Summary
Smallville’s greatest love story is arguably between Clark Kent and Lana Lang. After six seasons of keeping his secret from his high school crush, Clark tells her the truth only to watch her leave not long after season 7. Their relationship was upended for a few reasons, both story-wise and professionally by the actress that portrayed Lana, Kristin Kreuk. Although this made the inevitable storyline of Lois and Clark possible, Lana’s forced departure warrants better closure for her character’s love story with Clark.
Lana Lang’s story arc largely revolved around her relationship with Clark. Her love and loyalty to Clark was unsurpassed by any other character. Forcing Lana to choose between the love of her life and saving others was an indication of growth and the beginning of her own heroic path without Clark Kent. But was it truly necessary for Lana Lang to leaveDC’sSmallville?
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While Superman fans knew the traditional story of Clark Kent’s wife-to-be was Lois Lane all along, Clark and Lana Lang’s relationship was a passionate contender. It was obvious that their love for one another would only grow the longer they remained in each other’s lives, romantic or otherwise. Therefore, Lana Lang had to leave to create the opportunity for Clark and Lois to become more intimate. Lana’s send off in season 8 was both heartbreaking and heartfelt at the same time.
After Lex Luthor’s attempt to destroy the Daily Planet with a kryptonite bomb forced Lana to choose between her love for Clark and saving lives, Lana sacrifices her chance to be with Clark by absorbing the kryptonite to defuse the bomb. This would make her untouchable to Clark. However, that didn’t stop him from persevering through the pain of kryptonite radiation for one last kiss goodbye with Lana.TheSmallvilleheroine, Lanareminds him:
“If we’re in each other’s hearts, Clark, I will always be with you. No matter what. I love you.”
Lana’s self-sacrificing farewell to Clark may have been an epic moment of love and heroism for the once helpless cheerleader, but it was also one-dimensional. Clark was initially shy around his crush, Lana. He also kept his distance from her, however, because of the kryptonite necklace she wore as a memento of her parents' death in the meteor shower that Clark Kent arrived during. Returning to the exploited kryptonite schtick to deliver a seemingly permanent wedge between the two lovers was a simple ploy that is actually easy for Clark to circumvent. Therefore, aside from Kristin Kreuk’s contract ending at the time, Lana Lang’s character did not necessarily have to leaveSmallvillejust because she was infused with green kryptonite. Instead, Lana needed to leave for another reason.
Why Lana Lang And Clark Kent Can Reunite
Tom Welling’s Clark Kent’s cameo inCrisis On Infinite Earthsreveals that the former Superman gave up his powers, as an alternate Lex unsuccessfully tried to use green kryptonite to weaken him. Although it was not shared how Clark exactly lost his powers, it has been shown that blue kryptonite is capable of suppressing Clark’s kryptonian genes to the point of being unaffected by green kryptonite. Wearing blue kryptonite would also have spared Clark and Lana the heartbreak of her feeling forced to leave Smallville to keep Clark safe in season 8. Regardless of how Clark gave up his powers, the fact remains that he is no longer vulnerable to green kryptonite. Thus, Lana Lang could potentially return without making him sick.
Seeing the dynamics of the now married Clark and Lana reunited in Smallville would certainly be emotionally stirring, if only to challenge Lana’s last words about her undying love for Clark. It wasn’t revealed what became of Lana after she left Smallville. Her newly developed powers and fighting skills allowed her to do something Lois couldn’t. Lana Lang was one of the few love interests of Clark who knew his secret and could fight alongside him. Although Kristin Kreuk’s departure for other acting opportunities ended the love triangle, Lana Lang’s return could give her a better ending that properly closes the chapter on her love story with Clark Kent by her own volition. Even a return intheSmallvilleanimated seriescould bring Lana the closure she deserves. Lana realizes:
“I know what I need to do with my life now. Life is so precious, so beautiful. And to be able to protect that, that’s an amazing gift.”
Whether Lana is still infused with kryptonite or not is no longer a hindrance to their relationship. The romance may no longer be present between the two, but their friendship as two people passionate about helping others together remains under-explored. Lana indeed needed to leave Smallville, but not because of Clark. She needed to leave for herself. Lana’s destiny needed to diverge from the romantic Metropolis entanglement in order for her life to be something greater than just her relationship with Clark Kent. With the time skip, a reunion between Lana and Clark could reveal how Lana has done just that. For now, fans are left wondering howSmallville’s powerless Clark Kent and crime-fighting Lana Lang continue their pursuit of justice.
