Lex Luthor/Lana Lang (Smallville)

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Title: The Battle of Troy
Authors: sarea_okelani and jade_okelani
Spoilers: Let's just say you're safe if you're all caught up with the show. Also, we reference a couple of scenes that were cut from the actual aired episodes. Other than that, **we're spoiler free and prefer to remain that way, please.**
Personal Web Site: The Talon

Introductions

There was a myriad of ways we could have approached this manifesto, but in the end, there was really only one way to do it. We're not experts in anyone's opinions but our own, so that's the approach we've chosen to take. This manifesto is written to explain why we (Jade and Sarea) ship Lex/Lana. Many of the resources found at the end (and throughout the manifesto) were shared with us by other Lex/Lana fans at thetalon, to whom we owe our thanks. It is not written with the intent to convince anyone to ship our ship. Lex/Lana is simply one of our many OTPs, and more importantly, one we both agree on. If someone who's on the fence gets swayed by our ramblings, then that's pretty darn cool. But we don't think we'll get any hardcore Clark/Lex or Clark/Lana fans to convert. <g>

Before we get started on the ship itself, however, we thought it might be a good idea to give you some background about ourselves. Feel free to skip this portion.

For good or for bad, we've watched a lot of TV. And though we don't proclaim ourselves to be know-all fonts of knowledge, we hope we don't sound immodest when we say that we think we're fairly intelligent, intuitive human beings. Thus, while we may have our own individual desires for certain outcomes, we also consider ourselves to be reasonably objective -- in fact, this "reason" oftentimes precludes us from enjoying complete denial, when we'd just as soon live happily in our imaginations.

We will admit right now that we don't always ship ships that have any basis in canon reality. We see merit in all kinds of shipping, even ones we don't ship ourselves. Lex/Lana, however, is one ship we firmly believe has roots in canon, and which we actually saw happening from day one. (The first version of this manifesto was posted May 2002 on our Lex/Lana Web site.) Since then, the show has continued to cement our belief that Lex/Lana is the direction the show is taking, and we're really excited about it. : )

It's actually fairly easy to predict things on network television. Lex/Lana, if we're right, certainly wouldn't be the first example of our "Cassandra" skills. You see, the answers to the long-reaching plans of any genre series are always there; you just have to know where to look. And we do. :D


Background on the characters

Lana Lang:

Lana Lang is an 18-year-old girl born and raised in Smallville. As a child, the meteor shower that destroyed the small town she grew up in irrevocably changed her life – her parents were killed right before her eyes, and Lana, a tiny little girl dressed in a fairy princess costume, had her tear-streaked face splashed over the cover of every periodical around.

Growing up with her Aunt Nell, Lana eventually began to attend Smallville High, and followed the path of least resistance, allowing herself to exist in the fairy-princess mold the rest of the world had cast her in. Lana played her role well, becoming a member of the Smallville High cheerleading squad and dating the school's quarterback, Whitney Fordham. For more than a decade following her parents' tragic death, Lana wore a pendant around her neck made of the meteor rock that killed them. Most people thought it perverse; for Lana, it was a strange sort of comfort.

As Lana began high school and got to know people like Pete Ross, Chloe Sullivan and Clark Kent (with whom she would partner in a dance of doomed love), she began to question her role and why she was playing it. In the time since, we have watched her struggle as she tried to find herself and meaning beyond the girl others saw as a "fairy princess." Perhaps one of the most risky and rewarding things she would do followed her Aunt Nell's departure -- she would go into business with the young, reclusive, and ambiguously moral billionaire, Lex Luthor.

Lana seems like a pushover, a girl too pretty to have any depth, but we think she has a hidden reserve of steel at her core. This is the same girl who coped gracefully with her parents' death and the attention that resulted from it, convinced cynical Lex Luthor to let a 15-year-old girl run a coffeehouse with his money (he eventually made her a full partner), and time after time, stood toe-to-toe with the boy who would one day be the Man of Steel.

