21 Years Later, Smallville’s Best Lex Luthor Episode Is Still 100% Untouchable

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As a huge fan of superhero shows, I always remember Smallville as the one that really kicked things off – it definitely laid the groundwork for shows like Arrow and The Flash. It was fascinating to watch young Clark Kent figure things out and become Superman, not just in terms of powers, but also in learning what kind of hero he needed to be – how he’d become the symbol of hope we all know.

Beyond exploring how Clark Kent became Superman, Smallville also delved into the origins of his enemy, Lex Luthor. The show starts with Lex and Clark as friends, their lives connected. As the series progresses, Lex battles his inner demons, ultimately succumbing to them and becoming Superman’s rival. This transformation truly began in the pivotal episode, “Lexmas.”

Smallville Delivers a Brilliant Alternate Reality Episode with ‘Lexmas’

The story begins with Lex driving into a dangerous neighborhood to meet an unreliable source. He was hoping to find damaging information about his political opponent, Jonathan Kent, as they were both running for State Senator. Lex intended to use this information to ruin Jonathan’s campaign, though he wasn’t certain he would. However, after the meeting, Lex himself became the victim of a mugging and was shot. He fell to the street, losing consciousness and bleeding heavily.

Lex Luthor wakes up to a surprising scene: he’s in bed with his very pregnant partner, and his young son, Alex, is bursting with energy, demanding pancakes. His partner, Lana, reminds him of a promise to make breakfast before they head out to get a Christmas tree. Confused and disoriented, Lex checks for the gunshot wound he received, and then has a vision of his deceased mother, Lillian. She appears to show him the happy family life he could have had if he’d made different choices.

While Lex navigates his strange new reality, back home, Lionel finds out Lex is safe but still recovering from an operation. The doctor explains that Lex has a blood clot putting pressure on his spinal cord, and if they don’t act fast, he risks permanent paralysis.

The doctor warned that Lex was too frail for another surgery and it could be fatal. However, Lionel, desperate to save his son, immediately took him to a highly-rated neurosurgeon, defying the doctor’s advice. Lionel was willing to risk everything, even his own life, to save Lex.

The episode features a lighthearted story where Clark is decorating for Christmas with Lana, Lois, and his parents when Chloe calls with a problem. She has a mountain of toys to deliver, but a strike means she needs help. Clark reluctantly agrees to play Santa and use his super speed to deliver presents all over Metropolis, even though it means missing out on Christmas Eve with Lana – but he does get to enjoy some cookies along the way!

Okay, so picture this: I’m watching this movie, and our hero, a genuinely good guy who makes toys, unexpectedly finds a despondent, clearly intoxicated Santa Claus about to jump off his roof. It’s heavy stuff. Santa’s lost all faith – he claims the Christmas spirit is gone. He challenges our toymaker to give him just one reason to believe in anything again. What follows is our hero recounting all the wonderful, selfless things that happened to him that night – all the good he experienced and gave. And honestly? It works. This broken Santa finds a renewed sense of hope and meaning just by hearing about another person’s kindness. It’s a surprisingly powerful moment.

As a Smallville fan, I always love the Christmas episodes, and this one is no exception! Things get really fun when Santa actually shows up at the Daily Planet and offers to help Chloe finish delivering presents. She’s totally relieved – they were swamped and, let’s be real, who’s going to question Santa crossing a picket line? She runs off to grab the address list, but when she turns back, poof! Santa and all the gifts are gone – classic! It’s a really charming little side story that honestly makes this one of the best episodes of the whole series.

Lex Had No Money, But a Full and Happy Life in ‘Lexmas’

Lex comes to terms with his situation: he’s been separated from his father and his family has been living modestly for the last seven years, but they are happy and work together at the Daily Planet. Chloe reveals to Lex that her investigation into Luthorcorp was about to be published, and she thanks him for secretly providing her with information.

