Lex's Final Speech/ In the Fortress

[kszonew]

Some say that when a person dies they choose what they say as their last few words very carefully. In "Arctic", Lex said something I'm sure few thought he would say. He said that he loved Clark as a brother and was sorry he had to do what he did. As far as we could tell, he was destroying himself and Clark. This just didn't seem like the Lex that killed his own father and did so many things that were unsavory over the last couple seasons. It's almost as in the moment he thought he was going to die he wanted to try and make amends, if possible. He thought he was doing the right thing.

We know that the show is pretty much just an origins story. It isn't a pre-equal to an one Superman movie or comic. TPTB have taken liberties. What if tonight was their biggest one? What IF Lex really is dead? Perhaps in the Smallville supermanverse, Clark's battle with Lex didn't quite go into his adulthood. Perhaps that is why they are introducing a new villian - as someone who becomes Clark's main foe in the new take on the story.

Not crazy about the way this episode ended suddenly, however just felt like posting some thoughts to ponder, discuss, etc.

[minerva73]

He did think of Clark as a brother back when he saved him in Season 1. After he saw that Clark never hurt him or did anything bad to him, he probably feels guilty knowing that he has to stop whatever threat Clark poses before it actually comes into fruition.

Lex wanted to save the human race by himself and in order for him to save it, he had to end up controlling the person who he valued as a brother so many years ago. Lex would probably hesitate before he killed Clark because of the bond that they've shared over the years. This episode in my opinion, showed how true that is.

[LadyJaneGrey15]

Anyone else catch the Clex moment? Lex holding Clark in his arms as the fortress is falling apart around them...classic. Can anyone else remember the rest of that line? It just seemed to be one of the rare human moments we've gotten from Lex in the past several episodes. Lex has been so hell-bent on discovering the secrets of Veritas, and after killing his father and burning the memory of himself as a child in the fireplace, one would think there wouldn't be a whole lot of emotions left. It makes me wonder if Clark had reached out to Lex more, instead of always barging into the manor accusing him of things, maybe Lex wouldn't have gone all psycho villian in the end.

[J_woman_power]

He said "I loved you like a brother, Clark. But it has to end this way. I'm sorry."

There was probably more before that but I don't remember. Definitely a Clex scene, lol

[jpoeling]

It was a back step in Lex's character I thought we broke through to the evil ruthless step and left weak gooey "Alexander" in the flames.

[colonyofcells]

It was obvious that Lex did not like what he was doing to Clark but Lex had to do what he believed was needed for the human species to survive.

[LadyJaneGrey15]

But who can resist gooey!Lex? The one thing I didn't like about Lex's character evolution is that he never became a classic- for lack of a better word truly *cool* villian. He had his moments, usually when he was torturing someone. Think of the Aquaman torture or when he had the Flash in a cage. Witty, sarcastic, very much delighting in someone else's torment. But the Lex of this season has come across as somewhat depressed and flat- no snappy rejoinders or smug satisfaction- just single-mindedly determined to find the truth, without much personality. It's as though he became evil by default when he couldn't get some lovin'. No wonder Michael got tired of how it was being written.

[MackLove]

I agree with LadyJane. Lex from S6 would have looked at the falling ice and booked it. Kinda like the Lex in SM Returns.

[minerva73]

But who can resist gooey!Lex? The one thing I didn't like about Lex's character evolution is that he never became a classic- for lack of a better word truly *cool* villian. He had his moments, usually when he was torturing someone. Think of the Aquaman torture or when he had the Flash in a cage. Witty, sarcastic, very much delighting in someone else's torment. But the Lex of this season has come across as somewhat depressed and flat- no snappy rejoinders or smug satisfaction- just single-mindedly determined to find the truth, without much personality. It's as though he became evil by default when he couldn't get some lovin'. No wonder Michael got tired of how it was being written.

Those were random people, though. They didn't have that bond with Lex that Clark has with him. Clark saved him from dying, Clark saved him from a mental institution, and Clark has helped him with other things. Lex still has a consience (even with Little Lex's death) and that's why he's been thinking about what happened in "Quest" when he murdered Lionel in "Descent" or why he said that he's sorry that he has to do this to Clark in "Arctic".

