Was it really Lionel in Traveler or was it Brainiac?

[xrayvision]

We know that Brainiac changed his form into that of Lionel's once already this season when he tricked Clark into getting blue kryptonite from Dax-Ur. Is it possible that it was not Lionel we saw in Traveler and that it's not just a coincidence that Brainiac is in the next episode? We know that Kara's bracelet was in Lionel's safe and that in the preview we saw Brainiac & Kara together. Maybe Brainiac has been parading around as Lionel quite a few times this season. If he knows that Lionel is Jor-El's emissary, then doing things to shatter Clark's trust in him would be a logical next step. I can sense this happening after what they did with Bizarro in Gemini.

Your thoughts? Please don't post any spoilers.

[luvinChlark]

I'm pretty sure it was Lionel. Because Lionel is the one who knew about Vertias. Brainiac was not apart of that.

[xrayvision]

I'm pretty sure it was Lionel. Because Lionel is the one who knew about Vertias. Brainiac was not apart of that.

But don't you think Brainiac could find out? He's the smartest being in Smallville at the moment.

[luvinChlark]

But don't you think Brainiac could find out? He's the smartest being in Smallville at the moment.

maybe but in the end Lionel wasn't planning on killing him. He even called Clark a "human being".

[MidgardDragon]

Lionel was acting far too much like Lionel. And he wouldn't have been quaking and scared while drinking before Clark came in. The only reason Brainiac would've acted that way is to put on a show for Clark. And since he was doing it well before Clark entered the office, then I say no, it wasn't Brainiac.

[christian_kryptonian]

I think that you have a lot of hope inb Lionel still being good, and he might, but I find it more likely that it was not Brainiac. I'd be VERY surprised.

[6-Super-Man -5]

Oops, I accidentally pressed Brainiac, but my real vote is Lionel.

[ClLaLeChFAN01]

You know i never thought about that, but I think it was lionel

[xrayvision]

Lionel was acting far too much like Lionel. And he wouldn't have been quaking and scared while drinking before Clark came in. The only reason Brainiac would've acted that way is to put on a show for Clark. And since he was doing it well before Clark entered the office, then I say no, it wasn't Brainiac.

Well, there is an option that says it was Brainiac up until the last scene. If Lionel was somehow kidnapped and got to his office at that time Clark showed up, he could have been quaking after whatever ordeal he went through.

Imagine this: Brainiac recreated Bizarro between Persona and Traveler into a version who would obey his command or at least put up less resistance. Then in Traveler, Clark would have been dealing with Brainiac-as-Lionel throughout the entire episode except for that last scene while Lionel would have been dealing with Bizarro (offscreen) thinking that it was Clark. Then at the end, the 2 meet in that final scene, not knowing that it was their first meeting in this episode. Naturally Clark would not believe Lionel, who is confused. Lionel's explanation to Clark about Veritas contacting him is the truth, but is associated with whatever events happened with Bizarro. A cool way they could do this is by having Lionel kidnapped and taken into the Bizarro World where everyone around him would be acting much different and where he was forced to trap Bizarro to protect himself. Therefore Lionel would believe that what he did was good since Bizarro (who he would have thought was Clark) would have been trying to kill him.

I do know that the preview for the next episode showed Brainiac & Kara talking, which tells me that he is interested in her presence on Earth. If this turns out to be true, then it would be a motive for Brainiac as Lionel to have taken her bracelet.

All I know is something definitely doesn't smell right. I haven't given up on Bizarro's return. Brainiac may be the main villian of the season finale, and he would probably need some help taking on both Clark & Kara.

By the way, how great would it be if we got a glimpse of the Bizarro World. We got one of the Phantom Zone, and one of the Bizarro World would be something.

[Jaderoyale]

Lionel.

[Humdinger]

You come up with such interesting theories, Xray, I never thought of this. And since Al/Miles have a penchant for offscreen details that can't be explained otherwise, your theory is as good as anything they might come up with. I'll bet we're gonna see some major plot holes in the near future!

[Nerial]

It was Lionel.

