The return of non-usless Lionell + HUGE plothole

[ZeoVGM]

Lionel has been the most useless character since the very beginning of last season.

It was so awesome to see him back to the person he was in seasons 2 and 3: evil bastard head of LuthorCorp.

And seeing that office set again was GREAT. That hasn't been in Smallville since like, the end of season 3!

It's good to see Smallville back to what it did best and out of the absolute horrible..ness of season 4. Season 5 is close to being better than season 3 if it keeps being this good.

Anyway though, this brings me to a huge plothole. Usually I can ignore small plotholes. I mean there's usually something you can think of that makes sense.

But this is too much.

Lionel lost EVERYTHING. He went to jail because Lex found out he murdered his parents.

Now first of all, how is it that Lex and everyone just lets that go like it never happened?

But that's not my biggest problem. I can overlook that. My MAIN problem?

He lost EVERYTHING. He had nothing in season 4 when he was "good". They mentioned this once or twice.

Come season 5, he's head of LuthorCorp? In his office in this episode?

I can look over it, considering they NEED him to be back at LuthorCorp. It made no sense to have him just walking around randomly like he has for the first half of this season.

But I just want Smallville to explain this SOMEHOW. How did he get power back? One sentence, writers! He won the lottery, found a bag of money, I DON'T CARE. Just tell me HOW.

[God-Man]

I know how you feel. I am as lost about Lionel as you are.

[I_am_LEX]

Hes Lionel Luthor! Thats how... i know it seems like they all just forgot about everything, but what can they do about it?? nothing. Except for maybe Lex and we saw that on this episode, holding something against his father. hmmm, Lionel taught him better than first thought huh? And he prly still rightfully owns LuthorCorp because he's out of prison and his conviction was overturned, Lex only headed it because he was the heir, but Lex kicked him back out it looks like... I think that gun they showed is gonna have a role somewhere down the line... alright enough jabbering

[clois1938]

I agree Lionel is the most random character so far. Never know what's going on with him.

[shinedown]

TPTB better explain the whole lionel/jor-el thing by the end of the season...or i will be so mad! lionel is definately a lost character now but if they dont do some explaining i dont know if i can ever watch this show and take it seriously again

[Quadrotriticale]

I don't think the producers have any clue where they are going with Lionel.

[ZeoVGM]

Originally posted by Quadrotriticale
I don't think the producers have any clue where they are going with Lionel.

I think they might know now, judging by tonight's episode.

I just hope to see Jor-El take over Lionel's body while he's busy doing something, like talking to Lex or Martha.

[Shiver]

Hold on... Lionel ISN'T head of Luthorcorp. Lex is. That's why Lionel was trying to take it over. Lex might have given Lionel a nominal position (probably the same space-filler job Lex used to have) but the building is his. That's how he could take the keycard off Lionel at the end.

As for Lionel's $... it's a question, isn't it. Some have suggested he got some of his accounts unfrozen when his conviction was overturned. There's a bit of a time lag, but I suppose that *could* work.

It's also possible that Lionel had ways to get $ that "good" Lionel wouldn't use. (Blackmail, favors etc.) He may have also *borrowed* $ from the Chinese to fund JK's campaign.

[vyperman7]

I have always wondered this as well.

Lionel lost everything and went to prison. Lex took over the company and Lionel was left with nothing and forced to reside in a small room in the mansion.

How is it that Lionel would make back enough money to provide financial support to the Kents for the election, and to gain the clout needed to overtake Luthorcorp from Lex?

He may be Lionel Luthor, but unless Lionel has an orchard full of money trees, it is unrealistic.

But in the end, the MB is back!!

[mikemike]

does anyone else think that lionel has known since his meeting with dr swann in season 3?

at first i thought he knew since transference, but then what was the point of lionel and dr swann's meeting? will we ever know...?

