Smallville: Phantom

I wondered about the mailtruck also, but if you look, the truck goes by and all it does is lead us to believe that Lana will end up not in the car, and it slows Lionel's attempt at getting to her, but after the truck passes, Lionel shouts "Lana" and she opens her door and looks in his direction and the gets in and the car blows up! The truck has already past by, and then we see Lana get in the car! She is dead, which is just as well, there really hasn't been much use for Lana as of late, save for the wedge between Lex and Clark, so I'm glad she is dead! He will only have eyes for Lois, for that is the holy scripture of Superman!!

No chance she's dead. And there's still a possibility that Bizaro will become "corrupted" He did turn blue as he flew away, other things could change in him too.

I agree that there is no chance that Lana is dead and although Clark never really gets together with Lana, she and Lois do become rivals for a little while. On the other hand both Chloe and Lionel can die and I have been waiting for their deaths since day one. Also whatever happened to Pete Ross? As for Bizzaro his face was becoming more like what we are used to with him. Perhaps his thinking will too. I can hardly wait to hear him say "Bizzaro Smash!!!" or "Puny humans leave Bizzaro alone!" or some such like our green skinned friend from another universe. It seems that he already knew how to fly before he got these powers and the Phantom Zone always looked to me like some kind of block shaped world anyway. Perhaps the Phantom Zone is some sort of Anti-Matter Universe on this show. With the Lana/car explosion/mail truck bit. I fully expect that Lana somehow ducked away. Although it seems strained to think she might have rigged her own car. Otherwise she might have been grabbed as the truck passed, but perhapsod thing for her to disappear. This leaves Clark free to move to Metropolis and now perhaps with Chloe's spirit connected to Lois she goes too and things progress between them. That's something that would have a hard time happening with Lana around.

You say Lionel does a 360 and becomes evil again. If he does a 360 from where he is now would he be good again? 360s leave you in the same place you started with. 180 degree turn is the opposite of where you are. So if he's good now he would need a 180 degree turn to be evil again. Now if it's a 360 from the starting point of the show then it would be full circle and he would still be evil at the end. Which did you emply?

I really liked this episode. It was a great finale.

To respond to some of Stephen's comments:

Lionel hasn't been a "villain" for awhile. Not since prison, when Clark "saved" him and he "recovered" from his illness. He was chosen as Jor-El's emissary awhile ago, not just this episode - the Manhunter just reaffirmed what the viewers already knew. Now, granted, the blackmailing Lana into marrying Lex was extreme, and had me scratching my head when it happened - but that wedding episode was amazing, and it all makes some level of sense. Lionel will probably never be a "good guy" but he is more of a "shades of gray" character, and his motivations are, in the end, to do Jor-El's bidding and protect Clark.

I doubt Lana is dead, but for more than mere cynicism. The truck is one aspect, but the whole scene is a perfect set-up - Lana calling Lionel to have him be a witness to her "death" so he can escape him, Lex and get away from Clark (knowing full well he'd never just let her go, but she feels she has to be "gone" to keep him safe.) I think she set her death up.

When Lois was stabbed, I was completely in the story. I was "Holy *&%^!" and couldn't believe it. Lois called Chloe, so yeah Chloe did her cell-phone tracking magic (Smallville isn't the only show to use this plot device) to find Lois. No big for me as Lois was dead when Chloe got there - had Chloe "arrived in time" to save Lois, that would have been unbelievable.
And when Chloe's tear hit Lois and the screen went white, we came back to Lois alive with Chloe nowhere in site. Again, I was completely in the story and was all "Holy $#%@!" I thought, "What a brilliant way to merge Chloe (whom so many fans feel is the 'Lois' of the show since day one) with Lois and have just Lois with the traits of both characters." Then we see Chloe's body, and I was like "Damn." Further removed, I think it is still possible that Chloe 'merged' / 'gave her life force' to Lois. I don't think it is beyond reason that Chloe will stay dead.

When Dark Clark said "I'm you, only a little bizarre." I again said "Holy %$^#!" Now maybe some spoiler site or some such had given hints at Bizarro, but I had absolutely no clue this was coming.

As for Clark not flying - he's stated multiple times in the past that he is both 1 - afraid of heights and 2 - doesn't want to be above people. To him, there are two reasons he is afraid to fly. It isn't that he COULDN'T - it is that he doesn't want to. Under Red K he flew just fine.

