Did Lionel die a good guy?

[ForzaItalia]

Were we suppose to just forget that Lionel was evil for the first five seasons? It seems Al & Miles forgot. Were we really suppose to look at this as a tragedy when an evil fictional character died?
To me, the ending was a bit weird.

[roccanater]

Its Smallville, just accept it. Haha.

[Krypton935]

I think he died good as he died protecting Clark which is what he has (pretty much) done since chosen as Jor-El's oracle. :)

[boywithbluehanger]

Its Smallville, just accept it. Haha.

amen! :lol:

Really though that should be the show's slogan. It would really be a warning to mythos/continuity/canon lovers.

[meteor_phreak]

Yes, he died as a good guy. He didn't erase everything evil he had done, but he made a lot of progress. and given the rest of a natural lifespan of helping clark, perhaps he would have.

and once you throw 'fictional' in that last question, would it matter whether he was evil or not? seems like you're making two different arguments in the same question.

I thought given that he died protecting clark, yes, it was a tragedy. and no, almiles didn't forget this, because they kept making people bring it up, like clark not trusting him, and chloe's lines about how he left a lot of damage in his wake. and lana not trusting him. and the bad reactions martha got for befriending him. and it goes on and on.

i thought lionel's past was one of the best kept history lessons of the show. now they DO forget things a lot, i just don't think this was one of them.

[thehenry89]

i think lionel was always slightly benevolent, but it was overshadowed by his evil deeds.

[psyko69]

Lionel died a good guy on Clark's side.

Beyond. All. Doubt.

[savingpeoplething]

I think Lionel became a changed man in S4 and even though he wavered a few times, he pretty much stayed that way.

I'm okay with Lionel dying as a good guy because, to me, that makes Lex's villainy even worse. This probably might sound weird, but if he killed a bad guy, characters might not feel so scared of him, but if he kills a good guy who didn't deserve it? Makes him more villainous.

[LilyLovesChlark]

I believe Lionel Luther died a man of hidden honor. He was protecting Clark since Day 1. Even if it didn't seem so... it all was well worth it in the end - As the Kryptonian Message he left Clark stated. All he ever wanted to do was protect Kal-El and his Destiny, even if that meant using his resources for good and evil. He was the last father figure Clark Kent would ever have IMO.. and his apparently. Lets not let his villainy cloud his greatness in life. Lets do his death some justice people!

I'm going to miss him. =[

[SteveS]

Yes, Lionel died a good guy, he explained in the previous episode or so about his efforts to change and save himself by doing good to counteract his previous evil, that is why he died with such equanimity.

So, dating back to a very old thread, was Lionel truly a changed man for the good? Yes, he was.