Smallville thoughts sparked by latxcvi....

[fajrdrako]

I really enjoyed what latxcvi has to say about Smallville in her LJ here.

Among other things, she says: "at the end of the day, if you asked me why I signed up in the first place and what it is that keeps me coming back, it's the stories of Clark and Lex becoming." So I thought about that, and I thought: that's not true for me. It ought to be true, but what I love is Clark and Lex being, not the becoming.

It isn't a matter of quality. adamlizz and I were discussing that the other day: while I agree that there are badly-written episodes of Smallville and some appalling bits, there are also some wonderful episodes and superb bits - superb on several levels. And while it may be imperfect, it's the only thing on TV these days that is holding my attention - and earning my love.

See, I never liked Superman or Lex Luthor. I read Superman and loved it when I was about 9 or ten years old; and Adventure Comics featuring Superboy was my favourite series. But then I discovered Marvel comics (with Fantastic Four #4 and that was that. I read no DC at all for a few decades, until someone pointed out to me what good stories I'd missed, especially in various incarnations of Batman. Englehart and Rogers. O'Neill and Adams. I'd missed all that.

I even read some magnificent Superman stories, like the Paul Chadwick one about the man trying to kill himself at Christmas, and Alan Moore's retrospective that happened just before Crisis. Then I got heavily into Legion of Super-Heroes and loved Kal-El, though the era in which I was a Legion fan coincided with the era where Superboy didn't exist. Go figure. I still love that story, though, where Ultra Boy went to Smallville and thought Pete Ross was Superboy.

Years went by and I still didn't like Superman: a character too good to be anything but dull, too American, too easy, too untroubled, too simple of mind and morality. Lex Luthor didn't even register on my interest-scale. The world of comics held the likes of Magneto. Why bother with Lex Luthor? I saw a couple of Superman movies, I saw a few episodes of Lois and Clark and the show on Superboy where I really thought the kid playing Clark was cute and remember nothing else. I still didn't like Superman and once had an interesting conversation with Mike Carlin on the subject of why: essentially, I was annoyed by the hypocrisy of his standing for 'truth' and yet lying to everyone he knew about who he was, preventing any kind of intimacy or trust from building in his life.

Now: Smallville. There is so much I love about the show, and various things I hate, because they conflict with the things I love. I love many of the characters: Clark, Lex, Lionel, Chloe, Martha, Jonathan. I love some of the stories very much indeed. And I loved the first season relationship between Clark and Lex. I loved the Clex. I loved the sense of personal teasing, the ties between them.

But this isn't the Clark Kent (or Superman or Kal-El) that I had always known, and it's not the same Lex Luthor. Not by a long shot. It's something new.

That's where I have a quandary.... No, not even a quandary, because it isn't a choice. It's a paradox, a cognitive dissonance that I don't know what to do with. See, what they are becoming, what they are going to become, is presumably the Man of Steel and his arch-nemesis. And much as I may be enjoying the ride now, I live in horror of Lex being less sexy, less smart, less mesmerizing. I live in horror of Clark resolving his internal conflicts in a way I don't want.

I live in fear of the breach.

It's a show that I know will betray my love.

I'm not sure what to do about that, except to enjoy the ride as long as I can, and write fic that shapes the themes to my taste, and read fic that does the same.

I don't want the innocent farmboy to grow up. I want Clark to be beautiful and fresh, and I want Lex to be charming and way too clever for his own good. I don't want the troubled millionaire to go to the bad. I want the love between them to flourish, not to grow into hate.

I know I will ultimately be out of luck. I'm hoping it all happens in an interesting way, not like the Lex-Helen romance (which I thought appalling in its effect on Lex) but like a journey with twists and turns and psychological twists.

For the time being, I can only quote

[Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<ljuser="latxcvi">') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.]

I really enjoyed what <lj site="livejournal.com" user="latxcvi"> has to say about Smallville in her LJ <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/users/latxcvi/115387.html">here</a>.

Among other things, she says: "at the end of the day, if you asked me why I signed up in the first place and what it is that keeps me coming back, it's the stories of Clark and Lex becoming." So I thought about that, and I thought: that's not true for me. It ought to be true, but what I love is Clark and Lex <i>being</i>, not the becoming.

