On rewatching, though, I thought it was less certain that he was sincere, and his line about "everything I've done," seemed to be an implicit confirmation.

Hmmm. I'm probably not going to have time to watch until Saturday, since I have a work thing tomorrow night and I really should go to bed now, but I guess overall I'd prefer it if Lex did fake the pregnancy--otherwise getting framed for Lana's murder is too over-the-top! Plus it makes it hard to figure out what the doctor could have been blackmailing him with.

Oh, and I liked the Clark/Lex parallels you pointed out, both the direct one (their response to Lionel's manipulation) and the reversal (Clark pushing Lex away from the Phantom when Lex pushed the scientist toward the Phantom).

I didn't realize that KK was still in contract negotiations--I thought the big three were all signed through next year.

I am looking forward to seeing what you and Bop have to say about Lois in this episode, because you both are definitely the best Lois explicators around, and this was a great episode for her.

I love him, too. And honestly, the explanation of who he is in this version of the story and the explanation for what he's been doing — works for me. And I have to say that I really like the prospect of him being a continuing mentor figure for Clark, who is not yet ready to be loosed on the world yet. Having J'onn stick around and act as guide to him would really go a long way to filling the gaping hole left by Jonathan. It's more likely that he'll appear again next season because Martha is now gone, and the only adult figure left is Lionel.

Oh, REALLY good point about the mentor vacuum with Martha gone. Eek. The thought of Lionel filling that role is skeery! It would be pretty awesome if J'onn J'onzz stuck around, especially if this version actually knew Jor-El--we could get more humanization of Jor-El for Clark. (um...so to speak. Personalization?)

Great, great finale! Love reading your thoughts about it:)

It seems to me the SV PTB have left themselves quite a bit of wiggle room to squeeze through next season, particular with regard to whether Lex or Lionel was behind the fake baby scam. Personally, I hope they ditch the story altogether. Since I saw V at an impressionable age, the very possibility of transgenic, cross-species babies freaks me out. ROFL!

Neither Chloe nor Lana is dead. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it. Actually, I'm certain Lana isn't dead (my vote for her accomplice is Clark) and almost sure Chloe will be back. I think Chloe may be altered physically or in personality by her experience, though. I'm going to assume SV wouldn't kill Chloe after sending her mom and her boyfriend away and after her anticlimactic last scene with Clark. The fact that Lois is cradling her at the end makes me believe she'll be back.

You know what? All those reveals about Lionel and I'm still as puzzled by him as I was before. Can the end really justify the means?

I loved when he strode into that exorcism (and what the HELL was that, anyway? Suddenly we're in a bad horror movie where the Quebecois are medieval peasants or something?)

Thank you for saying this! I posted a slightly snarky comment about this last night that I subsequently deleted because, damn, SV is love and all that. But, OMG, Québec is about the most liberal, cosmopolitan place in North America; it was a shock to see my home province portrayed that way! OTOH, they used a native Québecoise to play the daughter. Big bonus points for that:)

I don't think Bizarro Clark will be as entertaining for me as RedK!Clark, but I'm looking forward to the storyline opening up. Was it just me or was that face cracking thing a total Spidey-3 rip-off?

I adored Tom's obvious joy at playing him:) Could this man get any hotter? I think not!

Sniff! Bye Martha!

It seems to me the SV PTB have left themselves quite a bit of wiggle room to squeeze through next season, particular with regard to whether Lex or Lionel was behind the fake baby scam. Personally, I hope they ditch the story altogether.

I don't see how they *can*, though--it was the straw that broke the camel's back for Lana, and if Lionel did it, it might cause Lex to kill him.

And yeah, the representation of the Quebecois was laughably bad, especially for a show that is shot in Canada! WTF, Smallville writers?

SV knows how to do finales and premieres!!

And if Lana faked her own pregnancy then she shouldn't be in next season ...

And Chloe can't be gone!!! That would be one shitty meteor power if it was only a one time deal!!

//Though, just for future reference, Lois, you're not supposed to pull those out before calling for medical assistance--it just aggravates the injury.// I said close to the same thing in my play-by-play review!! I actually enjoyed Lois this ep!!

Yes, if only the rest of the season was always as consistently good as the premieres and the finales!

I'd have a lot more faith in Lana's death if that postal truck hadn't swerved in front of the explodimobile at a very convenient time.
*giggles* Totally, dude!

he could be acting for Jor-El using Luthorian methods
That's what I'm backing at the moment, though I haven't done a rewatch yet. But Lionel is very Lionel-y still to me. I think the phrasing in that scene was important. Jor-El is not inhabiting Lionel the way he used to, I'd place money on that, but the residual knowledge is still there, and with the Fortress (still?) regenerating, perhaps that's the only place the knowledge is so Lionel is very valuable. J'onn can, presumably, see this. But the fact remains that Lionel's methods are still very Luthorian.

my initial reading of Lex in that Lex-Lana confrontation scene was that he was genuinely surprised at Lana's accusation.
Same!

it felt very Lillian-ish to me. Did anyone else get that vibe?
Ohh, I didn't think of that but it did seem coldly out of character for Lana, so that works for me.

