Lana Lang (Smallville): Difference between revisions

| namecaption = [[Kristin =Kreuk]] as Lana Lang

| creator adapted_by = '''Character'''<br>[[BillAlfred FingerGough]] & John Sikela<br>'''Developed for Television'''<br>[[Alfred Gough]] & [[Miles Millar]]

| portrayer = [[Kristin Kreuk]]<br>Jade Unterman

'''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 other 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 [[Bill Finger]] and John Sikela 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.

In ''Smallville'', Lana is the first main love interest for [[Clark Kent (Smallville)|Clark Kent]], though, in the first season she is dating [[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. Lana then grewgrows closer to [[Lex Luthor (Smallville)|Lex Luthor]], whom she marries and divorces in the sixth season. Eventually, Lana learns the truth about Clark and they get back together. After stealing a kryptonite-powered suit from Lex, Lana absorbs an enormous amount of [[kryptonite]] radiation, which prohibits her from getting too close to Clark, and she leaves Smallville for good, but vowed to continue to use her powers to preserve life.

Initially, Lana is characterized as the intelligent "[[girl next door]]".<ref name="KK2Kristin">Simpson, Paul, (Season 1 Companion), pp.116–119</ref> 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. As Gough explains, by the end of the sixth season, Lana has shown that she can beat Lex at his own game. Over the course of the show, Lana transitions from the girl next door to a more "self-reliant young woman".<ref name="KK2Kristin"/> Kreuk has been nominated for 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 [[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=October 16, 2001|season=1|number=1}}</ref> In the [[Pilot (Smallville)|pilot episode]], when her parents are killed in the first meteor shower, Lana (Jade Unterman) 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=January 29, 2002|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=May 21, 2002|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=October 1, 2002|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=December 12, 2002|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=May 13, 2003|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=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 [[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=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>

