Clark throws Lex across the room, and Lex immediately notes that this is because Clark's under hypnosis ('how else could you do that?'). This lets Clark off the hook and at first I thought it was just a cute throw-out by Lex to Clark's ridiculous excuses ('surge of adrenalin' etc). But reflecting on it, it seems that Lex is really hoping for proof of Clark's powers that comes completely independent of excuses.
This is a reading that totally saves that moment for me. Because hearing it initially within the episode, I thought it made Lex sound like an idiot because he's experienced Clark's super-strength before. Your reading makes more sense to me in light of a Lex who's supposed to be smart. He wants proof that Clark can do all these extraordinary things because of who Clark is and not because of whatever Smallville weirdness is in play on that particular day.
(Aside: I would have loved them to stay on the scene of wreckage in the mansion just a fraction longer--did Chloe and Clark just go 'oh see you Lex! Sorry we nearly killed you again! Ciao!' and wander out?
Yeah, that was pretty lame. As dawnybee put it: "Oh, hey, Clark, thanks for stopping by and breaking up my shit again!" *g* I don't know why the creative team is so afraid of Clark and Lex talking to each other in the wake of things like Clark putting random beatdowns on Lex or Lex getting shot, but it feels to me like it's very much a deliberate, conscious choice on their part.
I really enjoyed his scene with Lex, in particular. Fine played him impeccably, appealing to Lex's darkest fears--that the aliens pose an enormous threat to Earth and must be stopped. Lex requests 'full access' to all Fine's data, which is a typically Lexian request, but we can tell he's going to participate because this appears to be everything he's wanted: collaboration with an intelligent investigative force, the development of a weapon to combat the aliens, insights into alien life, and potentially a whole lot of power.
The Lex-Fine stuff is my favorite part of the episode for all the reasons you point out here. I do hope, though, that it's more of an actual *chess game* between the two of them than Fine's playing of Clark earlier in the season was. I won't have much patience for Lex blithely trusting Fine or for Fine effortlessly double-crossing him.
This episode wasn't a favorite of mine, either, but it's still better than the great bulk of S4.
part II
This is a reading that totally saves that moment for me. Because hearing it initially within the episode, I thought it made Lex sound like an idiot because he's experienced Clark's super-strength before. Your reading makes more sense to me in light of a Lex who's supposed to be smart. He wants proof that Clark can do all these extraordinary things because of who Clark is and not because of whatever Smallville weirdness is in play on that particular day.
(Aside: I would have loved them to stay on the scene of wreckage in the mansion just a fraction longer--did Chloe and Clark just go 'oh see you Lex! Sorry we nearly killed you again! Ciao!' and wander out?
Yeah, that was pretty lame. As
I really enjoyed his scene with Lex, in particular. Fine played him impeccably, appealing to Lex's darkest fears--that the aliens pose an enormous threat to Earth and must be stopped. Lex requests 'full access' to all Fine's data, which is a typically Lexian request, but we can tell he's going to participate because this appears to be everything he's wanted: collaboration with an intelligent investigative force, the development of a weapon to combat the aliens, insights into alien life, and potentially a whole lot of power.
The Lex-Fine stuff is my favorite part of the episode for all the reasons you point out here. I do hope, though, that it's more of an actual *chess game* between the two of them than Fine's playing of Clark earlier in the season was. I won't have much patience for Lex blithely trusting Fine or for Fine effortlessly double-crossing him.
This episode wasn't a favorite of mine, either, but it's still better than the great bulk of S4.