When I picture Clark and Lana what do I see? The first thing that comes to mind is the image from Smallville where he is walking towards Lana and gets within 5 feet and down on his face he goes. It was like he just was a bumbling freshman, full of nerves when he got around her. Was it that he was smitten by Lana Lang’s captivating beauty, or was it the Kryptonite necklace she wore around her neck for so long? Even though we all know it was the necklace, that is the way I like to think of Clark and Lana: Sweet and innocent.
(Left) Clark imagines how it is to dance with Lana (Right) As friends, Clark and Lana visit her parents at the cemetery.
Clark and Lana had a budding friendship that started with them being neighbors. He had loved her from afar without her knowledge. But it took a trip to the cemetery in the ‘Pilot’ episode to start us on our way in the journey that is “Clana.” It all began right there. There have been many obstacles in their path, whether it be other loves, possession by witches and vampires, or something to do with meteor rocks. But they pulled through it. Some times it took longer than others, but they have always managed to come back to a better place.
Their love has always been one of angst. Whether it be Clark or Lana, it has never been easy. For a very long time, Clark pined for Lana with the feel of unrequited love. He so wanted for her to be his but she was with Whitney. Clark played the waiting game but always managed to do these wonderful and sweet things for her. I feel it was more to show her what kind of a guy he could be; that and he cared so much about her. There were times Clark was urged by others, mainly Lex, to just go for it. But it is against Clark’s nature to behave in this way. He continued to wait for his chance, his moment to shine.
(Left) Clark and Lana celebrate Clark's birthday (Center) Picnic under the oak tree (Right) Lana was devastated when Clark took off and left her.
Lana became more aware of Clark towards the end of the first season. I think she could see that when all was said and done, Clark would always be there for her no matter what. Lana had deep feelings for Clark but I think she was just afraid to let it show because of Whitney. She too did not want to hurt anyone?s feelings, so they danced around the issue to the end of Season 2. Then neither of them was afraid anymore. They knew what they wanted and were willing to take a chance on it. But they didn’t know they would be up against destiny. And of course, destiny wins. Clark leaves Lana standing alone in the dust watching him ride away.
(Left & Center) Clark under the influence of Red K kisses Lana (Right) Back from his exile, Clark and Lana discuss where they are in their relationship.
But, we all know he comes back. And when he did Lana was glad to see him but was hurt that he left her and never called her. When Clark saw how much he had hurt her, he felt that the best thing would be if he let her go. Clark is always doing things when he thinks it is in Lana?s best interest. She is a little surprised that he wants to give up so easily, but she swallows her pain and decides that now she will be patient. Only this time she ends up getting hurt due to Lex and turns her attention to another man. But in the end, it is Clark who comes to her rescue when Adam, the boy in question, is trying to kill her.
By now, Lana has decided that she is letting a man define who she is and enough is enough. She is tired of sitting by and waiting or having her heart broken by some one else. She decides to move to Paris. But before she does, Clark almost tells her his secret but after witnessing Pete being tortured for it, he decides against it. He lets Lana go and ends up watching her hugging another man good bye and thus seals his fate. He let the love of his life go because he was afraid to tell her the truth. It broke his heart and hers but yet they both continue to be stubborn.
Lana comes back from Paris with Jason. And to say Clark was hurt was an understatement. There was no way he could expect Lana to run back to him after he basically told her to go, but part of him still wanted to try. In the midst of Season 4 we had the episodes with the sacred stones and Lana’s possession by Isobel. All of this spelled away to bring them closer together. Through adversity they would continue their journey to find one another. It all started with ‘Spell.’ It was when she came to him after learning that Lex was the one who had Jason fired and not Clark and then it sort of escalated slowly. They had moments where you could see that the wheels were turning and that something was in the wind. It took ‘Sacred’ to solidify it further. Clark goes with Lana on a search for one of the stones because Jason lied to her about where he was and what he was doing. So, Lana decided to trust Clark and let him help her. And then one of my favorite episodes is ‘Spirit’ or the Prom episode. They danced together and it was so sweet because that was what they had both secretly wanted; to go to the prom together. I am sure many of you cried as I did as finally seeing the angst and tension die, if for just a moment, so they could have a just this second together.
(Left) Clark & Lana threw a party in the barn when they were under a "Spell" (Center) Lana possessed by Isobel & Clark found the stone in China (Right) Finally, they danced together in their prom in "Spirit".
The real honest turning point of their relationship was in the episode called ‘Blank.’ Clark loses his memory and still he can remember Lana. His heart knew that he still loved her even if he could not remember another thing. He goes to the school and asked her what happened and is crushed to learn that it was his fault they were not together. But he promises her that this time it would be different. Lana was greatly surprised to hear him say such things and I almost thought that once she was at the farm after he got his memory back, Clark would recant on the whole thing. But he did something he never usually does and that is stop her before she goes. And then he tells he can’t do this, not again. And once again, Clark promises that things will be different. And there the hope grows.
Season 4 ended with an “I love you” from both of them and the 5th season got off to a tremendous start. Clark had lost his powers and told Lana that the secrets and lies would be over. For you see, that secret and the lies that surround it has always been the one thing that has kept them apart. He was afraid that she would get hurt if she knew or that she would hate him. And Lana felt that he was always hiding something from her and if Clark really loved her so much, then he would tell her. Once his powers were completely gone, he didn’t think he had any reason to tell her anything. And for a while, it was beautiful. They were hopelessly in love and it showed. Clark and Lana even went so far as giving themselves to each other. And life could have been grand until someone decided to destroy all the meteor freaks and Clark gets shot and dies. Once he was resurrected, his powers were back and the lies returned.
