Monday, March 20, 2006

Hey guys. It's been a long time since Tracing the Friendship has been updated and I thought it was more than good time to assure visitors that tracing Lex and Lana's friendship is not over. In fact, Lex and Lana seem to be moving on to a more serious phase in their interplay and the writers are giving viewers more to consider. The Lex and Lana discussion and discovery has continued at Confessions of an L/Ler where the Lex and Lana text, specifically from Smallville's Seasons 4 and 5, is being explored. Tracing the Friendship, which covers Lex and Lana text between Seasons 1 and 3, will remain up as an archive.

Also, a great new Lex and Lana site, Rapture, has been launched. Check it out for episode guides and summaries, fan fiction and much more.

See you guys there!

J

posted by jac at 1:27 AM

 

Sunday, March 28, 2004

S3 L/L February Review: Hereafter, Obsession, and Resurrection

After Lana witnesses the end of Adam's violent nightmare in Hereafter, Lex and Lana have their first full-length conversation about her new friend. Lex questions why he wasn't told about the nightmares before and Lana defends her tenant. He tells Lana, "It's your call," but he cautions her to consider Adam's strangeness. They talk again after Lex has had the chance to talk to Adam. He informs her that Adam is on an experimental drug and her suspicions are heightened, but he tells her to trust her instincts. She learns later from Jordan -- a visionary of people's dying moments -- that Adam is already dead. In Velocity, Lex and Lana separately follow leads. Lana confronts her tenant about his true identity and he threatens her life. Meanwhile, Chloe takes a vile she found at the Talon apartment to Lex, telling him that the contents are biologically astounding. She also informs him that a biologist, Dr. Teng, is Adam's doctor. In Obsession, Lana discovers a journal that Adam has been keeping of her interaction with Clark. She gives him a verbal eviction notice, but he says that tenant laws are on his side. She turns to Lex, who, in turn, assures her that there are ways to get a tenant out. However, Lionel had Adam taken to an undisclosed location before Lex could get to him. In Resurrection, the formerly uncooperative Dr. Teng finally divulges to Lex that Lionel controls the experimental serum project that Adam was a part of. After seeing Adam at the lab, Lex goes to see Lana at the Talon's apartment. She's unnerved. He wants to know what she hasn't told him about Adam, but she lies and he realizes that she's not ready to talk. After noticing dirt on her cheek, he gently attempts to wipe it off. "Look," he says, "I want you to know, if you ever feel like talking about Adam, I'm always here." She accepts the offer, but curiosity prompts the question, "Why are still interested in him anyway?" He tells her, "You came to me and asked if I could get him out of your life. I'm just following up in making sure he stays that way."

L/L THEMES: TRUST AND DISCLOSURE

Lana trusting herself. In Hereafter, Lana told Lex that her allowances with Adam were not personal. I believe her. Despite her growing suspicions about Adam's hacking and martial arts skills, at that time she believed he was an isolated soul. Being a natural nurturer, she took care of him and gave him the benefit of the doubt. Taking cues from Lex and clues from Chloe and Jordan, she attempted to confront him on her own and he noticeably guilt-tripped her about mistrusting him in Delete and Hereafter. When tenant laws made his eviction difficult, I sense that Lana might have been disappointed that she couldn't resolve this issue herself and she apologized to Lex for bringing the problem to him After realizing that this new friend was problematic, she mused in Hereafter, "I'm beginning to wonder who I let into my life." It was a signal that introspection had begun. Lana is still refining her instincts, but if she can't trust her own feelings about one thing, then it's possible she may question if her instincts are wrong about other things. Therefore, Adam invoked her evasive, cautious side. She accurately perceives that both Lex and Clark are withholding information about Adam and the serum from her. At the same time, she seeks allies. That's possibly why she has chosen Lex, not Clark, to handle conflicts with her and for her since Perry, especially when her relationship with Clark is somewhat inactive. She warned Clark about Adam in Obsession, but didn't confide in him or seek his protection. Instead, she went to Lex because they both own the Talon and they had spoken about Adam before. Yet, when in physical danger during Crisis, she called Clark after being unable to handle Adam alone because Clark's salvation was something that she was sure of when she was unsure of everything else.

