Now, it appeared to me as time went on that the show had no clear plan, that it just zigzagged and meandered all over the place, paid off on very little, and copped out on a convincing reason for the Rift. Do you suppose they had something "clear" in mind and then copped out? or did things develop the way originally predicted, with Lex turning against Clark because Clark turned his back on him and baled on the friendship first and prematurely. That's sure the way it looked to me, and Lex said as much, more than once. I've said before that one thing SV succeeded in inarguably was making it clear why Lex Luthor hated Superman! and it's amazing how it made audience members who were led to sympathize strongly with Lex wound up hating him, (and his friends & family) too! It really did seem (cf. the closing scene in "Talisman") that they were headed toward a Lex-as-Antihero plot, but then, as usual, they baled.:(I'm afraid they did know from the very beginning what it was that would strengthen the rift between the two friends and that while
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Oh suck, seriously? The rift was always gonna be as pathetic as LANA? A beauitful, tragic friendship of legend, ended because of a fight over a GIRL
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I wish I still had that spot recorded. I used to have it on videotape as part of a commercial break...
Although I'm a die-hard Chlexer, I have to say I saw hints here and there from Metamorphosis onwards. With this I'm not implying Lex was madly in love with Lana in those days or that he harboured some secret plan to snatch her away from Clark or anything, but that I had a gut feeling even before seeing that spot towards the end of Season One that they'd eventually write romantic Lexana into the mix.
From Michael's comment about the friendship it does suggest that Clark betraying that friendship would be what would turn Lex aganst him. I suspect that it was always planned for Lexana to be an element in it though - and lillianschild's comment above seems to confirm it. Maybe not the main reason from the get go but it would not surprise me if that element began to be emphasied as soon as the network started demanding more Lana in the show (which started during season 1 I think?) - an easy solution for AlMiles would be to make the 'plan' the boys falling out primarily over Lana (and would also fit with their own disproportionate Lana-love
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I can't buy that Lex had his sights on Lana from the beginning. MR says in the S1 Companion that he felt a kinship with her because they both suffered major losses on the day of the meteor shower. But in S1 (in spite of the fact that I'm sure he was attracted to Alpha!Lana in "Nicodemus") he was all about getting his BF what he (thought he) wanted.
I've never thought he had his "sights" on her from Season One. There's ample proof he went out of his way to bring Clark and her together because it was a way of "paying" the boy for saving his life and also something a true friend might have done.
He also tried to be a mentor for Lana because she was special for Clark and because I believe he liked her, saw potential in her and he enjoyed challenging people.
No, he didn't have his "sights" on her but I got the vibe starting on the second episode and more than just a vibe throughout the seasons that they would end up together at some point.
I'm positive, but correct me if I'm wrong, that Clark already hated Lex by the time Lex and Lana got together. I'm sure of this. So, how was it a fight over a girl.
That's true. TPTB MADE it a fight over a girl because they were apparently in total denial about any of the Clana breakups. Even when they were apart, they, and everyone else, talked and acted like they were still a couple. Sheesh.
For me, Clark turned against Lex largely irrevocably in "Covenant," the reconciliation in "Devoted," never amounting to much. This was way before Lexana started dating. Trouble was, they kept throwing Clark back in Lex's orbit to ask for favors & stuff, which did Clark no favors and made things pretty fuzzy.
If they really wanted the guys to interact in later seasons, IMO, they should've given Mionel a genuine whirl. That would've forced the guys to keep seeing each other, to interact on occasions, and to have to face some of the issues between them.
Actually, in spite of my comments above, which seem to suggest I don't like or agree with the theories as expressed in the Companion, they do make perfect sense of a lot of crap on the show.
We have often questioned why Clark can be friends with people who do things at least as 'evil' as the stuff Lex does. Well, that's because it wasn't Lex's Evil Deeds that turned Clark against him at all. Clark IS a hypocrite. He turned against Lex because 1) being his friend was no longer worth the trouble. Lionel was certainly 'evil', but he didn't expect honesty or faithfulness from Clark. Those concepts were as much beyond Lionel's understanding as they were beyond Clark's, so... And 2) Lex 'stole' Lana from him.
I just don't ever expect the show to acknowledge any of this. The official line will always be that Clark turned against Lex because he's 'evil'.
The thing is, Lex didn't start dating Lana until AFTER the breakup of Clana 2.0. And then, Lex wasn't any more of an instigator than Lana was.
I guess it's human nature to be resentful still if your ex(es) starts dating someone else even after you break up, but I still would've expected more from Superman.
"...The thing is, Lex didn't start dating Lana until AFTER the breakup of Clana 2.0...."