[LexLuv180]

Yep, and I'm happy they did that dialogue at least, and it was bittersweet rather just 'snappy'. The thing that crushes me about Smallville is there will now be no more scenes like that :(

[jazzylg]

That was a special, bittersweet scene.

[colonyofcells]

Lex was unfortunately misled by Brainiac. Lex I am sure really loves Clark but Brainiac told Lex Clark was evil so Lex really thought he was saving the world from Clark. Lex is also a hero even though his methods tend to be illegal and Lex tends to kill people in his way to saving the world.

[LexLuv180]

If the one thiing they changed about the superman legend is that Lex dies, they'd never live it down. Thankfully they wouldn't dare do that. I think I'll cry every episode next year because Lex isn't in it. Not seriously, but you know what I mean. It would have been a much better year with him . Not because of him being such an incredible actor (although he is), but because the stories of season seven need wrapping up now.

[kanamekun]

A few people mentioned that Lex wasn't evil because he said he loved Clark like a brother. Let's look at how Lex has loved his brothers:

Julian Luthor - Cloned him repeatedly in an attempt to recreate a family
Adrian Cross - A clone of Julian, Lex shot him point blank as he said, "You're not my brother! You're a mistake."
Grant Gabriel - A clone of Julian, Lex hires an assassin to kill Grant in front of his dad.The only brother he treats decently is his half-brother Lucas - they scheme together to take down Lionel, and the Lex sends Lucas into hiding (and never sends for him, even with Lionel dies). In fact, Lex spends much of Season 7 attempting to clone his old brother Julian... completely ignoring that he has a real half-brother, Lucas.

If that's how Lex loves his brothers, then maybe being loved like a brother is a sign of Lex's evil ways! Ok that's a stretch, but it's pretty clear that Lex doesn't know how to love (or be loved).

[JNottle]

In the first season he said to Clark when he gave him some tickets to take Lana out on a date, you're like the younger brother I never had, so I suppose when he was good he would of loved Clark if he was his brother, but by season six and seven he was bitter, jealous, and the fact Clarks' not his brother he had no reason to be jealous of him until later in the series.

[Theshadow129x]

I already talked about this in another thread but i'll say ti again. the brothers he loved in the past were artificial, he tried to make love instead of actually earning it. he earned clarks care and love when they were friends. its understandable why still after all teh bad things they have gone through he would still have a soft spot for Clark. Even though brothers fight and have a falling out, they still have a soft spot for one another. Lex will always have a soft spot for Clark, but that wont stop him from doing what he deems correct and right in his mind. He's delusional from all the things hes gone through in his life with people telling him hes the villain. He has never been looked at as the hero because of who his fatehr is. in his mind he doenst know if things are wrong or right due to the fact that hes been punished for being a good kid so when he does bad thnigs he doesnt look at it like that. thats lex Luthor, a lost soul not knowing which way is up.

[kanamekun]

Lex's love is very poisonous. He is a a classic narcissist - he loves intensely but entirely conditionally. If you accept his loves on his terms, he will do anything to protect and love you. Examples include Clark (in the early seasons), Lana, Grant, and Kara. He is always trying to save and protect somebody on the show.

However - if you don't completely trust him to take care of you completely, Lex will turn on you in a rage. He killed Grant after Grant refused to let him protect him from Lionel... that's classic Lex. If you don't let him control you completely, then his love turns into rage and he will do anything to destroy you. That's classic narcissism - and the writers have done an awesome job of being consistent with his character on that front.

[freefall]

Lex's love is very poisonous. He is a a classic narcissist - he loves intensely but entirely conditionally. If you accept his loves on his terms, he will do anything to protect and love you. Examples include Clark (in the early seasons), Lana, Grant, and Kara. He is always trying to save and protect somebody on the show.

However - if you don't completely trust him to take care of you completely, Lex will turn on you in a rage. He killed Grant after Grant refused to let him protect him from Lionel... that's classic Lex. If you don't let him control you completely, then his love turns into rage and he will do anything to destroy you. That's classic narcissism - and the writers have done an awesome job of being consistent with his character on that front.

To Lex, *any*, ANY sort of boundary from the other party will constitute as a betrayal to him. He'd justify keeping stuff from you in the name of love and protection, but God forbid if you yourself tried to keep anything from him.