After a lot of soul searching, and seeking Lex's counsel, Lana made the decision to go to Paris for a summer, expanding her horizons and trying, we think, to find the elusive answers to the questions she's had all her life. While there, she met a man named Jason Teague and began a relationship with him. Jason's connection to Lana's soul in the past is a mystery yet to be solved.

Every day, Lana learns new things about herself, and we learn with her. This season, for instance, it was revealed that she's actually the reincarnated soul of a powerful witch who lived hundreds of years before, and her ultimate place in the fates of Smallville, Clark Kent, and Lex Luthor, remains unknown.

Lex Luthor:

Like Lana, Lex Luthor was directly affected by the meteor shower that hit Smallville. As a boy, red-haired Lex suffered from asthma and was generally perceived by his father, Lionel Luthor, to be weak. After the meteor shower, Lex lost his hair, his asthma, and perhaps something far more difficult to classify.

Lex's mother, Lillian, died when Lex was a child, as did his baby brother, Julian. For years, Lionel believed Lex had been responsible for his younger son's death (though never letting Lex in on this belief), forever poisoning the relationship between the two. After years of emotional (and possibly physical) abuse at the hands of his father, Lex finally took control and had Lionel put in prison.

At his core, Lex appears to be someone searching for love; more specifically, the love his mother took away when she died and the love his father spitefully denied him all of is life. Lex, through a unique and powerful friendship forged with Clark Kent, found (and will one day lose) a brother he never thought he'd have. That relationship is a force of great power for Lex, one that for the moment tethers his soul to humanity, and keeps it from the darker tendencies in his nature.

His relationship with Clark is what leads Lex into an association with Lana. Lana, as the love of Clark's life (according to smitten Clark), and as a teenager, was out of bounds for Lex romantically when the show began, but over time, he forms an attachment to her nonetheless.

Every day, Lex fights to reign in his dark side, and every week, we seem him lose that fight a little bit more. Lex's ultimate role has already been cast – it is written on the walls of the cave that he will be Clark's greatest enemy, though he looks at it differently from the way Clark does. The details of his journey, however, remain unknown.


Canon

We've compiled some evidentiary testimony to support our Smallville ship preference, which we'll go through point by point. While "because we think it's canon" is not exactly the most compelling argument to ship a ship, there's no denying that there's a lot of satisfaction to be gained from being given small bits of proof here and there. Because it's not a canon ship yet, we thrive in the UST we're shown on screen, in the possibilities of what might be.

We'll be the first to admit that our conjecture here is simply that -- conjecture. We make no pretense that we have any hand in creating the weekly series Smallville, nor do we have any especial relationship with anyone associated with the show who has any clout or even information about what goes on. Therefore, do not think that we can be swayed by any contentions that our ship preference is purely speculation -- we know this. We think we have a strong case ... though of course, most proponents of a certain outcome think that. We know this as well.

However, as the show is a living, breathing entity that will evolve as time passes, we are compelled to offer our predictions as to its future and the eventual path that it will follow. Because we can. Because we want it to be true. And because we're right. <g>

If we're doomed to suffer from Cassandra's curse, then so be it.

Proof Point #1: Superman canon

From Superman canon, we know that Clark Kent does not, in fact, end up with Lana Lang. No, he goes off to Metropolis and falls for Lois Lane. Of course, it's possible that the WB's incarnation of the superhero might not necessarily follow these steps; it's been said that he won't be flying ... they created the character of Chloe Sullivan ... they've got it so that both Lex and Lana have incurred losses because of Clark's arrival on Earth ... etc. So maybe they'll also ignore the Clark/Lois twu wuv thing. But it doesn't seem likely. They've already introduced Lois on the show, and anyway, we've got it straight from the horse's mouth.

From Entertainment Weekly:

And so far as Clark and Lana go -- don't expect everlasting love to blossom. "In the mythology of Superman, he never does get together with Lana; he ultimately goes off to Metropolis and ends up with Lois Lane. We're remaining true to that," says [show co-creator Arthur] Gough.