[Gr8stNonKryptonianHero]

WHo knows if Lionel has dummy accounts set up that he can get money anytime he needs it without anyone catching on

[LionelLuthor]

Lionel is a mystery, and I think that there are things that we will never be 100% sure about.
I too am confused about his sudden money gain, but I can't imagine the writers sitting around a table and writing Lionel to have lots of money again without some one saying "Wait a minute....he lost all of his money, how the hell has he got it back?". Maybe Lex will ask Lionel how he suddenly got his money back, and it may fill in the plot hole a little.
But I am very pleased to see Lionel at his most evil.

[Overlord]

Powerful people aren't powerful because they're rich. Rich people are rich because they're powerful. Lionel is a powerful guy, whether he has money or not, and he can convince people to support him.

In this case, it appears he has had foreign investors supporting him despite his empty pockets. I can buy that as where he got his cash earlier this season. Not great, but an adequate explanation.

[DWBSR620]

I've been somewhat confused by Lionel's role on the show since his release from prison, since it's been all over the place. From good, to zapped, to one big question mark. Yet I think after tonight's episode we start to see it unfold. Lionel's backing of Jonathan it seems was to discredit his son's corporate standing when he lost an election for a state senate seat to an unknown farmer. Therefore eroding consumer & corporate confidence in their CEO Lex Luthor, and therefore engage in a hostile take over through using a proxy company. So that hopefully puts to rest the goal he's had since disrupting his sons election bid for State Senate. As for his attraction to Martha Kent that's been obvious since she first went to work for him several seasons back. Yet in all that we've learned of Lionel we never seen him love, so I think that even in his pursuit of Martha there is still something that he wants other then a relationship. Think about this fact Martha has been offered Jonathan's Senate Seat, a position of power that is helpful to Lionel, helpful in getting back what he truly wants, control of Luthor Corp. This whole time Lionel has been in the background positioning, and gain what he needs to make a move against Lex, and now we see this ploy coming to fruition slowly but surely. Lionel may be attracted to Martha, but rest assure he is more attracted to money and power, this has been the life of Lionel for so long, and nothing has changed. Lionel is Lex's greatest nemesis now, and I believe that in the end Lionel may very be the last wall in Lex's evolution to the dark side. Lionel has always been in the way of Lex's plans, foiling his ambitions, and checking them at every turn. I think Lionel's role is vital still, and as Jonathan's death serves as a catalyst to Clark becoming a man, a Superman, Lionel to will serve a great purpose once and for all in turning Lex into the evil person he becomes. Lionel fading away wouldn't be very fitting for a character such as him, no all that he's doing will culminate into this great moment that will change Lex forever when he deals with his father once and for all. That is of course IMHO, take care.

Peace To All.

[RedPhoenix23]

It's good to see Smallville back to what it did best and out of the absolute horrible..ness of season 4. Season 5 is close to being better than season 3 if it keeps being this good.


Meh, overall I like season 4 much more than season 3. Season 3 was all about JK's failing health, Clana angst, even more Clana angst, and how can we beat on Lex this week? Season 4 brought the fun back Smallville, even stinker eps like Ageless still had some awesome scenes, like the MB scenes in that ep for example...but stinker season 3 eps...just STANK, P-U!! The only good thing about season 3 was the continued cave stuff because that still plays out today and the growth of Lexana! Haha, had to mention it! That season Clex starts to break away and eventually dwindles out by season end, but Lexana become closer and closer.


He lost EVERYTHING. He had nothing in season 4 when he was "good". They mentioned this once or twice.


Lionels money is a mystery! I don't think he had some random bank account full of cash anywheres because in Transference he goes after the cash he stashed away for a rainy day but Lex snatched it, so LionelClark gets uber pissed and says that Lex took EVERYTHING that he had. The only thing I can think of is maybe GT gave him bags of cash to spy on Lex after she fixed his release. The way the show plays out on TV we don't actually see that she was the one who freed him, but there is a deleted scene from Krypto (maybe?) or it was Pariah, where she flat out says that she was the one who managed his release while talking to MB. So MB decides to simply stash the cash away so that he can use his "reform" as a way to get closer to Lex..for GT..but not really, MB is sneaky that way, he never gave her squat! :lol: Hence the poisoning in Ageless, and the kidnapping in Forever. Who knows maybe even after GT was killed by Lanabel he was able to get his hands on some of her stashed away cash that her hubby didn't know about. It was after GT's death that MB was all rich and powerful again, being able to hire professionals to snatch her body from Lana's and clean the place up. He did have posion in Ageless, but I don't think he'd neccessarily have to be rich and powerful to get his paws on that, heck he probably just had extra lying around from the season three finale. :D But I really, really wish the writers would just flat out say where he got his money!!!!!!!!

