Smallville: Lex-Mas 12.08.2005 Spoilers

[James Heard]

Exactly, I don't think he associated his disinheritance with his happiness but being with Lana, and even Lana's concerns with money played into the notion that he could not only have Lana and the kids - he could have Lana, the kids, money, power, etc. if he'd only be willing to risk it all. Which, of course, was the point of the conversation with his father where he was telling him that he didn't have the right to play God with his life. Lex was asserting that only one person had that right, and it was Lex. Lex is selfish enough that he just doesn't see that he's playing God with the rest of the world either with his ambition. He just wants what he wants, and to hell with whatever that gets in his way.

 

[EricNoah]

Not one of the greatest episodes in my opinion. The best episodes have me wanting to watch it again; I can't see myself going out of my way to re-watch this one.

 

[Fast Learner]

I quite liked it, except for the 30 seconds it took for the twist: I think the conclusion is very Lex, but it needed to flow better.

On Lex's telling his father he doesn't have the right to make decisions about Lex's life, I felt that he was effectively saying the same thing to his mother at that moment. Even that he was mostly talking about his mother.

 

[Andre La Roche]

I was more than a little disappointed by this episode. For one thing it was affected by the usual "Christmas Episode" shmaltz that affects the holiday episodes for other shows as well. Lex being upset about the risky, potentially fatal surgery just doesn't ring true especially since he made the exact same call for Lionel back at the beginning of Season 2, where he even justified his choice by asserting that he knew his dad would make the same call. The fact that there was no reference to this event made me feel that the parallel between the two episodes were incidental and not a deliberate decision on the writers' part.

Overall I've been finding myself unintentionally missing this show frequently this season, which says something to me about its ability to entertain and keep my interest this year.

 

[WayneLigon]

I forgot and missed most of it. That line "Power.. power and money.." that was amazing, and perfectly like the Lex we know he'll become - is becoming, finally.

 

[Donovan Morningfire]

I thought this was another surprisingly good episode. At the very title was expecting a sappy X-mas episode, I rather enjoyed it, especially Rosenbaum's performance. Dunno how good of an actor he was before the series started, but he's definitely learned a few things from working with John Glover.

Yeah, Lex's whole "what is happiness" speech seemed a bit overdrawn, but it fit for the future corporate/criminal mastermind we know and love. I think as far as Lex's whole "God" speech, it was a combo of his anger over his father once again manipulating his life as well as telling his mother what to do with the proferred redemption. Although I'm not to sure I'd take such a "redemption" if it meant the woman I loved died while I watched helplessly.

As for the dream sequences, it felt like Lex's confusion (again well-played by Rosenbaum) was just to easily accepted as status quo, such as the child seat and the story about the Christmas tree. I did appreciate the cheese anvil about Clark getting promoted to full-time reporter for the Daily Planet Does leave one to wonder of Clark and Chloe were exchanging kisses under the mistletoe in that possible future.

On a side note, I also liked the sideplot of Clark playing Santa, especially his line about "the new and improved model" to the one little girl. Iffy about Clark apparantly saving a drunk Santa, but at least it lead to some fun banter between St. Nick and Chloe.

Overall, a fun episode to watch. Not one of the better efforts this season, but definately a lot better than some of the drek forced on the viewers in earlier seasons.

 

[Fast Learner]

Of course he had no way of knowing if, say, Lana dies in a year because he didn't marry her.

 

[Wormwood]

Great. So Lex Luthor beceoms a super-villain because he wants to save the life of some chick?

First Vader, now Luthor.

Gosh, I hope they do Stalin next. "I will starve millions of upstart peasants...so that poor Yvelina may live!"

 

[Umbran]

He could lose the race and then choose to just not have a second child, or make the leaving of dear old dad not so dramatic. There are other options given what he saw in his dream.

As always, it isn't that simple.

Folks here call Lex a "power hungry control freak". It seems to me that the underlying problem is fear. Like every human being on the planet, Lex is afraid of a great many things. His basic flaw is that he cannot stand to face his fears. He'll generally do anything in his power to avoid his fears, and the problem is that "anything in his power" is a pretty darned substantial bundle of stuff.

Avoiding that one particular event by not having a second child isn't enough. She'd still be vulnerable, and he'd still be powerless. That is not acceptable to Lex.

 

[Jeremy]

Great. So Lex Luthor beceoms a super-villain because he wants to save the life of some chick?

First Vader, now Luthor.

Gosh, I hope they do Stalin next. "I will starve millions of upstart peasants...so that poor Yvelina may live!"

BWAHAHAHAHAHA *dies laughing*