Well, if that's the case, what happens to Lana? Somehow, we can't see them getting rid of Kristin Kreuk (unless by the time all this happens, she wants to leave), given the fact that she is such a draw for many viewers (especially of the male persuasion; we're well aware that she has many online detractors). So what role would she play? They haven't exactly grown her character a whole lot, independent of the angst she brings to Clark. Her current role is primarily as Clark's doomed love interest, and she'll probably always play that (we wish her character worth didn't have to be determined by who her romantic interests are, but those are the breaks; the legend is really about Clark and Lex).

The way to really get the most bang for their buck, given they're producing a serial drama, is to doom her relationship with Clark in a way that has the most consequence for nearly everyone who has a stake -- and that is to get her involved with the one person whom Clark would find most difficult to reconcile: Lex, the friend Clark defends vociferously, but isn't convinced he can wholly trust. At least, that's the most compelling scenario that we can see to keep her around.

Proof Point #2: Smallville canon advanced planning

The writers/creators aren't just feeling their way in the dark. Smallville is a TV show, and everything has meaning because there's precious little screen time with which to convey their points (though we may argue that they do waste plenty of it).

Also from the same article in Entertainment Weekly:

Though the producers have no plans for serialized storylines (a la Buffy's season-long villains), master plans have been charted for Clark, Lana, and Lex, as well as big bang season finales for the first three years.

The first three years have obviously come and gone, but there's no reason to think that they don't still have the same kind of foresight/intensity that they did back when. While this isn't definitive proof that Lex/Lana will happen, it does tell us that they believe in planning, which to us means that everything we see on the show has significance beyond merely what they're trying to accomplish within a given episode.

Proof Point #3: The Talon

There's a bit of foreshadowing we get at the end of the episode Kinetic, when Lex tells Lana quite deliberately that the Talon would be the start of "an interesting partnership." His words, the insinuation, and the fact that the show saw fit to involve them together in the Talon at all, really got us questioning the motives of the Powers That Be.

What was the dramatic purpose of having made Lex and Lana business partners in the first place? It's a television show; all things happen for a reason. What we know is that they manipulated (pretty cleverly) all sorts of events to make it happen, and to make it happen believably. In the context of the show, there had to be a reason for it. Lana's aunt didn't have to want to sell the business. Lana could have gotten practically any other kind of job if she really needed to. There could have been something else to supply the angst of wanting to preserve her parents' memory.

At the time when Lana was first trying to get support for this venture, Lex gave Lana the benefit of his audience (it's doubtful he would have done so for just anyone). This was probably mostly due to his friendship with Clark (and knowing that Clark was mushy about Lana), but also because of Lana herself. It doesn't really add anything to our view of Lex as a businessman to have gone into this particular venture. Lana herself called into question Lex's motives for consenting to her business proposal. It seems unlikely that Lex accepted her proposal for purely business motives, since, coming from a 15-year-old girl who had never been purported to be a financial genius, it could not have been that impressive. Clearly, Lex's motives are meant to be suspicious, as Lana questions it again and again. In the early days, it was obvious to us that Lex genuinely liked her on her own merit (and not just because Michael Rosenbaum has a ridiculous, shameless crush on Kristin Kreuk). Since then, he's admitted in so many words that he helped her out because she had asked him to.

Lex to Lana, on why he kept The Talon going, from the season 3 episode Talisman: "I thought that was obvious. I did it for you. I spend so much time swimming with Wall Street sharks and boardroom barracudas, that it's been nice to come up for air every so often with someone as honest and pure-hearted as you. In some ways, you're the best partner I've ever had."

Lana no longer runs the Talon, but she is living in an apartment situated above it, and the coffeehouse itself still stands, metaphorically and physically, as something special Lex and Lana built together.

