Eh,Man?You-El?
05-21-2005, 10:34 PM
In "Commencements", among the quick clips of scenes "Previously on Smallville" is one from Bound of Lex in a chair in his library as "Shannon" sets a circle of liquor on fire around him.
I was a little confused about why that clip was included - it didn't seem to relate to anything specific to the finale.
Then I re-read the script of "Bound". At the end, Lex tells Clark something about his feelings when the "Circle of fire" scene occured:
Lex: "You know, there was a moment the other night when that fire she set was coming towards me.
I thought, good. It would save the world a lot of grief.
But somehow, the fire went out. And she was lying on the floor. And suddenly, I had a second chance."
At this point, the ONLY connection I can make between the clip and the Season 4 finale is this:
Lex is fully aware that he WILL bring the world a lot of grief.
Add this bit of self-knowledge to Lex's Line to the inert Lionel in Commencement:
Lex: "Can you hear me, Dad? Before you leave this earth, I want you to know. You did create the son you always wanted. "
And add to that the fact that Lex was referring to this interchange during "Onyx":
Lionel: Planning your next assault, son?
Lex: Dad. [Noticing Lionel’s cut.] Your cheek.
Lionel: Well, it’s a wake-up call. And I’m grateful for that.
Lionel goes to the bar and pours a drink. Lex stands up.
Lex: Look, whatever I’ve done in the last few days…
Lionel: Please, no need for an apology. Quite the contrary. [Lionel sniffs the glass of brandy, then walks to Lex.]
I must say, you finally proved yourself to be the son I’ve always wanted , and I thank you for showing me so clearly the error of my ways.
Now, it would be simplest to just say "LEX WENT BAD" in the scene with lionel and the Transformation stone but I'm not convinced of this.
The scene between Lex and Lionel at the end of "Onyx" was very ironic.
When Lionel spoke of "the son I’ve always wanted", he thought Lex was thoroughly evil (however, at the time of the comment, Lex was back to sort-of-good)
"Regular Lex" would not have said:"You did create the son you always wanted." to Lionel because he would have disagreed with Lionel's assessment in "Onyx"
"Bad Lex" MIGHT have said:"You did create the son you always wanted." to Lionel. because he had a huge, immediate revelation and found he then agreed with Lionel's ironic assessment from "Onyx" and might feel like sharing his revelation by making a doubly ironic comment on it. Triple irony, if you consider that Lex doesn't seem to have any great success to show from his turning "Bad" (somewhere off screen) "Being bad" would not be something worth commenting on, at athat point, for even a "bad" Lex.
Also, why would "Lex" add the strong threat of: "Before you leave this earth"?
A "bad" Lex would not know if Lionel's seisure was serious enough to result in death. And even a "bad" Lex didn't have a particularly good reason to kill Lionel at the end of "Commencement" - Lionel was no threat, he was incapacitated and Lex had his stone.
Now assume the transference stone exchanged Lex and Lionel in each other's bodies: Lionel-in-Lex would PROBABLY make a remark like:
"Can you hear me, Dad?" to rub in the fact of the transference, the way he taunted Clark.
Lionel-in-Lex would PROBABLY make a remark like: "Before you leave this earth, " because Lionel would have EVERY reason to control Lionel's body regardless of his condition.
Lionel-in-Lex would PROBABLY make a remark like: "You did create the son you always wanted" because Lionel would think it a great joke that he, himself is the son he wanted to create (as he wanted to be in "Transference") and Lionel loves to gloat how even his casual remarks are right.
Add to this the fact that "Lex" in the cave with Chloe said "What is that" when he saw lights at the back of the cave (just before Chloe clobbered him!)
teh "Real" Lex knew that there was a room at the back of the cave. Lex would have been heading straight for that spot and would have said something like "I knew it!" as he saw lights streaming from the spot.
The reason "Lex" gives Chloe for being in the caves is the "This is the epicenter", and he delayed, grilling Chloe, probably because he didn't know what he was looking for.
So the "circle of fire" scene from "Bound" in "previously seen..." probably indicates that the "Real" Lex still is marginally good, with regrets for his treatment of women. This may relate to Lex's nurturing treatment of Lana (at least before the Transference stone explosion.)
Any other ideas why the "circle of fire" scene from "Bound" WAS included in "previously seen on Smallville"?
