Chloe and Jimmy

This essay about Chloe and Jimmy (Smallville Romantic Relationship) was published for a week at Devoted Fans Network - Devoted to Smallville. It's a website and forum for fans off all things... TV shows, films, actors etc.

---

"Love doesn't make the world go round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile."
--Franklin P. Jones

"Somewhere there's someone who dreams of your smile..."
--Unknown

The Chloe/Jimmy relationship on Smallville began in the season six premiere (“Zod”). Chloe Sullivan, still on edge from almost being torn apart by looters at the end of season five, shoots at a mysterious person creeping into her area of the deserted Daily Planet basement. Chloe is shocked to see that it is Jimmy Olsen, an unexpected blast from her past. But when he cracks a joke about never calling her back, Chloe’s shocked face relaxes into a smile. Later, during strange tremors caused by Zod, Chloe saves Jimmy from being brained by a monitor. At the end of the episode, Jimmy asks if Chloe would like to accompany him on a dinner date at the vending machine and she agrees to with a beaming smile. I smiled and laughed along with her. Chloe Sullivan had her own love interest at last.


“Been such a long time, I forgot that I was fine.”
--e. badu ~ Kiss Me On My Neck

Chloe Sullivan had been on Smallville since the very beginning, but as of season five had never experienced a lengthy romance. Chimmy had the potential to be a fun, light-hearted love affair. Chloe is fun, intelligent, ambitious and beautiful; it just didn’t make sense that her love life was virtually non-existent. Chloe is also such a giving, hard working person. To watch her working so hard toward her dreams and helping solve mysteries week after week but never getting – in the words of Erykah Badu – any water for her flowers was really frustrating. Finally, with the introduction of Jimmy Olsen, Chloe had someone truly devoted to her, someone who adored her, lavished her with attention and made her laugh. Jimmy seemed wonderfully young at heart and perhaps too immature for Chloe. Nonetheless, I appreciated Chimmy as a healing love for Chloe; a relationship that would possibly last for a season and then end amicably. I couldn’t wait to see Chloe having fun, laughing, going on dates, enjoying someone and being enjoyed – in short, I couldn’t wait to see her having a vibrant love life. Chloe would fall in love with this goofy, quirky, fun guy and be loved abundantly, unquestioningly, unconditionally in return. She would have a bit of off the clock fun and romance and then come out of her relationship with Jimmy (after a friendly breakup) renewed, refreshed and ready for action. In the process we would get to know a new iconic character, the future best friend of Clark Kent. I hoped Chloe and Jimmy would both look back on their relationship fondly.


We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.
--Anonymous

Sure enough, Chimmy brought light hearted romantic comedy to [i]Smallville[/i]. In the three year span of their relationship Jimmy treated Chloe to vending machine dinner dates and creepy stake out make out sessions. He never missed an opportunity to encourage Chloe in her career (sometimes Chloe encouraged him right back), share a big scoop and was even willing to risk his life to take the perfect pictures for her articles. Jimmy planned surprise fancy dinner dates complete with whipped cream dessert. He surprised Chloe with delightful bouquets and unsucky Valentine’s Day thank you cards. He put up posters when she was missing and anaconda squeezed her when she was found. Dip kisses, ipods, surprise movie dates at work, hard to get tickets to wonderful events, chocolate muffins, boxes full of memories, acceptance hugs, the last thing we do on earth elevator kisses, surprise uneaten breakfasts, awkward tangos, heart felt wedding proposals, post engagement party redecorated apartments, breakfasts in bed and beautiful barn weddings; this delightful relationship was a refreshing change of pace from the doom and gloom aspects of the show. Jimmy appreciated Chloe as a desirable woman rather than a super hacker or a useful information source or… any of that. He proudly wore his love for Chloe on his sleeve. An episode with Jimmy Olsen was pretty much guaranteed to feature a smiling, happy and adored Chloe Sullivan. A hopeless romantic and very thoughtful, Jimmy treated Chloe like a princess. Obsessed with photojournalism, Jimmy eagerly included Chloe in every lead that he came across (or wanted to). Good times and bad times, Jimmy was always open and honest about his feelings for Chloe and where he stood regarding their relationship. I quickly began to see that I’d initially underestimated Jimmy Olsen and Chloe Sullivan had too.

