SV: The Chlois Theory and the Case of the Dueling Anvils

I mentioned Chlois in my previous post. Chlois or The Chlois Theory is the theory that Chloe Sullivan is actually iconic Lois Lane (ILL) in disguise. Yes, I realize that the show has a character named Lois Lane and back in s4 I would have been the first to say Lois is Lois is Lois. But 3 years later she is so far removed from ILL that many, including myself, believe there is no way that she is the real deal. Check out chlois.org, the authority on The Chlois Theory.

So how can Chloe Sullivan write under the name "Lois Lane"? Note that this does not mean that Chloe becomes Lois (eh, to become Lois, Chloe would have to have a lobotomy). In my opinion, Chloe is ILL whether she is called "Chloe Sullivan" or "Lois Lane". And Chloe using the name "Lois Lane" to publish articles at the DP is basically the show acknowledging what many viewers believe – Chloe Sullivan is iconic Lois Lane in everything but name.

It's really not that far-fetched an idea since the show's producers have gone on record to state that "Chloe Sullivan" is the archetype iconic Lois Lane.

Okay so how can Chloe Sullivan take the pseudonym "Lois Lane"? Well, one possible scenario is that Chloe Sullivan is believed to have died (but it’s actually Lois that died) and Chloe goes on to write under her cousin’s name to protect herself. Another possible scenario is that Lois, after a case of mistaken identity, willingly gives Chloe permission to use her name.

Here’s an example of the second type of scenario loosely based on what was shown in "Kara". Grant, the new DP editor, finds the articles Chloe wrote a few years ago (in "Delete") under the pseudonym "Lois Lane". He is impressed by "Lois Lane"’s journalistic talent, digs a bit and realizes that Lois Lane is DP reporter Chloe Sullivan’s cousin. As luck would have it, he spots Lois Lane in the bullpen talking to her cousin. He jumps on the chance to hire her. Once Lois is at the DP, he publishes one of her articles (Chloe’s article) promising follow up articles by his star reporter. The article is well received and "Lois Lane"’s reputation grows. When Chloe and Lois realize what happened, Lois graciously lets Chloe publish under her name – thus saving the DP from having to explain their blunder.

Yes I do realize the improbability of that happening especially given that Grant does not appear to be on the up and up and snubs his nose at the "old guard". His main objective, it appears, is to sell papers anyway he can – journalistic integrity be damned. He's especially harsh to Chloe and goes out of his way to embarrass her.

Grant hires Lois although she’s blathering on about spaceships and aliens, she’s currently working at a tabloid rag, he's never seen her credentials and she is unable to produce much-needed proof of her story. Ironically he is quick to point out that the Inquisitor is not a rival to the Daily Planet but proceeds to lure one of their reporters away based on an Inquisitor-type story. Slimy? I think so.

Anyway, because I’m slightly obsessive about SV and easily amused, I decided to list the iconic Lois Lane anvils and anti-anvils I noticed for both Chloe and Lois in "Kara".

Chloe is ILL Anvils

• was editor of her high school paper


• has been two years paying her dues at the Planet


• wrote 3 published articles that we know of; 2 of which are front page articles


• studies journalism at Met U at night


• Lex acknowledges her as a threat to him


• Chloe believes in "old guard" journalism which prides itself on journalistic integrity


• "Chloe can write circles around me" – Lois talking to Grant


• "I am no Chloe Sullivan and never will be" – Lois talking to Chloe


• "Chloe is smarter than both of us combined" – Clark talking to Kara


• For someone who is unimpressed with Chloe, Grant knew an awful lot about Chloe’s credentials and went out of his way to humiliate her


• Chloe has a multitude of connections/sources


• Chloe's research skills are top notch


• She is Clark’s best friend/confidante/secret keeper


• Chloe calls Kara "Supergirl"

Lois is ILL Anvils

• Kara refers to Lois as Clark’s girlfriend


• Clark mentions that "keeping Lois out of trouble is a bad habit of his"


• "You can’t break up with me, Clark, we’re not even a couple." - Lois


• "Welcome to the Planet, Lois Lane" – Grant


• Lois will be out of the basement faster than her cousin – Grant

Anti Chloe is ILL Anvils

• Chloe has lost her "mojo" – Grant


• Chloe is a meteor mutant (although Lex Luthor is also canonically a meteor mutant)

Anti Lois is ILL Anvils

• content to work for the Inquisitor; no desire to work for the DP


• believes that the Inquisitor is on par with the DP


• gets hired for a tabloid article (no proof of spaceship)


• Lex couldn’t care less about Lois (as do I)


• Lois’ only source is the army through her father, the General


• Lois failed to graduate high school and got kicked out of Met U (I know it’s technically not mentioned in "Kara" but I include it since I included Chloe’s education).


• Blurred DP logo behind Lois even after she got the job

Conclusion? Seems to me that Lois' "for" anvils are hints of superficial, inconsequential, exiguous ILL traits (e.g. Clark has to keep Lois out of trouble). Chloe's "for" anvils are based on facts (her education, how she is perceived by Clark and Lex). For my money, Chloe is iconic Lois Lane in the Smallville-verse. Lois is a cheap parody.

Check out part 2 here.