Inspiration. Without good characters a writer really doesn't have a good story and I was selling myself short so many years before by building characters without any sense of direction whatsoever. It took an ad for a character building book in Writer's Digest to remind me that I really needed to build better characters to write better stories. My location and finances are serious obstacles sometimes so the book was never purchased, but around that time I began doing reviews for Smallville. Doing that jumpstarted my interest in researching personality types in order to have a working compilation of character stereotypes or personality traits to use as reference.

Research. I cut my "teeth" on Enneagram and Myers-Briggs. Recently, Keirsey came my way. Most, if not all studies, find their basis in the work of psychoanalytical pioneer, Carl Jung, who was a contemporary of psychology giant, Sigmund Freud.

1. Enneagram lists 9 basic personality types that read thinking, emotions, behavior, and psychoses. The nine types (multiple labels are included) are:

Type 1. Reformer, Perfectionist;
Type 2. Helper, Giver;
Type 3. Performer, Motivator, Achiever;
Type 4. Romantic, Individualist;
Type 5. Investigator, Observer;
Type 6. Skeptic, Loyalist;
Type 7. Enthusiast, Epicure;
Type 8. Leader, Challenger, Protector; and
Type 9. Peacemaker, Mediator

A longer list of 18 personality types is possible if the "wings" for each personality type are counted. "Wings" are traits shared with an adjoining personality types. For example, a Type 6 (Loyalist) may share traits with a Type 5 (Investigator) or a Type 7 (Enthusiast). Adding to the complexity of the discussion, some characters may also have traits from two distant personality types so a Type 6 (Loyalist) may also share Type 2 (Helper) or Type 9 (Peacemaker) traits. The Ennegram study can get more complicated with subtypes and emotion-centers, but I won't go into that.

2. Myers-Briggs lists 16 basic personality types determined by four major categories: How we socialize (Extrovert or Introvert), how we take in information (Sensor or iNtuitive), how we make decisions (Thinker or Feeler), and how we go about living (Judger or Perceiver). Each function within each category carries a corresponding identifying letter:

Extrovert -- E or Introvert -- I Sensor -- S or Intuitive -- N Thinker -- T or Feeler -- F Judger -- J or Perceiver -- P

These type groupings can be listed under 4 major groupings, which imply Aristotle's and Galen's classical groupings of melancholic, sanguine, phelgmatic, and choleric types of people: SJ (Sensory Judgers), SP (Sensory Perceivers), NF (Intuitive Feelers) and NT (Intuitive Thinkers).

3. Keirsey also lists 16 basic personality types that evidently focus more on behavior than thought-process. His divisions seem quite similar to Aristotle's and Galen's groupings especially since he lists 4 major groupings, labeled as Guardians, Artisans, Idealists, and Rationals.



Margins of Error etc. Personality research is dynamic. Although there is general agreement among personality analysts, each describes the types differently. In addition, each analyst suggests different type correlations between Enneagram and Myers-Briggs studies, which creates a plethora of possibilities and widens margins of error. Still, it's a lot of fun to explore what makes a character tick in your own stories and in other stories.

Characteristix's Template.  The template compiled for my writing is a combination of the three studies and that's the template I'll be referring to on Characteristix.  I took the liberty of changing some of the type labels, but that was really just for me to remember the types better based on my own understanding of each type. My labels aren't meant to officially "replace" the experts by no means.  So let the fun begin!

So finally! This is the Type or Trait Template.

Descriptions. Each type is broken down into a list of adjectives describing prominent traits of the type. The adjective lists are abbreviated to give a general idea of each respective personality type, which means some descriptions were left out for the sake of brevity.  For more exhaustive trait lists, the resources I've used can be accessed at Enneagram Institute, David Keirsey, and The Personality Page.

Equivalents to Types. There may be several Myers-Briggs equivalents to an Enneagram type. Because personality research is not an exact science, sources are not yet fully agreed on these equivalents. As a result, the equivalents I've listed are approximations based on current studies and my understanding of these current studies. I've done my best to ensure that the closest types are placed next to each other. See Life Explore and The Enneagram Blog for more discussion.

ARTISTS are pleasure seekers, observant, optimistic, practical, innovative, and learn by doing.

Ace  ·   Enneagram: Loyalist-Enthusiast (6x7)  ·   Keirsey: Composer  ·   Myers-Briggs: ISFP (Artist)   ·   Aces desire to find allies and security. They are active, caring, charming, creative, cynical, cooperative, funny. But they can also be paranoid, rebellious, sensitive, and withdrawn. Under stress an Ace may be accusatory, moody, and retaliatory. Aces also fear abandonment and helplessness. They are people who decline positions of authority, hard-to-please, openly test others, self-critical, and have strong values. Under stress, fear of abandonment and helplessness may either make Aces independent yet cooperative or project their fears on to others. Psychoses include Anxiety attacks, Paranoia, and Passive-aggressive tendencies. Ultimately, Aces need to develop Courage and Faith.

Adventurer  ·   Enneagram: Enthusiast-Challenger (7x8)  ·   Keirsey: Promoter  ·   Myers-Briggs: ESTP (Doer)   ·   Adventurers desire to stay optimistic and positive. Socially, they are adaptable, charming, down-to-earth, entrepreneurial, generous, gregarious, loud & boisterous yet urbane & witty, loyal, observant, proactive, self-confident, talkative. Under stress they can be detailed-oriented observers, focused, scrupulous. However, Adventurers also fear deprivation, frustration, and pain. This fear may make them blunt, bored easily, competitive, impersonal, limit long-term friendships, materialistic, risk-takers, and unable to follow-through. But they may also be multi-taskers, realistic, risk-takers, straight-forward, and want everyone to enjoy wide ranges of experiences. Under stress, Adventurers may act on their fears by being autocratic, demanding, picky, rigid, or self-contained. Psychoses include Depression, Hysteria/histrionic personality, and Narcissistic personality. Ultimately, Adventurers need to learn Moderation.

Detective  ·   Enneagram: Thinker-Loyalist (5x6)  ·   Keirsey: Crafter  ·   Myers-Briggs: ISTP (Mechanic)   ·   Detectives desire to gain more knowledge. They are action-oriented, adaptable, analytical, bored easily, confident, curious, sometimes disregards personal feelings, fact-oriented, fair, free-spirited, fun, hardworking, kind, loyal, optimistic, patient, supportive, technologically-gifted. Under stress, they may talk constantly and take risks, but still get tasks done. Detectives fear intrusion and demands. As a result they can be cautious, counter-phobic, decisive yet indecisive, distrustful & judgmental about self, fears taking action & develops information gathering addiction, territorial, withdrawn. Under stress, they are prone to daydreaming, impracticality, and mental hysteria. Psychoses include Avoidant personality and Schizophrenia. Ultimately, Detectives need to learn Detachment.

Livewire  ·   Enneagram: Enthusiast-Loyalist (7x6) ·   Keirsey: Performer ·   Myers-Briggs: ESFP (Performer)   ·   Livewires desire to stay optimistic and positive. They are accepting, aesthetically aware, endearing, fun-loving hosts to group adventures, funny, generous, hyperactive, know the latest trends, lively, loyal, lovable, observant, openly vulnerable with unguarded tender sweetness, playful, practical, rational about life's anxieties, witty storytellers & pranksters. Under stress, they may be detailed-oriented observers, focused, scrupulous. Livewires also fear deprivation, frustration, and pain. This fear may make them anxious, bored easily, grow dependent & addicted to others, over-indulgent, sensitive, spontaneous, stubborn, or unforgiving. Under stress, fear may make Livewires autocratic, demanding, picky, rigid, self-contained. Psychoses include Depression, Hysteria/histrionic personality, and Narcissistic personality. Ultimately Livewires, like Adventurers, need to learn Moderation.

HELPERS are security seekers, observant, dutiful, organized, responsible, supportive, and learn by process.

