Dunk Tank Symbolism in Facade

[ginnyfan]

My sister and I were watching Facade for the hundreth time (we've gotta get our dose of Clois where we can :) ) and we noticed something. The Dunktank is a symbol of falling in love.

In the beginning of the episode Clark is attempting to hit the bullseye with Lana, but can't because of the kryptonite necklace. This is also kinda clever because of what stands between them all throughout their relationship are the meteor showers and the secrets surrounding those events.

Anyways, Clark cannot hit the bulls eye with Lana. And although they eventually get back together much later...it doesn't have a happy ending.

At the end of the episode Lois misses Clarks bullseye at first but then hits it and Clark falls (for Lois?).

Chloe looks quite sad. The episode ends on Chloe's sad face and as the lyric "So much for my happy ending plays in the background.

My sister and I were imagining Chloe trying to hit the bullseye before Lois and failing.

We thought it was kind of cool. :)

[hedi sweet thighs]

oh yeah the looks that Clark and Lois exchanged was forshadowing the future love in the making.I noticed also that Chole had a look of being left out field,

[ginnyfan]

Love your username Hedi sweet thighs.... heeheehee... :)

[Scareafobia]

Originally posted by hedi sweet thighs
oh yeah the looks that Clark and Lois exchanged was forshadowing the future love in the making.I noticed also that Chole had a look of being left out field,

To me Chloe's look seemed more like a "knowing" look. Like she knew they both will have feelings for each other.

[Moonshayde]

I always felt bad for Chloe in this episode. I saw the spark between Lois and Clark and then we have CHloe just witnessing it all. I mean, she's already been through this with Clark and Lana.

I don't know how things will end with her.

[ginnyfan]

I hope she ends up a sucessful journalist independant of Clark, and in a relationship that is fulfilling to her (not with Clark).

She kind of idealized him for so long... I just think she's past that. :) She's chosen to move past it.

[ceri]

I understand and know that it wont happen, but I would love Chloe and Clarke to get together! I really like Chloe (much more than I like moaning Lana) especially know that she knows Clarkes secret and thinks more of him than she did before. She has totally exceptance for him - which any person in a relationship would be lucky to have!

I really do think they would be brilliant together!!

I do really like Lois too though! But we know what happens there!

[ginnyfan]

I'm watching Season 4 again and Chloe and Clark really have good chemistry toward the end. They always do... but during Oynx and Blank... I got some Chlark vibes... I feel like I'm betraying my very badly abused ship a little... but during those episodes... I wouldn't have minded a little Chlark...

However, they've just dragged out the whole Lana-Clark-Chloe triangle so long that I'm ready for Chloe to move on. Chloe and Clark do have good chemistry... but keep them as friends... it how I feel at this point. :)

[eas]

Ah, the "dunk tank" scene. One of the highlights of season 4 & one of my all-time favorite Clois scenes ever. It was perfection: Clark in a wet T-shirt (yum), Lois/Clark bantering, the hair ruffle, the water splashing... everything was perfect about that scene.

And I have to say that I didn't mind witnessing Chloe look a bit sad at what was going on. It was a great reminder of what we all know: Lois is the cousin he ends up with. Not Chloe.


Originally posted by ginnyfan
I'm watching Season 4 again and Chloe and Clark really have good chemistry toward the end. They always do... but during Oynx and Blank... I got some Chlark vibes... I feel like I'm betraying my very badly abused ship a little... but during those episodes... I wouldn't have minded a little Chlark...

However, they've just dragged out the whole Lana-Clark-Chloe triangle so long that I'm ready for Chloe to move on. Chloe and Clark do have good chemistry... but keep them as friends... it how I feel at this point. :)

Before Lois came on, I wouldn't have minded a bit of Clark, either. Or even in season 4. I loved the last line in "Blank" -- "You trusted me." Every time I see that, I get chills.

But, at this stage, it's gotta be friendship. The romantic angle of it seems completely pointless now.

[ginnyfan]

Originally posted by eas
Ah, the "dunk tank" scene. One of the highlights of season 4 & one of my all-time favorite Clois scenes ever. It was perfection: Clark in a wet T-shirt (yum), Lois/Clark bantering, the hair ruffle, the water splashing... everything was perfect about that scene.

Yes! :D *sighs contentedly*


Originally posted by eas
Before Lois came on, I wouldn't have minded a bit of Clark, either. Or even in season 4. I loved the last line in "Blank" -- "You trusted me." Every time I see that, I get chills.

But, at this stage, it's gotta be friendship. The romantic angle of it seems completely pointless now.

I agree. :D

Especially now that Chloe has a boyfriend. Chlark would be extremely regressive.

[biaaly]

Hey guys.. I think I read somewhere (although now I can't remember where LOL), that Tom and Erica adlibbed this scene.. is that true?

[Honey45]

I think that's a good observation, but I really doubt the writer's used the dunktank as some sort of symbolism.

[RedKryptonClark]

I love Facade, it's one of my favorite episodes from season 4, which is saying a lot considering I loved season 4.

Wonderful catch on the symmetry of Clark's first real *sparking* interactions between Lana and Lois.

