Same Planet, Different Worlds

[rivkat]

LaT pointed to this page, which made my jaw drop two separate times. [ETA: LaT correctly points out that the first reviewer, Neal, says a bunch of things with which I agree, and that she doesn't agree with his wacky views about the feminist agenda of the producers.]

But Neal hated the episode because it was so "feminist," in combination with "Spell," because in his reading the show argued that women's sexuality is good and fun and women are never responsible for their choices and men are evil dogs if they like sex.

Yes, "evil slut" is apparently a good thing in the show's universe -- Neal thinks that the producers want us to admire sexy Countess Lanabelle's sexual agency, despite Lana's condemnation. And he thinks we're supposed to sympathize with Shannon. (I guess he kind of has a point here, since we're told that she's right about Lex almost as often in the episode as we're told that Lana is Beautiful.) But, feminist? Of all the reasons to hate an episode of Smallville, feminism has to rank up there with "the actors aren't pretty enough." He also seems to think that women sleep with Lex just because he's rich. Yeah, keep thinking that, Neal.

But wait! There's more! Search down for Rebecca's review. (On behalf of Rebeccas everywhere ... I'm really sorry.) She loved the episode! A perfect ten! And Clark was so nice to Lex at the end, giving him another chance!

This is why we're never going to see Clark recognize his share of the responsibility for how Lex turns out. As long as a significant viewer population accepts at face value the show's statements about who's good and who's bad, the people responsible for the show will never take the position that Clark is any more responsible for what happened these past years in SV than he was for the meteor strike in the first place; Clark will feel equally guilty about both, and the audience will be supposed to understand that neither is his fault.

Comments

[carcassi.livejournal.com]

I think I understand a little about where Rebecca is coming from, if not Neal.

I think Neal's "feminism" arguments must stem from some deep-seated bitterness, b/c I saw nothing in "Bound" that would support his views. On the contrary, according to "Bound," all women are either saints (Lana, of course, and Martha) or whores (pretty much everyone else except Chloe, who nevertheless had some very interesting moments).

And yet, I didn't think that was the focus of the episode. I saw Lex's sexual escapades as a way of shining the light on Lex and his self-destructive tendencies, not on the women around him. This was about Lex and his nonstop battle with his own darker self. And I found that part of the episode fascinating. (Admittedly, it was obscured by the awkwardly-written whodunnit plotline, but still.)

I saw Clark trying his best to understand that struggle and help his friend. I don't think his hesitation to help had anything to do with Lex's sexual adventures. (Which, incidentally, would have been difficult, if not impossible, to hide over the course of a year in a place like Smallville.) He seemed more taken aback by another proof that Lex was lying to him. (Besides being jealous, of course!) For me, it all came together in the loft scene where, for the first time this season, both Clark and Lex were (almost) totally honest with each other.

So if Rebecca liked this eppie b/c of the Clark/Lex interaction (I haven't read her review), then I understand her reasons. I know this story could have been told much more effectively if the "murder mystery" hadn't been so lame, and if Lana's B plot hadn't interrupted the story's flow, but it did show, IMO, the core of Lex and Clark's relationship, which is built on the hope of trust and honesty---but sadly, not the expectation of receiving either one.

[rivkat.livejournal.com]

Well, from what I can tell from reading and my own very passionate reaction, opinions seem pretty hard and fast on this episode. But I would argue that the plot was a terrible way to shine the light on Lex and his self-destructive tendencies. He's self-destructive because he sleeps with one woman a month and doesn't pursue relationships with any of them? As a sign of deep depression, I buy it -- though of course not everyone who sleeps around is depressed. But it wasn't presented as a sign of self-destructiveness. It was presented by everyone, including Lex by the second half of the episode, as Lex being bad because he was using these women -- other-destructiveness. It was presented as if Shannon was perfectly justified in being furious at Lex for -- as far as we can tell -- having consensual sex with her and not wanting anything more, when he didn't even know enough about her to know that she had a fiance. In fact, it was not even suggested by anyone, except indirectly Lex at the end, that sleeping around might have been doing Lex any damage -- it was all about him hurting women. Lex's "darker self" can't be that he doesn't do second dates. That's not a darker side, that's a five o'clock shadow. And treating him like a pariah is preposterous.

We all come to the show with predispositions. Given mine, I didn't see Clark trying for a single second to understand Lex's struggle and help his friend. Saying "That's a start" when Lex confesses what a bad guy he feels like isn't understanding, it isn't hopeful, it's nothing but cruel. And I do think the show, and Clark, was specifically condemning Lex's sexual adventures. Especially considering the emphasis the show has put on Clark and Lana's (preposterous) virginity, Lex's behavior is cast as evil just because he has casual sex. Clark specifically says that he's upset that Lex would do that "to those women," which does sound a lot like condemning the sex. Moreover, as I've said before, while I understand why Clark thinks Lex lied to him, I don't think Lex did lie -- and since Clark never asks, "Why did you lie to me?" he misses his chance to have Lex explain that he meant "after, we both pretend that the night never happened" rather than "I never have sex with strangers."

The reason the loft scene hurt me so much, despite being -- as you say -- such a big moment, was that it ended, again, with Lex begging to be forgiven and Clark looking grim. Clark hasn't said he believes in Lex once this season; every time he says that he wants to believe, it's coupled with a "but ..." Lex was being honest, but I didn't see Clark giving back anything emotionally.

I absolutely agree with you about the core of Lex and Clark's relationship. It's just that I feel like the core has been allowed to rot, and due to the show's writing/producing choices, Clark is getting away with acting like a jerk and Lex is being blamed for the deterioration of the relationship. I would just like Clark to acknowledge, for a little while, that his judgmentalism has played its part in Lex's decline -- I know I can't hope that Clark will actually be a good friend to Lex at this point.

[carcassi.livejournal.com]

As always, it's interesting to know your thoughts, Rivka.

I do think the show, and Clark, was specifically condemning Lex's sexual adventures. Especially considering the emphasis the show has put on Clark and Lana's (preposterous) virginity, Lex's behavior is cast as evil just because he has casual sex.

I agree Lex was shown as the guilty party. I'm not sure the show ever clearly spelled out the reason. I know the Kents, Clark and Chloe were all shocked by Lex's behavior, and for no really good reason, but was that really what Lex was concerned with in the last scene? It seemed to me that he was frightened about what was happening to *him*.

And yes, Clark in that scene was far too self-righteous. I guess it's a sign of how badly this show has mishandled its core relationship that I saw that scene as a big improvement over recent events.

At this point, I think SV is a classic case of a story in which the characters have overtaken the plot. TPTB started out with a stock hero and a stock villain, and when they fleshed out those two characters, they discovered that neither one fit the molds for which they were designed. Ever since, TPTB have been trying to re-tool those characters by twisting and turning them, however improbably, into the roles that these characters are "supposed" to represent.

And the result? You get the ridiculous "virginity" of Clark and Lana, and the improbable "evil" of Lex.

At this point, I'd like to take TPTB at their word when they said, 'way back in Season 1, that SV had nothing to do with comics canon. I'd like to see them make a truly bold move to re-create the characters of Clark and Lex into something more than the traditional "hero" and "villain." As shown on SV, Lex is far more human than Clark, and far more sympathetic. If the show ignores that, it's throwing away the best thing it's got.