SeasonBy three'sthe "Forsaken"end revealsof thatseason Lanatwo, inLana orderand toClark moveslowly ontry withand herstart a liferomantic relationship, appliesbut andfear isbacklash admittedfrom intoChloe abecause programof toher studypersonal infeelings [[Paris,for France]]Clark.<ref name="ForsakenCalling ep">{{cite episode|title=ForsakenCalling|series=Smallville|credits=KellyKenneth Souders, Brian PetersonBiller (writerswriter) & Terrence O'Hara (director)|network=[[The WB Television Network|The WB]]|airdate=May 1213, 20042003|season=32|number=2122}}</ref> [[SmallvilleJust (seasonas 4)|Seasonthe four]]two showsgive thatin Lana,to whiletheir infeelings Parisfully, beganClark aunexpectedly romanticruns relationshipaway withfrom [[Jason Teague (Smallville)|Jason Teague]] ([[Jensen Ackles]]). Atin the beginning of season four,two 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 Therouxfinale.<ref name="CrusadeExodus ep">{{cite episode|title=CrusadeExodus|series=Smallville|credits=MilesAlfred MillarGough, AlfredMiles GoughMillar (writers) & Greg Beeman (director)|network=The WB|airdate=SeptemberMay 2220, 20042003|season=42|number=123}}</ref> In season four's "Spell" and "Sacred",At the tattoo acts as a doorway for the spiritstart of Isobel[[Smallville to(season inhabit3)|season Lana'sthree]], body;it eachis timeshown Isobel takes overthat Lana's body she sets out to, findalongside the threeKents, stoneshas ofbeen knowledge,spending whichher aretime also being searchedsearching for by Clark; andshe [[Lexultimately Luthorfinds (Smallville)|Lexhim Luthor]]in ([[MichaelMetropolis Rosenbaum]]).<refthanks name="Spellto ep">{{citeChloe's episode|title=Spell|series=Smallville|credits=Steven Shelp. DeKnight (writer) & Jeannot Szwarc (director)|network=The WB|airdate=November 10, 2004|season=4|number=8}}</ref><ref name="SacredExile ep">{{cite episode|title=SacredExile|series=Smallville|credits=KellyAlfred SoudersGough, BrianMiles PetersonMillar (writers) & BradGreg TurnerBeeman (director)|network=The WB|airdate=FebruaryOctober 231, 20052003|season=43|number=152}}</ref> In the season four finale "Commencement", Lana is confronted by JasonClark's motheractions Genevievein ([[JaneMetropolis Seymour (actress)|Jane Seymour]]), who is also afterforce the threetwo stonesto ofrethink knowledge,their andrelationship during a struggle Isobel comes forward and kills Genevieve. The resulting death of Genevieve, who was revealed to have beenin the causeseason for Isobel's death centuries prior in thethree episode "BoundPhoenix",<ref name="BoundPhoenix ep">{{cite episode|title=BoundPhoenix|series=Smallville|credits=LukeKelly SchelhaasSouders, Brian Peterson (writerwriters) & TerrenceJames O'HaraMarshall (director)|network=The WB|airdate=NovemberOctober 178, 20042003|season=43|number=92}}</ref> releases Isobel's control overand Lana.<ref name="Commencementeventually ep">{{citebegins episode|title=Commencement|series=Smallville|credits=Todda Slavkin,new Darrenrelationship Swimmerwith (writers)[[List &of GregSmallville Beemancharacters#Adam (director)Knight|network=TheAdam WB|airdate=MayKnight]] 18,([[Ian 2005|season=4|number=22}}</ref> During the second meteor showerSomerhalder]]), Lanawhom witnessesshe themet landingwhile ofin an[[physical alientherapy]] spacecraft,after andbeing twotrampled alienby beingsa emerging and killing everyonehorse in sight in the [[Smallville (season 5)|seasonthree's five]] premiere"Asylum".<ref name="ArrivalAsylum ep">{{cite episode|title=ArrivalAsylum|series=Smallville|credits=Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer (writers) & JamesGreg MarshallBeeman (director)|network=The WB|airdate=SeptemberJanuary 2914, 20052004|season=53|number=19}}</ref> The spaceship becomes Lana's primary focus in season five, officially teaming up with Lex Luthor to discover the mystery behind the ship in the episode "Splinter".<ref name="Splinter ep">{{cite episode|title=SplinterShattered|series=Smallville|credits=StevenKenneth S. DeKnightBiller (writer) & James Marshall (director)|network=The WB|airdate=November 1019, 20052003|season=53|number=78}}</ref> WhenBy herthe relationshipseason withthree Clark hits a breaking point in season five'sepisode "HypnoticCrisis",<ref name="Hypnoticit ep">{{citeis episode|title=Hypnotic|series=Smallville|credits=Todddiscovered Slavkin,that Darrenthe Swimmerrelationship (writers)Adam &attempted Michaelto Rohlform (director)|network=Thewith WB|airdate=MayLana 30,was 2006|season=5|number=16}}</ref>just shea beginsploy toso growthat closerAdam tocould Lexinvestigate Clark.<ref name="OracleCrisis ep">{{cite episode|title=OracleCrisis|series=Smallville|credits=JoshKelly SchwartzSouders, Brian Peterson (writerwriters) & PatrickKen NorrisBiller (director)|network=The WB|airdate=MayMarch 43, 20062004|season=53|number=2016}}</ref>

