Next Thursday is the 100th episode of Smallville, and to herald the occasion they're making two major changes to the show (warning, spoilers follow). Clark is finally going to tell Lana who he really is, and somebody close to Clark is going to die. There are really only 5 candidates: mom, dad, Lana, Lois, and Chloe. Chloe, as the only character not part of established Superman continuity, seems like the obvious choice. But I think we're going to be cheated.
I think they're going to kill Lana.
The previews make it look that way. And it lets them shake up the show while simultaneously maintaining the status quo. Clark's secret is the only thing standing between he and Lana. If they remove it, they lose dramatic tension. And a happy hero is never as interesting as a troubled one. Killing Lana breaks the stagnation the series has struggled with while clearing the way for Clark and Lois to get closer.
it also creates a major break with traditional continuity, which can only be a good thing. It's ok if the big strokes-- Lex favoring power over friendship, Clark and Lois winding up together-- remain inviolate, but the show's more interesting if the smaller things aren't fixed in stone.
Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe Chloe's in the driver's seat next week, or Jonathan Kent (clearing the way for Lex to win the election). Maybe, for once, the previews haven't given everything away. But I wouldn't bet on it. Which means only one change to the show instead of two.
Posted by Peter at January 20, 2006 12:56 AM