Somebody Save Smallville!

If you've ever been to any fansites, I'm sure you must know that the Smallville internet community is up in arms over this new development. To introduce Jason would call into question every new development, character or otherwise, since S1. As of right now, a new serious love interest for Lana, particularly if the casting info on Jason is to be believed, would be Whitney revisited. Is this why Pete was let go? Is this why Whitney was killed in S2? To be resurrected with a new face and body in S4? Although Whitney was clearly never meant to be a permanent love interest for Lana, we understand his purpose in the first season. To show Lana's growth and development, we saw how she grew away from the "fairy princess" image-something the relationship with Whitney symbolized. As S2 continued, we saw the emergence of a stronger, more independent Lana. In S3, she heads to Paris for the purpose of "finding herself." The point of it, I thought, was for self-discovery and to be on her own for awhile. Yet, how is Lana supposed to "find herself" if the first thing she does is jump into a serious relationship with a Whitney clone? To do so would negate the strides this character has made over 2 seasons, implying that nothing has changed since S1. Lana still needs a guy to define herself, and she cannot change and grow without a man by her side.

Furthermore, many fans were undoubtedly disappointed by the departure of Pete. This, too, I thought had a purpose. The void left by Pete's departure might lead Clark to form closer friendships other existing characters, most likely Lana or Chloe. I was hoping that perhaps Pete's leaving might draw the remaining "scoobies" closer together and give Chloe, an established character, a bigger role and more screentime. Why introduce a new character when ones already established are pitifully underused? It would be an insult to Pete and his fans to have him so quickly replaced with Whitney 2.0.

As for Clark, he seems to have made zero progress since S1. Time and time again, we watch him sacrifice everything supposedly for Lana's own good. It was noble in S1, but after a while, it gets played out. Whitney/Lana/Clark made an entertaining love triangle in S1, but please, let's not do this again. To introduce a new love triangle, so much like this one, does both characters in injustice by implying there is nothing more to the relationship than Clark's secret and whos Lana's latest boy toy is. Why not develop both Clark and Lana individually, examine more closely the personal issues and internal conflicts that keep them apart? The effect of Clark's secret on both the relationship and friendship won't end once he tells her his secret. If anything, the complications already there will deepen and evolve. Watching them surmount each new obstacle, rather than stumble on the same ones over and over again, will ultimately strengthen the bond and render their parting even more poignant. We've seen enough to know it's going to take more than another beefstick football hero to keep them apart. Why waste our time with a relationship we know is destined to fail? 'cause the issue is that Jason will bring nothing new to the table, but I think we established that.

A new love interest throws Clark in a morally ambiguous light pining away after someone in another serious relationship how are we supposed to believe Clark is the love of Lanas life if she immediately takes ups with the first guy she meets after the saga with Clark?

It would undermine the growth in Lana's character, render Pete's leaving pointless, and cheapen the relationship between Clark and Lana. How are we supposed to believe Clark is the love of Lana's life if she immediately takes up with the first guy she meets after everything that happened? Furthermore, it throws Clark in a morally ambiguous light, pining away after a girl who is committed to someone else.

You wonder why he doesn't move on already. This development does the show a grave injustice. Please reconsider.