Lana's disclosure to Lex: character and situational complexity. Lana has always had a rather complex reaction to Lex. He brings out her wit and confidence, yet external conflict or something either of them say/do triggers her cautiousness with him. Adam brought on situational conflict, shifting the ease we saw in Whisper. Initially, she told Lex she kept quiet about Adam's destructive nightmares because she thought that "maybe" he would jump to conclusions. This was somewhat accusatory. It appears that she believed Lex might not be as longsuffering and may have unnecessarily increased the unease. This doesn't mean she would overlook everything, but her sympathetic nature may have wanted to avoid or delay conflict. By the end of Hereafter, she admits to her suspicions and by time the events in Obsession occurred, she was sure Adam was a threat. Her priority then became safety. At the end of Resurrection, she confessed to Clark, "I feel so guilty. . . . I let him threaten me to silence." But why didn't she tell Lex when he asked about Adam earlier in Resurrection? First, I think she simply wanted her Adam problem to go away. "I just want to forget that he ever lived here," she told Lex. She wanted closure. Second, as much as she's growing to like Lex, she may have also been uncertain about him motives and methods. If he had been specific about what he knew, then she may have been forthcoming. After she lied to him, she let out a breath that was audibly unstable. He knows her lie was self-protective not malicious. However, her hesitance may reveal a hyperawareness about Lex's complexity and the situation's complicatedness.

Lex's disclosure to Lana: matters of manipulation or trust? It appears Lex opted for silence between Hereafter and Resurrection because, even though he had evidence pointing to Adam's suspiciousness, he had no evidence Adam was a physical threat to Lana. His inconclusive findings appear to be the primary reason he asked Chloe to keep quiet in Velocity. But I think he had already sensed Lana was holding back since Obsession, when he asked her for "concrete" evidence after she had already given her reasons. Whether the sequence of events in Resurrection was scripted or edited to look the way it did, Lex went to Lana after he had finally seen Adam and understood the conditions of the project. Classic Lex. L/Lers have noted he often states the obvious or asks already answered questions in order to explore a situation, confirm his deductions, or resolve a conflict. He also did this when he approached Lana about her necklace in Metamorphosis, Clark about his alien status in Leech, and Helen about her betrayal in Phoenix. Despite Lana's evasion, Lex was willing to wait for her openness. Clearly, they are both waiting for the other to initiate disclosure (linked to "disclosure reciprocity"). He may have surprised her by wiping the dirt off her cheek, but friendship, not manipulation, appears to be the reason for his touch. Needing trust, not information, appears to be the reason for his questions. That's how I see it.

L/L TEXT: DOING AND PROTECTING

"It's not my choice to make" (Lex in Hereafter). Throughout the Adam story arc, it was clear that Lex and Lana have differing coping skills and problem solving styles. The cerebralness in Lex will focus on resolving a situation while the emotiveness in Lana will focus on preserving relationships and safety. Lex will recognize a problem, investigate it and confront it as he did with Clark's mysteriousness, Desiree's and Helen's betrayals, Lionel/Edge's insurance scam, and now Adam. He also will seek control by any means necessary, from using a teen reporter to scope out information to blackmailing a doctor. Lana, however, is a security seeker. I think she tries to avoid conflicts as much as possible, but she will confront a situation when provoked, sometimes reacting with anger (Lex and the partnership dissolution in Heat) or sometimes being conciliatory (Chloe in Rogue; Clark in Nocturne, Phoenix, and Magnetic episode endings). If all else fails, she will fight back (the frat boy in Precipice and Edge's goons in Phoenix). Even before Lex removed himself from the decision-making process concerning Adam, Lana had taken liberties as the Talon's co-owner by inviting Adam and defending him. Therefore, she is aware of her power in that context. Instead of putting pressure on her or taking any power from her, Lex investigated quietly and chose not to insert himself visibly in the Adam situation until she asked for his help. Because they are different, they bring different strengths to different phases of a problem, but timing and information discrepancies hampered their full containment of the Adam situation.

"Lex, thank you. . . . Adam's gone. I really appreciate your help" (Lana in Obsession). During Lex's introductory meeting with Adam, he tells him, "It's your behavior that concerns me, Adam. Lana is a friend." Adam immediately responds, "For what it's worth, we both care about Lana." It was an insightful statement from someone who was meeting Lex for the first time. The reasons for Clark's protectiveness of Lana are rather clear -- he is predisposed to saving others and he's in love with her. In contrast, Lex's protectiveness of Lana appears mystifying because he is still morally ambiguous, and their feelings for each other are uncharted and seemingly uncomplicated. His unexplained intentions towards Lana may have prompted her question about his continued Adam-interest in Resurrection. But how does Lex explain his willingness to protect her in Perry, Hereafter and Obsession? How does he explain his care in Magnetic and Whisper? They are proofs of his friendship. Yet, his care for her would be questioned during Crisis, when he hesitates after Clark warns of Adam's attempt to hurt Lana. In Lex's defense, he thought Adam was safely locked away at the lab, so his initial hesitation in pursuing Clark's warning only means he misjudged his control of the resurrection project. It's easy to assume he has ulterior motives, but at the end of Velocity, Lex revealed his comprehension of Clark's dilemma with Pete, "I understand what it's like to have a friend in need, Clark. Sometimes you have to cross the moral line to come to their aid. Often, that can be the test of a true friendship." Keeping this in mind, I believe Lana was Lex's priority during Adam's stay.