[jimmyolsenblues]

lex was not raised normally so for him he treats his brothers the same way his father treated him, abuse is a cycle.

[baltazor]

Yes you don't want Lex's love !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ginx]

lex was not raised normally so for him he treats his brothers the same way his father treated him, abuse is a cycle.

I agree. Lex 'loved' his brothers as he saw love....which was broken and full of mistrust - so as soon as he failed to trust his 'brother' or family for that matter - he got rid of them before they could 'harm' anyone (meaning him) again. Lex 'saving the world' is really just protecting himself and trying to tell himself it's for the greater good.

[Silent Kal]

... Lex will always have a soft spot for Clark...

Here's my problem--I would have been in total agreement with you on this--EXCEPT for the fact that Lex supposedly KILLED the part of himself that still cared about Clark and wanted to be his friend. Otherwise, why the crap did we bother with "Descent"?

This was the opportunity for the "I AM the villain" Lex from "Onyx" to throwdown with Clark, and instead, somehow, we revert back to pre-Descent, early-Smallville "friendship of destiny" Lex.

The writers pulled their punch, and it killed my enjoyment of this scene. I wanted to like that moment, but you can only do so if you totally IGNORE the last four episodes.

[4CHLicks]

Lex loved Kara "like a sister" in Apocalypse and he still shot her to control her. I don't think Clark was missing anything in the sibling department here.

[TECHWON]

Lex loved Kara "like a sister" in Apocalypse and he still shot her to control her. I don't think Clark was missing anything in the sibling department here.

agreed Lex doesn't have the capacity to love he's the typical villain archetype who claims he doing what he's doing for the right reasons but going about it the wrong way and even when lex was in love with lana he did cruel things by faking the pregnacy so to say he loves clark like a brother is one of those things that aren't too complicated

[Dannyblue1]

Lex doesn't have the capacity to love

Lex has the capacity to love. It's just that his views of what love is, how people that love each other behave, etc., is skewed and twisted, both by his upbringing (Lionel, mostly) and things that happened to him later on. (The people he loved leaving him. The women who claimed to love him trying to kill him. Etc.)

Take Lionel. It seems like Lionel could be a loving, affectionate father on occasion. So, on some level, Lex believed his father loved him. And this person who loved him abused him (physically, mentally, emotionally), tried to control him, hurt him to "make him stronger," even tried to kill him.

That's pretty much guaranteed to screw up a guy's view of love.

[Theshadow129x]

Lex has the capacity to love. It's just that his views of what love is, how people that love each other behave, etc., is skewed and twisted, both by his upbringing (Lionel, mostly) and things that happened to him later on. (The people he loved leaving him. The women who claimed to love him trying to kill him. Etc.)

Take Lionel. It seems like Lionel could be a loving, affectionate father on occasion. So, on some level, Lex believed his father loved him. And this person who loved him abused him (physically, mentally, emotionally), tried to control him, hurt him to "make him stronger," even tried to kill him.

That's pretty much guaranteed to screw up a guy's view of love.

im glad someone agrees with me. its really not his fault if you look at how he was treated from when he was just 7 years old. the scars a kid gains that early in his life and continues burns and never heals. you really cant unlearn something after you've been taught it. it sticks with you and people build on that

[kp1984]

Clark did'nt have a siblings on earth or Krytpon. Kara would be the closest I guess. I know this is wrong to think this way but I was thinking that Lex was going to kiss Clark. I'm so glad he did'nt. It would have mess the show up.

[Kal-alien]

TO Quote Inigo Montoya.... "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means" (Referring to your use of Narcissism)

nar·cis·sism /ˈnɑrsəˌsɪzɛm/
Pronunciation[nahr-suh-siz-em]
–noun
1. inordinate fascination with oneself; excessive self-love; vanity.
2. Psychoanalysis. erotic gratification derived from admiration of one's own physical or mental attributes, being a normal condition at the infantile level of personality development.

[Heilige]

What did Lex mean when he said he sacrificed too much to get where he is today? He said that to Clark in the FOS.

[Yasise]

Here's my problem--I would have been in total agreement with you on this--EXCEPT for the fact that Lex supposedly KILLED the part of himself that still cared about Clark and wanted to be his friend. Otherwise, why the crap did we bother with "Descent"?

