Friday, December 09, 2005

Crazy4Smallville's Weekly Review 5:9 Lexmas

Crazy4Smallville’s Weekly Review

Season 5
Episode 9
"Lexmas”

This was one of the most enjoyable episodes to date. I don’t think there were many moments that I didn’t enjoy.

We have seen the last of the Lex Luthor that we had all come to know, love and have compassion for. He died tonight, along with his dream for Lana, as the real evil genius mastermind survived. Alexander now reigns supreme in Lex Luthor. This is the Lex Luthor that I’ve been waiting for. I’ve seen a glimpse of him every now and again, but we got to see his last ride tonight. Who’d a thought the dream of Lana would be the downfall of Lex Luthor? I’m telling you – it’s the Kryptonic mutant effect she has on everyone. Lex is just one of her many victims.

So, Lex was having second thoughts about spreading the dirt on Jonathan Kent? I’m surprised he even hesitated. I doubt we’ll see anymore struggles like that in the future.

Lex getting shocked surprised me. I didn’t see it coming. I’m sure I stopped breathing; waiting to see if it had been a dream, but that revelation never came. I knew he wouldn’t die – let’s face it… we know he’s in the future with Superman, but in a way he did. The good side of him had his last ride… before he disappeared into the sunset.

I loved how they used the blue/evil light in comparison to the warm gold/good light. I liked seeing Lex in the good light for a change, but not as much as I loved seeing that maniacal stare at the end. Rosenbaum plays evil really well. He’s a great actor. He did a good job playing the good, confused, loving, doting husband of Lana. Listen very carefully, because I will probably only say this once – I enjoyed Lana in this episode. Lexana didn’t gross me out. Lana actually looked happy, acted happy, and was beautiful and sensitive. Now, if she’d only act like that ALL the time. Maybe Kristin should work more with Michael, because they had great chemistry together.

I loved the whole Lex as dad, husband, friend and humanitarian. I thought they were stretching it a bit at the end, but that is what convinced me that this was his dream – not a real Christmas future experience.

I loved how they had Chloe and Clark together – but come on… this is Lex’s dream. They could have had them married. Mythos didn’t matter at this point. That would have made the episode perfect. It seemed as though they were married, though they never come out and said it. Then, when Clark was talking to Lex on the porch, he said something to the effect about maybe never being ready to settle down. I assumed that was him implying that he wasn’t married.

I don’t think I liked Chloe in long hair. It just didn’t suit her. But, I loved how Lex made her into a novelist, not just a journalist. I liked how Lex made Clark into a full fledge reporter. I guess everyone can see that one coming, huh?

I thought Jonathan (as Senator) looked handsome. He was tall, strong and dignified. I knew the words that were coming when he was giving Lex the humanitarian award. I knew he was going to say that he was proud of him like his own son. I could have almost quoted it, as he said it. I knew this was one of Lex’s most desired dreams. To be loved by Lana, have a family (Alexander and Lily), be normal, have a budget, able to celebrate Christmas, be best friends with Clark, admired by Chloe, and accepted and respected by the Kent’s. This is everything the old Lex has desired. I believe those dreamed died, along with his dream Lana.

Lex Luthor has now accepted his destiny… every evil inch of it.

Now, onto Clark, Chloe & Lana –

I loved how Clark was willing to give up his time with Lana to help Chloe. He didn’t ask what first – he sped to her aide and then asked. I LOVED how he played Santa. I thought that was very funny. Now, I can tell all the little kids I know that Santa is really a Kryptonian. That’s how he can do so much in so little of time. It’s really him that flies, not the reindeer. LOL! I liked the “It’s a Wonderful Life” theme this show had.

I didn’t fail to notice the comment Clark made to Lana when she put the (gingerbread guy?) on top of the tree. He is still lost into his obsession with her being ‘perfect’.