Caretakers  ·   Enneagram: Helper-Reformer (2x1)  ·   Keirsey: Provider  ·   Myers-Briggs: ESFJ (Caregiver)   ·   Caretakers desire to be loved through service and giving. They are appreciative of others' talents, confidential, dependable, detailed-oriented, energetic, expects things in return, friendly, giving, meddlesome, opinionated, outspoken, practical, puts ethics before pride, respectful of the boundaries of others, sensitive to others' needs, warm. Under stress, they may either acknowledges personal needs & act on personal goals or become ruthless. They also fear rejection and disappointing others. As a result, they may blindly accept rules, become co-dependent and controlling, dislike conflict, have difficulty saying no to requests, become emotional, justify moral transgressions, become overly sensitive. Under stress, fear may make Caretakers controlling, manipulative, repressive true feelings. Psychoses may include Factitious disorder, Hypochondria, and Hysteria/histrionic personality. Ultimately, Caretakers need to find Humility.

Guardian  ·   Enneagram: Reformer-Helper (1x2)  ·   Keirsey: Supervisor  ·   Myers-Briggs: ESTJ (Guardian)  ·   Guardians desire to be right and perfect. They can be controlling, demanding, harsh, fair, impatient with messiness & mistakes, micromanaging, opinionated, organized, proactive, respectful of competence & efficiency, responsible, take charge, and wise. Under stress, Guardians may be more critical, emotional, self-righteous, rigid, and/or volatile. In the same token, Guardians fear condemnation for public mistakes. They can be conscientious, dislike waste & sloppiness, dutiful, empathetic, helpful, impatient with those who disregard systems, sacrificing of time & energy to do good, sharp, witty, even sometimes hypocritical ["Do as I say, not as I do"], witty. Under stress, however, Guardians may be fun, imaginative, interactive, innovative, self-examining self-pitying, spontaneous. Psychoses include Depression, and Obsessive compulsive disorder. Ultimately, Guardians need to find Serenity.

Peacemaker  ·   Enneagram: Peacemaker-Challenger (9x8)  ·   Keirsey: Protector  ·   Myers-Briggs: ISFJ (Nurturer)   ·   Peacemakers desire to have peace. To acquire peace, they are accommodating, affirming, amiable yet blunt, assertive, aware, considerate, cooperative, dependable, friendly, gift-givers, good listeners, humble, intuitive, sometimes judgmental, kind-hearted, observant, pro-active, protective, respects traditions & laws, sensitive to others' feelings, steady, sharp-edged. They are best under stress, where they may be direct, efficient, focused on goals, proactive. Along those same lines, Peacemakers fear conflict, discomfort, and separation. They show this fear by being accurate, critical of self, discouraged without feedback, good memorizers, methodical, modest, problem-anticipators, restraining expressing personal feelings, sensitive, stabilizers. Under stress, however, their fears make them doubtful and fatalistic. Psychoses may include Dependent personality and Passive-aggressive tendencies. Ultimately, Peacemakers need to develop Action and Love.

Reliant  ·   Enneagram: Peacemaker-Reformer (9x1)  ·   Keirsey: Inspector  ·   Myers-Briggs: ISTJ (Duty-fulfiller)   ·   Reliants are like Peacemakers in that they desire to have peace. They are caring, dependable, endearing, dutiful, efficient, fact-oriented, inclusive, logical, loyal, methodical, modest, organized, overly humble punctual, reasonable, respectful of traditions & laws, self-critical, supportive, works with everyone. Under stress, their desire to have peace may make them direct, efficient, focused on goals, and proactive. They also fear conflict, discomfort and separation. This fear may make Reliants aloof, compliant, dismissive of others' feelings, obsessed with structure, people-pleasing, minimize negative experiences, reserved, resistant to impractical tasks, ritualistic, stubbornly passive, uncomfortable with affection. Under stress, they may be doubtful, fatalistic, reacts out of suspicion. Psychoses may include Dependent personality and Passive-aggressive tendencies. Ultimately, similar to Peacemakers, Reliants need to develop Action and Love.

IDEALISTS are virtue seekers, clarifiers, introspective, inspiring, supportive, and seek to find their identity within society.

Ally  ·   Enneagram: Loyalist-Thinker (6x5)  ·   Keirsey: Healer  ·   Myers-Briggs: INFP (Idealist)   ·   Allies desire to find allies and security. In their efforts to find other allies and security, Allies may be altruistic, assess others' motives, bookish, build partnerships, become campaigners, confidential, good listeners, introverted, intuitive, investigative, involved in group activities, paranoid, remain mysterious for long periods, scan environment for problems, skeptical, want consensus & predictability. Under stress, they can be accusatory, moody, reliant on phobic/flight or counter-phobic/fight reactions, reliant on feelings not morality, retaliatory. In the best of circumstances they will trust themselves and others. But Allies often fear abandonment and helplessness. This fear makes them aggressive defenders of lost values, brood over injustices done, co-dependent, deteriorate into invasion & blaming, irrational in conflict, unsure of the source of anxieties. Yet, fear may also make them friendly, endearing, helpful. Under stress, they may be independent yet cooperative or project their fears. Psychoses include Anxiety attacks, Paranoia, and Passive-aggressive tendencies. Ultimately, Allies need to develop Courage and Faith.

Giver  ·   Enneagram: Helper-Achiever (2x3)  ·   Keirsey: Teacher  ·   Myers-Briggs: ENFJ (Giver)   ·   Givers desire to be loved through service and giving. Like Caretakers, Givers are appreciative of others' talents, caring, charming, competitive, cooperative, energetic, encouraging, forgiving, good-natured, heartfelt, honest, meddlesome, multi-taskers & multi-talented, neglectful of personal needs, organized, and supportive. Under stress, their desire to be loved through service may make them either acknowledges personal needs & act on personal goals or become ruthless. Givers fear rejection and disappointing others. Therefore, they may be anxious, waste time in personal over-involvements, feel depressed, feel alone, feel guilty. Under stress, they may be controlling, manipulative, or even repress true feelings. Psychoses may include Factitious disorder, Hypochondria, and Hysteria/histrionic personality. Ultimately, Caretakers need to find Humility.

Protector  ·   Enneagram: Challenger-Peacemaker (8x9)  ·   Keirsey: Champion  ·   Myers-Briggs: ENFP (Inspirer), ENTJ (Executive), ESTP (Doer)   ·   Protectors desire to be in control, to be self-reliant and have justice. As a result, they are alert, dislike strict rules & orders, enjoy banter, find it difficult to share leadership, intense, intrigued by new things, intuitive, kind-hearted, laconic, motivating, open-minded, passionate, project-oriented, quick to misjudge people & situations, protective of strong personal values & boundaries, sacrificing for people & causes, steady, supportive, unpretentious. Under stress, they can be charming, generous, helpful, and protective at their best. But they also see extremes in people (i.e. good vs. bad), become extreme in behavior and engage in paranoid, vengeful planning at their worst. Protectors also fear being harmed or controlled. A fear of being controlled or harmed may make Protectors cold, rely on intimidation, indifferent to softer emotions, manipulative, or suddenly volatile. But they may also be patient, extraordinarily calm, and sensitive to crises. Under stress, their fears are revealed in denial, recklessness, or withdrawn behavior. Psychoses include Sociopath and Antisocial personality disorders. Ultimately, Protectors need to develop Trust.

Romantic  ·   Enneagram: Individualist-Achiever (4x3)  ·   Keirsey: Counselor  ·   Myers-Briggs: INFJ (Protector)   ·   Romantics desire to understand self and find significance. Romantics are accepting, caring, confidential, friendly, funny, imaginative & creative, intuitive, right-sayers & stubborn. Under stress,  Romantics' desire to understand self and find significance prompts them to differentiate between emotional & moral judgments and to be steady. However, Romantics may also become excessively helpful, intrusive, and stubborn in crises. Romantics fear having no identity or being defective. Their fears are often shown when they are agitated by external & internal conflict, competitive, fearful of social humiliation, flamboyant, secretive, hypersensitive to criticism, orderly, perfectionist, reserved, attracted to "poetic justice" towards ridiculers, self-critical, self-protective. Under stress, Romantics' fears of having no identity or being defective are shown when they become anxious, dramatic, or hysterical. Psychoses include Avoidant personality, Depression, and Narcissistic personality. Ultimately, Romantics need to find Contentment.