It isn't a matter of quality. <lj site="livejournal.com" user="adamlizz"> and I were discussing that the other day: while I agree that there are badly-written episodes of <i>Smallville</i> and some appalling bits, there are also some wonderful episodes and superb bits - superb on several levels. And while it may be imperfect, it's the only thing on TV these days that is holding my attention - and earning my love.

See, I never liked Superman or Lex Luthor. I read <i>Superman</i> and loved it when I was about 9 or ten years old; and <i>Adventure Comics featuring Superboy</i> was my favourite series. But then I discovered Marvel comics (with <i>Fantastic Four</i> #4 and that was that. I read no DC at all for a few decades, until someone pointed out to me what good stories I'd missed, especially in various incarnations of <i>Batman</i>. Englehart and Rogers. O'Neill and Adams. I'd missed all that.

I even read some magnificent Superman stories, like the Paul Chadwick one about the man trying to kill himself at Christmas, and Alan Moore's retrospective that happened just before <i>Crisis</i>. Then I got heavily into <i>Legion of Super-Heroes</i> and loved Kal-El, though the era in which I was a Legion fan coincided with the era where Superboy didn't exist. Go figure. I still love that story, though, where Ultra Boy went to Smallville and thought Pete Ross was Superboy.

Years went by and I still didn't like Superman: a character too good to be anything but dull, too American, too easy, too untroubled, too simple of mind and morality. Lex Luthor didn't even register on my interest-scale. The world of comics held the likes of Magneto. Why bother with Lex Luthor? I saw a couple of Superman movies, I saw a few episodes of <i>Lois and Clark</i> and the show on <i>Superboy</i> where I really thought the kid playing Clark was cute and remember nothing else. I still didn't like Superman and once had an interesting conversation with Mike Carlin on the subject of why: essentially, I was annoyed by the hypocrisy of his standing for 'truth' and yet lying to everyone he knew about who he was, preventing any kind of intimacy or trust from building in his life.

Now: <i>Smallville</i>. There is so much I love about the show, and various things I hate, because they conflict with the things I love. I love many of the characters: Clark, Lex, Lionel, Chloe, Martha, Jonathan. I love some of the stories very much indeed. And I loved the first season relationship between Clark and Lex. I loved the Clex. I loved the sense of personal teasing, the ties between them.

But this isn't the Clark Kent (or Superman or Kal-El) that I had always known, and it's not the same Lex Luthor. Not by a long shot. It's something new.

That's where I have a quandary.... No, not even a quandary, because it isn't a choice. It's a paradox, a cognitive dissonance that I don't know what to do with. See, what they are <i>becoming</i>, what they are going to become, is presumably the Man of Steel and his arch-nemesis. And much as I may be enjoying the ride now, I live in horror of Lex being less sexy, less smart, less mesmerizing. I live in horror of Clark resolving his internal conflicts in a way I don't want.

I live in fear of the breach.

It's a show that I know will betray my love.

I'm not sure what to do about that, except to enjoy the ride as long as I can, and write fic that shapes the themes to my taste, and read fic that does the same.

I don't want the innocent farmboy to grow up. I want Clark to be beautiful and fresh, and I want Lex to be charming and way too clever for his own good. I don't want the troubled millionaire to go to the bad. I want the love between them to flourish, not to grow into hate.

I know I will ultimately be out of luck. I'm hoping it all happens in an interesting way, not like the Lex-Helen romance (which I thought appalling in its effect on Lex) but like a journey with twists and turns and psychological twists.

For the time being, I can only quote <ljuser="latxcvi">: <i>I still love it, though. Perhaps unreasonably, but there you have it.</i>

Comments

[katkim.livejournal.com]

Great post!

I started watching the show to see the 'becoming', the journey of how they become who they become. But like you, I've fallen in love with the 'being'. The characters and how they interact are by far the best thing about the show.

