Constructive Criticism

Wow. That's just... wow.

You like it?

Yeah. I do actually.

You seem surprised.

Well frankly I expected that if you two were able to come up with anything at all it would be a complete wreck.

Oh yea of little faith.

This is really good. But..

But what?

I guess I'm just really surprised you two decided to go down this road. I mean I'd never guess Allison would choose that for Chloe. And Michael, is that really what you want for Lex?

Absolutely!

Yeah.

Really? I don't get it.

OK. Maybe it's not perfect for either of us but at first we were at a total impasse.

All his ideas were stupid.

And hers were completely insipid.

We couldn't find a shred of common ground.

I was a nightmare!

But then we decided to take a step back. We asked ourselves what is it we really want for our characters. Forget all the old conventional wisdom, the tired expectations, and the everyday assumptions. Bottom line, bare bones -- what do we want for Chloe and Lex and how could we accomplish both?

Lex needs to be the bad ass villain. Prove he's eclipsed his father.

And Chloe needs to be the ultimate hero. Meet the challenges that would humble even Superman.

So what's the one thing Lionel was never able to accomplish? Despite all his power and magnificence and evil minions what was one thing that always eluded him? That's what Lex needed to accomplish.

I don't remember reading that Lex nailed Martha.

No. Lionel did nail Martha. Geez.

And Chloe -- what's the one thing Clark wasn't able to do? Despite all his powers and goodness the one thing that always eluded him? What if Chloe was able to accomplish the one feat Clark never could?

Stop pinning after Lana?

Now that would be something!

Shut up. No, Lana is dead and the pinning has gone with her. Something else, something ever more difficult.

But Kristen has a point. Is there really anything more difficult than walking away from the shrine of Lana?

[sighs] Funny, Michael.

So what if Lex and Chloe were able to accomplish feats that Lionel and Clark could only dream of?

You'd have a really pissed of John and Tom.

Besides that you'd see our characters at the absolute pinnacle of success! There would be nothing greater left for them to accomplish.

A state of Zen.

That's all fine and good but if you ask me you cheated.

Well, our goals were somewhat mutually exclusive so we had to be a bit creative.

Creative? That's one way to put it. If you ask me your characters didn't reach any "pinnacle of success". They abandon everything they hold dear and wind up betraying who they really are. In the end Lex and Chloe both fail miserably.

[Angrily snatching away the script] Who asked you, anyway!

You did!

[Leaving] Don't pay any attention to her. She's just mad that we didn't make it all about Lana. Lex and Chloe rock!

[Huffy] Well I never!

[To AM] Right on, sister. [To KK] Smell ya later, Kristen. And by the way, Lana is a loser!