Make me laugh; say you know what you want
You said we were the real thing
So I show you some more and I learn
What black magic can do
Make me laugh; say you know you can turn
Me into the real thing
So I show you some more and I learn…
--Tori Amos ~ Jackie’s Strength

Apart from his romance/friendship with Chloe, I saw that Jimmy was a wonderful character in his own right – long before “Identity.’ In “Fallout”, Jimmy took the initiative and investigated Lex Luthor. He persevered and schemed his way into a meeting with Lex. Once in the Luthor mansion, he used Lex’ own arrogance against him to nail a huge scoop on Lex Luthor’s schemes. The bit of information Jimmy photographed was instrumental in saving the world. Chloe and Jimmy – mainly due to Jimmy’s enthusiastic urging – became a sort of comic relief investigative team. In “Subterranean,” “Static,” “Noir” and “Sleeper” they work together to help save the day. It’s cute, quirky, awkward and fun. Jimmy enthusiastically included Chloe in his highest dream – to take Pulizer Prize winning pictures for a Pulitzer Prize winning article (Chloe’s article in Jimmy’s daydreams). He often encouraged Chloe to pursue stories which helped her push through hardships in her personal life and her preoccupation with superhero support on more than one occasion. I saw in Jimmy a bit of Gabe Sullivan – with his innocent enthusiasm, endearing dorkiness and down to earth charm. I saw a bit of early series Chloe Sullivan in his eager ambition and sunshine. In the Smallville Season Six Companion, Caroline Dries says, “When I write [Jimmy] I picture him as a magician, pulling tricks out of his sleeve all the time. He’s just high energy. He’s really good at delivering quippy lines, and he’s just a truthful character. You see he’s not scared of emotion.” Holly Harold says, “If there was ever a super hero waiting to be discovered I think that it’s Jimmy Olsen.” I completely agree. Watching Jimmy working with Lois Lane and even Clark Kent here and there – I could see that Jimmy had skills to bring to the table when it came to investigating. Not to mention he lightened up the show considerably when he was around. When I thought of Jimmy’s hard work, ambition, kindness, intelligence and goodness combined with the love he had for Chloe, I fell in love with Jimmy Olsen, gradually, as Chloe did.

“Let a joy keep you. Reach out your hands and take it when it runs by.”
--Carl Sandburg quotes

Chimmy was a romance unlike any other shown on Smallville. In Chloe and Jimmy’s relationship I could enjoy and appreciate the celestial delight of simple pleasures. It was about finding joy in the everyday, in normal things and the way love can sometimes sneak up on you in unpredictable ways. I enjoyed seeing Chloe slowly charmed into dating Jimmy and then slowly falling in love with him. Jimmy wooed Chloe. Over time Chloe went from being impulsive and casual in “Wither,” to cautiously considering in “Subterranean,” to the geek love of “Static,” to being completely won over in “Noir.” Chloe missed Jimmy in “Prototype.” She didn’t know if Jimmy could handle her secrets in “Cure” and was pleasantly surprised and relieved that he could in “Gemini”. Chloe decided to try romance with Jimmy again in “Hero.” Chloe enjoyed awkward make up breakup tango in “Sleeper.” After some major bumps in the road, Chloe finally came to believe that Jimmy – quirks, insecurities and all – was the perfect guy for her. She decided to call it forever in “Odyssey.” Both Chloe and Jimmy glowed with joy during “Bride.” Chloe thought Jimmy would be her happily ever after. I hoped so too.

“Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which, in prosperous circumstances, would have lain dormant.”
--Horace

Alas, the weather in Chimmyville was not always sunshine and cloudless blue skies. Their relationship had to continually dodge the bullets of their pasts, secrets & lies, Jimmy’s insecurities, Chloe’s priorities, and Chloe’s lack of self examination. Despite Chloe’s growing regard for Jimmy, it quickly became clear that Clark would always be her top priority. No matter what Chloe said it seemed that Jimmy would always have insecurities about her true feelings for him. The ups and downs of their relationship were frequent and often dizzying. The Chloe and Jimmy secrets and lies broken record continued to play over three seasons; they would break up to make up again and again. Also, there were the problems created by outside forces. Chloe died again and again due to her healing powers. There were killer aliens on the loose. Chloe lost her memory and was possessed by Brainiac. Chimmy had plenty of flaws but these hardships also revealed unexpected depth of love and commitment between them. Despite being rather naïve and wearing his heart on his sleeve, Jimmy was shrewd and assertive when he needed to be. He called Chloe on her lack of self reflection often. At the end of Crimson he ended their relationship he felt Chloe wasn’t being honest with him or herself about her feelings. No passive aggressive guilt tripping there. When Chloe and Jimmy were going through rough patches in season six, he looked out for her well being and didn’t want her to get her heart broken (“Trespass”). After their break up in season seven Chloe opens up about her deepest secrets and Jimmy is a supportive friend (“Gemini”). After learning the truth, Jimmy wants to fight for a world in which meteor infected people like Chloe can live openly and without fear (“Hero”). The first half of season eight, Chloe fought for Chimmy and defended her relationship with Jimmy to a doubtful Lois Lane and a skeptical Davis Bloom. No, angst couldn’t completely extinguish the light and levity Chloe and Jimmy brought to the show when they were together. As I watched Chloe and Jimmy weather the storms of adversity and doubt again and again, I decided that I would go down with this Chimmy ship – no white flag.

Love in marriage should be the accomplishment of a beautiful dream, and not, as it too often is, the end.
Alphonse Karr

If you love me let me know. If not please, gently, let me go.
--Anonymous

Things have taken a major downturn for the Chloe and Jimmy relationship. They aren’t a couple anymore and it ended in such a horrible, hurtful way. But I’ll never regret taking this three year journey with Chloe and Jimmy. There’s a part of me that will certainly rewrite history after the ceremony in “Bride” and imagine their happy honeymoon and beyond. As on the show, I imagine that they would have ups and downs. Chloe would have other pursuits, secrets that were not hers to tell. She would underestimate Jimmy sometimes and they would argue. Jimmy would have insecurities and be jealous over Chloe’s time and attention. However, when push came to shove their love for each other would pull them through: a love not blind to faults and flaws, a love that saved every petal of a single rose; a love worth remembering post lobotomy; a love that could support a friend with an enormous secret and wish for a world where she wouldn’t have to hide; a love that ran home to the Talon after a horrifying incarceration; a love that passed a psycho cosmo death quiz. This ship may have dashed itself against the rocks of Doomsday, but it’s a voyage Chimmy fans will never forget. To quote Chloe: Chloe and Jimmy’s relationship wasn’t perfect and that’s perfect for me.

"I miss you even more than I could have believed; and I was prepared to miss you a good deal."
--Vita Sackville-West

Random Romance

I've collected about 20-30 Spock/Uhura icons from the new star trek film. I haven't used any yet but I uploaded one onto my Livejournal. After Spock loses his planet and his mother Uhura accosts him in the elevator. She kisses him all over his face but most of the caps are of this very tender, soft looking kiss. That kiss went straight to my heart. The rest of the time I was as weirded out as the rest of the crew. LOL!


I watched Beauty and the Beast the other night with Chatchienne. Oh what a beautifully romantic film. This film is the true, fine wine form of Gothic. As Chat said, the way the Beast says - Ma Bette... and the way Avenant says - Belle and the way Belle calls over and over again for - ma Bete! Oh so romantic. <3

I've been reading Idylls of the King by Tennyson and I've got to say that the story of Vivian seducing Merlin is one of the most depressing ever.

First off I just didn't want to see Merlin humiliated like that. I think of Merlin as this all powerful meddler in events, shaper of eras, creator of kings. I didn't want some evil chick from King Arthur's court to sit on his lap, whisper in his ear and steal his magic from him. I just didn't want to see him made such a thorough fool of.