(Left) Now a mortal, Clark finally pursued Lana (Center) They were still good friends in the future even though Lana married Lex in the episode "Lexmas" (Right) Clark finally decided to tell Lana his secret and he showed her the Fortress and asked her to marry him.
A person really can’t successfully have any kind of life with some one as long as one of them is hiding something. And he tried really hard to lie to her easily, but all he did was hurt her. It put them in a strain, especially when you were once intimate and now you are not. Clark would never really give her a good explanation of why. Finally enough was enough; Clark decided she needed to be told. So in ‘Reckoning’, he takes her to the Kiwatche caves and then to the Fortress. And he laid it all out for her. Clark even went so far as to propose, making the ring right in front of her. Eventually, she tells him yes to all things and, I must say, it was the happiest Clana moment ever. But, it was to be short lived. Due to Clark’s refusal to comply with Jor-El, a life was required when he was sent back to save Earth. It was to be Lana’s. Lex chased her in a drunken rage and a bus hit her car killing her instantly. Clark was grief stricken and begged Jor-El to give her another chance, and he would accept the consequences. Clark gets another chance and because he thinks her knowing his secret was what killed her, he lies to her about where they were supposed to go on their secret date. Hurt by the obvious lies, she tells Clark that she needs a break from them and that was where it all began to unravel. Lex the whole time had been befriending Lana and giving her advice. But most important to Lana was the perception of honesty that he had. Clark lied more and more. And he did so less convincingly. The worst was after ‘Hypnotic’ when Clark is under a spell and Lana sees him making out with another woman. After it is over, Clark lies and tells Lana that he doesn’t love her anymore and that destroyed her hope for them. I think Clark does these things with noble intentions, but I also think he needs to ask Lana what she thinks about it all. He needs to stop worrying about if she is in danger and risk it. Go for it.
Lana eventually turns to Lex and moves in with him. There are many altercations between Clark and Lana, and Lex and Clark about their relationship. Most recently, Lex has proposed to Lana. After Lana visited Clark, she realized that the reason she had yet to answer Lex was Clark. She also finds that since Clark was told by Lex of her pregnancy, and now sees her in a different light, like she may be lost to him forever. And she very well may be since she tells Lex yes to his proposal.
Clark takes a trip off the deep end and he winds up in the psycho ward. Or has he? It turns out to be a dream but the interesting part of this dream world; he is with Lana. It seems she chooses him over Lex and they are very happy together. But when he learns from the Martian Manhunter that it is all a ruse, he must choose to either go back to the way things really are or stay with Lana and be happy. Which way will he decide to live?
(Left) Lana talks to Clark before accepting Lex's marriage proposal (Right) She chooses Clark over Lex in Clark's alternate universe in "Labyrinth".
Clark and Lana represent two people so in love but one so afraid that he let the love of his life slip away. I think Lana grew tired of waiting for him to come around and be the man she knew he was but just would not let himself be. She loved him but the lies killed her and in the end it killed them. I however do not think it is the end. I think there is more to be told of their story. Lana has to come to the point where she can still be his greatest confidante and friend. She has to be the one to urge him to go for his destiny. Let’s face it, Lana is an important part of Clark Kent?s life. There have been many variations of their story told down through the span of time. Since 1938, we have followed Clark Kent (and Superman) on his journey, and that includes his love life. Lana first was heard about in the September/October issue of Superboy #10 in 1950. Back in those days, she was Superboy’s love interest. In the Silver Age, Lana behaved more like a young version of Lois as we know from the Superman movies and Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman’, by trying to prove Superboy and Clark are one in the same. Lana had also been a rival for Clark?s love against Lois. In some comics, they have had Lana and Lois as roomies and Lana being the maid of honor at Clark and Lois’ wedding. And in others, she is told by Clark of his powers right before he leaves Smallville to go and claim his destiny, giving her a very platonic kiss. This left her hurt and bitter. Later when she sees Superman in action, Lana concludes they are on in the same and acted like some sort of a stalker. That was until Lex got her and tortured her. But she never told Lex anything before Superman came to her rescue. In this story line, she never becomes an important part of his life, in Metropolis or a rival to Lois Lane, either in the reporter’s ring or for Clark’s love. She and Clark were acquainted but only at a distance. Which ever way the story goes, she is as important as Lois is to Clark’s story.
100th episode. Clark and Lana were officially engaged.
You know, I know that Lois and Clark are married in the end. But for a while, Lana Lang was the girl next door and the love of Clark’s life. I think she helped mold him into the man that you see today. If not for her, where would the “Man of Steel” be? Would he be the way he is now or something else entirely? I like to think that their love forever changed him and made him want to be better because I?d like to think that at the very end of the show, it is Lana who urges him to go and pursue his destiny. And because of her great sacrifice, Clark goes off to become a better man. Maybe it is a romantic idea, but it has been done before in the comics and I think it would be the perfect ending for such a wonderful romance. As in life, things are not always simple or easy. There are many paths and forks that we must follow. I think Clark and Lana have endured that and in the end, so will their friendship. It is where they began and it is where I hope it will end.
