Episode Title: Lexmas
Episode Airdate: December 8th, 2005
Sorry for the lateness of this recap/review. I normally watch Smallville Thursday night as a fan, then sometime Friday I rewatch it to do the recap/review. However, last Friday practically my entire family was snowed in, so I didn’t have the television access I normally would, preventing me from having the opportunity to do the write up. Ditto for the rest of the weekend. Then this week, my parents took it upon themselves to assign me the very time consuming task of Christmasizing our house, which meant spending a day going up and down the attic to get our tree and all of the decorations. Most of the rest of the week was spent putting up the tree and decorating the house.
Along with that, I found this to be a very enjoyable episode, and really didn’t want to do the recap/review if I wasn’t in the right mood, since this episode deserves better than that. Anyway, onto the episode…
Episode Recap:
Let me just state that I find it interesting that for four years Smallville avoided doing any holiday themed episodes whatsoever (to my recollection), and this year they’ve banged out both a Halloween and Christmas one. Actually, not only were they holiday related, but they were both very gimmicky as well. Not necessarily a criticism, just an observation.
Nevertheless, we start off this week with Lex in Granville, Kansas, meeting up with some skuzzy fellow in a dark alley. Apparently the guy doesn’t make house calls. And he wants to know if Lex really wants to take out Jonathan Kent. The man reveals that he can either find or make up dirty information about Jonathan. Lex wants 24 hours to think about it. The guy remarks that Lex’s old man wouldn’t hesitate, and Lex retorts that he wants to consider all options. Lex throws out a threat, and we learn that the guy’s name is Griff. As Lex returns to his car, he is approached by two thugs, demanding his car keys and his watch. As he takes off his watch, he is shot from behind. He turns around, and the woman with a gun shoots him again.
Moments later, Lex wakes up with the sun shining in his eyes. The imagery is quite beautiful: Everything is very lit, and surrounded by white. Lex turns and sees Lana in his bed next to him. As he tries to figure everything out, a small boy jumps into his bed. Apparently it’s his son. And as Lana gets out of bed, Lex can see that she’s pregnant. Lex lifts up his shirt, and sees a massive scar on his chest. Lex wonders what happened and where he is. He goes into the bathroom and locks the door. He looks into the mirror, and sees his mother standing behind him. Lex asks if he’s dead, and she tells him that this is his life if he makes the right choices. Lex asks what she means, but she’s gone. Suddenly we are back with Lex lying in the alley, as thunder strikes.
In, um, the real world, Martha bakes some cookies. Jonathan goes to grab one, and Martha makes a remark about there being enough politicians with their hands in the cookie jar. Actually that was quite witty. Jonathan acknowledges that Martha is not sold on him running for a seat in senate, and then steals a cookie. Oh, yeah, this guy is honorable.
Meanwhile, Lana and Clark set up the Christmas tree. Hey, that was like me this week! Minus the insanely hot girlfriend. Oh, and Lana actually mentions Nell! Their moment is soon interrupted by a phone call from Chloe, asking him for his help at the Planet.
Lex is rushed into the hospital, and is not responding to the doctor’s commands. In the Lex world, Alexander (Lex’s son) runs out the door. Lana tells him to be back by six, so they can be back for the Kent’s party. Lex seems surprised by this. She also tells him to remember he’s on a budget. He’s even more surprised by that. Apparently he’s been cut off from Lionel for seven years now. In a humorous moment, Lex attempts to set the baby car seat in the back. Lana apologizes to Lex for the budget thing, and says she knows that he overspends because he wants them to have the best. That’s why she loves him so much. Not a fan of this whole Lex/Lana thing, but Lex as a confused father is actually pretty funny.
At the tree lot, Lex and Alexander stare up at a beautiful tree. He runs into Clark and Chloe, and his son refers to Clark as “Uncle Clark.” We also learn that Clark is a full fledged reporter at the Daily Planet, and that Chloe has written an expose on LuthorCorp, with Lex acting as a secret insider. Clark and Chloe bid Lex adieu, as Alexander picks out a tree.
Meanwhile, in the real world, Lionel walks into Lex’s hospital room, asking what happened to his son. The doctor reveals that Lex has been shot, and that his life in no longer in danger, however he will be permanently paralyzed from the chest down. Right away, Lionel orders an extremely risky surgery that could kill him. Lionel demands “my son will walk again.”
At the Daily Planet, Chloe tells Clark that she needs the toys for tots gifts to be delivered, because the teamsters are on strike. She reminds Clark that he’d be helping all these underprivileged kids, and that Lana would understand. Finally, Clark agrees to deliver them on the way to the party. Chloe opens the door, revealing thousands of gifts. We then get a fun aerial view of Metropolis with the super speed sound, along with Clark going into people’s houses and delivering the gifts. Unfortunately, he is eventually caught by one of the children, who calls him out on not being Santa Claus. Clark says he’s the new and improved model. The kid says “no you’re not, he is!” and points outside the window, where some old guy is on the roof.
