Crimson Thoughts
So I'm still digesting "Crimson" otherwise known as the episode where every ship/character that comes between the Lana love suffers; it's gonna take me awhile. Meanwhile I'm going to focus on the intriguing.
For an episode that was heavily promoted as Clois friendly and the beginning of the legendary romance, the Cloisers got dumped on hard. I almost feel like I should go out and be extra nice to the Cloisers. Because at least in "Rush", redK!Clark was all about making out with Chloe despite Lana's physical presence. In "Crimson", the mere recollection of Lana is sufficient to send redK!Clark to the door (and towards Lana).
At very most, the Clois in "Crimson" was about Clark's actual physical attraction to EDLois. At very least, the Clois in "Crimson" was about Clark's desire for a warm body, any warm body, to fill up the void of loneliness that he's acutely feeling on Valentine's Day and as a testerone pissing match (of who is the better superhero) with an absent Ollie. It's a terrible start for their romance and the falling anvils never felt emptier. It was humilating for (and to watch) EDLois and they didn't even attempt to preserve her dignity like they did with Chloe in "Devoted".
And Brian & Kelly have written EDLois in way that I've liked and even respected in the past so the massacre is even more puzzling, especially if they expect us to take EDLois and Clois seriously.
Interesting thing to note, while Lana is obviously Clark's obsession, it is Chloe who is depicted as the significant threat to both Clana and Clois.
The Lana/Chloe scene in the Talon highlighted the fact that Chloe is and will be a major issue/obstacle between Clana. Because Chloe has Clark's trust while Clana fell apart because of Clark's inability to trust Lana.
We then get EDLois physically attacking Chloe (as a potential rival for Clark's affections). And earlier, when redK!Clark is confessing that he's previously thought about a relationship with Chloe, we then get a deliberate cut to EDLois who looks perplexed/unhappy.
Finally, at the end of "Crimson", we get Clark having to consider the fact that he wants to keep Chloe in his backpocket. And I actually think there is a (slight) difference between backpocket and second choice. Because it's been canonically shown that Chloe won't accept the position of second choice when it comes to Clark. For Chlark to occur (and I've said this before), Clark's got to make the decision that Chloe is his first choice.
So I read backpocket as being akin to Clark putting a hold on the possibility of Chlark, because he's currently more interested in seeing how things play out between him and Lana. However, subconsciously, Chloe has the reality of occupying first place in Clark's heart. So if and when Chlark happens on Smallville, it's not going to be because Clark couldn't have Lana i.e. the first choice option was taken away BUT because Clark is ready to put the dream of Lana aside (even though the choice of being with Lana exists) and to put Chloe first. (It'd be nice for Clark to be there NOW instead of still being on the Lana love train.)
Also, backpocket has a possessive, exclusive undertone to it, which is representative of how Clark has acted towards Chloe in the past. Any time, any other male shows an interest in Chloe, Clark's hackles go up. And we've never gotten the same level of repressed jealousy with Lana.
Anyways, "Crimson" put Chloe in an intriguing position as a wedge between Clana and Clois AND did a huge job of tearing apart their own Clois and EDLois=ILL anvils. In regard to Clois and EDLois, all I can say is, "Oh yeah, this couldn't be more real." (tm: redK!Clark)
On a side note, I hope the upcoming episodes go towards repairing the damage to the Clark/Jimmy friendship. And yes, Chloe is a factor in the lack of camaraderie between the boys BUT much more than that is the fact that redK!Clark acted like a complete jerk (to everyone) in "Crimson". Clark has a lot of redeeming to do so that he can earn the level of justifiable respect/awe that future!Jimmy has for future!Clark.
For an episode that was heavily promoted as Clois friendly and the beginning of the legendary romance, the Cloisers got dumped on hard. I almost feel like I should go out and be extra nice to the Cloisers. Because at least in "Rush", redK!Clark was all about making out with Chloe despite Lana's physical presence. In "Crimson", the mere recollection of Lana is sufficient to send redK!Clark to the door (and towards Lana).
At very most, the Clois in "Crimson" was about Clark's actual physical attraction to EDLois. At very least, the Clois in "Crimson" was about Clark's desire for a warm body, any warm body, to fill up the void of loneliness that he's acutely feeling on Valentine's Day and as a testerone pissing match (of who is the better superhero) with an absent Ollie. It's a terrible start for their romance and the falling anvils never felt emptier. It was humilating for (and to watch) EDLois and they didn't even attempt to preserve her dignity like they did with Chloe in "Devoted".
And Brian & Kelly have written EDLois in way that I've liked and even respected in the past so the massacre is even more puzzling, especially if they expect us to take EDLois and Clois seriously.
Interesting thing to note, while Lana is obviously Clark's obsession, it is Chloe who is depicted as the significant threat to both Clana and Clois.
The Lana/Chloe scene in the Talon highlighted the fact that Chloe is and will be a major issue/obstacle between Clana. Because Chloe has Clark's trust while Clana fell apart because of Clark's inability to trust Lana.
We then get EDLois physically attacking Chloe (as a potential rival for Clark's affections). And earlier, when redK!Clark is confessing that he's previously thought about a relationship with Chloe, we then get a deliberate cut to EDLois who looks perplexed/unhappy.
Finally, at the end of "Crimson", we get Clark having to consider the fact that he wants to keep Chloe in his backpocket. And I actually think there is a (slight) difference between backpocket and second choice. Because it's been canonically shown that Chloe won't accept the position of second choice when it comes to Clark. For Chlark to occur (and I've said this before), Clark's got to make the decision that Chloe is his first choice.
So I read backpocket as being akin to Clark putting a hold on the possibility of Chlark, because he's currently more interested in seeing how things play out between him and Lana. However, subconsciously, Chloe has the reality of occupying first place in Clark's heart. So if and when Chlark happens on Smallville, it's not going to be because Clark couldn't have Lana i.e. the first choice option was taken away BUT because Clark is ready to put the dream of Lana aside (even though the choice of being with Lana exists) and to put Chloe first. (It'd be nice for Clark to be there NOW instead of still being on the Lana love train.)
Also, backpocket has a possessive, exclusive undertone to it, which is representative of how Clark has acted towards Chloe in the past. Any time, any other male shows an interest in Chloe, Clark's hackles go up. And we've never gotten the same level of repressed jealousy with Lana.
Anyways, "Crimson" put Chloe in an intriguing position as a wedge between Clana and Clois AND did a huge job of tearing apart their own Clois and EDLois=ILL anvils. In regard to Clois and EDLois, all I can say is, "Oh yeah, this couldn't be more real." (tm: redK!Clark)
On a side note, I hope the upcoming episodes go towards repairing the damage to the Clark/Jimmy friendship. And yes, Chloe is a factor in the lack of camaraderie between the boys BUT much more than that is the fact that redK!Clark acted like a complete jerk (to everyone) in "Crimson". Clark has a lot of redeeming to do so that he can earn the level of justifiable respect/awe that future!Jimmy has for future!Clark.