Proof Point #4: The Battle of Troy

This proof point, actually, is what got us to ship this ship in the first place, but it's probably the most precarious reason with regard to canon, in that it's all up to interpretation. We truly believe that the key to Smallville in terms of the Lex/Lana/Clark relationship(s) is given to us in the second episode of the series, Metamorphosis. In that episode, Lex gives Clark advice about Whitney (Lana's erstwhile boyfriend), and subsequently says, "Take the battle of Troy -- it started because two men were in love with the same woman." It seems obvious -- what with everything we know about television and irony and foreshadowing, that this isn't actually about Clark and Whitney, but Clark and Lex.

We watched this episode at different times, without influencing the other about what we thought, and yet we had identical reactions. "Is it just me, or are they trying to tell us this is how the Clark/Lex friendship is going to disintegrate?" We were convinced that we were being given a taste of the future, and we get that same taste every time Lex refers to a character from Greek mythology (and this occurs far more often than you might think or have thought to notice).

Now, this 'foreshadowing,' on top of the fact that they tried very hard to contrive to give Lex and Lana a tie to one another, and then on top of the fact that we've been shown more and more that Lex had feelings for Lana (that he associates with a teenage girl at all, having her boyfriend fired, numerous conversations with Clark where things are implied, if not explicitly stated), it all falls into place nicely. And a little too nicely to be simply coincidence, in our opinion.

Proof Point #5: Cut scenes

There have been several scenes widely reported by various spoiler sites, touching on the Lex/Lana dynamic, that were later cut when the actual episode aired. Most recently, in the episode Scare, Lex's original dream sequence involved him marrying Lana, and having her tell him that she could never love him. However, perhaps the most interesting scene is one that was cut from the third season episode Talisman:

In it, Lana, Lex, and most of the regular cast are attending a surprise birthday party for Clark. A madman enters and takes Lana hostage, forcing Lex to set his father up. Lex does it with little hesitation, and convinces his father to give Lex his exact location. When he does, his father remarks that he "didn't realize this was so important to you, son." Lex, while looking directly at an in-distress Lana, replies "It is," and the subtext speaks volumes.

We believe this scene, and other scenes like it, are removed for time, and because the Powers That Be decide that they don't want to give away too much, too soon. It frankly couldn't come soon enough for us, but we think our patience will pay off eventually.

Proof Point #6: Shared history

Another thing we like: They've given Lex and Lana a shared history that's all their own, a history that has nothing to do with Clark. When Lana was 10, she found Lex skinny-dipping with a girl (though it was in a pool in the privacy of his own home, so we don't see what the big deal is <g>). This experience has apparently made Lana a bit sassy with regard to Lex, because we've never seen her intimidated by him. She's rarely been afraid to speak her mind around him, and they've clearly grown to be friends.

There's also the fact that both Lex and Lana were harmed by Clark's arrival on Earth; Lex lost his hair and has since needed to 'prove' himself to his father and others, Lana lost both her parents, and since then has tried hard to live down her image of being a tragic girl, a fairy princess who has nothing to offer but the sadness of her past. They can bond over their losses, especially when/if they find out that Clark was the cause of all of it.

Proof Point #7: Lana's true nature

We've mentioned a couple of things already, but we don't mind repeating ourselves: Lana's got more depth than we think most people give her credit for. She's got places to go, that girl. Consider: the way Lana's personality changes around Lex (she's less of a Miss Goody-Two-Shoes and has more fire); the way she won't end up with Clark; the way her character doesn't have much point except to serve as a love interest (and possibly as the Helen of Troy of modern times); the way Lana took a business interest in The Talon; the way she's voiced her unhappiness with her role as the tragic little girl in a fairy princess costume; her desire to be more than that.

In Drone, the Talon's business is suffering because its competitor the Beanery is trying to drive it into the ground. Under Lex's advice, Lana fights back in kind and tells Clark that she at first hesitated to play dirty, but then admits: "I felt I had to choose between doing the right thing and being successful. The weird part is ... I kind of enjoyed being underhanded." And it goes further, as Clark replies: "Lana Lang, seduced by the dark side? Who woulda thunk?"