THINKERS are logic seekers, conceptualizers, intellectuals, theorists, and interested in strategy.

Boho  ·   Enneagram: Individualist-Thinker (4x5)  ·   Keirsey: Mastermind  ·   Myers-Briggs: INTJ (Scientist)   ·   Bohos desire to understand self and find significance. They are often artistic, creative, good listeners, idiosyncratic, insightful, intellectual, relive past experiences, right-sayers, sarcastic, witty. Under stress, a Boho are like Romantics because they differentiate between emotional & moral judgments and tend to be steady. Similarly, Bohos may also become excessively helpful, intrusive, and stubborn in crises. Bohos also fear having no identity, being defective. This fear may make them abrupt, aggressive, ambitious, anti-social, blame others for misunderstandings, detached, dismissive, loners, morbid, obsessive, organized, perfectionists, self-confident, sensitive to criticism, values systems, uncomfortable with affection, withdrawn. Under stress, Bohos may become anxious, dramatic, hysterical. Ultimately, Bohos need to find Contentment.

Boss  ·   Enneagram: Reformer-Peacemaker (1x9)  ·   Keirsey: Field Marshal  ·   Myers-Briggs: ENTJ (Executive)   ·   Bosses desire to be right and perfect. As a result, they may be authoritative, calm, cool, concerned with quality & high standards, create abstract rules, decisive, detached, direct, enjoy lively conversation, forceful, harsh, hasty reactions, impatient with inefficiency, impatient with messiness & mistakes, impatient with those of different lifestyles or perspectives, intimidating, natural leader, objective, out-spoken, problem solving, relaxed, right-sayer & stubborn, take charge. Under stress, they may be Critical, emotional, self-righteous, rigid, volatile. Bosses fear condemnation for public mistakes. Their fear show itself when they may be controlling, dutiful, fair, friendly, interactive, micromanaging moderate in evaluations, perfectionists, sentimental, wise. Under stress, however, Bosses may actually be quite fun, imaginative, interactive, innovative, self-examining, self-pitying, spontaneous. Ultimately, Bosses need to develop a spirit of Serenity.

Inventor  ·   Enneagram: Challenger-Enthusiast (8x7)  ·   Keirsey: Inventor  ·   Myers-Briggs: ENTP (Visionary)   ·   Inventors desire to be in control, to be self-reliant and have justice. Inventors can be ambitious, caring, clever, debaters, enthusiastic, expansive, fluent conversationalists, energetic, enterprising, flexible, generous, gregarious, impatient with implementing plans, impatient with those who appear wrong or unintelligent, laid-back, materialistic, optimistic, perceptive, quick-tempered, quick-thinking, resourceful, risk-taking. Under stress they can be charming, generous, helpful and protective yet extreme in behavior, vengeful in planning and see extremes in people (i.e. good vs. bad). Inventors are like Protectors because they fear being harmed or controlled. So they can be aggressive, arrogant, reliant on intimidation, dominant, ego-centric, harsh, manipulative. Under stress, they may be in denial, reckless, or withdrawn. Ultimately, Inventors need to develop Trust.

Scientist  ·   Enneagram: Thinker-Romantic (5x4)  ·   Keirsey: Architect  ·   Myers-Briggs: INTP (Thinker)   ·   Scientists desire to gain more knowledge. Socially, they are artistic, abstract, detail-oriented, dreamers, easy-going, enthusiastic about their interests, flexible, humanistic, intuitive, patterned, self-aggrandizing, self-confident around friends, tireless. Under stress, they may constantly talk, get tasks done, and take risks. Scientists fear intrusion and demands. They can be anti-authoritarian, controlled, critical, detached, internal, rebellious, resistant to control, sensitive, shy, suspicious of others, tolerant, unaffected by criticism, undemanding. Under stress, they are prone to daydreaming, impracticality, and mental hysteria. Psychoses include Avoidant personality and Schizophrenia. Ultimately, Detectives need to learn Detachment.

Character: Lana Elizabeth Lang   ·   Show: Smallville   ·   Personality Type: Ally   ·   Type Equivalents: Type 6, Loyal Skeptic with a 5 wing, Investigator (Enneagram), Healer (Keirsey), INFP (Myers-Briggs).

Character View
"I am loyal." ("You've been abandoned and betrayed so many times how could you know that I wouldn't be next. Well, I'm not. I'm here", 5.22 Vessel).

Defining Moments
Her parents' deaths in the 1989 meteor shower (Pilot), the discovery of Clark Kent's super-human nature (Promise), and her marriage to Lex Luthor (Promise-Phantom).

Psychosis
Paranoia, Passive-aggressive tendencies

Traits Showing Desire to Find Safety and Allies
• Aloof and cautious. Lana can be chronically hesitant. She anxiously presents a 2nd business proposal (Kinetic), initially hesitates taking the advice to "embrace living" (Rush), questions integrating into her biological father's family (Insurgence), hesitates during kickboxing training (Precipice), concerned over alienating Chloe Sullivan when she begins dating Clark (Calling), questions her judgment about Adam Knight (Hereafter, Resurrection); queries her relationship with Clark (Legacy, Hypnotic), vacillates about her academic progress (Talisman, Forever, Thirst), and questions her relationship with Lex (Wither, Hydro).

• Builds partnerships. She often forms alliances where she embraces "us-against-them" rhetoric (Recruit, Mortal, Vessel).

• Cause-fighter, helpful. She believes helping gives her purpose and has involved in the lives of Chloe Sullivan (Rogue, Tomb); Byron Moore (Nocturne); the Kawatche Indians (Skinwalker); Perry White (Perry); Sarah Conroy (Slumber); Seth Nelson (Magnetic); Lex (Shattered, Memoria); Clark Kent (Whisper); Adam (Delete, Hereafter); Ryan James (Ryan); Lois Lane (Gone); Evan (Ageless); Victor Stone (Cyborg); illegal immigrants (Subterranean); and persons suffering from meteor infection (Cure).

• Desires consensus and predictability. She also expresses a need for predictability or desires participation in decision-making with her aunt, Nell Potter (Ryan); Whitney (Cool); Clark (Visage, Phoenix, Tomb, Cyborg); and Lex (Zero, Heat, Onyx, Vessel, Sneeze, Fallout).

• Investigative. Once in crisis, her need to find out why things happen to her propels her to ally with those who share her views or those who are resourceful as she did with Lex and his investigation of the mysterious space ship that landed in Arrival (Splinter, Hypnotic, Oracle) and Zod's disc (Arrow, Fallout, Static). At times she ventures out on her own, as she did when she suspected Clark was meteor infected (Freak) and when she sought to avenge Lex's manipulation of her body during their marriage (Cure-Wrath).

• Scans environment for problems. She often attempts to restore any loss of control as she does with Zod after he impales her hand to a wall (Zod) or when punishes Lionel for his manipulation (Nemesis, Kara). Apparently believing that knowledge will make her feel safe, Lana's reclamation of safety also demands full disclosure as seen in her interactions with Nell (Redux), Whitney (Metamorphosis), Clark (Red, Lockdown, Hypnotic, Sneeze, among others) and Lex (Hidden, Splinter, Wither, Rage plus others). However, in her efforts to restore safety, she can be selfish (reacting to Clark and Chloe's closeness, Crush, Fever, Hydro), doubtful (Jason, Recruit), and easily manipulated (finding out about Lex's predicament, Oracle).

Traits Showing Fear of Being Helpless and Abandoned
• Claims she is always loyal and honest. Lana's search for predictability and full disclosure makes her unpredictable and dishonest. In crises, she can become accusatory, defensive, deceptive, and retractable. Notice her paranoia and emotional shifts with Bad!Clark (Red), inconsistent Clark (Perry, Lockdown), intrusive Lex (Spell, Recruit), "Alexander" (Onyx), super-powered Lex (Vessel), the "Next Lex Girl" label (Wither), Lex's lies of omission (Fallout), her rediscovery of Clark's love and secret (Promise, Prototype, Phantom), and her confrontations with Lex over his duplicity (Nemesis, Phantom, Kara, Fierce, Wrath). To justify her fears or avoid being taken advantage of, she will reciprocate trust and honesty only when it is given.

• Co-dependent. Lewis and Laura Lang's sudden deaths apparently created Lana's fear of unexpected danger and external threats. She seeks to recapture safety she had with her them in the Pilot, Craving, Rogue, Kinetic, and Void. In connection, she has a pattern of entering into co-dependent relationships where she constantly seeks verbal reassurances of love with Whitney Fordman (Cool, Kinetic, Obscura, Crush), Clark (Exile, Accelerate, Vengeance, Cyborg, Trespass, Phantom), Jason Teague (Façade, Unsafe), and Lex (Fragile, Fallout, Static). Her desire to feel loved and needed also fuels flirtations with Ian Randall (Dichotic), Seth (Magnetic), and Adam (Asylum-Hereafter).

• Quiet ambition, competitiveness, and vision. As a child, she successfully competes in equestrian events (Metamorphosis, Ryan). She later restores and protects the Talon (Zero, Drone, Prodigal, Talisman, Façade). In fact, she desires self-reliance (Hothead, Drone, Arrival, Rage) and, once encouraged, pursues her goals (art school, Covenant, Crusade). She experiences moments of insight, despite inexperience and confessed she knows people perceive her as "driven and self-absorbed" (Truth). She also sees through Lex's "cupid period" in S1 (Craving, Cool, Rogue), questions Clark's supernatural abilities (Vortex, Duplicity, Hidden), and detects the boys' separate evasive tactics (Resurrection, Splinter, Reckoning, Vessel, Sneeze, Rage).

Under Stress
• Negative: Accusatory. Stress can turn her natural and healthy skepticism into paranoia. Always seeking to justify her anxiety, she may quickly draw or verbalize conclusions as she does with Lex about his apparent abandonment (Drone), his injection in her relationships (Spell, Recruit, Hidden), his alleged manipulation of her body in faking a pregnancy (Nemesis, Phantom), and his machinations in her life (Fierce). Early S7, she becomes obsessed with Lex's dealings (Cure, Wrath). Clark is also on the receiving end of her accusations about his delayed disclosure (Lockdown, Oracle, Sneeze, Fallout).

• Negative: Projection of unease. She has projected her fears onto Lex about Clark (Legacy, Wither), onto Chloe about her separation anxiety (Talisman), and onto Clark about her moral discrepancies (Wrath).

• Negative: Phobic by avoiding discomfort or danger. She admits to defensive reading (Cool); confides in Chloe about her biological father before talking to him (Lineage); accepts the victim role when blamed for her father's marital woes (Witness); relies on Lex when unsure about Clark and Adam (Perry, Legacy, Obsession); turns to Clark over her tattoo, Isobel, and Jason (Sacred); avoids addressing the Isobel/Gertrude connection with Jason (Krypto); hides her research partnership with Lex (Splinter, Lockdown); cautious about awakened desires and feelings (Fragile, Mercy); initially lies about dating Lex (Fade); reverses her involvement in the project researching Zod's black box (Fallout); attempts to break up with Lex ont their wedding day by a letter (Promise); attempts to flee the Luthors (Phantom); and breaks up with Clark by video (Artic).

• Negative: Counter-phobic by lying, avenging, questioning motives or rejecting intrusion. Over the last seven seasons, Lana has become more counterphobic than phobic, but evidence of her counterphobic reactions began as early as S1. She lies about Whitney's whereabouts (Metamorphosis); reacts to Nell's inability to confide in her, namely Nell (X-Ray, Redux); confronts Clark about his secret in S2 (Vortex, Duplicity, Red); questions Lex's interest in her (Nicodemus, Resurrection, Talisman, Spell, Commencement, Hidden, Splinter, Wither); declines joining Nell's move to Metropolis when she isn't part of the decision-making process (Ryan); she confronts Agent Frank Loder about planting bugs in the Talon (deleted scene, Memoria); she stages a break-in to obstruct the crystal search (Lucy); she lies about giving Clark the crystal (Commencement); warns Chloe about interfering (Fragile); she chides Clark over his intrusiveness (Oracle) and plans for Lex (Vessel, Sneeze); she confronts Lex about surveillance cameras in her room (Sneeze), his sincerity (Wither), his avoidance of disclosure about their black box research (Fallout), his disapproval of her involvement in the halfway house (Rage), and his apparent deceit about their baby (Nemesis, Phantom, Wrath); she blackmails Lex's researcher (Arrow); and she seeks to avenge herself with the Luthor men (Kara, Cure, Action, Wrath).

• Positive: Trusting others in the midst of crisis. Lana sometimes finds it difficult to end relationships, even during emotional and ethical angst. Examples of her loyalty include alliances with Whitney (Kinetic, Crush, Heat, Visage), Henry Small (Insurgence, Skinwalker), Jason (Run, Transference, Bound, Sacred, Lucy, Recruit), Clark (Exile, Slumber, Whisper, Shattered, Ageless, Hidden, Reckoning, Vengeance, Cyborg, Promise onward), and even Lex (Kinetic, Zero, Nocturne, Prodigal, Whisper, Perry, Shattered, Memoria, Splinter, Lockdown, Reckoning, Tomb, Cyborg, Vessel-Freak).

Photo credit: LexandLana.net
Graphic credit: Bittbox.com

Character: Alexander "Lex" Joseph Luthor   ·   Show: Smallville   ·   Personality Type: Inventor & Scientist (combined traits)   ·   Type Equivalents: Type 8, Leader with a 7 wing, Enthusiast & Type 5, Investigator with a 6 wing, Skeptic (Enneagram), Inventor & Architect (Keirsey), ENTP & INTP (Myers-Briggs).

Character View
"I am invincible and successful." ("We Luthors are made of tough and definitely expensive material. . . . I realize that what I more than anything is to live 'happily ever after.' And do you know what the secret to living happily ever after is? Power. Money and power. See, once you have those two things, you can secure everything else and keep it that way", 5.9 Lex-mas.)

Defining Moments
The death of his younger brother, Julian Luthor (Crush, Memoria); losing his hair due to meteor radiation during the 1989 meteor shower (Pilot); the loss of his friendship with Clark Kent (Covenant); and his marriage to Lana Lang (Promise-Phantom).

Psychosis
Sociopathic tendencies

Traits Showing Desire to be Self-reliant & Have Justice (Inventor) & Traits Showing Desire to Gain More Knowledge (Scientist)
• Arrogant justice (Inventor). Victor Stone asks if Lex has a "God complex" and it appears he does, especially when he relishes control in the name of justice as he does with varied thugs (Kinetic, Run, Void, Static); Victoria and Sir Harry Hardwick (Leech); Paul Hayden (Precipice); Helen Bryce (Phoenix), Perry White (Perry); Mayor William Tate (Relic); Jason Teague (Sacred, Forever); Lionel Luthor (Skinwalker, Crusade, Gone, Vengeance, Arrow, Reunion, and others); Arthur "AC" Curry/Aquaman (Aqua); Chloe Sullivan (Mortal, Fragile, Hero); Dr. Milton Fine/Brainiac (Aqua, Oracle); Oliver Queen/Green Arrow (Wither, Reunion, Rage, Justice); and Jimmy "James" Olsen (Fallout).

• Chased hope through Friendships (Inventor). He once hoped Clark's goodness would inspire him and sought to maintain their friendship in spite of mutual suspicion (Leech, Rogue, Asylum, Bound, Onyx, and others), saying "There's a darkness in me that I can't always control. I'm starting to think that's my curse, why every relationship I have ends badly. . . . Your friendship helps keep it at bay. It reminds me that there are truly good people in the world. I'm not willing to give up on that" (Devoted). Likewise, he attempts to retain Lana's friendship in Zero, Heat, Covenant, Gone, Commencement, and Splinter, telling her, "You are one of the few good things in my life" (Lockdown).

• Chased hope through the "Love of a good woman" (Inventor). He readily confesses his marriages are built on hopes that his wives, although as imperfect as he is, are still morally good enough to inspire him towards redemption (Heat, Precipice, Hydro). His emotional attachment to Lana is greater than his first two wives probably because they were friends prior to dating. On multiple occasions he implies that he wants her to recognize and value whatever goodness remains in him (Façade; deleted scene, Tomb; Void; Wither; Arrow). Truthfully, Lex may not necessarily seek salvation, but he may seek to retain the love of a woman who still sees his positive traits while still understanding his reliance on his badness to survive.

• Erudition (Scientist). He is multilingual (speaking German and Japanese) and an extensive reader (references Biblical, mythological, historical, and philosophical works, also mentioning Nietzsche, Whitman, Churchill, and Rilke, among others). In addition, he draws out as much information as he can about his obsessions, friends and enemies. His varied sources include his agents, classified records, as well as mainstream and tabloid news media.

• Friendly and charismatic (Inventor). He is extraverted and reassuring, often seeking out new friends and experiences. He initiated and pursued friendships with Clark (Pilot) and Lana (Metamorphosis), and introduced himself to the Kents (Pilot) and Chloe (Craving). In fact, despite impasses, he often remains civil with his father, Lionel (Mercy), old classmate, Oliver Queen (Reunion), and Lana (Kara, Fierce). He has also convinced skeptics to work with him like Dr. Steven Hamilton (Craving), Dr. Frederick Walden (Rosetta), Dr. Lia Teng (Resurrection), Chloe (Magnetic-Gone), Mikhail Myxzptlk (Jinx), and Dr. Pamela Black (Rage).

• Insatiable quest for information (Scientist). This is the investigator part of his complex personality make-up. Paving his power-trip to greatness, he launches projects researching kryptonite or Krypton technology (Craving-Nicodemus, Skinwalker, Rosetta, Delete-Crisis, Jinx, Krypto, Onyx, Arrival-Oracle, Cyborg, Zod-Subterranean), which include researching people infected by the two meteor showers to hit the Smallville area (Jinx-Cure). He also obsesses about proof of anything that would give him an advantage against his father (Magnetic, Shattered) and, chiefly, Clark's evident unusualness (X-Ray, Leech, Fever, Mercy, Fierce, and others).

• Manipulation satisfies greed for information (Scientist). Lex wants what he wants and gets what he wants, often crossing moral boundaries. For instance, to undermine his father he conspires with Victoria Hardwick (Rogue), finds his half-brother, Lucas Dunlevy (Prodigal), and offers Chloe protection in exchange for information (Magnetic-Gone); he steals and lies about a vile of Clark's blood (Fever-Calling); he publicly exposes Jason's relationship with Lana (Jinx); he foregoes the feelings of sexual partners (Bound); he uses Clark's memory loss to inquire about the caves/stones (Blank); he tries to undermine Jonathan in a senate race (Lexmas, Fanatic); he harnesses Simone's powers to expose Clark's secret and divide Clark and Lana (Hypnotic); he escapes detection to pursue bionic and enhanced genetic research (Cyborg, Prototype); he maneuvers his father to test Lana's loyalty (Arrow); he hires and perhaps arranges the murder of Oliver's researcher, Dr. Black, for an experimental drug (Rage); he manipulates a blind "meteor freak" to identify others infected by the meteor showers, including Chloe (Freak); and he manipulates Kara's amnesia to uncover her true origins (Fracture-Hero).

• Motivating, resourceful and resilient (Inventor). He can be impulsively violent, but he can also be calm and pragmatic during crises. Notable examples: he offers to diffuse a hostage situation (Jitters); out-maneuvers Victoria Hardwick (Leech) and Carrie Castle (Drone); kills Nixon to save Jonathan Kent (Vortex); confronts Desiree Atkins (Heat) and Helen (Phoenix) about attempts on his life; relies on instinct to survive (Prodigal, Exile); takes charge of the resurrection project and Level 3/Level 33.1 (Crisis, Jinx); attempts to handle the misuse of an experimental drug (Scare, Thirst); seduces a disk from Molly Griggs (Delete); recovers from a poisoning attempt and confronts Lionel (Crusade); faces former Sheriff's Department officer, Greg Flynn (Lockdown); kills invisible assassin, Graham Garrett (Fade); and instigates an escape from capture (Sneeze).

• Project-oriented (Inventor). He declares plans for greatness in Hourglass and Leech. He quest includes creating his own company, LexCorp (Tempest-Exodus); taking control of LuthorCorp (Crusade to present); running for the senate (Exposed-Reckoning); working with army/government officials on several projects (Aqua, Prototype, Fierce); and seeing obstacles as challenges to overcome (Oracle, Arrow, Prototype, among others).

Traits Showing Fear of Submission and Vulnerability (Inventor) & Traits Showing Fear of Intrusion and Demands (Scientist)
• Claims he is always in control (Inventor). Lex wants control, but the emotion with which he responds or limited access to information makes him more emotionally and morally vulnerable than he thinks. Rashness or miscalculation places him and/or others in danger, particularly during his counter-attacks against Lionel (Tempest, Prodigal, Insurgence, Magnetic, Shattered), his attempts to uncover Clark's secret (Crisis, Sacred, Mortal, Hypnotic), and his drug research (Oracle, Vessel, Rage). He continues to struggle with his father for control of his life (Lexmas, Reunion, Static). Once resisting the persona of a tyrant (Hothead, Insurgence, Rush, Skinwalker), the more self-protective and ambitious he is, the more cruel he can be (Aqua, Lexmas, Cyborg, Subterranean, Justice, Prototype). Although having control or power brings some degree of satisfaction, it does not bring him long-term happiness as he must always be on-guard to threats against his security. He is also prone to lose control in his romantic relationships. Once he feels he is with a woman he thinks fulfils his expectations, he often gives them emotional control and is open to devastating manipulation as was the case with Desiree (Heat), Helen (Visage, Accelerate, Phoenix), and Lana (Hydro, Nemesis, Prototype, Bizarro).

• Independent and self-protective (Scientist). When disinherited by his father, Lex sought to earn his own way (Prodigal). He also protects himself with Roger Nixon (X-Ray), Dominic Senatori (Reaper, Suspect), Rachel Dunlevy (Lineage), Morgan Edge (Shattered), Agent Frank Loder (Crisis-Covenant), Jason (Forever), Orlando Block (Sneeze), and a crazed Level 33.1 patient (Static).

• Resistant to intrusion and obstruction (Scientist). He will isolate himself, preferring to process his angst alone or fight for his survival alone. He displays this in different ways: he closes his laptop or puts away papers (Tempest, Ageless, Fade and many others); resists Lionel's imposition on his life and choices (Red, Reaper, Memoria, Lexmas, Oracle, Static, plus others); initially stands against Helen's pressure for disclosure (Visitor); fights against Clark and Lionel's disapproval of his memory retrieval efforts (Memoria); challenges Perry (Perry); questions his therapist's efforts to diffuse him (Shattered); confronts Chloe about Clark (Commencement, Mortal); upset by AC/Aquaman's obstruction (Aqua); lies to Lana about his mother's warning (Void); and initially resists talking about Duncan (Reunion).

• Separation from feelings/ethics to accomplish tasks (Inventor). There are occasions he suppresses his compassion, guilt or ethos to remain focused on an immediate goal. For example, he doesn't relate to Lana's sentimentality about the Talon (Kinetic), bypasses Helen to acquire information on Clark (Fever, Calling), continues research on Clark's unusualness (Covenant, Blank), rationalizes the reality of Lana's hurt when exposing or undermining her troubled relationships (Jinx, Hypnotic), imprisons and researches "meteor freaks" for the purpose of creating a "super army" (Jinx, Cyborg, Static, Subterranean, Justice, Freak, Prototype), delays reaction to Lana fainting on the highway (Arrival), agrees to malign Jonathan in a bid for the senate seat (Lexmas), uses ex-cons as guinea pigs for an experimental drug (Rage), abandons his researcher to save himself (Phantom), and arranges Patricia Swann's assassination to acquire a key to uncovering Clark's background (Traveler).

Under Stress
• Negative: Self-deception. He justifies much of his research is acts of good will and global protection (Talisman, Jinx, Spell, Aqua, Cyborg, Oracle, Static, Justice, Wrath, Artic) and he will do what he thinks is necessary to succeed (Lexmas, Lockdown, Subterranean, Freak, Nemesis). His unethical methods, however, eclipse his good intent. Very aware of public dissent to his methods, he hides his work (Cure). But self-deception allows him to believe in his good intentions and push toward his goals.

• Negative: Denial of failure and identification with success. In connection to self-deception, he prefers to express hope and surety in the midst of failing romances (Heat, Accelerate, Prototype, Phantom), combustible situations (resurrection project, Crisis; resources to rebuild the destroyed super-vaccine, Oracle; building a "super warrior", Phantom), and horrible moral odds (Splinter, Lexmas, Justice, Cure).  [NOTE:  This trait may also be listed under his desire to be self-reliant & have justice where he sees problems as challenges to be met and overcome.]

• Negative: Implosion. He desires control his physical and emotional environments. But he sometimes experiences emotional/psychological overload (loss of impulse control) when a goal is jeopardized or when multiple goals become critical simultaneously. For instance, he attacks his high school friend, Duncan, when his plan to survive being bullied is rejected (Reunion); he destroys a parking attendant's car windshield (Dichotic); he manhandles Lana and Chloe during a crisis (Commencement); and he slaps Lana when she walks out on him and their marriage (Phantom).

• Negative: Confrontational when suspicious. Raised in an environment of betrayal, he remains hypercautious about Lionel's machinations (Leech, Phoenix, Shattered, Mercy, Arrow, and more); Bob Rickman's movements (Hug); Helen's apparent betrayal (Visage); Clark's relentless secret-keeping (Leech, Blank, Mercy, and others); Adam Knight's unusualness (Hereafter, Obsession); Jason's intentions towards Lana (Façade, Sacred, Recruit); Lana's dishonesty (Commencement, Fallout, Prototype, Kara); Chloe's protection of Clark (Commencement, Mortal); Oliver's intrusion in his life (Reunion); and Kara's alien status (Fierce).

• Positive: Helpful. As early as S1, he puts himself in the way of others for their good as he does when he directs a company buyout (Tempest), donates football equipment to the Smallville High football team (Devoted), and even empowers Lana to find her strengths and independence (Kinetic, Drone, Precipice, Legacy, Talisman). And for various reasons, he has actively shown a desire to fix problems in the lives of Helen (Precipice), Lucas (Prodigal), Whitney Fordman (Kinetic), Victoria (Shimmer), Ryan James (Ryan), Clark (Rogue, Leech, Kinetic, Redux, Perry, Memoria, Covenant, Devoted, Onyx, and others), Jonathan and Martha Kent (Nicodemus, Vortex, Dichotic, Phoenix, Devoted), Kara Kent (Fracture), Lois and Lucy Lane (Lucy), Lana (Zero, Perry, Magnetic, Hereafter, Velocity, Resurrection, Obsession, Sacred, Onyx, Commencement, Lockdown, Vengeance, Fade, Vessel, Sneeze, Reunion, Static, Freak, Noir), Lionel (Vortex, Talisman, Mercy), Lillian Luthor (Crush, Memoria), Pete Ross (Forsaken), Amanda Rothman (Zero), and Chloe (Delete; Gone; deleted scene, Thirst; Tomb).

Photo credit: LexandLana.net
Graphic credit: Bittbox.com

Pairing: Lex Luthor & Lana Lang   ·   Monikers: L/L, Lexana   ·   Show: Smallville   ·   Relationship: Romantic   ·   Status: Divorced   ·   Type Combination: Inventor/Scientist & Ally (Thinker & Idealist).


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Similarities
• Aggression and anger. Lex Luthor's tendency to be aggressive, intimidating and quick-tempered in crises matches Lana Lang's defense of lost values, sneaky vengeance, and retaliatory nature. Pity anyone who comes up against Lex and Lana in a synchronized tantrum, since they sometimes veer towards cruelty. Lana's impulse renders her more verbally hurtful (i.e. with Lex in Recruit and Phantom; with Clark Kent in Vessel). But the physical and emotional pain Zod causes (Zod) and the emotional rift Lex widens (Nemesis, Kara, Wrath) enrage her enough to make attempts to kill them.  Notably, because Zod uses Lex's body and convinces Lana that Lex was dead, she had to consider destroying Lex's physical body at a time she was developing romantic feelings for him.  On the other hand, Lex is often more controlled. Still, he can be physically and emotionally intimidating (i.e. with Dominic in Suspect; with Perry White in Perry; with Lana in Commencement; with Chloe Sullivan in Commencement, Mortal, and Fragile; with Lionel Luthor in Vengeance and Descent where he shoves Lionel out a window; with Duncan in Reunion; with Dr. Langston in Promise whom he beat to death).  Even when he means no harm, he inherently leans towards violence (i.e. revealing his super-powers with a gun, Vessel). NOTE: When Lex's bad side, "Alexander," is accidentally divided from his good side, his latent volatility, normally controlled by his conscience, is unleashed. At one point, "Alexander" tries to kill Clark and Chloe. "Alexander" admits to Clark that Lex may not have actually hurt them under normal circumstances, but he also confesses that, in his normal state, Lex has thought about killing them before (Onyx).

• Care and helpfulness. His friendliness and his desire to care for others matches her desire to be a cause-fighter and helpful to others. After his "self-destructive" period in Metropolis, Lex has expressed a desire to fix problems while residing in Smallville. In fact, he has protected and intervened in the lives family and friends in episodes like Redux (with Clark), Perry (with Lana), and Delete (with Clark and Chloe), among other episodes. Likewise Lana wants to be needed (Magnetic, Shattered) and disliked feeling "disconnected" after her return from Paris (Ageless). She would engage her need "to do" for others later with Chloe (Tomb) and Victor Stone (Cyborg). They also ally well with others, if given the opportunity (Jitters, Crisis, Mercy, in addition to other episodes). Even after their divorce, Lex still firmly believes his research is to shield the world from intergalactic invaders (Wrath) while Lana takes up the cause of protecting the world from the Luthors through her Isis foundation (Cure, Wrath, Traveler).

• Commitment. His loyalty to a cause matches her commitment to a cause. This commitment, however, is conditional to the nature of the relationship. Before the current coolness between the Luthors, Lex attempted to honor his father (Vortex, Phoenix, Talisman). Although his affection for Lionel has been stifled, he remains committed to the older Luthor for the sake of LuthorCorp (Mercy). However, after being emotionally and physically abandoned in his major relationships, Lex will only give up when he's faced with overwhelming antagonism and deceit. If an impasse occurs in a relationship he values, he is likely the one to make peace, often acknowledging his errors and darkness, as he has done with Helen Bryce (Visage, Exodus), Lana (Zero, Whisper, Onyx, Vengeance, Kara, Fierce), and Clark (Leech, Zero, Vortex, Duplicity, Devoted, Bound). Likewise, in reaction to previous abandonment, Lana tries to remain dedicated in spite of her partner's emotional distance or disloyalty as she was with Whitney Fordman (Metamorphosis, Obscura, Crush, Heat, Visage), Jason Teague (Recruit, Bound, Lucy, Sacred), and Clark (Exile, Legacy, Hidden, Thirst, Cyborg, Vengeance, Hypnotic). In such cases, she gives up only when she is certain her commitment is unreciprocated.

• Industry, duty. His fascination with discovery, quick-thinking, resourcefulness and ambition matches her interest in altruism and investigation. At first a reluctant resident to Smallville, Lex's tenure at LuthorCorp Fertilizer Plant #3 was expected to be another exercise in underachievement. However, he finds himself defending his employees (Hothead, Jitters, Tempest). In fact, he is not easily dissuaded from a project, forging his own path of greatness by launching projects using meteor rock/kryptonite, and researching the 1989 and 2005 meteor showers (Rosetta, Skinwalker, Arrival, Aqua, Oracle, among others). Similarly, Lana seemed destined to remain the ultimate trophy girlfriend, especially after her brief stint as a waitress (Hothead). However, with a history of successfully competing in equestrian events (Metamorphosis), she often rises to a challenge and delivers positive results like preserving the Talon (Kinetic, Drone, Talisman). In fact, her emotional commitment to the Talon lessened only after some soul-searching prompted by Lex (Talisman). She later pursues her interests in art (Memoria, Crusade) and the meteor showers (Splinter, Lockdown, Oracle).

• Languages, arts, literature, and wit. His proclivity towards cleverness and word/strategy games matches her tendency to be bookish. Lex has revealed his erudition with several references to classical mythology, history, politics, philosophy, as well as Nietzsche, Churchill, Rilke and Donne, among others. He speaks German, French and Japanese. Additionally, he plays the piano (Lucy, Void, Subterranean) and is interest in art (Cool). In fact, he has attended the opera since childhood (Pariah, Bound) and visits exhibits (Cool, Rogue). Additionally, many of Lex's conversations with Lionel, Clark, Chloe, and opponents like Genevieve Teague (Pariah), Lois Lane (Solitude, Fracture), and Dr. Milton Fine/Brainiac (Aqua, Oracle), Bart Allen (Justice) in any given episode are replete with his edgy, dry wit. He clearly enjoys verbal sparring. However, he can be brutal as he is with Lionel (Transference, Mercy, and others) and Chloe (Mortal, Fragile). Meanwhile, Lana's cultural exploits are not as consistently displayed as Lex's. In Cool, the idea to visit an exhibit was not initially hers, but her interest in art is first revealed when she excitedly prepares to see the exhibit with Whitney. Having seen the exhibit before, Lex endorses it and later sends her on a trip to Amsterdam for the opening of a new exhibit (Subterranean). Whatever spark was created by the exhibit or by her creative input in renovating the Talon, she later pursues art studies in Paris (Memoria-Crusade, Hidden). She's also an admitted reader and lover of poetry (Cool, Nocturne). In terms of speaking, Lana's dialogue has more angst. Nevertheless, some of her conversations with Lex (Metamorphosis, Hothead, Splinter, Lockdown, Oracle), Chloe (Dichotic, Spirit, and others), and even guest characters (Lockdown) have had some barbs. Sarcastic humor and innuendo can also be found in a few of Lex and Lana's own couple banter (Mercy, Fade, Oracle, Arrow).

• Trust and trustworthiness. His sensitivity matches her ability to be a good listener. Several conversations with Clark (Leech, Vortex, Duplicity, Covenant, Reckoning, including others) and each other (Shattered, Arrival, Recruit, Splinter, Vessel, Rage and others) indicate that Lex and Lana want their perceptions and feelings acknowledged. They want to be good friends and believe in trust, to a point. This desire may explain their willingness to trust each other; they disclose information in the interest of forming a relationship where there is mutual honesty (Splinter, Oracle, Vessel, Sneeze, Arrow).

• Secrecy and resistant to intrusion. His tendency to make unnecessary enemies without and within, to be suspicious of others, to be resistant to control matches her predisposition to be skeptical, to be counter-phobic, and to entertain conspiracy theories. While valuing openness and honesty, both remain hyperaware about danger to their emotional, psychological and physical environments. They are both understandably offended when an outsider seeks information about them through someone else (Recruit, Oracle). In fact, Lex and Lana have either deceived or misled each other in episodes like Commencement, Hidden, Nemesis and Prototype because they doubted each other. Lex's struggles are often about control, making attempts to undermine/delay probes into his life or psyche (Reaper, Tempest, Red, Visitor, Shattered, Asylum, Memoria, Pariah, Krypto, Lexmas, among others). In the same manner, Lana is agitated when people inject themselves into her life without warning, and she may resort to secrecy or rage as she has with Nell Potter (Ryan), Lex (Spell, Recruit, Hidden, Nemesis); Agent Frank Loder (Memoria), and Clark (Oracle).

• Hope and security. His optimism and impatience with ambiguity matches her indecisiveness, uncertainty about the sources of her anxieties, and co-dependence. Lex initially embarked upon and maintained his platonic and romantic relationships in Smallville hoping his descent into darkness would be hindered. He tells Clark (Leech, Devoted), Lana (Reckoning, Lockdown), and even Helen (Visage, Precipice, Exodus) that he needed them in his life to give him hope. Similarly, Lana has conveyed a fear of aloneness and of what might lurk inside her psyche, asking for reassurances from Clark (Visage, Tomb) and Jason (Façade, Unsafe).

Complementarities
• His confidence, her hesitance. Lex's assurance in his capabilities (Hourglass, Crusade, Oracle, and others) brings more confidence to Lana, who is often unsure about her judgment and strengths (Kinetic, Precipice, Hereafter, Hypnotic). Once assured of his support, she is markedly more decisive and empowered, such as when she pursues self-defense techniques (Precipice), defends her decision to reevaluate her relationship with Clark (Legacy), and seeks to answer questions about the meteor showers (Splinter). PARADOX: Lana has been willing to volunteer information (Oracle, Vessel). However, any hesitation to voice skepticism may give Lex room to overextend his limits in the midst of potential danger. This is shown when she withholds information about Adam's bleeding which would have better helped Lex approach the resurrection project (Obsession). He would eventually discover the fact on his own (Resurrection). Later, in the midst of the chaos brought on by Milton Fine, she confesses to Chloe, "I knew he was getting in too deep" (Vessel). Her doubt was never shown on-screen until she confessed it to Chloe.

• His gift to lead, her gift to support. Knowing Lex's capability, Lana easily lets him handle situations while she plays a supportive role. As early as S1, she calls him to diffuse a situation that involved him, as well as Whitney and Clark (Kinetic). Later, she alerts him about Perry White (Perry) and Adam (Obsession), and lets him deal with them without interfering. In S5, she tells him about Chloe's predicament and, even though they are on the hunt for Chloe together at one point, Lex immediately takes charge without any complaints from her. Later, he noticeably did all the ranting when they discover Clark removed Chloe from the hospital, again without her interference (Tomb). This happens again in Fallout. In effect, she fulfils his evident image of the "perfect" male/female partnership (Onyx, Oracle) and helps bolster his projection of success.

• His practicality, her emotionality. Even though both fly into rages, Lex and Lana differ in how much they allow emotion to govern them. Lana makes more emotional decisions, as was clear in her efforts to keep the Talon (Kinetic, Talisman), support Adam (Hereafter), cling to her illusion about Clark (Hidden), and delay telling Clark she had moved on (Fade). However, discussions with Lex often lead her to either temper her reactions or reconsider her first stance on an issue. As a result, she produces a more substantive business proposal in Kinetic, confronts Adam in Hereafter, resolves to pursue studies in Paris in Talisman, and tells Clark about dating Lex in Fade. Yet, in turn, Lana's emotion sometimes unexpectedly draws out Lex's emotion (Talisman, Fallout, Phantom).

• His proactiveness, her willing spirit. Lana is often hindered by uncertainty. Nevertheless, even though she may not initiate action, once her interest and commitment is engaged, her visionary spirit works with Lex's drive and resources to form a productive partnership. During the first five years of the series, they restored the Talon (Kinetic, Zero), confronted intruders (Lockdown), explored projects of mutual interest (Splinter, Lockdown, Tomb, Oracle), and agreed on the potential use of power to shield themselves (Static) as well as help others (Subterranean).

• His worldliness, her inexperience. Urbane and exposed to a charmed yet corrupting life, Lex insightfully assesses people and danger, as he is with Bob Rickman (Hug), Paul Hayden (Precipice), Dr. Milton Fine/Brainiac (Oracle), Lionel (Crusade), and even Clark (X-Ray, Leech, Blank, Mercy) and Lana (Metamorphosis, Kinetic, Resurrection, Commencement). Meanwhile, in spite of her inexperience, Lana's natural skepticism has made her aware of Clark's dishonesty (Vortex, Reckoning, and others) and Lex's dubious motives (Craving, Rogue, Hidden, and others). Nevertheless, her perceptivity may not quickly detect danger in every situation. Using his experience, Lex has prompted her to question warning signs about Adam (Hereafter), Jason Teague (Recruit, Onyx), and Clark (Hidden). PARADOX: Even though Lex is perceptive, he may miss or dismiss negativity in favor of focusing on success as he did with the resurrection (Crisis) and vaccine (Oracle) projects.

Main Sources of Conflict
Lex's need for control and to remain forceful within his emotional and social environments fights with Lana's need to feel safe with people on her own terms.

• Lex's impatience and cold detachment. He can become impatient with erratic behavior, already pointing out Lana's accusatory snipes (Kinetic, Recruit, Hidden, Fade) and evasion (Resurrection, Commencement, 1st Reckoning reality) with searing accuracy. If he has lost hope in a relationship and is emotionally detached, however, he can also be cruel as he has been with Lionel (Mercy, Fracture), Clark (Vessel), even Helen (Phoenix).

• Lana's skepticism. She can be overwhelmed by her fears and err on the side of too much caution, sometimes questioning motives and behaviors with too quick and too great an intensity (Heat, Hereafter, Splinter, Nemesis among others). In a period of mistrust, she often revokes her loyalty until trust is restored, if it is ever restored.

• Similar traits became antagonistic points.  Every couple should share basic similarities.  But when a couple shares toxic traits, such similarities ultimately undermine the relationship.  This is the case with the Lang-Luthor pair.  As a pair, Lex and Lana have a history of challenging and testing each other's patience (Kinetic, Splinter, Void, Sneeze, Prototype among a few other episodes). Their individual predispositions to be suspicious, secretive, dishonest and retaliatory sabotaged the relationship when they fear intrusion or strongly disagree about the same issue (Fallout, Rage, Prototype). The more intimate they became the more emotional resources they had to convert into "ammunition" when the relationship veered off-course. As predicted, they quietly became each other's worst enemy (Nemesis, Phantom, Kara, Wrath). Also, because they both seek hope and security from external sources -- success and people -- they reached out for these other things (in Lex's case, his cloning and science to keep Lana) or people (in Lana's case, her lingering affection for Clark) to secure love and acceptance when the relationship deteriorated.


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Postscript
The beginning of the end -- giving in to fear. Finding difficulty leaving the already unstable relationship because he considers Lana the love of his life, Lex succumbs to his fear of losing her and ironically sabotages the relationship in an effort to save it.  Events in Fallout, where mistrust creeps back into the relationship, seem to be the culprit. Meanwhile, Lana emotionally leaves Lex long before she discovers his mistake and she did that when she decided her love for Clark outweighed her love for Lex (Promise). The discovery that Lex had tampered with her body -- making her believe she was pregnant -- simply gave her the ammunition and justification she didn't have in Promise to leave the relationship.  As is her nature, she broods over the injustice done to her.  Finding out about the faux baby altered her view of Lex. Instead of looking at the depth and substance of their entire relationship, she understandably uses his deception and manipulation in that one incident as a statement of the relationship.  When she fails to see him perish in demolished tunnels (Nemesis), she then frames him for her murder (Phantom). But she apparently leaves enough information for him to find her (Bizarro). When he finds her hiding in China, he tells her he's impressed. Holding a gun on him, Lana says she learned from the master. But his contrition surprises her and she is unable to kill him. By this time, Lex confirms he cloned her, a clone Lana used as a decoy to escape Smallville.  But he apologizes for hurting her and vows to stay out of her life (Kara).

Lana remains a Luthor by nature and Lex keeps Lana "close".   After Kara, their relationship may have been over, but they were never far from each others' lives.  Unable to kill him in Kara, Lana nurtures her anger towards him and uses methods following true Luthor/Luthorian style (Action, Wrath).  She reinserts herself in his life after he baits her about his interest in meeting Clark's cousin, Kara Kent, effectively prompting her to obsess about revenge against him (Fierce).  She creates a company called "Isis" with the mission of helping meteor-infected individuals abused by LuthorCorp (Cure, Wrath, and others); she uses Isis's facilities to hack into Lex's security system to monitor him and gather information (Cure); and she makes another attempt on his life when she briefly acquires Clark's superpowers (Wrath).  In fact, other people often used her access to Lex's innerworkings to obstruct him, therefore keeping her involved with him to some degree.

While Lana attempts revenge and pre-emptive strikes against the Luthors, Lex maintains his distance. He also gets something more important to him -- Lana's continued emotional investment, even if the emotion is anger.  When viewers first see Lana hack into his security in Cure, one of her first images of Lex shows he still has her wedding picture on his desk.  In Wrath, when she says it's all over between them, he counters, "Is it? Then why have you been trailing me, spying on me, stalking every move that I make?" He knows she's spying yet feeds her obsession by not intervening. He probably doesn't stop it because it's his only way to maintain any emotional connection to her.  For his survival, and maybe for his continued attraction to her, he tells her, "Clark isn't like us, Lana. You may not want to admit it, but we understand each other. We understand doing whatever it takes to survive." He kisses her, causing her to drop the livewire she plans to use to electrocute him.  Her fingers to crawl up his body for a fleeting moment, but then she resumes her attack.  She wipes his kiss off and would not interact with him again later.  But the kiss probably says more than she expected it to say.  To Lex, the return of his kiss is evidence that Lana still has residual feelings for him, a point he makes to a disbelieving Clark later.  More than that, even Clark notes that she acted and sounded like Lex when justifying her actions.  At the end, viewers can easily see Clark encourages Lana's desire to be good, but Lex clearly evokes her passion.

Blame game. Lana reveals her cynical view of Lex's behavior in relationships when she tells Chloe as they look for Kara Kent in Traveler during the latter part of S7, "Lex likes to keep his women on a short leash."  Lex can be territorial as he tries to shield who and what is important to him, but truthfully Lana was never on a leash. She was isolated only because her friends used their mistrust of Lex as their excuse to stay away. Lex's only flaw, if it can be called a flaw, probably was loving her too much.  He tampered not just with her body but also with her trust. She was justly upset. Yet, she never admitted she emotionally abandoned him long before she found out the truth about the baby.  So they both share equal blame in the relationship's end.

Lex and Lana, Smallville's "Dark Couple". Despite the volatile end of their relationship, Lex continues to declare his love for Lana in the present tense an relishes any evidence that she may still have some kind of feeling for him (Fierce, Wrath, Hero). Meanwhile, Lana denies loving him at all. However, her impassioned response to everything related to him paradoxically reveals his deception and sabotage hurt so much because she did care for him and love him (Cure, Wrath, Fracture).

At the close of Season 7, Lex and Lana remain estranged. We'll never know what might have been. But they may always be obsessively fascinated with each other and attached to each other. As Lex tells Clark in Wrath, "Funny thing about obsession is it outlives everything, even love."

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