In Defense of Clois

I don’t mind being called a “shipper” but I wouldn’t refer to myself as one, at least not for Clark and Lois from Smallville. Don’t get me wrong, I love them together. Their chemistry is AMAZING and some of my favorite work from Tom Welling comes from his scenes with Erica. The only reason why I don’t refer to myself as a flat out shipper is because I haven’t dipped into fanfiction and fanart and music videos.

But since I do have a certain fantastically amazing Clois thing prepared for all of my youtube subscribers, I will retract that statement and suck it up: I am a shipper. BUT, I’m not one of the scary ones.

Now that’s settled, let me begin...

There has been some arguments as of late about Smallville and the direction of it. Some comic book loyalists (which I am one) are saying that it’s wrong how much Lois is impacting Clark on his journey to becoming Superman. Some are upset that Clark is prepping to pop the question, which means a potential engagement which leads to inevitable marriage–on or off screen. No one is refuting that Lois is his true love (except for those from the Clana Forever tribe). They just want to see Lois and Clark after he’s Superman.

I totally get that. I completely understand. But–and this is a huge “BUT”–Smallville is well known for taking the comic books, tearing them up, and pasting them back together blindfolded and with silly string. Lois with Aquaman and a deep relationship with Oliver? Kara in Smallville before Superman can even fly? Lois and Clark working at the Daily Planet before Perry White? So many things in this show is dead wrong compared to the comic books! I won’t even bother complaining about the poor misrepresentations of Superman’s villains! Pay a visit to comicbookmovie.com and go to a Smallville article. You probably won’t find one without many “Smallville Sucks” comments.

For any Smallville/comic book fan to enjoy both, there has to be an understanding that Smallville is a different story from a different kind of universe. Jeez, if there’s another “Crisis” it might be Earth-207.5. Yeah, I do get aggravated when Smallville screws something up when it results in something totally useless and idiotic, but they do have a right to change things. Heck! DC Comics changed a bunch of crap. Golden Age, Silver Age...They revamp storylines all the time! So for comic book fans who have managed to survive 9 seasons of inaccurate change, I ask “Why can’t you handle it now?”

Lois is a huge part of Superman’s life. Anyone who reads Superman comics cannot reasonably argue that fact. It’s perfectly reasonable that she would also be a big influence in Smallville. Now as far as being upset that she influences him into becoming “Superman”, take into account that people have been influencing him into this role from the beginning. Of course Ma and Pa Kent helping is comic book consistent and Lana to a point. BUT Chloe is an original character and pretty much runs the unnamed Justice League. It’s not fair to hate on Lois, especially when her real impact on Clark’s life is so monumental.

It might be annoying to comic book fans that he’ll probably end up popping the question before flying, but lets remember that in 1938 when Action Comics #1 debuted, Superman could not fly, but there was Lois Lane.



The other argument is a general one and isn’t necessarily made by comic book fans, but rather just people who watch the show to see Clark fight somebody and use his special effects. I know these people. My dad watches Smallville and stated that he specifically watched the show for those reasons. I’m not sure why. There have been so many times when he’s sat down excited and then when the show came off, he was let down by Smallville’s famed anti-climactic fight scenes. Smallville does deliver on occasion, but I never felt a fight for Clark (because the non-powered girls always had better fight scenes) delivered until the season 9 finale. And in retrospect, his fight with Zod wasn’t that long, but it was more than two punches. My dad was happy though. When Clark punched Zod after throwing Lois, he yelled out “Pow!” on impact. It was like he was a kid.

But anyway, all the love stuff is starting to get on people’s nerves now. It’s season 10! It’s supposed to be the final season! They’ve got to deliver! The only problem with that theory though...is that it’s always been a show with a lot of romance. Way back at the beginning when I was still Team Clana (creepy, I know!) I was rooting for Clark to be there when Lana woke up from that bug cocoon or for Lana to stop taking pity on Whitney and dump him for Clark! I didn’t realize how hot Ian Somerhalder was at the time! Lana was supposed to be with Clark, not that weird Adam guy! Now somewhere between the vampires, drugs, witches, and taking Lex’s clothes off to sleep with him, blackmailing his workers, and the killings...I lost my love for Lana and she became an eternal sting in my eyes. Still, Clark didn’t stop loving her. Even when she liked Bizzaro Clark more, he still loved her. Fake pregnancy, Mrs. Luthor, shady organizations, nearly killing Lex, or lying to her friends never made him stop. Even when she was pumped full of kryptonite, she was the one to walk away!

He was so doe-eyed in love with her that he was mopey and kind of overly pathetic. Eight seasons of that. EIGHT! Now people want to whine about Lois, when they really only have a few scenes per episode. Sure, they are very romantic squeal worthy scenes, but they do not take up full episodes. At least Lois and Clark developed a friendship that grew into love. Clark barely knew Lana in the beginning and he was in love with her from jump! Even Lana acknowledge in “Power” that Clark had painted an image of her. Then he still couldn’t realize that he had falsely idolized her and blamed her dark side on himself!

Some people think it’s too soon for Clark and Lois to get engaged. I don’t understand that thinking. They’ve known each other since season 4. They’ve been friends, lived together, seen each other naked, been falsely in love, she’s done a strip tease, they had an undeniable connection that Maxima pointed out, and Lois admitted that she loved him in “Committed”. And who else ever made Clark smile like that after a kiss when he posed as Green Arrow? They really had a thing in season 8. They were pretty strong in season 9. When you know, you know. What is Clark supposed to do? Shack up for 5 years?



Here’s the truth: Lois and Clark truly have matured one another. Lois has purpose and fulfillment and though she’ll always be blunt and stubborn, she can be tamed. But the crazy thing about it is, that shy boy who was Lana Lang’s little puppy dog just grabbed Lois when he wanted a kiss. Lois was told to shut up when he wanted to dance. He called her out for not sticking up to her father! Clark is so much more man now! Be happy for that.



The final argument is that Lois Lane in general is in too many episodes, and I just have to disagree. Erica Durance is the best Lois to date. She’s been on Smallville since season 4 and her fans have fought for her to be in the full season. They finally got it. And since there’s only 4 regular cast members, I don’t see why Lois on the show so much is a problem, especially with Oliver being so mopey! Sure, they might not always utilize Lois to the fullest potential when they write an episode, but that can be said about any character–including Clark. I thought “Isis” was useless for the most part, I really did. However, that part at the end was gold. Lois is a reporter working in a world where crime happens everyday and she dates a super hero. Yes, there should be plenty or sensible stories for her to fill out a season. Will they always write her in well? They don’t always write in Clark well!

And they did stories focused on Lana, Chloe, Pete, Tess, Oliver, Kara...I just don’t see how Lois centric episodes could be uncalled for after they’ve been so gracious to other characters. Yeah, it’s a show about Clark, but there’s a supporting cast and their lives effect his. If anyone thinks Smallville should only be about Clark, then let’s lock Tom all alone in the barn, let the camera’s role, and see if that episode is worth our attention. Clark can’t do it alone. He doesn’t in the comic books. He doesn’t on Smallville.

But in conclusion, I’d like to point out that no matter how much Lois loved Superman, she always said yes to “Clark Kent.”



I hope my wealth of knowledge and reason eased someone’s mind. If not, at least I finished my rant.

Tootles!