Clark can be shown to be proactive whether Chloe is by his side or not. I don't think it's necessary to have Chloe away/in jail/in hiding to get Proactive!Clark. One does not preclude the other, imo.

This is true, however, I don't think we've really been shown this on screen in the last 2 seasons or so.

Combat he was proactive with Chloe, Siren he was even named the Black Canary, Phantom he worked right across Clark trying to gather information on a computer.

There is no end to this discussion and it's getting off topic for the thread. We are all entitled to our own opinions and perceptions. I'll leave it at that.

This is why I would welcome an Oddessy Arc where Clark and Chloe are apart a couple of episodes then reunited. It could be used to demonstrated he's capable on his own, she is too, and they are better together.

And if Lana can be Calipso, and Tess is Circe and turns people into pigs, all the better. Nice big mutant one eyed yeti would be fine too. Oh heck, we can visit the land of the dead and chat with Bo too! That would be fun.

The SV pattern usually has them wrapping up the cliffhangers within one or two episodes, so I wouldn't be surprised if Chloe is back in the swing of things by episode #3 if not sooner.

I'm mostly curious as to who will rescue her.. .will it be Clark, or Oliver, or both... or will the DDS just release her for some reason?

If there is a time jump, hey maybe they executed her but because of her power wakes up in a coffin until Clark saves her...

Maybe they will turn her into a grey-ish character next season. Still one of the good guys but more darker.

Show that the 3 months in jail has taken its toll. Show her struggling with depression with having her dream job taken away and then imprisoned. Have her dump Jimmy as soon as she gets out. In her darker state she later turns to Doomsday, not knowing the danger involved. That should keep her busy every now and then.

Have her harbor some discontent against Clark for encouraging her to hack into the government security, have her re-examine their priorities. Have Clark realise that Chloe can't be always be there for him. Move them both apart just enough that they each can have their own storylines, interacting with other people, and not always be up each other's butt 24/7, but still keep their friendship intact.

When Clark is stomped on something he can go around Lois and Jimmy and chit chat to pick their mind about whats going on, but he'll always be the one fighting the crime in the shadows. Becoming more assertive, proactive, and cunning.

At least I think that would be a lot more interesting than getting the same ole stuff we've always had between Clark and Chloe. If there was ever a time to break the tired chloogling-of-the-week routine, its this season. More independence for both of them would be a welcomed change.

Do they have enough combined minds to pick?

Didn't we do this in season 3? This arc isn't something I'm anxious to repeat.

Yeah, Black Panda, I'm pretty sure you're right. Of course, I can spin it so the classical allusions are there anyway (just like I swear they were alluding to the Iliad in S7... just really, really subtley). And IA that Lana is totally Calypso, heh.

I think that's a really good idea.

I'm not sure what context this quote came from, but....

Roswell's Tess, Emilie de Raven, played a somesort of magical forest creature in the Beastmaster, before she was cast as Tess. I'm not sure what her powers were on that show, but hey, I still think PS3 trying to get this Tess to be like Tess Harding. She's suppose to have some sort of eerie attraction ability over Clark, which sure as hell is exactly how Harding was introduced on Roswell. I still hate this character with a passion of 1000 undying suns.

As far as Odyessy as a title, I think that it's going to be a journey, that includes a remix of the cover "I am the Walrus".

Honestly, I don't think I've read a good spoiler since "Traveler" was spoiled.

A more serious thought I have had is that Clark can still be controlled by the twenty-sided die, right? Well, if so, wouldn't that be only by Lex-because he was destined to stop the Traveler? So... I hope that means, fingers crossed, MR makes a guest appearance towards the end.

It maight be interesting if Brianiac's attack did something to her powers or her time in jail forced Chloe to use her power to hurt instead of heal. Lets have some pay off with the TOS instead of them being just a plot device. She's been worried that her MF status would drive her crazy, why not explore that a little. They wont because tptb are way too predicatable but as it's the last season way not take some risks?

I think Chloe's time in jail and from the stuff Arctic for Clark, they're going to turn to each other more. Who else is there for them to turn to with the stuff going on in their lives? Like Clark, she's been imprisoned, though mercifully spared the torture bit and now in a way she's experienced his fears and understands them.

Though I like the thought of 4 TWs running around more :)

Anyhoo, re: getting Chloe out of jail? I vote Tess. She does exactly what Lex would have done by pulling strings behind the DDS and gets the charges dropped. That way, she's ingratiates herself into Clark and Chloe's world by pretending to be a good guy to find out more about what Clark knows about Lex's "disappearance".



