Red!Clark musings

[fajrdrako]

Having read a whole bunch of red!Clark slash stories in the last few days, I've come to the conclusion that I don't like them nearly as much as stories about our regular Clark.

This despite the fact that Clark on red K in the show is very, very sexy, especially but not exclusively in "Rush". And in "Red", that look Lex gives him, toe to head, when he sees him in the good suit - oh, yes! Not to mention Clark at the end of "Exodus", all pain-filled and determined.

But I've yet to see a story that really studied the ramifications of what/who red!Clark is. Is it Clark without his regular inhibitions? I don't think so. Is it Clark's inner desires being unleashed? To some extent, but that can't be the whole story. A sort of AU personality? If so, where did it come from? This has never been fully explained on the show and the fan writers don't delve into it either. They see an assertive, tough, aggressive, conscience-free Clark, and go for it.

Somehow in my mind this translates to an artificial character: I feel as if I'm not really reading about Clark. I won't go so far as to say it feels as if Lex is with someone else (which, incidentally, is fine) - but that it doesn't fill the same niche in my psyche as Lex with Clark, but doesn't develop like Lex with another lover either.

I love Clark's innocence, the way he is always learning and assessing and trying to figure our what is right. This disappears when red!Clark comes along. Yes, yes, that's the whole point.

But with red!Clark, there isn't enough of a contrast with Lex.

Of course I'm going to read every red!Clark story I can find. Maybe someday I'll find one that hits my buttons the way other examples of good CLex do.

The funny thing is, I love it on the show when Clark gets aggressive without the influence of red Kryptonite. Examples: his showdown with Phelan, or his fight with the drunken bullies in "Witness". But that's Clark in a temper, quite a different thing, with different ramifications. I'd like to see that developed more, both in the show and in slashfic.

Comments

[acampbell.livejournal.com]

Of course I'm going to read every red!Clark story I can find

Are you keeping a list of these?

But that's Clark in a temper, quite a different thing, with different ramifications. I'd like to see that developed more, both in the show and in slashfic.

In my early writing in this fandom, when I did the longer, more serious fics, I used to make a deliberate effort to make Clark lose his temper at least once in every story, to give him an edge. I think sometimes he can seem too "good," therefore, also, the attraction of Red!Clark.

I like Red!Clark stories in which Lex seems a bit afraid of him, too.

I don't like them nearly as much as stories about our regular Clark.

I agree. They're nice for a contrast, or a change of pace.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

No, I haven't made a list. I am not nearly that organized!

Yes, an angry Clark is good for both character exploration and to keep him from being in the same tone too much.

And Lex should be afraid of red!Clark, as should Pete and the Kents. He's very powerful and uncontrollable except by green Kryptonite.

A change of pace is always nice. We need more of that.