TheSeason relationshipthree's with"Forsaken" Lexreveals eventuallythat leads to marriageLana, in theorder [[Smallvilleto (seasonmove 6)|seasonon six]]with episodeher "Promise"life, but not before Lana discovers Clark's secretapplies and realizesis whyadmitted heinto hasa been lyingprogram to herstudy allin these[[Paris, yearsFrance]].<ref name="PromiseForsaken ep">{{cite episode|title=PromiseForsaken|series=Smallville|credits=Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson (writers) & RickTerrence RosenthalO'Hara (director)|network=[[The WB Television Network|The WB]]|airdate=MarchMay 1512, 20072004|season=63|number=1621}}</ref> When[[Smallville she(season learns4)|Season thatfour]] Lexshows setthat upLana, a fake pregnancywhile in orderParis, tobegan geta herromantic torelationship marrywith him[[Jason inTeague the(Smallville)|Jason seasonTeague]] six([[Jensen finaleAckles]]). "Phantom", Lana effectively endsAt the marriagebeginning andof fakesseason herfour, ownLana deathreturns to escape LexSmallville after hereceiving threatensa her.mysterious Shetattoo also frames Lex foron her murder,lower to punish him for his betrayal.<ref name="Phantom ep">{{cite episode|title=Phantom|series=Smallville|credits=Todd Slavkinback, Darrenwhich Swimmerresembles (writers)a &symbol James Marshall (director)|network=The WB|airdate=May 17, 2007|season=6|number=22}}</ref> It is revealed aton the startlocal ofKawatche [[Smallvillecave (season 7)|season seven]] that her effort failswalls, butwhen asshe part oftouched the "settlement"tomb of theirCountess divorce,Margaret Lex makes sure that Lana does not go to jail for herIsobel actionsTheroux.<ref name="KaraCrusade ep">{{cite episode|title=KaraCrusade|series=Smallville|credits=ToddMiles SlavkinMillar, DarrenAlfred SwimmerGough (writers) & JamesGreg ConwayBeeman (director)|network=The WB|airdate=OctoberSeptember 422, 20072004|season=74|number=21}}</ref> WithIn Clarkseason four's secret"Spell" noand longer an issue"Sacred", the twotattoo beginacts as a realdoorway relationship infor the seasonspirit sevenof episodeIsobel "Fierce".<refto name="Fierceinhabit ep">{{citeLana's episode|title=Fierce|series=Smallville|credits=Hollybody; Haroldeach (writer)time &Isobel Whitneytakes Ransick (director)|network=[[The CW Television Network]]|airdate=October 11, 2007|season=7|number=3}}</ref>over Lana's becomesbody obsessedshe withsets making Lex pay for all his [[crimes against humanity]], which causes herout to developfind the Isisthree Foundation,stones using $10 million she stole from Lex. The Isis Foundation is a counseling center for kryptonite-infectedof peopleknowledge, butwhich itare doublesalso asbeing a frontsearched for Lana'sby surveillanceClark onand [[Lex. HerLuthor obsessions(Smallville)|Lex alsoLuthor]] begin([[Michael to affect her relationship with Clark by the episode "Wrath"Rosenbaum]]).<ref name="WrathSpell ep">{{cite episode|title=WrathSpell|series=Smallville|credits=KellySteven Souders,S. Brian PetersonDeKnight (writerswriter) & CharlesJeannot BeesonSzwarc (director)|network=The WB|airdate=November 810, 20072004|season=74|number=78}}</ref> Eventually, Lana realizes that, even though she loves him, the only way for Clark to help the world to the best of his ability would be if she left Clark and Smallville for good, which she does in the season seven finale.<ref name="ArcticSacred ep">{{cite episode|title=ArcticSacred|series=Smallville|credits=DonKelly WhiteheadSouders, HollyBrian HendersonPeterson (writers) & ToddBrad SlavkinTurner (director)|network=The CWWB|airdate=MayFebruary 1523, 20082005|season=74|number=2015}}</ref> In the [[Smallville (season 8)|seasonfour eight]] episodefinale "BrideCommencement", Lana is confronted by Jason's mother Genevieve ([[JusticeJane LeagueSeymour (Smallvilleactress)|OliverJane Queen]] ([[Justin HartleySeymour]]), believing hewho is trackingalso Lexafter Luthorthe whothree hasstones beenof missing since the season seven finaleknowledge, discoversand Lanaduring instead.a Oliverstruggle convincesIsobel hercomes toforward returnand tokills Smallville so that she can attend Chloe's weddingGenevieve.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Bride|series=Smallville|credits=Al Septien & Turi Meyer (writers) & Allison Mack (director)|network=The CW|airdate=Novemberresulting 20,death 2008|season=8|number=10}}</ref>of In the season eight episode "Power"Genevieve, itwho iswas revealed thatto Lanahave reallybeen returnedthe socause thatfor she could steal LexIsobel's "Prometheus"death technology,centuries whichprior harnesses alien DNA to givein the wearer of aepisode "super-suitBound" superhuman abilities,<ref forname="Bound herself. By the end of the episode, the procedure is complete, and Lana becomes just as strong and invulnerable as Clark.<refep">{{cite episode|title=PowerBound|series=Smallville|credits=AlLuke Septien & Turi MeyerSchelhaas (writerswriter) & AllisonTerrence MackO'Hara (director)|network=The CWWB|airdate=JanuaryNovember 2917, 20092004|season=84|number=139}}</ref> Inreleases theIsobel's episodecontrol "Requiem",over Lana discovers that her suit absorbs kryptonite, but also emits the radiation making her a potential danger to Clark.<ref Whenname="Commencement [[Toyman|Winslow Schott]] puts a kryptonite bomb on the roof of the ''Daily Planet'', 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.<refep">{{cite episode|title=RequiemCommencement|series=Smallville|credits=DonTodd WhiteheadSlavkin, &Darren Holly HendersonSwimmer (writers) & MichaelGreg RohlBeeman (director)|network=The CWWB|airdate=FebruaryMay 518, 20092005|season=84|number=1422}}</ref>