I think they're just trying to hint that the powers are strong enough to be able to undo anything Doomsday can do ie kill Superman. I suspect she's going to be attacked next season by him, use her powers, discover she can't quite protect herself completely against someone like him. Thus when she tries to save Clark after his fight with AAB/Doomie, there will be some tension surrounding his revival. (yes, yes, they can kill her off, but she's been hired for 22 eps, so I'm reasonably sure from Doomie, her power and the Supes/Doomie fight, they have a point to all this that's going to need her alive).

BTW, I'm thinking he's only going to be around for a couple of episodes after all. Supernatural had to cut Ruby because of budget issues so it gives you an idea of how much budget got slashed so GG, Whiny Rich kids and their Nanny, and the new 90210 can get designer clothes for the cast.



Me either. It's been done and it's sucked and was hated.

I can't imagine three months in jail hardening Chloe to the point she wants to turn her back on the world and at this point I think Chloe does view her work with Clark as saving the world. I would like her to review some of the methods she uses or rather how to utilize them without the DDS coming after her again, but I would be extremely surprised if Chloe blamed Clark or harbored resentment. I do think we are well past anything like that. I'd love to see that her emotional state is messed up, I mean, life should take its toll, but I wouldn't expect her to aim any of her upset at Clark.

The only person I'd expect who she would hold some sort of resentment to would most likely be Jimmy. Perhaps Lana too.

Lana for basically keeping Clark from actually doing shit and it lead to Clark thinking the world is better without him. And with her just leaving Clark like that...yeah

Jimmy is a granted. He was the last person she saw. She told him to get Clark, Clark doesn't come, perhaps Jimmy never told Clark. Jimmy said he took care of it in Sleeper, Chloe will wonder what the hell he did. Chloe would think perhaps the Engagement moment was a set up so they can arrest her in a public place. She noticed him as more nervous then other times and such, so my guess if there is anyone she'll grow any dissatisfaction towards in her 3 months of jail time is Jimmy not Clark.

Especially if Clark tells her he's been trapped in the destroyed fortress, Chloe will forgive him.

What do I expect to happen to Chloe from being in Jail. Maybe a more private woman. Shield off, a stone heart if you will. She'll displace this toughness towards people, while in Private she breaks down.


I'm not really fond of OOC behavior to add angst to Chlark when there isn't much angst to begin with. Seems to me jus the same ole, "We need to find something to separate Clark and Chloe cause they are too close"

I think they will probably have Clark wake up on a hotel room or the Luthor mansion. Tess could tell him that she found him on the Artic and that she couldnt find Lex so they will let ambiguous wether she is lying and telling the truth. Then when they get Michael back (they have to!) at the end he will reveal what really happened and why he left.

To me, this is recycling old plot lines. Especially if the only reason to to it is to force Clark to go to Lois and Jimmy for help instead of Chloe. Been there, done that. YMMV.

I like that. Its interesting and gives her an edge. I think the producers have an opportunity to do something fresh this season and I think it'll be a mistake to keep her as the status-quo always smiling, always optimistic, pinning after Clark, Jimmy seducing chick. Everything in Chloe's life is spiraling out of control, there's nothing she should be so damn happy about anyways. Jobless, lives in her counsin's apartment, in a loveless relationship with a guy thats with her only because Kara got amnesia, imprisoned and left there to rot for over 3 months. I'd be edgier if my life went like that.

I'm not saying turn her to a bad guy, I'm saying give her new material to work with, something that she can have independent of Clark, and that affects her on a personal level.

And to the comments that say this is a rehash- no, this is something that never has happened with Chloe. Season 3 she was scorned that Clark and Lana were a couple, accepts a offer by Lionel to report personal information about Clark in return for a spot at the DP, helps Lex convict Lionel for the death of his parents. That is nothing like that. Clark isn't in a relationship so there's nothing for her to be jealous of. And she isn't spilling his secret to anyone, she's just trying to find something that could make her happy. Its not turning her back on Clark (or the world), she's trying to find happiness.

