(S07E16) Smallville returns from its hiatus with a death that was extremely predictable (particularly given the spoilers available throughout the Internet). I'm trying not to spoil it for anybody who hasn't watched yet so I'm saving the reveal until after the jump. It's surprising that they didn't even wait for the opening credits for that particular reveal.At this juncture, I think it's safe to say that the character permanently died. No alternate timelines. No Kryptonite-fueled resurrections. No clones. No imaginary stories. Mind you, in the Smallville universe, it wouldn't surprise me if this or any death was only temporary (such as with Buffy before it).
Lionel Luthor is dead. He was killed by Lex in order for his baldness to obtain the second key to open some sort of lock in Zurich. Evidently, whatever is in Zurich can control Clark (or, as Veritas calls him, The Traveler). Here's another interpretation of the murder: Lionel was more interested in Clark than his own son and Lex killed him for it.
It's surprising that Lex waited this long to do it. He's had more convoluted father issues than most others I've seen on television. It's also surprised he even felt bad about it afterwards.
This episode was a slaughter-fest of violence. It started with Lionel, went to the attempted murder of Lois and the assault on Chloe (who tends to be attacked almost every episode anyway), then to Gina's murder (presumably by Lex to cover his tracks), and ended with the murder of "Little Lex." Even Isis was destroyed via computer virus. With the murder of his "good side," Lex is now free to be completely evil with no conscience whatsoever.
Anybody else catch the placement of Nietzsche's "Beyond Good and Evil" in front of Lionel's message to Clark? Yeah, I figured you did.
Lex's young self has appeared in three episodes this season. That's pretty good mileage out of an imaginary character (okay, they're all imaginary, but you get the idea).
The absence of Lana was felt strongly. It was almost as if Lex had to pick up the slack with the whining.
Gina's affection for Lex was pretty obvious, and since this is Smallville, when she learned Clark's secret I knew her life expectancy was on an egg timer. Her character reminded me a bit of the character of Lex's bodyguard Mercy from the comic books and cartoons. Was her interest in Lex was romantic or maternal? Due to the nature of the show, it's probably the former.
Another motif taken from the comics is Lex's blindness to the truth about Clark. In that case, he doesn't believe that a person that powerful would hide the fact. The line Lex used towards Lionel "No one will even remember your name" was kind of ironic. In the comics, Lionel has never even been mentioned until recently (when he was incorporated into continuity in yet another revamp).
Since Chloe has been fired, perhaps she'll get another job in programming or computer security (or maybe even simply Photoshop skills)? They pay better and she obviously has the ability. Why did she keep personal stuff in the office when she knew she had an evil boss?
There are other questions involving the usual Smallville logic. When someone goes from cold to heat too quickly, they usually feel some sort of shock. Why didn't Lois and Jimmy? Why does Lex have such a good camera system to pick up his father's falling body but still uses CRT monitors at the Daily Planet?
I knew Superman was secretly Jewish (well, his creators were anyway). In Judaism, you bury your own like Clark started to do at the end with Lionel's casket.
The episode started strong with the death of Lionel then faded rather quickly. It was as if the writers were trying to compensate for the lack of budget on this episode. Very few characters appeared. Lionel had one of the worst-attended funerals of any billionaire I've ever known (although for television billionaires perhaps that sort of attendance is standard). The dialogue of this episode was so wooden that George Lucas could have written it. This was exemplified by Chloe's line after they realize that Lex killed his father: "Some say that's the definition of evil." While a great deal happened in this episode to move this along, the road to get there wasn't terribly impressive.
Obviously, a lot of this season has to be something of a wrap-up for Lex's character since Michael Rosenbaum will only be a part-timer next season. Next week: Lex visits the Fortress.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
4-17-2008 @ 10:54PM
Patrick said...
I couldn't help but to notice the symbolism when... Lex went over to "The Dark Side" by tossing his 'Red-headed Mini Me' into the fire and... the exact moment when Anakin Skywalker put on the 'breathy' mask and turned into Darth Vader in "Star Wars 3: Revenge of the Sith".
OMGawd. I just made two Star Wars and and one Austin Powers references while commenting on a blog about "Smallville". I am such a Geek!
Nerd Alert!
That does it... next week I'm going to actually meet a girl and move out of my Mom's basement!
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4-17-2008 @ 11:14PM
Sean said...
Is Lex really going to appear next season? I was under the impression that one of the first things Rosenbaum was going to do once he quit was grow his hair back out again, which would be something of a hurdle in any future appearances as Lex.
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4-17-2008 @ 11:46PM
Adam said...
No one was at the funeral because as Chloe said "Lex closed the funeral to any and all guests. No one is invited by Lex himself."
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4-17-2008 @ 11:49PM
JW said...