If it does turn out to have all been Lionel, I think that will be the catalyst for Lex actually killing him.
I think that's very likely. I didn't comment in my review, but I think there was some heavy foreshadowing of death with Lex saying that he wants him 'out of my life' and then the cutaway to the photo of Clark and Jonathan (a father who IS out of his life--because he's dead).

what the HELL was that, anyway? Suddenly we're in a bad horror movie where the Quebecois are medieval peasants or something?
I was laughing so hard! I can't believe that they sat down and thought 'yeah, what we really need in the finale is a medieval exorcism scene'. *cries laughing*

I'm really, really hoping it was Lana who staged her own death, because (A) it would be cool and (B) it would be FRICKING AWESOME.
YES! I'd looove that. Folks seem to be voting for Clark to be in on it, but Clark, to me, was pretty damn preoccupied. But perhaps... I guess I just want to believe it was Lana on her own.

Damn! THAT'S canonical Lois Lane!!! (Though, just for future reference, Lois, you're not supposed to pull those out before calling for medical assistance--it just aggravates the injury
Right! and RIGHT!! I love tha they went to those lengths to show us how awesome she is. Pulling a knife out of one's body is not for the faint-hearted and tops Lana's removal of same from her hand in Zod. But actually?! NOT a good idea! She'd have bled to death for sure, and clearly noone in this program has ever learnt first aid. Pep talk?! Not all that useful for HAEMORRAGING! I love, love, LOVED that scene though, so I snipe with affection.

I think it will make the season 7 opener a lot of fun. (And gee--do you think they'll show the 5 minute version of "previously on Smallville" before that episode too?
Same! And hey, I really liked that 'previously'! Personally I think it rocked--highlights of the season and all that... but yeah, they do drag on! ;-)

I think that's very likely. I didn't comment in my review, but I think there was some heavy foreshadowing of death with Lex saying that he wants him 'out of my life' and then the cutaway to the photo of Clark and Jonathan (a father who IS out of his life--because he's dead).

Ooh, good catch! I missed that.

Right! and RIGHT!! I love tha they went to those lengths to show us how awesome she is. Pulling a knife out of one's body is not for the faint-hearted and tops Lana's removal of same from her hand in Zod. But actually?! NOT a good idea! She'd have bled to death for sure, and clearly noone in this program has ever learnt first aid. Pep talk?! Not all that useful for HAEMORRAGING! I love, love, LOVED that scene though, so I snipe with affection.

Oh, I hadn't even thought about the parallel to Lana! Very interesting. And even though medically it was a dumb thing to do, I loved how it showed how tough she is! This Lois is hardcore, and I love that about her.

I actually enjoyed the previouslies, too--it's just by the end of them I was wondering if they were going to just go ahead and show all of season 6 again!

I love that you enjoyed Lex pushing the doctor towards the phantom; my reaction was actually revulsion, but even though I didn't respect Lex very much in this episode, he's still Lex and I want everyone else to keep liking him.

There's no way Chloe's dead.

And Lana definitely faked her own death. If she really IS dead I'll actually be quite pissed because I like her a lot now.

Yeah, I can't imagine Lana or Chloe really being dead. Although I love the idea of Lana hiding out somewhere (maybe in Europe?) for the first part of next season, working behind the scenes to frame Lex. I don't know how she could be totally successful without a body or any DNA evidence being found, but I guess Lionel as an eyewitness would help.

I did feel kind of bad for that scientist Lex pushed toward the Phantom, and I would prefer a Lex who is loyal to his minions as long as they're loyal to him--but for some reason I just thought that was funny.

Okay, here's the skinny on the Who's Leaving rumors:

Annette was always only signed through six seasons and she opted not to re-up for S7.

Allegedly, Kristin went to AlMiles initially earlier this season and advised that she wanted to buy out of her contract (she, Tom, Michael and Allison are all signed through the end of S7). According to Wanda over on E!, there was a last-minute flurry of negotiations with Kristin as the season wrap-up approached. People have speculated -- although it hasn't been confirmed -- that the negotiations centered around AlMiles convincing Kreuk to agree to a reduced number of episodes for S7 in exchange for, presumably, not paying the full penalty for breaking her contract (actors typically have an escape clause, but they have to pay a (usually steep) penalty to exercise it). So I think Lana's exit in Phantom is set up the way it is not only for the dramatic tension, but also so the show can go either way with Lana next season depending on how the negotiations pan(ned) out.

At least, my initial reading of Lex in that Lex-Lana confrontation scene was that he was genuinely surprised at Lana's accusation.

I totally still think Lex manipulated the pregnancy. I think his reaction during the confrontation scene is surprise that Lana found out rather than the surprise of a person being accused of something they really didn't do. If he thinks he's fooled her all this time, then he would be taken aback to learn that wasn't the case. Admittedly, my reading of this is colored by the events of Promise because I can't figure out what Dr. Langston could have been trying to blackmail Lex about if it wasn't faking the pregnancy. Their exchange and Lex's role in Langston's death is rendered meaningless if Lex didn't really have a hand in faking/manipulating Lana's pregnancy.

Having said that, though, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that Lionel nevertheless knew what Lex was doing, if only because Lionel seems to always know what Lex is up to.