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 sixty-nine69 people and the second person on the tape was Kreuk.<ref name="pilcom">{{cite video|title="Pilot" commentary by Al Gough, Miles Millar and David Nutter|medium=DVD|publisher=[[Warner Bros. Television]]|year=2002}}</ref> They loved her audition tape so much they immediately showed her to the network.<ref name="genesis"/> For one of her auditions, she read the graveyard scene with Tom Welling; the network thought they had "great chemistry".<ref name="genesis">{{cite book|last=Simpson|first=Paul|title=Smallville: The Official Companion Season 1|year=2004|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|location=London|pages=8–17|isbn=1-84023-795-3}}</ref> Jade Unterman and Louise Grant portrayed the character as a child and an elderly woman, respectively.<ref>{{cite webnews|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/person/1247823/Jade-Unterman/filmography|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414150721/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/1247823/Jade-Unterman/filmography|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 14, 2009|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=2009|title=New York Times: Jade Unterman filmography|publisher=New York Times|accessdateaccess-date=December 7, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://scifi.about.com/od/smallvilleepisodeguide/a/SMAL_3s_2.htm|title=Cast listing for ''Smallville''|publisher=[[About.com]]|accessdateaccess-date=December 7, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100120100731/http://scifi.about.com/od/smallvilleepisodeguide/a/SMAL_3s_2.htm|archive-date=January 20, 2010|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

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 learnslearned about the development of Lana as Lana is learning in the show, just as Welling does with Clark Kent.<ref name="KK1">Simpson, Paul, (Season 1 Companion), pp.116-119</ref> When asked if her being cast as a traditionally [[red hair]]ed character caused outcry from fans, Kreuk believes that whoever did "got over it pretty fast".<ref name="MetroInterview">{{Cite news|last=Williams|first=Andrew|title=60 Second Interview: Kristen Kreuk|newspaper=[[Metro (Associated Metro Limited)|Metro]]|page=10|date=September 15, 2008|postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref> By [[Smallville (season 3)|season three]], Kreuk had decided to "invest" herself less in her character, as she felt that her character's ultimate development was entirely in the hands of the producers. She no longer became frustrated when the producers had Lana doing things that Kreuk felt were out of character, instead trusting that they would find the right direction for the character.<ref name="KK3">Simpson, Paul, (Season 3 Companion) pp.116-119</ref>

Kreuk enjoyed the [[Smallville (season 4)|fourth season]] because it gave her the chance to stretch her acting abilities with Lana's storyline involving the spirit of Countess Margaret Isobel Thoreaux. According to the actress,: "That was a lot of fun; I thought it was funny as well […] It really was wonderful to be able to stretch and play this driven woman who has a goal and is going to reach it, and in the meantime she's going to be sexy doing it. That was a lot of fun for me because the show [sometimes] isn't realistic so, as actors, we get to play with different types of things.".<ref name="KK4"/> Kreuk says her strangest moment on the show was playing a [[vampire]] in [[Smallville (season 5)|season five]]'s "Thirst", an experience she remembers as "uncomfortable" due to the fake blood they covered her in.<ref name="MetroInterview"/> Kreuk left the series at the end of the seventh season,<ref>{{cite web|author=RobMichael Ausiello Salem|url=http://wwwausiellofiles.thestarew.com/entertainment2008/Television07/article/417678|title=Shakingask-ausiello--1.html things up in Smallville|publisherarchive-url=The Star|date=April 24, 2008|accessdate=May 19, 2008}}<https:/ref> but appeared in five episodes in season eight as a guest star/web.<ref name="aus072008">{{cite archive.org/web|author=Michael Ausiello|url=/20080828031340/http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2008/07/ask-ausiello--1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 28, 2008 |title=Ask Ausiello: 'CSI' Sex Shocker! Lana Back to 'Smallville'! Gay Panic at 'Grey's'! '24' Villain's Alive! |publisher=Entertainment Weekly |date=July 23, 2008 |accessdateaccess-date=August 27, 2008}}</ref>

