Allison Mack plays Chloe Sullivan on the CW television show Smallville.
Credit: Kristin Dos Santos | ©Wikimedia Commons
Why I Still Love Chloe Sullivan, a Smallville Character Analysis
Controversial Character My Favorite on Smallville
Despite how much I love some of the other Smallville characters (at this point I'd list Lex and Clark among my favorites, with Lois coming up fast, Oliver in the mix, and a nod to Jonathan Kent) I've never made any secret about the fact that the character I love most is Chloe Sullivan.In the latest episode "Idol" it was revealed that Chloe is still spying on Clark Kent, a fact that came to light after a goof by a Wonder Twin caused Chloe's monitoring to briefly divulge Clark's secret to Lois. Naturally, Chloe then used the same technology to "fix" the situation as she saw it, though it seemed clear if she hadn't Clark was on the verge of confessing to Lois, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
It all left Clark confronting Chloe yet again over her lack of ethics. Clark has another in a now regular series of arguments with her, where Chloe, as usual, uses her longstanding friendship with Clark and her famous "all's well that ends well" rationalizations to downplay the situation with misdirection. It has worked on Clark many times, but in "Idol" his eyes and long hesitation show that he's just not buying it anymore.
I began noticing last season that, due in large part to her relationship with Davis Bloom, many Smallville fans were coming to dislike Chloe the same way for so long many "hated" Lana Lang. I've written before about how I always liked Lana, but agree that after the first few seasons the character got away from the writers. I still appreciate Kristin Kreuk's fetching portrayal of Lana early on, but she fell victim to inconsistent characterization and sloppy writing.
Not so for Chloe, as played by the wonderful (and, yes, fetching) Allison Mack. Some may "hate" her actions in "Idol" and previously on the show (and with good reason at times) but I'd argue strongly that Chloe is the most consistently developed character on Smallville, trumping even Clark, whose character has been developed pretty damn well. Her actions in "Idol" make perfect sense, even though they are dangerous as well as unethical.
Comments
Chloe is awesome, always been my favorite character. Nosey, brave, loyal to a fault and pretty durn smart. I have to admit I got so sick of Lana I stopped watching the show after her fake death and ressurection a while back, I may have to catch up and see what's going on. Sounds pretty cool.
Zadie
(Guest)
(Guest)
11/18/2009
I'm really loving your perspective here. I've long thought that they have been building a really remarkably consistent portrait of a fascinatingly complicated narcissist in Chloe. Her actions now are both somehow surprisingly and entirely expected. She's always been headed to a dark place, and I can't wait to see how dark she goes.
I'm really glad to see that someone finally agrees with me!
SYSA, i think the show came very close to something like this in the "trash" scene when Chloe broke down last season, but you're right that they backed off of pointing out Chloe's responsibility in much that happened at the end of the season. It will be interesting to see where they go as far as summing up Chloe's character at the end. I would point out that one of the people who would defend Chloe as a person (as opposed to a character) is Clark himself, who has really turned a blind eye to some questionable decisions of hers in the past because of how long they have been friends.
SYSA
(Guest)
(Guest)
11/17/2009
that Chloe, however begrudgingly, realizes that Clark is RIGHT, and that if you're going to be a hero there are some lines that you do not cross. You have to be held accountable for your actions. 'Cause if she doesn't? Then she's female Lex, she's a villain, and I will not see her as a hero.
SYSA
(Guest)
(Guest)
11/17/2009
er save her from herself? Where we see that Clark is the one in the right who teaches and inspires her? Then I will think it is awesome.
But if we get a repeat of the past, of Season 8, where Chloe screws up Clark's plan to get rid of Davis via manipulation, helps cover up a murder and possibly commits murder with zero legal consequences, juggles Jimmy and Davis and gets Jimmy killed, prior to which Jimmy fawns all over the glorious wonder of heroic Chloe, and then we're somehow supposed to blame Clark for everything that went wrong? It'll make me ill.
My issue is not with the character as you see her, I think that is the correct assessment. My issue with her has been the show's past history of painting these morally murky actions as right and heroic while placing the blame for the fallout on Clark's shoulders. I want them to take her the direction that you see, but I want the show runners to OWN IT this time. Much like with Oliver's screw ups, at the end of it all I need to see
SYSA
(Guest)
(Guest)
11/17/2009
I dislike Chloe, but I have to grant that you wrote a nice article here and made many solid points. I think you generally view her character as I do in terms of her nature of "ends justifies the means" being one that has been there from day one. I think however that this view is not one the show runners share, and that is where my dislike for Chloe comes from.
Ultimately she acts like you describe, but according to the show runners she's in the right with "ends justifies the means" and Clark's view that they don't is somehow in the wrong. If Chloe had accountability put upon her, if we weren't supposed to view her as unquestionably one of the good guys? If she was held to consequences like a well-intentioned version of Tess? Then I could be on board. If they somehow have the guts to go that way this season, I think it would be fitting and quite good. If ultimately this path she's on leads her to death in the alternate future, and in the actual future Clark and Lois and possibly Oliv
Brittny
(Guest)
(Guest)
11/17/2009
Wow! Fantastic post. Very insightful. I've resisted the urge to throw Chloe away as a character and/or give up on her ... but I came very close during season 8. I still like Chloe but it's been rough going. Your post makes me want to re-watch the show and pay more attention to Chloe's development.
The young girl is gone. That part of your article really resonated with me and made me a little sad. I really like what you say about ego/self awareness balance. I think that is right on the money.
Chloe's big heartedness has always been very clear to me and has masked some of the things you point out about Chloe in your article.
Love what you say about Clark & Oliver using Chloe's abilities and end justifies means beliefs for years without thinking about... the flip side. It's going to be a real challenge to convince Chloe of the difference between then and now.
Really enjoyed reading your thoughts. Thanks for sharing.
Scarysecrets
(Guest)
(Guest)
11/17/2009
I agree with you 100%, and am thankful you can approach this subject from both points-of-view. This is a well thought out, well articulated article that deserves some praise!
Amazing. Well-done. Thanks for writing it!
Jade
(Guest)
(Guest)
11/17/2009
Interesting and thought-provoking article! Thanks for sharing it with us. I'm in the group of people who have come to dislike Chloe over the past couple of seasons, but I see your point about how it was a natural progression for her character.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Not sure how you can consider Clark and Lois lesser characters on Smallville! :) I think this has been a great season and I like that they haven't cheated us by making Chloe some sort of angel-- her arcs last year and this year are delicious and rewarding, at least to me.
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