Her last words to Jimmy were to tell Clark about her being arrested, which was really ridiculous. Does she expect him to break her out of jail physically and become a fugitive with her? And I have to say that one of the reason why Chlark needs independent storylines is because I'm concerned with this criminal vigilante nonsense that they are becoming all too accepting of doing. There should be a line that Clark never crosses. This season I hope they make that perfectly clear, and they can use that to spring Chloe into a different direction too. Seriously, if you told a friend to come help you and they didn't for 3 long months- wouldn't you harbor at least a little ill feelings about that, no matter how legit their reasons for not coming were? If Chloe came out of jail with a 'oh thats ok, no biggie" attitude to all of this- UGH.

Most of all this is for Clark's betterment. He has his own journey to go towards and he should be given every possible character development neccessary to become who he is to become. Having him stuck on Chloe, again, does no good for him. Having her be the only person in the world to turn to, does no favors for him. He needs to interact with more people, pronto and consistantly throughout the season. And if he needs more info on something he shouldn't go to one person who will just use her computer to get all the answers in 5 seconds flat. It makes him look lazy, and it makes her look a little too all-knowing for my taste. Next season he should be shown like he was in Apolcalypse- doing the ground work himself. He can ask questions but I want him being the one that puts all the pieces together in the end, at least for the episodes centered around him. I know the writers have it in them to write Clark that way, I saw the episode- the evidence was there. No longer should they hold him back from being like that.

In Oddysey the main character is held back by Calypso for 7 years before he is freed to journey home and reclaim his throne. Describes Lana and Clana to me, but Clark also has to let go of his dependence on Chloe too before he fufills his destiny.

Exactly what would Jimmy do? Call the public defender? Lois? Grandstand about Habeas Corpus (does she know what that is?) and threaten to write an article about abuse of prisoners?

What could Clark do? Options:
- Call Oliver with his big dollar lawyers -- Only Clark knows Chloe's connection to Oliver. Lois doesn't and neither does Jimmy.
- Find out what is really going on -- why was Chloe targeted and what evidence do they have on her. Does the evidence implicate Clark as an alien? Is his secret in danger? Is Lex involved? This is par for the scooby course investigation.
... now, stepping over that line you mentioned....
- Find the evidence and erase it so that 1) they don't have a case against her and 2) there is nothing triggering the alien investigation squad
... sort of straddling the line, depending on threat to her life....
- break her out if she's not getting treated like a normal citizen. In SV the DDS was a shady operator in the past. Heavy eyeliner dude tortured Kara to get info from her. If they discover she's a meteor freak, it may be more than her freedom at stake.

All in all, the most witting of all the issues and most capable to assist her is Clark. Further, he is her partner in this business. Going to Clark straight away shows Chloe understands that time may be of the essence. Her tender treatment at the hand of Vanessa suggests that she will not be afforded the rights of normal citizens.

I totally "get" that Chloe broke the law. She didn't do it for personal gain. She did it to save the planet. I don't think she should rot in jail for that (nor would most people think so) and if they don't want to share exactly what is at stake with everyone, then only someone fully in the "know" is going to be her best asset to help her get out of jail.

There was nothing ridiculous about calling for her partner Clark as her first order of business. And yes, Clark is her partner in the "save the planet" business.


Whatever for? This is Clark's show. If it's not somehow related to Clark, it's filler. Chimmy is filler. Julian/Lois inappropriate relationship was filler. I want to focus on Clark too and stories should be tied to him and his progress, not "get Chloe away from Clark" tripe. They can focus on Clark without eliminating Chloe, the writers choose to write him so passive. It was more about building a case that he can't function when Lana is in jeopardy than elevating Chloe. Clark did just fine in Siren - Chloe helped but Clark did the leg work and came up with the "stop the wire transfer" theory. Yes, Chloe is a budget crutch for the writers ... if she can find it on the computer then they don't have to film a separate set or do a location shot. I can't imagine that they suddenly have enough budget to do more non-computer-based investigation. We could have Clark looking at the screen himself and talking to Chloe I suppose but Clark looking at the screen and monologuing to Shelby doesn't really work for me. Root cause for your issues you've mentioned are not Chloe but poor writing and insufficient budget for Clark.

I thought that was what they were trying (mostly, failing, but at least, trying) with Chimmy.



If you were getting arrested for something because you were trying to help save the world (and was initially, under the radar because of your idiot boyfriend), wouldn't you try to contact Superman? I sure as heck would.