One of the early turning points for the character came in season one's "X-Ray", when Lana discovers information about her parents that changes her perspective on them. It began with her mother's graduation speech, which showed that her mother was not as happy as her aunt had led her to believe. Lana's perception of her mother drove the way she led her own life, which was based on the idea of everyone perceiving her in a good light.<ref name="KK1"/> In season two, Lana discovers that her mother had had an affair with a man named Henry Small, and that he was her biological father. This continued the idea established in season one that Lana's perception that her parents were this perfect couple was wrong. According to Kreuk, meeting her biological father allowed the character to realize that she had to create her own life, as the one she had envisioned did not actually exist.<ref name="KK2Kristin"/>

Season two also showed Lana's transition from the "girl next door" to a more "self-reliant young woman". At the beginning of the season Lana is forced to come to terms with her diminished feelings for Whitney, as well as her growing feelings for Clark. It takes time before Lana is strong enough to finally tell Whitney the truth, in a video message, about the way she feels.<ref name="KK2Kristin"/> The Talon, a local coffee shop co-owned by Lana, becomes her new grounding force as Whitney and her aunt have left Smallville. Kreuk thinks that it can be hard to believe that a sixteen-year-old girl could become co-owner of a coffee shop, but she believes that it helps to provide more independence for the character and establish her more within the show.<ref name="KK2Kristin"/> Eventually, in order to really get to know herself, and find her role in life, Lana leaves Smallville for Paris.<ref name="KK3"/> In season four, Kristin Kreuk felt like Lana is "going a little crazy and is uncertain about her direction, and feels people aren't validating her beliefs".<ref name="KK5">Byrne, Craig, (Season 5 Companion) pp. 116-119</ref>

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.<ref name="Kristin">Simpson, Paul, (Season 1 Companion), pp.116–119</ref> KristinKreuk feels that deep down the character is a "tough girl", and that Lex manages to bring that side of her out more. For instance, he convinces her to fight back against a rival coffee shop that is spreading rumors about The Talon – the coffee shop that she joint owns with Lex.<ref name="KK1"/> Unfortunately, thatThat tough side is not seen in the first season. According to Kreuk, the character was never placed in situations where she could show her outgoing side, because she was left to communicate primarily with Whitney and Clark. Kreuk thinks that Lana "lived in her head a little bit"; she was intelligent enough to read classical books, but would also read romantic novels "on the sly".<ref name="KK1"/>

As Alfred Gough sees it, Lana is a by-product of Clark and Lex's decisions. She will always love Clark, and Clark will always love her, but it was Clark's bad decisions, and Lex's "basest instincts" that make Lana the "receptacle of all of these bad decisions", marking her as a tragic figure on the show.<ref name="KK5"/> While Lana was with Clark, Kreuk characterizes her as a "wimpy, whiny kind of girl"; with Lex, Lana is "strong, powerful, and doesn't have to question, 'What is going on? What does he think? Does he love me? I don't know where I stand.'".<ref name="KK5"/> To clarify, Lana's relationship with Lex brings out a darkness that had not been seen in the character. This is evident in "Nemesis" when Lana manipulates her way into seeing Lionel, only to interrogate him about why he forced her to marry Lex, as well as leaving Lex to die in the underground tunnels. As Gough explains, by the end of the sixth season, Lana has shown that she can beat Lex at his own games.<ref name="KK6"/> 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|accessdate=September 15, 2008}}</ref>

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 “comfortable”"comfortable" with Whitney, and that was where their relationship ended.<ref name="KK1"/> Though Lana had growing feelings for Clark, Kreuk feels that the producers rushed the coupling of Clark and Lana at the end of the second season. She believes that with everything that had happened throughout the season between the two characters, it seemed a bit of a stretch for Lana to just quickly fall into Clark's arms.<ref name="KK2Kristin"/> The next season began to develop more of the relationship between Lex and Lana. Kreuk believes that Lana cares for Lex as a friend, and that she recognizes the "undertones" that Lex may be placing on their relationship, but that Lana tends to ignore them. Kreuk recognizes that Lex is a big part of Lana's life, and that Lana tries to pay more attention to the good that Lex does and focus less on the darker aspects of his life.<ref name="KK3"/>

