Rewatching Smallville: Notes on Chloe’s humiliation ritual with Clark
a review on a decades old show no one asked for🌽 👽
Disclaimer : Spoilers for a show that aired 24 years ago. I am only still in the second season but seasons in the early 2000s went on foreverrrr. Upon completing the show I may revisit this piece. I’m sure I’ll be more annoyed by fictional Super Hero love triangles. I hope you read this commentary as if I’m live tweeting and also there will be typos.
The writers of smallville love twisting the knife with Chloe Sullivan. Admittedly I didn’t know what to make of her character at the beginning. It very much gave quirky side kick and know it all. As the show pushed forward, she became more dimensional. Giving her more credit than being the “ pick me”. She holds true to her beliefs and values even when it doesn’t align with what Clark wants. She is imperfect and pushes boundaries. Her curiosity often gets the best of her and she apologizes when it impacts her closer relationships.
( Chloe featuring her Wall of Weird. I like the light xfiles angle that runs through the show. Because Clark is an alien so it’s cute 👽)
Chloe is self assured and reliant. She is chatty and clever. Upfront. Seeking truth and straight to the point. Sometimes dorky but often most reliable when Clark needs a co-detective.
They’ll do the dance of maybe Clark does want more. He’ll have brief bouts of jealousy and protectiveness. Only think about Chloe as a romantic option once Pete shares how obvious her crush on him is. and then when she spills her guts he conveniently affirms Lana is this like shooting star he wants. Chloe’s deep love for Clark is a humiliation ritual.
( Season 1 Spring Formal)
Early on, Clark and Chloe try dating. He invites her to a formal. She has a premonition of Clark running off to be with Lana. That very day a twister hits smallville. Lana is sucked up into a tornado. Clark hears of this and runs. Chloe is left searching for Clark. Just to find out later her intuition was right. Lana needed saving and that is where Clark will always be.
We watch Chloe’s heart drop and break. But ultimately her love for Clark triumphs over romantic defeat. She dusts her self off and shows up for her friend. We do get a peak into her deeper thoughts during Season 2 Rush.
“ I am tired of being just a search engine” Chloe states under the influence of a space worm she and Pete get from the caves. “ I want you”. Red stone Clark obliges and returns seemingly heated interest. Chloe doesn’t want saved by Clark, she just wants mutual connection.
(Season 2 Rush) so crazy tbh like why would they do this knowing damn well he wants Lana lol messy ^
The writers force Lana and Chloe to form a superficial friendship based on a mutual frustration with Clark. A ‘ girl power’ moment that feels hollow. Chloe is there for Lana’s long distant relationship with Whitney. A shoulder to cry on. Chloe offers Lana a place to live in the midst of family troubles. Offers to help search for her biological dad. In return, Lana offers Chloe …. Honestly that is unclear. For Lana it more seems she is drawn to Chloe’s proximity to Clark. Chloe’s mutual friendship with Pete and by proxy Clark’s involvement with the Torch in which Chloe is lead editor.
Lana feigns confusion of her status in Clark’s life while everyone around them is honestly like ‘yawn here we go’. Pete calls Clark out early on too. Tells Clark about Chloe’s obvious crush and Clarks blinders to anyone but Lana. Also valid and yells at him for bailing on them for both Lana and Lex. Admitting since Lex Luther has been in the picture, Pete and Clark aren’t as close anymore. We can go into a deeper dive on Clark and Lex alone but maybe a later post???
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Their friendship is later solidified when Clark takes a leap of faith and shares his secret. For Pete, reestablishes his status as Best Friend AND family in the Kents eyes. Clark’s parents are aware of his infatuation with Lana. They too, particularly Martha, Clark’s mom, warns him of trying to chase unavailability.
( infamous “ Fever Letter” season 2 episode ) girl stop doing this to yourselffffff
( also Lana reading Chloe’s UNSENT letter later and using it as a jump off point for HERSELF to restart things with Clark??? Be so real you do not care about your friend or her feelings lol. If Chloe becomes a villain later its warranted by this alone. )
“ I’m the girl of your dreams masquerading as your best friend”. Chloe says at Clark’s bedside while he suffers from a mysterious illness. “ my dad says there are 2 types of girls. Girls for now and girls you grow into. I hope I am in the latter”. For sure we can argue how reductive that statement is but it ironically pans out later in an unexpected way.
What makes Chloe’s rejection interesting is that we know Clark ends up with a woman so similar to her in the end. Lois Lane is a self assured journalist at the Daily Planet where she meets Clark. They banter and she often aids him in his dual identity.
Reminiscent of Chloe, Lois ends up being the woman of the latter. Lois is the woman Clark grows into when he grows up and moves to Metropolis. When he becomes Superman. Sharing the traits of an old friend from his Smallville days.
I’m very curious to see how their relationship will evolve. My hope is that she does not become too bitter but spoilers indicate otherwise.
I’ve looked at some Reddit threads briefly. I think often with imperfect female characters there is a rush to condemn. But I’m sure there will be pitfalls considering the show ran from 2001-2011.