The journey to Superman and his arch-nemesis Luthor has fallen by the way-side for me. Maybe because I can't see the story-arc, so far it's been too piece-meal for me to make any sense of it. Or the fact that I don't agree with the path TPTB seem to be choosing - fear and guilt - because *my* Superman does what he does because it's right. The darker motivations are best left to the Bat, because Superman is suppose to be about good and light (corny and cold it may be, but that's what he is, what he stands for). Or the fact that Lex seems to be pushed to to do ill by circumstances and people, when I think he's stronger than that. Or maybe it's because I can't see this 'human' Clark becoming the Man of Steel, or this wonderful empathic Lex being the man who doesn't care, and I just can't reconcile the images. Maybe it's partly because I don't want *this* Clark to be that Man of Steel or Lex to be the evil man he's suppose to become. *Firmly in denial*

SV has certainly changed the way I look at Lex. Can I see him as the villain again? Probably not, this incarnation is etched in my mind now and it's coloured how I see him from now on.

But you know, I suspect that the TPTB didn't realise how wonderful their version of Lex would be, or how MR has taken the role and made him so sympathetic. Part of the reason I've grown to feel for Lex is due to his wonderful acting, I'm sure of it. So Lex seems to have occurred by chance and accident. And I'm not sure TPTB know what to do with him now, because he's the most fascinating and most loved character on the show. They'd have to tread carefully with him and his path.

But *nods* I hope the rift happens off screen. It will hurt too much to watch.

[acampbell.livejournal.com]

I suspect that the TPTB didn't realise how wonderful their version of Lex would be, or how MR has taken the role and made him so sympathetic

Isn't it scary to think that MR was rejected for the role on his first tryout? Who else could possibly have done it?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Isn't it scary to think that MR was rejected for the role on his first tryout?

I'm pretty sure that if they had cast anyone else, I would not be watching the show, or writing about it, or obsessing over it so happily. I fell in love with a lot more than Lex - characters, themes, situation, semiotics - but it was Lex who riveted my attention and made it happen.

No one, *no one* else, could have done that.

[katkim.livejournal.com]

Coming from a CLark fan, I think MR is their best casting. His face is so expressive. I don't agree with fannon when they say his face is a mask, as MR flickers thousands of emotions across his face, which makes Lex - Lex. I can't see anyone else in the role who would be as good. Certainly not from his contemporaries on TV at the moment.

Although, I think SV, with the few exceptions have a great cast on the whole. AM, JS, JG, AoT and TW are spot on. I just wish they knew what TPTB knew what to do with them, in the short and long term story arcs, rather than the contradictory and incomplete (brushed aside) storylines they have now.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I agree about Michael Rosenbaum of course, though I am also mad over John Glover, who so perfectly fits the role of the dangerous and compelling Lionel.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

don't agree with the path TPTB seem to be choosing - fear and guilt - because *my* Superman does what he does because it's right.

I feel that way too, which is where we get into the 'becoming' business. I like the way morality isn't easy for Clark, the way honesty and secrecy are at odds in his psyche.

I can see Lex as a villain, but I don't want to. I don't want to to such an extent that I don't know if I can stand it. But... maybe, if they do it right, in a situation where I'm not sure 'during it right' exists. Except that Michael Rosenbaum can make me believe anything, understand anything, accept anything.

I suspect that the TPTB didn't realise how wonderful their version of Lex would be.

Yes. It's a sort of double-edged sword. He's so wonderful we love him; for all the right reasons. And I'm not sure that, objectively speaking, Lex Luthor should be so loveable. To my eyes or to Clark's eyes.

But he is, so that's the reality we have to deal with.

The darker motivations are best left to the Bat.

I agree, and this is one of the reasons I have always loved Bruce Wayne. Troubled, determined, sacrificing everything in life for a dark ideal.

I'm not sure TPTB know what to do with him now, because he's the most fascinating and most loved character on the show.

By me, certainly! Yes, to some extent they're in a corner: to make him loveable and hateable at the same time is more or less impossible. So they're on a tightrope. He isn't even a villain we love to hate. He's an ambiguous hero and we ache for his troubles.

[katkim.livejournal.com]

I like the way morality isn't easy for Clark, the way honesty and secrecy are at odds in his psyche.

