He’s like “bitch, you keep pushing my buttons, keep it up”

It’s whatever comment is the most upvoted!

Happy 54th Birthday 🎂🎁🎊🎈🎉🥳🍰🧁🎂 to Krista Allen

• Who portrayed Desiree Atkins in 2x02 Heat episode

What was the point, to show Lex's evil? To make Lana hate him? Wouldn't it have been smarter to get her pregnant?

In an entertainment landscape often dominated by narratives of overt power and assertive action, the concept of "soft strength" – an inner resilience characterized by gentleness, introspection, and quiet moral fortitude – is frequently overlooked, if not entirely dismissed. This essay seeks to articulate and validate this often-unacknowledged form of strength, using the character of Lana Lang in the early seasons of Smallville (particularly seasons 1-4) as a prime example. While Lana is often reductively categorized within the limiting "damsel in distress" trope, a closer examination reveals a character whose true power lies in her quiet resilience, her unwavering kindness, and her profound, introspective nature – qualities that, paradoxically, are diminished as the narrative attempts to grant her more conventional "agency" in later seasons.

"Soft strength," as we have discussed, is not about physical prowess or forceful will. It is an internal fortitude built upon empathy, moral clarity, and a deep well of emotional resilience. It manifests not in outward domination, but in quiet influence and unwavering integrity. It embraces vulnerability not as a weakness, but as a conduit for connection and understanding. This form of strength often goes unnoticed because it is less visually dramatic than acts of physical heroism or assertive leadership. It operates in the realm of emotions, moral influence, and the subtle power of being a consistent beacon of goodness in a world often characterized by cynicism and conflict.

Early Smallville masterfully, captured this "soft strength" in its portrayal of Lana Lang. Kristin Kreuk’s performance, coupled with deliberate directorial and cinematic choices, constructed Lana as an almost ethereal presence – “soft, sweet, vulnerable, kind.” Her strength wasn't in physical combat or strategic maneuvering, but in her unwavering moral compass and her profound impact on those around her, most notably Clark Kent. Every look, every gentle expression carried meaning, often imbued with a sense of longing and a deep well of empathy. This wasn't simply passive vulnerability; it was a quiet resilience in the face of grief, loss, and the unsettling strangeness of Smallville. Her kindness, her genuine nature, and her lack of cynicism acted as a powerful force, a “beacon of light” as we described, in a town grappling with shadows. Crucially, this "soft strength" was not ineffective; it was precisely this quality that held a unique power over Clark, rendering him emotionally "weak" in the most profound and human sense. Lana's gentleness and moral clarity became his anchor, his ideal, and a constant reminder of the humanity he was striving to protect, a strength far more compelling than any physical invulnerability.

However, the prevailing cultural narrative and the action-driven nature of television often struggle to recognize and value this kind of strength. Instead, Lana is frequently dismissed as a "damsel in distress," a label that completely overshadows her inherent resilience and moral influence. This reductive categorization stems from a cultural bias that equates strength with assertiveness and external action, and weakness with vulnerability and needing assistance. The "damsel" trope becomes a convenient shorthand, preventing viewers and critics alike from seeing the nuances of Lana’s character and the power dynamics at play. It ignores the fact that needing help does not negate inner strength, and that vulnerability can be a source of profound connection and influence.

Ironically, as Smallville progressed and attempted to grant Lana more "agency," particularly from season 5 onwards, this unique "soft strength" seemed to diminish. While Lana became more involved in plot-driven actions, strategic relationships, and even acquired physical abilities, the ethereal presence, the quiet introspection, and the beacon of kindness began to fade. The narrative shifted from exploring her inner world and subtle influence to focusing on her external actions and plot relevance. The vulnerability that was once intertwined with her strength became replaced with a guardedness, and at times, even a strategic manipulation, particularly in her relationship with Lex Luthor. While possibly seen as making her a "stronger" character in a conventional television sense, this shift arguably diluted the very essence of what made Lana compelling and unique in the early seasons. The “beacon of light” became less distinct as she navigated morally gray areas, becoming more like other characters in the narrative, rather than standing apart in her quiet, gentle fortitude.

In conclusion, the character of Lana Lang in early Smallville offers a valuable, if often overlooked, example of "soft strength" – a quiet resilience and moral power that operates beyond the realm of physical dominance and assertive action. This form of strength, characterized by introspection, empathy, and unwavering kindness, is frequently overshadowed by reductive labels like "damsel in distress" and a cultural bias towards more overtly assertive forms of power. As Lana’s character evolved in later seasons, and as the narrative prioritized conventional notions of agency, the very essence of her unique strength seemed to fade. Recognizing and appreciating "soft strength," as embodied by early Lana, is crucial. It allows us to broaden our understanding of what constitutes strength, to value vulnerability not as weakness but as a pathway to connection, and to acknowledge the profound and often underestimated power of gentleness, kindness, and quiet moral fortitude in a world desperately in need of such qualities. By reclaiming Lana Lang beyond the reductive "damsel" trope, we can begin to appreciate the beauty and significance of "soft strength" in character narratives and in life itself.

I pick the one which is most upvoted!

So, my wife and I have made it near to the end of Season 7, and much ado is being made about the Veritas Society with the Luthors, Teague, Queens, and Swanns.

I realize and appreciate that, within the narrative, they have acknowledged that Lex didn’t remember Veritas until his near death experience in Detroit. Without having to go back to earlier seasons, I was wondering more about the stained glass window with the Luthor sigil combined with the Veritas V. Was this in place at ALL before the tail end of Season 7…?

Me, I think Smallville can be potentially set in the same universe as about all of the following:

• The X Files Series (first nine seasons, Fight The Future, Millennium & The Lone Gunmen)

https://youtu.be/KomquOrtcCc?si=ASHqJFmRT6DdqB3n

• Buffy The Vampire Slayer & Angel

https://youtu.be/KKfNuMWO128?si=ViL0Sr-AbW9_gCUe

• Heroes

https://youtu.be/_Ay4gjBhQb4?si=Oi4sfzhXZV-3EDss

• Fringe

https://youtu.be/qUj6tO8Q0sA?si=gJEkthI1gy0NFvEJ

&

• Where The Magic Happens: Luckcharm

https://www.tumblr.com/burningexeter/779877076797997056/a-potential-idea-where-the-magic-happens?source=share

“Homecoming” is one of my favourite episodes and one of the best. It emphases how much of a burden Clark carries on his shoulders and how much guilt he carries with him. It also shows how much he inspires people to be better. It isn’t until Brainiac 5 shows him that it wasn’t his fault Jonathan died. He died protecting him. Clark saying goodbye to his dad was one of the hardest things he ever had to do. It was necessary for him to move forward and a crucial step of him becoming Superman

It’s whatever comment is the most upvoted!

Supernatural 15x04

I'm not really sure why he's my favorite, he just seems so kind, trustworthy, and honest. Also, he is living the life that I hope to someday, which is to get super wealthy and use my money, resources, and knowledge to search for alien life in the universe, that just sounds like the coolest thing ever tbh 😌

I’ve seen some posts complaining about Martha being at the dinner and how weird it is which I agree with. However, I’m wondering why Oliver got and invite in the first place since Lex hates him and didn’t even forgive him in the reunion episode.