When you think of them both, Clark was just so timid and completely confused w/ Lana, yet with Lois, he faces her with a fearless ferocity and is even defiant (arms crossed over chest,) he's jeering jokes at her "Come on didn't those boys on the base teach you anything?" and he's SMILING. He challenges her because unlike Lana, she challenges HIM.

Although he does hide his abilities to Lois, the rest of his personality is REAL with her. He talks about in Season 3 how he had to put up a facade of the man who he thought Lana would like him to be. Lois already thinks he's a big dork (a hot one, but still a DORK) so he can act like his true self. Face it, after already seeing him in his all-together, he really has nothing to hide from her, does he?

Because he doesn't, initially at least, see Lois as anything other than an annoyance he's got nothing to hide from her. Lois's hitting him on the bullseye is a metaphor for their relationship overall. She's got him pegged on so many levels and the fact that she's grooving on his same brain-waves drives poor Clark bonkers. She completes his sentences, tells him exactly what he's feeling, is able to decypher his clever codes (Krypto as the dog's name,) and she can just care less about what he's feeling. Lois is FREEING to him.

Lois is more like a guy friend to Clark which is part of what I think he finds unsettling with her. She kicks ass and repeatedly pulls his butt out of the fire which turns his whole perception of women on end. Having LOIS dunk him further solidifies his confusion. Lana and Chloe both see his football stuff as "guys stuff" whereas Lois who spent life on the military base background she sees that there are no limits for women.

The dunking is also in some ways a metaphor for Clark to wash away his past and receive a fresh new start. The path to Lois may be winding and confusing, but ultimately they began with a bang.

[biaaly]

^^^^ ITA!

[ginnyfan]

Wonderful post Red Krypton Clark! I totally agree too!!!

[Maryliz48]

personally the end of this episode made me feel really sorry for Chloe and root for her even more :( . i really dont think the producers would have scenes like this and want the audience to feel srry for a girl whose in love with her best guy firend since season one who they do everything together...only to have that best friend end up falling for her cousin of all ppl ....her cousin ...haha it really wouldnt make much sense writting wise

[freefall]

Awesome post ginnyfan! The dunk tank scene has always been a great favourite of mine, I always grin like crazy everytime I watch it during the epsiode, or when vidders include it in their videos :) Not just simply because I'm a Clois shipper, but also because I think it's the first time ever I saw a full-blown smile like that from Clark - he was clearly enjoying himself and being a a very good sport. Smallville hadn't that kind of lighthearted fun for a very long time before the dunk tank scene.

The end with Chloe looking dejected was very reminiscent of her own reaction after seeing that Clana kiss in Calling. Here are two scenes where we saw Clark being completely happy with Lana and Lois, and then the the camera panned out to Chloe either crying her eyes out or looking very sad.

While I like that Clana moment, and the Clois even better, seeing Chloe like that kinda ruined it a little for me. I suppose they just can't resist throwing that angst factor in :)

[LoveHurts38]

Originally posted by RedKryptonClark
I love Facade, it's one of my favorite episodes from season 4, which is saying a lot considering I loved season 4.

Wonderful catch on the symmetry of Clark's first real *sparking* interactions between Lana and Lois.

When you think of them both, Clark was just so timid and completely confused w/ Lana, yet with Lois, he faces her with a fearless ferocity and is even defiant (arms crossed over chest,) he's jeering jokes at her "Come on didn't those boys on the base teach you anything?" and he's SMILING. He challenges her because unlike Lana, she challenges HIM.

Although he does hide his abilities to Lois, the rest of his personality is REAL with her. He talks about in Season 3 how he had to put up a facade of the man who he thought Lana would like him to be. Lois already thinks he's a big dork (a hot one, but still a DORK) so he can act like his true self. Face it, after already seeing him in his all-together, he really has nothing to hide from her, does he?

Because he doesn't, initially at least, see Lois as anything other than an annoyance he's got nothing to hide from her. Lois's hitting him on the bullseye is a metaphor for their relationship overall. She's got him pegged on so many levels and the fact that she's grooving on his same brain-waves drives poor Clark bonkers. She completes his sentences, tells him exactly what he's feeling, is able to decypher his clever codes (Krypto as the dog's name,) and she can just care less about what he's feeling. Lois is FREEING to him.

Lois is more like a guy friend to Clark which is part of what I think he finds unsettling with her. She kicks ass and repeatedly pulls his butt out of the fire which turns his whole perception of women on end. Having LOIS dunk him further solidifies his confusion. Lana and Chloe both see his football stuff as "guys stuff" whereas Lois who spent life on the military base background she sees that there are no limits for women.

The dunking is also in some ways a metaphor for Clark to wash away his past and receive a fresh new start. The path to Lois may be winding and confusing, but ultimately they began with a bang.

Love your thinking:)

[NadiaBreca]

Well,that's pretty obvious,imo,this is "falling for you" eh? :p:rotfl:

[MannaBanana]

This was easily one of my all time favorite Clois moments! The chemistry was so raw and pure, its was beautifully done! I smile everytime I see it:)