It's true, this is what makes this incarnation of Clark interesting. It challenges the traditional view of Superman/Clark Kent knowing what is right. I think SV Clark is more in line with DC Kal-El than DC Superman and Clark Kent. I think this makes him more accessible. But I really don't want SV Clark to become Superman because he failed to save someone or because he feels it's his duty. That doesn't sound like 'truth and justice' to me.

I can see Lex as a villain, but I don't want to. But... maybe, if they do it right, in a situation where I'm not sure 'during it right' exists.

There was a discussion in the past where it was debated whether Lex would actually need to 'become' anything to become a villain. It was argued that Lex would just stay the same person, but be faced with different circumstances. We've seen him lie, threaten, blackmail and kill, traits of a 'villain' already there. The only difference the might occur is the context and justification, and has to live with the consequences.

I agree with ryui, exploring the emotional aftermath would make a difference. Emotions reveal so much about the character, but since we don't get to see it, we're cheated. Are we to assume SV Lex felt nothing after shooting Nixon, or hearing that Amanda committed suicide after he left her? Or does it weigh heavily? Either way will define him and take him a step closer or father away from DC Comic Lex.

And I'm not sure that, objectively speaking, Lex Luthor should be so loveable. To my eyes or to Clark's eyes.

No, this is true. TPTB have backed themselves into a corner. It seems that Lex is love much to much. It's impossible to keep him 'good' as Superman needs his future arch-nemesis. But making him 'evil' will alienate so many viewers, unless it's handled spectacularly well. It has to be believable and acceptable for the viewer. Nothing less for beloved Lex *g*

Although saying that 'arch-nemesis' are traditionally tragic-heroes. Not only in comics, but in classical literature. Think the Thomas Hardy's Mayor to Casterbridge, or even Angelo in Measure for Measure. There's hope!

[acampbell.livejournal.com]

I loved all the Supes comics, the characters in the comics, AND I love them on the show. I'm a firm believer in the inevitability of the rift, but I'm hoping the guys will continue to love each other as much as they hate each other, throughout.

That would make it work for me.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I don't know what could, or would, or will make it work for me. If anything can make me like it, it's the acting of Michael Rosenbaum. We shall see.

I like aspects of Superman, piecemeal. I used to say I liked Kal-El but not Clark Kent or Superman - in other words, the man behind the metaphorical mask. That is no longer true; in the world of Smallville, the name Kal-El has other connotations and Clark Kent is the whole person.

If they continue to love each other (with or without the hate) I will be happy, but I fear to hope for that.

You've certainly made it farther than me

[ryui.livejournal.com]

Frankly, I watched only two episodes of the second season. Smallville captured my attention the second time (the first episode I saw was with the fire starting coach and I was horrified by its overwhelming crap factor) I saw it, but it was for...potential. Their characterization of Clark was interesting, I liked him. And Lex, of course, was the fascinating cornerstone of the whole show..he was the interesting one, the dark one, the one I came back for. But for me, even MR couldn't carry a show with so much shoddy writing overshadowing the wonderful bits, or the horrible characterization of beloved members of Superman/boy canon (intrepid busy body Lana Lang turns into a whiny princess? Honest and good Jonathon Kent into a short sighted pain in the ass?). Every time they write something great (like Zero, for example), they would write two somethings horrible (the bee story, or the aforementioned fire episode). I watched the show for it's *potential* to be good, thinking that the producers would, at some point, recognize what they had and really do something with it. I was sorely disappointed when they didn't.

Sometimes, though, I pop in the pilot DVD, and I see those first wonderful moments with Clark and Lex, and I think, "Wow. They had something."

They also seemed overly caught up in "canon" Lex of current DC storylines (this actually being the part of my rambling that's related to your post) and shoving MR's Lex, who was so layered and interesting, into becoming "evil" far sooner than they should. And when he did do something that was both disturbing and heroic-shooting someone who's trying to kill your best friend's father-there was no emotional aftermath. There was...nothing. A bit of whining from Jonathon, and that's it. The end. Why write such a wonderful character, and then never explore his emotions?

.....This is way too long. Sorry. I'll just flutter off now. I really do keep *meaning* to catch up during reruns...but I'm at work, and I can't work up the interest to set the VCR...

