So who is X:The final installment.

[costas22]

So we will probably have to play the guessing game to find out who he is.PS3 last night recovered so many old Clark and Lana memories but they have yet to explain to us some things that have happend duing their tenure.Who is X is one of them.Another one is Oliver killing in cold blood all the while he was lecturing Clark in Bulletproof about the same thing.

[unfocused]

I'm still wondering who were the guys that kidnapped Gina and presumably murdered her :confused:

[costas22]

We saw that guy again in Sleeper and Quest.He was the accomplice of Edward Teague who was looking to protect the secret of the traveler.The reason why i say that this is the final installment is bacause i thought the X storyline had ties with Lex.With him out of the picture(presumably until MR comes back) so is the story.

[xrayvision]

After seeing the Lana arc conclude in Requiem, there's something that I just don't understand:

Who the hell was X?

In Bulletproof & Power, it seemed like Lana was watching Tess for a while and knew what she was up to, and obviously, what Lex did to her. We know that Tess received a message in Instinct from "X" saying that she wasn't ready yet after the crystal that forms the FOS disappeared.

My question is, based on what we learned in Bulletproof & Power, is "X" from the message in Instinct supposed to be Lana? Because this doesn't make sense.

In Power, it was shown that Lana was on a quest to be put through tests where her tolerance/threshold to pain was increased so she could become more like Clark. We also saw how she found out about Lex's "suit" and wanted to get it before Lex could.

In the meantime, things were going on in Smallville & Metropolis. Tess has the crystal, experimented with it, resulting in Maxima's appearance, and then lost it.

If Lana was away, increasing her threshold for pain, how could she have stolen the crystal? In Power, she did make a temporary stop in Metropolis when Chloe found her snooping around the Isis heater. But that was regarding the suit, as the contents of the safe proved, later in the events of Power.

Going back to the crystal---it suddenly showed up in Bloodline in a box at the Kent Farm. Clark opened it with Lois next to him, and upon touching it, was transported with Lois to the Phantom Zone. What gives? If Lana was "X", then it would mean that she reprogrammed the crystal to send Clark to the Phantom Zone. Why would she do that, and how would she learn to do reprogram alien technology?

Power showed that Lana's attention was focused 100% on finding the suit and stopping Lex. Something is really amiss here.

My opinion is that Brainiac was the one who stole the crystal in Instinct and was therefore "X". Here are all the signs:

1. Chloe was informed of the crystal in that episode by Tess

2. Chloe was inhabited by Brainiac in that episode

3. Combining #1 & #2 above, Brainiac would know where to find the crystal

3. Chloe, with Brainiac's intelligence, had the ability to reprogram the crystal

4. Brainiac, who in Instinct was in Chloe, had a motive to send Clark to the Phantom Zone, because regardless, his disappearance was favorable for Davis/Doomsday (whether or not Faora being freed was a pre-meditated goal or just a circumstance)

5. Sending the crystal in a box is something that Brainiac did in the past with the "silver kryptonite" in Splinter

6. The crystal was the elementary piece of the FOS, and as we saw later in Abyss, Brainiac had plans for the FOS, so even if Clark didn't return from the FOS, Chloeiac could have been the one to rebuild the FOS in Brainaic's style


So based on all these signs/facts, I just can't agree that Lana was "X". I would have to say it was Chloe, or at best a combination of Chloe and Lana. By the latter, I mean that Lana could have been spying on what Chloe/Chloeiac was up to at Isis and knew that she stole the crystal and used this knowledge to taunt Tess by sending her that message; implying that Tess not being ready was her lack of knowledge regarding what Lex did to her. But this is somewhat farfetched.

So I would still say that Chloeiac was X. My only question is, why would Chloeiac send Tess an email like that? It didn't seem like she had plans for Tess. Unless they never came to fruition based on what happened to Brainiac.

It's still weird. Lana being "X" doesn't add up because the motives of the crystal's theft don't make sense if Lana stole it. Chloe being "X" doesn't add up regarding the motives of why she sent Tess that email. This is what made me propose that "X" is actually a Lana-Chloeiac combo, but that seems too farfetched.

[Timester]

Lana's trainer was part of Tess' team, so he could perfectly steal the crystal for Lana.