Oh Clark, how little you know.

This behavior not only speaks to Lex's influence over Lana, but to what she's capable of. She's not just the good girl; perfect, saccharine-sweet Lana -- she's got a dark side, herself. Nicodemus was one of our first tastes of what that might be like.

Proof Point #8 The little things

God is in the details, isn't that what they say?

Well, so's the Lex/Lana relationship. <g> There have been little moments, here and there, over the course of the series, that cements Lex and Lana's bond. In Nicodemus, Lana's inner sexuality asserts itself as she flirts with Lex provocatively. Lex quotes a racy John Donne poem to Lana. At some point, Lex becomes the person Lana goes to first, for advice, for companionship, to talk about anything. And on the day of his father's trial, a day that holds a lot of significance for him, Lex takes the time to see Lana at the airport as she's headed off to Paris.

Proof Point #9 Lex following his emotions and Lana's erstwhile boyfriend

Lionel Luthor told us that Lex is far too likely to follow the whims of his own emotions (more foreshadowing). We've already heard what Lex would do if he were in a situation like Clark's -- every time Lex gave Clark advice about Whitney, he was telling us how he would behave in that situation. So if it came down to him or Clark, we know he'd do whatever it took to win Lana. All's fair in love and war, right?

Some examples:

• During the time Whitney was pushing Lana away, Lex tells Clark that he would not have hesitated to jump in and pick up the slack. Lex probably would also not have let the fact that Whitney's father was having health problems deter him from what he wanted.


• Lex said it himself -- "A high school boyfriend isn't a marriage, it's an obstacle." He's also made it clear, on more than one occasion, that he thinks Clark should do whatever it takes to win the girl.


• In Zero, we see an incarnation of Lex who sets up a situation to expose a lying scumbag to a girl -- someone he may or may not have had a romantic interest in himself.


• Lex does what Clark won't; he's the one who sets up all the situations to get Clark and Lana together; HE doesn't care about Whitney (We're not even sure Lex knew his name until Reaper). This is a taste of what Lex would be like if he were the one going after the girl.

The fourth season of Smallville introduces Lana's new boyfriend, Jason Teague. Unlike Whitney, or even Clark, Lana's relationship with Jason signifies a maturation in her character. Jason is older, rich, well traveled, and has an aura of darkness around him. (Sounds a bit familiar, eh?) His true nature has yet to be revealed, but his affection for Lana seems genuine.

Where, in the past, in deference to his friendship with Clark, Lex has perhaps stayed his hand with regard to Lana, he has no such loyalties holding him back with Jason. We know Lex is perfectly willing and capable to fight – and fight dirty – for the things he wants. Already, we've seen him have Jason fired in an attempt to remove him from Lana's life.

Lex: Lana, Clark didn't get Jason fired. I did.

Lana: You what?

Lex: Look, no matter how mature you may think you are, the fact is, you're still in high school, and I wasn't going to sit idle while someone in a position of authority coerced you into a relationship.

Lana: What are you doing, Lex?

Lex: I'm trying to protect you.

Lana: Do you really think that's what I need?

Lex: Lana, I know you're upset, but I only had your best interests at heart.

Lana: My interests are none of your concern, Lex. I'm old enough to decide who I want in my life. And who I don't.

An interesting point to note about Lex's character, and his bizarre morality as it relates to Clark, is that, rather than allowing Lana to go on believing it was Clark who had Jason fired, Lex confessed that he had done it and explained his reasons to her. Those reasons seem rather flimsy, if you ask us, and very clearly hint at feelings that go deeper than mere friendliness. Jason may very well end up paving the way for an eventual Lex/Lana pairing. :D


Beyond Canon

Proof Point #1: Superman canon

It's the same as above. Clark falls for Lois. Clark/Lana doomed much? What's the fun in that? The seeds of Clark's future with Lois Lane have already been sowed; we're certainly not the only ones who see how taken the Boy of Steel is with Chloe's older cousin. RIP, Clark/Lana; we hardly knew thee.