Clark approaches the man on the roof, who is both drunk and suicidal. What an uplifting portrayal of Santa. The two of them sit down on the roof, and Clark asks what he’s doing up there and why he wants to jump. Santa asks him if he’s gotten a good look at the world lately, with the greedy and bitchy attitude. What happened to the Christmas spirit, he wonders? He yells “the spirit of Christmas is dead!” and notes that it’s going to take a lot more than Santa Claus to revive it.
In actually a very clever segue, we then go to Lex in the hospital. Lionel tells the doctor that he’s having Lex airlifted to a hospital in Metropolis to get his surgery. Lionel whispers to Lex “you are going to walk, son.”
Meanwhile, in Lex world, Lex and Alexander return home with the Christmas tree. Lana gives him a “you spent too much” look. Lex insists that he’s not spoiling Alexander. Instead, the tree is for him. After his mother died, his father didn’t allow Christmas to be celebrated in his house, and it was a very bleak and lonely time. When he saw this tree, it was exactly like the one he had always dreamed of. It represents all the Christmases he had missed. He asks if she can understand that. She says of course, it’s the same story he tells every year.
Lex and Alexander drag the tree into the house. Lex finds a gift in the house, and Lana tells him that it’s from Lionel’s secretary. Lex seems confused, getting a corporate gift, and Lana tells him it’s Lionel’s way of reminding Lex of how disappointed he is in him for not living like a Luthor. Lana tells him that as far as she’s concerned, getting shot was the best thing that ever happened to Lex, because it made him turn into the man she loves.
In the real world, Santa and Clark continue their conversation. Clark tries to lift Santa’s spirits by telling him about how he and Chloe are doing the toys for tots deliveries instead of spending his first Christmas with Lana. It seems to work, as Santa notes that the spirit of Christmas isn’t dead afterwards. Clark asks him if he’s alright, to which Santa says “I am now.” He then loses his balance, and falls off the roof. Using his super speed, Clark runs down to the ground and catches him (and his booze!) before he hits the ground. Santa seems amazed, and stumbles off saying “ho ho ho!”
In a hospital in Metropolis, Lex undergoes his surgery. But in Lex world, Clark welcomes Lex and Lana into their home. How cordial. Interestingly, the Kent house is decorated a lot fancier and classier than Lex’s house. Jonathan Kent, who is a Senator and wearing glasses, welcomes Lex, and tells Lana she looks like she’s about due. Jonathan takes Lex aside, and reveals to him that he’s being awarded the Kansas Humanitarian Award. Jonathan tells him he couldn’t be prouder if he was his own son. Jonathan then tells everybody to grab a drink, and announces that Lex is being given the award. He then calls Lex “the finest man I know.” Lex has a very touched look on his face.
Outside, on the porch, Lex tells his mother that he can’t remember being this happy, and that this is the best day he’s ever had. He thanks her, and she tells him that if he makes the right decision, this could really happen. Lex asks what decision, but before she can answer, Clark comes outside. Lex admits that his life didn’t turn out at all like he planned, and he couldn’t be happier. Clark tells him he has a beautiful wife, a great son, and a baby on the way. Lex confesses that he can’t believe him and Lana are together, and asks how that can happen. Clark laughs, and tells him that he became the man she can love. Lex corrects him, and says that he’s the man Clark has always been. Clark tells Lex that he offered her something he couldn’t, and he’s glad that they’re together and that they can all remain such good friends. Just then, Martha rushes outside and tells Lex to come inside, it’s Lana.
In the real world, the surgery continues. They’re apparently losing Lex. However, in Lex world, a new baby is born, and Lex and Lana are ecstatic. Lex says the baby is perfect, and thanks Lana for such a wonderful Christmas. Suddenly Lana has a shortness of breath, and begins hemorrhaging. Lex is rushed out of the room as the doctor orders Lana to the OR immediately.
