Once again, Clark's logic does not = logical

[REebee52]

I don't see why he thinks he can never tell Lois. It wasn't that that caused the world to freak, it was her publishing it. Telling her alone will only give him another supportive friend, why is he so afraid to do it?
Grrr... frustrating.
I really liked this episode, but I really would have preferred showing how he explained to Lois he was an alien, and showing more of her supporting him than the one line on the phone at the Daily Planet, just to show what is coming for Clark. I also think the people were too accepting at first. If we found out there was an alien running around earth, we wouldn't embrace him quite so quickly. We might not want to torture him, but we wouldn't act so damn cheesy around him.
Still, really good episode though

[~*Lois & Clark Fan*~]

I got the impression it's more about protecting her. Knowing his secret wouldn't be a picnic for Lois either. The lack of privacy, hounding from the media and whatnot

[dru-zod2501]

I got the impression it's more about protecting her. Knowing his secret wouldn't be a picnic for Lois either. The lack of privacy, hounding from the media and whatnot
umm... that only came from the secret going PUBLIC, which wasn't going to happen again. Lois was as stalwart a friend and ally as Chloe was once she knew. This was pure Clark fear and regression

[melissan02]

Lois just needs to get the heck outta there! She deserves better! I'm serious!

[Supsfan]

It's obvious, the show needs to make stuff dramatic and will do everything to keep it that way.

He could have simply gave a reason besides his one word answer that could have 1001 meanings

[Clana4Life]

Show got moved to Saturday here. I haven't seen it yet. Was there any reference to Lana? How much time has passed?

[Night_Hawk90]

wow way too much hate for clark

[Skaterpen357]

I don't know...I think I finally get why Clark said he wouldn't reveal his secret because Lois is "special." No offense to Chlarkers, but telling Lois his secret might serve to make her another Chloe, someone who actively does the hero routine with him. Leaving Lois in the dark makes her unique--she knows Clark Kent for his personality, not his mission or his "purpose." I think if you look at it like that, it's kind of...touching?

[myankskent]

Show got moved to Saturday here. I haven't seen it yet. Was there any reference to Lana? How much time has passed?

They really don't give an amount of time. They just said that Clark has been concentrating on his work since Lana left, so for all we know, it could've been a few days or a week.

[davidbrenton]

No. I disagree. Clark was awesome in this episode. I literally have no complaints. I'm not one for complaining for the sake of complaining.

[Night_Hawk90]

No. I disagree. Clark was awesome in this episode. I literally have no complaints. I'm not one for complaining for the sake of complaining.

i totally agree, i loved clark this episode.

[unfocused]

Smallville usually does a sort of real-time thing. if it's been 5 weeks since the previous episode, and the current episode has no continuation of it, then it's usually a five week span. Just like at the end and beginnings of seasons. In this past season premiere, we didn't see what happened during those 3 or so months between seasons, we just got a real-time story.

[moviefan2k4]

Actually, "Odyssey" is set 4 weeks after "Arctic", as evidenced by the text which appears in the teaser.

[Minela]

I got the impression it's more about protecting her. Knowing his secret wouldn't be a picnic for Lois either. The lack of privacy, hounding from the media and whatnot

That's what I got from it, too. He said he wouldn't tell her because she's special. He knows what knowing his secret has done to Chloe, and if it were up to him he would have her not knowing. It's just how Clark is. No matter how Chloe, Jimmy or Lois could help him by knowing his secret, he just doesn't want to burden them.

[BadToad]

I don't know, I couldn't really follow his logic. I think its supposed to be about protecting her, but I think that excuse for old several seasons ago. It might also be that they are suggesting that he's afraid of getting too close to her because he has feelings for her, and he's not ready to go there yet. I like that explanation better, for Clark's sake, but it would help if they let him verbalize a bit more so we could understand where he's coming from. I wish they wrote more dialogue for him, instead of around him.

I have to say, it felt very contrived to me.

[xrayvision]

People here are expecting things way too early. Clark isn't even Superman yet. The duality is why Superman for all the years Lois didn't know his secret was able to get away with having a thing for Lois. Otherwise it would be like Clana on Smallville, in the first 5 seasons. Give the guy a break and some time to come up with something. If he was actually getting dressed up as the Blur and going around saving people like that, it would work. But plain old Clark saving people and disappearing without any notice to save people will make Lois hate him like she hated Ollie in Rage.