Its wierd that no one brings up the fact that Lionel killed his parents, but then again he was already tried and convicted for it, then later set free, as far as I know, and I am not an expert, Lionel can't stand trial for it again, its called "Double Jeopardy". LOL, but while watching Vengeance when Lionel was all "I know how you feel, I grow up in Sucide Slums and my parents were murdered too!" I was all.."yeah 'cause YOU murdered them for their insurance!" :lol:


Come season 5, he's head of LuthorCorp? In his office in this episode?

Lionel wasn't the head of LuthorCorp yet, he just had the balls to storm Lex's office and set up shop the day before the buyout thing with chinese APEX group. That's just MB for you! :D

[Lois Sullivan]

Originally posted by DWBSR620
I've bee somewhat confused by Lionel's role on the show since his release from prison, since it's been all over the place. From good, to zapped, to one big question mark. Yet I think after tonight's episode we start to see it unfold. Lionel's backing of Jonathan it seems was to discredit his son's corporate standing when he lost an election for a state senate seat to an unknown farmer. Therefore eroding consumer & corporate confidence in their CEO Lex Luthor, and therefore engage in a hostile take over through using a proxy company. So that hopefully puts to rest the goal he's had since disrupting his sons election bid for State Senate. As for his attraction to Martha Kent that's been obvious since she first went to work for him several seasons back. Yet in all that we've learned of Lionel we never seen him love, so I think that even in his pursuit of Martha there is still something that he wants other then a relationship. Think about this fact Martha has been offered Jonathan's Senate Seat, a position of power that is helpful to Lionel, helpful in getting back what he truly wants, control of Luthor Corp. This whole time Lionel has been in the background positioning, and gain what he needs to make a move against Lex, and now we see this ploy coming to fruition slowly but surely. Lionel may be attracted to Martha, but rest assure he is more attracted to money and power, this has been the life of Lionel for so long, and nothing has changed. Lionel is Lex's greatest nemesis now, and I believe that in the end Lionel may very be the last wall in Lex's evolution to the dark side. Lionel has always been in the way of Lex's plans, foiling his ambitions, and checking them at every turn. I think Lionel's role is vital still, and as Jonathan's death serves as a catalyst to Clark becoming a man, a Superman, Lionel to will serve a great purpose once and for all in turning Lex into the evil person he becomes. Lionel fading away wouldn't be very fitting for a character such as him, no all that he's doing will culminate into this great moment that will change Lex forever when he deals with his father once and for all. That is of course IMHO, take care.

Peace To All.

I could honestly buy all of that, if not for one problem. Clark.
1. He gave info to Chloe about Brainiac. Which so far makes no sense because he's never even met Brainiac, let alone would have enough info to know that he's an alien life-form with superpowers.
2. He protected the "atomic bomb" of a secret, that the Kent's are hiding, from getting out. (Now, I could buy that this was all to make sure Jonathan got elected over Lex, if not for...)
3. His meeting with Jonathan. He was in no way the MB in that meeting, hints of him were there yes, but he told Jonathan he didn't want to blackmail him, he didn't want a puppet, he wanted a partner. He told Jonathan when he showed him the pic, that like Jonathan he'd be willing to give his life to protect the secret that's in that photo.
4. He saw Clark use his powers in this episode, and didn't bat an eye. No instead he said, and I quote "Why do I get the feeling that you didn't save my life to save it, you saved it to save her. (pause) Well whatever the reason...thank you son" and put his hand on Clark's shoulder lovingly. That's not the MB at all.