Proof Point #2: Lex/Lana can serve as a catalyst for the enmity between Clark and Lex

What we all know is that one day, Superman and Lex Luthor will be arch enemies. What we don't necessarily know -- and which we think Smallville is attempting to portray -- is how. Why. Over four years, we've seen the deterioration of Clark's relationship with both Lex and Lana, while the relationship between the latter two has only grown stronger.

Lex is fond of Clark, and vice versa. They try to make their friendship work. There's really not a whole lot that could happen that would be dire enough to break that friendship up (even the discovery of Clark's alien powers, in our opinion) except the love of a woman. While Clark has other females to divert his attention right now, they're still playing with the Clark/Lana. We think this is because it's important to the overall mythology. Of all the females on the show, with perhaps the exception of Martha, no 'betrayal' would feel greater to Clark than Lex and Lana finding love with one another.

We think that love is the only motive powerful enough to come between Clark and Lex, and the only one that we, the audience, would be able to truly accept as the catalyst for the disintegration of their friendship. It would also allow the writers/creators to remain ambiguous when it comes to Lex's nature. If Lex and Lana love one another, how can we fault them for wanting to be together, even with the undeniable feeling that Clark has been wronged?

Proof Point #3: Character types/love interests

Dramatically, different character types react best when paired with dissimilar character types. Opposites attract, and aspects of the forbidden are very simple methods of adding a little zha-zha-zsu to any ship. It's a classic romantic theme that still informs modern-day relationships. You know why? Because it's true. There's no denying the thrill of what's different and unknown; the spice of someone you don't know as well as you know yourself.

Lex/Lana plays into a lot of classic romantic themes, which we readily admit we're susceptible to. The most obvious theme is that of a rich, powerful 'bad boy' being drawn to (and warned away from) the young, innocent 'good girl' in a small town. Lana is, in many ways, an idealized heroine, capable of being destroyed by the darker proclivities of Lex's nature. But the key here, of course, is that she isn't. He doesn't destroy her; he brings her to life. And she returns the favor. One of Smallville's great successes, in our opinion, is the way they've portrayed Lex as a truly sympathetic character -- not a two-dimensional villain, but someone whose choices and behavior aren't always perfect, but are nearly always understandable. Most of the decisions Lex makes, we can see making ourselves. So it goes with Lana, should he decide to pursue a relationship with her; he doesn't mean to hurt his friend (Clark), but neither can he deny what he feels in his heart. Perhaps in an ideal world, he would. But actually, that too draws us to this ship, the fact that it's messy, and not perfect, and has repercussions beyond just who gets to be attached to whom.

There are two primary scenarios that we can see happen here: either Lana learns how to be a girl who's right for Lex, discovering in her own nature the capability of doing so, or Lana softens Lex's tendencies, and makes him more human. Given what we know of Superman canon, the former seems more likely. We've already been given hints about Lana's own dark side, the indications that perhaps all is not exactly as it appears with Lana's good girl image. Certainly, she is still young and a bit naive, but she has the potential to be quite a lot more. Smallville canon has shown Lana's ability to play fast and loose with morality and the rules if it suits her purposes, or she is equally capable of acting for the greater good, and that moral ambiguity perfectly complements Lex's own rather flexible moral code.

Point #4: The elephant in the room

Lex/Lana is a taboo, in nearly every sense. She's younger than he is, and at the time they first meet, significantly so. His best friend is in love with her. To be together would be to hurt Clark irrevocably, and neither of them want that. Lex knows himself, knows the darkness inside him, and would want to keep that darkness from Lana, no matter how much he might want her. Lana is rightfully wary of Lex, even as she is drawn to him, to his power, to his kindness, and yes, even to his darkness.