I guess this reveals that deep down Merlin was very lonely and longed for love in his old age and to be seen as a man. It comforted me when Tennyson described Vivian as a fairie. It's not as bad for Merlin to be fooled by a cruel fairie as just a regular woman. Then again part of me really likes Vivian. She's sort of a female Iago. She has no aim in ruining everyone's lives - no goal. She's just doing it because it delights her.

I'm going to imagine that Merlin at least got a wonderful goodnight kiss. Even the woods whispered "fool" as the spell settled on the wizard and he drifted off to sleep.

I watched Terminator on Saturday and I loved the chemistry between Blair Williams and Marcus Wright. Some people on line complained that there was no sex but I liked that. I liked the innocence of warming by the fire together. It was fun to see this hard warrior woman melt in his arms and listen to his heartbeat. I loved it. <3 In the end she fought for him and when pressed his forehead to hers... it was better than a kiss.

Obidala

The Star Wars prequels were a disappointment to me, so I never really got into the fandom. To be honest, besides Harry Potter, Tori Amos and Smallville I've never really been involved with ANY fandom. I'm a fan of a lot of things but I'm not really part of the fan community for those things.

Today on livejournal I discovered Obidala. This is the paring of Obi Wan Kenobi - who is probably my favorite character of the series as a whole, and Padme Amidala former Queen of Naboo and Senator. I snagged a whole bunch of icons from the LJ fan community for this paring. I was THIS close to registering at an Obidala forum. I stopped myself because I was only registering there for the manips and also because I don't know how much of an Obidala shipper I am.

As I said, I adore Obi Wan Kenobi in both the prequel and original series. This probably is the main reason I would ship this pair. Second, Anakin Skywalker's development in the Prequels was disappointing to say the least. So maybe there's a little bit of anti-Anakin motivation. But when it comes to the actual characters in the actual story... I like the idea of there being tension between them but... I don't think they are really suited to one another.

Honestly, Obi wan seems to be one of those people who is genuinely content to be single. These people exist! I think. He is completely fulfilled by giving his whole life to being a Jedi. I don't think... love is really... interesting to Obi Wan. I'm sure he's a romantic but for himself... I don't see it. In Obi Wan and Amidala I see a strong friendship and mutual respect. I feel that they are pretty much on the same page with their ideal etc. They are of similar temperments. But I DO like the tension.

In conclusion I, romance junkie though I am, do not ship Obidala, but I am an Obidala appreciator. I really want to get a look at those manipulations. :D

Changes...

I have a lot going on online and I realized that I really need to figure out a clear purpose behind each of my online endeavors. To that end, this blog - formerly known as "A Healing Love" - is hereby renamed "Romance Junkie." Once again I'm gonna mention borednow... I'm starting to realize what a huge influence she is on me. LOL! Well she is my best internet friend. I decided to focus this blog on shipping and romance of all kinds and a lightbulb went on above my head. What does borednow call herself?! I wanted to rename this blog and I knew that her nickname for herself in regards to shipping (favoring certain relationships) would be the perfect title. So I asked her what her nickname was.

...

She calls herself a romance wh*re. Is that a bad word? I'll bleep it out anyway.

I ... haven't earned that title but I thought about my addiction to cookies and decided that I'm more of a romance junkie. I'm certainly addicted but... yeah.

I'm going to talk about Chimmy (The relationship on Smallville between Chloe Sullivan and Jimmy Olsen) again tonight though.



My love for Chimmy has grown and by that I mean changed but not lessened or increased. In the course of writing a Chimmy essay, I realized that Chimmy isn't just a healing love as I originally thought. Not that Chimmy as a healing love would have been bad. I do think that Chloe has grown in positive ways as a result of being in a relationship with Jimmy AND I think that Chloe's heart did heal a great deal while she was with Jimmy. I think, looking back on Chloe and Jimmy's relationship, that it's more complicated than that. It's not just about what Jimmy has done for Chloe. Over the course of their relationship it certainly became something Chloe fought for as well. Chloe/Jimmy is A Sorta Fairytale.

