Could Lex Luthor Have Turned Out a Good Person in Smallville?

The character of Lex Luthor, as portrayed in the TV series Smallville, has always been a subject of intense debate among fans. Despite opportunities to turn away from his dark path, Lex's story raises the question: could Lex have been a good person if given a different upbringing?

Lex's Chances to Change

I believe that Lex did have opportunities to change. However, the negative influences in his life, especially from his father Lionel Luthor, significantly hindered his ability to do so.

Lionel Luthor’s manipulative and power-hungry nature played a crucial role in shaping Lex's character. Lionel often pushed Lex to do whatever it took to achieve his objectives, instilling in him a willingness to manipulate and deceive. Lionel even subjected Lex to shady experiments and manipulative practices to test and push him towards a darker path. In many ways, it seemed that if Lex was not going to become a villain due to his own willpower, he would be driven there by his father's influence.

The Influence of the Kents

Rather than Lionel, if Lex had been raised by Jonathan and Martha Kent, he might have had a different outcome. The Kents, Clark Kent's adoptive parents, instilled values of kindness, honesty, and responsibility in Clark. It is reasonable to assume that these values would have similarly influenced Lex if he had been raised in their home.

The Unaddressed Plot Hole

The series often leaves viewers questioning Lex and Lana's relationships, particularly their lack of support for each other. One of the most significant unaddressed plot holes involves Clark Kent's secret identity. Lex and Lana, both aware of the meteor-infected individuals in Smallville, should have logically concluded that Clark was also a meteor-affected individual, using his powers for good.

Lex and Lana repeatedly expose themselves to the risks of other meteor-affected people, only for Clark to save them and seemingly pull off miraculous comebacks. If they were truly friends and loved ones, they should have trusted Clark and respected his privacy regarding his powers. Instead, the series prolonged the suspense by making it a central mystery of what Clark was hiding, rather than acknowledging the obvious conclusion. This prolongation of the mystery serves to heighten tension, but it also undermines the character's relationships and potential for redemption.

The Root of Lex's Dark Path

Lex's transformation into a villain had a lot to do with his father's parenting techniques. In the episode "Lexmas," it is clear that Lex believes that choosing a good path would leave him vulnerable and that the allure of power is too strong to resist. His father's influence and his own belief in the power of money and control were critical factors in shaping his character.

Conclusion

It is arguable that if Lex had been raised by a family like the Kents, instilling values of honesty and moral integrity, he might have made different choices. Additionally, if Lex and Lana had shown more support and understanding for each other, without forcing Clark to reveal his secret, the overall story line might have been more balanced and mature. Regardless, the impact of Lionel Luthor’s manipulative nature on Lex is undeniable, shaping his trajectory towards evil.

Whether Lex could have turned out to be a good person is a matter of speculation, but the question remains, how can we draw better conclusions from the given plot threads to form a more cohesive narrative?