Smallville/Characters/Luthor Corp: Difference between revisions

The son of multi-billionaire Lionel Luthor, Lex befriends Clark after the latter saves him from drowning following a plunge off a bridge in the pilot episode. He is initially Clark's best friend and goes out of his way to protect him, eventually deposing his father and seizing control of LuthorCorp. However, Clark's refusal to trust him -- combined with Lex's inability to overcome his own upbringing and their rivalry over both Lana and how to best protect Smallville -- cause Lex to slide into villainy, ending in a [[Face Heel Turn]] of epic proportions when he {{spoiler|murders his reformed father and attempts to do the same to Clark in the Season 7 finale}}.

 

 

Defined by his obsessions and need for control, Lex can be vengeful, spiteful and, at times, downright [[Evil Is Petty|petty]], but also has flashes of pure Machiavellian brilliance. He is a fitting [[Arch Enemy]] for a [[Superman]].

* [[Asshole Victim]]: In the later seasons.

* {{spoiler|[[Back From the Dead]]: Thanks to Chloe's healing powers in Season 7's "Fracture".}}

* [[Badass]]: He fought [[Green Arrow]], the biggest [[Badass Normal]] in the series, one-on-one and acquitted himself well. And that's just one example.

** [[Badass Boast]]: The page quote.

** [[Badass Normal]]: Both physically and mentally.

** {{spoiler|[[Handicapped Badass]]: Season 8, in both the literal and metaphorical sense. Bereft of his [[Corrupt Corporate Executive|company]], [[Screw the Rules, I Have Money|money]], [[Screw the Rules, I Have Connections|connections]] and his very mobility, a quadrapalegic Lex keeps the superhero community quaking in their boots (even the mere mention of his name terrifies them) and proves that, even trapped in the back of a truck on life support and breathing through a respirator, he's still one of the most dangerous villains out there}}.

'''Lex:''' *without missing a beat* "If you call sleeping with me 'business,' then I'd hate to think what that makes you." }}

* {{spoiler|[[Disc One Final Boss]]: Season 8. His return is a much anticipated and feared thing, to the point where one expects him to take over as the [[Big Bad]]... only for him to be blown up and replaced by [[Person of Mass Destruction|Doomsday]].}}

* [[Envy]]: Of Clark, whose life -- and later powers -- he desperately wants.

* {{spoiler|[[Evil Cripple]]: In Season 8. He's parapalegic, on a respirator and barely able to breathe... and more dangerous than ever, now that he's got the element of surprise on his side.}}

* [[Evil Is Petty]]: His incredibly petty and vicious plan in Season 8 revolves around {{spoiler|breaking up Clark and Lana through the nastiest way possible.}}

* [[Poisonous Friend]]: To Clark, pre-[[Face Heel Turn]]. Clark was arguably one for him as well.

* [[Redheaded Hero]]: In his childhood, he sported a thick head of bright red hair. Then he made that fateful trip to Smallville...

* {{spoiler|[[Revenge]]: Season 8.}}

* [[Sadistic Choice]]: {{spoiler|Gives Clark and Lana the option of staying together and watching thousands die, or sacrificing their love in order to save Metropolis. They pick the latter.}}

* [[Screw the Rules, I Have Money]]

* {{spoiler|[[Self-Made Orphan]]: "Descent". Seen by many as his [[Moral Event Horizon]].}}

* [[Social Darwinist]]: Picks up many tennants of his father's philosophy as his life goes on. The [[President Evil]] Lex seen in "Apocalypse"'s [[Bad Future]] actually intends to end the world in nuclear holocaust so that he can rule over the survivors (whom he believes will be the strongest that humanity has to offer).

* [[The Unfavorite]]: Subverted. Lex thinks he's this, but given Lionel's treatment of [[Bastard Bastard|Lucas]] and {{spoiler|[[Parental Abandonment|Tess]]}}, it's clear that he's actually the favorite. It's just that this is [[Archnemesis Dad|Lionel]] we're talking about, so it doesn't really matter.

* [[Unwitting Pawn]]: Of [[The Chessmaster|Brainiac]]. ''Twice''.

* {{spoiler|[[Vader Breath]]: Season 8.}}

* [["Well Done, Son" Guy]]: Lionel withheld affection from Lex so much that not only does he desperately seek Lionel's approval in the early seasons, but also the approval of ''Clark's'' dad!

[[Affably Evil|Affable]], [[Deadpan Snarker|sarcastic]] and always capable of coming out on top, Lionel is one of the few ''agreed upon'' examples of a [[Magnificent Bastard]].

 

 

* [[Abusive Dad]]: Though much, much more sympathetic than most television ones. Season 3 implies that he had one himself, meaning that the cycle of abuse is in full swing.

* [[Badass]]: On the merits of both his physical prowess and sheer presence.

** [[Badass Beard]]

** [[Badass Long Hair]]: One almost thinks it's in deliberate contrast to [[Bald of Evil|Lex]].

** [[Badass Longcoat]]: Frequently.

* [[Man of Wealth and Taste]]

* [[Messy Hair]]: And the longer it gets, the messier (and greasier) it is.

* [[Narcissist]]: Particularly during Seasons 1-3, wherein he has a great deal of trouble seeing his family and company as anything more than extensions of himself. Possession by Jor-El rids him of the worst of these traits in Season 4 though he remains grandiose and manipulative, viewing himself as a prophet and savior.