I was so excited when Lex brought home the most amazing Christmas tree – it was huge and perfect! He knew he’d gone a little over budget, and I could tell he was nervous about telling me. He explained that after Lillian passed away, Lionel wouldn’t let him celebrate Christmas, and this tree was something he’d always wanted as a kid. I totally understood and we got it inside. Then, we went to the Kents’ Christmas party, and Clark actually thanked Lex for dropping out of the mayoral race! Can you believe it? He’s getting the Kansas Humanitarian Award! It was a really heartwarming night.

Lex was truly happy, finally surrounded by the love and acceptance of his friends and family. Lillian reappeared to him, reminding him that this fulfilling life was possible if he prioritized love over ambition. However, their peace was shattered when Lana went into labor. Complications arose during the birth of their daughter, and Lana began to hemorrhage severely. The doctors in Smallville couldn’t stop the bleeding, and Lex desperately pleaded with his father, Lionel, to use his private jet to get her better medical care. Lionel coldly refused, and tragically, Lana died.

Lex Learned the Wrong Lesson From ‘Lexmas,’ Creating a Character-Defining Moment

When Lana suffers a life-threatening loss of blood, Lex is devastated and demands to know why Lillian allowed it to happen to both Lana and himself. Lillian appears, explaining that this outcome offers a better, more loving existence. Lex later awakens in the hospital with his father, Lionel, after a successful second surgery that will restore his ability to walk. However, upon discovering that Lionel risked his life during the procedure, Lex explodes in anger, accusing his father of overstepping and playing God with his fate.

Lillian showed Lex a possible future – a life where he abandoned his ambitions and distanced himself from Lionel and Luthorcorp. This meant giving up his plans to become President, which he’d hoped to achieve by becoming a Senator. While the idea was for Lex to prioritize love over power, he ultimately realized that without wealth and influence, he wouldn’t be able to protect those he cared about.

The events of “Lexmas” dramatically changed Lex’s path. He awoke determined to ruin Jonathan’s reputation, using any information his associate provided. Winning was Lex’s only goal, and he immediately started excluding Lionel from Luthorcorp and all its endeavors. This marked a clear turning point for the billionaire after “Lexmas.”

The events of “Lexmas” forced Lex Luthor to make a difficult decision. Having been raised by a distant father, Lionel, Lex unexpectedly found himself surrounded by positive relationships: a loving partner, a mentor he respected, a genuine friendship with Clark, and a family of his own. He could have had everything he wanted if he’d chosen to embrace love, but his own fears ultimately controlled him.

As a movie buff, I always love episodes that really dig into a villain’s motivations, and this one’s a game-changer for Lex Luthor. It’s the moment everything shifts for him, but it’s not like he’s just becoming evil. He’s still holding onto something from his past, even as he doubles down on his ambitions. We start seeing him really work on Lana, subtly trying to drive a wedge between her and Clark. It’s a slow burn, but you can tell he’s determined to turn her against his rival.

During the sixth season, their relationship began, and while he sometimes believed he was making the right choices, his desire to control everything increased as his feelings for Lana deepened. Simultaneously, he intensified his work on Project 33.1, attempting to create an army of soldiers infected with meteor fragments – a path that ultimately turned him into the notorious villain he’s known as.

Lana started to notice Lex was distancing himself, so he devised a cruel plan to win her back. He secretly gave her a drug to mimic the symptoms of pregnancy, and even paid doctors to create fake medical reports and ultrasound images. Once he felt the deception had served its purpose, he simply stopped the drug and falsely told Lana she’d suffered a miscarriage.

As a movie buff, I’ve always been fascinated by Lex Luthor’s story. It’s tragic, really. He started out wanting love and to do good, but somehow ended up committing terrible acts, believing power would give him everything. He was always conflicted, torn between what Lionel taught him and the values Clark Kent tried to instill. Honestly, you could see that internal struggle – that battle between good and evil – really playing out in the early seasons. Looking back, I think you can pinpoint the start of his downfall to that ‘Lexmas’ episode. It was the first real crack in his facade.

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2026-01-17 22:12