[thmallville]

And what happened to Lion-El?!?! That is a major plot hole TPTB is putting us through. Will Lion-El return? Where is Jor-El? Is Lionel still being inhabited by Jor-El? I need ANSWERS!! ANSWERS!!!!!!

[SeanZo]

Lionel is the head of the APEX group. From what I gathered from this episode, they're a Chinese based underground crime group with deep pockets. Don't forget, Lionel grew up in Suicide Slum so the gangster life isn't foreign to him at all.

[Coyote]

It's very plausible that someone like Lionel would have had numerous bank accounts and all sorts of other personal assets all over the world. Lex would have no legal right to simply take these from him. A person doesn't lose all their property just because they go to jail. Lionel was charged with murder, and not any financial misdealings, so all his cash, stock, real estate, and other stuff that he personally owned should still be his, and available to him once he left prison. Lionel probably was never really poor, he may have just needed some time to track down his assets after Lex did a lot of mischief and hid them from him while he was locked up and helpless to do anything about it. Lionel would in fact probably have the right to bring legal charges against Lex. But, being Luthors, neither Lex or Lionel would want the legal authorities taking a close look at their finances.

The LuthorCorp corporate assets, on the other hand, would not be Lionel's personal property. Lex could take control over bank accounts and other property owned by the company, (including Lionel's office) if he could acquire enough stock or enough votes on the corporate board to gain control. This is apparently what they're fighting over now.

It's also a good point that Lionel's greatest asset is that he is Lionel Luthor. There are many sources both legitimate and otherwise that would be pleased to lend him money based on his reputation alone, in return for a share of the profit from whatever deal Lionel was involved in. They might not like Lionel, but business is business, and the MB is a proven moneymaker.

[DWBSR620]

Originally posted by Lois Sullivan
I could honestly buy all of that, if not for one problem. Clark.
1. He gave info to Chloe about Brainiac. Which so far makes no sense because he's never even met Brainiac, let alone would have enough info to know that he's an alien life-form with superpowers.
2. He protected the "atomic bomb" of a secret, that the Kent's are hiding, from getting out. (Now, I could buy that this was all to make sure Jonathan got elected over Lex, if not for...)
3. His meeting with Jonathan. He was in no way the MB in that meeting, hints of him were there yes, but he told Jonathan he didn't want to blackmail him, he didn't want a puppet, he wanted a partner. He told Jonathan when he showed him the pic, that like Jonathan he'd be willing to give his life to protect the secret that's in that photo.
4. He saw Clark use his powers in this episode, and didn't bat an eye. No instead he said, and I quote "Why do I get the feeling that you didn't save my life to save it, you saved it to save her. (pause) Well whatever the reason...thank you son" and put his hand on Clark's shoulder lovingly. That's not the MB at all.

Good point, the "Clark factor". Well the way I see Clark in this as far as Lionel is concerned could be viewed several ways. Lionel could be trying to gain Clark's alliance through Martha, and also in his dealings with Clark. Smallville has always seen one thing when it comes to Lex and Lionel, Clark has always been there for Lex. Now that Clark has walked away from Lex no doubt given the things Lex has been involved in, while slowly in the background Lionel has been positioning, and Clark and Lex's friendship has been waning. Now gaining Clark's trust also gains Clark's loyalty. Lionel all but standing against his son because of his sons ways while portraying himself in a better light. Lex in essence becoming the new Lionel, while Lionel imperfect yes but trying to do the right things or really portraying himself in a good light while exposing his sons wrong doings. If you think about it much like chess Lionel has been positioning the pieces, and I think that Clark is just one of those pieces, but ultimately Lionel's desires lay in Luthor Corps. CEO Office. As for the Lionel-Jor-El connection I don't think that was a manifestation of Jor-El with Lionel after being saved by Clark. In the end Lionel Luthor will be Lionel Luthor having occasionally been used by Jor-El, but ultimately we'll get to see Jor-El himself, and Lex will eventually deal with his father once and for all.