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 Lana's relationship with Clark. Just as Clark is beginning to realize the truth about Lex and his lies, Lana is starting to trust Lex more. Ultimately, it is Clark's own lack of honesty that forces Lana to leave Smallville and go to Paris at the end of season three. In the end, Kreuk believes that Clark is Lana's only true friend, as Lex is more focused on bringing his father to justice and she and Chloe have a tense relationship based on their mutual feelings for Clark.<ref name="KK3"/>

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 seasons three and four. According to Kreuk, before Lana can experience successful relationships with other people she will need to know what it is like to truly be in a relationship with Clark, because of the "intense connection between [the] two".<ref name="KK4">Byrne, Craig, (Season 4 Companion) pp. 116-119</ref> Allison Mack shares her insight into the relationship between Clark and Lana, believing that the pair should have remained apart until they could finally be honest with each other: "There's no honesty in their relationship, and there's no way that they could have a healthy relationship without that honesty […] You can't be with someone if you're not honest with them.". Kreuk echoes Mack's sentiments, acknowledging that Lana is not stupid, and if Clark wants a real relationship then he is going to have to be honest with her.<ref name="KK4"/>

|quote= "A part of me feels that she could never really love Lex, and that is why she can be with him: he's not capable of hurting her. She fully loved Clark, Jason, and Whitney. She loved those people. She can care about Lex and want the best for him, but I don't think she could fall blindly in love with him.".

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 Clark's powers in "Hidden", as well as the secrets and lies that accompany them, caused stress on their relationship. In the series' 100th episode, Clark finally took a chance and told Lana the truth. When it resulted, indirectly, in her death and he was allowed to live the day over again Clark chose not to tell her his secret. In "Hypnotic", in an effort to stop hurting Lana emotionally, Clark told her that he no longer loved her. This drove Lana into Lex's arms. Writer Darren Swimmer explains that this was not something that just happened in the series, but something that had been hinted at for many seasons. Swimmer believes that Lana started dating Lex as a way of making Clark mad, but the relationship "turned into much more". Kreuk contends that Lana went to Lex because "she knows that she will never really love him." Kreuk believes that Lana's relationship with the men in her life has been motivated by a desire to fill a void in her life that was left after her parents were killed. This need to fill that emptiness was fulfilled in "Void", when Lana took a drug to induce death so that she could see her parents in the afterlife. Upon meeting her parents, Kreuk believes that Lana realized that she no longer needed someone else to fill that hole in her. Kreuk sees this filled void as the reason why Lana would gravitate toward Lex. Although she did not truly love Lex, Kreuk argues that Lex was not a rebound guy and that Lana did have feelings for him."<ref name="KK5"/>

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 Lana's love. To answer viewers that hated to see Lana marry Lex, Dries contends that as viewers we are seeing all of Lex, including how evil he truly is, while Lana only sees the portion of Lex that appears good.<ref name="KK6"/>

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]] |accessdateaccess-date=May 2, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207072429/http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html |archive-date=February 7, 2008}}</ref> The following year, alongside co-star Tom Welling, Kreuk was nominated for a Best Actress Saturn Award again.<ref>{{cite news|author=Eric Moro |url=http://www.mania.com/37873.html |title=2003 Saturn Awards |publisher=Mania.com |date=March 5, 2005 |accessdateaccess-date=September 12, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012045615/http://www.mania.com/37873.html |archive-date=October 12, 2007}}</ref> She would receive two more nominations in that category, one in 2004 and one in 2006, before she departed from the show.<ref>{{cite web|author=Steven H Silver|url=http://www.sfsite.com/columns/news0402.htm|title=The 30th Annual Saturn Award Nominations