Chloe doesn’t spend Christmas with her dad, her uncle or her cousin, Lois? Is she really that alone? Yet, she was selfless, willing to spend her time doing something for someone else. Yes, she was also doing it to further her career, but why not? It’s the only thing she has. Lana has Clark, Lois has her dad and Chloe is all alone. But, maybe she’s not as alone as we all think. During the Christmas party at the Kent’s I noticed something. Maybe it was a mistake, or maybe not. But, Lana spent her time catering, while Chloe and Clark spent their time huddled in the corner together, regaling the evening. Yes, I know they had to talk about Claus – but that could have waited for another time or done in another setting. Maybe it’s just the Chlarker in me grasping at any straw – but I found it interesting. Also, why was Lana wearing a black sleeveless shirt on Christmas Eve – when it is clearly freezing outside? I found that odd. Black usually insinuates being evil, having the desire to be invisible or having a cold heart. They could have at least put her in a red or green – make her more cheerful – but black?

Lex & Lionel – Boy, oh boy have the gloves come off. Lionel has finally got what he’s always wanted – a son of his own making. Yet, Lionel will also have to deal with the consequences of having a son of his own making. I have a feeling that papa Luthor won’t be around much longer. I believe Lex is going to retaliate against Lionel. Not just for making a life threatening decision to operate on Lex because he couldn’t deal with having a crippled son, but for the way that Lex portrayed Lionel in his dream. Lex will hold Lionel responsible for the death of his dream – in essence for the death of Lana in his life… for the death of everything that he had desired. Lionel has let loose a raging lion. That’s been his desire all this time, but its also been his biggest mistake.

This has been one of the best episodes of Smallville. The writers finally gave us some of the things we’ve always wanted, but knew we could never have. Yet – it was a good dream to have. I suppose now its time to get out of dreamland and back into Smallville reality – and watch Clark become the Superman he’s supposed to be and enjoy watching Lex as he becomes the evil genius mastermind he’s supposed to be.

I look forward to it.

This has been Crazy4Smallville’s weekly review. Till Next Time!

Monday, December 05, 2005

Magic or Supermen?

What is magic?
By definition it is: "The art that purports to control or forcasts natural events or forces by invoking the supernatural."

In short and by definition, magic is the use of supernatural power. What is so wrong about that? The greatest book in the world is full of it.

For every original there is a conterfeit, behind every action is a purpose, and the natural and supernatural co-exist with one another.

Supernatural by definition is: "Of or pertaining to an order of existence beyond the natural world. Of, pertaining to, or attributed to a devine agent."

The natural realm has been operating with the spirtitual realm since the beginning of time. For it was out of the supernatural that the natural was birthed and where it will one day return.

So, why is it strange to believe that the natural realm can interact with the supernatural realm and vice versa?

Is a prophet a prophet by his own choosing? Is a singer a singer a by his own will? Does man, who dwells in the natural, and subjected to the laws of the natural realm, choose and control what is supierior to himself? Is that not vanity? Yet, that is what man proceeds to proclaim when he tries to use the supernatural gifts that were given to him before he was even born to fulfill his own selfish desires. When man, who only knows in part, tries to control and use what he doesn't even begin to understand, then by whose power does he truly operate? If he is not superior to what he claims to control, is he really in control?

Magic, in and of itself, is not sinful and hostile to God; it came from God. However, when man tries to control, maniuplate and abuse the gifts that God has given him, that is what makes it a sin. Anything done apart from or out of the will of God is sin. The sinful nature is hostile towards God. However, when God (Creator of both the natural and supernatural realm - King of his kingdom )leads and directs his servants in all things supernatural, they (the servants) will be amazed at the magic that is displayed through them. Miracles will happen and awe will be displayed at the power of God.

Proverbs 20:24 - "A man's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?"

Diseases are cured, tragedies are averted, hearts are mended, seas are parted, manna rains from heaven, water turns into wine, seas are calmed, fires are abated, etc. Nothing is impossible! The natural realm is subject to the supernatural. The supernatural supercedes the natural.

Yet, we in our finate wisdom try to superimpose our own will on the infinate. We want to be Supermen, but we don't recognize our own Kryptonite.