[krewsaider]

I thought Lex and whoever saved him from the Arctic was "X". The person that had saved him must've then had some sort of alien background to know the technology. Since I doubt they're going to go into that, I would agree with you that Chloeiac was "X".

[Skaterpen357]

I think it's Chloeiac. She sees Tess has crystal, next thing you know, it's gone! Hm...

Besides, as a few others have pointed out, sending the crystal to Clark was a good way to release Faora to push Doomsday to his evolutionary business. Seems like something Brainiac would do.

[xrayvision]

Lana's trainer was part of Tess' team, so he could perfectly steal the crystal for Lana.

Yeah, but what about reprogramming it? Nobody but Brainaic had the ability to do that. Based on how Chloe killed Sebastian, there's some debate that Brainiac's pure logic-based traits influenced Chloe to do something she normally would have and could have influenced her to do other things in her daily life.

As far as reprogramming---the motives fit Brainiac.

As far as sending the message---the motives fit Lana.

This is what doesn't make sense.

[Dyanara]

Talk about a plothole

[xrayvision]

When they have something big like the "X" plot to create all the buzz that it did after Instinct aired, they should have made sure that the plot following didn't have any holes and made sense.

[myankskent]

I think that it's either Brainiac, Lex or a combination of both. If Lana had anything to do with it, it would've come out in her arc. I also don't see how Lana could get her hands on the FOS crystal. That crystal came from the Arctic and Lana was nowhere near there. Lex and his team were.

[disciples of zod]

i first thought Lex, now i'm pretty sure it's Lana!

~H

[xrayvision]

I think that it's either Brainiac, Lex or a combination of both. If Lana had anything to do with it, it would've come out in her arc. I also don't see how Lana could get her hands on the FOS crystal. That crystal came from the Arctic and Lana was nowhere near there. Lex and his team were.

Actually the crystal was pulled out of the Arctic and Tess had it. She even showed it to Clark in Instinct, and asked for Chloe's help in cracking the code, since the crystal itself was a computer. But sometime offscreen in Instinct, it disappeared and then later reappeared in a box left at the Kent Farm in Bloodline. When Clark touched it, it sent him & Lois to the Phantom Zone.

All this makes me think it was Chloeiac (Brainiac-in-Chloe) who stole it in Instinct and reprogrammed it to send Clark to the Phantom Zone.

The crystal was the elemental piece of the Fortress of Solitude. Brainiac in Solitude was able to manipulate the FOS to open a portal to the Phantom Zone based on the programming in the black crystal that Clark was tricked into inserting. So we know that Brainiac has a history of manipulating the FOS (which the crystal is a part of) to open portals to the Phantom Zone, so I'm guessing he did the same with the crystal, which trapped Clark in the Phantom Zone in Bloodline.

So I think Chloeiac stole the crystal offscreen in Instinct and reprogrammed it offscreen just before the events of Bloodline and left it at the Kent Farm in that episode just like he left the silver-k at Lana's dorm in Splinter.

Here are the reasons I gave in my original post (before it was merged with another thread):

1. Chloe was informed of the crystal in that episode by Tess

2. Chloe was inhabited by Brainiac in that episode

3. Combining #1 & #2 above, Brainiac would know where to find the crystal

3. Chloe, with Brainiac's intelligence, had the ability to reprogram the crystal

4. Brainiac, who in Instinct was in Chloe, had a motive to send Clark to the Phantom Zone, because regardless, his disappearance was favorable for Davis/Doomsday (whether or not Faora being freed was a pre-meditated goal or just a circumstance)

5. Sending the crystal in a box is something that Brainiac did in the past with the "silver kryptonite" in Splinter

6. The crystal was the elementary piece of the FOS, and as we saw later in Abyss, Brainiac had plans for the FOS, so even if Clark didn't return from the FOS, Chloeiac could have been the one to rebuild the FOS in Brainaic's style

[myankskent]

Actually the crystal was pulled out of the Arctic and Tess had it. She even showed it to Clark in Instinct, and asked for Chloe's help in cracking the code, since the crystal itself was a computer. But sometime offscreen in Instinct, it disappeared and then later reappeared in a box left at the Kent Farm in Bloodline. When Clark touched it, it sent him & Lois to the Phantom Zone.

All this makes me think it was Chloeiac (Brainiac-in-Chloe) who stole it in Instinct and reprogrammed it to send Clark to the Phantom Zone.