Re: You've certainly made it farther than me

[acampbell.livejournal.com]

Wow, well said. I mind the lack of "emotional aftermath," too, in addition to lack of attention to continuity and failure to realize potential. I'm still watching, though, hoping, and harvesting what I can. Fanfic and the online companionship really help.

Re: You've certainly made it farther than me

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I mind the lack of "emotional aftermath," too, in addition to lack of attention to continuity....

I don't mind these things because I find my mind can fill in these gaps quite nicely - though emotional continuity can be a problem. Failure to follow through on potential is another problem, but only a partial problem, because sometimes they do follow though.

I'm still watching, though, hoping, and harvesting what I can.

Yup, me too! And I still love Clark and Lex, still feel a warm love for most episodes - just some fear for the future mixed in with it.

Re: You've certainly made it farther than me

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Too long? Nonsense. Interesting points, all! I agree with many of your points but I was and am more than enough in love with the show to overlook some aspects I don't like - and to like some aspects you didn't, like the episode "Hothead", the way Jonathan Kent is a shortsighted pain in the ass, and so on. I do wish Lana was more tolerable, and like you, I would like to see more emotional follow-through on plot points, though it's a common failing of TV shows and comics to fail to do this. Unfortunately. Particularly Lex's killing of Nixon, which was left - enigmatic. How did he feel about it? It would have been good to see him discuss the issue with Clark, for example.

But on the whole, the things that really bother me about this show are not the things bothering other people. I agree about being caught up in comic-book-canon Lex too much, when the character was not originally much like comic-book-Lex at all.

Is that Brainiac 5 (Querl Dox) in your icon? Gorgeous!

Re: You've certainly made it farther than me

[ryui.livejournal.com]

Why, yes. Yes, it is. Not the right era for me (this one *points* is from my era) but I like it. Any Brainiac 5 makes me pretty happy, even the current snotty brat version.

I was wondering if there had been followup on the Nixon shooting and I'd just missed it...but apparently not. But it's not just Lex...I would have liked to see Clark and Jonathon's reaction, maybe even Martha's. I've a great deal of affection for Martha. Instead..nothing. I think that's the one point that turned me off to the show. Like you, I could overlook the other things because of the wonderful moments...but that was just too much. No one reacted to this?!

Re: You've certainly made it farther than me

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I must be losing my touch: I can't identify the artist in your icon. At one time I could recognize every Legion artist at a glance! I'd have guessed it was George Perez, but I don't think he ever drew the Legion. Hmm.

I too adore Brainiac 5 - but sometimes more than others, and less when he's the snotty brat.

Yes, I wonder what Martha did feel when Lex shot Nixon? Gratitude? Fear? And Clark's own reaction - that should be central, shouldn't it? Lex killed someone for his sake.

Ah well, it's all story fodder.

Re: You've certainly made it farther than me

[ryui.livejournal.com]

Mike Grell, 1975, if I recall correctly. The early Superboy & era, which is the Brainiac 5 I'm addicted to, when Grell was redesigning the look of the Legion.

I do believe I'm a geek. Hmm.

Stories. Hmm. I think I'll go read some. The show may have irked me, but the fanficcers (as long as they don't over stylize) still make me happy >:^} It's been a while since I read any...@_@ I'll have to do a lot of searching to find the really good ones.

That was always Smallville's strongest strength, to me. Not the producers, but the community, the fanficcers, the people who saw the flaws in the show and deftly stepped in and turned those flaws almost into a good thing, because it allowed for different interpretations and discussions for all those plot holes. It's a free market for ideas, and that's definitely a good thing.

Re: You've certainly made it farther than me

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Mike Grell! Of course! I read and greatly enjoyed his Legion issues, though the era I know best was the Keith Giffen and Tom & Mary Bierbaum era. In any era (from Adventure comics onward) Brainiac 5 was my favourite character, though I also loved Saturn Girl, Superboy and Supergirl.

There's nothing wrong with being a geek, I truly believe. We are the privileged, the elite, the people who truly understand.

