I think that this has been the most frustrating "two steps back" slide, but I'm aware that it's probably because it is the most recent. I'm sure that I felt a similar frustration with the earlier slides as well. We were finally going somewhere! They were getting closer, enjoying the cuddle-age... and then bam. *sigh*
They keep *not talking* and I want to hit them both with a megaphone. It shouldn't have to wait until anniversary at the cabin to make some progress. They seem to be stuck in a game of Frogger and never making it across the street! Hop forward, hop back, hop back, hop forward.
I'm glad that we are seeing more of Christopher. It felt that for a while there we were only going to be told about him and miss his formative years. He'll be two soon and we don't have a handle on his personality. One of the things that amaze me about babies is that they are their own little people and you can tell that about them almost right away.
I agree with the comments about Clark's commitment to his commitment. I really think that it's one of the reasons he's holding on so hard to the Lana of his mind. She's done everything in her power to encourage (probably not the way she'd put it) him to move on, but he still holds out for the 'maybe she'll take me back' scenario. At this point, I'm not sure what it will take to make Clark mentally break the connection... Every time he does his AU step back, I lose hope that he ever will--and that he'll even be worthy of Lois and Christopher after he mentally lets Lana go. I realize that he's been a great father (the physical), and he's doing better about accepting his life and being happy (emotional), but the mental is a huge part of it all.
I'm concerned about Lois's depression--she isn't talking to anyone. Maybe she begins to talk to Clark (spec from the previews). She can't tell him everything that's going on in her head, but releasing some of those emotions could work like a pressure valve.
Great emotional parts! Here's to hoping that it's time for a few steps forward
~s