I really liked that scene a lot, in part because when Lana told Lex "you aren't capable of love, Lex. You never were," it felt very Lillian-ish to me. Did anyone else get that vibe? It reminded me of angry Lillian in "Void," berating Lex for not taking her advice.

It didn't remind me of Lillian, but it did remind me of Lana's cutting, "I don't know how I could have ever loved you," to Clark in Vessel. Lana can be pretty verbally ruthless when she wants to be and I think what she said to Lex is another example of that. She probably does believe that of him, but it was also the worst possible thing she could say to him after telling him that Clark mattered more to her than he ever would, in the same way telling Clark she didn't know how she could ever love him is the worst possible thing she could have said to him. I liked that bit of character consistency.

Thanks for the info on KK. I'd been avoiding anything that was potentially spoilery, so I hadn't heard that she was interested in buying out her contract.

I totally still think Lex manipulated the pregnancy. I think his reaction during the confrontation scene is surprise that Lana found out rather than the surprise of a person being accused of something they really didn't do. If he thinks he's fooled her all this time, then he would be taken aback to learn that wasn't the case. Admittedly, my reading of this is colored by the events of Promise because I can't figure out what Dr. Langston could have been trying to blackmail Lex about if it wasn't faking the pregnancy. Their exchange and Lex's role in Langston's death is rendered meaningless if Lex didn't really have a hand in faking/manipulating Lana's pregnancy.

I think I mostly agree with this reading, having thought about it a lot and rewatched that scene a couple times. Like you, I can't figure out what Dr. Langston would have been blackmailing him about if he wasn't the one faking the pregnancy.

Like you, I can't figure out what Dr. Langston would have been blackmailing him about if he wasn't the one faking the pregnancy.

The only other possible explanation is that Lex had Lana implanted with a genetically manipulated fetus and that's why Langston was all, "We know this isn't a normal pregnancy," in whatever that episode where he said that was. So Lana really was pregnant, just not accidentally and probably not with a baby that was the product of her and Lex's genetic material. That possibility, of course, makes the doctor's statements to Lana in Progeny inexplicable, because IIRC, he told her that the examination revealed that she'd never been pregnant.

But you know what I wonder about? How they got the hormones into her. I mean, was the cook in on it, cause that'd have to be the case to get them into Lana via her food. And you'd think Lana'd notice a bunch of pin-pricks if it was via needle while she was sleeping or something like that. I suppose Dr. Langston could have prescribed her special 'vitamins' or something like that, if he trumped up a possible complication that needed to be kept in check via medication, but when I think of the mechanics of slipping hormones to Lana without her knowledge, it makes my head hurt.

Well, if he did implant a genetically manipulated fetus (which was certainly my theory for most of the season) I think that's actually worse than faking a pregnancy--but I guess it would explain his surprise.

But you know what I wonder about? How they got the hormones into her. I thought, based on the conversation she had with the doctor who accused her of faking the pregnancy, that they were problem in the "pre-natal vitamins"? Though she did specifically accuse Lex of "injecting her" with hormones. Maybe Dr. Langston was regularly giving her injections of "vitamin supplements" or something like that?

And speaking of Lionel's plan....if J'onn J'onzz wasn't a mind reader, I'd be very suspicious of this idea that Lionel is once again Jor-El's avatar.
I don't believe he is. He may have been downloaded with Jor-El's memories, but I think he was truthful in "Zod" when he said he no longer felt "his presence". Jor-El's spirit is no longer with him. All of his actions are purely Lionel, only now he is armed with Jor-El's knowledge. That's my take anyway.

I really thought he was surprised by her accusations about the fake pregnancy...I want to see what other people's readings of that scene were, though. Maybe Lex was just fooling me with his faux sincerity?
I thought initially that Lex was just believing his own lies. However, after reading others viewpoints from

eat_crow, I think he was also startled that Lana had managed to find out about it. I'm still convinced he faked the pregnancy because of his confrontations and subsequent killing of the doctor.

MR is really awesome, though, in his ability to convey that little kernal of doubt. (And of course, bringing the sexy.:D)

I'm really, really hoping it was Lana who staged her own death, because (A) it would be cool and (B) it would be FRICKING AWESOME.I loved that we got to see J'onn J'onzz again (I squealed like a little girl when he came onscreen), and this new SV version of Bizarro we ended up with shows real promise. I *love* it when TW goes evil! I think it will make the season 7 opener a lot of fun.
Yes, yes, totally! *squees in excitement*

I don't believe he is. He may have been downloaded with Jor-El's memories, but I think he was truthful in "Zod" when he said he no longer felt "his presence". Jor-El's spirit is no longer with him. All of his actions are purely Lionel, only now he is armed with Jor-El's knowledge.

Yes, I saw that on rewatch--though I think we're still supposed to be seeing a sort of Jor-Ellian influence on Lionel, mitigating some of his natural sociopathy. I think it's supposed to be in between the possession and simple knowledge that was downloaded.

And I think I'm starting to lean toward Lex faking the pregnancy, too, after rewatching that scene.

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SV: Phantom

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3rd times the charm

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