All in all, this season finale was great fun. I keep hoping for the show to "jump" to Clark being in Metropolis, donning the costume, being a reporter - leaving Smallville (the town and the title) behind. With Jonathan dead, Martha off to Washington, Chloe and Lois both in Metropolis (possibly Chloe dead), Lana dead/gone, and Lex irreversibly Clark's enemy now - there really is nothing tying Clark to home save the farm, and I don't think that'll hold him. I'm crossing my fingers that FINALLY the show will graduate.

If Chloe's power is to transfer the death to herself to save another, that is one heck of a one shot power! I think, like the review says, she is not really dead.
It would have been better if she did integrate into Lois, but oh well.

I am just thankful that Lana didn't get unrealistically knocked unconscious again. It’s nice to be treated as a viewer with a brain sometimes. It has happened so many times in the series, she would have steel plate in her head by now.

The writers of this show just don't get it, Lois should die...and Chloe, should color her hair dark and change her name to Lois Lane...thus taking on the Lois Lane persona as a tribute to her cousin...however, her knowledge of Clark's secret should be blanked form her mind.

Now, I...and several other fans suggested this a few seasons back when they faked Chloe's death on the show...but no, the producers failed to embrace that cool as hell concept. Allison Mack is so gorgeous...loyal, kind and downright sexy...any man would be crazy not to go for her. Lana is a "one night stand" that you have over 6 months. She's the girl who you experiment sexually with, and move on, cause you know she's crazy and a flake. Besides, if you don't move on...you know she will. Experimental girls, don't like good guys...due to the fact that they don't want them to ever know their darkest most depraved sides, sexually speaking. There is too much uncertainty there for them. Those kinds of girls fear that if they reveal just exactly who they really are...they will be rejected...or be outed to their closest family members and friends. No, they want a guy who has no real ties to them, or their family members and friends whom they've grown up with, as there is less of a chance that their secret lifestyle will get back to those whom would be ashamed of their actions (i.e. their loved ones). Hence, they seek out, or at least, allow an equally unhinged sexual personality to seek them out--someone like Lex Luthor, I suspect. You know...a threatening bad boy who is capable of just about anything?

Lana is the type to fall for Lex Luthor and or Lionel Luthor. She's a drama and attention queen. She loves Clark putting her up on a pedestal, but that is only an ego thing. I mean, who wouldn't love being flattered by someone who adores you??? Still, it can be boring or even scary to know that, that very person could never understand your darkest interior. That's why so many people cheat and seek out wild sexual encounters outside of their relationships--they don't want to appear to be anything other than the angel their mate views them as being...for fear of disappointing them and losing their respect and adoration. The same thing happened on Dawson's Creek between Dawson abd Joey. Pacy won the girl, because Pacy was a dog...and Joey was as much of a dog as him. She wanted to sexually experiment, be reckless, and have her fun...and Dawson would be too disappointed by that side of her if revealed...hence, she walked away from him...because she loved him too much to taint what they had together...by attempting to bring that kind of experimentation home to him. Women don't like to talk about it...but it's a fact. If they are in a Tommy Lee mode, you're toast...and Tommy is going to have his way with those girls in ways that used to be illegal in over 1/5th of the States in America. That's who Lana is...and Clark is too much of a good guy for her...no matter his God like powers, or not. It's like attempting to give a crackhead vitamins...when they only hunger for cocaine. Point is, if that is what their taste is...they will choose the coke over stability every time. Like Forrest Gump and Jenny. In other words...as with most women, all they ultimately want, is the bad boy type, over the good guy...as it offers sexual taboo (sexual freedom...good, bad and indifferent--consequences be damned)--and that is just something that good guys can't compete with...try as one might.

Nope...Allision Mack's Chloe is the perfect match for Clark...and should be stepping into the shoes of Lois Lane...but to do it, they need to erase her history...and replace it with an alternate history...where she swaps places with her cousin. There, in that place, the Lois who we all know...would become Chloe...and the Chloe that we know...becomes Lois. At least in name...sort of like Heaven Can Wait...but, Allison Mack will appear to us as Lois--only, everyone around her will accept that her (Lois' physical appearance as played by Mack) has not changed...like a very good episode of the old Twilight Zone series.

. . .

uhm, I think Allison Mack is a very fun actress to watch and she is a big part of why I keep watching Smallville (her, Michael Rosenbaum, John Glover), sure . . .

and any empathetic fan will feel for Chloe's pining and recognize her as the faithful, true-blue friend . . .

but the heavily sexual inferences are so far out there, MW, seriously - this is worse than your "Matrix ripped off Blade and Dark City" rant - largely because that one didn't smack at all of bigotry as this one screams misogyny.