Brainiac can pretend to be Lionel, but he'd only do that to put on a show for others. There was no reason for him to put on that show for Pierce when he was in the command post of the prison room.

Besides, Brainiac had no real motive to kidnap Clark. The whole reason Lionel kidnapped Clark was to keep him hidden (for himself) away from who was involved with Veritas. Then, he used Clark as ransom to retrieve the evidence linking Lionel to the Veritas murders.

It makes no sense for Brainiac to go through all this (not to mention building that cage, which took Lionel years to do), in order to contain Clark for a day or two, and then plead for Pierce not to kill Clark.

[Hopefulsuicide]

Well, there is an option that says it was Brainiac up until the last scene. If Lionel was somehow kidnapped and got to his office at that time Clark showed up, he could have been quaking after whatever ordeal he went through.

Imagine this: Brainiac recreated Bizarro between Persona and Traveler into a version who would obey his command or at least put up less resistance. Then in Traveler, Clark would have been dealing with Brainiac-as-Lionel throughout the entire episode except for that last scene while Lionel would have been dealing with Bizarro (offscreen) thinking that it was Clark. Then at the end, the 2 meet in that final scene, not knowing that it was their first meeting in this episode. Naturally Clark would not believe Lionel, who is confused. Lionel's explanation to Clark about Veritas contacting him is the truth, but is associated with whatever events happened with Bizarro. A cool way they could do this is by having Lionel kidnapped and taken into the Bizarro World where everyone around him would be acting much different and where he was forced to trap Bizarro to protect himself. Therefore Lionel would believe that what he did was good since Bizarro (who he would have thought was Clark) would have been trying to kill him.

I do know that the preview for the next episode showed Brainiac & Kara talking, which tells me that he is interested in her presence on Earth. If this turns out to be true, then it would be a motive for Brainiac as Lionel to have taken her bracelet.

All I know is something definitely doesn't smell right. I haven't given up on Bizarro's return. Brainiac may be the main villian of the season finale, and he would probably need some help taking on both Clark & Kara.

By the way, how great would it be if we got a glimpse of the Bizarro World. We got one of the Phantom Zone, and one of the Bizarro World would be something.

there are so many holes in this theory

my biggest issue with it, is that the entire plot you suggested is out of character for smallville. its too fantastical. its too weird. it was clearly a plot about Lionel still being a Luthor no matter how hard he tries, and showing Clark he can't trust him, which all leads towards his eventual arch nemesis status with Lex

if it weren't Lionel then this entire episode would be cheapened. it would be turned from a story of human weakness and obeying your true nature, into something alien and pointless

[KEakaCK]

I'm thinking it was really Lionel but I'm left to wonder if it really was Patricia Swann that sent those letters to Lionel. Something just doesn't add up for me. Can't wait till Veritas to see it things to unfold and some of my new questions from Traveler.

[Kel-El09]

I think it was really lionel. Because even though what lionel did was awful and deceitful, he would have been much more mean and willing to kill had Brainiac transformed himself into lionel.

[Kal-El-073]

It was Lionel because he was acting too Lionel-esque for it to be Braniac. When Braniac did pose as Lionel you could tell the difference in the way he acted. Sure he fooled Clark but that was for the stories sake.

[Sweetie]

It was Lionel.How is Brainiac supposed to know about Veritas and Victoria Swann?

[xrayvision]

The only reason I think the possibility (although small) exists that it could have been Brainiac was that Brainiac would want to isolate Clark from Jor-El's emissary and by playing a perfect role of Lionel after finding out everything about him, Brainiac could get Clark to distrust him as he did back in Solitude with Jor-El, but in a much more subtle way.

[aXem]

If it was brainiac, then that would be a terrible plot twist.

[chlo-el]

If I haven't seen the ep and just heard about this I would say it was Brainiac but the way Lionel went about everything seemed so true to his character. I don't think Brainiac would have shown such an inner conflict that Lionel showed.

[All about Clark]

I think this is a ridiculous question. Braniac needs Clark alive. No it was just Lionel.