I hate cliffhangers! I can't wait for next week! Who was that, that killed Gina? Was it a part of LuthorCorp? I should know since I watch it, but I didn't see that guy anywhere else in the episode.
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4-18-2008 @ 12:44AM
0megapart!cle said...
Am I the only one that was particularly impressed by this episode? Mind you, that is based on the scale of quality that this show has defined over the years, but still, I thought most of Rosenbaum's performance was awesome.
Combine that with the fantastic Eli Stone finale tonight, and I'm on Cloud Nine!!
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4-18-2008 @ 1:04AM
Rodney said...
You're really overthinking some of this.
1) I think it was Jimmy's camera that picked up the falling body, not Lex's security camera. It was coincidence, as usual.
2) Throwing dirt over the casket is a common occurrence at Christian funerals as well.
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4-18-2008 @ 9:01AM
John said...
I really wish you hadn't spoiled next's week episode for me so casually. Is that a common practice on TV Squad?
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4-18-2008 @ 6:28AM
eugene said...
What spoiler do you speak of?
4-18-2008 @ 9:06AM
John said...
This one: "Next week: Lex visits the Fortress."
4-18-2008 @ 9:22AM
Brian said...
How is it spoiling anything? It was in next week's preview that played during the end credits...
You'd have to try pretty hard to avoid all episode previews. I mean, they do appear throughout the week if you watch The CW more than once a week.
4-18-2008 @ 10:39AM
John said...
Yah I don't watch the CW and I make it a point to avoid previews... oh well.
I've noticed that TV Sqaud has a fairly casual approach to potential spoilers; I saw some commenters on a post about The Wire get flamed by the author of a post because they complained about what they felt was a spoiler.
4-18-2008 @ 5:46AM
Chris said...
Lex didn't have Gina killed. She said she knew who the traveler was,
but never got to tell him thanks to that guy (Who I think was Eric Roberts). This
is an independent person it would appear.
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4-18-2008 @ 6:47AM
mj said...
Dropping dirt into a grave is common with other religions. I don't think Lex had Gina killed. I will miss Lionel. I liked him. If the powers that be would be smart, Chloe would go to work for Oliver, as Watchtower, and a wonderful spinoff with Ollie and gang would happen. Bringing Bruce in, even a little Clark, (very little), and Kara. THAT would be an awesome show. And NO LANA.
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4-18-2008 @ 9:59AM
hugeliver said...
Ummmm..how is Lex oblivious to Lana's condition??
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4-18-2008 @ 8:52AM
rashayne said...
Lex Is Awesome
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4-18-2008 @ 9:13AM
Xyon said...
Could have been just bad timing on Lex's part - like most things in hiis life (comics or television) and he already had things in motion before she found out about Clark's secret. She had JUST left the voice mail when she snuffed out. It makes since to me, Lex knew that she knew he killed Lionel, he was done with her services since he had the second key, and she was poising her self to share power with Lex. She knew too much and he knew it. I was just hoping it would show him listening to her message.
I did like Chloe's statement to Clark that all the people who have died to protect Clark had died for everybody - not just him. They are making him too guilt ridden for too long. Just because Lana is not there doesn't mean they can't find someone to whine. That is a big weakness of the show.
Overall, I did like last night's episode and while I can see the reviewer's points on some level, I think they were a bit harsh on the critique. Remember, this is Smallville we are talking about - you gotta give as much as you take.
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4-18-2008 @ 9:52AM
Bill said...
They've written Lex as a moron. Within minutes of each other, he asks these questions (paraphrased):
1. Gee dad, you went to Smallville in search of a mysterious and powerful traveller the day of the meteor shower, who is it?
2. How come you spend so much time with that kid from Smallville? You know, that one that I was so convinced had super powers that I had a secret room in my house filled with evidence for my theory?
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4-19-2008 @ 3:01PM
Mel said...
I agree 100% Bill, Lex REALLY would have put 2 and 2 together by now.
Of course Lex had Gina killed....she left that message for him after he ordered the hit.
Clark is really casual about Lana being all comatose.
4-18-2008 @ 11:13AM
John said...
This episode really ties up many threads across all seven seasons of Smallville. You really have to be a fan to appreciate the episode. It's interesting to read your review, because it makes it clear that without that sort of background in Smallville... the episode doesn't draw you in as much.
TV.com has Descent ranked as the #1 Smallville Episode of all time:
http://www.tv.com/smallville/show/1718/top.html?tag=subtabs;top
TV.com episode ratings tend to drop a bit over time, but it's still an amazing accomplishment.
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4-18-2008 @ 4:20PM
ac said...
This was the best episode of the season and one of the best of the series. Gina was either killed by the government or someone who is linked to the now dead Lionel. Perhaps one of the Veritas members is indeed still alive.
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