I just feel bad for Lex
I’m watching the show for the first time and I’m about halfway through season 5 and I’ve noticed a recurring pattern. Clark accuses Lex of doing something he didn’t do and Lex immediately offers to help solve the problem, Lex does something that upsets Clark (usually reasonable for Clark to be upset, I know Lex is no moral paragon) and Clark declares their friendship over until he comes back the next episode asking Lex for a favour which he almost always does anyway. Anytime Lionel does something bad Lex gets blamed even if he is trying to fix the problem and John Kent is always spitting at any attempt he makes to put things right.
Not to mention everyone lying to him constantly like he’s stupid, plus the constant gaslighting, trying to get him to believe he didn’t see things he actually saw. And like they’re not good lies, he knows he’s being lied to by everyone, all the time.
It really seems like everyone just uses Lex for his money and connections and nobody actually likes or respects him. I can see why he would become a villain, the paranoia he must feel from constantly being used and lied to would be maddening.
Also under Chloe’s truth compulsion ability he admits the thing he wants most from his father is for him to love him, which is just tragic.