Season 5, Episode 9: Lexmas

"Lexmas"

Episode 9

Air Date: December 8th, 2005

Awwwww it's a special holiday episode of Smallville as despite getting brutally shot and left for dead in an alleyway, the spirit of his dead mother, Lillian, shows him what life would be like if he made decisions based on his heart and not his ambitions.  Basically, it's Smallville's own version on classic Christmas tales like "A Christmas Carol" and "It's a Wonderful Life" by further exploring Lex's journey toward becoming a master class of a villain that we know him to become.  I miss when shows use to do these special holiday episodes and for the most part, outside of the pretty lame title (Seriously, Lexmas??? O_O Why not Vision, Gift or even Holiday??? O_o), the episode does a fine job of moving Lex's story arc forward overall as well as with the Senate race while also delivering your typical season's greetings message of the spirit of Christmas and what it really is all about.  I have to say one thing I love the most about this episode is how beautiful haunting it was shot.  Director Rick Rosenthal does a tremendous job and I don't know if it was his idea or the editors but the bright tint over Lex's vision of a more blissful, humble life is remarkable.  Really adds to the holiday uniqueness of the episode outside the usual episodes of the show.

Also, it's fun seeing a more suburban leveled Lex, especially seeing Michael Rosenbaum in jeans! Lol The cast really does a great job in their roles within Lex's psyche with Lana being his charismatic, loving wife who is about to give birth to their second child (Of course Lana is his dream of happiness! -_-), Clark is a reporter at the Daily Planet and Chloe has just published a book on Luthorcorp thanks to Lex.  Even seeing Jonathan as not only State Senator but showing Lex such compassion and pride is something that is just so inspired and makes you as happy as Lex is to finally hear those words from a man who's hated him for so long!  It's just the whole cast seems so joyous and happy which I'm sure is because of the mood of the vision; that it's suppose to be this beautiful happy ever after for Lex but it's just nice to see everyone smiling and so excited to be around each other.  Definitely brings the feels that a holiday episode like this should.  Meanwhile, in the real world, Clark and Chloe get to play Santa when she needs him deliver thousands of toys to the kids of Metropolis on Christmas Eve.  Awwwwww, I remember leaving cookies for Santa as a kid as well.  So cute when Clark ate them and drank the milk.  I'm sure that kid will be even more excited Santa stopped to have them! :)  Of course in typical holiday special fashion, Clark happens to run into Santa, who is drunk out of his mind and disappointed that Christmas ain't what it use to be, people forgot the trut meaning of it, blah, blah, etc.

It's just a minor plot to introduce the idea that Santa is real, especially when he magically takes all those presents from Chloe at the Daily Planet in a blink of an eye.  Like I said, it's cute if not typical that holiday episodes always have Santa being some mystical embodiment of Christmas that make miracles happen out of then there thanks to people reinvigorating the true meaning of the holidays, lol.  Just something that television use to do and I do kind of miss it. :(  Can't remember the last time I had a good ole Christmas full of fond memories and just enjoying being around family or friends...hmmmm.  Anyway, Lex's vision soon takes a dark turn when after giving birth to their baby, Lana begins hemorrhaging to the point where Lex goes to his father for help.  It's really a cold, merciless scene as Lionel turns his son away on Christmas to save his wife.  Jesus, I know Lionel can be evil but WOW! O_O  It leads to one of the most painful scenes in the show as Lex says goodbye to a dying Lana before she passes in front of his eyes.  

Michael Rosenbaum really is a gift at playing dramatic roles and I wish he had done more instead of relying more on comedy. Not to mention, back in the real world, Lionel forces Lex into immediate surgery so he can walk again but there's a dangerous chance he could die.  Ok, maybe Lionel IS beyond evil! O_O But while his mother's spirit tried her best to lead her son toward a more noble path, it's the lost of Lana and not having the endless resources to him because of his wealth and power that ultimately leads him to choose his ambitions by doing whatever it takes to beat Jonathan Kent in the Senate Race. Oh boy! That shot of his mom's reflection as Lex looks out across Metropolis during a white Christmas is just chilling yet a completely accurate visual of his mom's disappointment as Lex's embracing the temptation of greed and dominance. Lexmas (Seriously why make up you own word??? -_-) is a pretty nice treat of a holiday escape as well as a character study of Lex's journey toward villainous greatness.  Also, Clark saves Santa AND the liquor! It truly IS a Christmas miracle! lol :P

 

Final Kryptonite: B-