Lana seems to be the very thing that could save Lex's soul; one of the most intriguing contradictions is to consider that she may be exactly what damns it. (And yet, what great storytelling that would be!) Either his love goes unrequited, or it is returned, only at the expense of his friendship with his best friend. And even beyond that, she might end up being taken from him some other way. A potential Lana death, after all the repercussions of Lex and Lana getting together, could serve as the final wedge between Clark and Lex, and set them both on the ultimate path they will travel as enemies. Obviously, however, nothing so dramatic will likely happen until the series' end.

Point #5: Lex's Achilles heel

There is something immensely attractive about Lex; his determination, his drive, his capability. You sense great power in him, and in his heart, he wishes to wield that power for the good of himself and others. It's in the details that Lex loses his way, and it is in the details that the Lex/Lana ship is at its most tantalizing. As much as we admire Lex for his power and his steel, he made what is almost definitely a bad business decision by entering into a partnership with Lana, and yet he did it with very little convincing on her part. Lana is a weakness for Lex, and she's the kind of weakness that is so very attractive in a pairing, because she is also a strength. The contradiction is at the very core of what makes the ship so interesting. They're a dichotomy, but one that seems to fit perfectly.

However, it isn't all about what Lana can offer Lex. For Lana, Lex represents an entire world she's craved in secret while she went about her small-town life. He's exciting, and dangerous, and ultimately, someone she knows will be there for her, no matter what. Unlike her experiences with Clark, who does and must put the rest of the world before her, Lex is single-mindedly devoted to those he loves. There is nothing he wouldn't do for Lana, and as a girl who's had her whole world taken away before, that is infinitely attractive.

There is also something appealing about being wanted by a man who could have anyone. That Lex would choose Lana speaks volume, about her, and about him. They are both survivors -- of the meteor shower, and of being deceived, however well intentioned, by Clark Kent. They both love him, and ultimately, they will both be denied a place in his life. What could be more natural than for them to make a life with each other?

Proof Point #6: They're the most attractive characters on the show! <g>

So obviously, they need to get with the program. How can they resist each other when they're both so smoking hot? <g>

Proof Point #7: The cell phones said so

Awhile ago, there was a text message poll going around to Smallville fans on their Verizon phones. The question was, "Who is Lex secretly in love with?" The correct answer? "Lana."

Really, you can't argue with concrete evidence like that.

Proof Point #8: In some universe, somewhere, somehow, it actually already happened

Taken from Supergirl: Made of Might

Once again, another parallel Earth hidden away in a "pocket dimension" was threatened and needed the aid of Superman. On this Earth, Superman had started his superheroic career as Superboy, but had disappeared 10 years earlier and left his world without a superhero. Now evil Kryptonians were invading this planet and its defences were weakening. A benevolent Lex Luthor and his wife, Lana Lang, fought bravely to oppose them, but Lana was killed and the world seemed doomed without a superhero. In honor of his wife and in memory of Superboy, Lex created an artificial, shapeshifting lifeform named "Supergirl" based on his wife's form (her molecular matrix to be specific) and imprinted her with Lana's memories.

Check out a page of the comic.

Sure, it's just an alternate universe in a comic from the 1990s, but hey, it still happened. :D

Proof Point #9: If he can, Michael Rosenbaum will make it happen

We don't know if you've noticed, but MR has an enormous crush on KK. He can't get through an interview without making some comment that alludes to it. When he does commentary on the DVDs, he manages to work it in somehow; the people he works with have taken to teasing him about it. He's constantly badgering the writers/showrunners to get him screen time with her; to have their relationship progress beyond what it's been. One day he might just wear them down.

We don't think he needs to worry, though -- we're certain it'll get there. :D


Resources

Okay, so now you've read a little about Lex/Lana, and you want more. Well, we've got more:

• Hazardous -- The Lex/Lana Fanfic archive.


• Temptation -- The Official Lex/Lana Fanlisting.


• Forbidden Fruit -- The NC-17 Lex/Lana Fanfic archive.


• Lex/Lana Shipper Forums -- At Devoted to Smallville.


• Lex/Lana Yahoo! Group -- For shippers of Lex and Lana from Smallville. Discussion and fan fiction is welcome. All fan fiction will be archived at Hazardous.
  