In Lex world, Lex anxiously awaits word in the waiting room. The doctor reveals that Lana’s lost a lot of blood. Desperately, Lex goes to meet his father, who has gone quite gray in the last few years. Lionel seems bitter at Lex for only coming to him when he needs his money. Ironically enough, Lex is asking Lionel to help him get the very doctor that is performing surgery on him right now. Lionel tells Lex that he turned his back on him seven years ago, but now needs his help in the name of family. Lex tells Lionel that Lana is the mother of his grandchildren. Lionel asks “how could I have grandchildren? I have no son.” Lex tells Lionel that he can save her. Lionel says “No Lex, I’m not going to do that. Don’t you understand that every decision you’ve made has brought you to this very moment, beginning with that day seven years ago when you decided to forfeit the Senate race to Jonathan Kent?” Lionel tells him that he warned him, but Lex turned away his family, including all the wealth and power that would have saved his wife. Lionel mutters “pathetic” before walking away. Lionel finally adds “you didn’t want to be a Luthor, that you wanted instead to live free to live happily ever after. Go on then, you better get back to it.” This was a wonderful scene, in the sense that until this point, Lex was constantly surrounded by sun light, Christmas lights, bright colors, and white. In this scene, however, everything is dark, and the only thing glowing is the background behind Lionel (which, ironically enough, emphasizes his darkness). It was a great contrast to everything else going on in Lex’s world.
Next, a bright line shining on Lana’s arm, as Lex grabs hold of it. Lex tells Lana not to give up, not to leave him. She gently strokes his face, and tells him to be strong, for Alexander and Lilly. Lex says “I love you. Maybe I tell you that all the time, I don’t know. But please listen to me, I mean it. I love you. I have always loved you.” She smiles and softly says “I love you too, Lex Luthor. You’re a good man, and don’t ever change.” She once again affectionately strokes his face, and then passes away. Lex begins crying, when a hand touches his shoulder. It’s his mother. Lex tells her that he thought she was showing him a better life. She tells him she is. Lex says his wife is dead, and that everyone he loves his dead. First Julian, then her, and now Lana, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. Just then, he wakes up from his coma, where Lionel is sitting beside him. Lionel tells him he’s going to be alright.
Meanwhile, Chloe is at the Daily Planet doing some typing when Santa surprises her. Chloe seems a bit unsure of how to act. Santa reveals that he met Clark, and thought he might help with the deliveries. Santa insists that he give them a hand, and worst case scenario he makes off with a few free squirt guns. Chloe tells him that they could use all the help they could get. She goes to pick up the directions, but when she turns around Santa, and all the gifts, are gone.
Lex lies in his hospital bed when Lionel comes inside. He tells Lex that whatever he wanted to talk about can wait until he’s stronger. Lex remarks that he did just go through a life threatening operation, and tells Lionel that this was a pretty reckless move, considering the chance of survival. Lex tells Lionel that he went against the doctors orders not because he wanted to save him, but because he couldn’t handle having a crippled son. Lionel tells Lex that he had to make a choice, and he’s alive, and he can walk. And he had to give him that chance. Lex tells him not to play God with his life.
Meanwhile, there’s a party at the Kent house. Interestingly, the house is decorated much the same way as Lex and Lana’s house in Lex’s world. Chloe tells Clark the story about how the Santa arrived at the Daily Planet and magically made all the gifts disappear. They ponder the possibility of Santa existing, when Martha announces that it’s snowing. Everybody goes outside, and Clark holds Lana in his arms. He wishes her a Merry Christmas, and she tells him “the first of many together.”
Griff walks into Lex’s hospital room, telling him that he made an exception to his no “house call” rule. In fairness, this isn’t Lex’s house. Lex tells Griff that much like Scrooge, he realized he wants to live happily ever after. Following a dramatic pause, Lex asks “Do you know what the secret is to happiness?” and then reveals “Power. Money, and power. Once you have those two things, you can secure everything else. And keep it that way.” He then tells Griff that he wants him to dig up some dirt on Jonathan Kent, whether it’s true or not. He wants Jonathan out of the race. He wants to be Senator, he wants it all. Griff says “consider it done.” Lex looks out the window at the snow. As we see him through the window, for a brief moment we see the image of his mother, looking somewhat disappointed.
Episode Review:
First things first, I want to bring up a rhetorical question: Was “Lex’s world” an actual foresight into his true future (or potentially true future) or was it a complete hallucination/fantasy? That is to say, if Lex made the right decisions, would this life be an actual reality? Or was it a complete figment of his imagination? Personally, I think it’s the latter. Consider the following: First off, as pessimistic as this sounds, I don’t believe Lana could ever love Lex, or that he could ever be the man she could love. Considering all they’ve gone through, I just don’t see Lana developing those feelings for Lex. Secondly, the world was an exact mix of everything Lex wants, and everything Lex fears. Not only was Lex in a loving marriage with Lana, but he was still able to maintain a strong friendship with Clark, in addition to the Kents treating him like a son. Lex’s feelings for Lana are evident, now so more than ever. And despite their recent falling out, I believe that, deep down, Clark’s friendship is still important to Lex. Sure, he’s willing to sacrifice their friendship for his own personal gain, but I think that in a perfect world, Lex could have everything he wants but still have a close friendship with Clark. Along with that, Lex has always longed for Jonathan and Martha’s acceptance, and has really always wanted that parent/child relationship he missed out on.