You're right, I forgot about what happened earlier this season. It seems like a long time ago. I suppose Chloeiac could've taken it, but then there's the whole thing with Lex being able to see everything that Tess was doing. He had the camera in her eye so maybe he had somebody take it.

[xrayvision]

You're right, I forgot about what happened earlier this season. It seems like a long time ago. I suppose Chloeiac could've taken it, but then there's the whole thing with Lex being able to see everything that Tess was doing. He had the camera in her eye so maybe he had somebody take it.

The only thing is, how did Lex re-program it? He has some brilliant scientists, but none smart enough to re-program alien technology.

[Bizarrolover]

Let's say it was Chloiac, that she wanted to release Faora from the PZ, but why send Clark there when she could manipulate the crystal like she did in bloodline and open the portal ?

I think Lana was X and she stole the crystal to return it to Clark. We also know that Lana and Chloe remained in touch during that time and maybe Brainiac took over chloe for a moment and manipulated the crystal before it reached Clark's hands (the box was open when Lois found it) But why would Brainiac waste his time sending Clark to the PZ first? Unless he needed Clark's touch to activate the crystal. I know the major reason why the writers sent Clark to the PZ was to close Kara's arc bu but, It would be nice if the give us an explanation that makes sense.

[myankskent]

The only thing is, how did Lex re-program it? He has some brilliant scientists, but none smart enough to re-program alien technology.

Yeah, that's where I see Brainiac coming into the picture. I was hoping to see Lex and Brainiac team up but now I don't see that happening. TPTB are broke. They can't even get James Marsters in here to make some appearances this season despite the fact that he wanted to come back. Just look back to last season when we had Marsters, Dean Cain and Helen Slater appear. Where are the guest stars this year?

[xrayvision]

Let's say it was Chloiac, that she wanted to release Faora from the PZ, but why send Clark there when she could manipulate the crystal like she did in bloodline and open the portal ?

I don't think Chloeiac did it primarily to release Faora. I think Chloeiac did it to remove Clark from stopping Davis or prematurely sending him to the Phantom Zone before he permanently becomes Doomsday. Because had Clark gone to Jor-El or cooperated with Martian Manhunter & found out that Davis was the ominous destroyer, he would have found a way to put him in the Phantom Zone & completely derail Brainiac's plan. Because it was after all Brainiac who made it possible for Davis to exist by going back to Krypton and altering past events by placing the biological matter that grew into Davis on/in Clark's ship (which never happened prior to the events that happened between Veritas & Apocalypse). Therefore, Brainiac removing Clark by having him sucked into the Phantom Zone, where he hoped to have him killed, was his way of protecting his investment (Davis). Clark getting sucked into the Phantom Zone happened only 2 episodes after Prey, where Clark got on Davis' trail of murders and told Chloe, Brainiac's host body, about his suspicions. So right there is Brainiac's motive to eliminate the threat of Clark. I know Prey ended with Clark no longer suspecting Davis, but once the murders continued, he would be back on Davis' trail and Brainiac wasn't going to let that happen.


I think Lana was X and she stole the crystal to return it to Clark. We also know that Lana and Chloe remained in touch during that time and maybe Brainiac took over chloe for a moment and manipulated the crystal before it reached Clark's hands (the box was open when Lois found it) But why would Brainiac waste his time sending Clark to the PZ first? Unless he needed Clark's touch to activate the crystal. I know the major reason why the writers sent Clark to the PZ was to close Kara's arc bu but, It would be nice if the give us an explanation that makes sense.

I don't think this is the case. The only way Lana would have known about the crystal was if she checked out that hidden video feed from the camera that was implanted in Tess. But for that to happen, she would have to be around Metropolis for a considerable amount of time to monitor & keep tabs of Tess, much longer than she was in that flashback scene in Power where she made a quick stop to pick up some info/files and then left.

See my explanation above why Clark was sent to the Phantom Zone. It makes sense given the timeline of events in seasons 7 & 8.

----- Added 2 Minutes later -----


Yeah, that's where I see Brainiac coming into the picture. I was hoping to see Lex and Brainiac team up but now I don't see that happening. TPTB are broke. They can't even get James Marsters in here to make some appearances this season despite the fact that he wanted to come back. Just look back to last season when we had Marsters, Dean Cain and Helen Slater appear. Where are the guest stars this year?