Peace To All.

[MBCorp]

What I find hilarious is that Lionel still seems to be living at the mansion with Lex. I just can't figure that one out at all. Plus there's the fact that you've got this known convicted murderer out walking about and nobody seems to treat him as if he was all that dangerous. Jonathan was the only one smart enough to still seem him as a threat. I swear to god everyone else is like, "lalala Lionel's our new best friend, lalala" Chloe is swapping emails with him. Clark didn't seem to mind at all when Lionel called him "son" and put his hand on his shoulder, Martha seems to have mellowed considerably towards him, Lois is okay about Martha accepting money from him, etc, etc. Maybe it's just me, but if I knew someone had not only killed their own parents but also tried to blow up a good friend of mine then I'd be kind of iffy about letting them hang around me, ya know?

[DWBSR620]

Originally posted by MBCorp
What I find hilarious is that Lionel still seems to be living at the mansion with Lex. I just can't figure that one out at all. Plus there's the fact that you've got this known convicted murderer out walking about and nobody seems to treat him as if he was all that dangerous. Jonathan was the only one smart enough to still seem him as a threat. I swear to god everyone else is like, "lalala Lionel's our new best friend, lalala" Chloe is swapping emails with him. Clark didn't seem to mind at all when Lionel called him "son" and put his hand on his shoulder, Martha seems to have mellowed considerably towards him, Lois is okay about Martha accepting money from him, etc, etc. Maybe it's just me, but if I knew someone had not only killed their own parents but also tried to blow up a good friend of mine then I'd be kind of iffy about letting them hang around me, ya know?

Good point.

Peace To All.

[jdot]

I would thing some if not many of Lionel's assets would have been returned to him when his conviction was overturned and, subsequently, never re-tried. An overturned conviction is a conviction that never was, hence any penalties he suffered as a result (loss of bank accounts and capital) should have been in some fashion repaid. At the very least he should have regained control of his bank accounts.

It is, however, very unlikely he would have been reinstated as CEO of Luthorcorp, which by all accounts is a publicly traded company. Hence the hostile takeover attempt.

It still leaves a big gaping hole in season 4 when he was a bum living in the guest house, but whatever.

[thmallville]

Originally posted by MBCorp
What I find hilarious is that Lionel still seems to be living at the mansion with Lex. I just can't figure that one out at all. Plus there's the fact that you've got this known convicted murderer out walking about and nobody seems to treat him as if he was all that dangerous. Jonathan was the only one smart enough to still seem him as a threat. I swear to god everyone else is like, "lalala Lionel's our new best friend, lalala" Chloe is swapping emails with him. Clark didn't seem to mind at all when Lionel called him "son" and put his hand on his shoulder, Martha seems to have mellowed considerably towards him, Lois is okay about Martha accepting money from him, etc, etc. Maybe it's just me, but if I knew someone had not only killed their own parents but also tried to blow up a good friend of mine then I'd be kind of iffy about letting them hang around me, ya know?

I KNOW!! Clark's like "I know you tried to blow up Chloe last year after she helped put you in jail for murdering your own flesh and blood, and while you were in jail you proceeded to cause as much trouble as you did when you were free, and then you lost all your money so now you're playing dirty to get it all back and decieving many people, and if they try to stop you you have them killed,but you've really turned over a new leaf, Lionel. I really like how warm and fuzzy you're being, calling me son and all. I feel that after my father's death you inadvertently caused (wait Clark doesn't know that) we can become closer. Who knows, maybe one day you'll be my stepfather! Can I call you Dad? Oh, BTW, me and a few buddies are going out for pizza tonight! Wanna come?"
OK so that was a little long and rambling-ish, but I'm quite bored today.

[smallvilleobsessor17]

lol...for all its rambling, thmallville's post is actually true

[Watching Smallville]

Well, there's pre-Transference Lionel, and post-Transference Lionel. I think post-T Lionel is not evil. But he's tricky, that's for sure. ;)

[jaime,oburg]

Originally posted by vyperman7


But in the end, the MB is back!!