On the other hand, we also saw everything that Lex fears in this world of his. Lex has always put a great deal of importance on his wealth, to the extent that he surely worries about what his life would be like without that sort of money and power. Here, Lex suffered the most painful tragedy imaginable (for him) because of the fact that he turned his back on the power and wealth associated with his name and his father. This potential future for Lex was a perfect combination of “best case scenario” and “worst case scenario,” and because of that, I don’t believe it was intended to be a possibility, it was merely a hallucination.
On that of that, we also got no indication whatsoever that Clark and Lois are involved in a relationship, or that Clark has become Superman (or there even being a Superman). Sure, the Daily Planet reference was a bit suspicious, but since Clark did work on the paper in high school, it’s not inconceivable that Lex could fantasize about Clark becoming a reporter. However, there was such a glaring omission of stuff we know will happen, but that Lex couldn’t possibly predict, that it further leads me to believe that it wasn’t real.
With that out of the way, onto my thoughts on the actual episode…
I felt that the Clark/Santa/Chloe stuff was pretty unnecessary. I don’t think it took away from the episode, per se, but I really felt that it was, well, unnecessary. Okay, so Santa’s real, but he’s a drunk who’s pissed off about people bitching, and thus wants to commit suicide? And on top of that, the Clark/Chloe gift delivering story boosts his spirits, when Chloe was only assigned the job because she’s the bottom rung, and she only asked Clark to save her job. Clark, meanwhile, only agreed to help because he has super speed, and despite that STILL put up a fuss about it, and agreed to do it “on the way to the party.” And even if we want to give Clark and Chloe the benefit of the doubt, the two of them supercede the group of teamsters who selfishly (in Santa’s eyes) went on strike instead of delivering presents to underprivileged kids? And not to mention that those were awfully nice houses for underprivileged kids.
I know I’m picking on that storyline, but I honestly found it pretty inoffensive. Like I said, while it didn’t necessarily hurt the episode, I think it would have been better off without it and just focusing on the Lex story arc.
As many of you know, I’m not a fan of the whole Lex/Lana thing. First off, I find it a bit creepy, given the age difference. Secondly, I feel the show needs to drift away from Lana right now, and start putting the focus on Lois. I feel like the show has done a phenomenal job of giving this season a “Superman” feel to it, but one thing I think they’ve done poorly is that they continue putting Lana on such an unbelievable pedestal, that I wonder how on earth Lois could ever live up. I feel like, ultimately, Clark should remember Lana as his high school sweetheart and the girl next door, but now she’s reached an almost goddess like status with both him and Lex, and I really think the show needs to drift away from that.
So, while I thought the execution of the Lex world was incredible, I wasn’t so much a fan of the fact that Lex’s dream world is him being married to Lana. That said, again, I thought the execution (meaning the writing, directing, lighting, scripting, acting, etc.) was excellent. I think they did a wonderful job of combining everything Lex wants with everything Lex fears, and basically tying them into each other so seamlessly. I know I mentioned this in the recap, but I thought the lighting throughout the entire episode was fantastic, especially the contrast between Lex’s scenes in the real world with his scenes in the fantasy world. He was constantly enveloped in brightness and light in the fantasy (excluding his scene with Lionel, which was perfect), and surrounded by a cold darkness in the real world. Along with the lighting, the background and feel of the scenery was perfect as well. In the fantasy world, everything seemed so light and soft, while the real world seemed so dark, cold, and hard. Literally speaking, there was a lot of metal in the real world, and a lot of cushions in the fantasy world. This show has always done a phenomenal job with lighting and scenery, so this is no surprise. Nevertheless, it certainly warrants praise.
I know I was critical of a lot of things this episode, but I actually felt it was excellently done, and I really did enjoy it while I watched it. My one suggestion for this show is that they drift away from the Lana character, and start putting emphasis on Lois (I think it’s a good thing that the characters remain so separated, though. I like how the Lana episodes usually don’t have Lois, and the Lois episodes usually lack Lana). And this is coming from a guy who is in love with Kristin Kreuk. However, I DO NOT believe that Lana should be the character that is killed, since it would only make it seem as if Clark ends up with Lois because Lana is dead. I feel that Clark needs to actively decide to put his relationship with Lana behind him in favor of pursuing a relationship with Lois (even if it’s not direct).
Well, to all those non-A Case of the Mondays readers, I won’t be back with the Smallville recap/reviews until after the new year, so I hope everybody has a wonderful holiday season, and a great, safe new year. As usual, send in any thoughts you have on this episode, or any comments you have on the review.