Also, don't forget Marc McClure as Dax-Ur.

[Spirit Detective]

Lex is X

There is no definitive evidence that X stole and reprogrammed the crystal. All the message said was "Looking for this? You are not ready yet - X"

Like xrayvision mentioned a while ago, Chloeiac is the only one who can reprogram the crystal and has no motive for sending Tess Mercer that message.

[xrayvision]

So what you're saying Spirit Detective is that the message was sent just to get Tess riled up and the thief of the crystal was not necessarily the sender of the message? If that's the case, it could definitely be Lex. Lana did get Tess to realize that Lex never really trusted her. So that could have been his test for Tess to prove her loyalty to him.

[SGuthrie27]

Of all the choices listed in THIS poll, I think that Chloeiac is the most likely suspect for all the reasons so aptly listed above, but I still think it remains a bit of a mystery (and a major plothole). I certainly hope that the producers plan on revealing the identity of X eventually, along with Lana's text-message friend. This show is getting pretty bad at not delivering on what appear to be pretty significant plot points.

--SGuthrie ><>' :)--

[xrayvision]

Yeah, we never found out who her friend to send the text message in Bride was, unless it was supposed to be the trainer as seen in Power. Right now, I'd say he's the most likely candidate. Or if not him, then Dr. Groll.

Also, how did Lex see that wedding? Did he have guys plant a chip in the camera used by the cameraman? Because so far, only Tess and that ventriloquist dummy/doll were shown to be bugged.

[krewsaider]

I'm guessing one of Lex's men picked up the video camera while everyone was at the hospital. How he found out Doomsday attacked, I don't know. I'm a little too tired to come up with an explanation. :lol:

[magic]

who could possibly know Kryptonian beside Brainiac and Jor-El?

[SGuthrie27]

Another good point, Magic. Who could've understood how that crystal worked and the implications behind it? Then again, Dr. Grohl had used it before in "Instinct" when he accidentally summoned Maxima -- that was him, right? Could he have been involved in both of those instances? Maybe he snuck it away from Tess at the behest of Lana, who then sent it to Clark thinking it was rightfully his, and not knowing that it would send him to the Phantom Zone... But that doesn't quite seem to add up either. Man, this is a hard mystery to wrap your head around... And you're right, they never really did say how Lex got the video footage from the wedding. Danglers abound!

--SGuthrie ><>' :)--

[xrayvision]

The thing that points to Chloeiac being the thief (regardless of whether or not the thief and "X" are the same person), is how the crystal was specifically altered to send Clark to the phantom zone.

Abyss showed us that Brainiac was erasing Chloe's memories at his will. So he could have used Chloe as his vessel to reprogram the crystal and then erased any memory of her doing it.

I have no doubt that Chloeiac stole the crystal. My question now is, do the theif of the crystal (Chloeiac) and "X" (perhaps Chloeiac, Lex, maybe Lana) have to be the same person? Or just better yet, who the heck was "X"? It could have definitely been Lex testing Tess' loyalty even though he didn't have the crystal. But that's just weird, because the message Tess got made it sound as if the person in possession of the crystal would give it to her in due time. This aspect is what makes me think in a way that "X" and the crystal's thief have to be the same person, and that is confusing because the thief and "X" have different motives.

They also should answer the question about how Lex got the wedding footage and who sent Lana the text message (the trainer, Dr. Groll, or someone else).

About the footage---the clips shown at the beginning of Bride was obviously Lex's point of view since it looked like it was from the viewfinder of a camera. Also, there was no caption saying "XX hours earlier", so we have to assume it was Lex watching the events as they happened. The reason why they showed clips and not the whole thing was to prevent showing the climax of the episode at the very beginning. So I would say that the camera was bugged beforehand and that the video footage wasn't stolen and sent to Lex since he wouldn't have been able to watch it live.

[Spirit Detective]

So what you're saying Spirit Detective is that the message was sent just to get Tess riled up and the thief of the crystal was not necessarily the sender of the message? If that's the case, it could definitely be Lex. Lana did get Tess to realize that Lex never really trusted her. So that could have been his test for Tess to prove her loyalty to him.