[Minela]

I don't know...I think I finally get why Clark said he wouldn't reveal his secret because Lois is "special." No offense to Chlarkers, but telling Lois his secret might serve to make her another Chloe, someone who actively does the hero routine with him. Leaving Lois in the dark makes her unique--she knows Clark Kent for his personality, not his mission or his "purpose." I think if you look at it like that, it's kind of...touching?

Didn't think of it that way, but that could also be it. I like that.

[AndiGirl]

umm... that only came from the secret going PUBLIC, which wasn't going to happen again. Lois was as stalwart a friend and ally as Chloe was once she knew. This was pure Clark fear and regression

Yea...but didnt Clark try to change the fact that Chloe knows his secret? Whether is public or not.....knowing his secret is a huge challenge period.

He doesnt want to put that on her....and I cant really blame him. :\

[luvinChlark]

I'm really not sure what exactly is keeping Lois and Clark apart. Why doesn't he tell her is secret now? I understood Clark's reason for not telling Lana after the events of Reckoning because after she found out she died, which scared him. But for Lois she wasn't malled over like Chloe and Lois was saved by Clark later. So I'm confused that he tells Lois she is special but not enough to know the secret? Is it that she not trust her enough to keep it a secret or because of her name, I just didn't get it.

[Supsfan]

I don't know, I couldn't really follow his logic. I think its supposed to be about protecting her, but I think that excuse for old several seasons ago. It might also be that they are suggesting that he's afraid of getting too close to her because he has feelings for her, and he's not ready to go there yet. I like that explanation better, for Clark's sake, but it would help if they let him verbalize a bit more so we could understand where he's coming from. I wish they wrote more dialogue for him, instead of around him.

It's easy by Clark saying she is "special" fans can fill in what they want about Lois that is "special". They can also draw conclusions to the final scene depending what side you ship. The producers time and time again make Clark say stuff that can be taken 100 ways not giving us a true idea what Clark is really thinking.

Would it have been to hard for Clark say you are special because (fill in the reason here). It would have taken an extra 3 seconds that you could have taken away from the final scene.

[blink2matrix]

Lois will know.. Clark never just tells people and she'll have to discover it. He said it himself that he doesn't want her to know because she IS special. We did just get over the Lana ordeal... from experience Chloe is the only one who hasn't left/died yet that knows his secret. I definitely see this as protecting her and though it may be annoying for him to say things like "never" i'm happy with how this episode turned out. I'm not happy with his Lois decisions by any means but clearly Clark knows he cares about Lois now and that she cares about him so we're definitely going in what i believe is the right direction.

[clois-destiny-forever]

Yeah, I really don't understand why Lois can never know his secret. What about her knowing was so terrible? She didn't do anything but what he told her to do. Geez.

[bychance]

You guys know that Lois CAN'T know right? As per source material? lol.

[clois-destiny-forever]

I don't know...I think I finally get why Clark said he wouldn't reveal his secret because Lois is "special." No offense to Chlarkers, but telling Lois his secret might serve to make her another Chloe, someone who actively does the hero routine with him. Leaving Lois in the dark makes her unique--she knows Clark Kent for his personality, not his mission or his "purpose." I think if you look at it like that, it's kind of...touching?

Ok, I get what you're saying there and it makes more sense. Still not totally happy, but I'm trying to get over my initial anger.

[Marfeic2011]

I agree - she took it really well and he even admitted to Chloe afterwards that "there was a moment" after he told lois where he thought that everything would be okay and that he could have everything he wanted. How does that then translate to he can never tell her his secret - its not the characters fault - its just a poorly thought out, badly written script. I forgive clark, but I can't forgive the writers/producers for making his character look like an idiot bonehead.

[Supsfan]

I don't know...I think I finally get why Clark said he wouldn't reveal his secret because Lois is "special." No offense to Chlarkers, but telling Lois his secret might serve to make her another Chloe, someone who actively does the hero routine with him. Leaving Lois in the dark makes her unique--she knows Clark Kent for his personality, not his mission or his "purpose." I think if you look at it like that, it's kind of...touching?

That's my theory, basically Lois is the only person on the show he has/had a normal relationship with, so he doesn't want to give it up. But why can't HE say that. It goes back to my point about the producers never allowing Clark to make a solid statement, that way fans from all ships can fanwank it to suit there version of the story.

[BadToad]

Clark was written so poorly in this episode with regards to Lois as he has been written all season. PS3 do not want to have Clark admit his feelings for Lois Lane out loud and because of that his characterization and the clois relationship is suffering. They are making this all one sided and the audience is left to fill in the blanks.

I mostly agree with you. They are leaving a great deal of ambiguity to Clark's feelings. Personally, I feel like they do this so they can throw bones every which way and try to keep various groups relatively placated, and hopefully still watching. But the character who suffers from this juvenille writing is Clark. For reasons that I don't think I'll ever understand, Clark very often comes in at the bottom wrung of the priority ladder when it comes to SV scripts. Its mind boggling to me.

Also, this was a Caroline Dries script *shudders* who is not what I would call a strong Clark writer.

I mean, we did have Clark show up at the end, and stare at Lois from across the street, so we are clearly supposed to understand that he does have feelings for her. But everything with Clark is kept incredibly vague. Its as if they are afraid if they pick a definitive path for him, they can't stall, and throw him all around the canvas, and pander to different fans, etc.

I'm beyond frustrated with the writing Clark's gotten since, around, episode 9, Abyss. Before that, they were writing him so well, and I was so encouraged. I should've known better :(

[PoisonIvy]

How is she "special"? That's the only part of his logic I can't fathom. I get your (fandoms) logic here and Chloe's (that he wants the normalcy he gets with her/is afraid to open himself up), but Clark's reasoning is vague and rather silly.

I mean, sure, it was a HUGE mess with Lana. But why is that? Why really? Because he wouldn't tell her his secret from the get-go and it built up this huge mistrust between them. Lana even cites it as part of her reasoning for turning to Lex.

Not letting them know doesn't protect them. Not letting them know only protects Clark by keeping them at a distance.

When Lois told everything she knew in her article at Clark's behest, the government still didn't believe him and went after her in case she knew more. So, when she someday knows nothing, even if Clark tells whomever it is who is after him (government/alien/meteor freak/psycho-Lana/etc) that she knows nothing, why would that stop them? Her close proximity to Clark makes it seem as if she should/would know something.

Sure, they might find out rather quickly that she doesn't, but what's to stop them from trying initially? She's Clark's partner and friend. She's known him for years and even lived with him for a while... after Chloe and Martha, I'd assume, as a person after Clark's secrets, that she'd know more about him than even Oliver (which is ironic because she doesn't, at least not in that area of his life).

He also can't use his usual "she won't accept me for me" excuse. As Lois herself tells him it doesn't matter that he's an alien. He's more human, more real to her than most regular guys she's met.

So, Lois not accepting him for him is out. As is Lois not knowing more information somehow stopping her from being targeted. All that's really left is Chloe's reasoning. Clark doesn't want her to know because he's afraid of what that means to him, emotionally.

He's being a baby. And setting himself up for (possible) Clana-esque angst. Unless he tries adamantly not to woo Lois, as he did with standing her up at the end. If he simply ignores his feelings and pushes her away... well, maybe that will keep her safe?! But having her even as a close friend makes her a target, the government going after her in this episode, despite her not knowing anything else and merely assuming she would, should have been proof enough of that. He'll have to drive her away completely.

[Dyanara]

The only thing I can try to say to help Clark save face is that he is not just doing it to protect her but to protect himself. Everyone who was very close to him and very special to him who have known has either been in danger or left. Perhaps he is aware that he couldnt deal with that reality if it happened with Lois.

[Alicia Chipy]

She hasn't been targetted for knowing Ollie's and AC secret yet,has she?
Man up Clark,Lois can take it and dish it out.

[PoisonIvy]

She hasn't been targetted for knowing Ollie's and AC secret yet,has she?
Man up Clark,Lois can take it and dish it out.

Oh, brilliant point!

Not only has no one targeted her for either of those men, whom she has been romantically linked (most especially Oliver... she'd be an obvious target with him, as they were pretty serious), but she also does indeed know something others don't.

This episode only proved that even with Lois not in a relationship with Clark and not knowing additional information (that is, beyond that which she printed, and everyone else knows, too), she's still a target. Clark told them she didn't know more, and they still went after her.