Heh. That's funny because that's exactly what Superman did for THLois on LnC in S4. So, yeah, I can see Clark physically break Chloe out of jail and keep her hidden, if it was something that needed to be done. Heck, he kept a woman on his farm as a fugitive in S7 who faked her death until a man was put to death in her place.



If Clark is on some big journey in which he can't get to her, I'm sure Chloe will understand. She'd probably be more worried about and scared for him (a la "Zod") than she would be upset. Chloe knows that Clark would come for her, if she needed him.



Clark has investigated on his own quite a lot in the series, which I think is easily forgotten. Plus, if it's not Chloe, Clark can use help with other people, so I don't see him doing things on his own all the time. As much as I want to see SmartClark again, I don't think he has to do it all by his lonesome because in all honesty, that would probably get a little boring. If Clark doesn't get help from Chloe, he'll get help from Jimmy. If he doesn't get help from Jimmy, he'll get help from Ollie, etc. That's just the nature of an ensemble TV series.

Superman may do a lot on his own in the comics, but he also gets lots of help from Perry, Lois, Jimmy, and his JLA buddies. Recently, in the comics, Lois even does a Google search on Paragon to help Superman fight him. As much as Supes could do it on his own (he's smart and capable enough), he definitely does go for help when he needs it.



The only thing Clark has to do is step up to his destiny. It's there for him and all he has to do is accept it. He doesn't have to let go of anyone. The whole point of the series, in my opinion, is how everyone in Clark's life helps make him the man he becomes, and like it or not, Chloe is a part of that. He needs to hold on to those people (or, in the case of the deceased, their memories) to be Superman.



If Chloe should rot in jail for breaking the law to save the world, pretty much every other superhero in the world would as well.

I love this - who on SV does Google searches to help Clark I wonder. It just go to show that no man/intergalactic traveler is an island, imo.

I agree with Sue. Clark is the logical one to respond to the needs of the moment. The problem is whether or the not the writers have the brains to deliver something satisfying to the audience in this situation--it's a total no-brainer. Sparing the dramatic details here: Clark simply busts her out and flies away with Chloe to avoid possible gunfire when he infiltrates a federal holding facility. Oliver appears onscreen later to say that his lawyers have looked into the matter and learned that Lex had paid Vanessa off to gather the information on Chloe--he states that his attorneys then threatened to expose Vanessa and bring a lawsuit if she doesn't withdraw the charges and allow it to drop. Chlarkers get their "squee" moment, Clark flies for the first time (which matches nicely with the Bizarro meta of Clark "needing to get on that one"), Chloe gets a rescue and the show deals with the practical concerns surrounding the fact that a federal agent had arrested Chloe. This is actually an easy one.

Her last words to Jimmy telling him to go tell Clark also speaks to knee jerk reaction. Clark is her hero. She's in trouble and she counts on him to save the day. He's who she most trusts and depends on just like he depends on her.

It didn't even occur to me that he might bust her out and I don't think he would unless she was in physical danger or they needed her for something right away. I don't think Chloe getting Jimmy to go tell Clark had anything to do with his superpowers, just their superfriendship.

So here's the latest on the SAG thing: Variety article
Highlights (plus other info) as I understand them:
- SAG negotiations allow work to continue but production posturing is already underway, specifically people are rapidly wrapping up on-going activities and not starting new
- Jun 30th will probably come and go with little fanfare as everyone waits for the AFTRA vote of Jul 8th
- If AFTRA votes "no" it doesn't mean an immediate strike for SAG nor a capitulation from the studios
- It takes 3 weeks to authorize a strike and it's very iffy if the membership will approve it
- An AFTRA "yes" does not mean immediate capitulation by SAG although it clearly weakens their position

Which, all this collectively, I take as: we're potentially watching hollywood fart around with this actor's deal for some period of time after the planned-ish (mid July ish) start date for SV production.

They could start production but if they do I'm pretty sure it gets ugly like it did last November with the whole force majure thing. Perhaps it is already an issue but I would think it's easier to delay production than start then stop.

So... will SV start on time in July and how will this affect S8?


On a side note:
To be perfectly honest, the Lois and Clark vibe being spouted makes me kind of hope they strike and S7 is it. Then I can make up my own ending where Clark is heroic and integrity and hard work pays off.

I always being a fan of wraping it all on a TV movie. Not fillers just going to the point. Maybe a two parter TV would do.

I think the show has suffered the most because they need to stall and all they can think for is: More Lana, love interests and guest stars.

