"Smallville's" Lex Luthor Experiences Christmas's "It's A Wonderful Life"!

''‘’Smallville’s’’ Lex Luthor Experiences Christmas’s ‘’It’s A Wonderful Life!’’’’

By Arlene R. Weiss © Copyright December 4, 2005

This Thursday’s episode of the WB Television Network’s hit ‘’Smallville’’, will venture down its own take on the wondrous parable of the beloved 1946 Christmas holiday classic film, ‘’It’s A Wonderful Life’’.

The December 8, 2005 episode revisits the film through the character of ‘’Smallville’’ resident baddie, Lex Luthor.

In the film ‘’It’s A Wonderful Life’’, kind and virtuous small town citizen, George Bailey, portrayed by actor, Jimmy Stewart, wishes he had never been born, and thinks that the people in his life would be better off without him had he never touched their lives, after a series of his own personal misfortunes clouds his mind with self doubt. A guardian angel arrives to show George how the lives of those he loved and befriended would have been very tragic and worse the wear indeed, had George never been born, and never been there to brighten and indeed better and enrich their lives…and that George’s life is not bad at all, but wonderful for the good he has brought to his fellow man and loved ones, who all love him very much indeed.

In a revisionist reversal of the film, in ‘’Smallville’s’’ Christmas episode, Lex Luthor (who we think must have taken lessons from the Grinch like town rich guy, Mr. Potter in ‘’It’s A Wonderful Life’’), will fall into a coma after being shot. Then, in the true spirit of Christmas, Lex’s long deceased and beloved mother will arrive as Lex’s guardian angel, to show the perennial Scrooge like Lex, what an evil, ruthless person he is, and the harm and sadness he has caused to Clark, Jonathan, and Martha Kent, Lana, and the citizens of ‘’Smallville’’.

Lex’s own mother will show him what his life, and the lives of those he knows and used to befriend, but has since betrayed in ‘’Smallville’’, would be like, if he could cast aside his life as the heir to his father, Lionel’s dark, greed and power driven dynasty and its mercurial empire corporation built on evil, LuthorCorp…in essence, how Lex COULD have a wonderful life.

We think this is a clever and meaningful way for ‘’Smallville’’ to show its well, wonderful, way of weaving storytelling and honoring the spirit of what the ‘’Superman’’ comic books (and Christmas) are all about. Of course, its own parable of good versus evil, and choosing one’s own destiny and path, hopefully an honorable one, even when continually tempted, tested, or battled by the forces of evil.

We would like to think Lex would permanently walk the path of what ‘’It’s A Wonderful Life’’ and Christmas are all about. Good will towards men and all that.

But, remember folks, that this IS ‘’Smallville’’ and part of the ‘’Superman’’ myth. Lex might turn Mr. Nice Guy for the holiday season, but he HAS to turn back to the dark side for the juicy clash of the titans to continue as Clark/Superman and Lex, continue as super power endowed hero and villain, forever locked in their gripping, thrilling battle that is the stuff that super heroes, legends, and Christmas, are made of!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to ‘’Smallville’’ fans and to everyone!

Muse News And Micro Muse December 4, 2005

By Arlene R. Weiss © Copyright December 4, 2005