*in my best Austin Powers voice* "Yeah Baby!":D

[MyOwnSuperhero]

Originally posted by Watching Smallville
Well, there's pre-Transference Lionel, and post-Transference Lionel. I think post-T Lionel is not evil. But he's tricky, that's for sure. ;) Exactly.

Don't get me wrong, I still think that Lionel's a sneaky, dirty playing, SOB but I also think that his aims are significantly different since his Transference.

Remember when Lionel was setting up his big charity deal? There didn't seem to be any doubt that he would have been able to use his past corporate clout to rustle up some serious money. I can only imagine that after his possible turn back to evil in Onyx Lex would be willing to give him a position back at LuthorCorp, and from there it wouldn't be too big a leap to think that he called in all those favors to give him a financial foundation again.

[BoSoxJim]

isn't the mansion lionel's?????

i find it interesting he still let's lex live there, not the other way around :)

[Watching Smallville]

That's an interesting question. When Lionel goes to jail, all his assets should go to his next of kin -- Lex. But when he's pardoned, I'm not sure what happens. I thought Lex still owned everything, but maybe not.

[ClLaLeChFAN01]

Lionel is awesome.....he always keeps us guessing what he is up to next. What would a day in Lionels brain be like? mmmmmm

[Lois Sullivan]

Originally posted by Watching Smallville
That's an interesting question. When Lionel goes to jail, all his assets should go to his next of kin -- Lex. But when he's pardoned, I'm not sure what happens. I thought Lex still owned everything, but maybe not.

No. If your thrown into jail your assets don't go to anyone. They remain your assests. Lex stole Lionel's assets. Take Bill Gates. He still owns Microsoft, and is Chairman of the Board. But he's no longer the CEO of the company, he stepped down after the lawsuit against Microsoft. But he still owns everything that he made. Luthor, when he went to jail, was stripped of his title of CEO of LuthorCorp, and Chairman of the Board. It was Lex that took ownership of the company from him. in Transference, when he's in Clark's body and goes to Lex to get his money back he even tells Lex "What do you care. it's not your money, you stole it. Now I want it back."

When Lionel came back, Lex told him that Lionel wasn't getting LuthorCorp back. Lionel also said "you stripped me of every penny I once had, and I'm making the best of it."

Though, because Lex took Lionel's assets, not only the company, it's probable that Lex gave him back his money, but kept the company. The house, I always took as belonging to Lex alone. Lionel had it shipped over yes, but on more than one occasion, Lex has kicked Lionel out of the house, even before he lost everything. It seems to me that the house is Lex' alone. Which is why he lost it when Lionel and Lucas took LuthorCorp from him.

[Watching Smallville]

Originally posted by Lois Sullivan
No. If your thrown into jail your assets don't go to anyone. They remain your assests. Lex stole Lionel's assets. Take Bill Gates. He still owns Microsoft, and is Chairman of the Board. But he's no longer the CEO of the company, he stepped down after the lawsuit against Microsoft. But he still owns everything that he made.
True. Martha Stewart didn't lose her assets. But what if it's a life sentence? Does your property just hang around?

[Lois Sullivan]

Originally posted by Watching Smallville
True. Martha Stewart didn't lose her assets. But what if it's a life sentence? Does your property just hang around?

All depends. Sometimes people enact power of attorney when it comes to imprisonment. Which Luthor might have done. I doubt that though, considering Lex was one of two people that turned him in, I doubt he'd give Lex power of attorney. Lex probably used Lionel's conviction as a way of liquidating most, if not all of Lionel's assests. Though, Lionel would still have a right to his personal fortune, not his company. Which is why he tried to buy it back.

[Watching Smallville]

Thanks. :) It does raise some questions about what happened to Lionel's money -- whether he got it back, how he got it back.

[Lois Sullivan]

I've often wondered if the reason Lionel has money now isn't because of his supposed "Charitable foundation" that perhaps he was taking the donations and keeping them for himself.

