Fanlore:Featured Article Archives/2023: Week 26
Clark/Lex (also known as Clex) is the slash pairing of Lex Luthor and Clark Kent in the Smallville fandom. It is the main slash pairing, and is the fandom juggernaut.
In canon, Clark and Lex have a complex relationship that began as a close friendship and moved steadily toward mutual enmity. They first started bonding over being the odd ones in a town like Smallville, seeking each other out for advice. The great chemistry between them didn't go unnoticed by fans either. Most fans also tend to be more sympathetic towards Lex than they are typically over other characters on the show, the fact that Lex has an controlling narcissistic father also plays a great part in said phenomenon.
The dynamics of the Clex ship have some recurring patterns even as their canon friendship deteriorated to animosity.