femfebruary: tess mercer

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impala_chick asked: Smallville /Tess/Her business skills - maybe how she's different from Lex?

When we were first introduced to Tess, it really was as if she was sent to pick up where Lex left off and it was pretty clear even with just the description of her character, it was clear she was meant to be the "Lex replacement". Truth be told, I had my doubts because of it. That's a tough act to follow after all. Yet it didn't take me long to really accept and become drawn to her character - Cassidy Freeman did a great job and had all sorts of charisma. She was immediately shown to be savvy businesswoman/editor and owner of the Planet, willing to do what it took to get the job done - smart, ruthless, charming and of course, a little shady.

As we got to know more about her, she quickly differentiated herself from Lex. It's interesting though - if left to their own devices, without any family pressures or loyalty at stake, I don't think either of them would have chosen the business route. Tess's past revealed that she was a marine biologist and cared a lot about the environment in general and I think Lex's calling would be somewhere in the sciences as well.

Despite being thrown into the role, she was good at it. She has a knack of seeing through people and is very good at manipulating a situation into the way that she wanted it to and yes, as I said, she can be very ruthless. Tess can get into over her head, but also when she comes out victorious, whether by chance or circumstance, she will not hesitate to make the ones who wronged her pay. I think she's more patient about her plans and she's a successful businesswoman because of it.

There wasn't much of Lex the businessman and just like that, Tess was more shown in the Daily Planet than LuthorCorp (and by mid season 8, she had merged it with Queen Industries to screw him over) and then at Watchtower in season 10. While Tess does have a vulnerable side, she's good at putting a mask up. Once she decided to be heroic, she also came off as more steady and reasonable too, quick on her feet and ready to make the right moves.

I predicted long before the finale that if Lex were to return, Tess would die at his hands, and I hate that I was right, but from what little I heard about the season 11 comics, she seems to be around in some form and I hope she's thriving. :D