L/L OVERVIEW

The writers have left us with much to deliberate concerning Lex and Lana's increasingly intriguing and intricate friendship. The story telling their friendship definitely carries the label, "To be continued." I await the exploration of their possibilities with an open heart. Heartfelt thanks to fellow L/Lers whose active discussions at DTS's Lex and Lana thread helped me find a foundation for this review -- Christie, Li, Kim, Angie, Jade, bluy and many others.

J

posted by jac at 6:09 PM

 

Sunday, February 01, 2004

S3 L/L January Review: Whisper

Lex is reading when Lana enters his library/office, holding a paper in her hand. It's her medical insurance report. She's found out that the bill has been settled. Lex evades intially, but then indirectly admits he paid it off, "It wasn't your fault, Lana. It was mine. I pushed you into the stall. I spooked the horse." Lana assures him she's aware that he wasn't himself, but he maintains his apology, "Semantics aside, you get caught in the crossfire trying to help me. For that I'm truly sorry." Lana responds, "As much as I appreciate the grand gesture, you could have just stopped by the Talon and said hello." The comment gives him pause and he smiles, "Yeah, well, the grand gestures have always come easier." He leans forward to say, "I'm sorry I couldn't have been there for your rehabilitaiton, but I'm sure Clark was more than able to pick up the slack." At that point, Lana informs him of her taut relationship with Clark. He encourages her to reach out to Clark despite the situation, "Given his new reality, I'm sure he could use your support right now." Convinced that she would not be helpful, she begins to take her leave. But then Lex stops her mid-exit, asking her about Adam. He had noticed a gift basket was sent to Adam on the Talon's bill. Apparently a bit embarrassed, she explains with a smile that Adam is someone she met in physical therapy. "Oh." Curiosity marks his tone. "He must have made quite an impression." Lana admits he did, but before leaving she tells Lex, "Don't be a stranger."

CHARACTERIZATION: LANA

A desire for simplicity and friendship. Interestingly, Lex and Clark kept their distance in this post-recovery period, leaving Lana as the initiator of contact. While she and Clark have an "understanding" about their distance, she and Lex made no such resolution. After finding out her medical bills were paid in full, the visit to Lex was well-timed. "As much as I appreciate the grand gestures," she told him, "you could have just stopped by the Talon and said hello." This may have two implications. First, she seemed to have expressed the need for simplicitiy in their friendship, especially since her relationship with Clark and her new relationship with Adam have varying shades of complexity. At this point in her life, things shouldn't be harder than necessary. Second, she expressed the value of Lex's friendship. After two seasons, I believe Lex's personal touch is something she expects, desires, and appreciates. In Drone I recall her sarcasm when he showed up long after the Talon was in trouble. When Lex was still missing after S2's shocking finale, Lana confessed to Chloe in S3's opener that Lex's absence resulted in the Talon's relegation to Luthor Corp lawyers who were disinterested in a coffeehouse. Then, in Shattered, she seemed disappointed that she was not told about his predicament sooner. Now, in Whisper, Lana's verbalized desire for Lex's closeness revealed how much she values his input, his interest, and his support no matter what the circumstance.

CHARACTERIZATION: LEX

Emotional restraint. Lex is a generous friend, a good listener, and a proactive defender. However, he can be quite stoic at times, removing focus from himself and placing the attention where he thinks it matters most -- business, research, and friends. I believe his emotional restraint is part of his upbringing and personality, and also a method of self-protection. Although, his cerebralness is needed for corporate matters, it won't always work for personal matters. His reasons for delaying contact with Lana before Whisper were evidently tied to his own regret for his role in her accident. Lana gave him a quiet, important lesson in his friendship with her -- keep it personal. Her comment engaged a smile from him and he admitted "grand gestures have always come easier." True! Yet, Lex is often much more personal and interactive with Lana. From an unexpected childhood memory in Craving to an offer to board Tyson in Visitor to a kickboxing lesson in Precipice, Lex's gifts to Lana aren't usually financial or extravagant. When it comes to work, Lex is also very involved. Lana said he had been "uncharacteristically silent" during the Talon's business crisis in Drone and later, in Prodigal, she emphasized Lex's active involvement in renovating the theater-turned-coffeehouse. Lex can and has reached out to Lana in emotional ways, but this was a unique incident where he seemed to prefer a practical approach to an emotional time because of his own role in the accident.