This was the opportunity for the "I AM the villain" Lex from "Onyx" to throwdown with Clark, and instead, somehow, we revert back to pre-Descent, early-Smallville "friendship of destiny" Lex.

The writers pulled their punch, and it killed my enjoyment of this scene. I wanted to like that moment, but you can only do so if you totally IGNORE the last four episodes.

yeah, exactly what I tried to say in my thread "Did Arctic somehow ruined Lex's descent?". I would say, yes, because, as you said, it would have been more believable and more consistent, if he would have acted like the "I AM the villain of the story".

But they let him get emotional again and that was total contradictory, IMO.

[Humdinger]

Here's my problem--I would have been in total agreement with you on this--EXCEPT for the fact that Lex supposedly KILLED the part of himself that still cared about Clark and wanted to be his friend. Otherwise, why the crap did we bother with "Descent"?

This was the opportunity for the "I AM the villain" Lex from "Onyx" to throwdown with Clark, and instead, somehow, we revert back to pre-Descent, early-Smallville "friendship of destiny" Lex.

The writers pulled their punch, and it killed my enjoyment of this scene. I wanted to like that moment, but you can only do so if you totally IGNORE the last four episodes.

Yeah, I agree with you totally, the writers' pulled their punch. This was the perfect opportunity for Lex to show his true self, because as you said, he killed that part of himself that cared for Clark in Descent. They missed their chance to create the villain that Lex was supposed to be, and that they've been leading up to since Season 1.

[All about Clark]

That's Lex being a spoiled baby again. Boo hoo. I'm crying for him right now, NOT!!!

What astounded me was the birthrite issue. I'm like WTH! Does Lex thing he's God or something, I've never heard anything so delusional in all my life. He's really way off the deep end. He's one step from a straight-jacket.

[Dannyblue1]

This was the perfect opportunity for Lex to show his true self, because as you said, he killed that part of himself that cared for Clark in Descent.

Well, this was Lex's true self, depending on what incarnation you go by. In the movies, he's all about being evil, twirling his mustache, and acting like a coward. But in the comics and cartoons, he is much more complex.

For example, in the comics, Lex has often been portrayed as seeing Superman as a threat. He believes Supes, with all of that power, is dangerous, and has the whole world fooled with his goody-goody routine. But, one day, he'll show his true colors, and catch everyone off guard and use his awesome powers to take over.

But he can't fool Lex, who will know enough about his weaknesses and vulnerabilities to stop him. And Lex will be the only one who can save everyone. He (not Superman) will be the hero.

So the way Lex was portrayed in "Arctic" does gel with the way Lex has been written in the comics over the years.

[nk_84]

Lex's idea of love is not what you'd think. It's twisted and dark.

That's the idea though perhaps, that in the way Lex see's the world. Clark is infact the one person he did, actually love. Before he turned more evil!

[MozartRequiem]

"I already talked about this in another thread but i'll say ti again. the brothers he loved in the past were artificial, he tried to make love instead of actually earning it. he earned clarks care and love when they were friends. its understandable why still after all teh bad things they have gone through he would still have a soft spot for Clark. Even though brothers fight and have a falling out, they still have a soft spot for one another. Lex will always have a soft spot for Clark, but that wont stop him from doing what he deems correct and right in his mind. He's delusional from all the things hes gone through in his life with people telling him hes the villain. He has never been looked at as the hero because of who his fatehr is. in his mind he doenst know if things are wrong or right due to the fact that hes been punished for being a good kid so when he does bad thnigs he doesnt look at it like that. thats lex Luthor, a lost soul not knowing which way is up."

BEAUTIFULLY said!

"To Lex, *any*, ANY sort of boundary from the other party will constitute as a betrayal to him. He'd justify keeping stuff from you in the name of love and protection, but God forbid if you yourself tried to keep anything from him."

Good point, but I'd have to disagree if you were referring to his persona in the early seasons. Back then, he knew damn well that Clark was keeping things from him, but he would never turn his back on him, despite what he could've gained.

IMO, Lex Luthor WAS a true friend to Clark Kent, but due to Lex's twisted upbringing and Clark's constant lies, he turned against him in the end.