• Love Stories -- Full of Lex/Lana videos.


• Reject Reality -- Nicola's fabulous site, home to many a lovely manip and wallpaper, featuring Lex/Lana.


• Michael Rosenbaum.net -- Michael's Unofficial website, and a great source for Lex episode caps and all things Rosenclown.


• Kristin Kreuk.net -- If you think Kristin's pretty, you'll like this site.


• Envision -- The Web's first Lex/Lana site, and still one of the best. Pictures, details about Lex/Lana, songs, and more.


• thetalon -- The Talon LiveJournal Community: come, gather, discuss. Fic and discussion welcome.


• The Talon -- Our own little dedication to the Lex/Lana pairing. Not updated in quite awhile, but you can find our fanfiction, some episode reviews, and lots of speculation about why we love Lex/Lana. We even got written up in Zap2It once. <g>

Comments

[pellegrina.livejournal.com]

I agree with you - here on terrestrial television in the UK we've only just got as far as the S3 finale, but I've been thinking for weeks if not months that Lex and Lana is the way it's going. And I'm not an instinctive shipper - if I don't see it on screen, I don't tend to see it at all.

[paratti.livejournal.com]

Great essay and I think L/L is quite possible route they might go. Thanks for the links:)

[iamspecial.livejournal.com]

There are a lot of people out there who think this pairing is a sign of the coming apocalypse (and I'm one of them), but it's a good essay nonetheless. You certainly have a lot of well-made points, even if they don't convince me that Lana and Lex are right for each other, I won't rule out that the pairing could happen on the show. (Although frankly, I really hope it won't.)

[trixiefirecra.livejournal.com]

That was kick ass, ladies.

But you convinced me a looooong time ago. *g*

[littledrop.livejournal.com]

Hey, I ship Clark and Lex! But I've also been shipping Lex and Lana for years, not only because of The Pretty (OMGthepretty!!!), but for every reason you detail here. Or thereabouts.

I haven't enjoyed an essay on this community quite this much for some time. Thanks for writing it!

[littledrop.livejournal.com]

PS Thanks for pointing out thetalon, too. Hanging around in Clex circles means I knew nothing of its existence!

[caitiedidit.livejournal.com]

Excellent essay, but I seem to remember in the major comic book canon and possibly in the cartoon as well that Lana ended up married to Pete Ross who ended up as the Vice President or something. I've always fancied that they'd end up together in some weird twist of fate. =)

So glad I stopped by!

[(Anonymous)]

A warm hello to everyone, especially the authors Jade and Sarea! I've read the essay once, but will most certainly be revisiting it for its so many outstanding and valid points!

I've been a solid Lex and Lana supporter since S1 and remain convinced that this pair is the way to go on Smallville. No other duo comes even close.

Thanls so much for sharing this with all of us.

Kim of DTS

So glad I stopped by!

[(Anonymous)]

A warm hello to everyone, especially the authors Jade and Sarea! I've read the essay once, but will most certainly be revisiting it for its so many outstanding and valid points!

I've been a solid Lex and Lana supporter since S1 and remain convinced that this pair is the way to go on Smallville. No other duo even comes close.

Thanks so much for sharing this with all of us.

Kim of DTS

[xanderave.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to have read more proof of Lex/Lana. Such a forbidden pairings seems to intrigue the both of you at every turn *cough*draco/ginny*cough*.

Regarding Michael Rosenbaum, I've noticed it too how he always insert KK into his interviews and he's not shy about asking that he's really into the whole "Lex/Lana"-perspective.

And thanks for sharing this essay.

[pcdarkrose.livejournal.com]

I was into Lex/Lana. it could have been something, but the writers didn't do so well.

So now that she asked for a divorce, whatdoyathink?

[ladylavinia.livejournal.com]

I am so pissed at the producers of SMALLVILLE. They had destroyed a potentially great pairing within a few episode. It almost seemed as if they were embarrassed they had thought of it in the first place.