I know. That's just it. And yes, as I say above, I can understand CLARK feeling resentful and hating Lex -- sort of -- because he doesn't want to admit his own culpability in the breakup. But why, oh why does the SHOW support him in this? Why doesn't anyone on the show point out Clark's hypocrisy? If a few people told Clark he was full of crap, the show wouldn't be quite so ugly. But you can't do that to Superman. It might hurt his widdle feelings and he might break your toys, and considering his super strength, he could break a lot of them. :-)))
1) Clark had his chances with Lana. Over and over he had his chances. A lot of those chances were arranged by Lex. CLARK BROKE UP WITH LANA. Right? He dumped her, and, as a free agent, she moved over to Lex. Clark had plenty of opportunities then to go to Lana and say, 'I changed my mind. I want you back.' Plenty of chances to say that before Lex asked Lana to marry him. So why is Lex evil because of his relationship with Lana? When did Lex 'steal' Lana from Clark? When did he 'play Lana until she thought she was in love with him'?I've never suggested Lex ever had a secret plan to snatch Lana away from Clark; from the very beginning he did his best to bring them together to see his friend blow it over and over again. And I agree 100% it was Clark to ruin everything and the one who broke up with her. Lex might have had a hand in bringing about that final break-up when he got Simone to seduce Clark, but I believe his intention was to give Clark his one last chance with Lana. It was Clark's choice to come clean with her or to use that
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I've been feeling particularly venomous towards Lexana lately, and I soooo did not need to read all this.:))) If I have to accept that Lexana was part of the plan from season 1, it ruins the early seasons for me completely. In fact, it destroys everything I ever found enjoyable in SV because I know I will be subconsciously looking for Lexana hints every time I'll rewatch seasons 1-3, and I think I may have to give up on this fandom altogether. To hell with it.
Thanks for the sympathy!:) My main problem is that all the negativity is destroying my Lex love. Now, don't get me wrong, I still love him and consider him the best thing about SV, but given that he's constantly called a Lana-lusting creep these days, it just makes it impossible for me to enjoy even early Lex, even though I realize it's completely ridiculous. I don't believe for a second that he lusted for Lana then, but my subconscious constantly reminds me to be on the lookout for the evidence that that fucking triangle was part of the plan since day 1. And I can't stand it! I so fucking hate Lana and Lexana, and when I am constantly told that my interpretation of the show's early seasons is wrong, and Lex's actions in early seasons are supposed to be interpreted as being motivated by his interest in that vapid sexless doll, it ruins EVERYTHING for me, even fanfic! I'm not even sure I'll be able to read Clex or Chlex anymore, that's how disgusted I am
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Although I'm a die-hard Chlexer, I have to say I saw hints here and there from Metamorphosis onwards. With this I'm not implying Lex was madly in love with Lana in those days or that he harboured some secret plan to snatch her away from Clark or anything, but that I had a gut feeling even before seeing that spot towards the end of Season One that they'd eventually write romantic Lexana into the mix.
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From Michael's comment about the friendship it does suggest that Clark betraying that friendship would be what would turn Lex aganst him. I suspect that it was always planned for Lexana to be an element in it though - and lillianschild's comment above seems to confirm it. Maybe not the main reason from the get go but it would not surprise me if that element began to be emphasied as soon as the network started demanding more Lana in the show (which started during season 1 I think?) - an easy solution for AlMiles would be to make the 'plan' the boys falling out primarily over Lana (and would also fit with their own disproportionate Lana-love ( ... )
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I've never thought he had his "sights" on her from Season One. There's ample proof he went out of his way to bring Clark and her together because it was a way of "paying" the boy for saving his life and also something a true friend might have done.
He also tried to be a mentor for Lana because she was special for Clark and because I believe he liked her, saw potential in her and he enjoyed challenging people.
No, he didn't have his "sights" on her but I got the vibe starting on the second episode and more than just a vibe throughout the seasons that they would end up together at some point.
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That's true. TPTB MADE it a fight over a girl because they were apparently in total denial about any of the Clana breakups. Even when they were apart, they, and everyone else, talked and acted like they were still a couple. Sheesh.
For me, Clark turned against Lex largely irrevocably in "Covenant," the reconciliation in "Devoted," never amounting to much. This was way before Lexana started dating. Trouble was, they kept throwing Clark back in Lex's orbit to ask for favors & stuff, which did Clark no favors and made things pretty fuzzy.
If they really wanted the guys to interact in later seasons, IMO, they should've given Mionel a genuine whirl. That would've forced the guys to keep seeing each other, to interact on occasions, and to have to face some of the issues between them.
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We have often questioned why Clark can be friends with people who do things at least as 'evil' as the stuff Lex does. Well, that's because it wasn't Lex's Evil Deeds that turned Clark against him at all. Clark IS a hypocrite. He turned against Lex because 1) being his friend was no longer worth the trouble. Lionel was certainly 'evil', but he didn't expect honesty or faithfulness from Clark. Those concepts were as much beyond Lionel's understanding as they were beyond Clark's, so... And 2) Lex 'stole' Lana from him.
I just don't ever expect the show to acknowledge any of this. The official line will always be that Clark turned against Lex because he's 'evil'.
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I guess it's human nature to be resentful still if your ex(es) starts dating someone else even after you break up, but I still would've expected more from Superman.
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I know. That's just it. And yes, as I say above, I can understand CLARK feeling resentful and hating Lex -- sort of -- because he doesn't want to admit his own culpability in the breakup. But why, oh why does the SHOW support him in this? Why doesn't anyone on the show point out Clark's hypocrisy? If a few people told Clark he was full of crap, the show wouldn't be quite so ugly. But you can't do that to Superman. It might hurt his widdle feelings and he might break your toys, and considering his super strength, he could break a lot of them. :-)))
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