L/L TEXT: SAFETY AND ANCHORING

It is noteworthy that discussion about Clark (and Adam) did not take place until Lex and Lana affirmed their own friendship. One would think that the events in Shattered might have splintered the trust they had begun to build, but the tone of Lana's entry confirmed that the incidents of the past hadn't changed how she viewed their friendship in the present. I think Lana's reactions with Lex are pure because she feels safe with him. I noticed she made the back of his leather sofa her first seat. I saw her smiles, her quietness and resolve while discussing Clark, and her what-did-you-say look when Adam was brought up. She is becoming less guarded around him, which signals an increased sense of safety and trust. S1 episodes like Metamorphosis, Hothead, Craving and Kinetic revealed she was enlivened and confident in his presence. Simultaneously, he clearly raised her suspicions. In fact, he seemed to confirm all her possible misgivings when he invoked the buyout clause of their partnership in S2's Heat, under Desiree Atkins's influence. After he re-established their partnership (and their trust), she let him see her "edge" in Nocturne, trusted him to research family history in Redux, showed her insecurities in Precipice, and sought out his arbitration in Perry. All of this led to the ease and safety I saw with her in Whisper.

Later, Lex told her, "I'm sorry I couldn't have been there for your rehabilitation. But, I'm sure Clark was more than able to pick up the slack." The apology/assumption appeared to be a segway into gauging Lana and Clark's progress. However, could there be more being said here? My dear friend, Kim, and fellow L/Lers have analyzed the potential significance of the phrase "pick up the slack" at DTS's current L/L thread. :) The second sentence may amplify the meaning of the first. The first sentence seems to simply say that Lex wanted to be there for Lana during a challenging period. However, the use of "pick up the slack" in the second sentence possibly indicates that he feels responsible to take care of her because they are friends, not just because he was the indirect cause of her injuries. Isn't this typical of Lex? This is the guy who tried to soften her disappointment in Craving, bolstered her spirit in Nocturne, taught her self-defense in Precipice, and attempted to run a reporter out of town in Perry. No strings attached. Lex has never needed to justify his kindness and friendship where Lana is concerned. Outside of his efforts to get her and Clark together in S1, he seems sincerely interested in her happiness and maturation. But the second sentence also acknowledged he shares responsibility with Clark. Henry, Nell, the Kents, Chloe and Gabe Sullivan are noticeably absent from those expected to "pick up the slack" when he couldn't take care of her. In my view, Lex underscored that he and Clark are Lana's anchors, stabilizers, and closest friends.

L/L OVERVIEW: CHERISHING A FRIENDSHIP

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, "cherish" means to hold dear, to treat with care and affection, to keep deeply in mind. When men and women collide romantically or otherwise on Smallville, "cherish" is a relatively foreign concept. Lex's romantic relationships with Victoria, Desiree, and Helen all ended because of betrayal. Clana are fluctuating between romance and friendship because of secrets and fear. Between Whisper and Delete, Chlark experienced tension over her involvement with Lionel. As for non-romantic alliances, Chlionel is a disaster-in-progress and Chlex's new protection-for-information deal is in limbo. Jonathan and Martha Kent's relationship is the model for the show's male/female adult relationships, but Lex and Lana have the strongest male/female relationship among the younger characters. As with all friendships and relationships, Lex and Lana have faced their fair share of testers in Kinetic, Drone, Heat, and Shattered. However, no matter what wreckage is left in their lives, they have continually found closure and maintained their friendship regardless of their evident flaws, insecurities, or failures in other relationships. It's easy to say that Clark was the reason for their interaction in S1 and that their partnership was the reason for their continued association in S2. Amidst these "reasons", Lex and Lana have emerged sans Clark and sans the Talon. Her "you must think about what happened everyday" and his "I'll make sure he never bothers you again" in Perry, his "the place needs you" in Magnetic, and her "I'm just glad you're letting me help" in Shattered testify to Lex and Lana's emergence. They have emerged caring and wanting to care, helping and wanting to help, strengthening and wanting to strengthen. In Whisper, through Lex's "I'm sorry I couldn't be there during your rehabilitation" and Lana's "don't be a stranger" they have emerged with an evident desire to demonstrate, enrichen and cherish their existing closeness.

J

posted by jac at 12:51 AM