There are some good Smallvile recommendation lists; I have two at http://members.rogers.com/fajrdrako/svrecs1.html and http://members.rogers.com/fajrdrako/svrecs2.html. And there are many good Smallville writers. I am often astounded at the quality of writing I see.

A agree about the flaws: sometimes you get better fic with a fandom where there are gaps in the story, unexplained bits, anomalous bits, and motivations that need explaining.

[jkluge.livejournal.com]

This is why I could never get into SV, just like I have no interest in the current batch of SWars movies -- uh, hello, we already know what happens in the end . . . and it ain't good. I can't see investing my time and my emotions into characters that I know will ultimately fail tragically or whose relationship will be destroyed. (Mind you, not that there'd be much emotional investment in Anakin Skywalker, if the previews for the second movie and people's reports on the first were anything to go by. But still. As my friend Marcia likes to say (and she dreams of saying it in the theater to all the mundanes who can't remember Empire or ROTJ), "Anakin Skywalker -- Darth Vader -- 'I am your father' -- is any of this ringing a bell here, people?" ::g::)

But, you know, that's just me.

I loved Lois and Clark, particularly during its first season; that's sort of become my Superman lexicon, as it were, which (since I'm not a big Superman fan, either) is another reason why I wasn't interested in SV. I read more Supergirl than Superman comics as a kid -- that probably says something right there. ::g:: Never was much of a comic book reader.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Comic books have always been my thing - and I was mightily in love with Supergirl, maybe still am, though I don't know or understand the current incarnations of the character.

I think you've pinpointed something in the Smallville situation for me - I never accepted the DC comics fanon outcome of the Clark-Lex relationship, so I am bothered when the show seems to gravitate towards it, while in so many ways it's an AU so very different from comics continuity that any exact reflection is impossible. In my mind, Lex is good, and will continue to love Clark and be loved by him, and that cannot change.

[jkluge.livejournal.com]

I really hope it will go that way, but I agree with you that it most likely won't. :-( Poor dear. I know how heartbreaking that can be. Fans, thank God, are so good, though, at altering "reality" (or "eventualities") -- I'll hope for some incomparably good AU's for you!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you fo the though! You know, in other fandoms I am more accepting of AUs, but in Smallville I like Smallville canon and stories that stick close to it. It may be that I see departures from TV canon as being approaches to comic book canon - so that ironically, if and when the TV canon comes closer to comic book canon, I'll be wanting Smallville AUs that are more like first season canon.

Which is there is my head as a place to write from, anyway.

[ryui.livejournal.com]

The producers seemed to put a great deal of effort into making their own canon (no flight, no tights, and all that). This certainly isn't the old, now dead Superboy (who was childhood friends with Lex until Lex blasted his hair off), and it's certainly not current DC canon where Clark and Lex meet as adults. Smallville is its own universe, and they've emphasized that in their complete recharacterization of key characters (Lana, Jonathon, intro of the wonderful Lionel)...so why are they so obsessed with the "evil Lex" outcome and current DC comic canon? If they're so interested in creating their own canon, why tie themselves to another? It's not as if the Superman legend has gone through about a dozen distinct versions. They should get a backbone and take on the future all by themselves, without alternate canon to push them along.

[ryui.livejournal.com]

that should be "It's not as if the Superman legend hasn't gone through about a dozen distinct versions." Nice double negative makes that make sense.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

A dozen versions is a *conservative* estimate. So true! I'm not sure there is a real "DC SUperman" canon any more, it's been changed so often.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Smallville is its own universe

Absolutely, and no reason Lex couldn't remain an ambiguous but heroic figure.

I wish they would take this approach. I just wish.

[theatlien.livejournal.com]

Oh, I understand completely. I watch Superman when I was 8 or 9 (I saw it on cable with a group of friends). I fell in love with Christopher Reeve and hated Gene Hackman. After they killed off Lex on L & C, I stopped watching that show. But Smallville...Smallville grabs me. This Lex has me wrapped around his finger and this Clark is, was beautiful and innocent. *sniff* I miss Season 1.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I hated Gene Hackman too! (Not just in Superman, in everything. Never did understand his popularity.)

This Lex has me wrapped around his finger

Oh, yes, me too, and I love it.