Four to six hours to wrap it, will be packed with all they had to tell and not filler room whatsoever.

If they had gone the "wrap it up in a TV movie" route, I'd think getting Michael Rosenbaum would be a must. It would have been a bummer to get 7 seasons of him, and then the big TV movie finale, not having him.

Far as I know, right now, SV is planned to go back into production at its usual time, if not sooner.

Am I crazy or did some stuff get deleted from this thread?

I moved it to the Wishlist thread.

But they aren't listed with the rest of the series (see below). Now I know Jared Padelecki (sp?) said they were filming at the same time but I would have thought they'd be on this list.

From the Hollywood North Report Vancouver Film Production Update (Note, the report is dated today but the source list is from 13 Jun):

Thanks for the info Guys from the Spoilers Thread. Oh no, Kat has GOT to be somebody. Kat and Tess can be our Surprises! Someone has suggested they be Hope and Mercy. Another suggestion was that they turn out to be clones of Lillian and Gina; pretty neat I think! Come on Writers, if we can make this stuff up, so can You Guys! I'm still pushing for Lollipop or a Clex Daughter.

As for Doomtender; he just went from tending bar to tending to ill/injured folks, so he's still Doomtender to me. According to Comic Book World, one of the ways that he appears on Earth is in a meteor shower in which he is impact-buried underground; then Lexcore or Luthorcore accidently digs him up. That would make perfect sense that Luthorcore would be digging around in the Arctic where Lex was last seen when they discover Doomtender.

Veering off for a second, where did this name come from? I've seen it used only recently, and I know it didn't come when Not!Baby was actually happening. Lollipop was originally the Lois/Ollie ship name, but I'm not sure why Not!Baby is now called Lollipop. Someone explain!

She also told Supes that her name was really Katherine. I'm sure it's the origin of Kat's name. I think PS3 went through and looked at all of Lex Luthor's female companions over the years (Tessmacher, Mercy, Hope, Kitty) in order to prepare for Tess, and Kat's just a little extra.

I agree with Craig here. This show doesn't have a good track record with providing people secondary support; Gina was the rare exception. I'd honestly be surprised if Kat survives the episode.

I must have missed some spoilers somewhere, but what "Lois and Clark" vibe?

Kristin at E!Online: "Actually, I'm hearing some very cool things about the new season. The writers are going into more of the Metropolis/Lois-and-Clark storyline and moving away from Smallville. Clark is going to work at the Daily Planet..."

I think most people are assuming she's basing this on the Peterson interview (before it was edited) and the scene in "Arctic" where EDLois tries to get Clark to work at the Planet, at least till we have more info. It IS Wrongda, after all.

No I don't think you did. I believe this is just off the April Fools Day press release that's been hanging about for a while.

Ahh, that thing. *shrugs* Wait for Comic-Con, I'm sure more stuff pimping a "Lois and Clark" vibe will come out there - pre-season publicity and comic-con stuff always focuses on the "iconic" names and nothing else. But it's not what's actually played out on-screen on the show to my eyes.

It was nothing to do with April Fools. From the Editor of SciFi Magazine:



It is wishful thinking that it had anything to do with April Fools. It was real, Peterson did say S8 would focus on Lois & Clark (hence the phrase "just the characters"). Where the author got busted was "referring to the earlier show" (the Terri Hatcher/Dean Cain L&C). That's it.

I think Peterson oversold early and asked for a retraction. He either asked for all the Lois & Clark stuff to be removed and they complied or they overreacted and removed all references because of the early show reference they made. I still think it's going to be Lois & Clark if he has his way but I think he has to deal with AM being back now too.

I actually thought that's what it was going to be more of last season (thought not in Metropolis) just generally speaking, but it never was. I thought there would be more Lex/Nois and their TCA, but that didn't happen either.

In the end, Nois and Clark had like a couple of scenes in what was supposed to be the last season. And dealing with AM being back could very well mean Nois gets killed and Chlois happens earlier than anyone thought it would. I also think we don't know what or when people behind the scenes knew things were going to be drastically different in season 8 for the people in control and the cast. People talk on sets and as show-runners they would have to listen to what could be coming up for them and their cast.

In the end I doubt he'll have his way; mostly because there are three other people that have to agree on the way things are going and the story thus far suggests they'll stick to their MO pre-season - pimp out Clark, Nois, Jimmy, Doomie (and possibly Tess) and "God Gave With Both Hands" Hartley as much as possible wherever they can, but the show will play out differently onscreen. Actually, I think Doomie will get the most publicity - the whole "Death of Superman" thing - but won't be in the season for very long.