That's exactly what I'm saying! Oliver did mention in Bride that Lex was bouncing emails to Tess. I believe it all started in "Instinct" under the X persona. Lex probably saw the fortress revert back into the crystal, but was too injured to retrieve it.



But that's just weird, because the message Tess got made it sound as if the person in possession of the crystal would give it to her in due time. This aspect is what makes me think in a way that "X" and the crystal's thief have to be the same person, and that is confusing because the thief and "X" have different motives.

If I was Tess, and some dude sent me an email with an image of the crystal I had just lost, I would assume that whoever sent me the email was the one who took the crystal.

[xrayvision]

If I was Tess, and some dude sent me an email with an image of the crystal I had just lost, I would assume that whoever sent me the email was the one who took the crystal.

My question about this is why would Lex send her the message if he couldn't eventually provide it to her? I don't understand his motive. Did he want to see her going apesh*t looking for the crystal (regardless of whether or not she found it) to prove her loyalty to him?

[Spirit Detective]

Maybe he knew that she wasn't ready for the truth about Clark Kent and aliens. Once Tess proved her loyalty, he would tell her all he knew about the Traveler.

[xrayvision]

Maybe he knew that she wasn't ready for the truth about Clark Kent and aliens. Once Tess proved her loyalty, he would tell her all he knew about the Traveler.

Sounds possible. It would be nice if they explain it officially.

[costas22]

The only thing is, how did Lex re-program it? He has some brilliant scientists, but none smart enough to re-program alien technology.


Maybe the crystal wasn't reprogrammed on purpose guys.What if the crystal got reprogrammed by accident at the beggining of Instinct because of Grohl's experiments?Anyway,they better explain this at the Season 8 DVD because i think the story has cocluded and won't be returning.

[xrayvision]

Maybe the crystal wasn't reprogrammed on purpose guys.What if the crystal got reprogrammed by accident at the beggining of Instinct because of Grohl's experiments?Anyway,they better explain this at the Season 8 DVD because i think the story has cocluded and won't be returning.

I think that would be far too coincidental. Out of all the things that Groll's experiment could have done to it, for it to have been altered to send Clark to the Phantom Zone after mysteriouly disappearing and then mysteriously reappearing on his porch is just way too coincidental.

All fingers point to Brainiac.

[Einhauen]

Martha Kent or Lionel Luthor resurrected as a Cylon.

[Justin Murad]

I think xrayvision is right, it makes sense... ^^

[costas22]

I also say that it is Brainiac.My questio is,why did they hide it.Imagine this for a finale at Bloodline.Kara leaves,Davis tests his torso and then we go at the Isis foundation.Chloe gets a call from the mailing company asking her if the she was satisfied by them and if the package arrived on time.Chloe all confused will ask where the package went and they tell her at the Kent Farm.Chloe looks shocked and then the episode ends.It would also have been a nice continuation of the final scene of Identity.

[xrayvision]

I also say that it is Brainiac.My questio is,why did they hide it.Imagine this for a finale at Bloodline.Kara leaves,Davis tests his torso and then we go at the Isis foundation.Chloe gets a call from the mailing company asking her if the she was satisfied by them and if the package arrived on time.Chloe all confused will ask where the package went and they tell her at the Kent Farm.Chloe looks shocked and then the episode ends.It would also have been a nice continuation of the final scene of Identity.

That would have explained why it was Chloe who showed up at the Kent Farm.

[costas22]

Of course.How easy would it have been for them to have Brainiac take over Chloe completely for some minutes,do his damage and then leave her alone again.That way,Chloe wouldn't have even remembered the Sebastian incident and it would have explained the X story.

[xrayvision]

Yeah, I know. But I do think that Chloe was aware of what she was doing when she killed Sebastian. Brainiac's logic may have justified killing Sebastian, but Chloe definitely killed him since Brainiac had no reason to protect Clark's identity.

[costas22]

Yeah i also think she was aware.I am still scratching my head as to why on earth PS3 dropped this story.They could have explored it even more at Abyss where they could have given a background as to what Chloe has been doing as Chloiac.I think the inexperience of PS3(they have written episodes but never a whole season) showed here.Hopefully they have some hidden aces for the last lap of the season.