"It was almost love. It was almost always." It was glorious and they had hopes for forever and those hopes were dashed. Alas and goodbye.

I have a new ship!

Gareth and Lynette from Arthurian Legend.



I'm reading Tennyson's Idylls of the King about Arthurian Legend. When I first started reading about Gareth and Lynette, I didn't quite know what to make of them.

You can read the section about them for yourself - HERE

I liked Gareth. He was determined to become a soldier but his mother, the Queen, couldn't bear to have him go. Finally after he makes a great argument to her about how unseemly it is for him to stay by his mother's side well into his manhood, she lets him go... on one condition. That he not tell anyone his name and work in Arthur's court as a kitchen boy. For a crown prince this is... very humbling to say the least. Humiliating. His mother was sure that he won't do it. But he did! Cheerfully. It made me love him more.

So he entered King Arthur's court as a kitchen boy. Sir Lancelot really liked him but Sir Kay hated him. Kay was horrible to him and gave him more work than the other kitchen boys etc. Gareth worked hard and cheerfully despite his true identity and Sir Kay's cruelty. (I think T.H. White used a little of Gareth for Arthur's back story. Maybe not. I don't know much about Arthurian Legend in all of its forms.) After awhile, just as Arthur and Lancelot uncovered Gareth's true identity, Lynette entered Arthur's castle. She needed a knight - preferably Lancelot - to slay three errant (evil) knights who were holding her sister Lyonors under house arrest until she married one of them. Arthur sent "the kitchen knave" to save the day. Lynette was horrified and insulted that the King would take the threat to her kingdom so lightly as to send a kitchen boy to deal with it.

I was shocked by the way Lynette boldly expressed her displeasure. She rode off without Gareth and when he followed, she turned on him and insulted him. She said he stunk of the kitchen and that there was no way he would be able to defeat the knights. After he defeated the first knight I was sure that she would give some sign of gratitude or something! NO. She said that for a moment she couldn't smell the kitchen but when the wind picked up he stunk as badly as ever. Lynette insulted him again and again. Gareth was long suffering, kind and gentlemanly in the face of her horrible words. She seemed like such a snob. I thought about Buttercup from Princess Bride. But Lynette was not as dumb as Buttercup and I didn't think she was flirting.

Lynette ranted and railed at Gareth the entire trip to her castle. He's not a noble. He should turn back now. Insult after insult. Scorn, scorn, scorn. I started to hate her. I thought of Lois Lane on Smallville (and in general) and the way she banters with Clark. I felt that I was getting - in the person of Lynette - insight into why some people hate Lois Lane. I saw a stuck up, rude woman insulting a heroic guy because she's mistaken his true identity. There was no humor in it. It wasn't sexy. Gareth vanquished the second guy... Lynette ranted. Third guy... Lynette ranted... and then I realized. She loves him.

I'm not sure when it happened (it'll be fun to read again and find out exactly when) but if Lynette really hated Gareth as much as her words expressed, she would have just shut up and waited to be proven right. I realized Lynette was trying to get Gareth to leave so he would not be killed. <3 style="text-align: left;">
The horrible insults that Lynette hurled at Gareth really made a nice contrast to her change of heart. I'm going to have to go back and read again to find the exact moment of transition. But during the last fight, Lynette cheered for Gareth. When Gareth won, she payed him a kingly compliment in a very humble way. She didn't know that he was noble, she didn't know anything more than that he was a kitchen knave. I started drawing hearts in my book.

I talked to borednow about my tentative new ship and it turns out she's dead gone on them! She sent me a link to "The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf." At the link there was an excerpt from the book. I read the first couple of chapters. From the little I read it expands on the story and combines it with another story about Gawain.

The expanded version by Gerald Morris does not end with Gareth marrying Lynette. I suppose Tennyson diverted from Sir Thomas Malory when he had Gareth marry her. Ah well. I haven't read Le Morte De Arthur yet - though I own it, so I cannot comment of Beaumains and Lyonours.

For now - Gareth and Lynette FOREVER!