I'm also curious if Peterson is going to be the resident mouth-piece or is the actual person who makes the final decisions regarding the show - has that been clarified, or are they all in charge, so to speak?

Sadly, I'm getting the Nois and Clark vibe myself. Every time I see that stupid CW promo for the next season, with N&C used for the Smallville clip, I wince.

I do not think, however, that we will actually see anything meaningful between these two. With ED only contracted for half of the episodes and KK coming back for 6 or 7, there'll be virtually no time to develop romantic Clois. So I think instead, it'll be Anville all the way...and since TPTB aren't exactly known for subtlety, I have a feeling that it's going to be a great big hamfisted mess.

A bunch of us were saying recently how strange it is that ED has been around for FOUR complete seasons so far, because the character is so underdeveloped and Nois is almost a non-presence on the show. I remember not too long ago, I actually had to stop and count the seasons, because I was sure that Nois hadn't been around for four years. The way I see it, the writers have chosen to stick Clana in the forefront, followed by suggesting major Chlark hints, and only recently they've thrown in a few minor Clois anvils. Seems like each season since 5 the producers have figured it'd be the last, and never was an attempt made to get ED for more than what, 12 or 13 episodes? Nois has been written terribly and at this point, even fans of the character aren't thrilled with what's been done. That doesn't mean that the show won't end on a Clois note--it probably will. I just don't think it'll fit into the show as it is now. Especially not with Oliver returning. And I don't think that was ever the intention.

But as long as they have anvils to toss? Boy howdy, invest in a helmet. It's going to get ugly.

Last night was the first time I saw it, since I had SV on at the time (nothing else I was interested in was on). If that's the relationship they going to throw to the forefront, I'll be out sooner than later. I keep watching other shows, including ones with fewer episodes and see "real" character development - not simply "hey, why don't we do this to ...". Sadly I don't these writers have it in them to be any better on a long term basis.

And Nat I think you're right about the falling anvils.

The name Lollipop Luthor for Not!Baby was used over at Michael Rosenbaum's official message board, but I swear that I saw it used over here first. Maybe it got dropped here because of the Lollie Lois/Oliver ship?

The 26 June listing for Union of BC Performers still does not list a Smallville start date. I wonder why when Supernatural is starting on Thursday.

I've heard that people are preparing to start, so maybe it's just not listed for whatever reason...

SueB.....the Directors Guild of Canada Bristish Columbia (dgcbc) lists Smallville starting on July 7, next Monday. It also shows Supernatural starting on July 3 as you mentioned.

back to lurking now....... ;)

.



So maybe the Directors are coming back but without any of the performers? Oooh, I hope we get marionettes! Stargate Sg1 got marionettes, think of all the money they can save on special effects! If not string puppets, then how about replacing all the actors with dogs like they tried to do with the original Superman TV show (Superpup).

No one would notice. Lana is already a bitch.

The DGCBC has Kevin Fair listed as the director for the SV premiere. Umm, who? I don't think that name has ever directed a SV ep before, and why would they trust the premiere to a newbie? What the heck happened to James Marshall taking the reins on the important eps?

ETA: My mistake, he directed Siren. But still, shouldn't the premiere go to a more experianced SV director?

If that's the case why did they edited it out completely anyway. The orginal version had the actor's name implying he was talking about Nois and Clark, and then it was edited out. Also no other interview had that saying. That's why I don't buy the explanation.

A thought came to mind now that Oliver is back, if he indeeds buys the Planet, Lois can't possibly be taken seriously anymore. Everyone at the Planet knows she dated Oliver, Dinah knew in Siren. Being a date to Oliver Queen's Reunion is news worthy so I'm sure Lois is known for being Oliver's old flame. So if he owns it, any advancement she makes would look like as if it was tied to their old romance...

I wouldn't worry.

It's been four years now, and they still haven't found anything useful for Lois to do. I doubt that they're going to really start handing her decent storylines and making the character look competent now.

Given the early BS about her and Dr. Doomsday being romantically linked, I'm guessing she's once again getting the Lana 2.0 treatment where all of her 'new' arc is contained in meeting a new love interest who turns evol.

On their defense: Lana is leaving, someone has to do that job if not the show will lose ALL of its appealing.