* [[Papa Wolf]]: Starts showing this trait towards Lex and then Clark after Season 4.

* [[Alliterative Name]]

* [[Long Lost Sibling]]

* [[The Sociopath]]: At least according to Lionel.

 

* [[Man of Wealth and Taste]]

* [[My Master, Right or Wrong]]: He firmly believed that Lex's plans in "Quest" and "Arctic" were nuts. This doesn't prevent him from staying loyal, before and after.

* [[Properly Paranoid]]: As it turns out, his suspicions about Tess' loyalty were right; she jumps ship as soon as she finds out how badly Lex has violated her trust.

* [[Obstructive Bureaucrat]]: To Tess.

First appearing in Season 8, Tess is a secondary antagonist throughout, trying to uncover the truth about Lex's disappearance, discover Clark's secret and eliminate both Doomsday and his host body Davis Bloome. At the Orb's instruction, Tess releases the Kandorians at the end of Season 8 and spends most of Season 9 alternately allying with and opposing Zod's designs. {{spoiler|She is apparently killed at the end of Season 9, but is resurrected by Granny Goodness and pulls a [[Heel Face Turn]], becoming Watchtower II}}. She is eventually revealed to {{spoiler|be Lutessa Lena Luthor, the illegitimate daughter of Lionel Luthor and Pamela Jenkins, as well as a candidate Female Fury. In the [[Grand Finale]] she kills Earth-2 Lionel Luthor (who was attempting to cut out her heart at the time) and is subsequently murdered by the resurrected Lex. In the process, she exposes him to a neurotoxin, wiping his memory, and finally achieving redemption}}.

 

 

* {{spoiler|[[Alliterative Name]]: Lutessa Lena Luthor.}}

* [[Broken Bird]]: Life in general, and her interactions with the Luthors in particular, have left her very, very damaged. This shows more and more with each season after her introduction.

* [[Character Development]]: She turns out to be one of the most complex characters on the show.

** Possibly of the Con''tess''a as well, who was Luthor's ex-wife in the comics.

** It turns out she's also {{spoiler|Lena Luthor}}.

Tess has Alexander locked away, but he escapes and hides out in Suicide Slums. He {{spoiler|attempts to assassinate Martha Kent to draw out Clark, but fails and is found by Earth-2 Lionel, who begins grooming Alexander to be his heir}}. However, Alexander {{spoiler|turns on Lionel as well and tries to kill both Lionel and Martha by burning down the Luthor Mansion with them inside (Clark saves them both, don't worry)}}. He {{spoiler|gets ready to kill Clark until Tess talks him down and takes him in again}}. Tess {{spoiler|tries to put Alexander out of his misery, only to find that he is now [[Nigh Invulnerability|invulnerable]]. He also begins to lose his memories, leading to the creation of a new persona...}}

 

 

* {{spoiler|[[Bald of Evil]]: As of the end of "Harvest". But his hair grows back.}}

* {{spoiler|[[Face Heel Turn]]: In "Harvest". See Conner's entry for how that turns out.}}

* [[Important Haircut]]: {{spoiler|Shaved himself in imitation of Lex in "Harvest". It grew back pretty quick.}}

* [[The Last Dance]]: He's fully aware of his aging problem. It's not doing healthy things to his mental stability.

* [[Last of His Kind]]: The last of the Lex clones.

* [[Sharp-Dressed Man]]: Well, boy really.

** {{spoiler|[[Man of Wealth and Taste]]: As of his [[Face Heel Turn]].}}

* [[Wise Beyond Their Years]]: "He's just as smart as Lex was. Maybe even smarter."

* [[You Are Number Six]]: Lx-15 is his "actual" name and number.

* [[Big Bad Wannabe]]: He's menacing and dangerous, and Clark and Tess both react as though he really were the real Lex, but thanks to his [[Clone Degeneration]], he doesn't really have time to do all that much.

* [[Cloning Blues]]: He's far older than the real Lex, and dying to boot.

* [[Evil Old Folks]]

* [[Expy]]: Of previous villain Adrian Cross, who was {{spoiler|cloned from Lex's deceased younger brother Julian}}. Both have aging problems, identity issues and a lust for [[Revenge]], as well as [[The Last Dance|limited time to put their plans in motion]].

* [[Large Ham]]: It's Mackenzie Gray playing an [[Ax Crazy]] clone of [[Lex Luthor]]. Were we expecting it to be subdued?

* [[The Last Dance]]: He's already dying when he gets loose. Trying to hurt Clark is just a final F-U before he goes.

* [["The Reason You Suck" Speech]]: Gives one to Clark in which he claims that [[Pride]] is his [[Fatal Flaw]].

* [[Revenge]]: His motivation for attacking Clark.

* [[Sadistic Choice]]: Tries to force Clark to choose between saving Lois or the people of Metropolis.

* [[Shadow Archetype]]: To the real Lex. Lx-3 is what the real Luthor would by like if he lost the [[Manipulative Bastard|charisma]], and his few [[Even Evil Has Standards|remaining]] [[Affably Evil|scruples]], while turning up the [[Axe Crazy]] a notch or [[Up to Eleven|eleven]]. That darkness inside him Lex was constantly being warned about? It's more or less this guy.