|publisher=SF Site|date=February 13, 2004|accessdateaccess-date=December 6, 2008 |archiveurlarchive-url = httphttps://web.archive.org/web/20080503082605/http://www.sfsite.com/columns/news0402.htm |archivedatearchive-date = May 3, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mania.com/50679.html |title=32nd Annual Saturn Award nominees |publisher=Mania.com |date=February 15, 2006 |accessdateaccess-date=September 12, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927021423/http://www.mania.com/50679.html |archive-date=September 27, 2007}}</ref> In the 2003 [[Teen Choice Awards]], Kristin Kreuk was nominated for Choice TV Actress: Drama/Action Adventure.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2003_June_17/ai_103446302/pg_2 |title=America Online and Teen People Announce Nominees for The 2003 Teen Choice Awards on Fox (page 2) |publisher=[[Business Wire]] |date=June 17, 2003 |accessdateaccess-date=September 11, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012122601/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2003_June_17/ai_103446302/pg_2 |archive-date=October 12, 2007}}</ref> She was nominated again in 2004,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://74.125.19.102/translate_c?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.serieslive.com/article-53-teen-choice-awards-2004-le-vote-du-public.html&prev=/search%3Fq%3D2006%2BTeen%2BChoice%2BAward%2BChemistry%2Bkreuk%2Bwelling%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN&usg=ALkJrhj1cSh4pgmct40pTf8ei8EuYlsdbw |title=The Teen Choice Awards 2004: the voting public |accessdateaccess-date=December 9, 2008 |date=August 11, 2004 |publisher=SeriesLive}}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> 2006,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvdramas.about.com/od/tvshowsaz/a/2006teenchoice.htm|title=2006 Teen Choice Award Nominees and Winners|accessdateaccess-date=December 9, 2008|author=Thomas, Rachel|publisher=[[About.com]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716144356/http://tvdramas.about.com/od/tvshowsaz/a/2006teenchoice.htm|archive-date=July 16, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> 2008 for the revised category Choice TV Actress: Action Adventure,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.teenchoiceawards.com/pdfs/TC08nominees.pdf |title=Teen Choice 2008 |accessdateaccess-date=December 9, 2008 |publisher=[[Teen Choice Awards]]}} {{Dead|url-status=dead link|datearchive-url=Septemberhttps://web.archive.org/web/20081218044919/http://www.teenchoiceawards.com/pdfs/TC08nominees.pdf 2010|botarchive-date=H3llBotDecember 18, 2008}}</ref> and finally in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|author=Kelly West|url=http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Nominations-Posted-For-2009-Teen-Choice-Awards-18151.html|title=Nominations Posted For 2009 Teen Choice Awards|publisher=CinemaBlend|date=June 15, 2009|accessdateaccess-date=June 16, 2009}}</ref> Kreuk was also co-nominated with Welling at the 2006 Teen Choice Awards for Most Beautiful Couple (TV - Choice Chemistry).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.serieslive.com/news-2698-the-teen-choice-awards-2006-le-vote-du-public.html&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=9&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3D2006%2BTeen%2BChoice%2BAward%2BChemistry%2Bkreuk%2Bwelling%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN|title=The Teen Choice Awards 2006: the voting public|accessdateaccess-date=December 9, 2008|author=Jacquiau, Baptiste|date=August 20, 2006|publisher=SeriesLive}}</ref>

DVD Verdict's Brian Byun felt that the casting of the series was "pitch-perfect";, noting that Kreuk is "painfully luminous" as Lana Lang, which makes it obvious why she is the object of Clark's obsession.<ref>{{cite news|author=Brian Byun |url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/smallvilleseason1.php |title=Season 1 review |publisher=DVD Verdict |date=November 24, 2003 |accessdateaccess-date=September 15, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704144317/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/smallvilleseason1.php |archive-date=July 4, 2008}}</ref>

Lana makes her first literary appearance in ''Smallville: Strange Visitors'', published by [[Hachette Book Group USA#WarnerInactive Aspectimprints|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=October 1, 2002|publisher=[[Hachette Book Group USA#WarnerInactive Aspectimprints|Aspect]]|isbn=0-446-61213-8|author-link=Roger Stern}}</ref> In ''Smallville: Dragon'', Lana 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|url=http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Smallville-Grant/dp/8441414750/|date=MaryMay 24, 2004|publisher=[[Hachette Book Group USA#WarnerInactive Aspectimprints|Aspect]]|isbn=84-414-1475-0|authorlinkauthor-link=Alan Grant (writer)}}</ref>

Lana made a non-speaking cameo appearance in the ninth issue of the show's comic book continuation ''Smallville: Season Eleven'', written by exceutiveexecutive 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 storyarcstory 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 helpingto help and protect children from people who would exploit them after settlesLana had settled in Africa. However, Lois tries not revealedto 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 defeatsdefeat Corben, Lana reveals that she washad presentseen but hidden during ClarkLois's weddingengagement ring, thus she already knowknows about hisClark's relationship with Lois. Lana gives her blessing to Lois, and remainsdecides to remain in Africa as the Angel.<ref>''Smallville Season 11 Specials'' #2 (June (2013)</ref>

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