[Watching Smallville]

I think Lionel's legal -- but he still has his lifelong business connections. He managed to engineer a LuthorCorp takeover. Maybe he got some lawyer friends to do some fancy legal footwork to get his money back.

[BoSoxJim]

Originally posted by Overlord
Powerful people aren't powerful because they're rich. Rich people are rich because they're powerful.

i really disagree with those statements.

there are a lot of rich people without power.

however, i can't think of many powerful people that do not have a ton of money.

and when was lionel poor??? do you really think he doesn't have dozens of off-shore accounts where he's stashed money???

c'mon, this is lionel luthor for god's sake.

[Crazy4Smallville]

Lionel doesn't need to be head of Luthorcorp to have pull. He's probably done enough under the table favors throughout his lifetime that he could lose his fortune again and again, but still have favors to call it to gain it all back, again and again. He's Lionel Luthor. Powerful men - the one's who worked their way to the top, don't stay at the bottom for very long. They're resourceful and always find a way.

In this episode - it appeared that Lionel was using his contacts and information to try and retake Luthorcorp from Lex, claiming that Lex got sloppy by trying to run for Senate and jeapordized the company (Or a personal slap-in-the-face to his son that he's getting sloppy), yet he wasn't expecting Lex to be holding the proverbial "I know about you and JK" card. Lionel got trumped by Lex, so therefore Lex retained control of Luthorcorp and took his key back. It doesn't mean Lionel will stop, it's just proving that Lex is getting better at playing their game. As he said in Season 1 - this is a chess game. Lex isn't playing checkers anymore.

[SuperStupidPower]

Um, he spearheaded a takeover by calling in favors. He used OTHER people's money. He still has none.

Additionally, his attempt to retake Luthorcorp was not successful. Lex had the dirt on Lionel and forced Lionel to give up.

so to sum up, Lionel = broke, Lionel = Not in charge of Luthorcorp, Lionel = very evil, Lionel = very powerfully connected man.

Its the same Lionel we've always had except for when the transference stone boggled his brain or Jor-El possessed him.

[muffinpeddler]

Originally posted by Quadrotriticale
I don't think the producers have any clue where they are going with Lionel. :rotfl: :rotfl:

[AzarN]

I can't believe there is still confusion regarding Lionel now that Vengeance has aired. Believe me, I was certainly up there with the "TPTB have lost the plot. What are they doing with Lionel?" gang, but Vengeance explained everything, and I thought these forums would be breathing sighs of relief.

Since he returned to his evil self (which I'm pretty sure is the case now), Lionel has been working with the APEX group, a rival conglomorate which seeks to buyout Luthorcorp in a hostile takeover. After Lex took control of Luthorcorp, the APEX group offered Lionel the chance to lead the takeover, returning him to power. This explains where Lionel's finances have been coming from this season: He's working for one of Luthorcorp's rivals.

To make sure this plan succeeded, and to ensure that Lex wouldn't have the finances to resist the buyout, Lionel funded Jonathan Ken'ts senetorial campaign, hoping to solidify Jonathan's seat in the senate. If Lex were to lose the race, he wouldn't have the funds to fight the takeover, nor would any bank loan him the money.

It all makes perfect sense. Who better for the APEX group to hire in it's bid to control Luthorcorp than it's former CEO? Genius.

Thankfully, Lex had the Martha card up his sleeve to defeat Lionel.

[Watching Smallville]

There's confusion about Lionel because there's confusion about Lex. If Lex is sympathetic and Lionel works against him, then Lionel is the villain. This was plainly the case in Seasons 1- 3. But now, Lex has become rather villainous. So, with Lionel working against Lex, Lionel becomes sympathetic.

Not to say that two villains can't work against each other, but trying to defeat Lex is no longer a bad thing, the way it was when the show started. In fact, TPTB have deliberately made defeating Lex a good thing by pitting Jonathan against him in a political campaign.

So that's why the confusion, IMHO. Not to mention the fact that Lionel is just plain wiggy this season. :lol: