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{{Short description|Fictional character from Smallville}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2012}}
{{Infobox character
| name = Lana Lang
| series = [[Smallville]]
| image = [[File:Lana_Lang_Smallville.jpg|250px]]
| caption = [[Kristin Kreuk]] as Lana Lang▼
| first =
| based_on = {{based on|Lana Lang|[[Bill Finger]]|John Sikela}}
| adapted_by = [[Alfred Gough]]<br>[[Miles Millar]]
| portrayer = [[Kristin Kreuk]]<br>Jade Unterman
|
| last_major = Smallville
| first_minor = [[Pilot (Smallville)|Pilot]]
| last_minor = [[Smallville (season 8)#Episodes|Requiem]]
▲| [[Kristin Kreuk]]
| first_date = October 16, 2001
| last_date = February 5, 2009
'''Lana Lang''' is a
▲|}
In
▲'''Lana Lang''' is a [[fictional character]] on the [[television series]] ''[[Smallville]]''. She has been a series regular since the [[Pilot (Smallville)|pilot episode]], and has been played continuously by [[Kristin Kreuk]], with two actresses having portrayed Lana Lang as a child and as an elderly woman. The character of [[Lana Lang]], first created for [[comic book]]s by [[Jerry Siegel]] and [[Joe Shuster]] in the 1950s as a romantic interest for [[Superboy (Kal-El)|Superboy]], was adapted to television in 2001 by [[Alfred Gough]] and [[Miles Millar]]. The character has also appeared in various literature based on the ''Smallville'' television series, none of which directly continues from or into the television episodes.
Initially, Lana is characterized as the
▲In Gough and Millar's series, Lana is the love interest for [[Clark Kent (Smallville)|Clark Kent]], though, in the first season she is dating [[Characters of Smallville#Whitney Fordman|Whitney Fordman]]. By season two, with Whitney's departure, Lana and Clark begin to grow closer. Clark's dishonesty over the secrets he is hiding causes their relationship to end, and forces Lana into the arms of [[Lex Luthor (Smallville)|Lex Luthor]]. Eventually, Lana learns the truth about Clark and they get back together; ultimately, Lana leaves Smallville, and Clark, when putting on Lex's super-suit causes her to absorb an enormous amount of [[Kryptonite]] radiation, which prohibits her from getting too close to Clark.
==Role in ''Smallville''==
▲Initially, Lana is characterized as the gullible "[[girl next door]]", who is always demanding the truth and thus believing whatever lies are told to her. She eventually becomes a tragic figure in ''Smallville'', as the decisions made by Clark and Lex change the character over the course of the show. Kreuk has been nominated by various awards for her portrayal of Lana Lang.
In the [[Smallville (season 1)|first season]], Lana and [[Clark Kent (Smallville)|Clark Kent]] ([[Tom Welling]]) are just beginning their friendship, as she is a popular cheerleader dating star quarterback [[
By the end of season two, Lana and Clark slowly try and start a romantic relationship, but fear backlash from Chloe because of her personal feelings for Clark.<ref name="Calling ep">{{cite episode|title=Calling|series=Smallville|credits=Kenneth Biller (writer) & Terrence O'Hara (director)|network=The WB|airdate=May 13, 2003|season=2|number=22}}</ref> Just as the two give in to their feelings fully, Clark unexpectedly runs away from Smallville in the season two finale.<ref name="Exodus ep">{{cite episode|title=Exodus|series=Smallville|credits=Alfred Gough, Miles Millar (writers) & Greg Beeman (director)|network=The WB|airdate=May 20, 2003|season=2|number=23}}</ref> At the start of [[Smallville (season 3)|season three]], it is shown that Lana, alongside the Kents, has been spending her time searching for Clark; she ultimately finds him in Metropolis thanks to Chloe's help.<ref name="Exile ep">{{cite episode|title=Exile|series=Smallville|credits=Alfred Gough, Miles Millar (writers) & Greg Beeman (director)|network=The WB|airdate=October 1, 2003|season=3|number=2}}</ref> Clark's actions in Metropolis force the two to rethink their relationship in the season three episode "Phoenix",<ref name="Phoenix ep">{{cite episode|title=Phoenix|series=Smallville|credits=Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson (writers) & James Marshall (director)|network=The WB|airdate=October 8, 2003|season=3|number=2}}</ref> and Lana eventually begins a new relationship with [[List of Smallville characters#Adam Knight|Adam Knight]] ([[Ian Somerhalder]]), whom she met while in [[physical therapy]] after being trampled by a horse in season three's "Asylum".<ref name="Asylum ep">{{cite episode|title=Asylum|series=Smallville|credits=Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer (writers) & Greg Beeman (director)|network=The WB|airdate=January 14, 2004|season=3|number=9}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|title=Shattered|series=Smallville|credits=Kenneth Biller (writer & director)|network=The WB|airdate=November 19, 2003|season=3|number=8}}</ref> By the season three episode "Crisis", it is discovered that the relationship Adam attempted to form with Lana was just a ploy so that Adam could investigate Clark.<ref name="Crisis ep">{{cite episode|title=Crisis|series=Smallville|credits=Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson (writers) & Ken Biller (director)|network=The WB|airdate=March 3, 2004|season=3|number=16}}</ref>
Season three's "Forsaken" reveals that Lana, in order to move on with her life, applies and is admitted into a program to study in [[Paris, France]].<ref name="Forsaken ep">{{cite episode|title=Forsaken|series=Smallville|credits=Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson (writers) & Terrence O'Hara (director)|network=[[The WB Television Network|The WB]]|airdate=May 12, 2004|season=3|number=21}}</ref> [[Smallville (season 4)|Season four]] shows that Lana, while in Paris, began a romantic relationship with [[Jason Teague (Smallville)|Jason Teague]] ([[Jensen Ackles]]). At the beginning of season four, Lana returns to Smallville after receiving a mysterious tattoo on her lower back, which resembles a symbol on the local Kawatche cave walls, when she touched the tomb of Countess Margaret Isobel Theroux.<ref name="Crusade ep">{{cite episode|title=Crusade|series=Smallville|credits=Miles Millar, Alfred Gough (writers) & Greg Beeman (director)|network=The WB|airdate=September 22, 2004|season=4|number=1}}</ref> In season four's "Spell" and "Sacred", the tattoo acts as a doorway for the spirit of Isobel to inhabit Lana's body; each time Isobel takes over Lana's body she sets out to find the three stones of knowledge, which are also being searched for by Clark and [[Lex Luthor (Smallville)|Lex Luthor]] ([[Michael Rosenbaum]]).<ref name="Spell ep">{{cite episode|title=Spell|series=Smallville|credits=Steven S. DeKnight (writer) & Jeannot Szwarc (director)|network=The WB|airdate=November 10, 2004|season=4|number=8}}</ref><ref name="Sacred ep">{{cite episode|title=Sacred|series=Smallville|credits=Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson (writers) & Brad Turner (director)|network=The WB|airdate=February 23, 2005|season=4|number=15}}</ref> In the season four finale "Commencement", Lana is confronted by Jason's mother Genevieve ([[Jane Seymour (actress)|Jane Seymour]]), who is also after the three stones of knowledge, and during a struggle Isobel comes forward and kills Genevieve. The resulting death of Genevieve, who was revealed to have been the cause for Isobel's death centuries prior in the episode "Bound",<ref name="Bound ep">{{cite episode|title=Bound|series=Smallville|credits=Luke Schelhaas (writer) & Terrence O'Hara (director)|network=The WB|airdate=November 17, 2004|season=4|number=9}}</ref> releases Isobel's control over Lana.<ref name="Commencement ep">{{cite episode|title=Commencement|series=Smallville|credits=Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer (writers) & Greg Beeman (director)|network=The WB|airdate=May 18, 2005|season=4|number=22}}</ref>
▲In the [[Smallville (season 1)|first season]], Lana and [[Clark Kent (Smallville)|Clark Kent]] ([[Tom Welling]]) are just beginning their friendship, as she is a popular cheerleader dating star quarterback [[Characters of Smallville#Whitney Fordman|Whitney Fordman]] ([[Eric Johnson (actor)|Eric Johnson]]), and Clark cannot get near her without getting sick from the kryptonite necklace she wears.<ref name="pilot ep">{{cite episode|title=Pilot|series=Smallville|credits=[[Alfred Gough]], [[Miles Millar]] (writers) & [[David Nutter]] (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2001-10-16|season=1|number=1}}</ref> In the [[Pilot (Smallville)|pilot episode]], when her parents are killed in the first meteor shower, Lana is adopted by her aunt Nell ([[Sarah-Jane Redmond]]). As the first season progresses, Lana grows closer to Clark, while Whitney begins to distance himself because of his father’s medical ailments.<ref name="Shimmer ep">{{cite episode|title=Shimmer|series=Smallville|credits=Mark Verheiden, Michael Green (writers) & D.J. Caruso (director)|network=[[The WB Television Network|The WB]]|airdate=2002-01-29|season=1|number=10}}</ref> In [[Smallville (season 2)|season two's]] episode "Heat" Lana sends Whitney, who left Smallville for the Marines in the [[Tempest (Smallville)|season one finale]],<ref name="Tempest ep">{{cite episode|title=[[Tempest (Smallville)|Tempest]]|series=Smallville|credits=Philip Levens, Alfred Gough (writers) & Greg Beeman (director)|network=[[The WB Television Network|The WB]]|airdate=2002-05-21|season=1|number=21}}</ref> a video message breaking up with him.<ref name="Heat ep">{{cite episode|title=Heat|series=Smallville|credits=Mark Verheiden (writer) & James Marshall (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2002-10-01|season=2|number=2|minutes=42}}</ref> Lana’s aunt Nell moves to Metropolis with her fiancé in the season two episode "Ryan", but Lana opts to move in with her friend [[Chloe Sullivan]] ([[Allison Mack]]) so that she may finish high school in Smallville.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Ryan|series=Smallville|credits=Philip Levens (writer) & Terrence O'Hara (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2002-12-12|season=2|number=8}}</ref> By the end of season two, Lana and Clark slowly try and start a romantic relationship, but fear backlash from Chloe because of her personal feelings for Clark.<ref name="Calling ep">{{cite episode|title=Calling|series=Smallville|credits=Kenneth Biller (writer) & Terrence O'Hara (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2003-05-13|season=2|number=22}}</ref> Just as the two give into their feelings fully, Clark unexpectedly runs away from Smallville in the season two finale.<ref name="Exodus ep">{{cite episode|title=Exodus|series=Smallville|credits=Alfred Gough, Miles Millar (writers) & Greg Beeman (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2003-05-20|season=2|number=23}}</ref> At the start of [[Smallville (season 3)|season three]], it is shown that Lana, alongside the Kents, has been spending her time searching for Clark; she ultimately finds him in Metropolis thanks to Chloe's help.<ref name="Exile ep">{{cite episode|title=Exile|series=Smallville|credits=Alfred Gough, Miles Millar (writers) & Greg Beeman (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2003-10-01|season=3|number=2}}</ref> Clark’s actions in Metropolis force the two to rethink their relationship in the season three episode "Phoenix",<ref name="Phoenix ep">{{cite episode|title=Phoenix|series=Smallville|credits=Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson (writers) & James Marshall (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2003-10-08|season=3|number=2}}</ref> and Lana eventually begins a new relationship with [[Characters of Smallville#Adam Knight|Adam Knight]] ([[Ian Somerhalder]]), a guy she met while in [[physical therapy]] after being trampled by a horse in season three's "Asylum".<ref name="Asylum ep">{{cite episode|title=Asylum|series=Smallville|credits=Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer (writers) & Greg Beeman (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2004-01-14|season=3|number=9}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|title=Shattered|series=Smallville|credits=Kenneth Biller (writer & director)|network=The WB|airdate=2003-11-19|season=3|number=8}}</ref> By the season three episode "Crisis", it is discovered that the relationship Adam attempted to form with Lana was just a ploy so that Adam could investigate Clark.<ref name="Crisis ep">{{cite episode|title=Crisis|series=Smallville|credits=Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson (writers) & Ken Biller (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2004-03-03|season=3|number=16}}</ref>
In the [[Smallville (season 8)|season eight]] episode "Bride", [[Oliver Queen (Smallville)|Oliver Queen]] ([[Justin Hartley]]), believing he is tracking Lex Luthor who has been missing since the season seven finale, discovers Lana instead. Oliver convinces her to return to Smallville so that she can attend Chloe's wedding.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Bride|series=Smallville|credits=Al Septien & Turi Meyer (writers) & Allison Mack (director)|network=The CW|airdate=November 20, 2008|season=8|number=10}}</ref> In the season eight episode "Power", it is revealed that Lana really returned so that she could steal Lex's "Prometheus" technology for herself, which harnesses alien DNA into a [[nanite]] "super-suit" to give the wearer superhuman abilities. By the end of the episode, the procedure is complete, and Lana becomes just as strong and invulnerable as Clark.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Power|series=Smallville|credits=Al Septien & Turi Meyer (writers) & Allison Mack (director)|network=The CW|airdate=January 29, 2009|season=8|number=13}}</ref> In the episode "Requiem", Lana discovers that her suit absorbs kryptonite, but also emits the radiation making her a potential danger to Clark. When [[Winslow Schott]] puts a kryptonite bomb on the roof of the ''Daily Planet'' under Lex's orders, Lana is forced to absorb all of the kryptonite to deactivate the bomb. As a result, she leaves Smallville to go on her own quest as Clark can no longer get near her without the kryptonite radiation hurting him.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Requiem|series=Smallville|credits=Don Whitehead & Holly Henderson (writers) & Michael Rohl (director)|network=The CW|airdate=February 5, 2009|season=8|number=14}}</ref>
Lana makes her first literary appearance in ''Smallville: Strange Visitors'', published by [[Hachette Book Group USA#Warner Aspect|Aspect]]. In ''Strange Visitors'', Lana attempts to organize a fund raiser for the family of a school mate, Stewart, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Her effort is rendered moot when Lex Luthor and Dr. Donald Jacobi, a con artist that comes to Smallville, pick up Stewart's medical bills after a meteor rock removes all of the malignant cancer cells in his brain.<ref>{{cite book|title=Smallville: Strange Visitors|author=[[Roger Stern]]|url=http://www.amazon.com/Strange-Visitors-Smallville-Book-1/dp/0446612138|date=[[2002-10-01]]|publisher=[[Hachette Book Group USA#Warner Aspect|Aspect]]|isbn=0446612138}}</ref> In ''Smallville: Dragon'', Lana is visits an antiques dealer, Mrs. Mayfern, looking for a gift for her boyfriend, Whitney. When she leaves she breaks up with Whitney and starts dating Clark. It is eventually discovered that she was hypnotized by Mrs. Mayfern, whose homegrown herbal tea is fertilized by meteor rocks.<ref>{{cite book|title=Smallville: Dragon|author=[[Alan Grant (writer)|Alan Grant]]|url=http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Smallville-Grant/dp/8441414750/|date=[[2004-05-24]]|publisher=[[Hachette Book Group USA#Warner Aspect|Aspect]]|isbn=8441414750}}</ref>▼
==Portrayal==
Creators [[Alfred Gough]] and [[Miles Millar]] were initially trying to find someone for the role of Clark Kent, but Kristin Kreuk was the first to be cast, as Lana Lang. Casting director Coreen Mayrs sent [[David Nutter]], the director of the [[Pilot (Smallville)|pilot episode]], a tape of
At the time she was cast as Lana, Kreuk had no idea who the character was in [[Superman]] lore. Her uncle, who owned a comic book shop, filled her in on the details and she learned more from the producers. Kreuk realized that the character in the comics and her character on the show were two different people. As a result, Kreuk
Kreuk enjoyed the [[Smallville (season 4)|fourth season]] because it gave her the chance to stretch her acting abilities with
==Character development==
===Storyline progression===
One of the early turning points for the character came in season
Season two also showed
===Characterization===
At the start of the show, Lana Lang is characterized as the [[girl next door]]. As Kreuk describes her, she is the "beautiful, popular girl who is really lonely". She has a "hole in her heart", because of the loss of her parents, and feels empathy for everyone.