What is to stop others from doing this in the future, regardless of whether she really knows something or not?!

Blah... it's making me repetitive, but his logic is fallacious.

[Iluvgreen]

He wants to protect her.

[mlauenstein]

No matter what Clark's stupid reason was for not telling her a second time, Lois is the stupid one. She should have insisted on going back in time with him. Then she would know the secret AND know the danger that would occur if the secret ever leaked.

I mean, there's already two Clarks now, thanks to the Time Travel, so why not two Lois' as well?

[Mythosgirl]

I mostly agree with you. They are leaving a great deal of ambiguity to Clark's feelings. Personally, I feel like they do this so they can throw bones every which way and try to keep various groups relatively placated, and hopefully still watching. But the character who suffers from this juvenille writing is Clark. For reasons that I don't think I'll ever understand, Clark very often comes in at the bottom wrung of the priority ladder when it comes to SV scripts. Its mind boggling to me.

Also, this was a Caroline Dries script *shudders* who is not what I would call a strong Clark writer.

I mean, we did have Clark show up at the end, and stare at Lois from across the street, so we are clearly supposed to understand that he does have feelings for her. But everything with Clark is kept incredibly vague. Its as if they are afraid if they pick a definitive path for him, they can't stall, and throw him all around the canvas, and pander to different fans, etc.

I'm beyond frustrated with the writing Clark's gotten since, around, episode 9, Abyss. Before that, they were writing him so well, and I was so encouraged. I should've known better :( Hey Bad Toad..I know you signed out for the night, but i just thought this post was so good. I really think they could write Clark so much stronger and the pandering gets in the way of him making choices. Hopefully with season 9 they can move in a direction!

[Cogito17]

She hasn't been targetted for knowing Ollie's and AC secret yet,has she?
Man up Clark,Lois can take it and dish it out.

Thats not exactly true.

She doesn't know AC's secret (at least I don't think she does). Also, in Siren, she was attacked for being involved with Oliver and tied up in a chair with him (where she found out his secret).

Also, if you look at the track record for people who know/found out about Clark's secret... it doesn't seem like a good idea to tell her.

Jonathon Kent - Dead
Martha Kent - Her husband is dead
Lionel Luthor - Dead
Lex Luthor - Presumed dead
Alicia Baker - Dead
Lana Lang - Kryptonite infected and unable to go near Clark without killing him
Chloe Sullivan - Was posessed by Brainiac
Pete Ross - Forced to leave Smallville/cut ties to Clark
Linda Lake - Dead

All of these are in large part influenced by their knowledge of Clark's secret. I'm sure there are others that I am missing, and I am sure there are some people who have managed just fine while knowing his secret (the members of the Justice Leage come to mind). Not to mention that in this episode she was pursued by the government because she knew his secret (mainly because he exposed it to everyone, but it still happened). But, on the whole, given his track record, I can certainly see how LOGICALLY, he might come to the conclusion not to tell her.

[PoisonIvy]

Chloe Sullivan - Was posessed by Brainiac

Yet, he takes Chloe to the FoS to brain-wipe her so she doesn't know. Yes, she remembers eventually, but it's pretty much in keeping with what he is doing here with Lois, which begs the question why then is Lois "special"?

It's not the first time he's tried to protect someone by keeping his secret from them. It's not the first time he's done something to change someone knowing. So how then is it a "special" case?

special - (adj.)
1. of a distinct or particular kind or character
2. being a particular one; particular, individual, or certain dictionary.com (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/special)

It's not "particular" or "individual'. If anything it's, par for the course with Clark, dare I say "common" (ie. not special).

Maybe she's "special" because it'll be the only one that sticks for a while?! LOL....

And again, my point on the government pursuit of her in this episode demonstrates how NOT knowing more still makes her a target. She's not in on his secret all that much considering she writes it all up and tells the world shortly thereafter. Clark even stresses to them that she doesn't know anything beyond what she printed. She hasn't had time. So, if this is the truth, if she only knows what everyone else knows, and they STILL don't believe him, who is to say they'll take his word for it when she knows nothing?!

She's not a target because she knows his secret at this point (she knows what everyone else knows), she's a target because they assume her relationship with him (by which I mean friendship) warrants her knowing more. This reasoning can also be used now when she knows nothing.