Gosh DARN it, I love this show! I can't IMAGINE wasting this much time analyzing something like "Alias" or "24"!!
I was a little confused about why that clip was included - it didn't seem to relate to anything specific to the finale.
Then I re-read the script of "Bound". At the end, Lex tells Clark something about his feelings when the "Circle of fire" scene occured:
Lex: "You know, there was a moment the other night when that fire she set was coming towards me.
I thought, good. It would save the world a lot of grief.
But somehow, the fire went out. And she was lying on the floor. And suddenly, I had a second chance."
At this point, the ONLY connection I can make between the clip and the Season 4 finale is this:
Lex is fully aware that he WILL bring the world a lot of grief.
Add this bit of self-knowledge to Lex's Line to the inert Lionel in Commencement:
Lex: "Can you hear me, Dad? Before you leave this earth, I want you to know. You did create the son you always wanted. "
And add to that the fact that Lex was referring to this interchange during "Onyx":
Lionel: Planning your next assault, son?
Lex: Dad. [Noticing Lionel’s cut.] Your cheek.
Lionel: Well, it’s a wake-up call. And I’m grateful for that.
Lionel goes to the bar and pours a drink. Lex stands up.
Lex: Look, whatever I’ve done in the last few days…
Lionel: Please, no need for an apology. Quite the contrary. [Lionel sniffs the glass of brandy, then walks to Lex.]
I must say, you finally proved yourself to be the son I’ve always wanted , and I thank you for showing me so clearly the error of my ways.
Now, it would be simplest to just say "LEX WENT BAD" in the scene with lionel and the Transformation stone but I'm not convinced of this.
The scene between Lex and Lionel at the end of "Onyx" was very ironic.
When Lionel spoke of "the son I’ve always wanted", he thought Lex was thoroughly evil (however, at the time of the comment, Lex was back to sort-of-good)
"Regular Lex" would not have said:"You did create the son you always wanted." to Lionel because he would have disagreed with Lionel's assessment in "Onyx"
"Bad Lex" MIGHT have said:"You did create the son you always wanted." to Lionel. because he had a huge, immediate revelation and found he then agreed with Lionel's ironic assessment from "Onyx" and might feel like sharing his revelation by making a doubly ironic comment on it. Triple irony, if you consider that Lex doesn't seem to have any great success to show from his turning "Bad" (somewhere off screen) "Being bad" would not be something worth commenting on, at athat point, for even a "bad" Lex.
Also, why would "Lex" add the strong threat of: "Before you leave this earth"?
A "bad" Lex would not know if Lionel's seisure was serious enough to result in death. And even a "bad" Lex didn't have a particularly good reason to kill Lionel at the end of "Commencement" - Lionel was no threat, he was incapacitated and Lex had his stone.
Now assume the transference stone exchanged Lex and Lionel in each other's bodies: Lionel-in-Lex would PROBABLY make a remark like:
"Can you hear me, Dad?" to rub in the fact of the transference, the way he taunted Clark.
Lionel-in-Lex would PROBABLY make a remark like: "Before you leave this earth, " because Lionel would have EVERY reason to control Lionel's body regardless of his condition.
Lionel-in-Lex would PROBABLY make a remark like: "You did create the son you always wanted" because Lionel would think it a great joke that he, himself is the son he wanted to create (as he wanted to be in "Transference") and Lionel loves to gloat how even his casual remarks are right.
Add to this the fact that "Lex" in the cave with Chloe said "What is that" when he saw lights at the back of the cave (just before Chloe clobbered him!)
teh "Real" Lex knew that there was a room at the back of the cave. Lex would have been heading straight for that spot and would have said something like "I knew it!" as he saw lights streaming from the spot.
The reason "Lex" gives Chloe for being in the caves is the "This is the epicenter", and he delayed, grilling Chloe, probably because he didn't know what he was looking for.
So the "circle of fire" scene from "Bound" in "previously seen..." probably indicates that the "Real" Lex still is marginally good, with regrets for his treatment of women. This may relate to Lex's nurturing treatment of Lana (at least before the Transference stone explosion.)
Any other ideas why the "circle of fire" scene from "Bound" WAS included in "previously seen on Smallville"?
Gosh DARN it, I love this show! I can't IMAGINE wasting this much time analyzing something like "Alias" or "24"!!