[SGuthrie27]

Yeah, I hope so, too. It seems that Chloe *sniff* was aware of what was happening to some degree, though I'm not sure how much control she had over it once her voice got all cold and robotic. You could tell from her facial expression afterwards that she was conflicted, a bit confused, and definitely somewhat traumatized by what had just happened. I think it was then that she really realized how far over her head she'd gotten herself in the Brainiac situation.

--SGuthrie ><>' :)--

[SupermanRox]

I always thought Lex is "X"

[justme_007]

i hope this is not a plothole and it will be explained until the end of the season. i really hope so. otherwise, i will be angry. cuz i have the same question. who is x?

----- Added 10 Minutes later -----


The thing that points to Chloeiac being the thief (regardless of whether or not the thief and "X" are the same person), is how the crystal was specifically altered to send Clark to the phantom zone.

Abyss showed us that Brainiac was erasing Chloe's memories at his will. So he could have used Chloe as his vessel to reprogram the crystal and then erased any memory of her doing it.

I have no doubt that Chloeiac stole the crystal. My question now is, do the theif of the crystal (Chloeiac) and "X" (perhaps Chloeiac, Lex, maybe Lana) have to be the same person? Or just better yet, who the heck was "X"? It could have definitely been Lex testing Tess' loyalty even though he didn't have the crystal. But that's just weird, because the message Tess got made it sound as if the person in possession of the crystal would give it to her in due time. This aspect is what makes me think in a way that "X" and the crystal's thief have to be the same person, and that is confusing because the thief and "X" have different motives.

They also should answer the question about how Lex got the wedding footage and who sent Lana the text message (the trainer, Dr. Groll, or someone else).

About the footage---the clips shown at the beginning of Bride was obviously Lex's point of view since it looked like it was from the viewfinder of a camera. Also, there was no caption saying "XX hours earlier", so we have to assume it was Lex watching the events as they happened. The reason why they showed clips and not the whole thing was to prevent showing the climax of the episode at the very beginning. So I would say that the camera was bugged beforehand and that the video footage wasn't stolen and sent to Lex since he wouldn't have been able to watch it live.

Good post. about the camera and Lex, i have forgotten now i am intrigued:rolleyes:

[tj_powers]

Now they quickly started saying that the crystal was altered... but we still dont know that for sure. It could have been a glitch considering that Lois was there as well. But again it is all speculation because if the box was open before Clark got it and the first one there was Chloe then it is more than possible. It is still hard to say because I think the writers and directors love to put us in a loop of possibilties. Like the other thing left unsaid is who was sending the texts to Lana when she first returned. With Lana now gone, I guess there is no point... but whoever it was, had to be watching where Lex was before he left.

[supervision]

I'm still wondering who were the guys that kidnapped Gina and presumably murdered her :confused:
One of Edward Teague`s cohorts

[tj_powers]

Why are we still on that lol she wasnt even relevant to the show lol

[supervision]

lol, I know

[tj_powers]

I just wonder now who else will they let die and we will chat about iti n 20 threads even when they were not relevant... like what happened to Jimmy's friend the camera guy from the wedding... is he dead !? LMAO

[st_stickler]

Lex is X

There is no definitive evidence that X stole and reprogrammed the crystal. All the message said was "Looking for this? You are not ready yet - X"

Like xrayvision mentioned a while ago, Chloeiac is the only one who can reprogram the crystal and has no motive for sending Tess Mercer that message.

Jor'el sen that doomsday device to "control" Clark by taking away his powers. It's possible that Jor'el understood the possibility of him getting the powers back (as he did) and programmed the crystal to send Clark to the Phantom Zone if the control device was ever activated and Clark somehow regained his powers. Lana or Chloe either one might very well have been the ones to get the cyrstal back without foreseeing the Phantom Zone angle.

[Jawth]

The message "You're not ready for this" doesn't fit with anybody other than Lex. He had the opportunity through the people still loyal to him and the information from the camera he put in Tess's brain or whatever. Plus, he's the only one with an X in his name.

[tj_powers]

bottom line... there is a major loophole to that story... who knows it could be Lana who is still walking around with a 14th century witch!! lmao wouldnt that be funny!

[green_arrow_girl358]

i always thought lex

[tj_powers]

in a way id say so too but its too obvious... TPTB loves to make us ponder on these things.

[oqllcksmallville]

wasn't it already established that it was that person helping lana train to be more powerful ?

[tj_powers]

how was it established?