Commentary with a Co-ed: Lex Luthor's descent

by Ashley Gouveia

Toto, I don’t think we’re in Smallville anymore.

Wow! Intense is one word to describe last night’s mind-blowing episode. It left me with the impression that the series has shifted in a new direction. Lex Luthor has become the full on baddie that we all know from comic book lore. It took one final push (bad choice of words?) to get him to the point where not even Clark could save him.

I have often nitpicked about the pace of the episodes, but I didn’t have a single complaint about it in this one. As soon as it started, it had this feeling like the stakes were incredibly high. There was no time for recycled dialogue. Lurking in the darkness of LuthorCorp, Lex waited for his father to show up so they could have some words. Did they ever!

Lex pushed Lionel out of the LuthorCorp window and truly became the villain of the story. This scene has been a long time coming. I really felt like a big part of the series came full circle. I loved the moment when he told his father that no one would remember his name. I knew the time was coming when Lex would cross to the dark side, but that didn’t stop me from hoping he wouldn’t take the jump. That is what’s so great about Smallville’s Lex. He can be completely evil, but there’s always the memory of the Lex Luthor that was Clark Kent’s best friend.

Not only did Lex kill Lionel, but he also fired Chloe from the Daily Planet. He’s evil! Of course, when Chloe tells Clark she was canned, she quickly brushes it off before he can get a word in. Come on, Chloe. I know that there wasn’t much time for chit chat, but that was your dream job. I hope she fights her way back into the Planet and takes Lex’s name off the building.

Clark and Lex’s scene in the library was by far my favorite. What was there not to like? There was a mention of Pa Kent, little Lex haunting big Lex, the discussion of two fathers and two sons, and why Lex became the man he is. Everything that needed to be said was in this scene. Plus, there was not one mention of Lana. It’s been a while since that has happened, and I couldn’t be happier.

Oh, Jimmy and Lois were in this episode as well. They weren’t bothering me at first, and then Jimmy made his obnoxious comment about Chloe having to be pried away from Clark. Jim Bob needs to get over it already. His whining is getting really old. But he was less annoying and more productive when he wasn’t around Chloe.

The Clark and Chloe loft scene at the end was really great. Her need for him to realize that both of his fathers and Lionel served a purpose in making him the man he is today was touching. The funeral scene was extremely poignant. First, on a shallow note, Tom Welling in a suit can never be a bad thing. Second, I am so glad they decided not to put any dialogue in that scene, since I felt there was no need for it. The lines were drawn with Clark Kent and Lex Luthor on opposite sides.


A standing ovation is in order for Michael Rosenbaum. He rocked last night in every scene he was in. Even in the disturbing one with him burning his younger self had me captivated. This was the best episode for Lex since season four’s “Onyx”. Also, John Glover you will be missed. ‘Till next week.


Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.

Subscribe by RSS