You need to learn that just because you have a "brilliant" concept that you love that hired, paid writers and producers for movies and tv shows are not going to listen to you and say "Whoa, hey, that's EXACTLY what we should do!"

You want to share your creativity with the world - write. Or draw. Or get a camera, a crew and a cast and film. Then, with a finished product, show us all how much of a genius you are.

Shouting your opinions on a web site, especially in fan forums and such, only makes you look like another fan who thinks they know better than the actual people who make the entertainment the fans are criticizing. Complaining that the people employed to create these shows don't bend in the wind and take the suggestions of fans on web sites suggests an ego or a complete lack of understanding of how these things work.

You do realize that the majority of the people who actually create this stuff for a living do not ever visit sites like this? Some may, but most writers, directors, actors, etc., are too busy to "surf the web" and browse all the myriad of opinions of what they do. Others fear the web for what it sometimes shows - the very loud, very vocal voices of the "I hate yous" and the "I can do this way better than you, stupids."

Really, who needs that?

As with most in depth writing, there are always more in depth meanings behind each character...his/her motives and what not. I am simply analyzing how those characters may be functioning internally and metaphorically as compared to real world social and sexual politics. Although these things are never talked about on the show, they are certainly implied. Science Fiction and Fantasy stories have always contained these implied meanings...but only Buffy managed to step out and take the risk of saying it out loud...and Firefly followed. The new Galactica has attempted to go there, but has limited itself to surface explorations of said subjects...but when these things are presented, we owe it to ourselves as viewers to discuss them.

It is very similar to when Buffy's Tara and Willow began to leave clues that their friendship was mildly flirtatious...if not downright, lesbian. Fans guessed at it, and the producers weren't certain they should go there...but thanks to positive and growing fan support, they gathered the courage...and did go there. This courage that I speak of, was the courage to have a real and adult coversation with the audience, through the characters, about adult sexuality.

And yes, show creators and their staffs do log onto these web sites and occasionally check-out what we post. They may or may not be moved by it...but they nonetheless sample our views and impressions of their work. And that can be a good thing, as we may help steer their programs toward the things that are indeed better for the shows overall. Like the viewpoint of the writer of the above article, as he said...it took away the impact to have Lionel Luthor...once again be revealed as a glorified aid of Jor-El...instead of the villain that he needs to be. In order to properly help set-up Lex...within the context of the story to become the evil master villain he is destined to manifest, he needs a reason...a trigger to send him over the edge...and make him hate Clark...and eventually his alter ego, Superman!!! Likewise, these Freudian asides, will serve to draw Clark away from Lana and into the waiting arms of Lois Lane...hence the talk of sexual/intellectual/emotional motivations in my aforementioned post.

As fans, we would be remise in failing to discuss these things. Comic Books are growing-up. It is the age of The Watchmen...and the age of Wanted. The Comics Code is dead...and we need to adjust to that...and allow these characters to adjust to the new world of storytelling, one that ironically, was birthed from the sexually, and morally skewed old world. Proving once again, that all things repeat themselves...including history!!!

It is all a Freudian related matter. And long before Freud, we had Shakespear...and before him Greek Tragedy and The Bible--as all are (at least with the latter 3) broad, thinly disguised morality plays on human interactions...often motivated by ones' open, and or, hidden sexual mores...as well as the choices we choose to make therein, which impact our lives, and thus, the lives of others!!! BTW--Comic Books are largely based on re-interpretations of Greek Mythos and Biblical stories, hence the connection. Superman, was actually based on the story of Moses.

"Lois should die...and Chloe, should color her hair dark and change her name to Lois Lane...thus taking on the Lois Lane persona as a tribute to her cousin...however, her knowledge of Clark's secret should be blanked form her mind."

MW, that is probably one of the weakest ideas for the show I have ever read from anyone. What possible purpose would that serve in the show?

Anyway, the finale was cool and Lana unfortunately is not dead. I too think that she used some of that Luthor money to fake her own death just so she could get away. I`m sure somehow Clark and Lex will find out and both go after her. Neither of them can let go.
I hope we see more of the Justice League next season, too. I can really see 7 as being the last season, because there isn`t much more that Clark can do in Smallville. He`s going to need to move to Metropolis.