As Alfred Gough sees it, Lana is a
Reviewer Jennifer Malkowski feels that Lana is one of the most gullible characters on television. According to Malkowski, Lana's strong feminist stance, and her request that people should stop protecting her and start telling her the truth, are diluted by her willingness to believe whatever pieces of information she gets, even if they are lies.<ref>{{cite news|author=Jennifer Malkowski |url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/smallvilleseason5.php |title=Season 5 review |publisher=DVD Verdict |date=October 16, 2006 |access-date=September 15, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206143509/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/smallvilleseason5.php |archive-date=December 6, 2008}}</ref> After the series ended, Gough and Millar expressed regret with Lana's characterization throughout the course of the show, which they felt damaged Lana in the audiences' mind. Gough and Millar believed that Lana's behavior toward Clark (for refusing to reveal his secret) made her come across as cold and unsympathetic.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sundance.tv/series/the-writers-room/blog/2014/04/interview-with-smallville-creators-alfred-gough-and-miles-millar |title=The Writers' Room - "The Writers' Room" Interview: "Smallville" creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar – SundanceTV |access-date=September 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006112413/http://www.sundance.tv/series/the-writers-room/blog/2014/04/interview-with-smallville-creators-alfred-gough-and-miles-millar |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
===Relationships===
When ''Smallville'' first began, Lana was in a romantic relationship with Whitney Fordman, the star quarterback of the football team. Kreuk believes that Lana truly was in love with Whitney when they first started dating, but by the time the audience first sees her in [[Pilot (Smallville)|the pilot]] she is no longer in that same state of mind. Kreuk believes that by the time of the pilot Lana had grown
The friendship that Lana shares with Chloe was deeply damaged at the start of season three, so much so that not even Kreuk realized how badly until the episode "Truth". Lana is aware that Chloe still has romantic feelings for Clark, but their friendship suffered the most when Chloe revealed that she had known where Clark had been hiding for months. The feelings of distrust for Chloe remained hidden until "Truth"—where Chloe gained the ability to have others speak the truth no matter what—when Lana finally revealed how much she cannot trust Chloe.<ref name="KK3"/> This developing friendship between Lex and Lana puts a strain on
While in Paris, Lana begins a new romantic relationship with Jason Teague. Kreuk believes that Lana did love Jason Teague, but she also still loved Clark at the same time. With Clark, it was the "first love" that she never had the chance to discover, and that lingered with her while she was in Paris during the space between
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The beginning of season five saw, for the first time, Clark and Lana in a happy relationship together, one that was void of dishonesty and secrets. The return of
Even though Lana eventually marries Lex in season six, Al Gough argues that Lana still loved Clark and Clark still loved her. The only reason Lana was with Lex was because Clark forced her in that direction and she ended up getting in over her head.<ref name="KK6">Byrne, Craig, (Season 6 Companion) pp. 116-119</ref> By contrast, writer Caroline Dries feels that Lana did love Lex, and that she did not make any hasty decisions when she agreed to marry him. Dries believes that the progression of the show demonstrates that Lex earned
==Reception==
In 2001, Kristin Kreuk was nominated for a [[Saturn Award]] for [[Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television|Best Actress]], as well as Female Cinescape Genre Face of the Future.<ref name="awards">{{cite web|url=http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html#tvsupportingactor |title=Saturn Television Awards |publisher=[[Saturn Awards]] |
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DVD Verdict's Brian Byun felt that the casting of the series was "pitch-perfect"
==Other media appearances==
===Young adult novels===
▲Lana makes her first literary appearance in ''Smallville: Strange Visitors'', published by [[Hachette Book Group USA#
===Comic books===
Lana made a non-speaking cameo appearance in the ninth issue of the show's comic book continuation ''Smallville: Season Eleven'', written by executive story editor [[Bryan Q. Miller]]. Though Clark and [[Bart Allen]] do not notice her, she watches them race over the coast of [[Cameroon]].<ref>''Smallville Season 11'' vol. 1 #9 (January 2013)</ref> Lana returns in a parallel story arc ''Valkyrie'' in which she uses the superhero alias "Angel of the Plateau" and battles terrorists in Africa. Lana also saves Lois from one of their attacks. Lana reveals that she has been using her abilities to help and protect children from people who would exploit them after Lana had settled in Africa. However, Lois tries not to reveal her relationship with Clark to Lana. Elsewhere, the terrorists seek [[Metallo|John Corben]]'s aid in defeating Angel of the Plateau. Corben's new kryptonite heart (installed by Winslow Schott) has absorbed the nanites embedded in Lana's skin, rendering her powerless and no longer emitting the kryptonite radiation once more. After Lois helps Lana defeat Corben, Lana reveals that she had seen Lois's engagement ring, thus she already knows about Clark's relationship with Lois. Lana gives her blessing to Lois, and decides to remain in Africa as the Angel.<ref>''Smallville Season 11 Specials'' #2 (June 2013)</ref>
==References==
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{{Smallville}}
{{Superman characters}}
{{Good article}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lang, Lana}}
[[Category:DC Comics characters in other media]]▼
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[[Category:Fictional killers]]▼
[[Category:Fictional businesspeople]]▼
[[Category:Smallville characters]]▼
[[Category:DC Comics characters with superhuman strength]]▼
[[Category:DC Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds]]
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[[Category:Television characters introduced in 2001]]
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